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College

College

Each year, over 85% of our graduating senior class attends a two or four-year institution.  This also includes those attending community college for a certificate program.  While a vast majority of BHS grads pursue higher education, everyone's journey is very different.

 

With 4,360 degree-granting post-secondary institutions in the United States, we hope to provide some information to help you figure out if this is the right choice for you, and if so, which direction to go.

Undergraduate Certifications & Degree Programs

 

Program

Description

Typical length

Certificate

Career-specific training, usually very hands-on

6 months to 2 years

Associate Degree (AAS)

Career-specific, generally designed for students to enter the work force after completion

2 years

Associate Degree (AA, AS)

Program designed for students to transfer to a 4-year college to complete a bachelor’s degree

2 years

Bachelor’s Degree (BA, BS)

Traditional 4-year college degree program

4 years

Bachelor’s + Master/Doctoral combined program (3+2, 4+1)

Student completes a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in an accelerated time period

5-7 years

 

Each college/university will offer some if not all of these options.  Check out their websites for more information!

 

 

  • Each college may have one or more of these admission plans available.  Please check each school’s website or Common Application’s Requirements Grid to see which options they offer and which will be the best fit for you.

    EARLY DECISION

    • Students can ONLY APPLY TO ONE SCHOOL using Early Decision. 
    • Early Decision is a binding agreement; if a student is admitted, the student is obligated to enroll in the college and needs to withdraw any other applications. 
    • In order to complete this process, the student, a parent/guardian, and school counselor must all sign an ‘Early Decision Agreement’ Form.
    • Students considering ED should carefully research the option, speaking with their parents, counselor, and the admissions office.  Students should ask about the school’s policies with regard to financial aid packages- admissions offices assume you have done your research and are able to attend regardless of cost.
    • Early Decision applications are typically due in November, and students often receive an admissions decision by the end of December. 
    • If not accepted through ED, a student may be denied admission at that time or deferred to the regular admission applicant pool to be considered again. 

    EARLY ACTION

    • Early Action allows students to apply and subsequently receive an admissions decision earlier than regular decision.  Deadlines are typically in November & early December.
    • Students can apply to more than one school under Early Action, and students are not bound to attend a school to which they were admitted under Early Action. 

    REGULAR DECISON

    • Students apply to a college by a deadline, usually sometime between December and February. 
    • Applications are reviewed after the deadline and applicants are informed of admissions decisions at about the same time, usually between February and April.

    ROLLING ADMISSION

    • There is not a formal deadline in rolling admissions. 
    • Schools review a student’s application once it is complete and provide an admissions decision, usually within a month. 
    • Colleges fill their freshman class as they receive qualified applicants, making it beneficial to a student to apply earlier (first come-first served).

    OPEN ADMISSION

    • Typically, community colleges have open admissions, meaning that students with basic credentials, such as a high school diploma or GED, are eligible to enroll. 
    • Please note that some programs at community colleges are not open admissions, but are competitive.  Some examples include nursing programs, veterinary technology, and engineering programs.

     

  • College Board- Big Future

    What can you do with BigFuture?

    You can check out careers you’re interested in. You can find colleges based on what’s important to you. You can discover ways to pay for college.

     

    College Data

    PLAN YOUR PATH TO COLLEGE. Our goal is to help students make informed decisions about college.

     

    College Stats

    Discovering your dream school just got easier. Search our database of more than 3,000 colleges and universities to find the best advanced degree opportunities for you. CollegeStats.org lets you decide what matters most in your search for the perfect college.

     

    Colleges That Change LIves

    Changing Lives. One Student At A Time.

     

    Next Step U

    Find Your Path to Success Helping you with your next step in college, career and life planning. 

     

    State University of New York (SUNY)

    64 in-state colleges & universities to explore

     

    The Commission on Independent Colleges & Universities in NY

    A private college education is worth considering—and we have the numbers to prove it.

     

    U.S. News Best Colleges

    Expert advice, rankings and data to help you navigate your education journey and find the best college for you.