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Graduation Requirements: 125 credits

Subject	NJ Minimum	School Minimum	Recommended for College Entrance
English	4 Years	4 Years	4 Years
Social Studies	3 Years	3 Years	4 Years
Mathematics	3 Years	3 Years	4 Years
Science	3 Years	3 Years	4 Years
World Language	1 Year	2 Years	2 - 4 Years
Phys. Ed/ Health	4 Years	4 Years	4 Years
Visual & Performing Arts	1 Year	1 Year
Career Ed. & Consumer, Family & Life Skills	1 Year	1 Year
Freshman Seminar		1 Year
Financial Literacy	½ Year	½ Year

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NACAC Factors Important to College Admissions

The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) annually surveys member colleges and universities to see what admissions factors figure most prominently into admissions decisions.

1. Grades in College Prep Courses

2. Strength of Curriculum - Academic Rigor

3. Positive Character Attributes

4. Essay or Writing Sample

5. Demonstrated Interest

6. Counselor Recommendation

7. Teacher Recommendation

8. Extracurricular Activities

9. Admission Test Scores (SAT/ACT)

10. Portfolio/Interview if Applicable

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Transcript Information

Your transcript is an official document that shows the courses you have taken, the grades earned, and a cumulative grade point average (GPA).
Colleges require that you submit a transcript as part of your admissions application. Your transcript is sent via Scoir by your school counselor.
Your transcript includes not only the classes that you have taken and your earned grades, but also your senior year courses, NH grading and weighting scale, and number of earned credits.
Northern Highlands does NOT rank.
Your transcript will include senior mid-year grades (S1) when available. Mid-year grades are automatically sent to all applied schools unless the student requests otherwise.
Does not include SAT/ACT scores, attendance, clubs/activities/athletics.

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Standardized Tests: �SAT & ACT

SAT

The sum of two (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing & Mathematics) sections will be scored on a scale of 400-1600. Students can earn a scaled score between 200-800 on each section for a total of 1600 possible points.
The composite score is what colleges are referring to in their testing profiles.
To register on-line go to the College Board website at www.collegeboard.org

ACT

Scores are reported on a 1-36 scale.
Register online at www.actstudent.org
The ACT includes sections in English, Math, Reading, and Science Reasoning.
Starting in April 2025, digital testing will be available which will allow for more flexibility.
Science is now optional. We recommend students opt to take the science.
The composite score is what colleges are referring to in their testing profiles.
The ACT composite score is the average of a student’s score on each subtest.

Fair Test

The National Center for Fair and Open Testing helps to ensure the evaluation of students is fair and open.
To find more than 2,000 schools that do not require any testing, visit www.fairtest.org

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College Application Terminology

Early Decision (binding)- A binding contract between a student and one college or university. Students can apply Early Decision at the beginning of senior year (the deadline is usually 11/1 or 11/15). Early Decision candidates are notified by mid-December of their senior year, allowing sufficient time to apply to other colleges, if necessary. Some schools may offer an Early Decision II option. This option is often utilized by a student who is not accepted to their ED I school. Early Decision agreements must be signed in both Scoir and The Common Application.

Early Action (non-binding)- Non-binding, and students can apply to many schools Early Action. Students who apply Early Action are usually notified by December/January. In most cases, Early Action applicants may apply to other colleges and do not have to make a decision until the standard reply date in May.

Restrictive Early Action - Non-binding at some select schools. However, students may not apply to any other Early Decision or Early Action program until notified. Check each school’s policy as each may be different.

Regular Decision - The normal process by which students apply by published deadlines, with promise of receiving an admissions decision no later that April 1 of their senior year.

Rolling Admissions- The practice used by some colleges that process a candidate’s application as soon as it is complete and notify the applicant of the decision in a timely manner.

Priority Decision- The meaning will vary from school to school so it is wise to look at each school individually. For example, the Priority application may provide benefits in terms of financial aid and scholarship packages, housing advantages, and/ or priority for course registration. Thus, it is worth a quick e-mail to admission offices (or a phone call) to find out the benefits of meeting a Priority Deadline at a particular school.

Deferred- When a college does not make a decision on a student who has applied under an EA/ED program, and places their application in the regular decision pool. A college may want to wait until additional information is provided by the student before a decision is made (ex. mid-year grades).

Wait List- A response to an applicant indicating that his/her application has been given careful consideration, but the limit of accepted students has already been reached; waitlisted students may be admitted after May 1 if space becomes available. If you are put on a waiting list by a college or university and are later admitted by that institution, you may accept the offer and send a deposit. However, you must immediately notify any other college or university where you previously indicated your intention to enroll.

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College Search: Choosing the College that is Right for You

Academic Curriculum / Program

Is my intended major readily available so that I

can graduate in 4 years? What is the reputation of my intended major? Can I change majors easily?

Academic Support Services

Are special services such as tutoring available?

Class Size and Teaching Approach

How big are the classes?
What is the teacher-to-student ratio?
Are classes taught by professors or teaching assistants?

Affiliation or Institution

Public / Private
Religious
Vocational
Two-year / Four-year
Co-educational / single-sex
Military

Academic Facilities

Science labs and facilities
Library / Media Center
Career Center
Campus Development

Retention, Graduation, and Placement Rates

What percentage return for their sophomore year?
What percentage graduate in 4 years?
What percentage are placed in jobs in their field?
What percentage go on to graduate school?

Size of Undergraduate Student Body

Small (up to 2,500 students)
Medium (2,500-7,500)
Large (7,500 +)

Location

Anywhere in U.S.
Anywhere in multi-state region
Anywhere in state
Immediate area (75-100 miles)
Commuting distance

College Setting

City: small, medium, large
Suburban, small town, rural

Campus Environment

Is the campus community lively and spirited?
Are faculty members accessible?
Is there a diverse student population?
Is campus security adequate?
Is there guaranteed undergraduate housing available?
Do you have fraternities/sororities on campus?

Activities

Division I, II or III sports/intramurals
Community/religious/volunteer activities
Social opportunities, Cultural activities
Internships/mentoring

Costs

Costs of tuition, room and board, books
Hidden fees-parking, registration, fitness center
Availability of grants/scholarships, loans, part-time jobs

As you begin your college search, it helps to identify your preferences. This checklist will help you narrow your choices.

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How to Manage your College List

Reach Schools: Your academic record/test scores fall slightly below the average accepted academic record/test scores at a particular college/university.

1-2 Reach Schools Recommended

Target Schools: Your academic record/test scores meet with the average accepted academic record/test scores at a particular college/university.

3-5 Target Schools Recommended

Likely Schools: Your academic record/test scores are well above the average accepted academic record/test scores.

1-2 Likely Schools Recommended

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College Visits

College visits are a MUST! How else will you know whether the environment, programs, etc. match your needs? Therefore, it is preferable to make them at a time when the college is in session. If you are not able to visit a college during the application process, you most certainly will want to visit if you are accepted and before you decide which college to attend.

Why is it so important for a student to visit a college or school? A student makes a visit to get the "feel" of the campus ‑‑ to actually see where students live, study, and learn. There simply is no substitute for visiting and seeing for yourself. The student is attempting to match his/her personality with the personality of the college. College visits also demonstrate student interest which is so important during the application process.

Plan to:

Attend an open house (make sure you sign up).
Attend student information sessions (make sure you sign in).
Take a guided tour of the campus. Make sure you sign up via their website or through their admissions office (make sure you sign in).
Eat in the student dining halls.
Sit in on a class.
Speak with a faculty member in the department or major in which you are interested.
Arrange for an overnight stay, if possible.
Evaluate facilities, especially those related to your major such as art studios, computer labs, science labs, broadcasting studios, etc.
Check websites regularly for updated information.
If you plan to apply ED, try to spend 24-hours on campus. “Live” on campus for a day.

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Recommendation Process

Teacher Recommendations:

In May/June, please politely ask 2 teachers in person to write your recommendation.
Typically, colleges want to hear from two junior year core subject teachers (example: math or science, English or history). Follow procedures for requesting their recommendations in Scoir. Counselors will provide directions for you late spring.
In September, follow up with both teachers.
Don’t forget to send a thank you note.

Counselor Recommendations:

Along with your transcript, a secondary school report, school profile, and a counselor recommendation are a sent to your colleges.
In order for us to create the most complete portrait of you as a student and individual, we need the following from you (all found in Scoir before the end of June):

1. Student Self-Description (under assignments on your dashboard)

2. Activities & Achievements (under My Profile)

3. Parent Brag Sheet (under assignments on your parent’s dashboard)

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The Common Application/Coalition Application

Common Application - one application that can be submitted online to 1,093 member colleges.

www.commonapp.org

Coalition Application - one application that can be submitted online to over 150 member colleges.

www.coalitionforcollegeaccess.org

School Specific - a select number of schools do not accept The Common App or Coalition App and instead require you to complete their own specific application which can be found on their website.

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Financial Aid & Scholarship Reminders

The FAFSA is now a State Graduation Requirement. All senior students must submit a FAFSA application or a Waiver Form. Waiver Forms will be available to you during January of your senior year if you and your family choose not to submit the FAFSA.

The FAFSA application opens on October 1 of your senior year. We hold a Financial Aid night every September/Early October.

Some schools require the CSS Profile in addition to the FAFSA application. These are most often private/competitive schools. It is your responsibility to check with your individual school to determine if this is required. This application is available starting October 1 of senior year on The College Board website.

Colleges and universities have individual deadlines that they establish regarding when they need to receive your FAFSA information. Please be mindful of these deadlines.

Local and national scholarship information is posted on the NH website. Scholarships are advertised all year- please check out what is posted and apply prior to the deadline.

Your individual college/university may have scholarship deadlines- please be mindful of these deadlines.