Preparing for College
 

Many colleges and universities will require students to meet minimum college preparatory curriculum standards. However, just meeting the minimum is not the best way to be fully prepared to take advantage of the many and varied career opportunities available to high school graduates.

High expectations and standards imply that strong academic preparation means going beyond the minimum requirements for high school graduation. The Advisory Commission on Articulation between Secondary Schools and Ohio Colleges appointed by the Ohio Board of Regents and the State Board of Education has recommended the following:

  1. The college preparatory curriculum should include:

 

4 units of English

3 units of Social Studies

3 units of Foreign Language

3 units of Mathematics

3 units of Science (4 preferred)

1 unit of Visual and/or Performing Arts

  1. Private and state-assisted four year colleges and universities generally require that students who wish to be admitted on an unconditional basis successfully complete the requirements listed above.

  2. In order to enter more competitive colleges and access a wider choice of college majors, it is recommended that school counselors, parents, and teachers encourage students to pursue a more challenging curriculum such as honors classes, advanced placement classes, and college preparatory classes, as well as Post-Secondary Enrollment Options opportunities.

  3. The table below provides standard recommendations for college/universities preparation:

CMSD Graduation Requirements

College Preparatory

Recommended

Credits

Subject

Credits

Additional Stipulations & Explanations  

Ohio state Universities

More

Selective

English

4

Must include 9th, 10th, 11th, & 12th grade English

4

4

Mathematics 

3

Most colleges require Algebra I & II and Geometry; some require more Ohio universities recommend 1 unit of 12th grade math for unconditional admission

3

4

Science

3

1 credit in Physical Science 1 credit
in Biology

3

 4

Social Studies

3

1 credit in World History1 credit
in U.S. History 1 credit in American Government

3

 4

Physical Education

.5

Must take two ¼ credit semester courses

.5

 .5

Health

.5

Ohio requirement usually taken
in 10th grade

.5

 

Fine/Applied Arts

 1

Most colleges require one credit of Fine Arts

1

1

Foreign Language

 1

Most colleges require at least two (2) years of one language
Honors Diploma requires two (2) years of two language or three (3) of one language taken during high school Highly selective colleges prefer four years on one language.

 

2

3 preferred

4

Senior Seminar* 

.5

District requirement to include a community/service learning component Career-Technical students exempt- must complete a capstone project within their specialized training

 

 

Elective

 

5.5

or

6*

 

 

 

Total

22

Additional Diploma Requirement:
After 9/15/2004, pass all 10th Grade Ohio Graduation Tests

 

 

 

 

The Following is Strongly Recommended for all Graduates:
High School Grade-Level College/Post-

Secondary School Preparation Activities

Throughout the school year:

  • Determine potential career goals utilizing Ohio Career Information System (OCIS) which is an electronic web-based career information/planning tool (see counselor for student access)

  • Continue to develop your Individual Academic and Career Plan (IACP), which is an electronic career portfolio designed to support and keep you on track with your educational and career goals

  • Research the education required to achieve your goal(s)

  • Speak with your counselor about your career and educational goals

  • Speak with your parents about your career and educational goals

  • Research two colleges or post-secondary schools that offer a program of study necessary to reach your career goal(s)

  • Understand what the program of study will require

  • Become aware of the cost of additional schooling

  • Interview professionals in your chosen career area to see if it’s what you want to do

  • Understand what your cumulative grade point average is and how it is calculated

  • Take advanced placement or honor classes

 

Throughout the school year:

  • Reaffirm or determine your career goals utilizing Ohio Career Information System (OCIS) which is an electronic web-based career information/planning tool (see counselor for student access)

  • Continue to develop your Individual Academic and Career Plan (IACP), which is an electronic career portfolio designed to support and keep you on track with your educational and career goals

  • Continue or initiate research on the education required to reach the goal

  • Speak with your counselor about your goals

  • Speak with your parents about your goals

  • Take the PSAT/NMSQT or the PLAN for practice

  • Activitate your CollegeBoard "MyRoad" account. See school counselor for help in activation after receiving PSAT/NMSQT Fall scores

  • Research three colleges or post-secondary schools that offer a program of study necessary to reach your career goal

  • Become aware of what you need to do to get into the college/program of your choice, what the deadlines are, how much it costs and how you can get money to help pay for it

  • Interview professionals in your chosen career area

  • Take advanced placement or honor classes

  • Stay involved or get involved in school and community activities

  • Participate in shadowing and/or internship District opportunities

 

Glossary

PLAN - An ACT program for educational planning

PSAT/NMSQT - Preliminary Scholastic Achievement Test / National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test

IACP - Individual Academic Career Plan (IACP)

Career Passport - Physical documentation of a student's career plan and the culmination of the IACP process.

NCAA - National Collegiate Athletic Association

ACT - American College Test

SAT - Scholastic Achievement Test

FAFSA - Free Application for Federal
Student Aid

GPA - Grade Point Average

Helpful Websites

  • www.collegeboard.com
    College and career planning, SAT, PSAT/NMQT testing information and scholarship information

  • www.csp.org
    Cleveland Scholarship program site

  • www.actstudent.org
    Student site includes test dates and deadlines, registration help, college and career planning, scholarship information

  • www.fafsa.ed.gov
    Federal student aid website with educational and college planning resource tools

  • /PostSecondaryEducation
    Provides latest scholarship and guidance information for the district

  • www.nca.org
    National Collegiate Athletic Association site has up to date materials for college bound athletes including eligibility
 

Throughout the school year, continue to discuss your career and school goals with your counselor and parents.

In the Fall:

  • Initiate your Career Passport

  • Continue to develop your IACP electronic career plan

  • Take the PSAT/NMSQT for the National Merit Scholarship Program

  • If an athlete, check NCAA requirements

  • Determine five colleges/post-secondary schools that will meet your academic and personal needs

In the Winter:

  • Research admission requirements for the five schools

  • Set up a filing system for keeping the information organized

In the Spring:

  • Take the ACT and/or SAT

  • Begin thinking about potential references for admission

  • Begin requesting information from schools

  • Check class rank

  • Begin researching the financial aid process- utilize www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov, and schedule an appointment with your school counselor to discuss financial aid resources for college

  • Begin to practice filling out applications

  • Use your Career Passport as a starting point for admission essays

During the Summer:

  • Continue the above

  • Begin making college and university school visits

  • Organize financial aid information

  • Continue interviewing professionals

Throughout the school year, continue to discuss your career and school goals with your counselor and parents.

In the Fall:

  • Create a calendar of important deadlines- access your electronic IACP plan for useful tools to develop a post secondary calendar.

  • Fill out college/post-secondary school applications and essays and mail them (make copies)

  • Select references for your applications

  • Re-take the ACT/SAT

  • Continue getting financial aid information

  • Research private scholarships and begin applying

In the Winter:

  • Mail any remaining admissions, scholarships or financial aid applications

  • Fill out the FAFSA. Mail shortly after January 1 or complete electronically- utilize www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov

In the Spring:

  • Monitor your mail for acceptance notices

  • Monitor your mail beginning in April for financial aid awards

  • Study financial aid packages with school acceptances and make final decision

  • Notify school of your intention to attend by deadline and submit required deposit

During the Summer:

  • Finalize your course schedule and receive housing and orientation information

  • Ask school counselor to send final transcript to school