Educational Planning Workbook - Olympic College

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Identify a college major or educational goal and transfer school. Choosing a technical program or a particular college major may be a bit overwhelming. As you take classes you need for high school requirements and explore interests, ask yourself if this professor or that subject interests you enough to take more classes. Keep an open mind. Don’t overlook one of your best resources – your own experience. Investigate college majors on university web sites. Read about majors and required classes or look through required textbooks or sit in on a class. Choosing a major does not limit you to just one career. Choosing a career does not limit you to just one major. Why plan for a major now? Many students take a random selection of classes at a community college to fulfill the associate degree requirements but do not take time to think seriously about a college major. Postponing major exploration and selection could cost you more tuition later. Many majors take four years to complete. If you select a major like business, engineering, or foreign language and don’t start until your junior year it will take you six years to finish your bachelor’s degree. Many majors require students to take classes in sequence, for example chemistry, mathematics, or music theory. This means you may only be able to take one course at a time. You want to have completed freshman and sophomore level courses so you can be ready for upper level courses if you are transferring to a four-year school. Many majors have a specific set of admission requirements or prerequisite courses, like business, biology, many of which may be completed at Olympic College. Some departments at the transfer school may allow students to enter the program only once a year. If you have already completed those courses at our community college you may be ready to enter the department. University of Washington, Seattle, for example requires transfer students to have major prerequisites completed. Students at four-year institutions are often required to declare a major early in the junior year and are expected to have already given the major some serious consideration and planning by that time. Some majors at some schools are very competitive, meaning that many students are choosing that major and standards for admission are very high. If you are interested in a highly competitive major you may want to plan your courses very carefully. What colleges/universities are you interested in? Do they offer the major you want? What are the admission requirements for the college or university? Page 9
Attend Transfer Fairs at Olympic College or visit colleges on transfer days for admission information. Review college admission requirements. *TIP Remember that Washington colleges require Running Start students to apply as freshman if you apply while in high school, even if you have an associate degree. You will be eligible for many freshman scholarships and other benefits but you will also be granted transfer credit and advanced class standing. You will need SAT or ACT scores and high school core requirements, for example, fine arts and foreign language requirements. Spring of your junior year is the best time to take admissions tests, so you may retake the test if necessary. Identify college/department admission requirements and major prerequisites. Some colleges and departments have no special admission requirements. Some are highly competitive or require completed prerequisites or are only fall entry. Utilize college transfer information available in the Advising Center and from faculty advisors. Colleges and universities in Washington have detailed transfer guides available online or in print which list course equivalencies for all community colleges in Washington. See transfer advising at www.olympic.edu/RunningStart. You can also schedule a transfer advising appointment with a Running Start advisor. Use college web sites to learn about academic departments – access Washington schools at www.access.wa.gov and click on education. UW and WSU have sites where you can establish an advising account to research requirements for one or more majors, verify how your community college courses transfer and see how your courses apply toward major and bachelor’s degree requirements. *TIP Contact transfer institutions directly for information, department admission requirements, arrange a campus visit and talk to department advisors. Most colleges have prospective student information sessions and visitation programs. It’s never too early for you to investigate the requirements of your intended major – no later than the end of the freshmen year. Determine if it is better for you to complete a degree or take required prerequisites for a particular program, particularly if you will attend an out-of-state college. Contact out-of-state colleges for admission information for Running Start students. Explain that Running Start is a dual credit program - you earn high school and college credit for OC classes. Seriously investigate the school you are thinking about attending. List college/department admission requirements and major prerequisites on page 13 ‣ Page 10
Page 1 and 2: Running Start Educational Planning
Page 3 and 4: Running Start 1600 Chester Ave Brem
Page 5 and 6: To assist you in pursuing your educ
Page 7 and 8: Direct Transfer Agreements The AA a
Page 9: Be able to access college services
Page 13 and 14: Advising Notes Page 12
Page 15 and 16: Olympic College Educational Plan Na

Educational Planning Workbook - Olympic College

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