Colleges & Universities
All colleges have requirements for admission. These relate to the courses taken in high school and include rank in class, school recommendation, test scores, interviews, and extra-curricular activities.
Specific Requirements
Generally, a student must submit 15 or 16 credits taken in grades 9 through 12 in the academic fields of English, social studies, math, science, and world languages.
Beginning with ninth grade, all subjects and grades are listed on high school transcripts and counted as part of the credits for admission. Algebra I, Geometry, French I, German I, Latin I, or Spanish I taken in grades 7 or 8 will also be listed on the high school transcript and counted as elective credits; however, these courses will not be used in calculating a student’s grade point average and class rank.
To best prepare for college, a student must carry a minimum of four academic subjects a year; five are recommended.
It is not wise to prepare to meet only the minimum requirements for college. Many students change their minds, and the minimum requirements for one school may not be adequate for admission to another.
Supplementary Requirements
Class Rank: The emphasis is on the quality of work in academic subjects rather than quantity of credits. (See page 8 – Class Rank)
Recommendations: Students needing a letter of recommendation from their school counselor or teacher should give at least two weeks’ notice before the application is due. Students must provide any necessary forms needed to be completed.
College Entrance Tests: Most colleges require standardized testing as part of their admission process. This is done either through the SAT or the ACT.
PSAT: This test is a practice for the SAT. It is given in the fall of the year to juniors and is also available to interested sophomores. Registration for this test is through the Senior High School Guidance Office in the fall of the year. THE NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP SEMI-FINALISTS ARE SELECTED USING A STUDENT’S JUNIOR YEAR PSAT SCORES.
SAT: This test measures evidence-based reading, math and writing.
Subject Tests: These are specific subject tests as required by the college. This testing is required by the more selective colleges.
ACT: This test measures writing skills and four academic areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science reasoning.**Students are responsible for knowing what tests are required and when they are to be taken. Registration materials are available in the Guidance Office. It is recommended that students take either the SAT or ACT the spring of their junior year. Butler Senior High School is a testing center for all of the above tests.
Requests for testing accommodations must be processed through the guidance office.
Interview: Some schools require a personal interview with an admissions officer or an alumnus.
Extra-Curricular Activities/Community Service: Colleges will ask for a record of extra-curricular activities both in the community and in school.
Attendance: Schools are interested in attendance records.
Application Procedure
Online: Students filing college applications online must submit official transcripts through the guidance office.
Paper: Students sending paper applications must bring the completed paper applications along with required fees to the guidance office and request to have official transcripts mailed.
Official transcripts must be mailed from the guidance office.
It is the student’s responsibility to provide necessary postage to mail the college application.
Financial Aid
The Senior High Guidance Office sponsors a College and Career Fair in September that includes approximately 90 different colleges, technical schools and the Armed Forces. On that night we will also host an informational session regarding the financial aid process. Financial aid starts with the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The information you provide on this federal and state form will determine how much aid and what types of aid you will be offered. It is important to be mindful of individual school deadlines. Most schools require the FAFSA; however, some schools require the CSS Profile. This form is similar to FAFSA but is not a state or federal form and does require a fee.
In the fall we offer a FAFSA completion session at the Senior High School. During this session you will be able to submit your FAFSA that evening during the sessions.
Representatives from PHEAA will be there to answer your questions.