Skip to main content

Popular Links

  1. Counseling Department
  2. College and Career Planning
  3. 4-Year Colleges
  4. Everything You Need to Know

Everything You Need to Know

The Basics

What is a 4-year college?

4-year colleges are colleges and universities that grant primarily bachelor's degrees. Bachelor's degrees usually take around 4 years of full-time college coursework.  

How do I prepare to apply for a 4-year college?

The earlier you start planning for college, the more college options you will have! There are over 20 4-year colleges in the state of Florida alone, and they each have their own set of criteria they use when deciding who gets admitted and who earns the largest scholarships. 

Remember, this process is a marathon. Not a sprint. Start here, and reach out to Mrs. Morgan to explore a personalized plan that works for YOU! 

  • Use Xello to explore colleges, college majors, costs, and admission expectations. There are even quizzes to help you learn more about careers related to your personality, goals, and interests!  
    • Helpful Xello Quizzes:
      • Matchmaker 
      • Personality Style 
      • Learning Style 
  • You can also use resources like College Board to expand your search 

What 4-Year Colleges Look For  

The 5 main things 4-year schools will look for: Remember, it's not just about earning an acceptance. It's about being prepared for academic success once you're there. 

  1. Strong unweighted & weighted GPA
  2. Rigor of your course load (You’ll want exposure to AP, AICE, and/or DE classes to be both the most competitive you can be and the most academically prepared to succeed once you get there! Ideally, 4-6 minimum.)
  3. Competitive SAT/ACT scores (Plan to start your senior year with the scores you intend to apply to college with! (Colleges will need to receive your scores no later than October for many application deadlines!)
  4. Leadership & life experience – part-time job and/or quality school involvement 
  5. Project-oriented community service - volunteer hours in your community    

Admission committees will also consider:

  1. Strength of your personal statement/essay
  2. Strength of your letters of recommendation (at least one should come from a core academic class)

How to Prepare for Your 4-Year College Application 

You will start applying to these colleges in August of your senior year. But, you start building your application long before then! If you are in high school...

  • Make sure both Mr. Arrington and Mrs. Morgan know that you are working toward 4-year college admission 
  • Meet with Mrs. Morgan starting in your 9th grade year to create a personalized plan and discuss your goals.
  • Take academically rigorous classes (a “C” in AP is better than an “A” in a regular or honors class)
  • Look carefully into the pros and cons of dual enrollment/AP/AICE classes. Choose what is best for YOU when the time comes. 
  • Don’t slack off and settle for Bs and Cs if you’re capable of earning the A.
  • Do your best to find a balance. Challenge yourself, but do not overrun yourself. 

4-Year College Application Requirements & Recommendations 

Florida high school graduation requirements are much less rigorous than requirements for 4-year college admission.  

  • Keep a full, rigorous course schedule in your senior year  
  • Make sure you have the classes required for admission to the schools you are interested in.
    • Most schools will require at least the following classes: (It always makes you more competitive to have more.)
      • 3+ years of history
      • 4+ years of math (highest math class needs to be at least Algebra 2)
      • 4+ years of ELA
      • 4+ years of science (recommended – biology, chemistry, physics, and 1 additional science class)
      • 2 consecutive years of the same foreign language (for example - Spanish I and II, AP Spanish Language and AP Spanish Literature, French 3 & 4, etc)

Building your College List 

You should apply to at least 6 4-year colleges.

Set yourself up for success! Research admission information for schools you are interested in to identify whether each school is a reach, match, or safety school for YOU.  

  • Reach - test scores and GPA encouraged for admission are higher than yours 
  • Match - test scores and GPA encouraged for admission match yours 
  • Safety - test scores and GPA encouraged for admission are lower than yours 

Use the links to explore who is admitted to 4-year public colleges/universities and private schprivate colleges/universitiesools in Florida. Use the links to focus on GPA, SAT, and ACT scores from students admitted to each school to determine which schools might be a fit for you and to help you set some goals. This information is available for most schools on Xello. On your Xello dashboard, click Schools to search for different colleges and universities around the country. Or, use the search bar to search.  

The Application Cycle 

You only have 3 years to get ready to apply to 4-year colleges. You start the college application cycle in the summer following your junior year.

Seniors can use 4-Year College Enrollment Checklist to help them map out their senior year and stay on track. Mrs. Morgan will support you every step of the way! 

Remember, it's much better to apply early and update your application as you get new test scores and add community service hours than it is to wait to apply.

For most colleges, the latest you can take the SAT/ACT for your college applications is DECEMBER of your senior year. To submit the most competitive college application, counselor forms and letters of recommendation need to be requested on Xello by September 30th of your senior year. College applications should be completed and submitted by the financial aid priority deadline (NOT the application deadline) for each college you apply for. These dates usually fall before January of senior year.   

Types of Admission 

types of admission