11th Grade Information Packet
College and AP Courses Offered in High School
What Does It All Mean? – Higher Education Terms and Definitions
NCAA College-Bound Student-Athlete Guide
NCAA Division I and II Worksheet
11th Grade Timeline
SUMMER – Prior to your junior year
- Visit as many colleges as possible. Check websites for information about tours and open house programs and combine with a family vacation or
gathering. Even if a school is not on your list, but an opportunity for a visit presents itself, consider checking it out. Doing so will give you perspective for asking more informed questions and making better decisions later in the
process. - Prepare for the PSAT/NMSQT or SAT by visiting the College Board’s SAT Preparation Center at collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/practice, or take the practice ACT at www.actstudent.org/testprep.
FALL
- Take the most challenging courses you can as it is the rigor of your curriculum, along with a solid grade point average, that will be evaluated by college admission committees. Taking challenging courses shows that you are ready for a competitive college environment. Be sure to meet with your counselor to
review the courses you’ve taken and determine what you still need to take. - Maintain your grades. Grades earned in your junior year will be evaluated by college admission officials when you apply for admission.
- Obtain schedules for the SAT, SAT Subject Tests and ACT and determine which of these exams you will take. Complete the registration forms and mark the dates on your calendar. See your counselor for information.
- Inquire about national competitions and scholarships, such as the Intel Science Talent Search, by visiting with your counselor.
- Complete SAT II subject exams as you finish subject areas. See your
- counselor for information.
- Develop your leadership skills and stay involved. Colleges look for consistency and depth in activities.
- Attend college fairs, financial aid nights and college planning workshops.
- Establish an e-mail account specifically for your college search. Remember, a “funky” e-mail address is best left for communicating with friends and family.
- Start early! Learn about federal financial aid, your potential eligibility, and how the EFC (Expected Family Contribution) works. Visit Federal Student Aid at studentaid.ed.gov and SUNY Smart Track at www.suny.edu/smarttrack/literacy for more information.
- Talk to your counselor if you are interested in a military academy to find out about requirements and timelines.
WINTER
- Generate a list of 10-20 colleges and contact them for information. Research costs and note upcoming campus visit programs.
- Organize! Make folders for your college information, along with deadlines and important dates. Check it often.
- Send e-mail messages to your colleges of interest to get on their mailing lists. To request information from SUNY go to www.suny.edu/attend/request-
information. - Research scholarships at www.fastweb.com and see your counselor for additional information.
- Create a first draft of your resumé to maintain a record of college courses taken, college programs in which you’ve participated, awards you’ve won, projects you’ve completed, extracurricular achievements, and volunteer
work. - Review your senior year class schedule with your counselor to ensure that it fulfills graduation requirements.
- Start the certification process if you are interested in participating in college athletics. Consult with your athletic director or you are a candidate for an athletic program. Be sure to check with your counselor to make sure you’re taking a core curriculum that meets NCAA requirements. For more information go to www.ncaa.org.
SPRING
- Research Early Decision and Early Action programs and schedule your testing to meet early deadlines.
- Attend college fairs, financial aid nights and college-planning workshops. Many spring events are designed for high school juniors.
- Utilize your college list to arrange visits to campuses during spring break.
- Focus on financial aid and enlist the assistance of your parents/family members. For each college on your list, calculate the total cost of a year (two semesters) using the college’s net price calculator. SUNY’s calculator will
be available at www.suny.edu/howmuch. - Contact your U.S. Representative or U.S. Senator to express your interest in and desire to be nominated to attend a military academy.
- Consult your coach and counselor BEFORE submitting the NCAA eligibility paperwork (for potential athletes).
- Consider whom you’ll ask to write letters of recommendation (current teachers and counselors). Then, provide a summary of what you wish for
them to include and politely ask if they can assist. Remember to send each a thank you note. - Inquire about personal interviews or group information sessions at your favorite colleges.
- Search for summer pre-college programs, workshops and classes at SUNY campuses or apply for internships and summer jobs in your field of interest.
- Pace yourself. Don’t spend so much time trying to improve standardized test scores that your grades and involvement in activities suffer. Find and maintain a balance.
SUMMER – Following your junior year
- Take the SAT II subject tests if your potential colleges require them and you have finished the curriculum which would help you score well. (If you and your
family are experiencing financial hardship, ask your counselor about a fee waiver.) - Narrow your list of colleges to 4-8. Make sure these are a right match for you. Just because a relative attended an Ivy League school, doesn’t mean it is a good fit for you.
- Visit the three schools at the top of your list. (Be sure to include SUNY.) Schedule your visit in conjunction with a family vacation or when colleges are hosting events.
- Decide on whether you’ll apply as an Early Decision or Early Action candidate and begin preparing your application for admission. These deadlines are typically in early to mid-November of your senior year.
- Compose rough drafts of essays and ask your family, friends, and teachers to review your essays for grammar, punctuation, readability, and content.
- Contact coaches, if applicable, and include your high school sports schedule and game tapes. Be sure to tell them why you are interested in their program and school.
- Create an arts portfolio, if applicable, to showcase your performing, visual or creative arts work. Your portfolio may include essays, photographs, illustrations, slides or other forms of artwork. A portfolio should represent
your best creative work from class projects or assignments and be consistent with portfolio instructions given by an individual campus program. - Preview application questions now and begin to draft your answers. Worksheets for the SUNY application can be found at www.suny.edu/attend/learn-more/forms-and-publications.
Links to non-SUNY websites and information are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement.
Campus Visit Checklist
Visiting a college campus helps you get a sense of what a college – and life at that college – is like. This can help you decide whether the college is right for you.
Gather Information
Find out what you need to do to apply and see if the college’s class and major offerings are what you want:
- Take part in a group information session at the admission office.
- Interview with an admission officer.
- Pick up financial aid forms.
- Sit in on a class that interests you. If classes aren’t in session, just see what the classrooms are like.
- Meet a professor who teaches a subject that interests you.
- Talk to students about what they think of their classes and professors.
- Get the names and business cards of the people you meet so you can contact them later if you have questions.
Explore the Campus
Get a feel for student life, and see if this college is a place where you will do well:
- Take a campus tour.
- Visit the dining hall, fitness center, library, career center, bookstore and other campus facilities.
- Talk to current students about the college and life on campus.
- Check out the freshman dorms and stay overnight with a student, if possible.
- Talk to the coaches of sports that you may want to play.
- Walk or drive around the community surrounding the campus.
Check Out Campus Media
Tune in to learn what’s happening on campus and what’s on students’ minds:
- Listen to the college radio station.
- Read the student newspaper.
- Scan bulletin boards to see what daily student life is like.
- Go to the career center and learn what services it offers.
- Browse the school’s website and any campus blogs.
- Read other student publications, such as department newsletters, alternative newspapers and literary reviews.
@MyBigFuture @collegeboard
College and AP Courses Offered in High School
Dominican College:
- COLLEGE CRIMINAL JUSTICE-(school yr)- Prior to 22-23 CJ113, 3 crds
- COLLEGE PSYCHOLOGY- Prior to 22-23 PS102, 3 crds
SUNY Sullivan:
- COLLEGE BUSINESS MATH-BUS 1101, 3 crds
- COLLEGE MICROECONOMICS – ECO 1402, 3 crds
- COLLEGE PRE-CALCULUS-MAT 1206, 4 crds
- COLLEGE CALCULUS 1-starting 21/22 – MAT 1301, 4 crds
- COLLEGE CALCULUS 2-starting 21/22 – MAT 2301, 4 crds
- COLLEGE ANATOMY/PHYSIOLOGY 1- SCI 2124, 4 crds
- PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY 1-SCI 1124, 4 crds
- PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY 2-SCI 2152, 4 crds
- INTRO TO METEOROLOGY – SCI 1020, 4 crds
- INTRO TO ASTRONOMY – SCI 1028, 4 crds
- COLLEGE SPANISH IV-starting 20/21- FLA 2246, 3 crds
- COLLEGE SPANISH V-starting 20/21-FLA 2247, 3 crds
- COLLEGE CRIMINAL JUSTICE-(L&L/School Yr.)- starting Summer 2021 and Fall 2022 – CRJ 1115, 3 crds
- GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY-starting 22/23 – PSY 1500, 3 crds
- COLLEGE DIGITAL PHOTO 1 & 2 – PHO 1406, 3 crds and PHO 2406, 3 crds
- COLLEGE PRINCIPLES OF MARKETING, BUS 1301, 3 crds
Orange County Community College:
- COLLEGE ACCOUNTING- ACC153, 4 crds
- COLLEGE CALCULUS 1 Prior to 21/22 – MAT 205,4 creds
- COLLEGE CALCULUS 1(½ year) Prior to 21/22 – MAT205, 4 crds
- COLLEGE CALCULUS 2(½ year) Prior to 21/22 – MAT206, 4 crds
- COLLEGE ALGEBRA – MAT121, 3 crds
- COLLEGE TRIGONOMETRY- MAT122, 3 crds
- COLLEGE ENGLISH 101 – ENG101, 3 crds
- COLLEGE ENGLISH 102 – ENG102, 3 crds
- COLLEGE CRIMINAL JUSTICE-(L&L)2020 and prior – CJR101, 3 crds
- INTRO TO ENGINEERING- EGR101, 3 crds
- COLLEGE FIELD BIOLOGY- BIO210, 3 crds
- INTRODUCTION TO CADD- CAD101, 3 crds
SUNY Albany:
- COLLEGE SPANISH IV-prior to 20/21
- COLLEGE SPANISH V-prior to 20/21
- COLLEGE AMERICAN HISTORY 1- AHIS 100 Amr Poltcl and Social His I, 3 crds
- COLLEGE AMERICAN HISTORY 2 – AHIS 101 Amr Poltcl and Social His II, 3 crds
SUNY New Paltz
- DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN EDUCATION – SPE106, 3 crds
AP COURSES:
- AP ENGLISH 11
- AP ENGLISH 12
- AP EUROPEAN HISTORY
- AP US HISTORY
- AP GOVERNMENT/POLITICS
- AP STUDIO ART
- AP COMPUTER SCIENCE PRINCIPLES
*If you took a College class at Pine Bush High School you must go to that college’s website and request that an official transcript be sent to the college that you are planning on attending in the fall.
*If you took an Advanced Placement class at Pine Bush High School you must log into the WWW.COLLEGEBOARD.ORG website and request that your AP scores be sent to the college that you are planning on attending in the fall.
This is the only way the college you are attending can possibly give you credit. If you have questions please see your School Counselor.
PINE BUSH HIGH SCHOOL LIST OF APPROVED NCAA COURSES
ENGLISH
- =English 10 SC
- =English 11 SC
- =English 12 SC
- =English 9 SC
- AP English 11
- British Literature
- College English I
- College English II
- Creative Writing
- English 10
- English 10/H
- English 11
- English 12 (AP)
- English 9
- English 9/H
- Public Speaking
- Myth, Magic and Make Believe
- Diversity and Inclusion in Education
MATH
- =Algebra I Common Core ASC0.5
- =Algebra I Common Core BSC0.5
- Algebra 1 CC Year 2
- Algebra 1
- Algebra I Common Core
- Algebra II
- Algebra II Common Core
- AP Computer Science Principles
- Calculus I
- Calculus II
- College Algebra
- College Pre-Calculus
- Collee Trigonometry
- Geometry
- Geometry Common Core
SCIENCE
- =Living Environment SC
- =Forensics SC
- =Topics in Physical Science SC
- AP Environmental Science
- Chemistry
- Chemistry/AP
- College Anatomy & Physiology
- Concepts of Chemistry
- Earth Science
- Forensics
- Living Environment
- Marine Biology and Oceanography
- Topics in Physical Science
- College Meteorology/Astronomy
- Meteorology/Astronomy
- Physics
- College Biology 1/2
- College Field Biology
SOCIAL STUDIES
- =SS 10 SC
- =SS 11 SC
- =SS 12 SC
- =SS 9 SC
- American Govt/AP
- American History/Coll 1 & 2
- College Microeconomics
- College Macroeconomics
- College Criminal Justice
- College Psychology 1
- European/AP
- Genocide
- History of Hip Hop
- Modern Issues
- Modern World Issues
- Social Studies 10
- Social Studies 10/H
- Social Studies 11
- Social Studies 12 Economics
- Social Studies 12 Gov’t
- Social Studies 9
- Social Studies 9/H
- Street Law
OTHER
- Spanish 1
- Spanish 1/2
- Spanish 2
- Spanish 3
- College Spanish 4
- College Spanish 5
High School Timeline
9TH GRADE
- Start planning now! Take the right courses and earn the best grades possible
- Find your high school’s list of NCAA-approved core courses at eligibilitycenter.org/courselist.
- Sign up for a free Profile Page account at eligibilitycenter.org for information on NCAA requirements.
10TH GRADE
- If you fall behind academically, ask your counselor for help finding approved courses you can take.
- Register for a Profile Page or Certification account with the NCAA Eligibility Center at eligibilitycenter.org.
- Monitor your Eligibility Center account or next steps.
- At the end of the year, ask your counselor at each high school or program you attended to upload your official transcript to your Eligibility Center account.
11TH GRADE
- Check with your counselor to make sure you are on track to complete the required number of NCAA-approved courses and graduate on time with your class.
- Take the SAT/ACT and submit your scores to the NCAA Eligibility Center using code 9999.
- Ensure your sports participation information is correct in your Eligibility Center account.
- At the end of the year, ask your counselor at each high school or program you attended to upload your official transcript to your Eligibility Center account.
12TH GRADE
- Complete your final NCAA-approved core courses as your prepare for graduation.
- Take the SAT/ACT again, if necessary, and submit your scores to the NCAA Eligibility Center using code 9999.
- Request your final amateurism certification beginning April 1 (fall enrollees) or Oct. 1 (winter/spring enrollees) in your Eligibility Center account.
- Reminder: Only students on an NCAA Division I or II school’s institutional request list will receive a certification.
HOW TO PLAN YOUR HIGH SCHOOL COURSES TO MEET THE 16-CORE-COURSE REQUIREMENT: 4 X 4 = 16
- 9th grade: 1 English, 1 Math, 1 Science, 1 Social Science and/or additional = 4 Core Courses
- 10th grade: 1 English, 1 Math, 1 Science, 1 Social Science and/or additional = 4 Core Courses
- 11th grade: 1 English, 1 Math, 1 Science, 1 Social Science and/or additional = 4 Core Courses
- 12th grade: 1 English, 1 Math, 1 Science, 1 Social Science and/or additional = 4 Core Courses
Search Frequently Asked Questions: ncaa.org/studentfaq
SUMMARY OF CHANGES TO THE 2024-2025 FAFSA
The 2025-2026 FAFSA will be similar to last year’s form, which had incorporated several changes from previous years. It:
- Reduces the number of questions from 108 to about 36
- Align more questions on FAFSA with federal income tax returns
- Automatic transfer of IRS data to the FAFSA
- Increases aid eligibility for single parents
- Decreases aid eligibility for middle- and high-income families
– Shift in focus away from cash flow to a slightly greater emphasis on
wealth - Reduced likelihood of verification because fewer questions and
more data transferred from the IRS - New Federal Pell Grant formula
NAME CHANGES
- The new FAFSA changes a few names
– Expected Family Contribution (EFC) – Student Aid Index (SAI)
– Simplified Needs Test (SNT) – Applicants Exempt from Asset Reporting - The new names fix a few minor problems
- The term “EFC” can be misleading, since many families incorrectly believe that the EFC is all they pay
- The term “Professional Judgment” is used in the Higher Education Act of 1965 for the first time
INCREASES IN FINANCIAL AID FOR SINGLE PARENTS
- Two types of single parents
– Dependent students with just one parent
– Independent students who are single parents - Bigger increase in the Income Protection Allowance (IPA)
– Increases by 20% for parents
– Increases by up to about $2,400 (35%) for most students
– Increases by up to about $6,500 (60%) for students who are single parents - Greater eligibility for the maximum Federal Pell Grant
– AGI less than or equal to 225% of the poverty line (single parent)
– AGI less than or equal to 175% of the poverty line (not single parent)
– This yields similar income thresholds of $38,750 and $38,010, respectively, for families where the student is an only child
LESS AID FOR MULTIPLE CHILDREN IN COLLEGE
- The number of children in college at the same time will no longer affect eligibility for need-based financial aid
- The parent contribution will no longer be divided by number of children in college at the same time
- The income protection allowance will no longer be reduced based on number of children in college at the same time
- Small impact on low-income families with multiple children in college
- Big impact on middle- and high-income families with two or more children enrolled in college at the same time
- Families can appeal for more aid based on having multiple family members in college at the same time
CHANGES IN REPORTABLE INCOME
- Several types of untaxed income will no longer be reported
on the FAFSA
– Cash support and other money paid on the student’s behalf
– Veterans’ education benefits
– Workman’s Compensation - Elimination of cash support yields certain benefits
– Gifts to the student will no longer be reported as untaxed income
– Qualified distributions from 529 plans that are owned by a grandparent, aunt, uncle, etc. will no longer affect aid eligibility - Child support received (annual) will be reported as an asset
instead of income
CHANGES IN REPORTABLE ASSETS
- Certain exclusions from assets have been dropped
– The small business exclusion
– Exclusion for a family farm on which the family
resides - The Simplified Needs Test is now known as “Applicants Exempt from Asset Reporting”
– Changes in income thresholds
– Changes in means-tested federal benefits
AUTO-ZERO AND ASSET REPORTING EXEMPTION
- Replacement for auto-zero EFC
– If a dependent student’s parents or an independent student (and spouse) are not required to file a federal income tax return, the student aid index will be negative $1,500
– Student aid index set to zero if student qualifies for maximum Federal Pell Grant - Applicants Exempt from Asset Reporting
– Income threshold for disregarding assets will be increased from $50,000 to $60,000
– Schedule 1 requirement replaced with Schedules A, B, C (gain or loss greater than $10,000), D, E, F or H.
– If anyone in applicant’s household received certain means-tested federal
benefits in the last two years, there will no longer be an income threshold
– The means-tested federal benefits include SSI, SNAP, TANF, WIC, Medicaid and Federal Housing Assistance (new)
– Free and Reduced Price School Lunch has been dropped from the list of
means-tested federal benefits
WHICH PARENT MUST COMPLETE THE FAFSA?
- When parents are divorced, separated or never married, and do not
live together, only one parent must complete the FAFSA
– This will be the parent who provides more financial support to the student, no longer based on where the student lived the most - If this parent has remarried as of the date the FAFSA is filed, the stepparent’s income, assets and dependents must be reported on the FAFSA
- Definition of family size has changed
– Student
– Student’s parents or student’s spouse (if any)
– Dependents from federal income tax returns in the prior-prior tax year - Not yet specified
– Changes since the prior-prior year
– Multiple support agreements
CHANGES IN FAMILY SIZE
| Criterion | Old Rules | New Rules |
| Separation | Legal separation or informal separation | Only legal separation |
| Parents Live Together | Treated as married | Treated as married |
| Custodial Parent | Where student resides | Financial support |
| Reference Year | 12 months ending on date FAFSA filed | Prior-prior tax year? |
| Family Size | Student, parent, other children (>half support), other people (>half support, live in household) | Student, parent, dependents from tax return (qualifying child, qualifying relative) |
| Financial Aid Counts as Student’s Self Support | Yes | No |
| Multiple Support Agreements | Ignored | TBD |
IRS DEFINITION OF DEPENDENT
- Dependents include qualifying children and qualifying relatives
- Qualifying children
– Must live with the parent for more than half the year
– Must not provide more than half of their own financial support
– Financial aid no longer counts as part of the student’s self-support
– Must be under age 19 (24 if a full-time student)
– If the child is married, they must not file a joint return with their spouse - Qualifying relative
– Dependents may include other people if they live with the
parent and receive more than half their support from the parent
CUSTODIAL PARENT VS. FAMILY SIZE
- The custodial parent is the parent who must complete the FAFSA
- The new definition of custodial parent is not necessarily the same as the IRS definition of dependent, which is used in the determination of family size
- Which parent completes the FAFSA
– Currently based on where the student resides the most during the 12 months ending on the date the FAFSA is filed
– The new FAFSA will base it on whichever parent provided more financial support - Family size
– The student is always counted in family size
– The new FAFSA requires the child to live with the parent for more than half the year and to not provide more than half of their own financial support, but does not require the parent to provide more than half of the child’s financial support
NYS DIPLOMA TYPES
| Subject Area | Regents Diploma | Advanced Regents Diploma |
| English | 4 credits and 1 exam: (ELA) after English 11 | 4 credits and 1 exam: (ELA) after English 11 |
| Social Studies | 4 credits and 2 exams: Global History (2credits) and exam; US History (1 credit) and exam; Economics (.5 credit); Government (.5 credit) |
4 credits and 2 exams: Global History (2credits) and exam; US History (1 credit) and exam; Economics (.5 credit); Government (.5 credit) |
| Mathematics | 3 credits and 1 exam in either: Algebra 1, Geometry or Algebra 2 | 3 credits and 3 exams in all: Algebra 1, Geometry or Algebra 2 |
| Science |
3 credits and 1 exam: Life Science (1 credit); |
3 credits and 2 exams: Life Science (1 credit); Physical Science (1 credit); Life or Physical Science (1 credit) |
| Foreign Language | 1 credit* | 3 credits and 1 exam: Checkpoint B after 3rd level language |
| The Arts | 1 credit of Art or Music | 1 credit of Art or Music |
| Physical Education | 2 credits | 2 credits |
| Health | .5 credits | .5 credits |
| Electives | 3.5 credits | 1.5 credits |
| Total Credits to Graduate | 22 credits | 22 credits |
| Total Regents Exams | 5 exams | 9 exams |
*Students with disabilities may be excused from the 1 credit language requirement.
Important Websites
Naviance, College Application/Career Portal: https://student.naviance.com/pinebhs
SUNY Application: https://www.suny.edu/applysuny/
Common Application: https://www.commonapp.org/
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA):
https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
CSS Profile (additional financial aid application some schools require):
HESC-NYS TAP, Excelsior and STEM scholarship
ACT: https://www.act.org/
SAT: https://www.collegeboard.org
AP Information: https://www,collegeboard.org
NCAA-College Athletics: https://www.ncaa.org/student-athletes/future
The SAT vs. the ACT
ACT/SAT Test Information
ACT 2024-2025 TEST DATES – REGISTRATION DEADLINES
| Regular Deadline | Late Deadline | Photo Upload Standby | |
| Sept. 14, 2024 | Aug. 9 | Aug. 25 | Sept. 6 |
| Oct. 26, 2024 | Sept. 20 | Oct. 7 | Oct. 18 |
| Dec. 14, 2024 | Nov. 8 | Nov. 22 | Dec. 6 |
| Feb. 8, 2025 | Jan. 5 | Jan. 20 | Jan. 31 |
| April 5, 2025 | Feb. 28 | March 18 | March 28 |
| June 14, 2025 | May 9 | May 26 | June 6 |
| July 12, 2025* | June 6 | June 20 | July 4 |
*No test centers are scheduled in New York for the July test date.
SAT 2024-2025 TEST DATES – REGISTRATION DEADLINES
| Registration Deadline | Late Registration Deadline* | ||
| Aug. 24, 2024 | Aug. 9 | Aug. 13 | |
| Oct. 5, 2024 | Sept. 20 | Sept. 24 | |
| Nov. 2, 2024 | Oct. 18 | Oct. 22 | |
| Dec. 7, 2024 | Nov. 22 | Nov. 26 | |
| March 8, 2025 | Feb. 21 | Feb. 25 | |
| May 3, 2025 | April 19 | April 22 | |
| June 7, 2025 | May 22 | May 27 |
What Does It All Mean? Higher Education Terms and Definitions
ACT – A college entrance examination generally taken during the junior and/or senior year that assesses a student’s general educational development and his/her ability to complete college-level work. The ACT is comprised of four subject tests – English, mathematics, reading and science and an optional writing test (essay).
AP (Advanced Placement) Courses and exams that enable high school students to earn college credit or advanced standing at most American colleges and universities. To learn more about AP courses and subject area exams, go to http://www.collegeboard.org/student/testing/ap/about.html.
Associate Degree – The associate degree is awarded to students who complete a minimum of 60 college credits with a 2.0 GPA.
Athletics – Colleges and universities belong to leagues that have their own rules, regulations and eligibility requirements. SUNY participates in NCAA Divisions I and III and NJCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA and USCAA.
NCAA – National Collegiate Athletic Association. Division I and II schools offer athletic scholarships and students are required to meet NCAA’s academic requirements. Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships and students are not required to meet NCAA academic requirements.
A future student athlete should meet with his/her counselor a early as possible to review the NCAA requirements to ensure he/she is taking the right high school courses.
NJCAA – National Junior College Athletic Association. NJCAA Division I and II schools offer scholarships, while Division III schools do not. There are no academic eligibility requirements for student athletes entering junior or community colleges.
NAIA – National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. NAIA schools have an option of awarding full or partial scholarships. In order to play a sport or receive an athletic scholarship, a student must meet eligibility requirements.
Early Decision – An admission program under which students apply early and receive a decision prior to regular notification dates. Admission is binding. If they are offered admission, they must commit to attending the college. As a result, students may no apply under Early Decision to more than one college.
FAFSA – The Free Application for Federal Student Aid at www.fafsa.ed.gov is required for students wishing to apply for financial aid, including federal, state and campus-based aid. The FAFSA should be completed as soon after Jan. 1 of the senior year in high school as possible, even if the family tax returns have not been filed.
GPA (Grade Point Average) – Grade point average reflects the average of a student’s semester (or end of term) grades, starting with the freshman year. Although GPA scales differ among schools, they are usually reported as letters or numbers.
Numeric grades can be converted to letter grades as illustrated below in the following table.
Number Grade Conversion
| Numeric Grade | Letter Grade | Grade Point Average |
| 90-100 | A | 4.0 |
| 80-89 | B | 3.0 |
| 70-79 | C | 2.0 |
| 60-69 | D | 1.0 |
| Less than 60 | F | 0.0 |