WA State Higher Education Basics
Information provided by HECB (Higher Education Coordinating Board).
How is higher education structured in Washington State?
How do I choose a school?
How do I apply?
How do I pay for higher education?
How do I apply for financial aid?
What aptitude tests do I need to take in order to enter undergraduate or graduate school?
How do I prepare for an aptitude test?
How is higher education structured in Washington State?
The state has six public baccalaureate (four-year) institutions and 33 community and technical institutions. Generally, a bachelor’s degree is acquired after completion of a four-year education in a public or private baccalaureate institution while an Associate of Arts (AA) Certificate may be obtained after completion of two years at one of the state’s community colleges. A student with an AA may then transfer to a four-year institution for completion of bachelor’s degree in a particular degree program. Technical schools or vocational programs at community colleges offer vocational certificates but may not necessarily qualify the student for transfer to a four-year institution. Be sure to speak to an academic counselor to ensure that the classes you are taking meet your educational and career goals.
How do I choose a school?
First decide your academic and career goals and choose an institution that will best assist you in meeting those goals. Direct entrance to a four-year college or university is not desirable for all students. Many students enter community college as a stepping stone to a four-year institution since community colleges offer lower tuition and plenty of one-on-one assistance. Before enrolling in a vocational program or technical school, be sure and find out the program’s job placement level.
How do I apply?
Once you have made the decision to apply, call or write the school to receive an application, or, you may often download an application from the school’s website. Almost all schools require an application fee so investigate the school before applying to ensure that it is right for you. Also, pay attention to deadlines. For example, if you wish to apply for entrance the University of Washington in fall quarter of 2001, the application may be due as early as November 2000. Always plan ahead.
How do I pay for higher education?
Most college students receive some kind of financial aid or scholarship. There are three basic types of financial aid: grants, work study, and loans. Most financial aid awards include some combination of these three. Below are descriptions of different sources of financial aid.
Grants: Grants (which include scholarships) are generally outright gifts that do not have to be earned or repaid. The difference between grants and scholarships is that grants are usually awarded on the basis of financial need alone. Scholarships are usually awarded on the basis of academic merit, talent, specific career objectives, or other criteria.
Work Study Programs: Work study programs let you earn money and gain work experience while you are in college. These are generally for part-time employment, allowing time to attend classes and to study. Some programs offer the added advantage of employment related to your field of study or career interests.
Student Loans: Student loans are financial aid that must be paid back in full, with interest. The terms of the repayment vary. Generally though, repayment does not begin until after you leave school. Some loan programs do not require that you have financial need in order to qualify. Student loans based on financial need carry interest rates that are lower than most other kinds of loans. This is because the government helps pay the interest.
Scholarships: Scholarships are awarded to students for many reasons. You can get scholarships based on academic achievement, ethnicity, artistic or athletic talents, and other special interests. Careful research can help you find the scholarships that are right for you. Information is available at your local library, your high school guidance office, and at the college you plan to attend.
Part-time Employment: Part-time employment is an another important source of income and many students work part time while they attend college. Most institutions provide listings of jobs available to their students.
Americorps: The Americorps Program allows participants to earn education awards in return for national service. Programs are available in Washington and in other states.
Armed Forces: The U.S. Armed Forces also offer educational programs and ways to pay for school or to reduce college costs. Some of these programs provide benefits while you are enrolled in college. Others are available to those who attend school after serving in the military service. Contact your local military recruiter for more information. If one of your parents is a veteran, you might qualify for student assistance for children of veterans. Further information is available in the American Legion pamphlet called “Need A Lift?”
G.E.T.: The Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET) program is Washington’s pre-paid college tuition payment program. This program will allow Washington residents to purchase college tuition units in advnce. Tuition units can be purchased at the current price and redeemed in the future at no additional cost. For more information visit the GET website at www.get.wa.gov or call 360-586-2781.
For further information, check with the financial aid office at the college you plan to attend.
How do I apply for Financial Aid?
The first step in applying for financial aid is completing the Free Application for Financial Aid (FAFSA). The information you give on your FAFSA will determine which type and how much financial aid you are eligible to receive. You will find FAFSAs at local high schools, colleges, or libraries. Call 1-800-4-FED-AID/TDD 1-800-730-8913 for general information regarding the FAFSA. You may also apply online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Scholarships are available from a multitude of sources. Check with a high school or college counselor for scholarship information or access CASHE, an online scholarship service at www.cashe.com.
What aptitude tests do I need to take in order to enter undergraduate or graduate school?
There are several different tests that students must take in order to pursue college or post-graduate education. Consult your school guidance counselors for the appropriate tests. Below is a listing of the important tests.
SAT I & II: The SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) program compares a student’s reasoning abilities and academic strengths with those of more than 2.5 million students who take the tests each year. The SAT I reasoning test measure verbal and mathematical reasoning abilities. The SAT II subject tests measure a student’s knowledge of a particular subject and his or her ability to apply that knowledge. While the SAT I test is mandatory for all college-bound students, the SAT II tests are optional. For more information access www.sat.org or contact an academic counselor.
ACT: The ACT (American College Testing) assessment test measures a student’s level of skills necessary for college coursework. These skills include English, mathematics, reading, and science reasoning. Many colleges and universities consider a student’s ACT score. For more information, access ACT’s website at www.act.org or contact an academic counselor.
TOEFL: The purpose of the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is to test the English proficiency of people whose native language is not English. Colleges, government agencies, scholarship programs, and licensing/certification agencies consider TOEFL scores. Achieving a certain score in a TOEFL test will allow a college-bound nonnative speaker to bypass the ESL (English as a Second Language). For further information, visit www.toefl.org.
TSE: The TSE (Test of Spoken English) measures the ability of nonnative speakers of English to communicate orally in English.
Following is a list of aptitude tests required for entrance into a post-graduate institution or profession. Most of these tests are field-specific so no one will have to take every test. Your academic counselor or Educational Assessment Office at your college will have information regarding these tests.
GMAT: Graduate Management Admissions Test (mandatory for post-graduate business schools).
GRE: Graduate Record Examination (general graduate school entrance exam).
LSAT: Law school admission test.
MCAT: Medical College Admission Test.
DAT: Dental Admission Test.
FSOE: Foreign Service Officer Examination.
PCAT: Pharmacy College Admission Test.
OAT: Optometry Admission Test.
VCAT: Veterinary College Admission Test.
GRE-PSYCH: Graduate Record Examination for Psychology
How do I prepare for an aptitude test?
Many schools offer some kind of preparation class for aptitude tests. In addition, a student may attend a private school geared specifically toward preparing students for particular tests.
Below are a few major private test preparation institutions:
Kaplan Test Preparation: 206-632-0634
Princeton Review: 206-548-1100
University of Washington, Women’s Center (for men also):
206-685-1090
Seattle Learning Center: 206-525-0818
A more inexpensive way of preparing for an aptitude test is to study from a test preparation book and practice tests found at most local book stores or school book stores.
