Postsecondary Prep
The College Tour offers online tours of two-year and four-year colleges and unversities across the country.
The ACT is a college entrance exam offered multiple times each school year. There are four sections: English, reading, math, and science. The score for each section is averaged to arrive at a composite score. There is a fee, but waivers are available. Springville Secondary offers school day testing to interested juniors and seniors in March. Check with your postsecondary institution of choice to learn whether ACT scores are necessary for admission or financial aid. Students should make an informed decision about whether to take a college admissions test, and whether the ACT or SAT would be a better match.
Sophomores take the PreACT, which is a practice test for the ACT. Students' test booklets are returned to them with their score reports, which allows students to identify areas for improvement. The PreACT's interest inventory can help students identify careers that align with their interests and that they may wish to explore.
The SAT is also a college admissions exam offered multiple times each school year. It has a reading and writing section and a math section. The score for each section is added together to arrive at the total score. There is a fee, but waivers are available. Check with your postsecondary institution of choice to learn whether SAT or ACT scores are necessary for admission or financial aid. Students should make an informed decision about whether to take a college admissions test, and whether the SAT or ACT would be a better match.
Students may choose to take the PSAT in the fall of junior year. There is a fee for this exam. While the PSAT is the practice test for the SAT, it also serves as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The National Merit Scholarship program is an academic competition that honors high achieving students.
Students preparing for careers in the military will be required to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. This multiple part assessment helps determine which military jobs applicants are eligible for.
There is no one exam to prepare to enter apprenticeship programs, but some training directors recommend earning the National Career Readiness Certificate. The NCRC can be earned by taking three portions of the Workkeys assessment: applied math, graphic literacy, and workplace documents. The NCRC is offered at Iowa Workforce Development offices across the state.
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Potential College Athletes
There is a difference between high school graduation requirements and college admissions requirements. This is especially true for student-athletes. If you are interested in playing college sports, ensure you meet the requirements of the organization governing athletics at your college or university. Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete 2024-2025
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) govern eligibility for student-athletes at four year colleges and universities, and National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) governs eligibility for students at two-year schools.
Be sure to know the eligibility requirements of the appropriate organization and register with it as you consider your college athletic career.
