ADVICE FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
If you are in high school, your main focus should be just getting into college! Let’s break this down and talk about what you need to do and know to get there.
What’s the difference between a college and university?
College and university are basically two names for the same thing — a school that you attend after high school. There are, however, a lot of different types of colleges and universities.
An excellent place to search through all of the colleges and universities in the U.S. is The College Board’s website. In addition to a college search option, they offer lots of information about AP classes and college admission tests like the SAT and ACT.
A community college (also known as a junior college) is for all students regardless of your grade-point average (GPA) in high school. The only requirement is a high school degree or GED. You can get an associate’s degree or a technical certificate from a community college, but you cannot get a bachelor’s degree — which is the degree required to apply to medical school. However, community college can serve as a bridge to getting you into a 4-year university to get the degree you need. You can go to a community college for a few years to fulfill some university requirements, then transfer to a 4-year university to finish the classes required for a bachelor’s degree. Some people choose this route because high school grades were not so great, or because community college is much less expensive than a university. Be careful, though! Don’t let money get in the way of applying to a university because there are many scholarships, grants, and loans that can help you pay for it. Also, you take the risk of staying there too long and losing sight of your larger goal. However, if you need to start at a community college to improve your study skills and grades, go ahead and do so.
A 4-year university (also known as a 4-year college) requires you to apply and be admitted. You usually have to submit your high school transcripts, letters of recommendation, an essay explaining why you want to go there, and your score from the SAT or ACT. Most of these colleges/universities require you to show that you took certain classes during high school.
A state university is a 4-year college that is funded by the state it is in. For example, in New York there are lots of State University of New York (SUNY) schools, and in California there are many University of California (UC) and California State (CalState) schools. You can earn a bachelor’s degree at these schools. during your senior year in high school or as mentioned before, after completing some requirements at the community college. Because they receive money from the state, these schools tend to be more affordable. However, if you are not already a resident of the state that the school is in, you may be charged more to attend.
A private university is a 4-year college that is funded by private donors. Examples of private universities include the “Ivy League” universities (like Harvard, Yale, Princeton) and many other universities throughout the country (Columbia, Brown, Johns Hopkins, Notre Dame…there are too many to list!). Because they don’t receive money from the state, these schools tend to be more expensive. Some of these schools with excellent reputations can also be very competitive to get into. Some people choose these schools because of the quality of the education, smaller class sizes, or because of the school’s religious affiliation.
What should I do while I’m in high school to help prepare to become a doctor?
The most important thing you can do in high school is try your best to get good grades. Universities usually have a minimum grade-point average (GPA) requirement to apply, so try to keep your GPA above a 3.0 (or B average). Keep in mind that the higher your GPA is, the more opportunities you will have. Try to think of your grades as money — an “A” is will add a lot more to your account than an “C” or “D”. Give it all you’ve got!
GPA is calculated by assigning points to each grade: an A is worth 4 points, a B is worth 3 points, a C is worth 2 points, and a D is worth 1 point. If you get straight As, your GPA will be a 4.0. If you get all Cs, your GPA will be a 2.0. If you get a mix of As, Bs, and Cs, your GPA might be closer to a 3.0. Getting as many As as you can raises your GPA and improves your chances of getting into a 4-year college.
If you try your best and don’t get all A grades, don’t despair — you can still get into college. If you have gotten a C, D, or F, go to summer school and repeat the class to help raise your GPA. If you get a better grade the second time around, the better grade is what will matter when you apply to college. As your counselor or a trusted teacher for help and make a plan to improve.
If you have access to Honors, Advanced Placement (AP), or International Baccalaureate (IB) classes at your high school, consider challenging yourself by taking one or many (depending on your situation). They will require more studying and work than standard classes, but they will also help prepare you better for college. They can also help boost your GPA because an A in an AP or IB class counts as a 5 points (instead of a 4) when calculating your GPA. AP and IB classes also offer you the chance to take an AP or IB exam at the end of the class. If you get a good score on the exam, most colleges will give you college credit for it. For example, if you get a high score on the AP Calculus exam, you might be able to skip out on a required math class in college.
Don’t spend all of your time focused on grades. Take time to pursue extra-curricular activities, such as sports, clubs, music, religious activities, volunteering, or a hobby. Pick something you enjoy and go with it! Not only are these things good for your physical and psychological health, but colleges also like to see that you are a well-rounded person. However, be careful that you don’t try to so much that you end up miserable and exhausted.
Keep a journal or list of the extra-curricular activities you do. Write down what you did, how many hours you spent, and the information for the adult who supervised you (name and phone/email). This is important because you may need to write a list of all of your activities when you apply to college, and you may want to ask some of these people for letters of recommendation to college.
Take good care of yourself.
Develop healthy habits — like sleeping 7-9 hours per night, exercising a few days a week, and eating nutritious food (yes, that includes vegetables, fruits, and whole grains).
Develop relationships with family, friends, and teachers or mentor who encourage and support you. Good relationships are key to having a happy life.
Caffeine is not a food group! Try not to rely too much on coffee or energy drinks to keep you going. Even small amounts of caffeine can interrupt your sleep cycles, and high-quality sleep is very important for learning. Large amounts of caffeine can lead to heart problems and can even be deadly.
Stay away from addictive substances like alcohol, tobacco (including vaping), and drugs (including marijuana). You may think that some is OK, but even a little can do permanent damage to your brain and body, especially when you’re in your teens or 20s. Most people turn to these things in order to drown out or cope with difficult feelings. Instead of using these things as a temporary band-aid, find a counselor or therapist that can help you learn to deal with difficult feelings in more helpful ways.
If you are in a difficult home/family situation or struggle with physical or mental health problems, reach out to ask for help. This may involve reaching out to a trusted adult, teacher, high school counselor, doctor, or therapist. The fact is, we all face different problems and challenges in life. Denying or ignoring a problem will usually make it worse. The sooner you ask for help in addressing your problems, the sooner things will get better and the more empowered you will be to succeed in the rest of your life.
What classes do I need to take to get into college?
Almost all 4-year colleges require that you take the following classes in high school:
4 years of English
3 years of math (usually including algebra, geometry, and algebra II)
3 years of science (such as biology, chemistry, physics, earth/space science)
2-3 years of a foreign language
Some social science and history courses
Some 4-year colleges may also require additional classes, such as:
Visual or Performing Arts
College-prep elective courses (such as AP classes)
If you don’t know exactly where you want to apply to college, a good starting point is to look up the requirements for your state schools. For example, if you live in California, you can read about the “A-G” requirements for University of California schools. A quick Google search for “[your state] state college entrance requirements” should help you find what you need.
If you are behind on the classes you will need, consider taking summer school classes to catch up.
Please do your homework and work with a counselor or a trusted teacher to make sure the classes you are taking will count towards your college application.
What tests do I need to take to get into college?
Most colleges require you to submit your score on a college entrance exam as part of your application. Most colleges require you to take the SAT or ACT. These tests try to measure your potential to do well in college — but there are many who believe that they are heavily biased and don’t do a good job measuring potential. There has been debate as to whether or not these scores should be used in deciding who gets into college or not. Most of these tests offer fee waivers for low-income students. It is important to take them before you apply so that your score is available to be part of your college applications.
The Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) is a three-hour test with three main sections: reading, writing/language, and math. There is also an optional 50-minute writing section that some schools will require. The maximum score you can get on the SAT is 1600. If you score an 1100, that means you scored higher than 50% of high school seniors that are planning to go to college. The test is offered seven times per year. Most students take it during the spring of their junior year or the fall of their senior year.
There is also a test called the Preliminary SAT (PSAT) which you can take during your sophomore or junior year in order to practice for the SAT. If you get a low score on a section, you will know that you need to study that subject more before you take the SAT. Getting a good score on the PSAT can help you qualify for the National Merit Scholarship.
The SAT Subject Tests (also known as the SAT II Tests) are tests required by some very selective colleges, like Harvard. Getting good scores on these tests is one way to boost your chances of getting into college, and some schools will give you college credit for them, but they are usually optional. You can find out more about these tests here.
The American College Test (ACT) is a three-hour test with four sections: English, math, reading, and science. There is also an optional 30-minute writing section. The English, reading, and science sections all test reading comprehension ability in addition to the subject, so if English is your second language you may be better off taking the SAT. The maximum score you can get on the test is 36. A 24 or above is considered good enough to get into many colleges, though a 30 or higher may be helpful to get into some of the very competitive colleges. The test is offered 6-7 times per year. Most students take it during the spring of their junior year or the fall of their senior year.
The Covid-19 pandemic has affected many students’ ability to prepare for and take these college entrance exams. As a result, many colleges will NOT require SAT or ACT scores for students applying to start college in the fall of 2021. Please refer to each college’s admissions website for updated requirements.
How do I choose where to apply or attend?
Do your research (through The College Board or other websites) to find colleges that interest you. You can customize your search based on location, type of college, the size of the college, the cost, how competitive it is, sports teams, and the types of majors offered. Most students choose a few of each of these:
Reach schools - these are a few of the more competitive colleges or universities that you think you might not get into, but if you did you would love to attend.
Possible schools - these are the schools that you have a good chance of getting into and would love to attend.
Safety schools - these are the colleges or universities that you are almost sure you can get into.
If you can, visit some college campuses to get a feel for each school. Don’t feel bad if you can’t do this part. Research the school online and if you like what you learn, apply.
Find out what resources are available on campus to help support students — for example, colleges might have a Latino student office, African-American student office, LGBQT office, etc. Even if you don’t visit the campus yourself, you can search for these resources on the college’s website.
Plan to apply to several universities. This will increase your chances of getting in to a good college! Be aware that medical schools DO look at what university you come from, so if you have a chance to pick, pick a good one.
Many students apply to lots of schools, but you will need to decide how many schools you apply to based on your individual situation. There is no “right” number of schools to apply to. It can be expensive (and can take a lot of time) to apply to lots of schools, so you may need to choose wisely. Many schools offer application fee waivers for low-income students.
Please don’t limit yourself to the college that is closest to home. In some of our cultures, parents really push kids to stay home when it may not be necessarily the best option to get you to your ultimate goal. If possible, try to pick the university that give you the most opportunities later.
If you end up getting only one acceptance, so be it and go there. And, if you do not get in, it’s still okay — get yourself enrolled in a community college with the goal of transferring to a 4-year college. If there is a will, there is a way…and the way is NOT giving up!
When and how do I apply to college?
We recommend applying to colleges during your senior year of high school. Here are the basics of the process:
Each college has it’s own application requirements and process. Do your research — look up the college online and search for the “Admissions” section of the website. Keep track of:
The application deadline for each school.
This is typically around December if you will be starting the next fall, but it varies! Start getting things ready 2-3 months in advance.
Some schools have an “Early Admission” or “Early Decision” option, with an earlier deadline around October or November. You can consider this option if there is a school you really want to go to, and you think you have a decent chance of getting in. This option requires that you agree to go to that school if you get accepted. In other words, you should only consider early admission to ONE school.
Some schools have an “Early Action” option, which also has an earlier deadline but you don’t have to promise you will go to that school if you get in.
You can read more about the early options here.
The application fee (average is about $45 per school, but some can be up to $90)
If your family is low-income, you may qualify for a fee waiver so you don’t have to pay this fee. Your counselor may need to fill out a form to confirm you qualify, and different schools may have different processes, so plan ahead.
The requirements for each school, including:
classes that you must have taken (or will need to finish by the end of your senior year)
letter(s) of recommendation
personal essay — this is VERY important. Get help from a teacher or counselor to make sure it’s good and well-edited.
test scores you must submit (such as SAT or ACT)
Applications are usually submitted through an online system.
Over 900 colleges in the U.S. use the online “Common Application” so you can submit all of your information and documents (including transcripts and letters) to one place, then choose which schools to send those to.
Many state university systems have their own online portal to make it easy to apply to many of your state universities all at once.
Other schools have their own online application portal you may need to use.
Applications may also ask:
What you plan to major in. It’s OK if you don’t know yet. You can usually select “Undecided.”
If you would like to apply for certain scholarships available for students attending that school. If you have the option to apply, say YES! Remember, scholarships are free money.
If you would like to be considered for certain programs available at the school. Be sure to take advantage of any programs that you think might be helpful to you.
What is admission by exception?
Some universities may offer opportunities to apply if you do not meet all requirements due to a significant life event or if you were home-schooled. You can explore this option if it applies to you when it’s time to apply.
What is a gap year?
More and more students these days are choosing to take a year off (known as a “gap year”) between graduating from high school and starting college. There are many possible reasons to do this, from needing to work to earn money to pay for college, to getting real-life experience so you can figure out what you want to study in college, to traveling the world, or due to personal or family reasons. You can find out more about which colleges allow this option here.
How much does college cost?
On average, these are the costs depending on the type of college you go to:
Community college costs about $5,000 per year
In-state public university costs about $10,000 per year
Out-of state public university costs about $21,000 per year
A private university costs $35,000 per year
Keep in mind that these numbers do not include living expenses (rent, food, transportation) which can add another $10,000-$20,000 depending on location.
How will I pay for college?
Unless your family has a big, fat college savings account for you, this can be a scary question! Please know that there are lots of options for paying for college. Money alone shouldn’t make the decision for you.
Scholarships
Scholarships are free money! The amount can range from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand.
We strongly encourage you to do online searches for scholarships, specifically scholarships for minority students. The College Board has an excellent scholarship search option.
Apply to as many as you reasonably can. This typically involves an application form, an essay, school transcripts, and possibly letters of recommendation.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
This is the application you fill out to find out how much money the federal government will give or lend you to help you to pay for college. This might include grants (free money that you don’t have to pay back) and loans (money that you do have to pay back after you finish school).
The FAFSA formula looks at how much it costs to attend the college you’re going to, then subtracts how much it think your parent(s) can pay based on how much money they earned the last year. Here’s a hypothetical example: if college will cost $30,000 per year and your parent(s) can only contribute $5,000 in a year, then you will qualify for $25,000 in student aid for that year.
Make sure you know the deadline, give yourself plenty of time, and submit your application on time!
What if I am undocumented?
There is no federal or state law that prohibits colleges or universities from allowing undocumented students to attend. Therefore, even if you are undocumented, you can apply to college. You may need to do extra research and ask more questions, but please don’t limit yourself from getting an education if possible!
Unfortunately, some things may be more difficult if you are undocumented, such as paying for college. Here is a good resource on College Education for Dreamers, DACA Recipients, and Undocumented.