College & Career Planning

Minimum admission requirements for freshmen at Washington public four-year colleges and universities:

An overview for students and parents.

A New Financial Aid Estimator – FAFSA4caster

The U.S. Department of Education’s office of Federal Student Aid is pleased to announce the release of FAFSA4caster, a new Web tool designed to assist high school juniors and their families plan for education beyond high school.  Students can receive an estimated Expected Family Contribution (EFC) by entering their information into FAFSA4caster, a simplified version of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  FAFSA4caster also provides guidance on next steps for applying for admission, applying for federal student aid, and paying for education beyond high school.

Students and families interested in assessing their eligibility for federal student aid can access FAFSA4caster by visiting www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov.  The links for FAFSA4caster are located in the lower right corner of the home page.

Guide for Parents in the College Admission Process

An informatiove brochure, in English and Spanish(pdf).

Opportunities Abound for College Visits

Check out the links below for information on student/family visits to Washington colleges and universities. Make your plans today - see which one fits you best!

Know How 2 Go

You have big plans. Big dreams. You know college is where to start. But a dream is not enough. You know why to to go college; this site is here to tell you how.

College Freshman Admission Requirements for

Washington State Public Colleges & Universities

High school students need this comprehensive listing of requirements for admission as they plan their high school courses and make their college selection.

The National Association for College Admission Counseling

Founded in 1937, is an organization of more than 10,000 professionals from around the world dedicated to serving students as they make choices about pursuing postsecondary education. Read more...

FAFSA Online

The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Federal Student Aid has made the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) available online.

In addition, they have recently added the FAFSA4caster, a new Web tool designed to assist high school juniors and their families plan for education beyond high school.  Students can receive an estimated Expected Family Contribution (EFC) by entering their information into FAFSA4caster, a simplified version of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  FAFSA4caster also provides guidance on next steps for applying for admission, applying for federal student aid, and paying for education beyond high school.

If you have any questions about FAFSA4caster, contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243).

Check out helpful information at the College Success Foundation website.

Getting Ready for College & Careers A Handbook for Grades 9-12

This handbook has been prepared by the Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board and has great information for all ages.

Career Clusters Prepare All Students for College and Careers

Technological advances and global competition have transformed the nature of work.  Tomorrow's jobs will require more knowledge, better skills, and more flexible workers than ever before.  Tomorrow's workers must be prepared to change jobs and careers several times, continually updating their knowledge and skills.

To prepare today's students for tomorrow, schools are working to help students achieve in challenging subjects.  One key approach to this goal is to provide students with relevant contexts for learning. Career clusters link what students learn in school with the knowledge and skills they need for success in college and careers.

Career clusters identify pathways from secondary school to two- and four-year colleges, graduate school, and the workplace, so students can learn in school about what they can do in the future.  This connection to future goals motivates students to work harder and enroll in more rigorous courses. Read more at CareerClusters.org.