Consortium member institutions formed the Worcester nonprofit purchasing group, which, in addition to the Consortium institutions, includes 30 other local nonprofit organizations that together spend over $4 million annually on local goods and services.
Preparing for College
Recommended High School Courses for College
The following are recommended college prep courses for students to take in high school*:
English - 4 years
Classes include: composition, American literature, English literature and world literature
Mathematics - 4 years
Classes include: algebra I, geometry, algebra II, trigonometry, pre-calculus and calculus
Laboratory Science - 3-4 years
Classes include: biology, earth science, chemistry and physics
Social Studies - 3 years
Classes include: geography, US History, US Government, world history, world cultures and civics
Foreign Language - 2-4+ years of same language at different levels (for example: Spanish I, Spanish II, Spanish III, Spanish IV, etc.)
Visual & Performing Arts - 1-4 years
Classes include: art, music, theatre and/or dance
Challenging Electives - 1-4 years
Classes include: economics, psychology, computer science, statistics and communications
Please note: Taking advanced placement courses and/or tech-prep courses in any of these subjects can help prepare for college.
In addition to good grades, most colleges look for well-rounded students who have:
- demonstrated community service
- held leadership positions such as Student Government or received academic awards
- participated in extracurricular school/community activities
- played on athletic teams
- maintained a part-time job
Knowing what colleges look for ahead of time gives students the opportunity to begin planning early for college admission.