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 What
Colleges and Universities Look For....
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ADMISSION CRITERIA
Colleges are interested in the
information listed below when deciding whether or not to admit
an applicant. Individual colleges differ in how they evaluate
this information.
If you are a
Bridgeway Homeschool Academy family you can
contact us for help with this
challenging process.
Grade Point Average (GPA)
Class Rank
Difficulty of courses
SAT scores
Recommendations
Activity involvement/awards
Personal essays
Interviews
GRADE POINT AVERAGE
A student’s grade point average (GPA) is important for college
admission. A GPA is the average of a student’s grades, starting
with the freshman year. The higher the GPA, the greater the
college and scholarship opportunities.
CLASS RANK
Class rank shows where a student stands academically in relation
to the other members of his/her graduating class. Class rank is
often presented with the student’s place in the class followed
by the total number of students in the class (e.g., 59/561).
Rank can be important when applying for scholarships because
many scholarships stipulate that a student must be in the top
10% (or 20%, etc.) of his/her class.
TRANSCRIPT
A transcript is a document that outlines a student’s academic
achievement in high school. A transcript contains the following
information:
Courses, grades, and credits for each grade level completed,
beginning with grade 9.
Current yearly and cumulative GPA and class rank
SAT (or ACT scores)
Attendance
Distinctions
All applications request that an
official transcript be submitted with the application. An
official transcript must have a signature, stamp, or seal
verifying its authenticity. An unofficial transcript is the same
as an official transcript except there is no official signature,
stamp, or seal. You may request an unofficial transcript for
personal use (e.g. to take with you on a college visit) by
contacting the counseling office.
COURSES RECOMMENDED FOR COLLEGE ADMISSION
Four-year colleges require students to complete certain college
preparatory courses while in high school. These include a
minimum of:
4 years of English
4 years of social studies
3 years of math, including Algebra I, Algebra II, and geometry
3 years of science (Lab Sciences)
2-3 years of a modern foreign language
1 year of fine arts
Students lacking these courses
may be required to take remedial and/or additional courses at
college. Students should take as much college preparatory math,
science, English, foreign language, and social studies as they
can handle academically.
COLLEGE TESTING
Extensive planning should go into your child’s testing schedule.
The following tests may be considered:
PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test/National
Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) - A practice test for the
SAT which is also used to determine National Merit
semifinalists. It is given each October to juniors and to some
sophomores. The PSAT is divided into five sections (two verbal,
two math and one writing).
SAT I - (Scholastic Assessment Test) - a college entrance
examination taken in the spring of the junior year and the fall
of the senior year. Students receive a verbal and math score.
Registration bulletins as well as preparation booklets are
available in the career/college resource center. There are
numerous books, tapes, computer programs and preparation courses
available. The best preparation for this test is a strong,
challenging course load throughout the high school years. The
SAT is offered in October, November, December, January, March,
May and June. Parkland High School administers the SAT in
November, March, May and June. Check the registration bulletin
for specific dates.
Approximately two weeks before the test date, registered
students receive an admission ticket to enter the SAT test along
with instructions. Students must bring picture identification in
order to be admitted to the test. This test is given on Saturday
morning and takes approximately four hours. Scores are received
in four to five weeks after the test date.
ACT- (American College Test) - a college entrance
examination used widely in the South and Western part of our
country. It is generally taken during the junior and/or senior
year. Students receive scores in English, Reading, Math and
Science Reasoning, as well as a Composite score. Some colleges
will accept the SAT or the ACT.
SAT II - Subject Tests - one hour tests which measure a
student’s knowledge of specific subjects, and his/her ability to
apply that knowledge. These tests are required by some but not
all colleges. Generally, the more competitive colleges require
applicants to take one or more of these tests for admission
and/or placement. Registration Bulletins and preparation
booklets are available in the career/college resource center.
AP EXAM - (Advanced Placement) - the purpose of AP tests
is not to get you into college, but to earn you credits once you
get there. AP tests are administered in May and should be taken
as soon as possible after taking a related AP course. Colleges
differ as to what score is required for granting college credit.
ASVAB - (The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery)
- is available to all juniors and seniors in September and
April. This test gives a student self-knowledge about his/her
natural aptitudes. This information can be vital in career
planning.
NCAA REQUIREMENTS
Athletes must meet specific academic criteria before receiving
an athletic scholarship at a Division I or II college or even
before playing a sport in college. A student must have a 2.0 GPA
in 13 core courses or a combined SAT score of 820. A student
with a minimum GPA will need a higher test score, and the
student with a minimum test score will need a higher GPA.
Students must take specific approved "core" courses in order to
meet NCAA eligibility requirements. It is important athletes be
aware of these NCAA requirements and plan their courses and
testing to meet these criteria.
TWO YEAR COLLEGES AND TECHNICAL SCHOOLS
We encourage all students to pursue post high school
education/training. Only about 20% of today’s careers require a
four-year college degree. In many cases, students can prepare
for today’s high demand career fields by attending a community
college or technical school. Many of these schools do not
require that a student has a college preparatory background, nor
do they require SAT testing. Students may also begin their
education at a two-year college and then transfer to a four-year
college to complete their bachelor’s degree
Ongoing Support For Your High School Student
MONITOR ACADEMIC PROGRESS
Be sure that you are keeping up with the grading of all tests,
projects, compositions, etc. Don’t assume your student will tell
you if he or she is struggling. Keeping on top of it will allow
you to help your student effectively.
ENCOURAGE YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER TO BECOME ACTIVE IN A VARIETY
OF ACTIVITIES
In addition to an activities list, college applications ask for
evidence of leadership. If your child has leadership potential,
encourage him/her to develop this skill by assuming leadership
roles in clubs and teams. Depth of involvement shows focus and
commitment. Volunteer experience is also impressive.
DEVELOP AN ONGOING LIST OF SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, HONORS, AWARDS,
LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, EMPLOYMENT, VOLUNTEER WORK, COMMUNITY
ACTIVITIES, ETC.
This will be very helpful later when your son or daughter is
required to list activities on applications. It is also helpful
to give this list to anyone you have asked to write a letter of
recommendation. See recommendation profile located in this
pamphlet.
REVIEW REGISTRATION FORM
Every spring, review your child’s registration form to make sure
he/she has selected the most challenging courses for the next
school year.
PLAN MEANINGFUL SUMMER ACTIVITIES
Be aware of the excellent summer enrichment programs available
on college campuses. Other summer activities can give your child
invaluable experiences. Consider athletic teams, courses, jobs,
volunteer work, hobbies, lessons and travel.
RESEARCH AND DISCUSS JOBS, CAREERS, COLLEGE OPTIONS
As the opportunity arises, gather information, talk to people
about their occupations, and make informal visits to colleges.
Discuss your child’s aptitudes, interests and abilities with
him/her and look at these in terms of career options.
LOOKING AT COLLEGE OPTIONS
What is important to your son/daughter when selecting a
college?? There are over 2,600 colleges and universities in this
country and the task of narrowing the list can be overwhelming.
As you start this process, consider the following:
Location
Size
Cost
Facilities
Available Majors
Reputation
Competitiveness
Community
Sports Activities
Urban or Rural
After you have determined your
priorities, you can then begin to search for the schools that
meet your criteria. We have listed a number of excellent
reference books at the bottom of this document. A wealth of
information is available in bookstores and on the Internet. Call
admissions offices and ask to be placed on mailing lists so you
will receive information pertaining to visitation days and
upcoming events. Visitations, preview days, or open houses can
be informative as they are held specifically for prospective
students. They may provide opportunities to visit a class, tour
the campus, and give information on specific majors and
financial aid. You may also call to schedule an individual
appointment, especially if there is something on your child’s
academic record you would like to explain. Take an unofficial
transcript with you.
To make the most of your college visit, make sure you do
the following:
Research the college before visiting. Have a list of questions
ready.
Take a tour. Every campus has a personality. How do the students
look? What is the atmosphere? Talk to students and ask their
opinion of the school.
Attend information sessions for parents and students.
Ask to see facilities for the major your child is considering.
Talk to someone who is in the same program.
Does the college have a placement office?
Does the college have an honors program?
What unique opportunities does the school have for qualified
students?
Ask to visit a dorm and see a dorm room. Eat in the cafeteria.
Inquire about any program of interest to your child (L.D.
support and tutoring, musical activities, sports).
Make an appointment with a financial aid counselor. Inquire
about scholarship opportunities.
Concerns to address may include: campus safety, teaching
assistants teaching classes/labs in place of professors, and the
possibility for a student to complete their program in four
years.
Senior Year Preparation
COLLEGE FILE
After contacting colleges and making visitations, start a filing
system. Keep documentation of all contacts made including names,
dates, copies of correspondence, completed applications and
forms. It’s easy to become overwhelmed and disorganized with
paperwork.
SENIOR TIMETABLE
Help your child set up a timetable/schedule, planning test
dates, application deadlines, college visitation days and other
dates of major importance. Consider previous test scores to
determine if any of these tests should be taken again. Highly
competitive colleges look for SAT scores of 1300 and over;
moderately competitive colleges look for SAT scores in the 1100
range; state universities look for SAT scores of around 1000.
Don’t forget to check college handbooks for SAT II requirements.
SENIOR COURSES
Once you are sure that senior courses meet all graduation
requirements, you should then consider course requirements of
the college(s). Some seniors may desire to "take it easy" but
colleges are looking for students who are taking a strong and
challenging course load. Senior courses are listed on the high
school transcript.
NOTE: Colleges will
send a midyear report form to submit to the counseling office.
If no form is required, please remember to notify the academy
office that a midyear senior transcript needs to be sent. A
final senior transcript including end of the year grades will be
sent to the school you select.
Many colleges require students to
take English, math and possibly science placement tests before
registering for freshman courses. A student who does not take
challenging courses is not likely to do as well on these tests.
Bridgeway Academy College Application
Procedure
Need help? 800-863-1474
Bridgeway Academy processes hundreds of college applications
each school year. Many colleges now offer various options for
submitting application information—some colleges accept
applications electronically, on disc format, or during a visit,
as well as the traditional paper application. Therefore, it is
necessary for the Academy office to be aware of the method
students are using to submit their applications. The following
guidelines should be used in the college application process.
1. For all students, it is
necessary to complete a transcript release form. This is a form
that the student and the parent (if the student is under 18
years of age) must sign allowing Bridgeway Academy to release
official academic information to colleges.
2. Students must allow at
least ten school days for processing information. Please pay
particular attention to deadlines.
3. Students will send their requests
to their advisor in the Academy office. Each college has
specific requirements for processing applications. Students must
carefully review what the college is requesting. If a college
requires students to submit all application materials together,
the student must include all parts of the application together
when submitting their request. If the college does not require
all parts of the application to come in one package, the student
should submit the application independently and request that
Bridgeway Academy send an official transcript and any additional
materials the advisor needs to complete. If a college requests a
counselor recommendation, the student will complete a
recommendation profile when submitting their request.
4. Many colleges will require
students to submit teacher recommendations. If your student
has worked with a teacher in any capacity—through enrichment
classes, electives, Sunday School, etc., check with those
teachers for a recommendation. When a student is asking a
teacher to write him/her a recommendation, the student must
supply the teacher with a stamped envelope(s) addressed to the
institution(s) and any recommendation forms that may be provided
by the college.
We suggest that students provide
teachers with a recommendation profile to assist the teacher in
writing the best recommendation possible. We encourage students
to ask teachers for recommendations well in advance of
deadlines. Teacher recommendations are not processed through the
Academy office.
Note: Scholarship applications are to be handled in the same
manner.
Admission Options
EARLY ACTION
Schools that offer EARLY ACTION admissions are willing to notify
candidates of acceptance earlier than mid-April. Deadlines vary
from school to school but are usually in the fall of the senior
year. Students may still apply to other schools.
EARLY DECISION
If a student is positive he/she wants to attend a certain
school, one can apply under their EARLY DECISION PLAN. When
accepted, a student will say yes and withdraw applications to
any other schools. This application of admission must be
submitted early in the fall and no later than November 15. All
testing must be done before the fall of the senior year. If a
student is not accepted under early decision, his/her
application is reconsidered without bias under the college’s
regular admissions plan.
ROLLING ADMISSIONS
ROLLING ADMISSION schools process applications on a first-come,
first serve basis and notify students within a few weeks of
receiving the application.
OPEN ADMISSIONS
Open admission schools accept almost every student who has a
high school degree without regard to test scores, grade average
or class rank.
SELECTIVE ADMISSION CATEGORY
The specific requirements vary from school to school and may be
rigorous but most students can expect to be admitted if they
meet the admission requirements. Most four-year colleges
classify themselves as selective.
COMPETITIVE ADMISSION CATEGORY
Even though a student may meet the specific admissions
requirements, he/she cannot be sure of admission to a
competitive college because more students qualify than can be
admitted.
Each applicant will be competing
with other equally qualified applicants. The more competitive
the college, the more likely it is to consider personal
qualifications such as special skills or abilities, leadership
capabilities, and community involvement.
Some colleges require an
applicant to write an essay as part of the application.
The college application answers
questions about course work, grades, test scores, work,
activities, honors and awards. The only place the admissions
officer can find out how a student thinks or feels about life is
in the essay. This essay can be the deciding factor in an
acceptance and its importance should not be underestimated. Time
and energy should be devoted to this undertaking to do it right.
A student should write about what he/she knows and not try to
impress the reader by trying to sound "smart" or "highly
intelligent".
Eventually, all options must be
evaluated before selecting a college. Do not choose a college
before making a college visit. Once a decision has been
made, complete the required forms and notify the other colleges.
Be sure to submit any required housing deposit before the
deadline if housing is desired.
College And Your Finances
Just about everyone is interested in information on financial
aid. Don’t assume that you cannot afford a particular college or
university until you have investigated all aspects of financial
aid.
There are two basic categories
of financial aid, merit-based and need-based.
Merit-based is generally
given in recognition of special skills, talents and/or academic
ability. These include: merit scholars, top ten percent of the
class, outstanding athlete, accomplished musician, etc.
Need-based (commonly
called financial need) is the difference between what it will
cost to attend the post-secondary institution and what the
family will be able to pay (expected family contribution). There
are basically four categories of financial aid:
GRANTS - money given to
the student, usually because of financial need
SCHOLARSHIPS - money awarded because of academic
achievement, outstanding talent or skill, and/or financial need
WORK STUDY - money the student earns through a job on
campus
LOANS - money that must be paid back
Grants and scholarships are free
money that do not have to be paid back. Loans and work-study
jobs are considered self-help. It makes sense to apply for
grants and scholarships before taking out loans. A college will
put together a financial aid "package". This package is a
combination of grants, scholarships, loans, and/or work-study. A
package varies from college to college so it is important to
compare financial aid packages.
APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID
There are two financial aid forms that you need to be aware of -
the FAFSA (Free Application of Free Student Aid) and the
College Profile, required by some colleges and universities.
The FAFSA must be
completed by all students interested in obtaining financial aid.
This form will be mailed to every senior who has taken the SAT
in the spring of their junior year. The form will arrive in
December of the senior year and cannot be filed prior to January
1. It is recommended that families complete their income tax
form before completing the FAFSA as a lot of the same
information will be needed. Approximately 3-10 weeks after you
have mailed your FAFSA, you will receive a SAR (student aid
report) which will inform you of your EFC (estimated family
contribution). This is the amount they have determined you can
afford to pay for education that year. If the cost of the
college is more than your EFC, you have a financial need and
should be eligible for financial aid. This aid may come in the
form of grants and or loans.
In addition to the FAFSA, some
private colleges require submission of the CSS/Financial Aid
Profile. The Profile is a supplemental need analysis
document used to determine eligibility for private, nonfederal
funds. The Profile requires a registration fee and an additional
fee for information sent to each college. We recommend that this
form be completed only when required by a school.
Financial Aid Workshops are
available each year through the local community college and
special workshops are sponsored by the Morning Call. These are
generally held December - February.
Complete the FAFSA as early
as possible, even if you feel you will not quality for
any need based aid because of your income. Colleges verify that
students are not eligible for federal or state aid before they
award institutional and/or private funds. Some loan programs
require the FAFSA. Make a copy of your FAFSA before you mail it.
Also keep a copy of your income tax return forms. The FAFSA must
also be completed in order to be eligible for a federal Pell
grant.
Parents and students often
find that they must take out a loan to finance educational
expenses. Lending institutions provide Stafford loans to
students and PLUS loans to parents. Repayment of a Stafford loan
begins after the student has graduated. The Subsidized Stafford
Loan is for students with financial need and the unsubsidized
Stafford Loan is for students without financial need. (The
government pays the interest on Subsidized Stafford Loan). PLUS
loans are not based on financial need and repayment begins
within 60 days.
Other ways to finance a college
education include co-op programs and military programs. Money
can be saved by attending a local community college and then
transferring to a four-year college after one or two years. Not
all students live on campus but commute to college, saving room
and board expenses.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarship money sometimes goes unclaimed because many
scholarships have very specific eligibility criteria. Academic
scholarships generally require a 3.5 GPA or better, high SAT
scores, excellent recommendations, and high involvement in
extracurricular and community activities. Athletic scholarships
or special talent scholarships go to the student who has
demonstrated outstanding abilities.
When looking for scholarships, please consider the following:
Start looking for scholarships
during your child’s junior year.
Contact the financial aid office when applying to colleges to
learn about scholarship opportunities.
Apply for local scholarships. The
Career/College room has a filing cabinet devoted to scholarship
opportunities.
Scholarship deadlines are not
flexible. Some scholarship applications are due soon after being
publicized.
Scholarship opportunities are
often overlooked. Be sure to check with your place of
employment, your church, and other organizations that you or
your family are associated with to see what scholarship
opportunities they offer.
The career/college resource
center has books and computer access where scholarship
opportunities can be found.
Check to see if financial aid and
scholarships are renewable.
This is a comprehensive
blueprint for preparing your student for acceptance into a two
or four year college or university. We highly suggest you print
this page and use it as check list for preparing your student
for successful acceptance at an institution of higher education.
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Homeschoolacademy.com All Rights Reserved.
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