Better Trades Schools: School Prerequisites

Students interested in attend a school should be prepared to meet certain prerequisites for admission. To realize the existence of prerequisites will help any student be ready when the process begins to apply for various colleges and universities.

Each school will have its own individualized set of prerequisites and many times they will be geared toward the program of study. Students enrolling in a math or science program will be expected to meet different admissions requirements than those majoring in fine arts.

Almost every college or university will request a transcript from students when they apply for admission. This is a simple procedure for students who are enrolled in a public or private school. It usually only entails make an official request through the school's counselor or secretary. Students who are home-schooled may be asked to submit a portfolio of work in order to be considered for admission.

Another common prerequisite for admission is submission of scores for a standardized test. Some schools prefer their applicants submit scores from the SAT, while others prefer their incoming students submit ACT scores.

Every college requires a prospective student to complete an application form. It asks for a lot of personal information and must be accompanied by an application fee, which is generally non-refundable. Most applications require submission of letters of recommendation from a teacher, counselor or adult who is familiar with the student. (Be sure to request letters from these people well in advance.)

Some colleges request other material as a prerequisite for admission. You may be asked to submit:

• An essay: This can often play an important role in the process. It gives the school a chance to see how well as student can express themselves. The ability to write a compelling essay can help an applicant jump past others with better trades.
• An interview: Many times an official from the school wants to meet applicants. It's a chance to make a personal connection with someone affiliated with the school to see if there is a good fit.
• An audition: This is most common when applying for a school with fine arts or music. Sometimes the audition is done in-person, while other times the audition can be done by using a DVD or tape of a performance.