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PREPARE FOR COLLEGE

 THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH IS A PLACE OF POSSIBILITY—BEGIN PREPARING FOR YOUR COLLEGE JOURNEY NOW!

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As prospective students prepare to attend the University of Utah, the Academic Advising Center aspires to provide resources and advising where students in high school will feel...
        1.  encouraged by the thought of what college can be
        2. motivated to begin exploring majors early, and
        3. empowered to make informed decisions

The more you know about college requirements, about majors that are available, about ways you can earn college credits now, the easier your transition to college will be. Use these resources to help you plan and prepare for applying to the U!

Getting Started...

College is full of decisions. You are beginning to make decisions about classes, majors, interests—we want to help you make informed decisions! The below video (15 minutes) will walk through five key questions you may have—what will be my major? will my credits count? can I afford college? will I be accepted? how can I find my people? 

Want to get connected with the U?
Join the Early Belonging Program!

Are you a prospective student? This program is for you! The Early Belonging program aims to create opportunities for students to explore the joy of learning, establish a sense of community on campus, and develop tools for student success well before the first day of classes. Prospective students can choose from a variety of Early Contact programming that aims to build relationships and connect students to potential academic communities. The Early Contact program is intended for prospective and incoming students who want to gain a sense of community and belonging before arriving at the U.

EARLY BELONGING PROGRAM     STUDENT EVENTs         

Curious about exploring majors?
Begin searching through options!

High school students can begin learning about majors through websites and online resources! Begin perusing through your options now, and keep a list of the majors that stand out to you!

  • The Major Search allows students to search through every major offered at the university.
  • Major Maps help students to see  courses to take, the experiences that coincide with a major, and potential paths for careers.

MAJOR MAPS       MAJOR SEARCH

Steps to Prepare for College

  STEP 1 : EXPLORE MAJORS EARLY

Exploring majors early helps you find one that sticks and gives you the opportunity to create a meaningful degree.

BEGIN SEARCHING THROUGH AVAILABLE majorS

 

 STEP 2: UNDERSTAND PREVIOUSLY EARNED CREDITS

High school students can begin earning college credits through International Baccalaureate exams, Advanced Placement exams, and concurrent enrollment credits. Learn more below!

Students enrolled at the University of Utah who achieved scores of 5, 4, or 3 in an Advanced Placement (AP) examination in high school may be awarded credit. Please review the AP Equivalency Guide for more information on college credit that may be awarded.

Planning to pursue a professional prehealth path (premed, predental, etc.)? Make sure to review information from our PreProfessional Advising Office about how these previous credits are reviewed by professional programs.

All AP scores must be sent from the College Board directly to the University of Utah. 

AP EQUIVALENCY GUIDE 

The Office of Admissions will evaluate all previously earned college credits for their potential to meet general education requirements. Review the general education courses offered at the University of Utah, and when possible, select comparable concurrent enrollment courses offered through your high school.

For credits to be evaluated, students must request an official college transcript be sent directly to the University of Utah.

     UTAH Concurrent enrollment       uNIVERSITY OF UTAH GENERAL EDUCATION COURSES

Students enrolled at the University of Utah who have achieved a minimum score of 5 on higher level International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations may be awarded credit. Please the the IB Equivalency Guide for more information on college credit that may be awarded.

Planning to pursue a professional prehealth path (premed, predental, etc.)? Make sure to review information from our PreProfessional Advising Office about how these previous credits are reviewed by professional programs.

International Baccalaureate scores must be sent from IBIS directly to the University of Utah.

IB EQUIVALENCY GUIDE 

It is possible for high school students to acquire university credit with one of the following programs at the University of Utah.  Each program has different timelines and requirements; check the individual websites for this information.

Students who enroll in early college credit programs, importantly, are not trying on college—students are beginning college. Students participating in early college programs are earning college credit and grades which will part of their official college transcripts. 

HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT CREDITS? ContaCT US!

decorative image  STEP 3: RESEARCH FINANCIAL AID & SCHOLARSHIPS

An important step in understanding how much financial aid or scholarships you will need is to calculate the cost of attending college. 

          university of utah cost of attendance     College affordability info     

Financial aid is financial assistance to help students and their families pay for college tuition and other educational expenses such as books, transportation, housing and fees. It can come from a variety of sources such as private organizations and donors, community organizations, federal and state government and colleges and universities.

university of utah financial aid office

Learn about FAFSA 

The Office of Federal Student Aid provides more than $120 billion in financial aid to help students pay for college each year. FAFSA is the free application for federal student aid.

Learn more

watch videos available

Learn about Utah-Specific Resources

Paying for college can be daunting. The Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority (UHEAA) provides guidance to students and families as they prepare for the costs of higher education. 

watch videos available

Scholarships are financial awards that do not need to be repaid. There are scholarships for just about everyone! Some scholarships are awarded based on merit, financial need, identities a student holds, athletic or religious affiliation, and more. Many scholarships are awarded based on answers to essay questions. 

university of utah scholarships office

First-Year Scholarships

The University of Utah offers scholarships for incoming
first-year students. Review these scholarships! 

Learn more

Scholarship Searches

Online scholarships are available, and there are many resources available to help you identify possible funding.

Learn more

First-Gen Resources

There are resources and scholarships available, specifically for first-generation, low-income students.

Learn more

DACA/Undocumented Student Resources

Learn more about scholarships and resources for DACA/Undocumented students.

Learn more

 

BEGIN YOUR APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA)

decorative image  STEP 4 : Plan to AppLy to the U

The University of Utah offers both in-person and virtual tours.  During an in-person tour, you will be paired with a student guide and other guests in small groups to walk across campus on a specific tour route.

This is an excellent time not only to experience campus, get a feel for the university environment, but also a time to ask questions that are important to you and to those supporting you! 

schedule a campus visit

There are several ways that you can learn more about the University of Utah and decide if we are a good fit for you!

  • Visit our campus
  • Attend an upcoming event
  • Follow @UtahAdmissons on Instagram
  • Explore all of the programs available
  • Check out the prospective student guide
  • Request more information, tailored to you and what you are looking for!

All prospective students have access to a dedicated admissions counselor. Have questions about the application? Not sure what to include in your personal statement? Need guidance as your collect all required documents? Do not hesitate to reach out to your admissions counselor! They serve as your personal guide as you prepare and apply for college. 

meet your admissions counselor       

If you are planning to apply to the U, make sure to submit your applications by the deadlines! If you are wanting to be considered for any merit scholarships, make sure to submit your application by the Merit Scholarship Consideration Deadline

Learn more

decorative image  Step 5: find your community

Students who begin their college experience in a learning community tend to have higher GPAs in their first year, report higher satisfaction with their first year of college, and express a stronger sense of belonging with the University. Learn more about learning communities available!

EXPLORE ALL COHORT EXPERIENCES AVAILABLE!

You Belong at the U

Learn more by joining the Early Belonging Program!
This program is intended for prospective and incoming students
 who want to gain a sense of community and belonging before arriving at the U.

Have Questions? Reach out!

image of ashley glenn


Ashley Glenn

Director,
Outreach & Orientation

Academic Advising Center

madeline rencher image


April Vrtis-Curran

Assistant Director,
Outreach & Orientation

Academic Advising Center

Have questions about a specific major? Connect with a major advisor.

FIND YOUR INTENDED MAJOR                    FIND A MAJOR ADVISOR

 

Last Updated: 4/29/24