College Readiness.

GETTING STARTED

College Readiness is defined as a level of high school preparedness a student has in order to enroll and succeed in college or university, without having to take remedial college classes (courses that do not count towards a degree program).  College-ready students have the skills and ability to succeed academically and culturally in a post-secondary setting.  After selecting several colleges/universities of interest, a student begins the application process. Additional College Readiness information can be found at:

•  https://www.redefiningready.org/college-ready/
• https://www.achieve.org/what-college-and-career-ready

 
College Application Process 
Applying for college is both exciting and frustrating. Prior planning can help make the process a more seamless endeavor. The key is knowing what needs to be submitted to have a complete application and most importantly, meeting all deadlines.  Applying to College 101 link: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-in/applying

Getting Started:
The first step in the application process is exploring and deciding what college/university you plan first. Exploring colleges/universities online and through college visits is a good start. Two excellent websites to start your search and to narrow down your list are:

Big Future - www.bigfuture.collegeboard.org
College Express - www.collegexpress.com

Nearly every college in the United States can be found on Big Future.  By reviewing the college/universities, you can determine if you are a good candidate for that school and if the school has the career/subject pathway of interest. Once you have investigated several colleges and universities it is time to apply!

For most students the application process will require you to complete three items:

• Complete the application
• Send your SAT/ACT scores
• Send your transcript

Some schools will require additional essays to be written, letters of recommendation provided, and some even require a face-to-face interview. The key is to make sure you read the instructions correctly and follow them to the letter. Again, make sure that you meet the deadline.
 
If applying to one or multiple Texas college(s)/university(ies): www.applytexas.org
Several schools use the Common Application: www.commonapp.org
For Historically Black Colleges and Universities: www.commonblackcollegeapp.com

When applying, always check the school’s website as there may be special instructions or a reduced-price (even free) application.

Other Helpful Links
What's the difference between high school and college?
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