College Preparation
In preparing for college, the most important prerequisite is to be realistic.
You may, of course, have a dream college but you must also be sure that you have an additional choice of college that is realistic in terms of your high school background and your marks.
The following suggestions are offered when making plans for college: Most colleges expect a student to have taken 4 years of English, 4 years of Social Studies, 4 years of Mathematics, 3 years of Science, and 3 consecutive years of the same Language Other Than English.
SAT Subject Tests are required by many colleges. We highly recommend that students take these tests at the end of the year in which they complete their study of a given course.
If you are considering a career in engineering, pre-med, or sciences, you must take advantage of all Math/Science courses offered from 9th to 12th grade.
During junior and senior year we encourage students to attend at least one of the major college fairs that are held in New York City and The Westchester County Center. The OLVA college fair for colleges in the Northeast and Middle States regions is held in the spring of each year.
Make appointments with the college admissions personnel when they visit the school. Check the bulletin boards regularly for information about open houses, scholarships and financial aid.
Visit as many college campuses as possible during the summer and fall, and always make it a point to stop at the Office of Admissions. An interview with an admissions office should be planned and arranged in advance of the visit.
Discuss your choice of courses and/or career with your counselor, your subject teachers, and your parents. Try to narrow down your college choices to five. Remember, college applications are expensive. If you are realistic, you will be able to apply to one college at which you know you will be accepted. Check your marks, your SAT and SAT Subject Tests that are required by the colleges to which you are applying and act accordingly.
