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What can my child do to prepare academically for college? |
Preparing Your Child For College: 1996-97 EditionSourceUnited States Department of Education Table of ContentsIndexGeneral Questions About College
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Take Courses Recommended for College-Bound StudentsTo prepare for college, there is no substitute for your child getting a solid and broad academic education. This means your child should take challenging courses in academic subjects and maintain good grades in high school. Your child's transcript will be an important part of his or her college application.A college education builds on the knowledge and skills acquired in earlier years. It is best for your child to start planning a high school course schedule early, in the seventh or eighth grade. Students who don't plan ahead may have difficulty completing all the required or recommended courses that will help them qualify for college. Most selective colleges (those with the highest admissions requirements) prefer to admit students who have taken courses in certain subject areas. For example, many colleges prefer that high school students take at least geometry and trigonometry, rather than only general math and algebra. Basic computer skills are now essential, and some colleges prefer three or four years of a foreign language. Your child's guidance counselor can help your child determine the high school courses required or preferred by different types of colleges. If your child is interested in specific colleges, he or she can contact those schools and ask about their admissions requirements. Many high schools offer Advanced Placement (AP) courses and exams. AP courses are college-level courses in approximately 16 different subjects; they help students prepare for college-level work while they are still in high school. Students who take AP courses are often more prepared for the academic challenges presented in college. In addition, a student who takes an AP course, and who scores a grade of 3 or higher on an AP exam, can often receive advanced placement in college and/or credit for a college course. [Footnote: This can result in significant cost savings. However, not all colleges and universities give credit or advanced placement for earning a grade of 3 or higher on an AP exam. Write to the admissions office of the colleges that are of interest to your child to find out if they give credit for an AP exam grade of 3 or higher. Ask to obtain the college's AP policy in writing, or look for a discussion of the policy in the institution's catalog.] Talk to one of your child's teachers, your child's guidance counselor, or the principal of your child's school to find out if AP courses are offered at your child's high school. Chart 2 (below) lists the high school courses that many higher education associations and guidance counselors recommend for a college-bound student. These courses are especially recommended for students who want to attend a four-year college. Even if your child is interested in attending a junior college, community college, or technical college, he or she should take most of these courses since they provide the preparation necessary for all kinds of postsecondary education. (In addition, many students who attend two-year colleges go on to earn a B.A. or B.S. degree at a four-year college or university.)
CHART 2
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Traditional English courses such as American and English literature will help students improve their writing skills, reading comprehension, and vocabulary. History and geography will help your child better understand our society as well as societies around the world.
Mathematical and scientific concepts and skills learned in math classes are used in many disciplines outside of these courses. A recent study showed that students who take algebra and geometry in high school are much more likely to go on to college than students who do not. Research also indicates that students who take courses in the arts disciplines and who participate in the arts (performing arts and visual arts) often do better in school and on standardized tests. The arts help students to learn; they often give students a richer understanding of history, science, literature, and math.
Thirty States require students to take some art course(s) (visual or performing) before graduating from high school; six State university systems require students to take at least one unit of art (visual or performing) at the high school level before gaining admission to the university. Many college admissions staff view participation in the arts as a valuable experience that broadens students' understanding and appreciation of the world around them.
Talking to an administrator or professor from a community, junior, or technical college is a good way to find out about the best high school courses to take in order to prepare for a specific technical program offered at that college. The dean of a particular technical program will also be able to tell you about the entry requirements for the program.
You may want to ask educators at a local college (or staff at your child's school) about educational programs that have formal connections between the high school and the local college. There are many career-focused programs that are offered by a network of high schools, local colleges, and, sometimes, local employers. Many of these programs are known as "tech-prep," "2+2,"or "school-to-career" programs. The high school course work in these programs is formally linked to the course work offered at the local colleges. In this way, the high school material better prepares students for the college-level work. It also starts the student on a clear path toward a college degree.
"Tech-prep" and "2+2" programs often refer to educational programs offered by networks of school districts and colleges. Such programs offer students career "pathways" that link their high school classes to advanced technical education in colleges or apprenticeship programs. These programs are often called "2+2" programs because they span the last two years of high school and the first two years of college. Thus, they are four-year programs.
These programs emphasize applied learning -- the teaching of academic material through hands-on experience. In addition, students in "tech-prep" and "2+2" programs receive extensive academic and career guidance from counselors and teachers.
"School-to-career" or "school-to-work" are the terms that often refer to career-focused programs that have many of the same elements as "tech-prep" and "2+2" programs. In addition, "school-to-career" programs also provide students with the opportunity to learn in a real work setting. Students have the opportunity to spend time at a local worksite where they can apply their skills and acquire new ones. You can learn more about career-focused education programs by talking to educators in your community and by contacting the organizations listed in the Information About "School-to-Career" and "Tech-Prep" Programs section.
Although academic requirements differ across colleges, the admissions requirements listed below are typical of four-year colleges. The specific classes listed here are examples of the types of courses students can take.
Efforts are under way in states and communities across the country to answer the question: "What is it that our children ought to know and be able to do . . . to participate fully in today's and tomorrow's economy?" Many states and local communities have been developing or revising their standards (sometimes called "curriculum frameworks") in core subject areas such as math, science, English, history, geography, foreign languages, civics, and the arts. These standards help provide parents with answers to questions such as:
"What is it that my child should know by the end of each grade?"
In order to make sure that the curriculum in your child's school meets high academic standards, call your child's school to find out if State or local standards are being developed. Ask how you can get involved in the standard-setting process. Join with other parents, teachers, and your child's principal and compare your school's standards against the best schools and the best State standards. You can also learn about the voluntary standards developed by national professional associations by contacting the professional organizations listed in the back of the book.
Usually, the tests are offered in the junior and senior years of high school and can be taken more than once if a student wishes to try to improve his or her score. Students can get books at libraries or bookstores to help them to prepare for all of the tests. Some of these books are listed at the back of this resource book. In addition, some private organizations and companies offer courses that help students prepare for these exams.
Many schools offer the Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) to their students. This practice test helps students prepare for the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT I). The PSAT is usually administered to tenth or eleventh grade students. A student who does very well on this test and who meets many other academic performance criteria may qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program. You and your child can find out more about the PSAT/NMSQT and the National Merit Scholarship Program by talking to your child's guidance counselor or by calling or writing to the number or address provided in the back of this handbook.
Some colleges also require that an applicant take one or more SAT II Subject Tests in major areas of study. It is a good idea for a student to consult a guidance counselor about this early in high school; often the best time to take an SAT II Test is right after the student has taken a course in that subject. For example, many students take the Biology SAT II Test right after they have completed a course in biology. This could mean that your child would take his or her first SAT II Test as a freshman or sophomore in high school.
At the back of this handbook, in the section that lists places where you can get additional information, you will find the address and phone number where you can write or call for more information about the SAT I and the SAT II Tests. You will also find the address and phone number for the organization that administers the ACT.
Knowing what will be required for college is important; by taking the right courses and examinations from the beginning of high school, your child may avoid admission problems later on. In addition, students who do not prepare well enough academically in high school, if admitted to college, may be required to take remedial courses. Most colleges do not offer credit for these courses, and students may have to pay for these extra courses and spend extra time in college to earn their degrees. Chart 3 lists some questions that you or your child may want to ask your child's guidance counselor.
CHART 3
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|----------------------|--------------------|---------------------| | | This Year:___Grade| Next Year:___Grade | |----------------------|---------|----------|----------|----------| | | Fall | Spring | Fall | Spring | | |Semester | Semester | Semester | Semester | |----------------------|---------|----------|----------|----------| |English | | | | | |----------------------|---------|----------|----------|----------| |Full course title: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |----------------------|---------|----------|----------|----------| |Mathematics | | | | | |----------------------|---------|----------|----------|----------| |Full course title: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |----------------------|---------|----------|----------|----------| |History/Social Studies| | | | | |----------------------|---------|----------|----------|----------| |Full course title: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |----------------------|---------|----------|----------|----------| |Science | | | | | |----------------------|---------|----------|----------|----------| |Full course title: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |----------------------|---------|----------|----------|----------| |Foreign Language | | | | | |----------------------|---------|----------|----------|----------| |Full course title: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |----------------------|---------|----------|----------|----------| |Other | | | | | |----------------------|---------|----------|----------|----------| |Full course title: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |----------------------|---------|----------|----------|----------|
Creating a Good Place To StudyYour child needs a quiet and comfortable place to study. Here are a few things that you can do:
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Some schools offer academic credit for volunteer work through "service-learning." This is a teaching method that integrates hands-on learning (through service to the community) into the school curriculum. To find out if your child's school offers "service-learning," talk to your child's teacher, guidance counselor, or school principal. For information on how to start a "service-learning" program, contact the Learn and Serve America Clearinghouse at 1-800-808-SERVE.
A summer job is also a good way to gain experience and earn money for college as well. If your child works during the school year, he or she should not work so many hours that the job interferes with school work.
General Questions About College