One more factor colleges look at is whether you have demonstrated interest in a particular area and took action to further your interest. Imagine someone claiming they love engineering who never attended and engineering camp/club. The question you may want to ask is Why.

Secondly, joining a club enhances your social skills such as communication and collaboration. After all, isn’t it fun to do what you love doing without having to think about homework?

One more factor colleges look at is whether you have demonstrated interest in a particular area and took action to further your interest. Imagine someone claiming they love engineering who never attended and engineering camp/club. The question you may want to ask is Why.

Secondly, joining a club enhances your social skills such as communication and collaboration. After all, isn’t it fun to do what you love doing without having to think about homework?

It is a document that lists all the academic courses you have taken since freshman year and shows your performance in them.

Your GPA (Grade Point Average) is a summation of all your grades throughout high school. At Frontier STEM High school, we have a 4.0 scale.

This is the question only you can answer but keep in mind that due to physical limitations and time constraint, it is hard to participate in more than two clubs. Find a club that interests you and stick to it. It shows how you grow within that club from a member to an officer.

This is the question only you can answer but keep in mind that due to physical limitations and time constraint, it is hard to participate in more than two clubs. Find a club that interests you and stick to it. It shows how you grow within that club from a member to an officer.

Weighted GPA takes into account college level courses that a student has taken such as Dual credit, AP, and PLTW. Because these are college level courses, the GPA scale used is 5.0. This means that any student participating in Dual enrollment, AP, or PLTW coursework will get a higher GPA upon successful completion. Thus, earning a “B” in a college level course would equal to equal to getting an “A” in an on-level class.

Frontier STEM High School is a ranking school. This means that every student is ranked according to their academic performance in relation to other students within the same grade level. Your class rank appears at the bottom of your transcript.

Weighted

Early in senior year. For college application purposes, class ranking will be finalized after the junior year and that is the rank that will be reported to colleges.

Yes. Your ACT/SAT/AP scores will appear on your transcript along with state assessments.

It is essentially the same document but the official transcript is the one that is signed by an authorized school official and that has a school seal. The official transcript then is put in an envelope and is sent to an institution or organization directly by the high school instead of giving it to the student.

High school students have a unique opportunity to enroll in college level courses. At Frontier STEM High School, students can select from AP, Dual enrollment, and PLTW courses.

These courses offer a number of benefits.

COLLEGE CREDIT. Upon successful completion, credits could transfer to a college. Note that credits may not always transfer to every college. Credit transfer depends on colleges’ policies. As a general rule though, state public colleges award college credit.

GPA BOOST. Be enrolling in college level courses and performing well gives a GPA boost. For instance, getting a “B” in an AP class, is equal in weight to earning an “A” in an on-level high school class. This is because college level courses are graded on a 5.0 GPA scale while regular high school courses are evaluated on a 4.0 GPA scale.

RIGOR. When reading your college application documents, admissions officers want to make sure that you already have some level of exposure to a college curriculum. This gives assurance to colleges that you are ready to take on a college course and do well in it which brings us to the next point.

PREFERRED COLLEGE ADMISSION. Colleges would like to see challenging and rigorous courses on your transcript such as AP, Dual credit, and PLTW courses. When admissions officers see those listed, your application becomes much stronger which of course increases your chance of getting into the college of your dream.

SAVES TIME & MONEY. Earning college credit exempts you from taking the same course in college which could cost hundreds if not thousands of $. For instance, you are a high schooler who completed AP Calculus AB. You passed the test, now you can earn college credit for introductory math courses in college. This means that you will not have to take intro math classes and choose another class instead. Not only have you saved money and time, but also you get to choose your class when everyone else has to take that math course in college.

CREDIT REQUIREMENTS. You earn a college credit simply by completing a Dual credit class while you are required to take and pass the exam for AP classes. AP exams are scored on a “5” point scale where “3” is the minimum passing score. Scoring a 3 on AP class demonstrates that you mastered the content. Note that some colleges only take the scores of “4” while others only take “5” even though the passing score is a “3.”

CREDIT TRANSFER SCALE. AP scores are accepted by colleges nationwide with the exception of few while Dual credit mostly transfers to the state public colleges. Dual credit earned in Texas may not be accepted by colleges in Nebraska. With that, note that some colleges may still be open to transferring an out of state credit, it is best to check with the target college for details.

RIGOR. AP and Dual credit courses may also differ in rigor/level of difficulty. Dual credit courses are usually delivered by community or local colleges while AP courses are coordinated by College Board.

MODE OF DELIVERY. While there are exceptions, Dual credit courses are mainly taught by college instructors whereas AP and PLTW courses are taught by high school teachers. Dual credit courses are most of the time delivered online, while AP and PLTW courses are taught in person. Note that exceptions to this rule are possible.

COURSE LENGTH. Dual credit courses are semester-based. Students must enroll in new courses every semester. However, AP and PLTW courses are mainly yearlong courses.

PLTW courses are, much like the AP and Dual enrollment, college level courses. These courses are taught by high school teachers. Upon completion, students take EOC (End Of Course) exams to earn college credit. Students need to score “proficient” or above to earn college credit. College credit earned through the PLTW program is only transferable to partner colleges. To check the list, click at the link here https://www.pltw.org/our-partners/college-and-university-partners

These so called college tests are designed to measure your readiness for college and how likely you are to succeed in college academically. High school students could take these tests several times throughout the year for college admission and sometimes scholarship purposes.

As a general rule, colleges give equal weight to SAT/ACT.

Yes and No. The ACT exam costs $42.50.The ACT with writing is $58.50. Check with your college if they require you to take the writing portion. Register at www.actstudent.org Create an account first if you don’t already have it and register.

The SAT exam costs $45, with the optional writing exam the cost is $57.

However, you may qualify for a fee waiver. The fee waiver allows you to test for free up to two times throughout high school. Check with your counselor to find out if you qualify. Register at www.collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register

At the time of registration, you will be prompted to choose a test center, usually a high school or college, that is the nearest and most convenient to you.

No.2 pencils, a graphing calculator, Test Registration Ticket, and a photo ID.

While there is no limit to how many times one should take the test, it is recommended to take the test three times junior and senior years combined. We encourage students to take more than once as it would provide more options. Some colleges superscore, or take the highest section score from each time you took the test. thus, your superscored composite score may come out higher than any individual composite score.

All juniors take the ACT early in April. In addition, juniors will have two more fee waivers for test registration based on their eligibility. Students wanting to test more than three times are responsible financially for test registration.

Refer to the following chart to determine which one suits you the most.

Take an SAT vs. ACT Quiz

Another way you can determine which test is right for you is to take a short quiz. In the chart below, check whether you agree or disagree with each statement.

Now, count up your check marks in each column to find out what your score means.

Mostly Agrees — The SAT is your match!

If you agreed with most or all of the above statements, the SAT is what you've been looking for. With the SAT, you'll have more time for each question and won't need to deal with a pesky science section or a ton of geometry questions.

Mostly Disagrees — The ACT's the one for you!

If you disagreed with most or all of the statements, you'll most likely prefer the ACT over the SAT. On the ACT, you'll never have to come up with your own answers to math problems, and you get to let your opinion shine in your writing.

Equal Agrees and Disagrees — Either test will work!

If you checked "Agree" and "Disagree" an equal number of times, either the ACT or SAT will suit you. Unless you decide to take both, I suggest taking official ACT and SAT practice tests (as described in #1 above) to see which test's format you're ultimately more comfortable with.

Applying to colleges can be a complex and stressful journey at times. There is a series of documents required and students may feel overwhelmed juggling all components of the application. Here are a few items to keep in mind:

• Different colleges have different requirements. It is your responsibility to visit your colleges’ websites for an accurate information.

• Make a college list consisting of 8 colleges. The more colleges you apply the more options you have. This does not imply, however, that you should apply to 30 colleges. ☺

• Check for application deadline. Look out for notes “Postmarked by,” “Received by.” Postmarked by means the documents have to be mailed out by the deadline but could reach the admissions office after the deadline. Received by refers to the date colleges must have your documents in the admissions office usually by 5:00 pm of the date listed.

• If you are applying to more than 3 colleges, it is recommended to use the college application tracking form. Please find the form in the Appendix section

• Then you must apply directly on the college website or via Common Application

Common Application (www.commonapp.org) is used for application to colleges and universities who share a commitment of promoting access through holistic admission. There are now over 700 Common Application members. See the website for a complete listing of member institutions. Common App Member schools require these important forms in the application process: Secondary School Report, Mid-Year Report, and the Teacher Evaluation.

Your Common App account then must be matched with your Naviance account. See your counselor for assistance.

• Colleges usually charge an application fee that varies from college to college. At Frontier STEM, seniors could request a Fee Waiver at the counselor’s office, fill it out, and submit the form to the counselor. The Fee Waiver will then be sent to the colleges of your choice along with other supporting documents. Note that not all colleges accept fee waivers and some have their own forms and requirements to go through to waive the fee.

• As a senior, you must also decide if you are applying through an early application plan such as Early Decision (binding), Early Action (non-binding), Regular Decision, or Rolling Admission pans. We encourage you to discuss your options with your counselor if you are not sure.

• After you apply, it is important to inform your counselor about which colleges you applied to and request a high school transcript through Naviance. Note: Do NOT request your transcript or other supporting documents verbally to be sent to colleges of your choice. It is not a good idea to request a transcript in cafeteria during lunch verbally as there is a chance your request may fall through the cracks. Allow plenty of time before the deadline. Your request may NOT be honored if made a day prior to the deadline mainly because your counselor might be working on multiple other requests sent in earlier.

• Your high school transcripts will be sent to colleges three times. INITIAL transcript is sent out at the time of your application to colleges. MID-YEAR transcript is sent in January and includes your first semester grades from senior year. FINAL transcripts go out in June when all grades are posted. It is mostly Common App schools that require three-time transcript submission.

Your resume should include your activities, community service, work experience, education, special skills and talents, leadership skills and the like. Remember that it is an official document based on which college officers will have a general idea about you. Avoid using nicknames, inappropriate e-mails (micheymouse@gmail.com), and informal language. Keep your resume to 1-2 pages.

Check to see on the colleges’ websites if interview is required for admission. If you are interviewing, your outfit, manners, punctuality, interest in and knowledge about the target college will be “tested.” They will note a thoughtful student who asks engaging questions. The types of questions you ask reveal how much time you spent researching about the institution.

Some colleges require the letters, some others recommend, yet others do not need them. It is your responsibility to find that out on the colleges’ website. If you need letters, make sure how many is required and who it is required from. Some colleges specify they need two letters from teachers and one from the counselor. If this is the case:

• First talk to your teacher/counselor about the possibility of getting a letter and allow at least three weeks for your letters to be complete before the date needed. This does not mean you could request a letter while on holiday and expect your letter to be ready when school starts. Do NOT ask for a letter the day before. This tells a lot about your time management and organization skills.

• Secondly, talk about your post high school plans and have a list of colleges you are applying to handy. Talk about your possible major and give your reasoning for your choice.

• Next, be ready to explain why you are requesting a letter from that particular teacher and not others.

• Lastly, write a thank you note to your academic referee as a sign of appreciation.

Can I ask a freshman teacher?

If your freshman teacher has not taught you in most recent years, you should consider upper grade level teachers that know you well. A lot can happen in three years, so colleges want to know about the present you.

Should it be a teacher in a class I earned an A?

Not always. If it is a class you struggled in and demonstrated improvement, then it could tell colleges a lot about your resilience and perseverance - great traits to have that lead to success.

This is considered one of the cornerstones of your application package. Again, it is necessary to check and see if colleges you are applying require an essay. If required, start early on your essay, have ELA teachers proofread. Edit, edit, edit. Continuous work on your essay polishes it and brings it to the next level. Admissions officers are most likely able to tell an essay that was drafted overnight before the deadline. One becomes an expert after reading hundreds of essays, don’t you think?

Your essay is an opportunity for you to talk about yourself. Watch for grammar and other conventional errors. Stick to restrictions such as size. Your essay is submitted together with your application.

Your ACT/SAT/AP test scores will be included in your high school transcript. Some colleges do not mind accepting your scores off of the transcript, while some others require that you send your scores through College Board (SAT/AP), or ACT (actstudent.org) Plan to take the ACT/SAT three times before December of your senior year. Talk to your counselor about fee waivers if you want to register for a test. Remember, test registration deadline is usually a month before the test date. Register early to avoid the late registration fee.

To prep for the tests, talk to your counselor for resources.

Watch for e-mail communications coming from college representatives. Usually the e-mails will contain your ID number assigned by colleges and a link to set up your college account for that particular school. Having your account in the portal allows you to check the admission decision status, and the amount of financial aid you will receive among other things.

This is the document that includes the cost of attendance for the college you applied and the amount of aid you are offered. Request a meeting with your counselor and compare different offers you have received. This is when you will understand why your counselor was “pushing” you to apply to more (8) colleges. Having more options means having more power. Remember, you can always eliminate options at hand, but you cannot do so when you are “optionless.” You will then commit to a college, pay the deposit (amount varies), attend the orientation, and register for courses. Welcome to college!!!

All types of financial aid offered to students including loans, grants, scholarships, work and study programs fall under this category.

“Gift money” that students are not required to pay back. There are federal and state grants. Grants are disbursed based on household’s financial need. In order to determine the grant amount, students and parents fill out an application known as FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) starting the senior year in high school and every year thereafter in college. The maximum amount per year a student could qualify for is roughly $6,000.

State grants come in addition to the federal grant. The FAFSA application is used to determine the state grant amount.

It refers to funds students/parents borrow and pay back later on together with an interest.

In addition to loans and grants, students can apply for scholarships. Scholarships can come from colleges and different organizations. Scholarships can be awarded for a range of accomplishments and talents students demonstrate. Login to your Naviance account for a list of scholarship application sources.

Although rare, students have an opportunity to work part time on a college campus as an extra resource to fund their college education. Students are usually required to work no more than 20 hours per week on campus only.

Yes and No. College education does cost money as it could be an investment in your future. At the same time, federal and state grants, institution based and private scholarships could offset a good chunk of your college expenses.

FAFSA application opens on October 1st every year. The earlier you complete your application the better. Think of federal grant as a cake. There are only limited pieces but many contenders. Late application does not guarantee you will receive a grant even though you qualify. Colleges have their deadlines by which FAFSA must be completed. It is necessary to contact your college financial aid office and find out the deadline.

Computer and internet access, Social Security number, Alien Registration number (for non-US citizens). There are two parts to the application – student and parent side. To complete their part of the application, parents need Federal Income Tax Returns, W-2 and other records of money earned.

It depends on a scholarship. Each organization set their deadlines, eligibility requirements, and other criteria such as age and additional requirements including essays, transcripts etc. It is highly recommended that you start exploring and applying early in high school.

No. Financial aid is disbursed to the college you will attend.

Undocumented and DACA students are not eligible to apply for FAFSA. However, there are multiple scholarship opportunities available. Login to your Naviance account to search for scholarships for undocumented and DACA students.

Scholarships can be merit and need based. Merit-based scholarships are given for different accomplishments such as high GPA, high test scores, winning at the Olympiad etc. Need-based scholarships look at your financial need. Check with your school for the availability of specific types of scholarship.

Scholarship Search Sites

It is important to note that scholarships might come with additional requirements such as keeping a certain GPA in college. Ask the financial aid office if scholarship is renewable or is it a one-time scholarship.

An occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person's life and with opportunities for progress.

It involves working with another employee who might have a different job in hand, might have something to teach, or can help the person shadowing him or her to learn new aspects related to the job, organization, certain behaviors or competencies.

A job fair, also referred commonly as a career fair or career expo, is speed dating for companies and professionals job seekers. A job fair is an event in which employers, recruiters, and schools give information to potential employees.

The position of a student or trainee who works in an organization, sometimes without pay, in order to gain work experience or satisfy requirements for a qualification.

A temporary training program in a workplace, especially one offered to students as part of a course of study.

CTE prepares learners for the world of work by introducing them to workplace competencies, and makes academic content accessible to students by providing it in a hands-on context.

• Occupational Outlook Handbook

• https://www.onetonline.org

• http://stemcareer.com

• http://careers-in-business.com

• Naviance

• Major and Career Search

You are no longer required to wake up in the morning and attend classes from 8:00 am till 3:00 pm. Nobody questions why you have not completed your assignments or why your attendance is low. You are no longer required to take mandatory courses, now you get to study what you are truly interested in. This may sound a lot like total freedom which it could be, but remember that now you are responsible for your actions, not your teachers, parents, or counselor.

Let’s take a look at some of the differences between high school and college below. Information retrieved from https://www.fastweb.com/student-life/articles/the-differences-between-high-school-college on June 20, 2018.