Post-Secondary Planning
Recommendations for Post-Secondary Pathways
If post-secondary education is desired, admission recommendations should be strongly considered when planning the high school program. Since these recommendations vary greatly among post-secondary schools, the best source of information is the individual college or university website. Students should view the websites of a broad range of colleges they are considering to make sure that they are covering the requirements.
Colleges prefer applicants who have taken a challenging high school program, who have demonstrated a strong work ethic, and who have shown development of skills and knowledge through a solid grade point average (as recalculated by the college). To get a better understanding of which colleges might be the best fit for you, we encourage students to research the GPA requirements for colleges they’re interested in.
In addition, many colleges will accept students with average grades who have demonstrated skills or exceptional qualities of character and leadership. As you plan, consider the guidelines below:
FOUR YEAR SCHOOLS
4 years of English
2 years of world languages
(same language)
3 years of mathematics
(including at least Algebra II)
2-3 years of laboratory science
2-3 years of social studies
HIGH SELECTIVE FOUR YEAR SCHOOLS
4 years of English
4 years of world languages
(same language)
4 years of mathematics
4 years of a laboratory science
4 years of social studies
Successful grades in accelerated and Advanced Placement courses are strongly encouraged for most schools.
TWO YEAR SCHOOLS
Associate degree program recommendations vary widely, from needing a high school diploma to satisfying recommendations similar to four-year schools.
TECHNICAL SCHOOLS & CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS
Recommendations differ widely. Most require a high school diploma and some specific coursework. Minimum age requirements may also be considered.
Students are strongly encouraged to consult individual college websites to ensure they are meeting minimum requirements for consideration.
Additional Post-Secondary School Information & Planning
School counselors help students plan for their post-secondary education and careers, coordinating with classroom teachers and advisors. Counselors meet with their students regularly to introduce, explain, and orient them to the post-secondary planning process.
The MHS Career Center has lots of resources for post-secondary planning. In addition to print resources, the Career Center hosts a multitude of workshops and small group opportunities throughout the year to aid students in post-secondary planning. Workshops include, but are not limited to:
College Representative Visits- a 1:1 or small group opportunity for students to meet with admissions representatives to gain important campus/academic information as well as clarify specific entrance requirements (open to all grade levels)
Application Events- 1:1 opportunity to meet with an admissions representative to review application materials and receive an on-the-spot admissions decision (Seniors only)
Preview Day- 1:1 opportunity to meet with an admissions representative to receive individualized feedback on your transcript to date, as well as advice for the upcoming academic year (Juniors only)
Various Workshops- Throughout the year various workshops are held to provide student support in various topics including (but not limited to): Application Support, Essay Writing, and Scholarships
All events, as well as additional planning resources can be found on the Career Center Website. Additionally, all colleges offer on-campus opportunities for students and families to explore and visit. We strongly encourage students and families to take advantage of these formal on-campus opportunities (or virtual when travel is not possible).
In addition to group opportunities, individual meetings are held with students and their school counselor to help refine the list of schools to which a student will actually apply. While the number of applications varies greatly, students should apply to colleges with varying degrees of selectivity.
A Financial Aid Night is held twice annually at MHS in partnership with the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME). In the Fall the night is targeted toward current seniors and their families to review the FAFSA process. Our Spring event is geared toward all college going students/families to familiarize them with the financial aid process.