Your first step on your college jounrey is EXPLORATION. Learn about different schools and their program offerings. Start by asking yourself which type of career you want. Then find the programs that can make your dreams a reality. If you are undecided about a career, that's okay. Consider what kind of campus environment you want and begin to narrow down your options. College is a unique time in your life when you expand your cultural, intellectual, and social horizons. Enjoy the journey!
College Search: If you are interested in comparing schools across the US, start here with a user friendly college search engine.
Big Future: Similar to college search, BigFuture is another college search engine offered by CollegeBoard. Click here to search.
Minnesota College Fairs: College fairs can be a great way to discover colleges by talking with representatives about the school environment and program offerrings. They also often provide helpful tips for your application process. Check out the list of current college fairs happening here.
Occupational Outlook Handbook: This site helps students compare and contrast occupations by highest paying, fastest growing, most new jobs, occupation groups and field of degrees. It also gives overview of degrees and experience required for an occupation.
Minnesota Private Colleges: Learn about the uniqueness of private schools and what Minnesota has to offer here.
Minnesota State Colleges & Universities: Explore public colleges in Minnesota here.
Your next step is to plan! Compare schools, look at their application process, and make plans to meet their requirements.
College Comparison Worksheet: Here is a great resources for comparing schools.
MakeMeAFreshman: This is a free personalized step-by-step checklist for students to help with the college application process. Check it out and see if this can help you stay organized.
College Application Worksheet: Use this worksheet to plan for your college application process.
Tips for Writing an Essay and Preparing for an Interview: Some application processes require an application or an interview. Take a look at these tips to prepare for that process.
Essay Resources: Here are some additional essay tips by CollegeBoard to help students write a winning college application essay.
Letter of Recommendation: Some application processes require a letter of recommendation. Learn more about how to get one from CollegeBoard here.
Teacher Recommendation Request: Take a look at this document to learn how to ask a teacher for a recommendation.
You have explored your college and degree options, you have planned and prepared for your application, and now it is time to apply!
Apply: Applications are often done on the school of your choice's website. Before you hit the sumbit button, make sure to double check all your information. If you had to write an essay ask a parent or teacher to proofread it for you and give feedback.
I Applied. Now What?: Here is a resource to begin your next phase of planning after your application is sumbitted.
FAFSA Workflow: Here is an overview of the FAFSA to help students begin their next phase of their college journey.
Students need a high school diploma or GED to get into a 2-year college.
Technical colleges or career schools offer programs that emphasize hands-on knowledge and skills that lead to specific jobs in technical and industrial occupations.What you can earn:
Public & Private Universities offer a variety of degrees and programs. Public colleges and universities are funded by the state and often offer lower tuition rates and often provide an array of program offerings. Private colleges and universities rely on tuition and endowments instead of the state. They often have higher tuition rates but many offer generous financial aid.
They often have fewer program offerings but offer specialized focus in specific fields. Many are private liberal arts colleges which often emphasize broad knowledge in the arts, sciences, social sciences and humanities. They also often have smaller class sizes and unique communities.
What you can earn:
Interest inventories and personality tests can help students explore what careers may match up with their skills, interests, and passions. Below you'll find a collection of tests that can help determine different things about you.
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
Career Cluster Interest Survey
Getting the financial side of college sorted out can feel like an overwhelming and daunting task. If you need guidance on how to begin the process of paying and/or affording college start with the resources below as we talk you through how to apply for financial aid, what to do after you've applied, scholarship opportunities, and how you can set yourself up for success when applying.
FAFSA Workflow: Here is an overview of the FAFSA to help students begin their next phase of their college journey.
Your financial aid journey starts with the FAFSA. Once you have completed the FAFSA and submitted it to the schools you've been accepted to, those schools will send you a student aid report. This report will tell you how much aid you will receive and it will help you determine how much more financial cost you need to cover either through scholarships or through student loans.
NSHSS Tips College Board Tips Top University Tips
FastWeb Scholarships.com US Dept of Labor Niche Discover
There are many scholarship search engines and tips. Don't be afraid to do a little research on your own and explore resources outside of this list. This list is to help you get started!
The Hormel Foundation officially kicked off a program to offer all qualifying seniors from Pacelli Catholic Schools full scholarships to Riverland Community College.
The Austin Assurance Scholarship program is designed to give students the opportunity to pursue post-secondary education by removing cost as a barrier.
"This is really going to be a game changer for our community," says Riverland Community College president Adenuga Atewologun, "especially our students of lesser means and our immigrant populations. They will really benefit."
Seniors who meet the requirements and choose to attend Riverland Community College will receive a scholarship to cover tuition and fees as well as a stipend for textbooks.
"When young people and their families understand that this scholarship is available, it gives them hope and a light into the future that they might not otherwise have thought about," says Hormel Foundation secretary Steve Rizzi. "It's a great difference maker for Austin. There isn't any component in our society where education doesn't make a difference, and by valuing and enhancing the ability to access a post-secondary education, we believe that we instill the belief that we can better ourselves as individuals with an education."
Austin Utilities Austin Area Foundation Farmers Mutual Insurance Scholarships for Latino Students