College Resources
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Below are a few resources for you to access and view if you are thinking about going to college after high school.
- Big Future by The College Board is a great resource to narrow down college choices or explore school and major options.
- CollegeView is a website that features articles and helpful information on a range of topics from the application process to financial aid and more.
- Number 2 offers students access to comprehensive free online test preparation courses for the SAT, ACT, and GRE.
- NCAA Clearinghouse offers a guide for student athletes. If you are thinking of playing sports in college, it is important that you become familiar with this site.
- AP Credit Policies gives a list of which colleges award AP credit and how it is transferred in.
- Fair Test provides a list of schools that do not use SAT or ACT scores for admissions.
Help with College Admission Essays
Testing
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PSAT/NMSQT
- Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test is a practice test used to assist students in preparing for the Scholastic Aptitude Test, (the SAT). The PSAT is administered once a year to pre-registered 10th and 11th grade students and some 9th grade students on a nationally set test date. This test measures critical reading, math problem solving, and writing skills. A student who does well on this exam and who meets other academic performance criteria may qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program.
- Parents can learn more about PSAT scores from CollegeBoard.
- Cost: The North Thurston Public Schools has generously paid for all interested juniors to take the PSAT. Sophomores and freshmen will pay in the ASB office.
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SAT
- The Scholastic Aptitude Test is a college admission test which measures critical thinking and problem solving in Reading, Math and Writing. Most colleges will accept either the ACT or the SAT. The SAT is usually taken during second semester of junior year; this allows students who are not satisfied with their scores to study over the summer, then test again in the fall of senior year. Study manuals are available for check out in the Career Center.
- Test dates are posted on the Career Center bulletin boards in the 4 houses and online at the SAT website.
- Cost: $54.50 with essay (recommended) or $43 without essay. Waivers are available for low-income families, and in some other circumstances. Students need to see their Counselor before requesting a waiver.
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SAT II Subject Test
- The SAT Subject Tests are achievement tests designed to measure knowledge a student has already acquired. They are offered in areas of study including literature, history, math, science and world language. Some highly selective schools require students to take one or more SAT II Subject tests when they apply for admission. Students who anticipate the need for Subject tests should take these as they complete the final course in the subject area, while it is still fresh in their minds.
- If you have more questions check out the SAT website or talk to the Career Center Specialist.
- Cost: $23 Basic Subject Test Fee (per registration)
- +$23 Language with Listening Tests (per test)
- +$12 All other Subject Tests (per test)
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ACT
- This is a college admission test published by American College Testing and is designed to measure a student’s academic achievement through English, Math, Reading, Science Reasoning and Writing. Most colleges will accept either the ACT or the SAT.
- The SAT is usually taken during second semester of junior year; this allows students who are not satisfied with their scores to study over the summer, then test again in the fall of senior year. Study manuals are available for check out in the Career Center.
- Test dates are posted on the Career Center bulletin boards in the 4 houses and online at the ACT website.
- Cost: $56.50 with essay (recommended) or $43 without essay. Waivers are available for low-income families, and in some other circumstances. Students need to see their Counselor before requesting a waiver.
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ASVAB
- The Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is the entrance test to enlist in the US Military. You can't enlist in the US Military without taking the ASVAB. The ASVAB has two primary purposes: First, it determines whether you have the mental aptitude to enlist in the military branch of your choice, and second, the results help the service(s) determine which military job(s) you have the mental aptitude for.
- The ASVAB is also a great tool for students who are still exploring career options. Taking the test in no way commits you to the military.
- For more information, check out the Official ASVAB site, visit a military recruiter for the branch of service you are interested in, or go to the Career Center.
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GED
- Many people who did not finish high school have the same knowledge and skills as those who did graduate. By taking and passing a series of five tests in Language Arts Writing, Social Studies, Science, Language Arts Reading, and Mathematics, adults can demonstrate they have acquired the same level of knowledge.
- Most colleges and employers accept a GED credential as being equivalent to a high school diploma. Each year more than 14,000 Washington residents earn their GED credentials. The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges oversees the GED testing program for the State of Washington.
- For more information about the sections on the test and practice tests you can check out the GED Testing Service website.
Need Help?
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I need information in Spanish; where can I find it?
You can find Spanish language information about college here:
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Help! I missed Financial Aid night.
Help is just a click away at the Federal Student Aid site. The name doesn’t do this site justice. You will also find information on
preparing for college and how to repay loans. https://studentaid.gov/ -
I need help with a little bit of everything.
How about Breaking Down the College Admissions Process: Preparing, Researching, Applying and Deciding? This site, http://www.nacacnet.org/ answers those questions and more. Check out https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/ which also has comprehensive information on ‘all things college.’
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I need help defining all these college terms!
Can you define gap year? What’s the difference between early action and early decision? Can you explain work study? Who knows what a PLUS loan is?
Go to one of these glossaries and look them up!
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Have no idea which schools to start looking at or apply to?
This step-by-step guide lets you select your own criteria then get a list of schools that match it. For example, you may build a list by selecting only colleges in the “New England” states, that are public non-profit 2-year colleges, in a rural setting, for women only, have a Squash team, have on-campus housing, and a Mennonite
Church affiliation. Hint: this search produces no results, but a more realistic one will. https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/ -
How can I find schools that have offer certificates or degrees in my child’s area of interest?
Find the right fit at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/
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How much will one year of college cost after applying scholarships and grants?
Visit https://collegecost.ed.gov/net-price to learn more about the cost of college.
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Which schools have the lowest and highest tuition?
Learn more at https://collegecost.ed.gov/
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I’m worried about online scams. How can I protect myself?
Learn more at https://studentaid.ed.gov/types/scams
Resources for BIPOC, LGBTQIA , Womxn, and Latinx students
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History of historically black colleges & universities
EventBrite Event Information
Join the Great Plains Black History Museum for their monthly Lunch & Learn on the history of historically black colleges & universities.CampusPride's National Scholarship Database
https://www.campuspride.org/national-scholarship-database
A list of scholarships, fellowships, and grants for LGBTQ and ally students at both the undergraduate and graduate level.CampusPride's Best of the Best LGBTQ-friendly campus list
https://www.campuspride.org/2020BESTOFTHEBEST/
Campus Pride chooses this list based on specific inclusive LGBTQ-friendly benchmarks for policies, programs, and practices.U.S. Department of Education's College Completion Toolkit
https://sites.ed.gov/whiaiane/files/2012/06/College-Completion-Tool-Kit.pdf
With more than half of all new jobs in the next decade requiring postsecondary certificates or degrees, finishing college should be a central goal of all students.Study.com's Student Scholarships
https://study.com/resources/student-scholarships
A list of academic awards and scholarships for students with wide-ranging backgrounds, identities, and academic goals.Scholarships for Women
https://www.scholarships.com/financial-aid/college-scholarships/scholarships-by-type/scholarships-for-women/
A well-curated list of scholarships specifically for womxn.
Resources for Undocumented Students
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WASFA - Washington Application for State Financial Aid
https://wsac.wa.gov/wasfa
Eligibility for the Washington State Need Grant has expanded to low-income, non-citizen students who meet the program’s income and residency requirements. Students unable to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) due to immigration status may instead complete the free Washington Application for State Financial Aid. The Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) is for undocumented students who are unable to apply for federal aid. The application opens every year on October 1.The Dream
https://www.thedream.us/
This website hosts the nation's largest college access and success program for DREAMers.Hispanic Scholarship Fund
https://www.hsf.net/
Scholarships & programs for Latino/a youth. Documented and/or undocumented.Mexican American Legal Defense & Education Fund
http://maldef.org/leadership/scholarships/index.html
Resources for paying for college, including a booklet of scholarships that may or may not need documentation.
