College & Career Center

Academic requirements

• NTPS graduation requirements — To earn your high school diploma, you must meet these requirements.
• College admissions standards (WSAC website) — These are the minimum requirements for admission at Washington's public four-year colleges.
• Quick Guide: 2025-26 Minimum Admissions Requirements for WA Public Universities — Guidelines and timelines for applications.
• GED (Washington State Board for Community & Technical Colleges) — If you are unable to earn your diploma, the GED exam is another option to meet the academic requirements to be admitted to a community college.

College Entrance Exams

• PSAT — A practice test to prepare for the SAT. Administered once a year to pre-registered 10th- and 11th-grade students.
• SAT — A college entrance exam that measures critical thinking and problem-solving in math, reading, and writing. Usually taken 2nd semester of 11th grade.
• SAT II Subject Test — some highly selective schools require these more in-depth assessments in areas of study, including literature, history, math, science, and more.
• ACT — an alternative assessment to the SAT. Most colleges will accept either ACT or SAT scores on applications.
• Fair Test — a list of schools that do not use the SAT or ACT scores for admission. Washington's 4-year colleges do not require them.

College search & comparison tools

• Big Future (CollegeBoard's website) — Search for colleges based on location, majors, activities, and more. Create a profile and save your results to build a roadmap to the college of your choice.
• US Department of Education College Scorecard — Colleges are scored based on cost, graduation rates, and salaries after graduation.
• US News & World Report Best Colleges list — U.S. News & World Report provides over 50 different types of numerical rankings to help narrow down the search.
• NCAA Clearinghouse — A guide for student athletes thinking of playing sports in college.
• Need a letter of recommendation? See the Personal Data Form and Request for Recommendation.

Application help and more

• Request official high school transcripts (parchment.com)
• Personal Statement Categories — As part of the application, many colleges ask for an essay or personal statement. This is your opportunity to show the college your authentic self outside of grades and test scores.
• 100+ Topics for Essays — Do you need a prompt for your essay? 100+ topics and questions to get you going.

Extra resources for BIPOC, LGBTQIA, Women, and Latinx students

• History of historically black colleges & universities
• Campus Pride LGBT-friendly campus list
• Study.com scholarship list for people with different types of backgrounds
• Scholarships for Women (scholarships.com)

Apprenticeships

An apprenticeship is a combination of on-the-job training and related classroom instruction under the supervision of a journey-level craft person or trade professional. Workers learn the practical and theoretical aspects of a highly skilled occupation while earning wages and benefits. After completing an apprenticeship program, the worker's journey-level status provides an additional benefit of nationwide mobility at the journey-level scale.

• Apprenticeships are available in over 1,000 occupations.
• The majority of apprenticeship programs are in construction and manufacturing.
• Employers and employee associations manage apprenticeship programs, choose apprentices, and pay their wages.
• Apprentices who complete a registered program receive a certificate from the U.S. Department of Labor. They then become journey workers.
• Most programs require applicants to be 18 years old and high school graduates.
• Apprentices are employees and are paid at least minimum wage for their work.

Get Started:

1. Find a Program
   • Look for apprenticeship programs in your area on the Washington Department of Labor and Industries website.
   • Contact trade associations, unions, and other professional organizations.
2. Complete an application
   • Once you have found a program, contact the organization directly for application materials and take any required tests.
3. Interview
   • An apprenticeship interview is like a job interview. Arrive early. Be courteous and friendly to everyone you meet. Emphasize that you are willing to work hard and eager to learn. After the interview, an applicant is given a numerical rating based on their employment history, education, skills, test scores, an interview. Applicants are then ranked and placed on a waiting list for a program.

Military Entrance

• ASVAB Test — RRHS typically offers the test on campus twice a year at no cost. Seniors & juniors have priority, but sophomores may take it as well.
• Eligibility Requirements (Today's Military)

Military Branches

• Air Force
• Air National Guard
• Army
• Coast Guard
• Marines
• National Guard
• Navy
• Space Force

Military College & Career Pathways

• Enlisting
• Military Careers
• Ways to serve (Today's Military)
• ROTC — Reserve Officer Training Corps

Want to start your own business? There are plenty of opportunities and information out there to help you get started!

Open a Business (Washington State Dept of Revenue)