I Want To Go To College

Guidance‎ > ‎Is There Life After High School?‎ > ‎

HOW DO I GET THERE????

One question to ask yourself is what are you interested in. What careers are affiliated with what I like doing?

It is important to remember that every career will require some form of training after graduating from High School, however not all careers require a 4 year College degree. Some careers require less than a 4 year college degree while other careers will require a Master's degree and or a Doctorate degree.

The Virginia Department of Education in conjunction with an number of other agencies have put together a website called the Virginia Wizard, which contains an abundance of information to include a career assessment, a college cost calculator, a college search engine, etc. This is a free website that allows students to establish an account and discover their interests and the training required to begin in the career of their choice.

Want to know based on your grade level what you should be doing in preparing for after High School? Go to Bigfuture.collegboard.org and MAKE A PLAN!!!!

Another helpful website is the Collegeboard site. This site is where one would go to register for the SAT which is one of 2 required standardized tests colleges use in their admissions process. This site also contains a comprehensive timeline from grade 9 through 12 detailing what students should be focused on throughout the year in preparation for attending college after high school.

The ACT is the other standardized test utilized by colleges and universities during the admissions process. Click on the ACT to be taken to that website where students register to take that test.

For an explanation of both standardized tests and a comparison, please click on the following link: SATs vs ACTs

Now I Want To Apply

During your Senior Year you will need to apply to your college choices online. Apply to at least 3 colleges as opposed to just one.

Be mindful of the application deadlines for each college you are applying to as those deadlines vary. Also be mindful if you are applying under "Early Decision" or "Early Action". Read carefully what those stipulations mean. Colleges may stipulate that if you are applying under "Early Action" you will be legally bound to attend that college if you are accepted. One would only apply to a college under this stipulation if you are definitely planning on attending that college upon acceptance.

Go to Guidance and get a "Request for Official Transcript" form from the Guidance Secretary. The cost for an Official Transcript is $2.00. If you are under 18 you will have to have your parent/guardian sign the "Request for Official Transcript" form.

In January, you will need to apply for Financial Aid. (Click on link to go this page) Your parent's/guardian's tax information will be needed to complete the FAFSA application. Encourage them to have their taxes done as soon as they receive their W-2's from their place of employment. You will also list the colleges you are applying to on the FASA application. Once you are accepted into a college and then you in turn respond to that acceptance your intentions to attend the following school year, you will get Financial Aid information from that college.