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| When should I start thinking about college? |
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It is best to begin thinking about college no later than junior high or middle school. A student who decides to go to college before high school is able to use all four years to help reach his or her goals. If you know the courses you need to take in high school, you can start satisfying college admission requirements as early as the 8th grade. The decisions you make about your high school studies can influence whether the college you choose will also want you.
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| Suppose I know that I want to go to college, but I'm not sure what I want to study? |
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You can begin thinking about your choices early to consider all the different aspects of a job. Do some research, find out what jobs are available, and talk to people who work in an area that you think sounds interesting. It may not be necessary to decide on a specific career immediately, but it is a good idea to narrow your choices as much as possible. Use the Plan a Career module to assist your search.
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| What high school courses do I need to take to help me get into college? |
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Even if they are not required for high school graduation, most colleges require at least three, and prefer four, years of studies in the following core courses:
English
Math
Science
Social Studies
In addition, most colleges require at least two years of the same foreign language. Computer science courses or courses that require students to use computers in research and project preparation are often essential for college performance. Participation in extracurricular activities is also a good idea in high school. Courses that require study and time outside the classroom (like speech and debate, band, communications, and drama) indicate a willingness to cooperate with others and to put forth the effort needed to succeed.
Your grades are important. However, the difficulty of your coursework can also be a significant admissions factor. In general, most colleges prefer students with average grades in tougher courses than students who opt for an easy A.
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| What else can I do to improve my chances of being accepted? |
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Class Rank
College admissions counselors usually consider class rank. By doing so, colleges are looking at the grades you get in relation to those of your peers.
Standardized Tests
In addition to coursework, grades, and class rank, scores on standardized tests (such as the SAT and ACT) can be included among the criteria for admission to some colleges and universities.
College Credit Before You Start
Often high school students are eligible to receive college credit while they are still enrolled in high school. Advanced Placement and test-preparation courses offer students who prepare early and take more difficult courses during their junior high and high school years the chance to earn college credit and save on tuition.
Advanced Placement (AP) courses are available in over 20 subjects. Students scoring high enough on AP exams can receive college credit and thus save time and money by taking fewer college courses. Ask your high school counselor if AP courses are available in your school.
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| What if I don't know which colleges or universities I want to send my scores to? |
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Both the ACT and the SAT allow test takers to send their scores to several different organizations, including scholarship programs, colleges, and universities. Even if you aren't certain which school you want to attend, you can send your scores to those that you are considering most strongly. Also, if you later decide to apply to schools that you were not initially considering, you can pay to have additional reports sent there as well.
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| What if I get a terrible score? Can I take the test a second time? |
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Yes, both the ACT and the SAT allow students to take the test several times. And sometimes scores do improve enough to make the difference for a particular student. But there is no guarantee that a student's scores will improve. If you want to improve your scores, you should see about doing some things to prepare first. Talk to a counselor before you take a test over.
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