High Schoolers
In college, you will have a chance to discover who you are and take control of your education. That means allowing you to explore new subjects and ideas that align with your interests and goals. During this time, you’ll discover your capabilities, build confidence, and shape a path that reflects your unique strengths and passions. Your voice matters, so choose a college where you can express yourself and thrive academically and personally. Take the time to explore programs, campuses, and cultures to find the place where your unique voice can thrive. Choosing the path for your career means finding a balance between your interests and skills, job opportunities, and earning potential. Pro-tip: If your school offers a college and career platform, take advantage of it!
Quick Links in this section
- Get2College Resume Templates
- O*NET Interest Profiler
- CareerOneStop
- Gladeo Quiz
- Mississippi Top Jobs Explorer (Career Tableau)
- Full List of Schools in Mississippi (Map)
- ACT® Tips & Tricks (YouTube)
- Get2College 3D College Tours (YouTube)
- Get2College College Comparison Tool
- Get2College Scholarship Search Tool
- Big Future Scholarship Search
- Fastweb Scholarship Search
- Mississippi Aid Application (MAAPP)
- Free Application for the Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Self Discovery
In college, you will have a chance to discover who you are and take control of your education. That means allowing you to explore new subjects and ideas that align with your interests and goals. During this time, you’ll discover your capabilities, build confidence, and shape a path that reflects your unique strengths and passions. Band, sports, and community activities are all great things to include in your college resume, but it is important to start this document early. Helpful Tip: Need some help getting started? Use the resume templates on our website.
Your voice matters, so choose a college where you can express yourself and thrive academically and personally. Take the time to explore programs, campuses, and cultures to find the place where your unique voice can thrive. Choosing the path for your career means finding a balance between your interests and skills, job opportunities, and earning potential. Parent Tip: It’s never too early to expose your child to different career options. Use this checklist to begin that conversation and activities.
- What do you like doing? Think about what you enjoy doing in your free time or what subjects you find interesting in school. See how your interests match courses and subjects you can study in college.
- Explore different jobs. Take time to learn about different careers to see what catches your eye. Once you know the jobs you like, check out what you need to study in college to do those jobs.
- Learn skills you can use anywhere. Solving problems and thinking critically can be learned in many classes. Communication is required for nearly every job. Talk to people doing the jobs you are interested in. Ask them how they got there and key skills they utilize for their job.
- Think about what you want in life. Do you want a job with a self-directed approach, or do you thrive with a structured routine? Thinking about what you want can help you pick a job that fits your lifestyle. If you can, try doing internships or job shadowing.
- It’s okay not to have everything figured out. Big dreams are awesome, but starting with small goals is okay, too. What can you do right now to get closer to your dream job? It could be taking a specific class or joining a club. Remember, it’s normal not to know exactly what you want to do after graduation.
Try using an online career exploration tool, such as: O*NET Interest Profiler, CareerOneStop, Gladeo Quiz, and Mississippi Top Jobs Explorer. If your school offers a college and career platform or career coach, take advantage of it!
Job Shadowing
What is it like to work in a job you’re curious about? That’s where job shadowing comes in. It’s like a backstage pass to the working world. You get to follow someone around, see what they do, and decide if it’s what you want to do. Remember, it’s all about reaching out, expressing your curiosity, and showing a genuine interest in what they do. You’d be surprised how many people are excited to share their knowledge with someone eager to learn! You can find job shadowing opportunities through various avenues:
- Career Services: Check with your school’s career coach or career services center.
- Family & Friends: Ask about their day-to-day responsibilities and see if you can tag along for a day.
- Community Events: Keep an eye on local events and festivals.
- Town Hall or Community Center: Your town official offices might have connections or know about people willing to show you the ropes in different jobs.
- Community Organizations: Contact local community organizations, such as the Chamber of Commerce or economic development organization.
How to get there
Courses of study & admissions requirements
Why does my GPA matter? Your grade point average (GPA) is your academic record from high school and is documented on your transcript. Colleges may use your high school GPA for admission, to award scholarships, and for class placement your freshman year. Once enrolled in college, your college GPA is used to ensure you remain eligible for your scholarships or financial aid. Types of GPA:
- Core GPA: Core GPA is calculated using your core classes (English, Math, Science, Social Studies, etc.) that are required for college admission. It does not include your grades from elective courses.
- Cumulative GPA: This is your overall GPA consisting of your core classes and any electives. Any coursework taken during high school that is considered for high school graduation is added to this GPA calculation.
- Weighted GPA: This GPA is determined when considering the difficulty of your courses (regular, honors, dual credit, AP). The more difficult
a course, the higher the weight it is given in your GPA calculation.
Rigor of courses
Not only is GPA critical, but class rigor is equally important. You are encouraged to take as many challenging or rigorous courses as possible. This will often include Honors, AP, IB, or college courses. There are other options to take courses that give you additional experience or a head start on your college career while in high school. Parent Tip: Some community colleges offer a CTE scholarship to high school graduates after completing two years of a CTE program in high school.
- Dual Enrollment/Credit: These courses are considered earned college credits. Your college GPA begins with any dual enrollment coursework, so it’s important to take these classes seriously! Before college orientation, request an official college transcript of your dual enrollment and credit classes to avoid duplicating credits on your college class schedule.
- Early College: This experience allows high school students to complete both a high school diploma and an associate degree at the same
time. Students who complete an Early College program and plan to enroll at a four-year college should communicate with that admissions office about the Early College program hours earned and how that college handles scholarship opportunities. - Career and Technical Education (CTE): High schools partner with community colleges to offer numerous CTE programs, some leading to a credential, certificate, or even an associate degree.
- Early Graduation: If you are considering graduating high school early, make sure to discuss the different college enrollment options and deadlines with your high school counselor. Not all schools and school districts participate in early graduation, so make sure to confirm that this option is available for you.
- College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC): CPC is the standard list of classes students need for Mississippi’s four-year public colleges. The curriculum, which includes a certain number of units per subject, is aligned with Mississippi high school graduation requirements.
Admissions Requirements and Types for Mississippi Colleges & Universities
Check out our chart broken down by 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years degrees to see examples of credentials along with their salaries and requirements. You can also view a full list of schools in Mississippi. Here are some assessments students may see during their high school years.
- PSAT: This assessment is used for the National Merit Scholarship Competition. It is offered through the College Board by the high school during sophomore or junior year. The junior year scores will count for the national scholarship competition. Learn more on the different PSAT test offerings on the CollegeBoard website.
- ACT® & SAT®: ACT or SAT scores are requested by most colleges and universities as a part of the admission process. Your results provide one way to measure your potential for admission, class placement, state financial aid, scholarship evaluation, and academic advising. Four fee waivers are offered to help lower-income students pay for the ACT®. Ask your high school counselor if you qualify! Need more Test Prep help? Request a Test Information Release to receive a copy of your test questions and answers (December, April, and June test dates only). The SAT is a national college admission test alternative to the ACT®.
- ACT® WorkKeys: This assessment measures “real world” skills required for success in the workplace. Learn more about ACT® WorkKeys.
Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB): If you are planning to enter the military after high school graduation, talk to a local recruiter to understand the process and taking the ASVAB in high school. The military can help with paying for college after service. If you want to go to college before service, ask a college recruiter about Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) programs on campus and scholarship requirements.
Campus visits, applications, and types of admission
The best way to get an authentic feel for whether a college is the right one for you is to make a campus visit! Check the college’s website or call the admissions office to find out about campus visit options. An ideal campus visit should include: meeting with an admissions recruiter, taking a tour, visiting a residence hall, eating in the cafeteria, and if possible, meeting with a current student or faculty member in your major. You can also visit campuses virtually. Visit our 3D College Tour videos of Mississippi schools and see admissions videos of two-year and four-year colleges on our YouTube channel.
Your transcript is your high school or college academic record. It lists all the coursework you have taken. You will request a transcript to be sent to all the colleges you are applying to as part of the application process.
Application types will vary depending on the school and the selectivity of the institution. College specific application – This application can be found on the college’s website. Other applications – Depending on the college, you can apply to multiple selective colleges with one of these applications: Common App, Universal College App, Black Common App, and Coalition App.
- Non-restrictive application plans: Early Action (EA) means an applicant will apply early and receive their admission status and financial aid package early. Students are not obligated to attend if admitted. Regular Decision means students apply by published deadlines with the expectation of receiving an admission decision no later than April 1 of their senior year. Rolling Admission means applications are evaluated as they are received versus waiting to evaluate all applications after a hard deadline.
- Restrictive application plans: Early Decision (ED) means an applicant will apply early and receive their admission status and financial aid packages early. This type of admission is binding. This means that students who receive an offer of admission after applying early decision are required to enroll at that school. Students can apply early decision to only one college. Single-Choice Early Action means an applicant who applies early will receive their admission status and financial aid package early, but the admission is not binding. Students cannot apply to any other school Early Action or Early Decision.
Financial aid & Things you need
College is an investment. Figuring out how to pay for it can be crucial to planning. When you look at how much it costs to attend a college, look beyond tuition. Research the Cost of Attendance (COA) – this is the total estimated cost of attending a college, including tuition, fees, housing, meals, books, and other living expenses. For more information, use our College Comparison Tool to compare each college’s cost. Begin sharpening your writing skills now because most private scholarship applications require an essay! Parent Tip: Does your employer offer scholarships? How about your utility companies – electric or gas? Does your church? Help your student find private scholarships from places they may not think about!
How to get financial aid
Unlike government or college-funded aid, these come from private sources like companies, individuals, or groups. You can ask your school counselor for a list and use tools such as the Get2College Scholarship Search Tool, BigFuture, and Fastweb.
Most scholarships come directly from individual colleges. Aim to complete admissions applications in the early fall of your senior year. You must be accepted for admission to receive scholarships and financial aid. Check out each college’s website to get the details and deadlines.
The Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid (MOSFA) offers grants based on merit and financial need to full-time (15 credit hours per semester) Mississippi high school graduates attending eligible Mississippi colleges and universities. The application is available at msfinancialaid.org and opens on October 1 each year. It is one application for all four of the Mississippi grants – MTAG, MESG, HELP, and FAITH.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required to receive any federal funds. Federal aid includes the Pell Grant, Work-Study jobs, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), and Direct Loans. The FAFSA may also be used to award some state aid, institutional aid, and even private scholarships. Apply at studentaid.gov. Check with your college of choice for deadlines. Also, we have a ton of FAFSA tips available for you online, including an FAQ.
Transition
Before you can arrive at college, there are a few extra steps to check off:
- Deposits: Some colleges may require a deposit to be made prior to enrolling. This will hold your spot in the class and is typically nonrefundable.
- Housing: If you plan to attend class in person and live on campus, make sure you meet housing deadlines and pay deposits, if required.
- Immunizations: Before you can show up at college, your immunization record will be required.
- Orientation: Typically held during summer months, orientation may be in-person or virtual. During orientation, you register for classes, meet current students, and get familiar with your college. Some colleges may issue your ID card during this time.
- Parking: To park on campus, you may need to purchase a parking pass. Check out your college’s website for specifics.
- Books: Your campus bookstore is the easiest and fastest way to buy the books you need. Some schools offer book fees as part of tuition.