Planning for College Gladewater High School

College Searches Students should spend the beginning of their high school years searching for colleges/universities and trade/technical schools. By the beginning of their senior year this search should be narrowed to a few schools to actually apply.

College Applications Students apply for college during the fall semester of their senior year. Some applications are due early in the fall, others are due later. It is VERY important for you to check with the college to determine their application deadline. This date will be on their website. If you do not meet the deadline you will not get accepted. For many colleges, the application is the scholarship application as well. Check that out too!

College Applications It is highly recommended that students strive to meet the EARLY deadline for college applications. Please remember that applications require an application fee. Fee waivers are available for those who qualify. Also, if the college is out of town you will need to complete a housing application as well.

Applications Applications for colleges and universities in the state of Texas now use the Apply Texas application. All applications for colleges and universities can be accessed on-line.

What to look for in a school? What is important in a college: – Do they offer my major/degree plan? – Do they have a high percentage of job placement after graduation? – If my major requires further education, does this school have a high percentage of placement in higher education? – Are there any scholarship opportunities for me?

What to look for in a school? Are there any job opportunities (if I need them)? What are the social activities like? Is this important to me? Is the college located in a large or small town? Is this important to me? What is the housing like? How far away from home will I be?

Transcripts You will need transcripts for your application. You will get those from Mrs. Wallace in the principal’s office. She will give these to you in a sealed envelope so that it will be official. Keep the envelope sealed. Once it is opened it is no longer official! She will send one when you apply and you will need to send another after graduation!

Letters of Recommendation As with scholarships, you may need letters of recommendation for your college applications. Make sure you allow adequate time for these people to complete the letters if you want them to be good! Also, provide them with a resume of your activities, who the letter is going to and the reason for the letter.

ACT/SAT It is recommended that college bound students take the ACT or SAT at least once before the end of the JUNIOR year. To improve scores, a student may take the test again at the end of the junior year or at the beginning of the senior year. There is no additional time after the first administration of testing of the senior year for additional testing. The scores are needed for college and scholarship applications. Fee waivers are available for students on free and reduced lunches.

THEA Note: this test will change with the class of 2015 but has not yet been announced by TEA. The THEA is required for students who attend a state college/university/trade/technical school unless they meet the following: – TAKS: 2200 on ELA and Math with a 3 or better on the essay. – ACT: 23 composite with a minimum of a 19 on the English and/or math – SAT: composite of 1070 with a minimum of 500 on the critical reading and/or math

Accuplacer This test may not be available for the Class of 2015 and beyond. Students can take the Accuplacer instead of the THEA. The Accuplacer is also used as a placement test for some colleges for students who may be THEA exempt but who did not score high enough on TAKS math to be placed in College Algebra. You will need to check with your individual college to get more information.

Meningitis Shot Students attending college must receive a Meningitis vaccine if they have not had one in the last five years. You will have to have proof of this BEFORE you go to college. It is recommended that you have the vaccine at the time of college application.