College and Career
Finding the “Right Fit”
Interests and Skills
If you do not know what you want to major in or what career path to explore then it is a good idea to take an interests inventory test. A good test is found at www.californiacolleges.edu under the career tab.
Finding the "Right Fit" for college
Students choose colleges for a variety of reasons: academic reputation, location, money, etc. As a Christian high school we want to encourage you to look into what type of school environment will be the best fit for you. College is the time to discover what you believe and why you believe it. With that in mind some good questions to ask when considering what type of school to consider are: What are the school's values? Do they offer chapel? How often? What is the school's denomination, if any? How does that differ with mine? What are living arrangements like? What are the student's like who attend there? Do I want a private or public school experience?
There are several good websites to explore that help you determine which college to attend. The best thing to do is to attend a college fair and to talk to admissions counselors. There are three primary college fairs throughout the year that we encourage students to attend: the National Christian College Fair,
Click here for an article by an MIT Admissions Blogger about finding the "right fit."
Helpful websites:
- Christian College resources www.christiancollegesnow.com
- National Christian College Fairs http://nccf.us/
- California colleges information: www.californiacolleges.edu
- Private institutions in
- Worldwide college information: www.collegesource.org
- Researching occupations: www.bls.gov/oco/home.htm
- Researching majors: www.jobstar.org/tools/career/spec
- My majors: www.mymajors.com
- Student Edge: www.mystudentedge.com
4 Year Colleges and Universities Requirements
Academic Requirements for College Admission
In order to graduate from
Click here for the University of California's “a-g” requirements
College Testing (SAT/ACT)
PSAT
It is recommended that students take a preliminary college test in October of their junior year. This test is a practice test for the SAT Reasoning Test (SAT I). Here at Woodcrest Christian we offer the PSAT to all juniors for free and it is held during a school day in October. If you do well on the test as a junior you might qualify for participation in the National Merit Scholarship competition.
SAT Reasoning Test (SAT I) and SAT Subject Tests (SAT II)
The SAT Reasoning Test (SAT I) is taken during your junior or senior year. We recommend that all juniors take this test at least once. The SAT I is made up of three sections: critical reading, mathematics, and writing. Most colleges will require at least the SAT I test or the ACT (see below).
SAT Subject Tests (SAT II) should be taken at the conclusion of your junior year, the beginning of your senior year, or when you have completed a specific subject like AP Biology. These tests are designed to measure knowledge, skills and application in specific subjects. All UC schools require at least two SAT II subject tests be taken along with the SAT I or ACT test.*
*Beginning with the class of 2012 the UC system will no longer require the SAT II subject tests for general admissions however, specific majors may still require a specific SAT II subject test for their major.
Consult college web sites to determine which SAT Subject Tests, if any, are required.
Click here to register for SAT online
ACT (
Most colleges and universities require either the ACT or the SAT I test for admissions. The ACT has four required sections: English, Mathematics, Reading Comprehension and Science. The optional Writing Test measures skills in high school English classes and entry level college composition courses (find out if the schools you are applying to require the writing section). We encourage students to take the ACT test at least once during their junior year along with the SAT I test.
Click here to register for ACT online
"The path is not always an easy one. You would be wise to search God's word, seek advice from Christians you respect, and pray to seek his will. This is a decision that should be given to the Lord, for he knows you best" (Thompson, 2009, p.6-7)
There are numerous reasons to attend a Christian college. The main reason is that it will afford you the opportunity to be shaped by the worldview of both your teachers and your fellow classmates. Each Christian school's worldview maybe slightly different but they all teach God as the Creator of the Universe and the Bible as the moral basis for daily life. This lays the foundation for how each class is taught and for the discussions that will take place among classmates.
There are a number of great private Christian colleges and universities nationwide. They all differ in their denomination, location, size and programs but they have one common goal which is to equip Christian men and woman to make an impact on the world around them. To explore which Chrsitian school is right for you check out this website: www.christiancollegesnow.com. We also encourage you to attend the National Christian College Fair which takes place every fall. Click here for more information.
Thompson, Chant. “The Road to Choosing a Christian Education.”
There are hundreds of different private colleges and universities to choose from. An advantage for going to these schools is the small class sizes and the ability to graduate in four years which is not a guarantee for state schools.
These colleges do not receive state funding, so their "sticker price" is higher than public colleges and universities but they do offer a variety of financial aid opportunities.
Some private institutions are highly selective such as the Ivy League Schools. Other universities are less selective in nature. It is very important to research the individual college catalogs and web sites for specific admission information.
Check out this website for more information on
UC and CSU
California State University System (CSU)
The CSU system is the largest and most diverse university system in the
Applications are available starting October 1st and are due by November 30th.
www.csumentor.com
University of California (UC)
The UC system is among the world's great educational and research universities. More than 208,000 students attend college on 10 campuses throughout
Applications are available starting November 1st and are due by November 30th.
www.universityofcalifornia.edu
Schools Who Accepted WCHS Students
Community College
Community College System
Community colleges offer lower-division courses for students who desire to live at home and later transition to a four-year institution. Here is the official website for the community college system: www.cccco.edu
Transferring to a Four-year institution
It is extremely important for students who are considering transferring to a four-year institution to work closely with their community college counselor and with the schools they desire to transfer to. You don’t want to waist your time and take classes that are not needed.
Check out this website for information on articulation agreements which are forms that list what classes will transfer to specific schools: www.assist.org
Click here for California Baptist University's general education articulation agreement.
Other Options
The
U.S. Coast Guard Academy admission requirements: www.cga.edu
U.S. Air Force Academy admission requirements: www.usafa.edu
U.S. Naval Academy admission requirements: www.usna.edu
AmeriCorps
www.americorps.org
www.ccc.ca.gov
Job Corps