Choosing a Plan of Study:
To Succeed in College

As you enter high school, it is important to remember the difference between taking coursework that meets minimum graduation requirements and taking coursework that will meet minimum college entrance requirements.

If you plan to attend college, it is imperative that you take course work that is rigorous enough to prepare you for higher education. For example, scores on the ACT and SAT are directly related to the courses you take. The more advanced coursework, the higher your ACT score. Higher ACT scores mean more opportunities for scholarships. Who couldn't use extra money for higher education?

Following are the course requirements for preparing for a 4-year college:

Math: 3-4 years (30-40 credits)
> Includes Algebra 1, Algebra II, Geometry/Trigonometry, and Calculus.

English: 4 years (40 credits)
> Composition and literature based, best to take English 11C and English 12C or English Composition.

Science: 3-4 years (30-40 credits)
> Includes natural science, lab based. Physics, Chemistry, and/or Anatomy & Physiology.

Social Studies : 3 years (30 credits)
> The EV curriclum exceeds these requirements; however, it is recommended that students pursue the more rigorous American History and American Government courses.

Foreign Language: 2 years (20 credits)
> Must the same language for 2 years. Some programs require 3-4 years of a foreign language.

EducationQuest Offers College Search Options

Find information about Midwest colleges in the College Profiles section at www.educationquest.org.  Detailed information about Nebraska colleges is available in Educational Opportunities Beyond High School in Nebraska at http://edweblab.unl.edu/edopportunities/intro.html.   

College Fairs coming up in April

If you live in the Omaha-Lincoln vicinity, or plan to visit in late April, you can jumpstart your college search efforts by attending an EducationQuest-sponsored college fair. Here’s the scoop:

Omaha College Affaire – Monday, April 23 at Millard North High School from 6:00 – 8:00 pm

Lincoln College Affaire – Tuesday, April 24 at North Star High School from 6:00 – 8:00 pm

EducationQuest will also sponsor statewide college fairs next fall.

Locate an Ideal College
Using the Internet

Following are a variety of online college locators you can use to find your ideal college. You can locate a college that is a particular size, offers a major or program you are interested in, or a college in an ideal location.

> Department of Education website with an interactive map to help locate a college: nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cool/

> College Board search engine for locating a college: apps.collegeboard.com/search/index

> College View: www.collegeview.com/collegesearch

> Nebraska Career Connections has a college search engine. After you have created an account (click here for instructions), choose "Options after high school" on the side menu: www. nebraskacareerconnections.org