ROAD TO COLLEGEThe First Steps

for 9th & 10th graders

Turn this...

into this!

Get Academically Ready

Challenge yourself!Take courses at the highest level/number in which you can be successful. While we have some students who take every weighted class possible, most take a mix of classes, wherein they take regular classes as well as weighted classes in which they have high interest/skill level.

Represent your best EVERY day

Give EVERY test your best shotPrepareTry your bestUse your mistakes as feedback to improve

Learn how to get help – ask questions in/out of class, seek help through your teacher(s), fellow students and online resources.

22 credits, including:

4 years of math: Algebra 1 & 2, Geometry & an advanced math following Algebra 2.

2 years of same world language

4 years of science: Biology, Chemistry and 2 advanced sciences OR SC09, Biology, Chemistry and an advanced science.

1 year of fine art

3.0+ G.P.A.

2 weighted classes

Scholastic Diploma Requirements:

STANDARD VS. SCHOLASTICDIPLOMA

Question: Do I need to attain the MPS scholastic diploma to attend a four-year university?Answer: Not necessarily. The key is to get familiar with the admissions requirements of the school(s) you’re considering. The scholastic diploma requirements may actually exceed in-state university and many out-of-state entrance requirements. These same requirements may not be enough, however, for some out-of-state/selective universities and/or honors/scholarship programs.

Bottom Line: Take the most challenging collection of classes in which you can be successful. This was the original basis for the scholastic diploma – to aim high and prepare for success in the world of college & careers.

Get Personally Ready

Responsibility and Ownership of Learning – you’re in charge of your academic destiny!

Decision-Making Skills

Time Management

Activities Get involved and stick with it ServiceAdmissions representatives receive a lot of good transcripts – you want to develop an identity that sets you apart and shows your passion.

Explore your interests/skills!Update your Educational/Career Action Plan (ECAP) throughout high school – take the assessments at least 2-3 times through high school as your interests/experiences change.Go to: www.mpsaz.kuder.com. Login formula is as follows – 1) user name – type in st and 6 digit school ID 2) password – type in 6 digit school ID.

Through Navigator, students can do the following:Understand their interests/skills and jobs/educational training to which those correspond.Develop a resume.Research schools based upon a # of different criteria, i.e., location, major and more

Explore!Get Career Ready

Another recommended exploration tool/site:

Big Future by CollegeBoard: Go to https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/ Amazing collection of college/career planning tools!

Through Navigator or Big Future, explore the educational programs that match up with your career interests – they may involve a 1 year training program, a 2 year associates degree, a bachelors degree or more. This will also determine where you go to school, i.e., community college, tech school, 4-year university, etc.

Explore the job outlook when you research career areas. It’s important to know where the jobs will and will not be when you’re an adult.

Explore Mesa Schools’ College & Career Readiness Tool Kit, which includes valuable info that will assist you with college and career planning. Locate in the RMHS Counseling link.

Take courses that interest you!

Join clubs/organizations that interest you!

Consider job shadowing/summer internship opportunities.

Experience!

Get Money ReadyCollege is generally paid for by:* Private funds, i.e., the Bank of Parents/Relatives

* Grants – based upon financial need

* Loans

* Work-Study

* Scholarships

Get the facts about college costs by going to: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/college-costs/understanding-college-costs

It’s not too early to look into types of aid that could help you cover college costs. Start by reading 7 Things You Need to Know About Financial Aid, located at https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/financial-aid-101/7-things-you-need-to-know-about-financial-aid.

See how much you need to save for college. Use the College Savings Calculator, located at https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/paying-your-share/college-savings-calculator, to get an idea of where you are compared with your savings goal.

Learning More…Attend tonight’s presentation, called “Beating the High Cost of College,” presented by the HEFAR Group.

Attend Red Mountain’s Financial Aid Night in January.

Get InMaricopa Community Colleges

You can be admitted to a community college with your high school diploma. You do not need to take the ACT or SAT. A placement test will determine which classes you will enroll in.

Available programs can lead to:

• Certificate, i.e., certified nursing assistant• Associate’s degree in a particular discipline, i.e., dental hygiene• Associate’s degree in general studies (transfer degree) – will

allow student to transfer coursework to the 4-year university to complete a bachelors degree, i.e., elementary education

Get InAZ University Admission Requirements For admission directly from high school

Required course competencies:• 4 English• 4 Math (Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2 & an advanced math

such as Trig, Precalculus, AP Statistics, AP Calculus)• 3 Science• 2 Social Studies• 2 World Language (same)• 1 Fine Art

One or more of the following:Top 25% of class3.0 min. competency GPA (unweighted and based upon grades in courses listed above)ACT of 22 and/or SAT of 1040

Get InCompetitive and/or out-of-state universities MAY require:

• AP & Honors Classes• Additional Academics• Additional Fine Arts• Additional World Language• Additional Tests, i.e., SAT Subject Tests• Letters of RecommendationTip: Become familiar this year with the admissions requirements of the school(s) you’re considering.

What Colleges May Request For Admission

• Transcript

• Test Results

• Extracurricular activities

• Recommendations

• Essay(s)

Get In

TRANSCRIPT

109

Name: Rufus D. LionID #: 654321

Class rank: based upon GPA from completion of 17 courses.

Service Learning: 150+ hours required for Honor for Excellence diploma seal/transcript notation.

Graduation Requirements:1. 22 credits2. Meets/exceeds in

AIMS subject areas.

3. Completed ECAP

Cumulative GPA: GPA based upon how you’ve done in ALL classes.

Sending your transcript to a university:1. Visit Mrs. Haller,

our registrar, to request that it be sent to specific school(s) OR

2. Have it sent electronically via www.parchment.com

TRANSCRIPTYou’ll initially forward your transcript when you apply to college (fall of 12th grade) then once more after you graduate from RMHS (a mid-year transcript may also be required by certain colleges).

College Admissions Tests: What Do All The Letters Mean??

PSAT, ACT, SAT, SAT Subject Tests

PSAT: Fall of grades 10 & 11

SAT and/or ACT spring of grade 11

Colleges take your best score so consider taking a test more than once and/or taking both the SAT & ACT.

SAT Subject Tests: Required for many out-of-state and/or selective universities.

Register for PSAT in the fall at Red Mountain’s bookstore. Register for all others online at their sites. See RMHS’ Counseling link.

ACT SAT

Areas Tested

Basis for Exam

What Are Extracurricular Activities?

Clubs/activities in & out of school

Performing Arts Sports Student Council Service Learning Summer Programs Internships

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

Colleges & scholarship programs often ask for two or three recommendation letters from people who know you well. These letters should be written by someone who can describe your skills, accomplishments and personality.

Develop relationships through high school with your teachers, counselor and other key people who know you, i.e., coaches and volunteer supervisors. Allow them to truly get to know you – your character, your strengths and your accomplishments.

Ha-Ha & No-No!

ESSAYSOften required as part of admission to universities/specific college programs.

Typically required for scholarships and honors program applications.

A “TO DO” LIST FOR 9th & 10th GRADERS

• Take the highest level of class(es) in which you can be successful• Join extracurricular activities – remember “quality, not quantity.”

Consider leadership opportunities within clubs, youth groups, school programs (ex: yearbook asst. editor), youth leadership conferences (ex: Anytown).

• Research interests/skills & corresponding college majors/jobs.• Research and start to narrow your list of schools based upon majors

and other criteria you consider important.• Become familiar with the RMHS Counseling page and its many links.• Learn about college costs/how to pay for college (Big Future by

College Board, Kuder Navigator, linking into the MPS scholarship bulletin, attending RMHS Financial Aid Night in January).

• Visit schools.• Attend college fairs & meet with admissions reps when they visit

RMHS• Meet with your counselor to plan high school classes and discuss

college/career planning.• Develop relationships with teachers, your counselor & other key

adults who could potentially write you letters of recommendation (2-3 are generally required for many colleges and scholarships).

RESOURCES!• Get familiar with all of the tools located at Red Mountain’s

Counseling link – explore, explore and explore!

• Subscribe to Red Mountain’s college & career newsfeed to learn about upcoming visits from college admissions reps and more – locate in our Counseling link.

• Visit/subscribe to MPS’ scholarship bulletin/site for scholarship tips and info about specific scholarship opportunities – locate in our Counseling link.

• Schedule an appointment with your counselor for assistance with planning classes for next year and for college/career planning.