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It is best to begin thinking about college no later than junior high or middle school. A student who decides to go to college before high school is able to use all four years to help reach his or her goals. If you know the courses you need to take in high school, you can start satisfying college admission requirements as early as the 8th grade.

Take control! The decisions you make about your high school studies can influence whether the college you choose will also want you.

Sometimes it is difficult to decide, especially for students who enjoy many different things and have the ability to do lots of things well. One thing that can help is to begin thinking about your choices early and to consider all the different aspects of a job. Do some research, find out what jobs are available, and talk to people who work in an area that you think sounds interesting. It may not be necessary to decide on a specific career immediately, but it is a good idea to narrow your choices as much as possible. Use the Student-Career Matching Assistant module to assist your search.

Even if they are not required for high school graduation, most colleges require at least three, and preferably four, years of studies in the following core courses:

• English
• Math
• Science
• Social Studies

In addition, most colleges require at least two years of the same foreign language. Computer science courses or courses that require students to use computers in research and project preparation are often essential for college performance. Participation in extracurricular activities is also a good idea in high school. Courses that require study and time outside the classroom (like debate, band, communications and drama) indicate a willingness to cooperate with others and to put in the effort needed to succeed.

Your grades are important. However, the difficulty of your coursework can also be a significant admissions factor. In general, most colleges prefer students with average grades in tougher courses than students who opt for an easy A.

Class Rank
College admissions counselors usually consider class rank. By doing so, colleges are looking at the grades you make in relation to your peers.

Standardized Tests
In addition to coursework, grades and class rank, scores on standardized tests (such as the ACT and SAT) can be included among the criteria for admission to some colleges and universities.

College Credit Before You Start
Often, high school students are eligible to receive college credit while they are still enrolled in high school. Advanced Placement and technical-preparation courses offer students who prepare early and take more difficult courses during their junior high and high school years the chance to gain college credit and save on tuition.

Advanced Placement (AP) courses are available in more than 20 subjects. Students scoring high enough on AP exams can receive college credit and save time and money by taking fewer college courses. Ask your high school counselor if AP courses are available in your school.

Students interested in attending college should become familiar with three exams associated with college admissions. Students who are already in college and preparing to go on to graduate, business, law or medical school need to prepare for and take additional exams. Check with your high school counselor or the schools you're interested in attending to find out what test or tests are required for someone in your situation. Also, ask your counselor, contact the testing agencies or check your local bookstore for samples of past tests to familiarize yourself with the content. You may also want to check out some Internet resources available on testing.

• ACT

  The ACT is one of two standardized tests used by colleges as part of their admissions criteria and is the test primarly relied on by Oklahoma state colleges and universities. The test is designed to measure achievement in English, math, reading, and science. Scores for each section are averaged to create a composite score. A perfect score on the ACT Assessment is 36. Contact your high school counselor for test dates, locations and study materials to familiarize yourself with test content and questions, or call the ACT information line at (319) 337-1000.

• PSAT

  The PSAT (Preliminary SAT) is a two-part exam that is very similar to the SAT (SAT Reasoning Test). The PSAT consists of two 25-minute verbal sections, two 25-minute math sections, and one 30-minute writing skills section. Most students take the PSAT in the fall of their junior year of high school, though some choose to take it during their sophomore year. PSAT scores from the junior year are used to determine National Merit Scholars, students who qualify for merit-based scholarships distributed throughout the United States. Talk to your high school counselor for more information or call the PSAT information line at (609) 771-7070.

• SAT

  The SAT is one of two standardized tests used by colleges as part of their admissions criteria. The SAT is a three-hour exam that measures verbal and math reasoning skills. Scores on each section range from 200-800 points. The SAT Subject Tests consist of more than 20 subject area tests designed to measure subject-area knowledge. Contact your high school counselor for test dates, locations, and study guides, or call SAT Customer Service at (866) 756-7346.

Some students do choose to take both the SAT and the ACT, and some test takers do perform better on one than the other. Sometimes, however, scores on one aren't much better or worse than the scores on the other. Talk to your counselor or an admissions officer at a college or university before deciding which test to take and whether to take them both. There really isn't any way to know whether you will do better on one or the other until you take them. Also, keep in mind that Oklahoma state colleges and universities rely primarily on the ACT.

Both the ACT and the SAT allow test takers to send their scores to several different organizations, including scholarship programs, colleges and universities. Even if you aren't certain which school you want to attend, you can send your scores to those that you think you are most likely to attend. And, if you decide on one that isn't even on your list of possibilities, you can pay to have another report sent there later.

Yes, both the ACT and the SAT allow students to take the test several times. And sometimes scores do improve enough to make the difference for a particular student. But there is no guarantee that a student's scores will improve. If you want to improve your scores, you should see about doing some things to prepare first. Talk to a counselor before you take a test over.