Let’s start by getting the cold, hard truth out in the open: Less than 40 percent of students who plan to go to college actually earn a two or four year degree within 10 years of graduating from high school (Rosenbaum, 2001).  Do you know what it takes to succeed in college?

The simple answer is that if you take difficult classes, do all of your homework, and get good grades in high school, you will be ready.

GRADES MATTER 
Your high school grade point average is a great predictor of whether or not you will earn a college degree.  Take a look at the chart (below).  Less than 14 percent of students with C average or lower in high school earned a two or four year college degree.  Even worse, 52 percent of college students who had a C average (or lower) in high school didn’t earn even one college credit!  What are they doing while they are “in college”?  They are spending time and money on remedial classes that repeat high school work and earn no college credit.

The following represents a percentage of 12th grade students who say they are going to college who have actually earned a two or four-year degree 10 years after high school:
• 63.9% of students with an A average in high school get an A.A. degree or higher
• 37.1% of students with a B average in high school get an A.A. degree or higher
• 13.9% of students with a C average in high school get an A.A. degree or higher

HOMEWORK MATTERS
Homework might seem like a waste of time, but it teaches you content, time-management, and discipline- all of which you’ll need in college.  Forty-four percent of high school seniors do less than three hours of homework in a week; only 14 percent of seniors do more than 10 hours.  Interestingly enough, homework time strongly predicts college success.  Over half the students who do more than 10 hours of homework a week will get a four-year college degree; only about 16 percent of those doing less than three hours of homework a week will earn a bachelor’s degree.

MATH COURSES MATTER
The further you go in math in high school, the better your chances of earning a college degree. Completing Algebra II (or a higher course) is a huge help in earning a college degree.  And if you really want a bachelor’s degree, you better go as high as you can in math while you’re still in high school.

Even if you don’t go to college, your high school grade point average is still important because it predicts future income.  High-school grades do not predict income right after high school, but they do strongly predict long-term income.  If you don’t go to college, an increase of one letter grade (from C to B) in your high school grade-point average typically predicts an increase in income by 13 percent by age 28!  So even if you don’t go to college, improving your high school grades from Cs to Bs improves the chances that you will be able to support a family.

Sources: James Rosenbaum (2001) Beyond College for All; Clifford Adelman (1999) Answers in the Toolbox

This is a good time to investigate your progress towards graduation. Check with your counselor to make sure you are on-track to graduate. The following information can assist in seeing how you are doing:

Cumulative GPA _____
Credits to Date _____
Credits Needed _____

To graduate, a student must earn a minimum of 220 credits in grades 9-12.  A minimum of 25 credits must be earned during the semester (eighteen weeks) preceding graduation in order for students to participate in the graduation ceremony.

Graduation Requirements
The Elk Grove Unified School District has some of the toughest graduation requirements in the state: 

4 years of English
4 years of math (including algebra) and 2 years of science, OR 3 years of math (including algebra) and 3 years of science
3.5 years of social science
2 years of science
2 years of physical education
2 years of foreign language, OR 1 year of foreign language and 1 year of fine arts
1 semester of health
Proficiency in current technology
Proficiency in speech
State of California Graduation Requirement
All students are required to pass the California High School Exit Exam in order to graduate. Students with disabilities may be exempt from this requirement pending legislation. To obtain more information, please visit the state web page at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/hs/index.asp.

While you are waiting to hear from the colleges you applied to, it is a good time to revisit the following questions to guide you in making your final selection:

Location
How far away from home would you like to go to school?  10 miles or 2,000 miles

Size of College
Would you prefer to attend a school with a large enrollment, (30,000 or more students) a small one, (1,500 students) or something in the middle?  How large would you like the physical size of the campus to be?

Environment
Would you rather attend a community college or other: 2-year institution, 4-year university, urban, suburban, or a rural school?  Is the location and size of the nearest city important to you?  Do you prefer a co-ed or single-gender school?  Does the school’s religious affiliation make a difference to you?

Academics
Which schools offer the major(s) that you are considering?  What kind of student-faculty ratio and typical class size are you looking for, and which schools offer them?

College Expenses/Financial Aid
Does your college choice match your financial aid package?  How expensive a school can you afford to attend?  Consider tuition, room and board, and other expenses including the application fee, deposits, etc.  Will your financial aid, scholarships and family contributions make it possible for you to attend your first choice college?

Housing/Facilities
Would you rather live on campus, in a dorm, or commute to school from home?  What type of academic, medical and recreational facilities should your college have?

Activities
What kind of clubs and organizations (including fraternities and sororities) do you want college to offer?  What type of athletic activities (including intramural teams) should be offered by the school you choose to attend?

Special Programs
Do you need a school with services or programs for the learning disabled?  Would you like to study abroad?  Do you plan to continue your ESL studies in college?  Are you looking for an honors program?

Most four-year colleges and universities require an entrance or placement examination. Most colleges and universities in the U.S. will accept either the ACT (American College Test) or the SAT Reasoning Test (once known as the Scholastic Aptitude Test). You may take either or both tests several times to improve your score. Please consult with the college or university of your choice for specific requirements.

Some colleges/universities require the SAT Subject Tests. Check with the College Board or your selected college/university to see if they require the SAT Subject Tests for admission. When colleges/universities require the SAT Subject Tests they are measuring your ability in the areas of writing, mathematics and one area of your choice. Make a list of possible colleges/universities that you are considering and request your score to be sent to those schools.

Deadlines are set for each test date.  Late fees are assessed if it is past the deadline. There are additional charges to change your test date or location after you have registered.

Registration options:
1. Online: Payment online is by Visa or MasterCard ONLY.
a. ACT: www.act.org
b. SAT: www.collegeboard.com

2. By mail: Pick up an application form in your school’s counseling center.  Complete the application and mail the application before the deadline, enclose check or credit card information in the correct amount and remember that a signature is required.

3. By phone: After your first test, you may call and set up retest dates and pay by phone.  A credit card is needed (Visa or MasterCard), and an additional fee is charged for this service.

Important Reminders
• In order to register, you must have your high school code (see list below).
• Athletes - remember to send scores to the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association).
• You must take a picture ID to the test center to be admitted.
• There are late registration deadlines for an additional fee.
• You cannot take the SAT Reasoning Test and SAT Subject Tests on the same day.
• Check for other schools in your area that offer the test.

Elk Grove High School - School Code #050825
Florin High School - School Code #052722
Franklin High School - School Code #050824
Laguna Creek High School - School Code #050829
Monterey Trail High School - School Code #050902
Pleasant Grove High School - School Code #053953
Sheldon High School - School Code #052792
Valley High School -  School Code #052736