4 Year College
What are 4 Year Colleges?
Four-year colleges and universities offer four-year programs that lead to a bachelor's degree in a selected major. These include universities and liberal arts colleges. CLICK HERE for a full description of the types of 4 year colleges, including liberal arts colleges, historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs) and for-profit schools.
College Majors
While you are able to apply to college as an undecided major, it is often an advantage to choose a major when you first apply. It is not uncommon for students to change their major during college as their interests change.
To find college majors that may appeal to you:
Spend a little time on self reflection… What courses do you like? What are your academic strengths? Are any of your favorite extracurricular activities related to a possible major?
Find college majors related to your career pathway by looking at the District 214 Academic Programs and Pathways Guidebook.
Use SchooLinks to review or take career assessments. (Class of 2024)
Log into your College Board account for many great resources:
Stop by the CCC to view some great books such as The Book of Majors.
Check out this site for some ideas on "What can I do with this major?"
Look at the Academic tab on college websites and find information about the majors you are considering. By viewing a 4-year plan of the courses required for a particular major, you will get an idea of whether that majors appeals to you.
Get an internship or job in a field of interest.
Register for a senior year or summer school course to explore a potential area of interest.
Join a club or activity related to your interest. See the Student Megadoc for JHHS opportunities.
Testing (ACT/SAT/AP)
All colleges that require test scores accept either the SAT or ACT equally.
Some students choose to take both an SAT and ACT to see whether they score better on one. The SAT/ACT Concordance can be used to compare scores on these two tests.
Starting with the class of 2026, all students will take the state ACT, a graduation requirement, in school in the spring of their Junior year.
Juniors may want to sign up for an additional national ACT or SAT test on their own.
Test Optional
A test optional college lets students decide whether they want to submit ACT or SAT test scores with their application. Most test optional schools will consider scores if they are submitted, but focus on other factors they believe are stronger predictors of a student's potential to succeed in college. CLICK HERE for the list of over 1,800 four-year test optional schools. Please note, some are test optional temporarily due to Covid-19 and may require ACT/SAT scores in the future.
Superscoring
Some colleges will superscore when the student submits multiple ACT or SAT scores. Superscoring averages the highest section scores from each test to obtain a new composite score that may be higher than any individual composite score.
AP Tests
Your AP test scores could earn you college credit. Use the College Board's AP Credit Policy Search to look up credit by school or by test.
JHHS and D214 Assessment Center Websites
Check these websites for the most up-to-date information about testing within D214:
Create a College List
Create a list of “right fit” colleges that you plan to apply to factoring in academic fit, location fit, personal/social fit and financial fit.
The Class of 2025 students and parents should watch this presentation given by Mr. Chiakulas on Thursday, November 2nd at 7pm in the JHHS Theatre.
College admissions representatives review seven criteria students should consider and rank when trying to find their “right fit” colleges.
Use the following resources to do a college search:
Schoolinks
COLLEGE VISITS: Visit college campuses to help narrow down your list and find the right fit!:
Make sure to watch the "Campus Visits" Learn A L.A.H.-tte presentation (2.7.24) for tips on the who, what when, why and how of campus visits! (Coming soon!)
Determine how far from home you’d be willing to attend college, which parts of the country interest you, etc.
Determine the size of the college that most appeals to you.
Determine the location of the college that most appeals to you (e.g. in a city or in more of a rural setting or college town).
WANT SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF SCHOOLS CLOSE TO HOME? Check out THIS list!
Schedule a campus visit by visiting the admissions webpage of the college at least a few weeks in advance.
School days off, spring break and even Saturdays can be great days to schedule campus visits.
Many colleges offer virtual visits.
If you need to miss a school day for a visit, make sure to get called out as normal but follow up with the Attendance Office showing proof of your visit (confirmation email, folder with agenda/materials, etc.).
Use this College Visit Questions and Comparison Chart Worksheet or this College Visit Pro/Con Sheet to help collect information from your visits!
Attend College Fairs
SAVE THE DATE: The District 214 College Fair will be held on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at Forest View Education Center from 6-8pm!
CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO on "How to Navigate a VIRTUAL College Fair"
College Admission Rep Visits to the JHHS College & Career Center
The next college rep visits will take place in-person during the Fall of 2024. For contact info of reps from previous visits during the 2023-24 school year, go HERE.
Many college admission representatives visit the College & Career Center in the fall and spring (Spring 2025 pending). These are a great way for students to find out more about a college, get questions answered and get to know the college rep assigned to Hersey.
Add colleges to your favorites in SchooLinks and you will automatically get an email notification if that college schedules a visit to Hersey (maybe - this is still pending).
