College Admissions Class Selection College advisors want to see that students have taken a lot of core classes (English, math, science, and social studies can also include foreign language). Each college or university will have different requirements for admission. The rule of thumb for a four-year college is as follows: o English (4 years) o Math (3-4 years including Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II; some colleges may require one additional year of math beyond Algebra II) o Social Studies (3 years) o Science (3-4 years) o Foreign Language (2 years) Colleges want to see that students have challenged themselves in their course selection. GPA/Class Rank GPA and Class rank are closely related. A rule of thumb is that a student should be ranked in the top half of their class. The higher a student s cumulative GPA, the better the class rank. Juniors with a cumulative GPA of 4.17 (on our 5.0 scale) would be right around the 50 th percentile for their class. Grades of D or F on a transcript may make it more difficult or impossible to be accepted at certain colleges. Standardized Tests MAP: o Questions cover math and reading and adapt to each student s level (increasing in difficulty as the test progresses to provide information on a student s instructional level) o Who: Freshmen year (at the high school level) o When: Fall (may also be given in the Winter/Spring) PSAT: The Preliminary SAT o Subjects covered: Mathematics, Critical Reading, Writing Skills (No Essay) o Who: Any Sophomore and Junior Juniors take this test to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship. o When: October o Cost: $17 ASVAB: Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery o This test combines aptitude and interests to give students an idea of what occupations they should explore. The military uses this test to determine occupations for which recruits may qualify; however, students do not have to go into the military to take the test. o Who: 11 th and 12 th graders (optional) o When: November
AP: Advanced Placement Tests o Subjects covered: 34 subject tests are offered in areas including business, science, mathematics, history, social sciences, foreign language, and composition and literature. o Who: Students who take AP courses. o When: May o Cost: $89 per exam o Note: Not all colleges and universities grant credit for AP exams. Before taking an exam, it is important to check directly with the college you plan to attend to review the specifics of the policy. Go to http://collegesearch.collegeboard.com/apcreditpolicy/index.jsp to check college policies. CLEP: College Level Examination Program o Subject Areas: 36 subject tests are offered in areas including business, science, mathematics, history, social sciences, foreign language, and composition and literature. o Who: Most students take it during their senior year. o When: CLEP tests can be taken at any time. Students should go to clep.collegeboard.org to find a test center and contact information. o Cost: $80 per exam + administration fees (vary by institution) o Note: Not all colleges and universities grant credit for CLEP exams. Before taking an exam, it is important to check directly with the college you plan to attend to review the specifics of the policy. Go to clep.collegeboard.org/search/colleges to check college policies. SAT: Scholastic Aptitude Test o Subjects covered: Mathematics, Critical Reasoning, Writing (mandatory essay) o Scoring: 200-800 points per section o Students are penalized for guessing. o Who: Four-year college-bound students o When: October at Bellevue West (Offered at other high schools throughout the metro in November, December, January, April, May, and June) o Cost: $51 ACT: American College Test o Subjects covered: English, Reading, Mathematics, Science Reasoning, Writing (optional section) o Scoring: 1-36 (writing scored separately) o Students are not penalized for guessing o Who: Four-year college-bound students o When: Offered in October and April at Bellevue West (Offered at other high schools throughout the metro in September, December, February, and June) o Cost: $36.50 (Cost is $52.50 with writing section) ASSET or COMPASS Test o Placement test for most community colleges (including Metro and Iowa Western) o Subjects Covered: Math, English, Reading o Who: Seniors planning to attend a community college. o When: Offered at Bellevue West in the fall or at Metro/Iowa Western by appointment
Activities Colleges are looking for a well-rounded individual. They want to see that students have a focus on academics but are also involved in school and community activities. College advisors may look at community service (volunteering). They want to see that students are giving back to the communities in which they live. Leadership is an important aspect of being involved in activities. Colleges want to see that you have taken on leadership positions because they want you to also take an active role in campus life if you are admitted to their college. College Essays Some colleges may require a personal essay for admission. The admission committee wants to learn more about the "real person." They are much more interested in how people think and decisions made than they are in the actual accomplishments. The committee would like to see what students have learned from their experiences and how it has shaped them. Recommendations Some colleges may require letters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, employers, etc. for admission. Recommendations should be requested at least two weeks in advance and should not be from a relative. Interviews A few colleges may require an interview with a school representative for admission. Junior Year To-Do: Research & visit colleges Take ACT or SAT (4-year college-bound) Continue to get involved in activities, volunteer, and take on leadership roles. Apply for available scholarships Keep grades up Follow us on Twitter! BWest Counseling @BWCounseling o Test Dates, Newsletters, Scholarship deadlines, college visits Read Junior newsletter each month (emailed to students school email; also posted on school s website)
College Selection Open Enrollment: These colleges do not have specific reqirements for class selection, GPA, class rank, or standardized test scores. Examples of open enrollment schools are community colleges (Metropolitan Community College and Iowa Western Community College), Wayne State, Peru State, Chadron State, and Bellevue University. Wayne State ACT (no minimum requirement) No minimum GPA required GED or high school diploma Average ACT of entering freshmen: 21.1 Average GPA of entering freshmen: 4.21 (5.0 scale) Selective: These colleges are looking for particular criteria for admissions. They may have specific course requirements, GPA, class rank, and ACT requirements. Examples of selective schools are Creighton, UNO, Doane College, and UNL. University of Nebraska at Lincoln (UNL) Core Courses: Successful completion of a minimum of 32 credits from the areas listed below is required for admittance. English (4 years) Mathematics (3+1) Students must have one year of math beyond Algebra II. Social Sciences (3 years) Natural Sciences (3 years) Foreign Language (2 years in the same language) In addition to meeting the above core course requirements, traditional freshmen students seeking admission to the University should: Be ranked in the upper one-half of their high school class OR Have received an ACT composite score of 20 or higher Average ACT for Freshmen class at UNL: 25.3
Very Selective: These colleges often have more requirements for admissions purposes. These colleges may require essays, recommendations, and interviews. These colleges also do not have a very high acceptance rate (a lot of students apply, but a low percentage are accepted). Examples of very selective schools are Stanford, Harvard, Georgetown, Duke, and Washington University. Washington University (St. Louis) Most applicants take advantage of honors and advanced placement courses offered by their high schools. Most candidates transcripts include: English (4 years) Mathematics (4 years) Social Sciences (3-4 years) Science (3-4 years) Foreign Language (at least 2 years) Other important parts of the application for admission are: grades and class rank counselor and teacher recommendations personal essay extracurricular and community activities standardized test scores (SAT or ACT). More than 75% freshmen were in top 10% of their high school class and scored over 32 on ACT Military Academies: To be admitted at one of the military academies, students should have an above-average high school record and college admission test scores. The service academies require a nomination from one of Nebraska s congressmen. Students will also be evaluated in three areas: academic performance, demonstrated leadership potential, and physical aptitude. Omaha College Fair Upcoming Events Sunday, April 6th 1-3 p.m. University of Nebraska Omaha (Sapp Fieldhouse) Meet with representatives from Midwest colleges and attend a financial aid session. Academy & Military Information Day Saturday, March 22nd 9 a.m. to noon (presentation starts at 10:30 a.m.) Lincoln Northstar High School, 5801 North 33rd Street, Lincoln, NE Surviving Senior Year Fall Curriculum Night (Bellevue West): Important dates for senior year and what seniors should be doing.