Looking Ahead to College Adapted from the booklet entitled Looking Ahead to College by Linda O Brien and published by Woodburn Press 2009 Why Go to College? Personal Accomplishment Going to college and graduating might be hard to do but you will be proud of that accomplishment for the rest of your life. Greater Income It is proven that if you go to college and graduate you will earn double what any high school graduate earns meaning you will gain better things in life. This could mean that you will earn over $1 million dollars more in your lifetime than someone who does not have a four-year degree. More Career Opportunities If you only graduate from high school then you have an extremely small opportunity to become someone important in life. If you graduate from college then you can always advance in life. Opportunities to Develop and Grow College gives you the opportunity to meet new people and socialize more. College also helps you become a more independent person. You get the opportunity to grow into the person that you will be for the rest of your life. What to Expect in College Varying Class Sizes Depending on the college and the course that you want to take is the number of student that in the class and it can be anywhere between 15 and 200+ students in a class. More Emphasis on Tests and Less Busywork In college, the professors look more to the tests and midterms that you take. These tend to count as a higher percentage of your grade then your homework would. You will probably write more essays to demonstrate your understanding of course content. 1
More Freedom and More Responsibility When you are in college the teachers will rarely remind you when an assignment is due. They will just tell you the due date and on that day collect that assignment. You must be responsible and complete the assignment. The course syllabus often has due dates for assignments. Consequences for Low Grades Students who allow their grades to drop below the certain criteria that the school has established will be placed on academic probation. If they do not raise their grades, they risk being removed from the school. Less Time in Class and More Independent Study Compared to high school, you will be spending less time in the classroom but you have to be responsible and study for the tests and work on the assignments even if you do not do them in class. Two Year Colleges: College Choices There are many two-year colleges that are either community colleges or technical colleges. They are both affordable and allow you to receive a diploma, certificate, or even your associates degree and help you begin a career. Most Are Very Affordable Going to a community college or a technical college, you save about half of the money that you would normally spend on going to a four-year college, Classes Are Small Two-year colleges keep class sizes small, and they prefer to hire teachers who have actually worked in the field they will be teaching in. All High School Graduates Are Welcome Two-year colleges are more than welcoming to anyone with a high school diploma. Students only need a general high school education to enroll in most programs. 2
Two-Year Colleges Offer Career Programs Students in one to two year programs spend the majority of their time taking courses called Perquisites to help prepare them to take more specific classes based on their degree and course program. Students Can Transfer To a Four-Year College Students who aren t academically prepared for a four- year university can attend any two-year college and then transfer to a four-year school. Four-Year Colleges: Some Colleges Are Public and Some Are Private Public colleges are larger than private colleges, meaning they can offer more majors and other programs. Public colleges on the other hand offer smaller classes and a more personal atmosphere. Students Must Be Academically Prepared All schools whether big or small want their students to arrive prepared and ready for college level work. Colleges now recommend college prep courses in high school education. Consider taking the most rigorous courses you can provided that you can earn a B or better in it. Advanced Placement (A.P.) courses look great on high school transcripts and may earn you college credit if you pass the A.P. test given at the end of the course. Colleges Have Requirements for Admission Entry requirements vary greatly between schools. Some colleges accept all students and others a very limited amount are accepted, based on grades, class rank, etc. Four-Year Colleges Can Be Expensive It costs about $20,000 a year to go to a public 4 year college and almost double that to attend a private college and live on campus. But don t be overwhelmed by the numbers. There are ways to make college education affordable. Colleges Offer a Wide Variety of Majors All colleges require students to take a certain number of general education courses. Students also have one subject that they study in depth also know as your major. Students who attend school but do not have a specific course of study are called undecided majors. 3
Other Educational Choices Specialty Colleges Over 80% of all careers require education or training beyond a high school diploma. You can best prepare for your career by going to a 2 or 4 year college/ university. Career and Trade Schools These types of schools offer short-term training with a wide variety of career options. Some programs last a total of two years others as minimum as two weeks. Apprenticeships For those who prefer a more hands on approach, apprenticeship programs help you learn the trade through a combination of classroom and on the job instruction. These programs are often competitive and hard to get into. The Military The U.S. military offers free job training in over 2,000 job fields and specialties. Enlistees can also take college classes while they are in the military. Location How Do You Decide Where to Go? Where do you want to go to college? Close to home or far away with a different weather climate? Most students go to a college in the same state but in a different city or town so they can experience college life but be close enough to home for holidays and vacations. College Size Keep the following in mind: larger colleges have over 25,000 students but also more majors, more courses and more activities to choose from. Smaller colleges have fewer students and students get more one-on-one attention. Majors All four year colleges have a varying selection of majors and minors. Most schools offer popular majors like business or education but not every major will be offered. If you re interested in something specific you need to research what schools would be best for you and your degree. 4
Special programs Things like sports, drama, or music are considered special programs and if it s important to you then you need to find out if school of your choosing has or offers those kinds of programs. Admissions Requirements Colleges have their own unique admission requirements. Some colleges accept high school graduates and other colleges are more selective in their acceptance policies. Costs There are ways to make college affordable don t ever think that you can t go to college because you don t have money! There are scholarships and grants, loans and don t forget you could work and go to a community college first. Other Criteria For example you may want to go to a school with a religious background or an all girl/boy school. There are also over 100 historical black colleges. There are also performing art schools that focus on art, music, media and dance. You Complete the Application How Do You Get In? Students fill out the college application in the fall of their senior year. All students need to apply to at least one college they know they will get accepted to. Apply to more than one college. Some applications require an essay. Some applications are easy and some are harder and require a lot of information. The College makes Their Decision When colleges are making their decision they look at the following things: High school transcript GPA Your overall high school record that contains your cumulative GPA and class rank, your test scores, grades, courses, and your graduation date. When it comes to what colleges look at first, it is always your GPA because they believe that if you got good grades in high school and you will do the same in college. Subjects Taken The courses that you take in high school are important to colleges to see if you are ready for college-level assignments. Take rigorous classes (i.e. college, AP, or honors classes) ACT/SAT Scores Either the ACT or SAT test is required by most colleges, this is a major part of getting into the college and you must first take the test and then apply for the college you want 5
Other Considerations Colleges do not only look at your academic record, they also look at the activities that students are involved in, the awards that they have received, the student s talents and their personal qualities. Living in a Dorm Most of the time if you go to college that is in a different city or town, then you will most likely be required to live in a dorm your freshman year. Freshman dorms are full of new people that are there to meet new people and enjoy their freshman year. The dorms can be plenty of fun and they are also exciting. Many people become friends their freshman year and stay friends for a long time. All dorms are different, some can be a regular room for two people or you could get a suite that fits 4 people. Each student is provided a bed, a desk, and a chair, but the students must bring the decorations that they want in the room. Community bathrooms are usually used in colleges although some suites may have their own bathroom. All dorms have a quiet place for students to be able to study and a room with a TV so that the students can socialize. Most dorms have a dining hall. Many dorms are single sex dorms but some are co-ed dorms, the dorms can have a floor for females and another floor for males. If you find someone that is going to the same college that you are going to then you can request they be your roommate, but most of the time people just sign up to get a dorm and the college will assign someone to be your roommate. Most of the time roommates become close friends. Student Organizations Student Activities Clubs and organizations are always offered to students. If you attend a large university then there are hundreds of clubs or organizations that you can join. Community Service Programs On most college campuses you will find several community service programs. Colleges encourage their students to get involved and learn how to give back to society. Intramural and Club Sports Intramural programs are all about having fun. They are a great way to get together and meet new people. However club teams are more selective and more competitive. Cultural Activities Colleges and universities offer centers for cultural activities, concerts, performances and lectures which gives students the opportunity to broaden their horizons. 6
Recreation/ Sports Centers Most campuses have a recreation area or center on campus. It may be a gym where you can go to swim, run, and lift weights. Sporting Events Events are fun and exciting and give students an opportunity to get together and socialize while showing school spirit. Fraternities and Sororities At many colleges you will find social groups or organizations under the banner or fraternity or sorority. Guys join fraternities and girls join sororities. All groups are identified by Greek letters. Playing a College Sport College sports are much tougher than high school they demand a lot more and competition is a lot harder. The NCAA is an organization that is in charge of college athletic departments and programs. Students who want to be college athletes must have a specific score on the ACT or SAT and take the specified number of courses. Making a College Visit The best way to find out if a college is going to be right for you is to make a college visit and try it out. You should never base your opinion of a school from their website. You should: Take a tour Meet with the admissions office and counselors Sit in on a class Visit/ stay in the dorm Tour the city and things to do Paying for College There are four main categories of financial aid. They are: Grants free money Scholarships free money Loans must be paid back Work-study part-time work at the college 7
How to Prepare for College Gather Information Ask people about their own college experiences See guidance counselors Research colleges online. Go to www.collegeboard.com for help Visit colleges Go to college fairs Study The higher the grades the more college choices you will have as an individual. Remember that you re not working at getting good grades for anyone other than yourself. This is about your future no one else s. Take the Right Courses 4 years of English 3 years of math 3 years of science 2-3 years of the same foreign language 3 years of social studies 1 year of fine or performing arts Make a Four year plan All high school students should have a four year plan listing out the courses and major they hope to pursue. Knowing what you re going to need to take can help keep you on track and finish on time. Get Involved Colleges like to see that students are involved and active. You should be in a variety of groups and do volunteer work and community service. Start Saving Regularly put money into an account and ask for money during the holidays to go towards your education. Think About a Major Start thinking about a major, things that interest you and the abilities you have and how they would work best together in a career. Take Tests and Fill Out Forms If you are going to a four- year college you are going to have to take the ACT and the SAT in the spring of your junior year so that you can submit your scores. 8
Make a College Goal Decide today what your goal for college is and commit to it. Middle School College Timeline In middle school, students are being prepared for high school, it is said that the students that do well in middle school tend to be better prepared for high school. Also the grades that students get in their middle school classes helps determine what classes they will be taking the next year. Freshman Year When you start your freshman year in high school, all the classes and grades that you take are all recorded on your transcripts and those grades will also be used to figure out your overall GPA. You should get involved in school activities because they can also be listed for scholarships. Sophomore Year Besides just working hard in school, you should find what interests you the most and what your talents are. Also you should start planning for your future and take the PLAN, practice for the ACT test, maybe even take the PSAT (the practice test for the SAT). Junior Year When you start your junior year you should start looking into colleges, taking the college tests, and start visiting different colleges. In October, you should take the PSAT. Between March and June, take the SAT and the ACT. If you need information go to www.actstudent.org or for the SAT go to www.collegeboard.com Senior Year The last year of high school should be the one where you notice at all your hard work has paid off. In September you start meeting with your counselor to go over your college plans and to go over your scores on the ACT and SAT. Then in October, all your applications should be completed (college admissions, financial aid, and scholarships) also you should retake the ACT or SAT if it is necessary. In December you should fill out the financial aid packet (FAFSA) by January 1 st. In April you must decide where you want to attend college. Lastly, get a summer job to be able to earn money for college. 9