College Information

Questions to Consider…

When seeking an institution of higher learning, many questions come to mind.

Where do you start to find out about colleges that offer the programs in which I’m interested?
Where do I go to find about the kinds of colleges for which I’m looking?
Which college is better for me? Small or large? 2 year or 4 year?

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Choosing the Right College or University

When considering the best institution for higher learning, one of the most important considerations is what they are teaching. Each year, the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) asks the question, “What Will They Learn?” ACTA surveys colleges and universities annually to find out if certain basic elements of a well-rounded liberal arts education are being effectively covered without an excessive amount of political or philosophical bias. The following excerpt is from ACTA’s most recent release.

“What Will They Learn? Not much, according to ACTA’s What Will They Learn?™ study.

Our survey of nearly 1,100 colleges and universities reveals that less than 20% require their students to study U.S. History; just 13% require foreign language study; and a measly 3% require the study of economics.

We aren’t the only ones shocked by these findings. Today’s Wall Street Journal covers our report, noting the connection between historical illiteracy and curricular decline. And the Washington Examiner highlights the exorbitant costs students often pay for a “liberal arts” education that is anything but.

What Will They Learn?™ also brings good news from schools like Christopher Newport University—the first public university in the country to achieve a perfect ACTA “A!” As President Paul Trible told the Journal, “We believe that acquaintance with these seven subjects is essential to building a strong foundation for a meaningful and consequential life.”

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College Admissions

Colleges and universities have basic entrance requirements. Although each institution sets its own standards, there are fairly consistent elements that include minimum high school core credits, grade point average, and college entrance test scores. Here some of the most common requirements.

4-Year College Entrance Requirements

1. The high school credits expected are:

4 English
4 Math
3 Science (2 including lab)
3 Social studies
2 Foreign/World Language

2. Beyond required courses, colleges often want to see 2 additional core credits (resulting in at least 18 purely academic course credits).

3. ACT or College Board SAT scores.

Note: Following the First Coast Christian School Guidelines will meet or exceed the standard college entrance requirements, including receiving a fully accredited high school diploma.

Please keep in mind that it is your responsibility to keep track of the admissions requirements for your preferred institutions. For, example, if your first choice college requires 3 years of a foreign or world language, it is your responsibility to make sure you complete all 3 credits before the end of high school.

What do college admissions counselors look for?

A good guide to the academic expectations of college admissions counselors is to follow the State University Admissions Requirements for the state of Florida. If you are seriously considering an out-of-state college/university, you should definitely check out that state’s policies. However, the following link is a good starting point.

State of Florida University Admissions Requirements

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The All-Important Recommendation Letter!

Many times students will request a teacher recommendation letter for college. This is helpful since the teachers have seen how the student interacts and works on a daily basis. Recommendation letters can help validate the information the student provided on the college application. The College Board’s Big Future website has a great article called “How to Get a Great Letter of Recommendation” that outlines the “who, when, and how” of getting a recommendation.

College Costs…

There is a new (and eye-opening) website created by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni that gives you one place to see the actual costs and efficiency of colleges. Go to How Colleges Spend Money. You can compare colleges for cost but also for graduation rate. If a college has a 60-80% graduation rate for those in 4 year degree programs, you can be confident that they have built a culture that encourages students to succeed. If on the other hand, a college only has a 20-30% graduation rate, some very serious questions about the intent and execution of the college advisory system must be asked.

Is the college truly following a plan to help students transition into a career? OR
Is the school content to collect fees without guiding students to finish?

When weighing the costs of college, consider using a college cost calculator like…

Be wise in your decisions about where to prepare yourself for the rest of your life!

Playing Sports in College

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Paying for College

One of the biggest hurdles for many students is not being ready for college academically. That usually gets taken care of in the process of selecting the right classes, keeping up with grades, etc. In other words, that’s something that takes place as an ongoing process throughout high school.

The part that sometimes seems like it’s “getting the cart before the horse” is obtaining the financial resources to pay for college. For reasons that still allude many of us, colleges often want applicants to send everything in for acceptance long before any firm information is even available about what scholarships, grants, student loans, etc. can be earned by students. This does not usually make parents more comfortable with the college application process.

Not knowing how a student and/or his/her parents are going to pay for the ever-rising costs of college is something that Satan can use to pressure us into making poor choices. Remember to trust God’s leading in this and every decision related to the future.

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. – Joshua 1:9

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. – Proverbs 3:5-6

What is a CEEB Code?

Some university applications will require a College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) code entry for any high school or college previously attended. A CEEB code identifies any U.S. high school and college. When taking any college entrance exam (such as the ACT or College Board SAT), the CEEB code will be needed.

First Coast Christian’s CEEB code is 100767.

Determining Need for Financial Aid

One of the best places to start is to determine what federal aid that you may qualify for.

Take advantage of all the information available at Office of the U. S. Department of Education online. You can use the tools there to estimate, based on information you supply, what you will most likely be able to get from the federal level to help pay for college. This does not replace actually filing for federal aid using the online FAFSA application system. To actually file online, you must first set up an account at the FAFSA website. Also, the FAFSA application is getting simpler than it was in previous years. To help you walk through the process, here are some great video presentations by the EducationQuest Foundation.

Bright Futures & Other State Scholarships & Grants

The state of Florida offers merit-based scholarships based on academic accomplishments. The details for qualification can be found at the Florida Student Financial Aid Website. You will need to set up an account by clicking on Create a Student Account under First-Time Applicants.

You may also go directly to the online Bright Futures Scholarships Handbook to view the requirements or download the pdf’s below.

Playing Sports in College

For those students who wish to continue playing sports in college, there are sometimes additional opportunities for scholarships through college sports. If the college you are considering is a member of the National College Athletic Association (NCAA), you will need to register at the NCAA website. The NCAA has three divisions: Division I, II, and III. Playing college sports in each division has certain academic expectations that are outlined in the “Are You Ready?” brochure on the NCAA Eligibility Website.

Sources of Financial Aid

Scholarship Searches

Some of the best and reputable sites for scholarship searches available (even after graduation) are listed in the article “The 10 best sites to look for scholarships“.

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