| You're a recent high school grad or an adult who | | | | There are often additional requirements: |
| needs a better career. You're thinking about going to | | | | 1. You may have to sign an enrollment agreement |
| college or technical school to get training. Great! But | | | | and student information form. The enrollment |
| you're unsure of the admissions requirements. What | | | | agreement must be signed by a parent or legal |
| kind of grades do you need? Does life experience | | | | guardian if you are under 18 years of age. 2. A |
| count? How about entrance exams? Let's look behind | | | | personal interview with an admissions officer is often |
| the scenes and discover what you need to know | | | | required. 3. A tour of the campus or online learning |
| about admissions to a variety of college and career | | | | environment is encouraged. 4. English language fluency |
| school programs. | | | | is often required. English abilities can be determined |
| Adult continuing education. These programs are | | | | through the college's interview application process and |
| typically offered in the evening and on weekends. | | | | or a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). |
| They are designed for working adults who want to | | | | 5. International students may need to meet additional |
| learn something about a specific topic, such as | | | | requirements including an acceptable score on the |
| grantwriting or French literature or gardening. They | | | | TOEFL. 6. Prior to commencing clinical courses or |
| are offered at a wide variety of institutions from | | | | externship experience, documentation of required |
| major universities to local community colleges. | | | | health examinations, pathology tests, and |
| Generally, there are few entrance requirements other | | | | immunizations may be required. 7. If you have a |
| than conversational English and perhaps some prior | | | | criminal record, check with the admissions staff about |
| knowledge of the field. | | | | possible requirements. Before students can be placed |
| Advanced courses may require prerequisites or | | | | in an externship or take professional licensing, |
| evidence of basic knowledge in the subject. For | | | | certification, or registration exams, the state or other |
| example, if you want to enroll in a computer | | | | agencies may require criminal background checks. |
| networking class, you will have to demonstrate | | | | Bachelor's Degree Programs. The application process |
| academic knowledge or job experience in computers | | | | for entry into bachelor's degree programs can range |
| or information technology. | | | | from easy (your state university system) to very |
| Diploma programs. These are short-term programs | | | | difficult (Harvard or Yale). In general, you'll need a |
| designed to provide the graduate with appropriate | | | | high school diploma or GED, your high school grade |
| professional skills to qualify for entry-level positions in | | | | transcripts, letters of recommendation, application |
| a variety of fields such as dental assisting, medical | | | | fee, and a completed admissions form. Most colleges |
| assisting, criminology, computer networking, auto | | | | and universities-but not all-require college admissions |
| repair, or massage. The admissions requirements for | | | | test scores (SAT or ACT exam). Some also require a |
| a typical diploma program are: | | | | personal interview. |
| 1. Be a high school graduate, or | | | | Many students who apply to a prestigious college and |
| 2. Have a General Education Development (GED) | | | | don't get accepted have an alternate plan. They |
| certificate, or | | | | attend a local community college for two years and |
| 3. Have a Home Study certificate that is recognized | | | | then apply to the college as a transfer student. This |
| by the student's home state. | | | | strategy works surprisingly well, and the advantage is |
| Evidence of high school graduation may include a | | | | that you often pay much less for the two years at |
| General Educational Development Test (GED) | | | | community college and still get a degree from the |
| certificate (or official notification that a GED has been | | | | prestigious college. |
| earned), a copy of a high school transcript indicating | | | | One of the most intimidating tasks when applying to |
| the date of high school graduation, a certified copy | | | | college can be the admissions essay requirement. |
| of an original high school diploma, a copy of a DD214 | | | | You're often asked to write about yourself, or why |
| indicating date of high school graduation, or a college | | | | you want to attend the college. For many |
| transcript indicating the date of high school | | | | applicants-teens and working adults alike-this can |
| graduation. | | | | seem daunting. Just remember that the school wants |
| The General Educational Development Tests are | | | | to know about you and if you are bright and |
| administered by your state government. Typically, | | | | inquisitive, or if you are a robot. The school wants to |
| the GED includes five tests in the areas of writing | | | | see if you know how to write and communicate |
| skills, reading, science, social studies, and mathematics. | | | | effectively. The key is not to rush it. Write your |
| The questions generally ask for general knowledge | | | | essay well in advance. Put it aside for a few weeks |
| rather than lots of facts or figures. With the | | | | and then look at it again. Does it make sense? Are |
| exceptions of the mathematics test, which may have | | | | there typos or errors of grammar? Have someone |
| open-ended questions, and the writing skills test, | | | | else read it and comment. |
| which may require you to write an essay, all of the | | | | At every school-regardless of program-students are |
| questions on the GED test are multiple choice with | | | | required to make appropriate financial arrangements |
| five possible choices. | | | | before the first day of class. This means that you |
| If you don't speak English very well, you may have | | | | must have paid your tuition in advance or made |
| to take a Test of English as a Foreign Language | | | | arrangements with the financial aid office. When you |
| (TOEFL). If you need to improve your fluency, take | | | | are applying ask the admissions staff about financial |
| an English as a Second Language (ESL) program, | | | | aid. They will advise you on your options. |
| either before you enroll or during the program. At | | | | To find the right college or technical school for you, |
| some schools, ESL programs are offered free of | | | | go online to a reputable college directory service. Get |
| charge. | | | | free information about programs, career services, |
| Associate Degree Programs. Admissions requirements | | | | and financial aid. Compare three or four (or more!) |
| for two-year programs tend to be similar to diploma | | | | colleges and apply to the ones that give you what |
| programs--you need a high school diploma or GED. | | | | you need. |