Fact: There are thousands of colleges across the US that are equally as good. It's important to choose the one that's the best fit for your career & life goals.

College is not a one-size-fits-all. You will need to assess your needs to determine best fit. Here are some things to consider:

• Degree programs - Do they offer the major that aligns with your career goals?

• Size - What is your optimal class size? Do you prefer a school with a large population or would you rather know everyone?

• Location - What part of the country interests you? Are you looking for a small town or big city? What type of weather are you comfortable with?

Explore your options - here are some resources to help you narrow down options:

Attend college visits @ RHS - college reps from across the country visit Rouse. This is a great opportunity to meet the rep and ask questions.

The College Tour TV series - wide variety of colleges highlighted in this TV series. Watch a few episodes covering schools with which you aren't familiar.

Naviance SuperMatch - Naviance tool allows you to input your criteria to narrow down & compare schools. 

Visit college campuses - this is the best way to get an idea of whether a school would be a good fit.

Schedule a tour - Look for the "Visit" option on your school's website. They might offer virtual visits, campus tours, or special info sessions.

Preview Days - Many schools offer "Preview Days." These are large events for high school upperclassmen to experience all things campus life

Fly-in programs & overnight visits - some smaller colleges even offer prospective students the opportunity to stay overnight for a truly immersive experience. Check out this list of colleges offering all-expenses paid, overnight visit experiences for students who are traditionally underrepresented and may not otherwise be able to afford a trip to a college campus.

Fact: While volunteering your time is a great way to give back to the community while gaining experience doing something you enjoy, volunteer hours are not required for high school graduation.

Tips for volunteering in your community

Consider your skills - do you play a sport or enjoy a particular activity? Organize a meetup for kids in your neighborhood where you teach them how to get started. Your volunteer activities don't need to take place through a formal organization. 

Example: If you are a baseball or softball player you can hold batting practice for elementary students. 

Stay local - do you have neighbors who need help? Mowing the lawn, running to HEB to pick up milk, or checking the mail might seem like simple tasks. But for some people, these tasks may be harder to manage so a little assistance can go a long way. 

Example: If you have a neighbor with limited mobility, offer to bring their trash cans to & from the curb on a weekly basis. 

Make a commitment - If you are only available one day of the year to pick up trash in your community, then by all means do it. But if you are able to commit to a regular schedule or perhaps recruit friends to do the same, you will have a chance to develop some additional skills along the way. 

Example: Choose one Saturday per month to clean up areas of your neighborhood. If you create a flyer & Google signup form, post on your neighborhood social media, maintain a calendar, and recruit friends to help, you are also developing your organizational, time management, and leadership skills.

Get involved on campus - RHS has several clubs dedicated to service. Check the RHS Clubs homepage for more info:

• Habitat for Humanity

• Key Club

• Green Cord

Fact: Everyone needs to continue their education after high school. There are many opportunities to learn skills outside of a college classroom

Webinar (coming soon): ACC for All! Learn more about opportunities that don't require a college degree

Other paths to success

Certification programs - learn a skill in a matter of weeks! A workforce certification is usually a low-cost, fast-track way to get started in a career field. A certification allows you the chance to start working while building your experience and working toward your next skill level. Check out a wide variety of certification programs offered at Austin Community College.

Example: If you're interested in the medical field, you can earn a certification as a phlebotomist, get a job in the medical field, then begin working toward your next certification. Your experience on the job will help your educational experience and vice versa.

Apprenticeships - earn while you learn! Apprenticeships often require minimal work experience to get started and allow you to learn a skill through on-the-job training. Some programs might require a classroom component but the academics directly relate to the work you're doing in the field.

Example: You can get a job as an electrical apprentice - this is full-time employment (plus overtime pay) where you learn electrician skills required to earn your electrician certification.

Military - enlistment allows you to get started on your career path while serving your country. Everyone in the military starts at a job with growth opportunity. Additionally, your military career may lead to a college degree you hadn't previously considered. You can contact our RHS military recruiters if you have questions about military education and careers.

Fact: UT High School is not a prestigious institution. Any correspondence classes taken outside LISD are indicated with a "C" next to the grade on your RHS transcript.

What's a correspondence course?

Correspondence courses are courses taken through an educational entity not affiliated with Leander ISD. Students have the option of taking correspondence courses satisfying high school graduation requirements through an accredited public institution of higher education approved by the Commissioner of Education. 

Will a correspondence course "look good" on my high school transcript?

Correspondence courses are designated with a "C" next to the grade on your Rouse transcript. The specific institution where you earned credit for your correspondence course is not indicated on your Rouse transcript.

Taking courses because they "look good" on your transcript is a subjective term. College admissions reps take many factors into account when reviewing applications. Did you take a correspondence course because you think that's what a rep wants to see? Or did you take a correspondence course so you can focus on developing skills in another area?

Will taking classes through UT High School help my chances of being admitted to the University of Texas?

No. Students taking classes through UT High School do not receive special consideration for admissions to the University of Texas.