Tue Apr 24, 2012
Juniors - Take a Tour of Your Favorite College...
On Campus:
1. Schedule an appointment to have a guided tour, meet with admissions, and financial aid.
2. Stay Overnight to see what campus life is really like.
3. Take notes as you visit so you will remember what you saw and heard.
4. Go to a class to see class sizes, instructors, and difficulty level.
5. Check out all the buildings besides the classrooms, like residence halls, cafeterias, computer labs, the library, and health and recreational facilities.
Off campus:
1. Research on-line - check out a school's website. Most schools have you do everything on-line these days!
2. Go to College Fairs when you hear about them.
3. Talk to everyone about college - your teachers, counselor, family members, friends, siblings, etc. Find out their experiences and impressions of college.
Mon Apr 23, 2012
Postponing College - taking a Gap year
Attending college right after high school is the usual route for many students, but taking a year off from school to travel, volunteer, or study abroad is also an option. If you are unsure about what you want to study in college or what career you want or just need a break from formal education, a gap year may be what you need.
Just a few resources to help you get started on planning a gap year...
AmeriCorps has local and national community service opportunites and also offers an education award and loan forgiveness.
The Council on International Educational Exchange provides programs exploring different cultures.
City Year is for students who are willing to dedicate at least 10 months to transform schools in the US and Africa.
Gap-year.com has lots of info on taking time off to travel, work, volunteer, and more.
Studyabroad.com has info on studying in another country or volunteer and internship opportunities.
STATravel has gap-year travel and planning info and insurance packages.
Important websites!
College Entrance Exams
ACT
CollegeBoard - PSAT, SAT, and AP
Financial Aid
FAFSA online
FAFSA PIN
CSS Profile
College Information
Western Undergraduate Exchange
Oregon University System
Education Conservancy (A non-profit organization dedicated to improving the college admission process for students, colleges and high schools)
Pathways to College Network (A national alliance of organizations committed to improve postsecondary education access and success for underserved students)
College Athletics
NCAA Clearinghouse (Initial eligibility information for Division I and II college athletes)
Fri Apr 20, 2012
International Exchange Programs
Do you have an interest in studying abroad for a year or a semester? The Oregon International Council has a lot of information regarding outbound travel and hosting opportunities. Check out their website for more information and to get you started on the process!
Oregon International Council
A few other websites to check out to learn more about teen opportunities to study and travel abroad:
National Registration Center for Study Abroad
Study Abroad
Youth For Understanding
AYUSA
Walking Tree
Tue Jan 10, 2012
Resume Template for Junior Career Fair
For students wanting to create a skills based resume, use the following template:
ResumeTemplate_2.doc
Thu Nov 10, 2011
Letters of Recommendation
Many seniors will need a letter of recommendation from their school counselor or a teacher. If you are in need of a recommendation for a scholarship or college application, please follow these guidelines -
1. Please give us a minimum of two weeks to write a letter. The more time - the better the letter. Please do not expect to get a letter when your due date is in a few days.
2. To request a letter of recommendation, please fill out this form. You can also pick a paper copy up from me in the guidance center.
Thu Sep 01, 2011
Letter to Seniors and their Parents
Click here for more information on the senior year - SATs, ACTs, financial aid, timelines, etc.
Tue Dec 07, 2010
Honors Diploma Registration
Take a look at the attached form for Honors Diploma and Valedictorian Diploma requirements. If you are working towards one of these diplomas, please fill out the form and return it to me in the guidance center. The Honors and Valedictorian diplomas will prepare you more for the challenges you will face in a college or university. If you have any questions, please come see me or set up a time for you and your parents to come in together.
Honors diploma application