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Strategies for Applying to Colleges

When applying to college, students should do their research first. Look at size, location, cost, and academic appeal. This process usually starts in the 8th and is part of your High School and Beyond Plan; see your counselor, Mrs. Hendrickson. The advantage to starting early is that it allows you time to visit schools, attend college fairs, and investigate the requirements to help you make a positive decision. Your high school transcript begins with your first high school level course.
 

High School Transcript:

  • Grade point averages are important. 
  • This starts from the first time you take a high school level course. 
  • The unweighted GPA is your basic GPA that is averaged from the number of courses you take and the semester grades you earn in them. 
  • Weighted GPA is when an additional point is added for taking classes that are considered weighted.  These classes include honors, pre-IB, IB, AP, and Dual-enrollment courses.  
  • There are also core courses GPAs for NCAA Clearinghouse.  Core Courses tend to be English, Math, Science, History, and Foreign Language courses. 
  • The final GPA to be aware of is the GPA that the individual college creates from your transcript.  This can vary from college to college. 
  • Colleges will look at the GPA that is created from any courses taken prior to the 12th grade year. 
  • Colleges will look at the level of the courses taken. 
  • They are looking for you to have taken the most challenging courses available to you that you can be successful taking. 
  • Honors, pre-IB, IB, IB, and AP courses are important to experience and take.
  • Class rank is subjective to the college. 
 

Test Scores:

  • A college level entrance test is required at most colleges. 
  • There are some schools that no longer require either score. 
  • The SAT or the ACT are the two accepted at almost all colleges and universities. 
  • You should research the individual schools and their requirements. 
  • Some schools also require SAT II Subject tests. 
  • Both the SAT and ACT allow you to send only the scores you want sent to schools. 
  • Most schools, but not all will also combine the best scores from different testing dates of the same test.  Again, research the school to see what they accept. 
  • Scores can be sent free when you register to take the test.  After the test, there is a fee. 
  • Schools will not accept scores just from the student or the high school, they must come from the testing organization. 
  • Many schools use a sliding scale, meaning that the higher the GPA the lower the test score needed. 
  • AP/IB tests can add college credit. This again is an area you want to research.  Some schools will not award credit but will advance you into higher level courses.  Some will not award credit unless the IB Diploma is awarded.  Other schools have certain criteria when it comes to certain majors.  If you major in history they may not allow you to use your AP History scores for credit.
We would like to remind you that magic words such as hello, please, you’re welcome, I’m sorry, and thank you, all begin to be learned at home.

Home is also where they learn to be organized, to take good care of their belongings, and that it’s not ok to touch others.

Here at school, on the other hand, we teach language, math, history, geography, physics, sciences, and physical education.

We only reinforce the education that children receive at home from their parents.

We are a school of choice that caters to students in grades 11-12+ within the district, as well as its surrounding districts.

The mission is to provide students with options toward graduation and earning their high school diploma.
Centralia School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Civil Rights Coordinator & Title IX Coordinator: Tabitha Whiting [email protected] and Section 504 Coordinator: Tammy Jensen-Tabor, [email protected] (360) 330-7600, 2320 Borst Avenue, Centralia, WA 98531-0610.