Questions for the Counselor! 1. How many college class periods do you have per semester?

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1 Questions for the Counselor! 1. How many college class periods do you have per semester? hours is considered a full load for most colleges. This means that you are attending 4-5 classes per week. Each class is 1.5 to 2 hours and you will have classes that meet on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and others that meet on Tuesday and Thursday. Sometimes you will have an additional hour here and there for labs. 2. What are the costs for colleges and is it less if you do not live on campus? The counselor s office has a book called Compendium of Texas Colleges. You can come in and look up the colleges in Texas that you are interested in. On campus housing and meal plans vary depending on the campus you choose. Most college websites contain this information. 3. How do you get help with out of state tuition? Some colleges and universities will waive the additional tuition for out of state students based on grades and accomplishments. The college websites usually address this or you can the registrar s office at the college and ask about out of state tuition waivers.

2 4. What are the admission requirements for Texas A&M and The University of Texas at Austin? These are the admission requirements for Texas A&M: Top 10% Admits* Applicants qualify for automatic Top 10% admission, if: they attend a recognized public or private high school within the state of Texas, and rank in the top 10% of their graduating class, and meet the State of Texas Uniform Admission Policy, and ensure all required credentials are received by the freshman closing date. * If you are a Texas resident in an out-of-state school you are also eligible for top 10% admission at Texas A&M University. You must submit a residency questionnaire so that your residency status may be determined. This may take a little longer, but you also will be admitted as soon as possible. Academic Admits Applicants qualify for automatic academic admission, if: they are ranked in the top quarter of their graduating class, and achieve a combined SAT Math and SAT Critical Reading score of at least 1300 with a test score of at least 600 in each of these components; or achieve a composite ACT score of at least 30 with a test score of at least 27 in ACT Math and ACT English. Students must take the writing component of the SAT and/or ACT in order for the test score to be considered, and have successfully taken all recommended coursework, and meet the State of Texas Uniform Admission Policy, and ensure all required credentials are received by the freshman closing date. These are the admission requirements for The University of Texas: ApplyTexas Application for Freshman Admission Non-refundable $75 processing fee ($90 for international applicants) Online payment preferred Need a fee waiver because of financial need? Submit documentation to the Office of Admissions by the deadline. Two essays; usually Topics A and B Must show high school s official seal or signature of school representative Include class rank and size Indicate expected graduation under State of Texas Recommended (or Distinguished)

3 Program or provide exemption form if needed to meet state s Uniform Admissions Policy To indicate whether you meet or exceed requirements; must follow submission of ApplyTexas application SAT or ACT + Writing (SAT code: 6882; ACT code: 4240) Required for admission consideration to specified majors. Visit bealonghorn.utexas.edu/ freshmen/admission/majors and log in to MyStatus for details. Expanded resume (for all applicants) Official college transcripts: Showing credit earned while in high school if any (dual credit and early college credit) Residency Affidavit: For international students who qualify for Texas residency Home-schooled students: Additional items that reflect academic potential (such as SAT Subject Test scores or dual credit coursework) Copy of permanent resident card (for US permanent residents) Recommendations: Considered if submitted Special circumstances: Essay C (optional; written by you) or letter about your circumstances (written by you or someone writing on your behalf) The University of Texas at Austin, Office of Admissions. June Deadlines Summer/Fall: December 1 Spring: October 1 Find out what you need to do to complete your application. bealonghorn.utexas.edu/mystatus Submitting Application Items: Visit bealonghorn.utexas.edu/submit to learn how to submit your application items. Application items must arrive by the deadline. 5. How do you find out about scholarships? How do you get a scholarship? In January of your Senior year you will need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid at The counselor s office will list scholarships we have been made aware of in newsletters and on the school website. There are copies available in our office as well. There are several great websites for scholarships such as You also need to check with your church and your parents

4 employers. Most college websites have scholarship information as well. Lots of colleges offer awards for academic achievement; you can see the score requirements for these awards on the college websites. You can apply for a scholarship based on financial need, group affiliation, grades, choice of major, etc. 6. I want to be a doctor, what classes should I take to prepare for this? Our Health Science program is exceptional. You can leave high school with your CNA or Pharmacy Tech certificate. The earliest you can apply for Principles of Health Science is February of your freshman year. If your goal is to obtain a professional degree you should plan to take PAP and AP courses. 7. How do I become a police officer? According to these are the requirements to becoming a police officer: Step 1: Meet Basic Prerequisites All police departments require their police officers to have at least a high school diploma or equivalent education. While some departments hire graduates right out of high school, most require potential officers to be at least 21 years old. Thus, students who are hired after high school must work and train until they are 21 in order to become an officer. Other basic prerequisites for police officers include being a U.S. citizen and having a valid drivers license and clean record.

5 Step 2: Complete Undergraduate Education Completing an associate or bachelor's degree program in criminal justice, law enforcement or a related discipline can be helpful in obtaining a job as a police officer. While not required by many departments, applicants may find formal education advantageous when vying for officer positions. State and federal agencies generally require their recruits to have a college education. Degree-holders also may advance their careers more rapidly than those without a relevant degree. Some departments will even provide tuition assistance to officers who seek degrees in pertinent fields. Step 3: Attend Police Academy Most police officers attend some form of police academy for training. Large police departments send recruits to their own police academies. Smaller precincts may send new hires to attend larger academies as well. Academy programs typically last 3-4 months and combine classroom and hands-on, physical training. Academies include common classroom instruction in: Civil rights State and local laws Incident reporting Crime investigation Constitutional law Criminal psych Police academy training prepares prospective police officers for active duty. Therefore, recruits also gain supervised experience in facing real-life situations. Police academy teaches students common requirements such as: Patrol, risk assessment and subject apprehension Accident and emergency response First-aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation Firearm use Self-defense Traffic command Step 4: Pass Applicable Examinations In order to gain a position on the police force, candidates are required to pass various examinations to ensure competence. Candidates must pass written exams, which may be administered through a police academy. Most divisions also administer physical tests of strength, vision, hearing and agility. Some units conduct psychiatric or background

6 interviews to assess a recruit's personal characteristics and overall suitability for a career in law enforcement. Most candidates will need to pass drug and lie detector tests as well.