College Transitions Links

ACCUPLACER Testing

• What is the ACCUPLACER?

  • ACCUPLACER is a suite of tests that determines your knowledge in math, reading and writing as you prepare to enroll in college-level courses. ACCUPLACER is used to identify your strengths and weaknesses in each subject area. The results of the assessment, in conjunction with your academic background, goals and interests, are used by academic advisors and counselors to place you in the appropriate college courses that meet your skill level.

• Where can I take the test?

  • PVAEC has ACCUPLACER testing available by appointment.

  • Contact Leah (College Transitions Instructor) at 564-5883 to set up an appointment.

• Prepare for the Accuplacer

  • PVAEC offers an Accuplacer Prep course for free. Contact Leah to learn more!

  • Free resources:

    • Union Test Prep

    • MATHhelp.com

    • Khan Academy has a lot of great math video tutorials (click "Courses" at the top and choose "Math")

    • Prepare for the Accuplacer

Financial

• MEOC - Maine Educational Opportunity Center - Free College Application and FAFSA workshops. A representative is available at PVAEC (Penquis Higher Education Center) twice a month. View workshop schedule on their website for dates.

• FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid - This is the official website for federal financial assistance.

• FAME - Financial Authority of Maine - This website provides a ton of information on saving for college, learning about financial aid, and managing your student loans after you’ve graduated. You can also search for scholarships.

• Maine Community Foundation - This foundation provides scholarships for Maine residents attending accredited colleges, universities, or technical schools. They even have a specific section for Adult Learners.

• CSSP - Competitive Skills Scholarship Program - For qualified applicants, this program assists with post-secondary education or training for jobs that the Maine Department of Labor has identified as high-wage occupations that are in demand in Maine. Additionally, they will help pay for child car, transportation, textbooks, and more.

Scholarships

• • Maine Community Foundation's Scholarship Programs and Information -The Foundation awards more than $2 million each year from more than 450 scholarship funds.

  • FAME's Scholarship Search - Start your scholarship search with FAME's online scholarship search. This search allows you to look for Maine-based scholarships that match your criteria.

College Planning

• Maine Educational Opportunities Center (MEOC) is a federally funded program that works with adults to assist them in going on to college. They hold multiple workshops all over Maine.

  • Kate Kevit is the local MEOC advisor and does monthly College Planning Workshops here at PVAEC. If you would like to register for a College Planning workshop or get more information, please visit their website.

• Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) is committed to promoting access to and completion of post-secondary education by providing free information on planning and paying for college, career preparation and financial education.

  • Traditional and Non-traditional students can find information on choosing a career and a college, how to pay for college, how to balance life and school, and they can help you make a plan to succeed.

  • The FAFSA is the first step to applying for Financial Aid. College Goal Maine helps students and parents fill out the FAFSA for free. They have live FAFSA labs offered January through March, or you can access their Virtual Lab 24-hours a day.

Choosing an Online College

There are a lot of things to think about when deciding on an online college. The following are a list of some Maine schools that offer online courses:

• • • University of Southern Maine

    • University of Maine At Augusta

    • Southern Maine Community College

    • Eastern Maine Community College

Find some helpful tips about Online College at the following websites.

• • • A Complete Guide to Online Associate Degrees

    • A Complete Guide to Online Bachelor's Degrees

    • Your Complete Guide to the Top Online Colleges (2018)

    • How to Choose the Best Online School

    • Ten Things to Consider When Choosing an Online School

    • 10 Tips for Deciding if Online Education is for You

    • Online Degree Programs: How to Tell the Good from the Bad

    • 15 Tips to a Successful Online College Experience

PRAXIS Prep

• The PRAXIS Series

  • The PRAXIS website has preparation material for each of the test

• Teacher's Test Prep

  • Take a practice test and see how you will do on the PRAXIS I test.

  • Use the Math, Reading, and Writing study guides to help prepare you for the tests.

• PVAEC offers prep courses for reading, writing, and math, so if you would like some one-on-one help with preparing for the PRAXIS I test, contact Leah (College Transitions Instructor) at 564-5883 to set up an appointment.

HESI A2 Prep

• What is the HESI A2 test?

• PVAEC offers a HESI A2 Prep Course for free as part of its College Transitions Program. Contact Leah (College Transitions Instructor) at 564-5883 to set up an appointment.

• HESIA2.org offers study guides and practice tests for free with their online tools.

* For more information on testing or classes,

please contact Leah (College Transitions Instructor) at 564-5883.