Spring Break

Yay!  We have made it to Spring Break!  I hope that if you are planning to travel with your family or with one of the sports teams that you have a safe and enjoyable time.  If you're staying at home, I hope you are able to relax and rejuvenate.  And no matter what your plans are for spring break, I hope you find plenty of reasons to smile.  Have a great week!

Eliminating Colleges

Seniors, as you start narrowing down your college choices it is important to notify the other colleges that you are not planning to attend. It is obvious to most students that by May 1st (National Decision Day) that you have to notify your intended college that you will be coming there next fall, but it isn't always as obvious that as you begin identifying which college or the few colleges that are still in the running, it is important for you to notify the other colleges that you do NOT intend to attend their school beginning next year. 

Please wait to tell the schools that you will not be attending until you are completely sure that you are no longer considering them. However, I realize that many of you have narrowed your choice to a smaller group of colleges and you have completely eliminated others from consideration. Those which have been completely eliminated are the colleges I am recommending you notify now. 

This is important because it allows the college to plan for their upcoming student body and to know if they have room to accept other students off of their deferrals or even wait-lists. Think about your classmates who might be deferred or on the waiting list for a school and they want to hear back from the schools as quickly as possible and there are other students across the country in the same situation. Colleges can't begin opening up additional slots until they know which students will or will not be attending. 

Additionally, if you received scholarship offers from one of the colleges that you have eliminated from the running, this can also potentially allow the college to offer that money out to other students which, again, can help people such as your fellow classmates. Believe me, the colleges will not be angry with you for deciding that you will not be attending their school - they understand that this is part of the process, so just go ahead and take a few minutes to let them know of your intent to attend a different college.

Worthington Job Fair

Are you looking for full or part-time employment?  WKHS students who are 16 and over are invited to participate in the Worthington Job Fair coming up on the Friday after spring break.  In addition to those of you who might be seeking summer job opportunities, I know there are several students who are hoping to work before starting college because of the need to save money or they only plan to attend school part time so that they can work and earn money while going to school.  There are many competitive employers in the central Ohio area who are interested in meeting those soon-to-be graduates from Worthington to see if you might be a good fit for working at their organization.

On Friday, April 14th from 9:30 - 11:30am at the Worthington Education Center there will be a Job Fair for Worthington students.  A bus will be provided for those who want/ need to take it.

Students are expected to have a resume, dress professionally and be ready to interview with potential future employers.  There will also be the opportunity to participate in mock interviews and complete job applications on the spot.

There is a permission form that is required to participate in the Job Fair and it is due back to the Counseling Center ahead of the event.  So please stop by the Counseling Center to pick up the permission slip!  If you have questions, please see me.

Institutional Priorities

My email inbox has been flooded with college notifications about decision release details and data.  If I were going to sum it all up, I'd say that nearly every college message has touted record numbers of applications and building a class of students that will contribute to making the college a positive learning experience for students in years to come.

One of the important realities as I read the updates from colleges is that they have to turn down incredibly talented students each year not because you wouldn't be successful on their campus, but simply because they have too many qualified applicants.  And with record numbers of applications being submitted that can feel so hard for students who are left confused and wondering why not me.

I have tried talking to seniors many times about the fact that it isn't always about you, but rather it is about the college and their goals and what they might be looking for as they are building their classes.  These are known in the college admissions world as Institutional Priorities and they play a huge part in admissions.

Georgia Tech maintains an awesome blog about college admissions topics that I love reading.  They recently wrote about Institutional Priorities and I strongly encourage that students and parents of every grade level read through it to be able to have a better understanding of why it matters and why your  rejection may have nothing to do with how successful they think you could be at their campus.

Caps & Gowns

The reality of high school coming to a close for seniors often starts to set in when caps and gowns are distributed and for the Class of 2023, that will take place tomorrow (and Wednesday) during lunch periods in the Commons.  I always love seeing the looks in my seniors eyes when they walk away from the tables carrying their cap and gown package.  This is such an exciting time in your lives and you have worked hard over the last 13 years to get to this point.  Don't forget to keep pushing academically, but also know that it's ok to pause as you pick up your cap and gown and realize that this is part of what your efforts have been for - to reach this milestone in your life!  I'm proud of you and excited for you.  

Also, one other hint from years of seeing seniors pick up their caps and gowns - when you get home, take the gown out of the bag and hang it up!  There will be TONS of creases in your gown and you'll have to iron/ steam it to try to get them all out, but giving gravity a chance to help is always a plus as well.

CSCC App Day

Are you planning on attending Columbus State Community College next year after you graduate? This is a great option for a lot of students because it allows students to transition from the high school to college expectations in typically smaller classes and for a fraction of the cost. Students attending CSCC have much later deadlines for admission and so it can be easy to procrastinate on completing the application.  This Thursday, in the Conference Room off the Counseling Center (Room 120), we will be hosting the admissions representative from Columbus State Community College for an Application Day.  Seniors, if you have not already applied to CSCC and want to have it as an option for you in the future, please take advange of this application day!  Students can come during 4th or 5th periods and should bring their Social Security Number so that your entire application can be completed on the spot.  Even if you're not sure you're ready to go to CSCC right away or if you are still holding it as an option for financial reasons as you try to make your decision about college, you can also come and participate in the Columbus State Community College Application Day.  

Feel free to stop and see me if you have any questions.

Final CC+ Reminder

All students looking to earn free college credit in classes next year MUST turn in the College Credit Plus intent to participate form before Saturday, April 1st!  This is a firm deadline established by the State of Ohio and we cannot extend it so please make sure you get your forms turned in to us!  

Just as a reminder, this includes college classes on the college campus, online college classes, college classes taught by college instructors at WKHS (English, Psychology, Government, Sociology, Ethics), and the regular WKHS classes taught by the WKHS teachers which can get you college credit for the exact same class you may have already signed up to take (Pre-Calculus, Honors Pre-Calculus, AP Calculus AB).  

If you have any questions about College Credit Plus - stop and see me or watch the videos on the counselor website.  (www.wkhscounselors.com).  The intent to participate form packets which includes the video sign-off forms are also available on the counselor website.