Instructional Leadership, emphasis: K-12 School Leadership (MEd)
Smiling student Molly Garguilo reads tablet and lays on grassy lawn.
  1. NAU
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  4. Planning ahead

Planning ahead

How to set yourself up for college success

It’s never too early to start thinking about your education after high school. Here are six action items high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors can be doing to prepare for college.

A photo taken by a drone of N A U Flagstaff campus during fall.

1. Plan a visit

The best way to get a feel for whether a college is right for you is to visit the campus. NAU offers two convenient ways to visit. If you can’t make it to campus, our online virtual tour is the next best thing!

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2. Review admissions requirements

Admission to NAU (and other Arizona public universities) determined by your grades in the 14 high school required core classes. You are guaranteed admission to NAU if you have a 2.75 or higher unweighted GPA in these core classes and are on track to graduate; you will be considered with a 2.5 unweighted core GPA.

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3. Explore financial resources

This helpful checklist is a good place to start. You will automatically be considered for NAU tuition scholarships based on your core GPA and, in some cases, test scores. It’s good to know the requirements for these awards and understand where you currently stand so you can set goals to work toward.

Student Autumn Begay admires artifacts.

4. Explore majors

You’d be surprised how many majors universities offer. NAU has more than 100 on our Flagstaff campus and many more across the state and online. Start thinking about your interests and figure out which interests are actually passions. Consider taking an online quiz like the “Major Matcher” on College Factual to help you identify your strengths, weaknesses, goals, and more.

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5. Find support

It’s important to have a support network to help you transition to university life and throughout your time in college. Talk to your parents, guidance counselors, teachers, family, and friends. Research student support services available at the colleges you’re considering. NAU offers dozens of campus resources to ensure your academic and personal success.

A photo of a student taking an exam.

6. Take the ACT and/or SAT

NAU does not require either test for admission, but some schools do. Your scores could also help you qualify for certain scholarships. You can take each test multiple times if you want to improve your scores. Be sure to provide NAU school code 0086 when taking the ACT or code 4006 when taking the SAT.