High School Juniors (or younger)
Preparing for college, finding the right college, and figuring out a financial plan can feel like a daunting task. That's why we recommend that high school students (and/or their parents) get an early start. The more you know and the better you prepare, the better your results will be.
Freshman/Sophomore Years
Begin your college search:
- Internet searches are a good way to start. Check out the websites of the colleges you think you might be interested in. Look at their social media sites too, for a more student-oriented flavor of what campus life is like.
- Visit with your guidance counselor at school. They can help you find
rankings, reviews, and other resources that compare the colleges you are interested in.
- Request information from colleges. View books, academic guides, and other college publications are available either online or in print form from most colleges.
- Go to some of the college fairs in your area.
- Meet with admission representatives from different colleges.
- Prepare for the ACT or SAT. Even take some practice tests.
- Familiarize yourself with admission requirements.
- Contact the School of Mines Office of Admissions whenever you have questions.
- Schedule a campus visit.
Junior Year
- Make sure you enroll in the right college prep classes. By the time you graduate from High School you should have completed:
- — 4 years of English
- — 3 years of advanced mathematics
- — 3 years of laboratory science
- — 3 years of social science
- — 1 year of fine arts
- Take the ACT (School code: 3922) or SAT (School code: 6652) and have your scores sent to the School of Mines and any other colleges you may be interested in.
- The School of Mines will automatically accept students who
- — Obtain an ACT composite score of 25 AND obtain an ACT math subscore of 25 (or SAT equivalent scores) OR
- — Obtain a high school GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and have taken 4 years of mathematics OR
- — Are South Dakota Regents' Scholars
- Meet with admissions counselors
- Visit campus
Senior Year
-
Continue college prep courses
- Retake the ACT or SAT if necessary
- Meet with admissions counselors
- Apply to the School of Mines before February 1 to meet the scholarship deadline
- Visit campus if you haven't already or attend one of our popular "Go To Mines" events
- Apply for Financial Aid by submitting your FAFSA before the March 15 priority awarding deadline
- Use the New Student Checklist to get everything done you need to in order to start in the fall