Post High School Options
POST HIGH SCHOOL OPTIONS:
The selection of appropriate high school courses is very important in preparing for the entrance into post-secondary education and the world of work. The following are entrance requirements and summaries of post-secondary education options:
Apprenticeship
Apprentices spend part of their time in classroom settings and part of the time on the job learning a trade while earning a living wage. The number of available apprenticeships is set by industry demand, and is quite competitive. You must be at least 17 years old, physically capable of doing work, and have a high school diploma or GED. Contact the joint Apprenticeship Training Committee or Union representing the trade for requirements.
Military
Military service provides training in a wide range of fields as well as money for college. You must be at least 17 years old (with your parents' permission), meet physical fitness requirements, and achieve qualifying scores on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test. See your recruiter for specifics.
Vocational/Technical School
Technical schools offer career-specific education and training. Many offer two-year Associate of Applied Science Degrees as well as occupational certificates that can take six to eighteen months to complete. To apply you must be age 18 and a high school graduate; or have applied for admission through Running Start; or age 16 and not currently enrolled in high school or have permission from sending high school.
Community College
Community college transfer programs allow students to complete the first two years of college in preparation for transfer to a four-year university. Community colleges also offer a two-year Associate Degree as well as career focused certificates. You must submit an application and take the COMPASS test/Accuplacer for placement in English and math.
Four-Year College or University
The decision to attend a four-year college or university should be made as early as possible. Many four-year universities and/or colleges require a high school diploma or a GED. You also must have completed the minimum high school core requirements as determined by the college or university. These requirements may vary depending on the school. You must submit an application, transcript and SAT or ACT scores. Additionally, many schools require an essay or personal statement.
The following represent the minimum entrance requirements for public four-year colleges and universities in Washington State. Students are encouraged to take math, science, English and world language beyond the minimum entrance requirements to make your curriculum as rigorous as possible throughout your four years.
|
CADR (College Academic Distribution Requirement) |
YEARS OF STUDY |
|
English |
4 years |
|
Math (up through Algebra 2) |
3 years - including one in the senior year |
|
Social Studies |
3 years |
|
Science |
2 years of laboratory—including at least one year of chemistry or physics (3 years recommended) |
|
World Language |
2 years of the same (3 years recommended) |
|
Fine, Visual & Performing Arts |
1 year |
College entrance requirements vary from one college to another. In addition to meeting minimum course studies, your admission to a four-year college will be based upon many factors, including, but not limited to, cumulative GPA, test scores from either the ACT or SAT, and essays. Additionally, some highly selective colleges may require the SAT Subject Tests. Please consult your counselor for further information regarding the college application process and for help to discern minimum entrance requirements for the colleges you are interested in attending.