Career, Skilled Trade & College Pathways

Admission Requirements

Parents/guardians and students are encouraged to consult college websites, the College and Career Center, school counselor or IB Coordinator for additional information on high school course selection and specific requirements for individual colleges or universities.

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is a statewide system of community colleges, technical colleges, comprehensive community and technical colleges and state universities. For more information: 1-888-667-2848 or https://www.minnstate.edu/.

Technical Colleges

Technical colleges are dedicated to providing quality education for potential employment. Faculty members have years of experience and are connected to the industry in which they teach.

Community Colleges

Along with university transfer programs, community colleges also offer dozens of two-year career choices, including nursing, law enforcement, business, environmental technology, retail management, graphic design and many more.

Minnesota State Universities

Seven comprehensive universities (Bemidji, Mankato, Metropolitan, Moorhead, St. Cloud, Southwest and Winona) offer courses and programs leading to a bachelor's degree and beyond.

Admission Requirements for Community and Technical Colleges

• High School Diploma.

Admission Requirements for 4-Year State Universities

For entrance into Minnesota state universities, students should have completed the following curriculum while in high school:

• English: 4 years, including composition, literature, and speech

• Mathematics: 3 years, including two years of algebra, one of which is intermediate or advanced algebra, and one year of geometry

• Science: 3 years, including one year each of a biological and physical science, all with significant laboratory experience

• Social Studies: 3 years, including one year each of geography and U.S. history

• World Language: 2 years of the same language. Consideration is given to non-English native languages and American Sign Language

• Visual and/or performing arts: 1 year of arts (visual arts, media arts, or performing arts-theater, music, dance or media arts)

University of Minnesota

The five campuses of the University (Twin Cities, Crookston, Duluth, Morris and Rochester) offer hundred of undergraduate programs along with a wide range of graduate and professional degree programs. The following high school courses are required for admission:

• English: 4 years, emphasis on writing, including instruction in reading and speaking skills, and literary understanding

• Mathematics: 4 years, including high school algebra, geometry, algebra 2 or a fourth year of higher level math

• Science: 4 years, including one year each of biological and physical science and including a laboratory experience

• Biological science, chemistry and physics are required for Management, Biological Sciences, and Science & Engineering

• Social Studies: 3 years, including one year each of U.S. history and geography

• World Language: 2 years of the same language

• Visual and/or performing arts: 1 year

Private Colleges and Universities

Many private colleges and universities offer liberal arts programs, emphasizing broad knowledge in arts, sciences, social sciences and humanities. For more information on private colleges in Minnesota, visit https://www.mnprivatecolleges.org/ or visit the Cooper College and Career Center.

The strongest candidates for college admission have taken:

• Four years of English (with an emphasis on writing)

• Four years of mathematics

• Four years of science

• Four years of social studies

• Two or more years of a world language and several courses in the arts.

Recommended Examinations for Four-Year College Bound Students

Information is available in the College and Career Center and Student Services Office. Students should check specific college admission requirements so that they take the appropriate entrance test and so that scores are sent correctly.

ACT: Four tests are given in the areas of English, Math, Reading, and Science. Students receive four separate scores plus a composite score. Students are also encouraged to take the ACT plus writing test. Almost all colleges and universities in the United States accept the ACT. It is given on five dates throughout the year. Specific dates are listed at www.act.org. Please note that the registration deadlines for these tests are at least one month earlier than the test date. All juniors will take the ACT test at Cooper.

PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT and National Merit Test): This is the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Juniors whose composite score ranks at the 99th percentile may qualify for the next level of the National Merit competition. Those who rank between the 96th and 98th percentile may receive a commendation, but do not continue in the competition.

SAT l: This test measures critical reading, mathematical reasoning, and writing skills. It is given on seven dates throughout the year: Specific dates are listed at www.collegeboard.org. Please note that the registration deadlines for these tests are at least one month earlier than the test date.

SAT ll: These subject tests measure knowledge in specific subject areas. Some four-year colleges require three achievement tests, given the same dates as SAT l. Tests are given in a variety of subject areas. Specific dates are listed at www.collegeboard.org. Please note that the registration deadlines for these tests are at least one month earlier than the test date.

Potential College Credit Opportunities

Advanced Placement Exams

AP exams give students the opportunity to earn college credit based on their knowledge in certain subjects. AP exams are available at Cooper High School in AP Human Geography, AP Environmental Science, AP Biology, AP U.S. History and AP Computer Science Principles. Exams are held in May.

Articulated Courses

Students have the opportunity to earn college credit for particular career and technical courses taught at Cooper.

International Baccalaureate Exams

Exams are given worldwide during May to students who have taken the IB Diploma-level classes for one (Standard Level-SL) or two (Higher Level-HL) years. Exams range in length from 1-3 hours, and there is usually more than one exam for each course. There are also various forms of class work which are assessed externally for the IB score. Scores are available in July and may be submitted to colleges for consideration for admission, credit and placement. High scores may even earn college credit. Scores range from 1-7. Students must take the Diploma-Level course in order to take the exam. More information is available in the IB Office.

IB Full Diploma Programme

Students that are motivated to take on a full load of college level courses are eligible to participate in the Full Diploma Programme. Participation in this programme offers the most college credit opportunity for students at Cooper. In this program, students study six subjects over 2 years, take the accompanying IB exams, and complete the additional requirements of CAS, Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay. This program is an excellent preparation for college, providing students with the skills they’ll need to be successful. Students must meet with IB staff as a sophomore to create a 2-year plan for their junior and senior year.

Project Lead the Way

Students taking Engineering Science, Aerospace Engineering, Civil Engineering and Architecture, and/or Engineering Design and Development can sit for the end-of-course exams. These exams are free of charge to the students and are administered in class. Students who earn a passing mark can apply for college credit at St. Cloud State University; the cost to do so is approximately $100, along with accompanying paperwork.

PSEO—Post Secondary Enrollment Option

High school juniors and seniors may attend a college, either full or part time, at no cost to them. See grade level counselor or counseling department website for further information. Colleges carefully evaluate high school GPA and test scores when considering high school students for enrollment. Students must arrange their own transportation. Grades earned in PSEO courses are recorded on both the high school and college transcript.

PSEO—Career & Technical Education (CTE)

High school sophomores may take one technical college course per semester at no cost to them. If a sophomore receives a grade of C or better in their first PSEO course, the student shall be allowed to take additional career or technical education courses in subsequent terms. Colleges provide guidelines about which courses are available for sophomores. Students must have met the standards on their 8th grade MCA Reading test to be considered. The course should not conflict with required coursework at Cooper, and students must provide their own transportation. Grades earned in PSEO courses are recorded on both the high school and college transcript.