Senior year is a time for students to finalize their post-high school plans as their time as a high school student comes to an end.
Students need to act early in the college admissions process in order to be admitted to the college of their choice.
In order to be considered for admission into a four-year university, students are required to take either the SAT or the ACT. Both tests are standardized tests that measure the student’s college readiness.
On-time graduation specialist Annette Burnett discussed how students can prepare themselves for the tests.
“There are a variety of different things students can do [to prepare for the SATs]. There are practice booklets available in counseling and there are books that you can check out from the library or you can purchase on your own but really it is about preparing. It is not about trying to cram the night before; that does not really help anyone in any regard to testing,” Burnett said.
Senior Evan Howells offered some advice to students on the college admissions process and SAT taking.
“For the SAT, you might want to study more for the math. And then for college admissions, remember to know what schools you want to go to and send your scores to those schools,” Howells said.
For those students interested in receiving a post-high school education at a community college, SATs and ACTs do not need to be taken.
Community college provides students with the opportunity to work on earning a college diploma at a smaller scale as students work to complete a two-year degree.
Principal Eric Fredericks discussed how community college helped to better him as a student and prepare him for attending a four-year university.
“I always scored well on standardized tests but I had not developed any skills because I was not a student. The cool thing about community college for me is that it gave me the opportunity to develop those skills and it also turned me onto some interests,” Fredericks said. “I found a passion for writing, I found a passion for philosophy but it also got my foot in the door to PLU. I became a better student.”
While college may not seem like the appropriate path for all students, Fredericks emphasized the attainability of a post-high school degree for anyone who wishes to earn it.
“Regardless of family situation, regardless of income, college can be an option for anyone who wants to pursue it,” Fredericks said.
Fredericks spoke on the importance of having early conversations pertaining to post-high school plans.
“My encouragement to people is to have conversations early and often. Whether you believe college admissions is a reality or not, still talk about it. That is your target because if you miss it something else will come from that,” Fredericks said. “Seek out advice from counselors, seek out advice from administration and teachers. Pick their brains about areas of interest [and about their] college experience. College admissions is a time-consuming process but it is not a difficult process to navigate. Most people here, whether they know how to guide you or not, know who to put you in the direction of in order to give you proper guidance.”