Congratulations! You’ve decided to go back to school and learn more about health and wellness. You’re super excited to study what you’re passionate about and have told your friends and family that this is what you’re going to do. Maybe you’ve already talked with an ACHS Admissions Advisor to learn about the holistic health programs that might be the best fit for you. You’re already making headway toward your goals! Then...here comes the paperwork! Well, don’t let things like completing the admissions essay or ordering your transcripts hold you back. So, how do you get started on the right foot?
Questions about how to answer the admissions essay (also called the intake assessment), financial aid options and how to budget to go back to school, and official transcripts all top the list of frequently asked questions as students work through their application. We’re not trying to make you jump through hoops, we promise! Keep reading to learn more about how to make this process easy on yourself and gain some insight into why we need this information. If we missed any of your top FAQs, share your questions in the comments below!
Intake assessment tip: Be yourself!
Our intake assessment isn't designed to intimidate you. Just be yourself, and don’t overthink it. However, do be open and share as much information with us as possible. We personally read every intake assessment we receive.
What should you focus on?
We want to get to know you and help you choose the right program. So, tell us about:
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Why you’re passionate about your field of study, whether that’s aromatherapy, herbal medicine, holistic nutrition, or maybe a combination of these areas.
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How you want to use your studies - you don’t have to know exactly what you want to do, many students don't know when they're just getting started. Your goals might be for personal health and wellness, to support friends and family, or to train for a new career. So what do you write about? Here’s one of my favorite questions to ask a prospective student, and the answer never disappoints: “Close your eyes and imagine that it is a year from now, and you have completed your ACHS training in health and wellness. Imagine how you are using studies. What does that look like for you? If you’re working in the field, tell me about your ideal work day.” Visualization is a powerful tool to hone your goals, but that’s a topic for another article :)
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Your previous education - it's important for us to learn about your previous education since you may have transfer of credit, which saves you time and money (yay!). We also want to know about your successes, and yes your challenges, so we know how to best support you as an ACHS student.
How can you afford to go back to school?
ACHS offers several options for students to invest in going back to school from paying by semester, making monthly payments, financial aid for qualifying applicants, military funding, and employer tuition assistance, for example
If you're planning to use financial aid, our experienced financial aid advisors will help you every step of the way from helping you determine what you qualify for to helping you borrow as little as possible. Don’t forget to include our school code when you complete your FAFSA: 041944.
Last but not least…what is the #1 question we hear in Admissions?
“Why do I have to get my previous transcripts?” definitely tops the list!
The ACHS Registrar’s Office automatically reviews all incoming transcripts to identify transfer of credit opportunities. We are committed to making your education affordable and making sure you never repeat courses - no one wants to study something they already know! And, if your credits don’t transfer over, but you have previous experience that might meet the course learning outcomes, consider taking a challenging exam - another great way to save time and money.
And, as an accredited College, state, local, and federal regulations require us to review your previous education by reviewing your official transcripts. So, this step is also about making sure we can check the boxes for compliance when accepting you to ACHS.
We know this step can take longer than you want, especially when deadlines are looming. Be patient and work with your advisor— we’re here to help any way we can. Many schools offer transcripts electronically now, so that's a great way to expedite your application. Simply have your official transcripts electronically sent to registrar@achs.edu, and just be sure these are being sent using an official service directly from the issuing institution.
Again, all of these steps are designed to support your success, not hold you back. Our team is always here to support you.
Have more questions about getting started? Post your questions in the comments. If you have a question, chances are, other students do also!
