Career and College Readiness

SoWashCo Schools is participating in Direct Admissions, a new state program that simplifies the college application process for Minnesota High School seniors on track to graduate on time. There are 55 Minnesota colleges and universities that are participating this year in Direct Admissions. High school seniors who qualify will be automatically enrolled into the Direct Admissions Program. The qualifying seniors will receive notification through Infinite Campus of the participating Minnesota colleges and universities that are offering them admission and waiving the admissions fee. 

Learn More 

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities 

• Alexandria Community and Technical College

• Anoka Technical College

• Anoka-Ramsey Community College

• Bemidji State University

• Central Lakes College

• Century College

• Dakota County Technical College

• Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College

• Hennepin Technical College

• Inver Hills Community College

• Lake Superior College

• Metropolitan State University

• Minneapolis College 

• Minnesota North College

• Minnesota State College Southeast

• Minnesota State Community and Technical College

• Minnesota State University Moorhead

• Minnesota State University, Mankato

• Minnesota West Community & Technical College

• Normandale Community College

• North Hennepin Community College 

• Northland Community & Technical College

• Northwest Technical College

• Pine Technical & Community College

• Ridgewater College

• Riverland Community College

• Rochester Community and Technical

• Saint Paul College

• South Central College

• Southwest Minnesota State University

• St. Cloud State University

• St. Cloud Technical & Community College

• Winona State University

University of Minnesota 

• University of Minnesota Crookston

• University of Minnesota Duluth

• University of Minnesota Morris

• University of Minnesota Rochester

Tribal Colleges 

• Red Lake Nation College

• White Earth Tribal & Community College

Private Colleges

• Augsburg University

• Bethany Lutheran College

• Bethel University (and Bethel University Online)

• College of Saint Benedict

• College of St. Scholastica, The

• Concordia College

• Concordia University St. Paul

• Gustavus Adolphus College

• Hamline University

• Minneapolis College of Art and Design

• Northwestern Health Sciences University

• Saint John's University

• Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

• St. Catherine University

• University of St. Thomas

If you DO NOT wish your student to participate in Direct Admissions Minnesota, please complete this opt-out form no later than Nov. 3, 2023. To complete the form you will need your student’s ID number found on their student badge and in the Parent Portal.

Personal Learning Plans (PLP's) help students create a plan that includes academic coursework, career exploration, career and employment-related skills, community partnerships, college access, all forms of postsecondary training, and experiential learning opportunities. 

View the PLP milestones here. 

Each secondary school has a different approach to setting up and monitoring PLP's. Some sites have advisory systems, others use core academic areas and teachers to support with task introduction and follow-up. Tasks and milestones are also monitored by school counselors at each site. 

• Common Application: Use one application for over 900 colleges along with tools for planning and exploring
• College Application Checklist by Collegeboard: Print and use this checklist to keep track of your college application requirements, tasks, and deadlines

• Minnesota Career Information System (MCIS) - Use MCIS to access occupational information, college information, and individual career planning information. 
  • Note: Obtain username/password from your school counselor
• Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development - The Department of Employment & Economic Development publishes tips and information for job seekers.
• Education Planner
• My Future
• My Majors
• Occupational Outlook Handbook - The U.S. Department of Labor publishes this guide to over 300 popular careers.
• O*NET - The U.S. Department of Labor sponsors O*NET Online. Learn which skills, work values, knowledge, abilities, work context, tasks, interests, and work activities are needed for a variety of occupations.
• Students.gov - Information for career planning, including your education, including financing.
• ISEEK - Explore careers, plan your education, find a job, grow a business
• Mapping Your Future - Career planning, selecting and paying for school

• America's Job Bank
• Best Jobs USA
• Career Builder
• Career OneStop
• Creative Job Search
• Department of Employment and Economic Development - Check this site for current occupational employment and wages, including projected future employment for over 750 occupations.
• Indeed
• Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development - The Department of Employment & Economic Development publishes tips and information for job seekers.
• Monster.com
• The Riley Guide Website - Self-employment, opportunities and job research
• Salary Website - Careers, salary ranges and career management information
• What color is your parachute - Popular job seeking website
• Allied Health Career Information
• American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences (AAFCS)
• Careers in Graphic Communications
• Careers in Forestry
• Creative Job Search
• Department of Natural Resources

• ACT
• SAT
• Chegg ACT & SAT Test Prep
• ACT vs SAT
• Peterson’s ACT & SAT Test Prep

College data links show retention and graduation rates, salary potential, average student debt and more.

• College Data: Comprehensive college search, admission predictor, and financial aid tracker all in one site
• College Results: College graduation rates for nearly every 4-year college in the country
• Payscale: Find out which majors and which 2- and 4-year colleges have the most income potential
• College Transitions: Comprehensive lists and data designed to help you navigate the college admission and financial aid process
• GetReadyforCollege.org Minnesota Office of Higher Education
• PrincetonReview.com The Princeton Review
• CollegeBoard.com
• Petersons.com >College Search Peterson's Best Colleges
• NextStepU.com
• College Atlas

• College Raptor: Find college matches, financial aid, and student loans to simplify your college search process
• US Department of Education College Scorecard: Find out about colleges. their programs, costs, admissions, results, and more
• Big Future: Big Future has a college search and scholarship search tool to help with the college admissions process and more
• College Majors 101: Choose from over 150 college majors and gain valuable insights to help find your perfect fit
• College Navigator: College Navigator is an interactive website that allows you to explore and compare features of different institutions
• US Department of Education’s Campus Security Database: Select and compare college’s safety records over the past three years
• Minnesota Office of Higher Education: Useful information on college planning, exploration and financing college
• U.S. News Best Colleges: Expert advice, rankings, and data to help you navigate your education journey and find the best college for you
• College Niche: This site has a criteria-based college search feature, college “grades” by current students and actual current student reviews
• Linkedin for Students: Resources to let students know the benefits of a professional online presence, and to help them get started on a LinkedIn profile
• National Association for College Admission Counseling: Find a national college fair near you
• The 107: A listing of all 107 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) as well as a database of all academic programs offered

• Virtual Campus Tours: The most comprehensive list of virtual campus tours and interactive maps
• YouVisit: Offers free 360° and virtual reality campus tours of over six hundred colleges and universities

• FAFSA - Colleges use this federally approved application to determine student eligibility for grants, work study, loans, and some forms of need-based scholarships. Submit your FAFSA application anytime after January 1 annually, but this application requires information from your previous year tax return. If you submit your FAFSA using estimated tax information, you must correct/update your FAFSA application within one-day of submitting your tax return to the IRS.
• Guide to the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
• Tips on Completing the FAFSA
• Status on your FAFSA
• Minnesota College Goal Sunday - This national program provides free information and assistance to families who are filling-out FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) applications. Workshops are offered throughout Minnesota.
• Reciprocity - Minnesota students attending public universities/colleges in Wisconsin, North and South Dakota, parts of Iowa, and Manitoba, Canada can pay tuition comparable to a similar Minnesota public institution through reciprocity. For example, Minnesota students attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison would pay comparable tuition to a Minnesota student attending the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Students must complete a reciprocity agreement with the appropriate state or province to qualify.
• CSS/Financial Aid Profile - In Minnesota, Augsburg, Carleton, Gustavus, Macalester, and St. Olaf require the CSS/Financial Aid Profile (by the College Board). Few colleges nationwide require this profile. Check if your college requires it as there is a fee involved.
• Minnesota Career Information System (MCIS) - MCIS provides financial aid and scholarships information.
  • Go to "financial aid" for a list of financial aid sources.
  • Go to "financial aid sort" to define search criteria such as, program of study, gender, race or ethnicity.
  • Note: Visit your counselor for the username and password for your school
• Midwest Association of Financial Aid Administrators - Find one of the best lists of financial aid websites available.
  • Public -> Internet Resources
• Financial Aid for Students - This U.S. Department of Education website provides information about financial aid programs.
• Financial Aid for Native American Students - Students of Native American heritage may qualify for scholarships, such as BIA scholarships. A Certificate of Indian Blood card may be required for eligibility.
• Military Aid - Information on education financial aid resources provided to students interested military careers. Information is for U.S. citizens primarily.
• Good Call - The Fully Accessible Guide to Paying for College for Students with Disabilities
• Minnesota Higher Education Services Office - This is the Minnesota Higher Education Services Office website. You will find valuable information on scholarships and financial aid, Minnesota State Grants, Federal Pell Grants, the Work Study Program, Veteran's benefits, reciprocity and much more.

• Gap Year: A comprehensive resource for gap year resources
• Teen Life: Colorful guide to summer and gap year programs
• Volunteer Match: Find volunteer opportunities near you
• The Gap Year Association: Extensive list of accredited gap year programs

• The Armed Forces
• Military Academies
• ASVAB Qualifying Exam for military enlistment
• Military Careers

• The University of Minnesota System: Access information from all 4 University of Minnesota campuses.
• Minnesota State Colleges and Universities: Minnesota's state colleges and community/technical colleges.
• Minnesota Private Colleges: Connects with Minnesota's 17 private colleges.
• The University of Wisconsin System: Connects with 13 four-year campuses and extension system in Wisconsin.
• North Dakota University System: State universities in North Dakota.
• South Dakota Colleges and Universities: Connects with South Dakota colleges and universities.
• Iowa Colleges and Universities: Connects with Iowa colleges and universities.

If you plan to compete in athletics at the college level, you are responsible for determining if you are on track to meet the NCAA Eligibility Requirements and NCAA Core-Course Requirements.

NCAA would like all prospective student athletes to register online at www.eligibilitycenter.org

On this site, you may also view the complete NCAA guide, Eligibility Requirements and a list of all our high school courses that fulfill NCAA’s Core-Course Requirements online.

Xello Scholarship Information

• Find scholarship information on Xello, accessed through Classlink, by visiting Goals & Plans -> College Planning -> Local Scholarships 

How to Avoid Scholarship Scams

• Before you start your scholarship search, read the Federal Trade Commission article on how to avoid scholarship and financial aid scams. View here. 

Scholarship Information for Minnesota Students

• University of Minnesota Scholarship Search Engines - Go to: Finances -> Financial Aid -> Scholarships
• (MCIS) Minnesota Career Information System
  • Obtain username and password for your school from your counselor
  • Use "Financial Aid" for an alphabetical list of financial aid sources, or
  • Use "Financial Aid Sort" to specify search criteria, such as program of study, gender, race or ethnicity, etc.
• Minnesota College Access Network Scholarship Listings - Scholarships for first generation college students, students of color, and scholarships based on income or living arrangements.

Other popular websites for scholarship information:

• College Answer (formerly Wired Scholar) Website: www.CollegeAnswer.com
• College Board Website: www.collegeboard.com >College Planning>Pay for College
• CollegeNET Website: www.Collegenet.com
• College Scholarships Website: www.college-scholarships.com
• Collegeview.com Website: www.collegeview.com
• Facebook app Website: www.mycollegedollars.com (no Facebook account required)
• FastAid Website: www.fastaid.com
• Fast Web Website: www.fastweb.com
• Free Scholarship Search Website: www.freschinfo.com
• Guaranteed Scholarships Website: www.guaranteed-scholarships.com
• MyCollegeScholarship.org Website: www.mycollegescholarship.org
• Scholarshipexperts.com Website: www.scholarshipexperts.com

About Advanced Placement (AP)

SoWashCo Schools is committed to offering our students a variety of rigorous learning opportunities. Advanced Placement courses let students participate in college-level coursework while enrolled in a high school setting.

Students can earn college credit, stand out in the college admissions process, gain skills that will help them succeed in college, and broaden their intellectual horizons.

Students taking AP courses are prepared to take the AP exam but also develop learning habits needed to handle more rigorous coursework, improve writing skills, and sharpen problem-solving abilities. 

SoWashCo Schools provides testing sites each May for AP exams and offers many AP courses that prepare students for success on the exams. Students who score 3 ,4 or 5 on AP exams often receive credit or advanced standing upon college admission. AP grades are weighted using a 1.2x multiplier.

AP Testing

Course specific AP testing information, including testing dates, can be found on the College Board website. AP tests can only be taken for courses currently offered at each high school. 

College Board Website

AP Exam Fee: 2022-23 AP exams are $61 each. Students who educational benefits (free or reduced price lunch) will pay $16 per AP exam. 

Accommodations: Students with documented disabilities must submit their request for accommodations by January 9, 2023.  See the AP website getting accommodations webpage. Students will need to provide supporting documentation along with the request. If you have received accommodation for a previous AP exam, you will not need to apply again. 

Cancellation Fees: For 2023, there will be a $40 fee for AP exam cancellations beginning on Nov. 15, 2022 at 11 p.m. There are no refunds for late registration fees.

International Baccalaureate (IB) programs challenge students to excel in their studies, and encourage both personal and academic achievement. IB courses grades are weighted.

Watch the IB Informational Video

The International Baccalaureate Program aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

The IB program is currently only available at Park High School.

College in the Schools gives students direct experience with the pace, academic standards and individual responsibilities inherent in college education. These courses are actual University of MN courses taken at SoWashCo high schools and the students earn University of MN course credit. CIS grades are weighted using a 1.2x multiplier.

College in the Schools is not offered at all high school sites.

About 916 | Who Can Participate | Course Offerings | College Credit

About 916

The 916 Career and Technical Center, on the Century College campus, provides a wide range of course offerings to juniors and seniors who wish to explore career options in business, health, public services and technology by integrating academic learning with technical education. The district provides transportation to this program, but students must provide transportation to satellite programs.

Who Can Participate 

Students who are either juniors or seniors may be eligible for 916 courses. However, students need to make sure they are addressing their required courses for graduation before they can participate in 916 courses. It is advised that students consult with their counselor to see if they can work the 916 courses into their schedule.

Course Offerings

To view current available 916 courses, please visit their website.

916 Courses

Do students earn college credit through 916?

In the registration guide, under each course description it will indicate whether or not students can earn college credits in taking that course. More than 100 college courses at 12 colleges are articulated through the 916 courses. To find out which colleges grant college credits, visit https://careertech.916schools.org/. Search for career articulation.

Important PSEO Documents:

SoWashCo PSEO Information Packet | MDE PSEO Notice of Student Registration | MDE Family Notice | MDE PSEO Website

Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) is a program that allows students going into 10th, 11th and 12th grade to earn both high school and college credit while still in high school, through enrollment in and successful completion of college nonsectarian courses at eligible participating postsecondary institutions. Most PSEO courses are offered on the campus of the postsecondary institution; some courses are offered online. Each participating college or university sets its own requirements for enrollment into the PSEO courses. 11th- and 12th-grade students may take PSEO courses on a full- or part-time basis; 10th-graders may take one career/technical PSEO course. If 10th- graders taking a CTE PSEO course earn at least a grade C in that class, they may take additional CTE PSEO courses. Students must meet the PSEO residency and eligibility requirements and abide by participation limits specified in Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.09. If a school district determines a pupil is not on track to graduate, she/he may continue to participate in PSEO.

There is no charge to PSEO students for tuition, books or fees for items that are required to participate in a course. Enrolling in a PSEO course does not prohibit a student from participating in activities sponsored by the high school. Funds are available to help pay transportation expenses for qualifying students to participate in PSEO courses on college campuses.

Learn more about PSEO here

Project Lead the Way's (PLTW) programs emphasize critical thinking, creativity, innovation and real-world problem solving. The hands-on learning engages students on multiple levels, exposes them to areas of study that they may not otherwise pursue and provides them with a foundation and proven path to post-secondary training and career success in STEM-related fields.

Through engineering, students create, design, build, discover, collaborate and solve problems while applying what they learn in math and science. Our engineering program engages students in activities, projects, and problem-based (APPB) learning, which provide hands-on classroom experiences. SoWashCo Schools offers classes from the Project Lead The Way (PLTW) curriculum.

PLTW is the leading U.S. provider of rigorous and innovative Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education programs. SoWashCo Schools students have the opportunity to earn college credit for engineering courses by obtaining a passing score on the end of course exam coupled with approval from the college.

To learn more about the PLTW program, visit their website.

PLTW WEbsite