Applying for College and Vocational Schools

If you are thinking about going to a college or vocational school, you must apply for admission. The application process will have strict deadlines. To be sure you don’t miss these deadlines and to find out exactly what the schools will need from you, you should contact the admissions department at the schools of your choice as soon as possible. This is important because some types of information, like your social security card, high school transcripts, a photo ID, or immunization records, may take time to get if you do not already have them. To go to college, you probably need to take either the ACT or SAT standardized tests. Most community colleges will require you to take the TSI, Texas Success Initiative test, to show college readiness if you don’t have ACT or SAT scores or your scores don’t meet their requirements.

Schools usually want your test scores before the application deadline, which means you need to take the ACT or SAT months before the deadline. Most students take the test in the spring of their junior year or no later than early fall of their senior year of high school. You should speak with your school guidance counselor, foster parent, PAL staff, or caseworker about registering for and taking these tests in time to meet all deadlines as well as any special preparation programs you may qualify for and related fee waivers. While there are many people you can ask to assist you with applications for school and financial aid, it is up to you to make sure you follow up and take care of all the details because nobody will be making sure you do it.

• See more information about the SAT here.
• See more information about the ACT here.

Most testing programs and college applications have fee waivers for low-income youth, which includes youth in foster care, so be sure to find out more about fee waivers. If you are in high school, your school counselor should be able to help you waive fees for tests and preparation programs.