College Selection Criteria

College Selection Criteria

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College Selection Criteria

Urban, Suburban, Rural
Size of school
Realistic chance for admission
Majors offered
Cost
Living conditions
Job placement % in major
Extracurricular activities

College Requirements

Minimum academic requirements for a four-year college:

§ 4 years of English

§ 3 years of Math: Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Plane Geometry

§ 3 years of Science including 2 lab Sciences

§ 2 years of a single Foreign Language

§ 2.5 years of social sciences including U.S History

§ 2 years of electives including fine arts, PE, and computer courses

What if you haven’t met these requirements?

Community Colleges require only a high school diploma or a GED for acceptance. Individual majors that are highly competitive may have additional requirements.

Additional academic requirements:

Depending on your major and the college you wish to apply to, there may be additional requirements.

1. Auditions or Interviews

2. Portfolios

3. SAT, ACT

4. Personal essay

5. Specific course requirements

6. Practical experience or volunteer work

*Learn about specific academic requirements of each college you plan to apply to early enough so that you can plan accordingly.

College Timeline for Juniors and Seniors

College Timeline for College Admissions

Action Plan for JUNIORS

♦FALL

When colleges review your transcript they place a heavy emphasis on your junior year grades. Put in extra time and effort!

Start Your College Search

· Visit Careercruising.com and take the Career matchmaker test.

USERNAME: Chicopee PW: Careers

· Explore careers, colleges, and universities.

· Start with you: Make a list of your abilities, preferences, and personal qualities. List the things you may want to study and do in college.

Take the PSAT/NMSQT

· At school, sign up early to take the PSAT/NMSQT in October. Get practice tips and a free practice test at collegeboard.com

Start Thinking About Financial Aid

· Talk to your counselor about college plans and attend our financial aid nights. Use financial aid calculators to estimate your aid eligibility and college costs.

♦WINTER

Plan Your Spring Testing Schedule

· Sign up to take the SAT. You can also plan on taking the ACT. See the SAT and ACT schedule of test dates and register online for the SAT and ACT at collegeboard.com.

· Your PSAT/NMSQT Score Report arrives in December. Use it to improve your skills and prepare for the SAT.

Student Athletes - Register with the NCAA

· Visit ncaaclearinghouse.com to register.

· Have an honest talk with your coach about your athletic ability. Your coach can give you some suggestions as to the size and type of program for which your talents are best suited.

· Send a letter with athletic and academic information to coaches at schools that interest you.

♦SPRING

Get Ready for the SAT

· Visit the SAT Preparation Center online to take a free full-length official practice test and get a score

and skills report. Be sure to sign up for the SAT Question of the Day for daily practice.

Explore Colleges

· Start visiting local colleges: large, small, public, and private. Get a feel for what works for you.

· Attend local college fairs. Be sure to attend the one held at your own high school.

Plan Ahead for Summer & Senior Year

· Review your senior year class schedule with your counselor. Challenge yourself with honors and AP classes and stick with sequences you’ve begun, in languages, for example.

· Plan summer activities early. Enrich yourself by volunteering, getting an interesting job, or signing up for special summer learning programs.

♦Summer

Keep Your Momentum up This Summer

· Visit colleges. Take campus tours and at colleges you’re serious about, schedule interviews with admissions counselors. Download and print a campus visit checklist at collegeboard.com

· Request applications from colleges to which you’ll apply. Check important dates; some universities have rolling admissions, early admittance, or early action.

Action Plan for SENIORS

♦FALL

Take the SAT-1, SAT-2, or ACT

· This will be your last attempt a before sending out college applications so put in your best effort.

· Study by visiting Collegeboard.com and answering the SAT Question of the Day and taking practice tests.

Pull Your Applications Together

· Narrow down your list of colleges and review it with your counselor.

· Get an application from each college & visit as many as possible.

· Ask for recommendations.

· Begin writing application essays and ask teachers and parents to read first drafts.

Applying Early Action or Early Decision?

· For early admissions, colleges may require test scores and applications in early November. Send your SAT scores at collegeboard.com.

Get Financial Aid Info

· Attend financial aid night

· Use Scholarship Search at collegeboard.com, review scholarships available on Comp’s website, and ask your counselor about local and state funding sources.

♦WINTER

Application Details

· Most regular applications are due between January 1 and February 15.

· Contact colleges to make sure they’ve received all application materials.

Financial Aid: Apply Early

· Submit your FAFSA as soon after January 1 as possible.

♦SPRING

When The Letters Start Rolling In

· You should get acceptance letters and financial aid offers by mid-April

· If you haven’t already, visit your final college before accepting.

May 1: Make Your Final Choice

· You must tell every college of your acceptance or rejection of offers of admission or financial aid by May 1. Send a deposit to the college you choose.

· Wait-listed? If you will enroll if accepted, tell the admissions director your intent and ask how to strengthen your application.

♦Summer

Next Steps

· Ask Chicopee Comp to send a final transcript to your college.

· Start preparing for the year ahead by getting a good summer job that will help you save.