College Preparation
- Educational Development Plant (EDP)
- Jumpstart Your College Planning
- Get Involved
- Take Challenging Courses
- Prepare for College Entrance Exams
- Get the College-Bound Facts
- Involve Your Family and Find a Mentor
- Extracurricular Activities
- Maintaining Balance
- Getting Involved
- School Activities
- Community Service
- Helpful Links
- Selecting a college/university that's right for you
- Kalamazoo Promise Students
- All Students
- ACT & SAT
- Advance Placement courses
- Why Participate?
Educational Development Plant (EDP)
One component of career planning is the Educational Development Plan (EDP). EDPs are planning tools used by students to put into writing their education and career goals, including strategies and high school courses, to help them reach their goals. EDPs are “living” documents that are updated as interests and abilities become more obvious and focused. Parents and students should review EDPs on a regular basis. That’s easy to do with Xello. Please contact your counselor for more information.
Jumpstart Your College Planning
Get Involved
Take Challenging Courses
Prepare for College Entrance Exams
Get the College-Bound Facts
Involve Your Family and Find a Mentor
Extracurricular Activities
The good news is that colleges pay attention to your life inside and outside the classroom. Yes, your academics probably come first, but your activities reveal a great deal about you, such as:
- how you’ve made a meaningful contribution to something
- what your non-academic interests are
- whether you can maintain a long-term commitment
- whether you can manage your time and priorities
- what diversity you bring to the student body
Maintaining Balance
Keep in mind colleges are not interested in seeing you “do it all.” Colleges are looking for a commitment to, and a passion for, an activity outside of the academic setting – they are looking for depth rather than breadth. Colleges don’t have a checklist of requirements when it comes to extracurricular activities – they want to see your individuality – and your consistent commitment.
Getting Involved
School Activities
Community Service
Helpful Links
Do some research for yourself. Go online and check out these college resources.
http://www.collegeboard.com
Use the College Board to find information on college board tests and planning, finding, applying, and paying for college.
http://www.pcsum.org
The Presidents Council, State Universities of Michigan, based in Lansing, is a nonprofit higher education association serving Michigan's 15 state universities. The primary mission is to advocate higher education as a public good and to promote its collective value in serving the public interest and the State of Michigan.
http://www.mcca.org
The Michigan Community College Association site provides links to Michigan’s 28 community colleges.
http://www.macrao.org
Michigan Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers provides links to Michigan college home pages, online admission applications, and a calendar of high school college nights.
http://www.collegeplanning.nelnet.net
The Nelnet College Planning Center answers questions about planning, applying for, and paying for college.
www.KnowHow2GOMichigan.org
This site encourages students to take action in their pursuit to attend college. It details steps they must take and is geared toward 8th to 10th grade students.
www.MichiganCAP.org
The Michigan College Access Portal is a comprehensive, web-based one-stop-shop for students, their families, and counselors. It is a statewide initiative which provides free support for all students and families in Michigan to simplify the process of transitioning from high school to college and career
Selecting a college/university that's right for you
- Always visit the college campus - take a tour! Walking the campus will give you a feel for the environment, which is important (as you may very well be living there for four or more years). Bring a family member.
- Just because you may have heard of a school’s “reputation” does not mean it is or is not a good fit for you.
- Investigate two or three colleges that you may know nothing about but offer good programs in your field of interest. You may make a great discovery.
- Speak with the advisors. Learn about your program:
- How long will it take?
- Is the program accredited?
- Do not choose a college simply because you have friends who go there.
- Do not rule out colleges because of cost. You may be able to receive enough funds to make it affordable. You can make this determination at the end of the college selection process.
- Meet ALL of the deadlines!
- College applications
- ACT/SAT tests/retests
- Financial Aid
- Scholarships
- Campus housing
- Apply to a “reach” school (one you hope to get into) and a school you’ll most likely be admitted to (safety college).
- To make a final choice, discuss with family members, school counselors, college advisors, athletic coaches, etc.
- If you're playing the GPA game and taking a light schedule that isn't challenging, it will catch up with you at the college level very quickly. One of the things admissions officers pay attention to, besides GPA, is course selection throughout high school and especially senior year. They like to see students have momentum going into their freshman year at college. If you sit back your senior year, it's hard to recapture that momentum.
- Course selection can also affect admissions test scores. If you go for just a good GPA, you'll be less prepared for college and will score lower on entrance exams.
Kalamazoo Promise Students
- Fill out the application during the fall of your senior year.
- After submission you will receive a certificate indicating the amount of scholarship for which you qualify.
- After deciding on a college, fill out the scholarship acceptance form. This form is an agreement between the student and the Promise on what each party will do to maintain the scholarship.
All Students
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be filled out between October 1 and should be done before March 1. It will qualify you for scholarships, grants, work study programs, and loans.
- The Kalamazoo Foundation offers local scholarships (more easily obtained than competing statewide or nationally). Check it out at www.kalfound.org.
- Contact the colleges or universities of interest and speak with the financial advisors and contact the department (intended major) to identify other scholarships and opportunities available specifically through the program.
- Volunteer in your community: service is a great qualifier for scholarships! Choose a means wherein you can learn more about your interests. Don’t dabble in this and that, but really become involved in one or two organizations.
ACT & SAT
Admission to college is usually based upon a combination of factors which include: Grade Point Average (GPA), class rank, and national test results. The common tests taken are the SAT and/or ACT (usually taken during a student’s junior or senior year).
All 4-year colleges require the SAT and/or ACT
Many community colleges do not require the SAT/ACT
The SAT is one component of the MME. There is no cost to 11th grade students who take the SAT as part of the MME on the scheduled day in April. All high school students may take or retake the SAT at their own expense on any of the national testing dates listed below. Your counselor can provide you with specific information or visit the websites listed below:
ACT: www.act.org
SAT: www.collegeboard.org
There is a fee for taking the ACT or SAT exams, and advanced registration is required.
Advance Placement courses
AP can change your life. Through college-level AP courses, you enter a universe of knowledge that might otherwise remain unexplored in high school.
AP courses provide an opportunity to earn college-level credit while enrolled in high school by taking the AP exam. All students enrolled in an AP course will be required to take the related AP exam in May. AP courses follow guidelines as suggested by The College Board.
Due to the rigor of AP courses, students are strongly encouraged to complete a summer assignment as suggested by the AP teacher. Content from summer assignments will be included on an assessment during the first trimester. A packet with detailed course information is available in the office. Advanced Placement courses are intended for students in grades 10-12.
Why Participate?
AP courses offer something for everyone. The only requirements are a strong curiosity about the subject you plan to study and the willingness to work hard. Here are just a few reasons to take AP courses:
Gain the Edge in College Preparation
- Get a head start on college-level work.
- Improve your writing skills and sharpen your problem-solving techniques.
- Develop the study habits necessary for tackling rigorous course work.
Stand Out in the College Admissions Process
- Demonstrate your maturity and readiness for college.
- Show your willingness to push yourself to the limit.
- Emphasize your commitment to academic excellence.
Broaden Your Intellectual Horizons
- Explore the world from a variety of perspectives, most importantly, your own.
- Study subjects in greater depth and detail.
- Assume the responsibility of reasoning, analyzing, and understanding for yourself.
The following AP courses are available to KPS students:
- AP Art History
- AP Biology
- AP Calculus AB
- AP Chemistry
- AP English: Language & Comp
- AP English: Literature & Comp
- AP European History
- AP French Language & Culture
- AP Latin
- AP Physics I
- AP Psychology
- AP Spanish Language & Culture
- AP Statistics
- AP Studio Art Portfolio
- AP United States History
- AP World History
- AP United States Government & Politics
- AP Comparative Government and Politics