College Admission Requirements

For more information on college admissions requirements for Massachusetts state universities, please visit: 

https://www.mass.edu/foradmin/admissions/documents/DHEAdmissionsStandardsReferenceGuide_2019.pdf

For information on college athletics eligibility please visit the National Collegiate Athletic Association Eligibility Center  or look at their Quick Reference Sheet (http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/eligibility_center/Student_Resources/Registration_Checklist.pdf).

Getting Ready for Post-Secondary Education

• Continue study in all five academic areas (English, Math, Science, Social Studies and World Languages) at the most appropriate and most challenging levels you can reasonably manage.

• Many four-year colleges require students to complete at least Algebra 2 to be considered for admissions. More competitive majors at 2 year community colleges also require the completion of Algebra 2 (such as Nursing, Accounting, Business, Vet Tech, among others).

• ARHS uses SCOIR which is a comprehensive guidance software program for post-grad planning. SCOIR is a tool for career and college research, information sharing about the college admissions process, communication with students and caregivers, preparation for the SAT or ACT, management of college and scholarship applications, and statistical reporting. Juniors and seniors and their caregivers currently have access to the program. 

• Remember that many fine colleges are test-optional (meaning they are not required), in fact, most are test optional. Take appropriate tests at appropriate times: PSAT, SAT, SAT subject tests, ACT, TOEFL, ASVAB (military), etc. All juniors may take the PSAT in October of the junior year to practice for the SAT and for eligibility for the National Merit Scholarship Program. Most juniors may take the SAT and/or the ACT for the first time in the spring. One or both of these is usually repeated in the fall of the senior year. School counselors can help you develop a testing schedule that is best for you. Prepare as best you can for the tests, free test preparation is available through Khan Academy.

• Check your @arps email regularly for emails from the College and Career Advisor! These emails contain a wealth of information about the application process, financial aid and scholarships, and college representative visits. Log into the Google Life After ARHS Classroom for your grade. Pay attention to school announcements, and absorb materials posted online or distributed. Be sure to adhere to all deadlines.

• Get involved (sports, extracurricular activities, work, community service, music, hobbies, etc.). Depth is what is important here, not quantity. Choose a few activities that are of real interest to you and pursue them—in depth and over time.

• Become a good time manager. Get organized. Make up daily/weekly schedules of appointments and assignments and follow them. Employers and colleges want to know what productive use you have made of your time in school and outside of it.

• Begin thinking about what you might want to get out of post-secondary education. Talk to graduates about their experiences—what they have learned, what they would have done differently in high school, etc.

• Talk to people working in fields in which you are interested. Find out what their education and training have been. Seek out internships. Use our electives program to explore career areas.