College Preparation

Junior Daher, Grant Abass, and Breanna Prude

What do I need to be doing?

You will ask yourself multiple questions during your freshman/sophomore year of high school: - What do I need to do to prepare for college? - What do I need to do to apply to college? - What do I need to do to be successful in college?

What do I need to do to prepare for college?

First thing is first: high school will determine most of your preparation for college, so make sure you stay on top of your studies. High school is the narrow gate into college. It may be hard at first to enter through this gate, but the reward will be worth the challenges that await you.

Ensure that you grow on good habits and get rid of the bad. Colleges wouldnt want to accept you if you had no idea on how to study. Practice studying the best you can, and get it down. It will help you a lot in high school as well.
Grades mean more to colleges than you may expect. Your high GPA will show colleges that you are a hard-working student, and have the ability to keep good grades through your high school career. Many of the universities ask that you have a minimum of 3.0 GPA, and thats just a minimum!

Be excited for college! Dont sweat the small stuff, because that could ultimately pull you into a hole that will effect your studies during high school. Time flies when youre having fun, but it seems to slow down when life is at its lowest. Take the SAT and ACT standardized exams. These tests will show the colleges that youre interested in your ability to critically think, and how you outperform the logic-based skills of mathematics, critical reading, and writing of other students. We suggest that you take these more than once. Your comfort and know-how with the test will improve the more you take it/practice it. Enroll in rigorous courses such as Advanced Placement and other classes that are labeled advanced. AP may seem scary at first, but they are a lot of fun and worth the possible college credit once you take the exams! They are also graded on a 5-point GPA scale.

What do I need to be doing now to apply to colleges?

Many private and out-of-state universities have different application processes, while California State University and University of California schools have practically the same application. Be aware that deadlines are a very important part of applying to colleges. If youre not on time with the application, how could you possibly be on time to their classes? What about your part-time job on campus? Being on time is the first test of applying to a university! Official high school transcripts, SAT/ACT scores, personal essays, recommendations, and other documents are necessary in order for a university to judge whether youre a good fit for the school. Make sure you have everything completed! Most universities charge a fee for applying to their school and the prices begin to pile up after applying to multiple. Put together a savings early on to save time and alleviate stress.

What do I need to be doing now to be successful in college?

Building on good habits and self-motivation are the greatest traits to acquire while you are in high school. Good habits include being able to do your work even when you dont want to, studying a concept until you understand it enough to take on a quiz or test, and staying away from temptations that cloud the minds of many teenagers. These will carry into college and life, even if you dont think so! Self-motivation is one of the many skills that will ensure your success in college. If it takes forceful thinking in order to get yourself to enjoy a certain subject/concept, then so be it. Motivate yourself by continuing to pursue your dreams and aspirations, and always remember what is at the end of the journey. Many students give up on themselves because of a lack in motivation; dont be one of them.

 Goals and dreams are extremely important to

have. If you have no road to travel, then where will you end up? Setting goals will pave the roads to your destination; in other words, your dreams.
Always be observant of what interests you in life.

A career that you will love is usually not based on the amount of money you will make, but the value that you take in the subject of that career. Be meticulous with your choice in major when the time comes, and let it come naturally!
Do not stress about what mistakes you have

made in your academics/life, but merely the choices you will make afterwards. Nothing is worse for a bright thinkers mind than cluttered thoughts and stress.

A-G Requirements
What are those?!

California State University and University of California both have a set requirement of courses you must enroll in throughout your high school years in order to be eligible for application to their school. It is mandatory that you pass each course with a minimum grade of C. While high schools may accept the grade of D as passing, these colleges do not recognize the mark.

A-G stands for each corresponding letter in A through G, which is relative to the areas of study such as English or Mathematics. A History and Social Sciences: 2 years minimum B English: 4 years minimum C Math: 3 years minimum; 4 recommended D Lab Science: 1 biological science, 1 physical science E Language other than English: 2 year minimum of the same language F Visual/Performing Art: 1 year G College preparatory elective: 1 year minimum elective

The Difference Between Required and Recommended Courses

Required courses for the UC and CSU schools are what is listed under the A-G requirements. Whilst these colleges use a permanent rulebook of sorts to which courses you MUST take, private universities all over the country set their own requirements that may be waived or not observed as necessary classes. Taking into consideration the requirements of A-G, you are practically qualifying yourself for any college around the United States. California has some of the greatest schools which are included in the UC/CSU branch, so the requirements are set at an above-average standard. Recommended courses are those that are well, recommended. These classes will boost your chances of getting into particular universities because you have a broader range of knowledge in that subject. For example, you may have taken your 2 required years of lab science (chemistry and CP biology), but you decide to take AP Physics as a 3rd course. This class isnt required, but it is definitely recommended! Want to stand out from the rest of the applicants? Take 4 years of each subject!

PSAT/SAT/ACT Exams?

What are those? As we explained earlier, these are the exams that will show colleges how you critically think and stand out from other students. In a sense, they test your ability to apply your knowledge and how well you do so. The SAT exam (which can be found at sat.collegeboard.org) can be taken during your junior and senior years of high school, and is most widely accepted by colleges all over the country.

The ACT exam (which can be found at act.org) can be taken during your junior and senior years of high school, and is most widely accepted by colleges all over the country.
The PSAT exam (which can be found at collegeboard.org) can be taken during any 4 years during your high school career. It is first available to juniors and sophomores, but freshmen are eligible if there are spots open. This test is offered and run by our high school, so make sure you watch for when they offer it!

Websites for Researching Colleges

These websites will help you in finding the college that is right for you! They give information about admissions, tuition and living costs, majors/minors offered, and all types of different and interesting info:

www.collegeboard.org
www.collegeprowler.com www.collegeprofiles.com www.cappex.com www.californiacolleges.edu

Things to Remember:

1. Be excited for college. You have time to plan it all out and get prepared! 2. Dont worry about the future as much as what you can be doing now to effect it. 3. Take rigorous courses such as AP and advanced classes. 4. Take the PSAT/ACT/SAT exams. 5. Enroll in all required courses, and take more than what is required! Stand out as much as possible. 6. Have fun while youre young, but remember that school is your main priority and responsibility. Act like its your job, because it is! Just because you dont get paid doesnt mean it wont pay off in the end.

7. Look at high school as a journey into the big and wonderful world of college. High school may not be exciting or satisfactory to your liking, but college is actually fun.
8. Stay positive about school, and remember to always push yourself to do your very best in everything you do, whether its academic or not. It will shape you for your future in college, and ultimately your life and career.

University of California Riverside

Point Loma Nazarene University

Cal Poly Pomona

Northern Arizona University