The College Bound Student Athlete

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) governs collegiate athletics. An important responsibility of this organization is to determine the eligibility of the college bound student/athlete. High school students who might be interested in participating in athletics at the collegiate level must submit to the NCAA Clearinghouse: a Student Eligibility form, processing fee, copy of their high school transcript and ACT or SAT test scores during their senior year. Certification of eligibility will be determined by three elements, core courses, GPA and ACT/SAT test scores. Core courses are those courses which are college preparatory and found in the English, Math, Science, Social Studies and Foreign Language departments. After making a determination, the Clearinghouse will then notify the student and the college(s) of his/her choice.

For students entering any Division I or II college or university on or after August 1, 2008, your NCAA initial eligibility will be evaluated as described below.

DIVISION I DIVISION II

16 Core Courses: 14 Core Courses:

4 years of English 3 years of English

3 years of Mathematics 2 years of Mathematics

(Algebra I or higher) (Algebra I or higher)

2 years Natural/Physical Science 2 years Natural/Physical Science

(1 year of lab) (1 year of lab)

1 additional year of 1 additional year of

English, Mathematics English, Mathematics

or Natural/Physical Science or Natural/Physical Science

2 years of Social Science 2 years of Social Science

4 years of additional courses 3 years of additional courses

from any area above, world from any area above, world

language or non-doctrinal language or non-doctrinal

religion/philosophy religion/philosophy

For more complete information, please go to www.ncaa.org or the Clearinghouse website at http://www.eligibilitycenter.org. If you have questions about NCAA eligibility, please call the NCAA initial- eligibility clearinghouse toll-free at 877-262-1492. You may also call the NCAA at 317-917-6222.

At Falcon High School we recommend that the college bound student athlete enroll in the appropriate courses and pass them with the highest grades possible. In addition, we recommend that the student- athlete work hard at his/her studies to insure the best college preparation and success on the ACT/SAT exams. Student athletes should meet with his/her counselor to begin the registration process.

Four Year College Admissions

The Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE) oversees admissions standards for Colorado colleges and universities. The Commission has established Higher Education Admission Requirements (HEAR) for students who plan to attend a four-year public college or university in Colorado. Community colleges will continue to offer open admissions. Students enrolling in these institutions are not subject to CCHE admissions standards.

HEAR includes a combination of courses that students should plan to complete as preparation for entering one of Colorado’s four-year public colleges of universities. Many states now have some form of pre- collegiate curriculum structure, either as a requirement to qualify for admission to four-year colleges/universities or as a high school graduation requirement. The specifics are as follows:

Academic Area Number of Years

English 4

Mathematics 4*

(Algebra 1 and higher)

Natural Sciences 3

(two years must be lab-based)*

Social Sciences 3

(at least one year of U.S. or World History)

World Language 1*

(must be same language)

Academic Electives 2*

* Indicates requirement may be different from the minimum graduation requirements at Falcon High School. Detailed information on admissions standards as well as a guide to HEAR courses is available online at www.collegeincolorado.org. The site also answers frequently asked questions about HEAR and admissions standards.

The CCHE does not review individual high school courses to determine whether or not they meet Colorado’s HEAR standards. Local school districts in Colorado oversee their high school curricula and colleges and universities establish their own entrance requirements. Check individual college publication and websites to determine which classes meet their entrance requirements.

Two-Year College Admissions

The entrance requirements for most two-year colleges are to have earned your high school diploma or received your GED. Some two-year colleges require the SAT or ACT, and some merely require students to take the college’s entrance or placement test.

Some programs are very competitive: GPA and test scores will be factors. Also, some vocational programs may have a limited number of spaces, and students who apply late may not be admitted. It is important to check with the specific college regarding entrance requirements.

Please note that admission to some programs may require a higher GPA and/or specific course work. Early application to these programs is strongly recommended. Admission to a pre-professional program does not ensure an admission to the college, major, or professional program.