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STEPS TO TAKE WHILE THINKING ABOUT YOUR FUTURE

IDENTIFYING YOUR ABILITIES AND INTERESTS

HOW TO GATHER INFORMATION ABOUT DIFFERENT SCHOOLS
VISITING A COLLEGE CAMPUS
DO YOUR RESEARCH!

IDENTIFYING YOUR ABILITIES AND INTERESTS

WHAT WILL I DO AFTER I GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL?

START THE PLANNING PROCESS WITH THIS QUESTION IN MIND

MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS

CLUBS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND SPORTS

CLASSES & ELECTIVES
ACADEMICS

WHY SHOULD I CARE ABOUT MY GRADES?

WHEN SHOULD I START CARING?

IDENTIFYING YOUR ABILITIES AND INTERESTS

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS

SPORTS
GRADES MATTER
CLASSES & ELECTIVES
ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP); DUAL ENROLLMENT; INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB)
COMMUNITY SERVICE/VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
ACADEMICS
ESSAY WRITING TIPS
SAT & ACT SCORES

IDENTIFYING YOUR ABILITIES AND INTERESTS

RESOURCES

VIRGINIA CAREER VIEW

HTTP://VACAREERVIEW.ORG

VIRGINIA WIZARD

HTTPS://WWW.VAWIZARD.ORG

COLLEGEMAJORS101

HTTP://WWW.COLLEGEMAJORS101.COM

THE COMMON APPLICATION

HTTPS://WWW.COMMONAPP.ORG

HOW TO GATHER INFORMATION ABOUT DIFFERENT SCHOOLS

WHERE TO BEGIN

KEEP YOUR ABILITIES AND INTERESTS IN MIND

LOCATION
OUT-OF-STATE VERSUS IN-STATE SCHOOLS
CAMPUS LIFE
COMMUTER VERSUS RESIDENTIAL
ACTIVITIES, CLUBS, ORGANIZATIONS, SPORTS, ETC.
PUBLIC VERSUS PRIVATE COLLEGES
COST
SIZE

HOW TO GATHER INFORMATION ABOUT DIFFERENT SCHOOLS

WHERE TO BEGIN CONTINUED

2 YEAR VERSUS 4 YEAR COLLEGES

DEPENDS ON TYPE OF DEGREE (ASSOCIATES VS. BACHELORS)
COST
TUITION
ROOM & BOARD
TEXTBOOKS

HOW TO GATHER INFORMATION ABOUT DIFFERENT SCHOOLS

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

VOCATIONAL SCHOOL
COMMUNITY COLLEGE
4 YEAR PUBLIC COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY
4 YEAR PRIVATE COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY

HOW TO GATHER INFORMATION ABOUT DIFFERENT SCHOOLS

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: VOCATIONAL SCHOOL

ANOTHER FORM OF HIGHER-LEVEL LEARNING

PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH TECHNICAL SKILLS NEEDED TO PERFORM TASKS OF A

PARTICULAR JOB
MORE ON THE JOB TRAINING

AUTO-MECHANIC; ELECTRICIAN; COSMETOLOGIST; WELDER; MACHINIST

HOW TO GATHER INFORMATION ABOUT DIFFERENT SCHOOLS

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: VOCATIONAL SCHOOL

COST

DEPENDS ON IN-STATE VERSUS OUT OF STATE

CURRENT JOB COULD POSSIBLY PAY FOR TRAINING

SCHOOLS

ECPI; ITT TECH; DEVRY; EMPIRE BEAUTY SCHOOL; MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS INSTITUTE (MMI)

HOW TO GATHER INFORMATION ABOUT DIFFERENT SCHOOLS

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: COMMUNITY COLLEGE

2 YEAR POST-SECONDARY SCHOOL

ASSOCIATES DEGREE
TRANSFERABLE REQUIRED CREDITS FOR A 4 YEAR POST-SECONDARY DEGREE

HOW TO GATHER INFORMATION ABOUT DIFFERENT SCHOOLS

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: COMMUNITY COLLEGE

COST
VIRGINIA IN-STATE TUITION APPROXIMATELY $142.50 PER CREDIT HOUR (PER CLASS)
OUT-OF-STATE TUITION APPROXIMATELY $337.10 PER CREDIT HOUR (PER CLASS)
SCHOOLS
J. SARGEANT REYNOLDS; NORTHERN VIRGINIA; PIEDMONT; JOHN TYLER; TIDEWATER;
GERMANNA; RAPPAHANNOCK; BLUE RIDGE

HOW TO GATHER INFORMATION ABOUT DIFFERENT SCHOOLS

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: COMMUNITY COLLEGE
RESOURCES

VIRGINIAS COMMUNITY COLLEGES

HTTP://WWW.VCCS.EDU
HTTP://WWW.VCCS.EDU/STUDENTS/TUITION-AND-FEES/
J. SARGEANT REYNOLDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
HTTP://WWW.REYNOLDS.EDU
JOHN TYLER COMMUNITY COLLEGE
HTTP://JTCC.EDU/
RAPPAHANNOCK COMMUNITY COLLEGE
HTTP://RAPPAHANNOCK.EDU

HOW TO GATHER INFORMATION ABOUT DIFFERENT SCHOOLS

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: 4 YEAR PUBLIC COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY

LOCATION
IN-STATE VERSUS OUT-OF-STATE
COMMUTER VERSUS RESIDENTIAL
ABILITIES AND INTERESTS
MAJORS/PROGRAMS OFFERED
ACTIVITIES, CLUBS, & ORGANIZATIONS
SPORTS

HOW TO GATHER INFORMATION ABOUT DIFFERENT SCHOOLS

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: 4 YEAR PUBLIC COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY

SIZE
TYPICALLY LARGER STUDENT POPULATION
COST
VIRGINIA IN-STATE 4 YEAR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS AVERAGE $11,819 PER YEAR
OUT-OF-STATE 4 YEAR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS - RANGES FROM $15,732 TO $37,281 PER YEAR
(DEPENDS ON SCHOOL)

HOW TO GATHER INFORMATION ABOUT DIFFERENT SCHOOLS

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: 4 YEAR PRIVATE COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY

LOCATION
IN-STATE VERSUS OUT-OF-STATE
COMMUTER VERSUS RESIDENTIAL
ABILITIES AND INTERESTS
MAJORS/PROGRAMS OFFERED
ACTIVITIES, CLUBS, & ORGANIZATIONS
SPORTS

HOW TO GATHER INFORMATION ABOUT DIFFERENT SCHOOLS

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: 4 YEAR PRIVATE COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY

SIZE
TYPICALLY SMALLER STUDENT POPULATION
COST
VIRGINIA IN-STATE 4 YEAR PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS AVERAGE $22,695 PER YEAR
OUT-OF-STATE 4 YEAR PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS RANGES FROM AVERAGE $32, 405 TO $67,130
PER YEAR (DEPENDS ON SCHOOL)

HOW TO GATHER INFORMATION ABOUT DIFFERENT SCHOOLS

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: 4 YEAR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS

RESOURCES
COLLEGE BOARD
HTTPS://BIGFUTURE.COLLEGEBOARD.ORG/
COLLEGE FOUNDATION OF NORTH CAROLINA (CFNC)
HTTPS://WWW.CFNC.ORG
COLLEGE STATS
HTTP://COLLEGESTATS.ORG
SEARCH BY STATE, COST, AND SIZE

VISITING A COLLEGE CAMPUS

START EARLY!

WHEN TO VISIT

IF POSSIBLE, START

VISIT SCHOOLS WHILE

VISITING SCHOOLS NOW

SO YOU CAN GET AN IDEA
OF WHAT YOU DO AND
DONT LIKE

CLASSES ARE IN SESSION

(FALL OR SPRING
SEMESTERS)
LOOK TO SEE WHEN THERE
ARE INFORMATION
SESSIONS OR OPEN
HOUSES YOU CAN
USUALLY GET GOOD DEALS
ON PARKING, COLLEGE
APPAREL, AND MEALS

HOW TO VISIT

SOME SCHOOLS

ADMISSIONS
COUNSELORS VISIT HIGH
SCHOOLS TO GIVE MORE
INFORMATION AND
PROVIDE VIRTUAL TOURS
VIRTUAL TOURS ONLINE
SOME MIDDLE & HIGH
SCHOOLS SET UP
COLLEGE TOURS TO
VARIOUS SCHOOLS

VISITING A COLLEGE CAMPUS

WHAT TO PAY ATTENTION TO

INTERESTS
CLUBS, ACTIVITIES, & ORGANIZATIONS
MAJORS/PROGRAMS
RESOURCES
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
TRANSFERABLE CREDITS
MEAL PLANS
ACCESSIBILITY
DORM ROOM ARRANGEMENTS

SETTING UP YOUR OWN ADMISSIONS

APPOINTMENT

BE ON TIME!
WEAR COMFORTABLE CLOTHES AND SHOES,

UNLESS THERE IS AN INTERVIEW

DO NOT SET UP APPOINTMENTS DURING
HOLIDAYS, BREAKS, OR SUMMER
LEAVE A LASTING IMPRESSION ON ANYONE YOU
MEET
INTRODUCE YOURSELF WITH A FIRM HANDSHAKE
AND MAKE APPROPRIATE EYE CONTACT
ASK LOTS OF APPROPRIATE QUESTIONS
NOTIFY THE SCHOOL IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO
ATTEND YOUR SCHEDULED VISIT

VISITING A COLLEGE CAMPUS

RESOURCES

CAMPUS TOURS
HTTP://WWW.CAMPUSTOURS.COM
PROVIDE VIRTUAL TOURS OF SCHOOLS

YOU VISIT

HTTP://WWW.YOUVISIT.COM/COLLEG
ES

COLLEGE NAVIGATOR
HTTP://NCES.ED.GOV/COLEGENAVIGAT
OR
COLLEGE WEEK LIVE
WWW.COLLEGEWEEKLIVE.COM

KNOW HOW 2 GO

HTTP://KNOWHOW2GO.ACENET.EDU

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR COLLEGE

ADMISSION COUNSELING (NACAC)

HTTP://WWW.NACACNET.ORG

THE CHOICE (NYT)

HTTP://THECHOICE.BLOGS.NYTIMES.
COM

DO YOUR RESEARCH!
SAT (2015 AVERAGE)
CRITICAL READING 495

ACT (2015 AVERAGE)

20 - 22

MATH 511
WRITING 484
Depends on the school most schools include a minimum score
for both
Some schools no longer require test scores

RESOURCES

DO YOUR RESEARCH!

FAIR TEST
HTTP://WWW.FAIRTEST.ORG
TEST OPTIONAL SCHOOLS
COLLEGE BOARD
HTTPS://WWW.COLLEGEBOARD.ORG
CREATES SAT & PROVIDES RESOURCES
POWER SCORE
HTTP://WWW.POWERSCORE.COM
PROVIDES LIST OF AVERAGE TEST SCORES FOR MOST SCHOOLS
ACT
HTTP://WWW.ACT.ORG
ALSO LIKE ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, TEXTS QUESTION OF THE DAY

DO YOUR RESEARCH!
SCHOLARSHIPS

START EARLY!
YOU CAN START APPLYING NOW!
WHERE TO LOOK
ANYWHERE!
SCHOLARSHIPS ARE OFFERED FOR SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS
CAN BE OVERWHELMING
BEGIN WITH SCHOLARSHIPS THAT SEEM REALLY SIMPLE
NO MATTER WHAT THE PRIZE, EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS
EXAMPLE: ICE CREAM FLAVOR OF THE MONTH SCHOLARSHIP $1,500 IF YOU WERE AN ICE
CREAM FLAVOR, WHICH WOULD YOU BE AND WHY?

DO YOUR RESEARCH!
SCHOLARSHIPS

HOW TO APPLY
MERIT-BASED MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA
FINANCIAL-BASED A FINANCIAL NEED
SOME HAVE MINIMUM GPA REQUIREMENTS
STRONG WRITING SKILLS
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
ATHLETE MINIMUM GPA REQUIREMENTS

WHEN TO APPLY

DEPENDS ON SCHOLARSHIPS DEADLINE

DO YOUR RESEARCH!
RESOURCES

SCHOLARSHIPS.COM

HTTPS://WWW.SCHOLARSHIPS.COM

COLLEGE WEEK LIVE

HTTP://WWW.COLLEGEWEEKLIVE.COM/SCHOLARSHIPS

STUDENTSCHOLARSHIPS.ORG

HTTP://STUDENTSCHOLARSHIPS.ORG

SALLIE MAE

HTTPS://WWW.SALLIEMAE.COM/PLAN/SCHOLARSHIPS/SCHOLARSHIP-APPLICATIONS
PROVIDES HELPFUL TIPS FOR APPLYING

DO YOUR RESEARCH!
SAVING AND PAYING FOR COLLEGE

START NOW!
BEGIN APPLYING FOR SCHOLARSHIPS
EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS
GAIN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT STUDENT LOANS AND FINANCIAL AID
RESEARCH SCHOOLS THAT MAY OFFER SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THE PROGRAMS YOU ARE

INTERESTED IN
YOU CAN GO!
THERE IS ALWAYS A WAY FOCUS MORE ON YOUR GRADES THAN ON THE COST

DO YOUR RESEARCH!
RESOURCES

PROJECT ON STUDENT DEBT

HTTP://WWW.PROJECTONSTUDENTDEBT.ORG
HELPS FAMILIES MAKE THE BEST ECONOMIC CHOICES WHEN TACKLING COLLEGE COSTS
PROVIDES A LIST OF SCHOOLS THAT HAVE PLEDGED TO LIMIT OR ELIMINATE THE USE OF

STUDENT LOANS
VIRGINIA 529
HTTP://WWW.VIRGINIA529.COM
START A SAVINGS ACCOUNT FOR STUDENTS POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION
FEDERAL STUDENT AID
HTTPS://FAFSA.ED.GOV
WHAT TO FILL OUT IF YOU ARE TAKING OUT STUDENT LOANS

DONT FORGET TO START NOW!

THE MORE YOU LEARN NOW, THE MORE CONFIDENT
YOU CAN BE WHEN APPLYING TO COLLEGE!