Be Like a Goldfish

Happy Halloween!

Did you like the staff's attempt to celebrate by being a part of the "Ted Lasso" Team?

I know that some of you have watched the show and others have not.  There are a lot of meaningful themes and messages throughout the show.  One of my favorites is "Be like a goldfish."  The message behind this recommendation is that the goldfish has a short memory and so it doesn't dwell on past mistakes or things that have already happened.  Instead, the goldfish remains in the present moment.  Ultimately, the reminder is that the ability to let the past go and remain in this moment is a key towards happiness.  If you want to check out the clip from the show about being a goldfish you can see it here.

There are lots of other messages that are particularly poignant.  If you saw Lexi today, she was wearing a Ted Lasso shirt with the message "Believe" and I love that message too... because if you do believe in yourself and you believe in each other than nothing can stop you.  If you want to check out that clip from the show you can see it here.

I hope you will always focus on the moment and believe in yourself!

Ohio Means Jobs K-12

The Ohio Means Jobs website features a student section to engage students in grades Kindergarten through 12^th grade to start thinking about their careers.  It is an addition to the OCIS website that some of you may have already used in middle school or previously in high school to complete career interest inventories and other explanation.

If you go to the Ohio Means Jobs website you can take a guided tour on the site.  I encourage you to create an account so that you can save your information and refer back to it in one place in the future.  For example, if you complete career interest inventories or other assessments, the information is all saved in your “backpack” on the site.  All of your information on the site is saved for you so if you started using the site when you were in elementary or middle school it will still be there for you to access and reference when you are in high school.

There are cool features on the site including the opportunity to create a budget including rent or house payment, grocery costs and utilities.  The site also helps you know if the job areas you have indicated that you are considering will be adequate enough to meet your budget.

It is a fun site to get on and explore and can help spark areas that might interest you in your career exploration.

Plan Ahead

Wednesday is November 1st - a big deadline for many of our seniors who are applying early action or early decision to colleges.  In the past, it has often been a date of stress as seniors are suddenly realizing they didn't do a step in their application or are concerned about finishing up some particular aspect (like the essays) for their application before they hit submit.

Hopefully all of my current seniors have already touched base with me if you are applying with a November 1st deadline, but if not, I need to make sure you all know that I will NOT be in the building on Wednesday!  There is a financial aid update meeting that I need to attend in preparation for the upcoming FAFSA changes and that will have me out of school all day on November 1st.  (Bad timing, I know...)

I will still be trying to stay responsive to emails throughout the day as much as I can while also being present and also focusing on the important information updates so that I will later be able to help you understand the FAFSA.

If you are working on your applications and have any questions, I strongly encourage you to stop and see me on Monday or Tuesday so that we can make sure you feel confident before Wednesday's application submission deadline.

Grades

We are into the first week of the 2nd quarter and, as of today, your 1st quarter grades are now finalized and posted in Infinite Campus for you and your parents to see.

I know there are many students who are stressed out about their grades, but I want to remind you how grades, credits and GPA work.

Students earn credits each semester if their SEMESTER grade is passing.  And the SEMESTER grades are the only grades which appear on the transcript and count into a student's cumulative GPA.

What makes up your semester grade?  Each semester grade is calculated using the 2 quarter grades and the semester exam grade.  Each quarter grade is worth 45% of your semester grade and your exam is worth 10% of your semester grade.

So, if you look at your 1st quarter grades, that equals 45% of your grade for the semester, but you still have 55% of your grade left to earn.  Which means hope is not lost even if your grade isn't where you want it to be.  However, if your grades aren't where they should or could be, you need to start making changes right away because it becomes more difficult to dig out of the hole with every passing day that you don't do well.  

When we had exams previously a lot of students would be concerned that the exam could change their grade up or down a letter grade.  And while yes, that is technically true, what we found was that most students performed about the same on their exam grade as they did in the classes.  So you don't want to count on getting a 100% on your semester exam if you were getting F's all quarter long.

You're at the half-way point for earning the grades that will be on your transcript and calculate into your GPA.  Be sure that you are setting yourself up for success.  Every day is a day to bring you one step closer to your goals.  Try not to focus too much on the ending point and just do what needs to be done today to get you closer to where you want to be in the end.

Don't forget to log into Infinite Campus to see where your grades are currently so that you have a road map to success for yourself and the remainder of the semester.

AP Exam Registration

CollegeBoard is in charge of AP Tests and they have fall deadlines related to the tests so you need to be sure you understand all of this so that you don't miss out on a key step related to the class and testing.

By now, all students should have “joined” the AP course online at the beginning of the year to access resources from the CollegeBoard throughout the year.  You will need your CollegeBoard account information to login and join the AP classes you are taking.  (If you have taken the PSAT, SAT, or AP Exams in the past then you already have a CollegeBoard Account.)

If you have a CollegeBoard account, it is important to use that account (and not to create a new one) as your scores from previous CollegeBoard assessments (PSAT, SAT, AP exams) are linked to your account.  If you already have established a CollegeBoard account, please visit myap.collegeboard.org and make certain that you can log in. If you have forgotten your password, you may call 1-888-225-5427 or email apstudents@info.collegeboard.org for assistance. 

If you have not already established a CollegeBoard student account, please sign up by going to myap.collegeboard.org. Make sure you write down and save your log-in information for future reference.  Remember, when you are setting up your CollegeBoard account, you do NOT want to use your school email account as your wscloud account cannot accept emails from outside of the district.

If you have questions, about establishing your account or linking it to the AP resources, please contact College Board at 1-888-225-5427 or email apstudents@info.collegeboard.org.

Once again this year students will register for the AP Tests in the fall rather than in the spring.  Below is information about the costs for registering for the AP exams and the deadlines for registering.

Exam Fees:

    Regular exam fee - $100 if ordered by November 3

        Students who are on the Free/ Reduced lunch program with the district are able to test for free, but you still must go through the full registration process.  Your My Payments Plus account should automatically show you are registering for a fee of $0.

·         Late exam fee $140 ($100 exam fee + $40 late fee)

o   Exams ordered between November 4 and February 23

November 3 – Regular Deadline

·         Last day to order exams at regular exam fee ($100)

·         Register for AP exams through My Payments Plus account

·         After November 3, all changes to exam status must go through Worthington Gifted Services Office

February 23 – Final Deadline

·         Last day to order exams with $40 late fee ($100 exam fee + $40 late fee = $140)

·         Last day to make changes to exam status

Questions? Contact Kyle Sarver or Suzanne Palmer in the Gifted Services Office, 614-450-6056/ ksarver@wscloud.org or 614-450-6055/ spalmer@wscloud.org.

OSU Branch Campus

Have you considered attending an OSU branch campus in the future?  It is a great opportunity for students to have the benefits of being an OSU student right after high school with a better price tag and smaller class sizes.  One challenge of the branch campuses is that housing is limited so most students will commute to the branch or live in apartments in the surrouding area.  

As I mentioned, by attending a branch of OSU you are already a Buckeye.  If you want to transition to main campus after a year of full time classes, you can do that with grades of a C or better - no application needed.  (It is simply a form to change which campus you will be taking your classes.)

If you know that you are not going to be a strong enough candidate for direct admission onto the Columbus Campus, applying directly to the branch can be a beneficial option for many reasons.

1. You don't have to write the essay.

2. OSU has their own direct branch admissions application on their website.

3. There are scholarships set aside specificially for students who apply directly to the branch campus and attend there.

4. If you apply before December 15th, the application fee is waived.

The two closest branch campuses to WKHS are OSU Newark and OSU Marion.  If you haven't already investigated them as options for your future, now is a great time to look into the opportunities on both of those campus locations.

College Admissions Interview

Some colleges require all prospective students to participate in an interview with an admissions counselor or an alumni representative as a component of the application process.  Other colleges may have optional interviews offered to prospective students. If you are applying to a school which requires (or offers an optional) interview – don’t panic!

It is important to relax and be yourself. This is your opportunity to shine. Display your personality and allow your interests and passions to be expressed.

In addition to answering their questions, don’t be afraid to ask any questions you have about the school. Be sure to complete some research ahead of time so that you are not asking questions you easily could have found by visiting their website.  We have some ideas about questions you can use to help prepare yourself for the interview and to consider asking posted on the Counselor website.

If there is anything about yourself that you want to be sure that the admissions representatives understand – unique circumstances, experiences, or special traits that they might not ask about don’t hesitate to offer up this information. This is your one opportunity to actually discuss these areas with a real person. By bringing up these topics, it may spur them to ask additional questions that you will be able to answer.

And, hopefully it goes without saying, but remember that first impressions are important – so be polite, smile, dress appropriately and arrive on time for your interview!

CSS Profile

We are still more than a month away from the FAFSA being released for this year, but I wanted to be sure to remind you that you need to look at your desired colleges closely to see what their financial aid requirements include.

At some of the more competitive colleges - particularly those who cover all of demonstrated need for students, in addition to requiring the FAFSA, many of those colleges will also require that students and families will submit the CSS profile.  The FAFSA helps colleges determine federal aid, but the CSS profile helps colleges determine institutional aid.  The CSS profile typically asks for a lot more detailed information from families than the FAFSA does.  And while the FAFSA is free to complete, there are fees associated with the CSS profile.

Usually this is a topic students figure out as they are going through the whole financial aid application process and the CSS profile is just another step in that process, but with the timing of the FAFSA being delayed, I realized that the CSS profile dates and timing haven't changed and so I wanted to encourage you to double check if your intended colleges are requiring the CSS profile and to watch your deadlines closely so that you don't miss them while waiting for the FAFSA to be released.

As always, feel free to stop and see me if you have any questions about the CSS profile requirements.  I'm excited to see you all tomorrow and get the 2nd quarter underway!  Can't believe we are halfway through the first semester already.

Lots and Lots of Articles

I read a ton.  Fortunately, I love to read - both for enjoyment and to make sure that I am staying on top of ways to help my students and families most effectively.  And while I use the information that I read to my own gain to be able to answer your questions, I know that sometimes it is nice for you to read some of the information that quotes experts directly.  So any time I come across an article that I think is something that I particularly liked or that I think will be specifically relevant for you to read on your own, I save it.  My list of saved articles has grown rather lengthy so it's time to share them - and with it being the start of a long weekend, hopefully that gives you some extra time to read through the list.  Feel free to read through the article titles below to see if there are any which interest you and then check them out for yourself.  Happy Reading!  

Admissions advice from a dad

How to answer 5 common supplemental essay prompts

A guide to writing a great college essay

High paying jobs that don’t need a college degree

Common reasons college applications get rejected

Top essay cliches and how to avoid them

For parents – tips for campus visits

What college rejections can mean

College admissions officers tips for applying

Tips on starting the college application process

4 majors that lead to high paying jobs

Choosing a career in high school

How to write and format college admissions essays

College Admissions Trends for 2023

How career prep programs went from dumping ground to top priority

Top colleges that require test scores

Transcript Process Reminder

I wanted to remind everyone that if you are in the process of applying to college you need to make sure you fill out the transcript release form.  This process must be completed for EVERY college where you are applying!  The transcript release form is located a Google Form and there is a link to it on the WKHS Counselor website.

If you are applying to schools utilizing the Common Application or Send EDU, your transcript will be submitted electronically.  You will need to report me as your school counselor on the Recommendation page so that I am assigned the transcript data responsibility and given access to submit them on your behalf.  If you are unsure how to do this, bring your common app username and password to school with you and we will fill out the assignment component together.  

Some students have asked me if you have to be done with your applications to request your transcript and the short answer is no!  But you don't really want us sending transcripts to colleges where you're not actually going to apply.  So if you are 100% sure that you are applying to a school, you can go ahead and fill out the transcript release form to give us that permission to submit the transcript on your behalf.

Impressive Students

The students at WKHS never cease to impress me with all of their remarkable accomplishments, areas of involvement, awards, and activities. Below are a few of my students who deserve recognition.

Libby Alderman was recognized as a National Merit Commended Scholar.

Maela Best was recognized as a National Merit Commended Scholar.

And 5 of "my" students were recognized as October Students of the Month.  Pictured from Left to Right: Haley Aminaka, Isabelle Borchers, Zach Beck, Finn Barker, and ot pictured, Jack Bialecki.

Students can only be honored as Students of the Month once in their high school career and are nominated for their making a difference in the classroom and/ or to the school and community.

Congratulations to each of you!  I am proud of you for the positive impact that you have at WKHS and beyond.  I consider myself fortunate to know and work with you.

Delaware Area Career Center

Earlier this fall, all sophomores had a chance to listen to a presentation about the Delaware Area Career Center (DACC) and the programs they have available for students. Attending DACC is a great opportunity to earn your elective credits in an area that interests you rather than taking electives that you are selecting simply because they will fill up your schedule.  

It was interesting to hear about all of the different programs that are available for students.  With over 25 different programs offered, there are many unique experiences and opportunities available that can give you a jump start on a career and can also stand out to colleges. If you are interested in participating in the field trip to the DACC, please be sure to return your permission slip to the counseling center and complete the DACC interest form no later than this Thursday, October 20th.  The field trip is scheduled for Friday, November 17th.

One thing to realize about the Career Center is that they partner with 15 different districts from across Central Ohio.  So by attending the Career Center you have the chance to meet new people who have similar interests.  Each student is still involved in the activities in their home school such as sports and clubs, but this just extends that network of friends and contacts.  I will also point out that while it is a huge advantage to have that many different schools all working with the career center, it also means that the 25 spots available in each program (except Digital Design which has 50 spots available) are going to be competitive to apply and get a seat.  As a result, if this program interests you, I encourage you to make your visit in November so that you can apply right away after the field trip.

Long Weekend Ahead

We have a long weekend coming up next weekend as all students have Friday off from school.  And then a few weeks later, you also have Tuesday, November 7th off of school for election day.  Why am I pointing that out today?  Because those are two GREAT days to consider making visits to colleges for students in every grade!

Colleges will be in session on both of those days that we are off meaning you don't have to worry about missing out on school content AND you get to visit the colleges while students are on campus.  This is a win-win opportunity for students and families because making college visits while classes are in session gives you a more accurate feel for campus life, learning experiences, and how you could possibly picture yourself (or not) at that college in the future.

Even if you are thinking that you want to go to colleges that are far away and can't make a trip on such short notice to visit them with these two days off, I'd suggest you spend some time at local area colleges.  In central Ohio we are lucky that there are so many schools within a very short drive that you can visit.  Why would you visit a college that you're not particularly interested in attending?  Because it will help you to gain insight and awareness into what opportunities are available to you on campuses, it will make you a smarter consumer when you go to visit your top choice colleges, and you just might be surprised and you could even fall in love with a school you didn't think would be a fit for you.

If you want to make a college visit this Friday or on November 7th, I strongly encourage that students talk to your parents about what your plan would be and then contact the colleges to set up the visit including the admissions office information session and the campus tour.

University of Cincinnati

Seniors, are you planning to apply to the University of Cincinnati?  Are you ready to click submit?  If so, this weekend is your perfect weekend to apply!  As you may have already seen in your school email yesterday, the University of Cincinnati is waiving their application fees on October 13th and 14th in honor of their homecoming weekend festivities.  Below is the information that they sent to us:

We are waiving admissions application fees for Homecoming weekend! 

Students must finish and submit their admissions application October 13 – 14 to take advantage of this application fee waiver. 

Students applying to the UC Uptown campus via the Common App must select "UC Homecoming - Thank you for applying during UC's Homecoming!" in the fee waiver section. 

It is always a nice perk when a college allows students to apply for free so if this was a school on your list, consider getting your application sent in this weekend.  And, don't forget, that would mean you also need to request your transcript from the Counselor Website ASAP so that I can get it sent in for you too.

Searching for Scholarships

Parents of seniors, are you worrying about paying for your son/ daughter's college education?  If you answered yes, you're definitely not alone!  The Kilbourne Counselors will be hosting the October Lunch & Learn at noon this Friday (October 13th) to talk about searching for scholarships.

We know that the scholarship search process can feel daunting and that some students and families don't even know where to start so our hope is that this short, focused 30 minutes of time together will allow you to get a jump-start on the scholarship search process.

As always, the Lunch & Learn series will be held from 12-12:30 over zoom for interested families to be able to grab their lunch and eat while we talk about that month's topic.  The zoom link will be emailed home to parents and posted on the Counselor website on Friday morning.

I hope to see parents online on Friday!

Crazy Few Weeks

I missed having the chance to talk with students today while administering the PSAT and yet this is definitely just the start of my crazy few weeks ahead. I thought it might be helpful if I give you all a heads up on my schedule so you would know of my limited availability.

I am around tomorrow to meet, but on Thursday I will be at a middle school helping complete suicide screenings to promote mental health within our district.

I am back on Friday and Monday, but then am gone again next week on both Tuesday and Wednesday for a conference.  I return for Thursday before we are all out of school on Friday.

After that it will leave us with just 7 school days until November 1st and many of the seniors first college application deadlines.  So, needless to say, there is going to be a LOT packed into each day that I am in the building.  I appreciate your patience if you are trying to see me and it is a day when I'm not around.  I promise I will get back to you as soon as I can.

Also, I just want to give a huge shout-out to all of the students who completed the PSAT today.  Testing digitally was definitely a learning experience, but I am proud of you for how focused you were in the testing room.

PSAT Reminders

Don't forget - tomorrow is the day when many Kilbourne sophomores and juniors will take the PSAT.  

If you are one of the students who will be taking the PSAT, you will report directly to your testing location at your designated testing time.  (For most juniors, that will be the gym in the morning- 8:30 check in for an 8:40 start.  For most sophomores, that will be the gym in the afternoon - 11:45 check in for a 12:00 start.)  You will need to bring your student id with you in order to check in.  One of my most important reminders is do NOT forget your FULLY CHARGED district issued chromebook!  If you haven't already opened and launched BlueBook to make sure that it is updated and working properly, I strongly encourage you to do that tonight before you get to testing tomorrow. 

As with every standardized test, you will not be allowed to have your cell phone or smart watch on you at any time during testing.  With the test being digital, I would still encourage you to bring a calculator if you like using a traditional calculator better than the digital one online, a writing utensil to use with the scratch paper you will be given, and I would recommend a normal watch if you prefer to track timing on your own. 

You will be able to have water and a snack under your table for easy access during breaks, but you cannot eat or drink at all during the test.  As you know, the temperature in the building varies greatly.  So because we don't know what to expect in the gym, I strongly encourage that you dress in layers so that you can add a sweatshirt or take it off depending on how hot or cold you might be during testing.  As with normal school days, you are not allowed to put up a hood during testing - this is a school rule, but more importantly, it is also a testing rule you must follow.

If you haven't already watched this short (less than 3 minute) video about the new digital PSAT, I would strongly recommend that you review it.  Knowing ways that you can flag a question, eliminate options, etc will only help you tomorrow when you are testing.

As a reminder for all of the other students - I will be helping to administer the PSAT tomorrow, so I will not be available to meet with you.  Sorry.  To those of you who will be testing, get a good night's sleep, be sure to eat breakfast and good luck testing tomorrow!

Pre-ACT

Registration for students interested in taking the Pre-ACT opens tomorrow.  The Pre-ACT is the practice test for the ACT. This test is an option for sophomores and juniors.  The content of the Pre-ACT is closely tied to that of the ACT achievement test, which is used for college entrance and placement decisions. It covers the same subjects and gives you estimated ACT scores.

We will be offering the Pre-ACT for WKHS students on Tuesday, November 14th in the gym.  The cost to take the test is $18.

The Pre-ACT has many benefits. It can help you get started in thinking about and planning for life after high school. It will show you areas where you may want to seek extra help. The results can also be used to help focus your test preparation to improve your ACT scores. Additionally, one of the other valuable aspects is that the Pre-ACT test includes a career component that helps identify career interests and possible career fields. For all of the students who have no idea what they might want to do some day this is one way to help come up with some ideas.

Up to 200 students can take the test and registration will run through October 27th if seats remain.  For links to the google registration form and MyPaymentsPlus, please visit the Counselor Website starting tomorrow morning.

The BEST victory bell

This past week, one of my students, Mason Cottle, celebrated a huge milestone moment.  He and his family were kind enough to give me permission to share about it with you today.  (In the photo is Mason surrounded by his parents and siblings.)

When Mason was finishing his 8th grade year at McCord Middle School, he was diagnosed with leukemia.  Last week, as a junior at WKHS, Mason officially "rang the bell" in recognition for completing his cancer treatments and beating this nasty disease.

For over 2 years he has endured treatment, struggled to balance caring for his health with school, and yet he does it all with quiet consistency.  I have never once heard him complain "why me?"  (Even though he is more than entitled to voice that frustration.)  Each day and in every way, Mason just quietly fought his fight.  He came to school when he could and never used cancer as an excuse.

This was evident even last week when he went for testing and labs and for the ceremony to ring the bell. After the fanfare and excitement was over for Mason and his family, he came back to school and got back to work.  Don't get me wrong, there is no doubt in my mind that Mason realized how important ringing the bell was and he knew that this was a moment he had been waiting for, but it almost seemed as if he was ready to refocus on life and to get back to living and making the most out of every day.

For me, when I watch Mason in the halls or see him with his friends at Marching Band, I can't help but be inspired.  He reminds me that my problems are not REALLY problems.  Watching him reminds me that I need to focus less on times when I feel like something isn't fair and focus more on living life and making the most of each moment.  And, above all, seeing Mason just makes me so proud of him for all he has overcome and grateful that I have been able to watch as he so courageously fought and won against cancer.

Congratulations Mason!  I hope you know that everyone at Kilbourne is impressed by your courage, your fight, and your WIN against cancer!  We are so glad you were able to ring the victory bell!

2 weeks left

You have 2 weeks remaining in the first quarter of the school year!  I realize that in talking to many students it still feels as if we are getting the new school year under way, but we are approaching the end of the quarter quickly.  That means this is an important time to assess how you are doing academically and if any changes are needed.  Here are some questions that can guide you in your thinking.

1. Do you know what your current grades are?  If not, get onto Infinite Campus and get a good perspective on where things stand for you right now.

2. Are your grades where you want them to be? If so, awesome, keep up the great work.  If not, that's ok, but the time is now to work to turn things around. (which also means keep looking at the remaining questions.)

3. Which classes need the most focus right now? What classes have the lowest grades and need the most focus for you to turn things around?  

4. What help do you need to get your grades up? Do you have a list of everything you need to make up?  Do you need help with studying or understanding content in your classes - if so, work with your teachers or the academic assistants for more support.

5. When can you get the work done that you are behind in? It's one thing to know that the work needs to happen, but actually working on it and getting it done can be another story.  Develop a specific plan for what you will do each day and then stick to the plan to get it done until you are caught up.

6. If your test grades are the problem, look at your study habits and figure out what you can shift to try to study more effectively.  This will help you to work smarter and not just harder.

If you want to talk through your academic progress, feel free to stop and see me and we can brainstorm your needs even more together.

College Visits

When you are making college visits – pay attention to the details around you and all that there is to learn about the school.

Try to keep in mind that there are a lot of outside factors that can influence the quality of your visit – positively or negatively. For example, the weather… if it is a gorgeous sunny day with perfect temperatures you may think it is the most beautiful school and if it cold, rainy, or dreary you may think it is miserable, but try to remember that the weather changes from day to day and judge the school without being overly influenced by the weather. (Please also remember that if you are traveling to areas in different climates than Ohio that weather may be a factor, so I am not making a blanket statement to always ignore the weather.)

Tour guides also form a huge impression of the schools that you visit. Most colleges know that and will try to find outgoing, positive, energetic students to take you through the campus. Ideally the guides will try to get to know something about you or your interests to help point those aspects of the school out to you, but the reality is the students serving as tour guides are not always great and, let’s be honest here, we all have bad days so even some of the good ones can have off days where they won’t be impressive on the visit. I know it can be hard, but try to separate the guide from the school.

If you can spare the time – stop and sit on a bench and just “people watch.” Are these people that you can imagine being your friends in the future? Remember, you are hoping that in the near future that you will be able to make friends with them and others like them on campus. Think about how you are feeling on the campus – can you imagine yourself being there and being both happy and successful at this school?

And, while you are enduring the weather, on your tour, or sitting on the bench thinking – please don’t forget that I would REALLY like you to take a picture of you somewhere on campus for me.

Reminders

Tomorrow is a big day and so I have lots of reminders for you:

1. Seniors, the College Application Completion Workshop is tomorrow in the Counseling Center from 5-7:30pm.  Bring your computers and application materials and we will help you make progress through your applications.

2. Seniors, if you are planning to participate in the Worthington Industries field trip on Friday, the deadline to turn in your signed permission slip is tomorrow.  Please be sure to hand it to me or leave it in the tray on my door.

3. Junior students and parents, tomorrow night at 7pm in the Auditorium is the College Planning Night presentation.  This is a key evening to help juniors get started with exploring colleges and developing their future plan.  I look forward to seeing you for this important night tomorrow!

Paying for College

Paying for College is expensive! There is no question that higher education costs add up quickly.

There are two broad categories of financial aid – Merit Based aid and Need Based aid.

Merit Based aid is what you think of when you think “Scholarships.” These are usually awarded to students based on academic achievements, leadership, athletics, special talents such as art or music, volunteerism, or other personal qualities that set you apart. These scholarships do not consider financial need. A significant portion of all merit-based aid comes directly from the college/ university. Some schools may require additional scholarship applications, essays, interviews, and many colleges will have earlier deadlines to be considered for their scholarships. It can be helpful to know that a lot of times the smaller, private colleges will have more money available for scholarships in order to help make attending their school competitive with the lower costs of the public colleges. Please also remember that there are scholarship offerings listed in PrepHQ. It is important to keep an eye out for unique scholarships that might apply to your personal situation. Last year I had a student who was able to qualify for an Italian heritage scholarship. Perhaps one of your grandparents won a purple heart or maybe you have time to write an essay for one of the other scholarship competitions… no matter what the situation, if you find a scholarship that you meet the criteria for go ahead and apply – you might be pleasantly surprised at the result and if you don’t, the answer is definitely a “no.”

Need Based aid is what you will sometimes hear people refer to as “Financial Aid” even though both Merit Based and Need Based aid technically fall under that one category. There are a variety of different Need Based aid programs which will require you to fill out the FAFSA in order to be considered for them. Grants are considered gift assistance – they give you money and you do not have to pay it back. Loans which can come from a wide variety of sources – the federal government, the college, and private banks is money that you are required to pay back. Work Study programs are on campus job opportunities that the government helps find that allows you to earn money for college through working on campus. The big difference between Merit Based and Need Based aid is that Need Based aid is that the type and amount of Need Based aid you will receive depends upon the amount of financial need you have.

And, yes, just to add to the confusion – there are some scholarships that will consider financial need as a criterion. They are still awarding the scholarship based upon some specific aspect of who you are it is just allowing them to narrow down the potential applicant pool.

One last important reminder - NEVER pay to be considered for a scholarship! That is a scam. Don't waste your money!

October Countdown

It's hard to fathom how it is already October, but here we are and that means that, for seniors, you are 1 month (or less) away from early action/ early decision deadlines at many colleges!  That means your countdown to perfecting your application is on and I know that tends to create stress.

Unfortunately, for some students, the stress of application deadlines looming leads to shut-down instead of action and so I want to be sure that I am helping to support you in the best ways possible.  Seniors, if you haven't already, please be sure to complete the short check-in form that I sent to you via email last week.  If you are needing help, don't hesitate to stop and see me!

If you are applying to a college that requires a teacher or counselor letter of recommendation, it is important to realize that today is your 30 day mark... which means you MUST ask me or your teachers right away to give us enough time to get your letter completed and submitted on time.  Don't forget, there are forms in the counseling center and on the Counselor Website that you will use when requesting for a rec letter.

As you are working on your application, don't forget that we have the College Application Completion Workshop coming up on Wednesday evening, October 4th, from 5-6:30 in the counseling center as a way that you can continue working on your applications with extra support from the WKHS counselors.

You can do this - and it will be such a relief to have your applications DONE and SUBMITTED so try to allow that to motivate you to keep working steadily on your applications over this coming month.