Lots of Reminders

Happy Halloween!  This is such a critical time for all of you so I have lots of reminders for students of all grades...

For seniors... As you are preparing to submit your applications, I have had lots of people asking if they have done everything necessary.  So, as a general reminder, here are the steps you will want to double check that you have completed for EVERY college to which you are applying.

1. Complete all parts of your application.  (For many colleges this is going to be on Common App and so that means you have filled out the Common App section and the questions sections for each individual college.)

2. Fill out the blue Transcript Release card for each school that you are applying. You can find this card in Mrs. McDaniel's office (you do not need to wait to try to see me). There is a $1.00 transcript fee unless you are applying to a school that utilizes Common App or SendEDU as we can submit transcripts to those two systems for free.

Another side note related to the transcript release cards- if you are applying to schools with deadlines of December 15th - January 10th we ask that you complete your transcript release card no later than December 10th.

3. Send your test scores - You need to make sure that you have submitted your ACT or SAT test results directly from the testing agency to each college where you are applying. You complete this step directly with the testing companies. If you are not sure if your test was sent, please log on to their site and double check.

4. If your college requires a teacher or counselor recommendation I really hope you have already arranged for someone to write them. Again, you should be giving your recommender at least 30 days notice to write a letter.  Also, double check that your teachers have submitted their letters.  (Everyone who has asked me to write a letter on their behalf will see that all rec letters have been uploaded to Common App.)  If you notice that one of your teachers has not yet submitted their letter, you can still submit your application to the college, but also stop by and double check the status of your letter with your teacher to make sure they have not forgotten about writing on your behalf and to verify that they have received your Common App request to submit the letter for you.

5. Double check your entire application, pay your application fee and submit the application.

It truly is not meant to be overly difficult, but it does require a great deal of organization and follow through on your part. With 323 seniors in this year's graduating class it is important to remember that you have to stay on top of things because deadlines are real and you do not want to lose the opportunity to apply to a school or to earn a scholarship just because you had not taken care of all of the steps required.

Caps and Gowns - Seniors, you already received information about ordering your caps and gowns and this can be done online, but you can also place your orders in person tomorrow or Friday during your lunch period.

For Freshman, Sophomores and Juniors...  The Pre-ACT - a practice test to prepare you for the ACT is coming up next Tuesday, November 6th.  I strongly encourage all of you to take this practice test opportunity as ALL of you will eventually be taking the ACT during the winter of your junior year and you want to be as prepared for the college admissions test as possible to take advantage of that free test opportunity.  The cost for the Pre-ACT is $12 and we have extended the deadline through Friday as long as there are still enough tests available for you to participate.  Register in the Counseling Center with one of the secretaries.

For everyone out Trick-or-Canning tonight, thanks for your service to the community by seeking donations for the food pantry.  I love that you can make it a fun and meaingful evening of helping others.  

I hope all of you had a safe and enjoyable Halloween.

Net Price Calculator

Yesterday I talked about financial aid related to merit and need based aid.  But for all of you who are not seniors and are wondering how to consider which colleges might be a good fit financially, it is important to know about the option of taking advantage of the Net Price Calculator.

Every college features a net price calculator on their website. This requirement is in an effort to help provide students and parents with the information needed to make more informed decisions and choices about what they can expect to pay for a college education at each school. Now, I will forewarn you that not every net price calculator is the same and some are more detailed than others. Why does this matter? Well, if it is very specific and takes all of the different factors into consideration that the financial aid office will be looking at when creating your financial aid package, then you are likely to get a better picture of what your estimated aid might be, but if it is a more simplistic calculator then there could be more variance when compared to your actual aid package.  Plus, of course, the accuracy of the information that you submit will determine the accuracy of the information that you receive back.

Without a doubt, college is very expensive and so trying to figure out the best ways to be able to finance your education is an important factor to consider in your college search and selection process. I hope that this tool will be useful to you as you investigate schools.

Merit vs Need Based Aid

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!

Seniors, hopefully you are making progress on filling out your FAFSA.  Don't forget that you need to submit it prior to your first college's priority deadline.  If you have any questions you can always call the financial aid offices of the schools where you are applying as they are true experts in the field. I am also happy to try to help in any way that I can.

Also, on a separate note, do NOT forget to request your transcript RIGHT AWAY if you are trying to hit a November 1st deadline!

Demonstrated Interest

Colleges keep track of every contact and interaction students have with them.  For colleges, they typically refer to this as your demonstrated interest.  They want to know that you are genuinely interested in their college and that applying to their school is something you have investigated and feel like it would be a good fit. Don't get me wrong, that doesn't mean that you should call a school multiple times a week - that would definitely get on their nerves, but they want students who are truly interested. You can show that by meeting with their admissions representatives when they come to WKHS (visits are still happening this fall) or by attending their community gathers sponsored in the Columbus area, participating in "optional" interviews and essays, and most notably visiting their campus.

Just because you have clearly demonstrated your interest in a college will not be what gets you accepted to their school, but since colleges are always trying to predict who it is that will ultimately attend their university out of those they accept, it works to your advantage to be sure that the college will be a good fit - not only because it demonstrates your interest, but also - and more importantly - because it will enable you to be confident that this is a school which fits your needs and goals in what you were hoping for in a college campus community and in your collegiate home. 

Want to learn more about demonstrated interest?  Check out this article.

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. If you are applying to a school which requires an 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.

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!

Be Here Now

There are so many things which demand your attention that being present to "be here now" can be a challenge.  Even right now, as you are reading this blog post, chances are you have other emails awaiting your attention, notifications popping up about social media posts, reminders, or messages you're receiving.  Life doesn't seem to slow down.

Yet we each have the same 24 hours in our days.  How we choose to spend that time is our decision.  But with each choice comes consequences.  Some of those consequences are positive (I study for a test and I get a good grade) and some of the consequences are negative (I didn't study for the test and I got a bad grade).  But here is the interesting thing I have noticed... it is all too common for students (and adults for that matter) to fake it.  We fake studying.  We fake working on a paper (or recommendation letter if I am turning the mirror back on myself).  We fake being fine.  We fake paying attention.  We fake a lot, but why?  Is it because you are fooling yourself or someone else?  Is it because you want to impress someone for how much time you spent studying? (Even if the reality was you weren't really studying because you were spending most of your time finding music, responding to messages, or daydreaming.)

So stop.  Be all in.  This is your life - your one chance to do things fully, completely and as meaningfully as possible.

You can get more studying done in 30 minutes where you are intensely focused than you can over 3 hours of a half-focused study session.  Be present with your friends or family when you are spending time together - put your phone away and actually listen.  If you're not in the mood to write your paper, find a different approach to get yourself into the mindset to be fully focused on the task at hand rather than sitting in one place for hours on end growing more frustrated by how long it is taking you to complete the assignment.

For yourself, for your future, and for your overall well-being, please be present and be all in with your time and your commitments.

Junior ACT Prep Reminder

We get lots of questions from junior students and parents about ACT/ SAT prep courses.  The testing companies assure us that the best preparation is a rigorous curriculum, but many students are interested in more specific testing strategies and preparation opportunities.

This year Mr. Thomas has arranged for Dr. Sampath (a WKHS parent and founder of PrepAccelerator) to present a 5 hour test prep course to all junior students at WKHS free of charge.  This course will be during school tomorrow, Wednesday, October 24th from 9:30 - 3:05.  Students will have a 30 minute lunch break during the seminar.  (And yes, you will be excused from your classes and you will be expected to attend the prep course unless your parent has opted you out of this free course.)

Dr. Sampath has a PhD in Statistics and is excited to be able to share his insight and knowledge with all of the juniors.  Because the presentation will take place in the auditorium, please be sure to bring pencils, pens, and something solid to write on (clipboard, book, lapboard, etc.).

For some students this will be all of the prep you will need, but others will want to continue to explore test prep options.  Your PSAT scores from past years (and when they come out from the test you took a few weeks ago) can be linked to Kahn Academy for free test prep.  Students can also find daily questions on the social media and actual websites of the ACT/ SAT.  Those who have strong self-discipline can also effectively use study guide books which are often available in bookstores, or online.  For other students, group or self-paced strategies are not what they were wanting when they were considering test prep options, and there are individual tutors in the area who work with students.  We have a list on the Counselor Website of those who have received good recommendations.

This is also a good time to remind you that the Pre-ACT is coming up on November 6th and this provides another test practice opportunity.  It is a great chance to put the strategies you have learned into play to see how you are faring.  Cost to register is $12 and you can sign up through October 31st with one of the secretaries in the Counseling Center.

Follow the Directions

Many of the seniors made good use of the long weekend and, as a result, made lots of progress working on college applications.  Throughout the day I was busy reading college essay drafts, answering Common App questions, reminding about the steps for requesting transcripts to be sent, and reviewing applications before students hit submit.  It was both busy and productive.

As the day progressed though the one point I kept going back to was "follow the directions!"  Look at what the college is asking for and give them that exactly.  If they ask for complete sentences, give them complete sentences.  If they don't specify, you can probably use phrases, but remember that capitalization and spelling still matter.  If they ask for one recommendation letter, give them 1 letter - NOT 3!  If they say that they won't consider recommendation letters and don't give you a way to upload them (which is becoming MUCH more common) that does NOT mean that they want you to mail in a letter.  If there is an essay asking for 250-650 words, please make sure your word count is within that range.  They truly are asking you for every piece of information they want to have about you with their application.

All too often today I would ask the students, "what did the college say they wanted?" And I would get blank stares back of confusion.  I get it, you have never done college applications before.  That is completely fine and that is why I am here to help you, but the college is also telling you, so read what they want.  Know that going into the process.  Be organized and pay attention to details.  I promise you that it matters.  (Plus, it will decrease your stress a ton when you are able to balance out your time and not get caught off guard by an additional essay that the college wants that you hadn't previously noticed because you weren't careful in reading about what the college was seeking.)

Don't let the small details be what makes the difference in being accepted or not.  Follow the directions exactly.  And, of course, feel free to come see me if you need help figuring out what a college is asking you to submit.

End of 1st Quarter

Today marked the end of the first quarter.  This is an important point for you to pause and reflect.  Remember, quarter grades are not included on your transcript - just semester grades. But this means that you have reached the half-way point in earning the grades that will be on your transcript.  

Some of the questions you should ask yourself include: Are you where you want to be?  If you are not, what do you need to do different to turn things around?  If you need ideas for how you can improve your grades, I strongly encourage you to meet individually with your teacher.  You should also take advantage of the help available from the academic assistants in the Teaching and Learning Center (which is located in room 209).  You are also welcome to stop by and talk to me and we can try to brainstorm some ideas to help.  If you are happy with your current progress, congratulations!  Make sure you think about what you have done that has been helpful to your success and continue to put forward those same actions.

Also, a reminder to you and your parents - report cards are not printed and sent home - you will be able to access your report cards on Infinite Campus as of the middle of next week.

Additionally, this is a good point to reflect on what you have or have not done with your "Because I Said I Would" commitments.  I know that some of you are still carrying around blank cards (and I have tons of blank cards available in my office too) and haven't made your promises solid by writing them down and having someone hold you accountable.  Others have made commitments, but are struggling to follow through on achieving your goals.  If you're needing help and support remember that the person holding your card for you is likely willing and able to help you, but I am also here to support you as well.

Be safe and enjoy the long weekend and be prepared to kick off the 2nd quarter on Monday!

Pre-ACT

Pre-ACT Test Date: Tuesday, November 6, 2016
Location: WKHS Gym
Time: 7:30am (check-in) beginning promptly at 7:45am
Cost: $12.00 (checks payable to WKHS)

The Pre-ACT is the practice test for the ACT. This test is an option for freshmen, sophomores or 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.

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.

It is only a practice test; therefore, your score will not appear on your transcript.

Students can register for the test in the WKHS Counseling and Career Center from October 22nd - October 31st.

College Visits

Walking on college campuses, exploring the buildings, eating the food, meeting the people are all a critical step for deciding which colleges you'd like to apply to and ultimately to attend.  With a long weekend coming up, Friday could be a great day to make a college visit.

So what do you do if you want to make a visit?  Start off by signing up for a visit.  (Students should make the call - not the parents.)  Some colleges will have an online option to sign up for a tour and information session, but for other colleges you will have to call the admissions office to reserve your spot.

When you go on your visit you don't have to be dressed up, but be sure that you are dressed appropriate.  If it wouldn't meet the school dress code, then you shouldn't be wearing it for a campus visit.

Pay attention to your surroundings and ask questions when you are on your visit.  (Below is a lengthy list of question ideas for you.)  After each visit, review the list to see if there are any other questions you might want to add. Remember, you are visiting campuses to get a feeling for the atmosphere of each place – something you can’t get from a brochure or website.

Questions to Ask During a Campus Visit:

- What activities and services are available to help students get settled (academically and socially) during their first year?
- How big are the classes?
- (Ask students) How easy is it to meet with faculty?
- (Ask students) Are you able to register for the classes you want?
- What is the total cost of attending the college?
- What types of financial aid does the college offer and how do I apply?
- Are all freshmen assigned to an academic advisor?
- Where do most freshmen live?
- Can I take a tour?
- What activities are available for students?
- Who teaches the majority of the courses for first-year students?
- How successful are the college’s graduates in finding jobs?
- What services (such as transportation and shopping) are available locally?
- What is there to do on weekends? Do most students stay on campus or leave on weekends?
- Are the dorms spread throughout the campus or clustered in one area?
- Is there any kind of shuttle service between classroom areas, the library, the student union, and dorms? How late does it run?
- Is there a security system to bar outsiders from entering dorms?
- How large is the campus security police force? Does it patrol the campus regularly?
- What services are offered by the campus health center? How large is it?
- Does the student health center refer students to the local hospital? Is there a nearby hospital? How large is it?

Ask Students:
- How many of your courses are taught by a big-name professor and how many by a teaching assistant?
- Is the teaching innovative and project oriented or is it mostly lecture oriented?
- Do most freshmen class lectures take place in an amphitheater?
- What are the strong majors? What are the weak majors?
- How hard do you have to work for your grades?
- What’s the reputation of the ________ department?
- How adequate for your needs is the campus computer network?
- Do fraternities and sororities dominate the social life of the college?
- What do students do on weekends? Do most go home?
- How is the advisement system? Do you feel your professors really care?
- How helpful are the other students if you miss a class? (Are they willing to share a copy of their notes or review the information covered with you?)
- There are a lot of organizations on campus. Are they dominated by a few groups or is anyone welcome?
- How active is the ___________ (fill in the activity in which you are interested)?

Pay Attention to/ Take note of:

- Are the dorms quiet or noisy? Do they seem crowded?
- How large are the dorm rooms? Is there adequate space and light to study?
- Does each dorm room have access to the internet and the campus LAN?
- What’s advertised on dorm and classroom bulletin boards? What does this tell me about campus life?
- How good is the lighting around each dorm, classroom, and lab buildings?
- Do the buildings and grounds look well cared for or do they need painting and general repair work?
- Is the grass cut and are the grounds landscaped?
- What’s the condition of the playing fields and the sports equipment?
- How is the quality of the food in the cafeteria or dining hall? How are the sizes of the portions? Is it healthy or fast food? Are there meal plans?
- Does it look like there is much to do outside of campus?
- How easy is it to get to places off campus?
- Are there places within walking distance?
- Are there places to get extra furniture, like bookcases, for your dorm room?
- Is there a supermarket nearby to stock up on snacks and soda?
- If you move out of a dorm after freshman year, what are the options in apartment complexes or buildings?

Things to Ask Yourself:
- While waiting how did the staff members that you observed interact with students? Were they friendly or did they approach students – both potential freshmen like you and enrolled students – as if they were interfering with the staff members jobs?
- Was the Admissions office a friendly and inviting place with a great deal of information about the school or was it cold and sterile with little information to pick up?
- What did your parents find out about the career planning services offered to graduating seniors and to graduates? What do the services include?
- Do most of the students seem to be like you or are they completely different? Can you imagine being friends with the people you see on campus?
- How would you feel being in a classroom full of these students? Sharing a dorm with them?
- Do the students try to make you feel at home? Are they happy to answer your questions or do they make you feel like you’re intruding? How do they interact with one another?
- Does the campus seem too big or too small?
- Do freshmen live in their own dorms? How do I feel about living in a single-sex or coed dorm?
- Do you feel comfortable and safe?
- Think about the kind of person you are. Are you a self-starter or do you need someone to motivate you? Do you like being part of a crowd or would you rather be alone or in a small group? How important is it to be near your family? How comfortable are you with challenging courses?
- Compare your offers – financially and what the school has to offer. Make a list of pros and cons of each school and the key reasons for your decisions. Remember some factors may be more important to you than others.

After the Visit/ Interview:
- Write thank you notes to your interviewer and anyone else you met with formally, such as a coach or a professor.
- If you spoke with any students and traded e-mail addresses, send an e-mail thank you.

And, of course, by now it should hopefully go without saying, please don’t forget to take a picture of you on campus to bring back for the “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” display! :-)  I will be excited to hear about your visit experiences if you visit colleges this coming weekend.

Delaware Area Career Center

When students enter 9th grade, many are excited about the different choices and opportunities available in high school. Unfortunately, the reality is that the first two years of high school really don't have all that many choices. There is, however, a great deal of flexibility as students reach their junior and senior years. One of those options includes the possibility of attending the Delaware Area Career Center.

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.  One of my students, Melina Calhoun, did a great job as one of the student ambassadors sharing about her experiences at DACC.

It was interesting to hear about all of the different programs that are available for students to explore and they will also be adding 2 new programs for next year - Medical Assisting and Cybersecurity. (Please note that the list talks about the different locations where the programs are housed, but next school year they will transition to one campus for all programs and that will be at the "South Campus" location.) There are some unique experiences and opportunities available that can really 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 right away.  (Technically, you have already missed the sign-up deadline as permission slips were due back by Friday, October 12th, but ironically in light of yesterday's post about deadlines, they have extended the deadline for students who still want to participate and haven't submitted their permission slips yet.  The field trip is scheduled for Friday, November 16th.

Deadlines

Deadlines are real! Often times I worry that the tendency we have in high school to set a deadline and then extend it or accept late materials creates a major problem when it comes to college applications and the rest of the world. The reality is that outside of high school, deadlines are real. If they say you need to have something done by a particular day, then it is essential that you have it done by that day. College applications and financial aid forms fit into this strict rule so this is your friendly reminder to watch your deadlines!

It is really important that you stay organized and submit all application materials to colleges prior to their designated deadlines. There are several schools that have scholarship deadlines of November 1st. (This means that if you want to be considered for the maximum scholarship offering that you need to apply by November 1st.) Other schools have November 15th, December 1st, December 15th, or even later deadlines, but because every school is different it is really important that you stay on top of this and meet the requirements with plenty of time. 

Because we know that so many of you are working to hit November 1st deadlines, don't forget that senior students are invited to attend the Application Completion Workshop in the drop-in lab at WKHS tomorrow evening from 5-7pm.  Bring your essays, login information, or whatever you need to be working on and the counselors will all be present to try to help as you work on moving forward in the application process.

I'd also like to remind you that college applications is just 1 piece of my job as a high school counselor. I am more than happy to help you by writing recommendation letters if they are needed by your school, but you must give me at least 30 days notice before you need the letter! Being able to outline, draft, edit and revise each letter is important so that I can share all the great things you will bring to the college. 

Don't forget, it also takes us 3-5 days at WKHS to process your transcript release and get it submitted to the colleges you have selected. Some schools (like OSU) hold firm to the requirement that their deadline doesn't just mean that the application has been received by that date, but that all supporting documentation is also in their hands by that particular date. This means that they also need to have your transcript and official ACT/ SAT test scores prior to the deadline date.

With the FAFSA now being based on the 2017 tax returns (for this year's seniors) the FAFSA is now open and ready for you and your parents to complete.  Be sure to do this and submit it to all of your colleges prior to the earliest FAFSA deadline.  Many colleges in Ohio have December 1st deadlines while some are as early as November and others might not have deadlines until January or even February.  Just like with college application deadlines, each school gets to set their own FAFSA deadlines and you will need to watch the deadlines carefully so that you do not miss out on your chance to try to qualify for grants or loans.

If you are having trouble figuring out any of the deadlines, stop down to see me and we can look it up together.

October Students of the Month

Earlier this month we had the first ceremony of the year to honor Kilbourne Students of the Month.  Students are nominated by teachers to receive the recognition as being a Student of the Month in honor of their outstanding academic commitment, their leadership, the personal effort, the compassion they have shown, or their dedication to being a positive presence in the school community.

Four of "my" students were among those being recognized.  A huge congratulations to (L to R): Maxim Estevez-Curtis, Isaac Cooper, Johnny Berardi and Josh Bayless.  I am proud of all of you!

PSAT Reminder

Don't forget - tomorrow is the day when Kilbourne students, as well as many other students around the country, will take the PSAT.  

If you are one of the students who will be taking the PSAT, you will report directly to your assigned room when you arrive to school on Wednesday morning.  Please plan on leaving your book bag and your cell phone (turned off) in your locker.

You should bring your student id with you in order to check in.  You will also need to bring number 2 pencils (no mechanical pencils allowed), a calculator, and I would recommend a watch. 

As a reminder for all of the other students - buses will run at regular time only so if you ride a bus to get to school, please bring work to do while you are in the commons for 4 hours awaiting the afternoon activities.

During the afternoon, following the completion of the PSAT, there are a range of other activities and opportunities for students to take advantage of for the rest of the day.  Lunch for all students will be from 12-1.  Then after that students will have options.  You can come into the counseling center if you want help with college search, college applications, career interest inventories, or to engage in a conversation about eliminating mental health stigma.  The library will be open to allow students to have quiet study or reading time.  Some students will need to de-stress and burn off a little physical tension by exerting themselves with fun activities in the auxilary gym or out on the track.  Many clubs and activities will be meeting from 1-2.  And the opportunity I am most excited about is that a Sports Psychologist will be presenting from 2-3 about Overcoming Adversity and Managing Setbacks.

Good luck on the PSAT!

Application Completion Workshop

It may seem scary how fast time flies and that college application deadlines are rapidly approaching.  I don't want you to be haunted by your applications!  Even though it may be getting dark outside, on Monday, October 15th, from 5:00 - 7:00pm, the counselors will be in the computer lab to assist you.  The most important trick is to bring your information with you.  Sometimes the essays may seem spooky and common app can be ghastly, but do not be afraid - the counselors are here to help!  No costumes are required, but we will have some treats.  You don't want to boo hoo because you miss it.  :-)

Students are in very different places in their application process.  A few of you still haven't started and so this will be a great opportunity for you to get started with your applications with our support and assistance.  Most of you have started, but are struggling to get finished and so if you need help finalizing your essays or just finding the time to be able to work through your application and get it finished, this is the perfect opportunity to complete your applications.

While I understand that coming back to school or not leaving after practice isn't very appealing, the reality is that it will make a difference.  By spending a few hours on focused application work, I am confident you will find the progress you make on your applications worth the sacrifice.  So, unless you have finished 100% of your applications, I hope you will join me and the rest of the counselors in the computer labs on Monday the 15th to work on finishing them!

Graduation Points

All students have the goal of earning a certain number of graduation points in addition to passing designated classes to graduate.  Students will earn these points based on the End of Course exams that you have to take each year.

There are 7 tests that contribute to the total graduation points.  Every student will take tests in:
- English 1
- English 2
- Math 1
- Math 2
- Biology
- US History
- Government

Students must earn a total of 18 points in all of these tests.  This is complicated a bit in that 4 of the points must come from English, 4 points from Math, and 6 points from the Science and Social Studies areas.  This allows the other 4 points to come from any of the tests together.

Most juniors have taken 6 of the 7 tests - leaving just the Government test.  You can look up on Infinite Campus where you currently stand toward reaching your goal points.  Let me assure you, I am watching these points closely!  Most students don't need to worry about the points - and for those who have retaken a test, they have typically improved their scores.  So, I don't want you to stress or be anxious about these tests, but I do want you to do your best on every end of course test.  If you have not done well in the tests in the past and are short of the points you will need to achieve your goal points, then I do recommend that you take the test(s) again and see if you could improve your score.  (For example, some students have earned a 2 on a Math 1 test and a 1 on the Math 2 test resulting in a total of just 3 points for Math - this would be the perfect situation for the student to repeat the Math 2 test to try to earn 2 points as that would result in the student earning 4 points for Math as needed for graduation.)  I have already been meeting with students and talking to parents if you or your son/ daughter needs to be retaking a test in December.

Additionally, please know that even if you are not able to reach the point goals on the End of Course assessments, there are still other options to successfully fulfill the testing requirement for graduation.  For example, students can achieve college readiness scores on the ACT or SAT exams.  Earning a certificate for specific in-demand careers and a designated score on the Work Keys test is also an option for completing this requirement.  

I don't tell you all of this to overwhelm you or to stress you out, but I just want to be sure that you are aware that there are options for graduation and we will work together to make sure that you WILL graduate!

As always, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to stop in and let me know.

Why THIS College

Why do you like a particular college?  What is it about the school that made it stand out to you and left you with the impression that this would be a good place for you to spend your collegiate years?

Hopefully, you have an idea about what you'd answer for both of those questions for each school that you are including on your list of schools where you are going to apply.  And, let me clear - you should like something about every college that you are considering and you should feel good about each of the schools if you are applying there!

In addition to mattering for deciding where you are going to apply, your answers to these questions are essential when you are trying to answer college-specific essay questions.  Some colleges will ask applicants to answer supplemental essay questions and often one of these questions relates to what you like about their school.  They may phrase it in different ways, but the bottom line is that they are trying to determine why you believe their school is a good fit for you.

Remember, the admissions officers who work for the school already think their school is great and they know about the wonderful opportunities available so you need to take it beyond saying that they have a great location, outstanding professors, and wonderful weather.  You need to take it to the next level by identifying specific aspects at the school where you can see yourself contributing to the school and offerings that you plan to take advantage of while you are in college.

Good luck in searching for the right college fit for you and for conveying why it's a good fit in your essays.

Make a Difference

In high school it is important to find a place where you fit and where you can make a difference.

Being involved in sports, clubs, volunteer outreach, or other areas of interest help connect students to the school and community.  You have special gifts that only you can share and you can make a positive difference!  WKHS is very fortunate to have a wide range of opportunities available within the school setting for you to get involved.  There are 29 interscholastic sports, over 40 clubs, the school newspaper, video news team, yearbook and a wide variety of performance groups (choirs, bands, orchestra, and plays).  For underclassmen, it makes your transition to high school easier because you get to know older students and you find a place where you can belong.  For upperclassmen, being involved gives you the opportunity to demonstrate leadership and to grow in your areas of interest.

You involvement doesn't have to be in the school building - there are many opportunities that you can help serve our community as well.  When I was in high school my mom encouraged my sister and me to volunteer at a local hospital. We’d go every week and put in the hours and it was a fine experience – something I was glad to do – and to be able to list on my applications, but there wasn’t anything particularly unique or memorable about the experience. For example, my main memory from my days of volunteering was the job of refilling the water jugs in patient rooms… and how my sister would skip the rooms of anyone moaning… who’d have thought she’d end up becoming a nurse?! But that was it – no great epiphany or story beyond the fact that I had volunteered.

As you begin filling out college and scholarship applications there are many times that questions come up about what community service or leadership experiences you have had. And, even if not asked directly, if you had memorable experiences they can often be used to support your essay responses.

No need to panic! Your volunteer work doesn’t have to be a huge project or consist of thousands of hours of time – what is important is to get involved!  Community service opportunities are as different as each individual who decides they want to help make a difference in the world around them. The sky is the limit and I encourage you to find something that inspires you.

Some volunteer ideas that could help get you started could include – community beautification projects (cleaning up the school, parks or areas of the city), helping elderly neighbors, visiting nursing homes to perform music or talk with residents, homeless outreach, packing groceries for a food bank, assisting at the humane society or other animal shelters, helping with student council projects, wrapping and handing out gifts to those less fortunate, organizing and attending holiday parties for kids or the poor that would usually have nothing to celebrate, serving in a project for those who are disabled or ill (such as Make a Wish, Adventures for Wish Kids, or the Special Olympics), fundraising or recruitment events, becoming the champion for a cause and helping with awareness (Diabetes, Cancer, Organ Donation), and the list literally goes on and on. Also, don’t forget that there are several co-curricular groups at WKHS that focus on community service such as Interact Club, Wolves for Cubs, Project More, Reach Buddies and Student Council and you are encouraged to look into those opportunities as well.

College Fair

Don't forget - The Columbus Suburban College Fair is coming up on Sunday, October 7th from 1:00 - 3:30pm at Otterbein University in the Clements Center (180 Center St., Westerville, OH 43081).  This is the largest, local fall college fair and a great opportunity for our students.

If you have never been to a college fair before, I admit that it often feels like mass chaos.  But it is also the opportunity for you to gain a lot of useful information from a large number of schools in a short period of time.  Here is some information that can hopefully help you when attending the college fair. Take a deep breath, relax, and try not to get too overwhelmed.

The good news is that college fairs give you a chance to meet with admissions representatives in person. They are all gathered together in one place in order to meet you and to answer your questions. Many schools also keep track of the number of interactions/ meetings you have with their admissions representatives during your search and application process so that they can gauge your interest level in their school. To help make this process easier for you, this year all students are asked to pre-register by texting MASCOT to 75644.  After you do that you will receive a reply text with a link.  Go to the link and fill out your information.  You will only need to do that one time.  Then, at the college fair, you will be able to share your information with any of the colleges that interest you.

Be prepared before you get to the college fair. Know that there will be far more schools than you are interested in or can even truly take in during one afternoon, so it is useful to come up with a list of colleges that you would be interested in learning more about by doing a search that looks for different criteria that seems to be a good fit for you. With that list in hand you now have a starting point for the colleges that you would like to talk to during the fair.

It can be useful to ask the same questions of each college so that you can compare them and their responses appropriately. The National Association of College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) has suggestions of questions and I encourage you to also consider thinking about the things you most want to know about the school and can’t find in a brochure or website. Everyone is different so your questions are going to be different depending upon your interests, but if you are really interested in playing a club sport in college, you might want to ask about their club/ intramural program and the numbers of students that participate. You may want to ask what the top 2 or 3 majors are on campus as that will give you an idea of what most of the students are interested in studying. If you are undecided about what you would like to study, it would be a great idea to ask them what support and services are available to help students in exploring different majors.

Take something with you to be able to jot some notes on and also a pen or pencil. It is a crazy event with so much happening that if you don’t write it down as you go you won’t remember much after the fact. The admissions representatives are giving you a small look of the college – what do you think following each glimpse?

When you are walking through the college fair with the list of schools that you want to talk to don’t forget to leave some time for browsing – you may realize that a school you had not previously considered has just what you are looking for in a college. It can be easy for us to get caught in the cycle of only looking at specific schools because that is what “everyone” else is considering.

Ideally, you will be able to avoid getting caught up in the crowds and confusion so that you don’t walk away from the college fair with a lot of brochures, but no real ideas or impressions about which colleges most interest you. At the end of the college fair you will likely have a bag filled with information about colleges. As the “Faring Well at College Fairs” article says, “Don’t succumb to the temptation of just piling all those brochures in some obscure corner of your bedroom. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a day or two away from the college search. Then get out all of those brochures, along with the notes you took at the fair, and read through them. You may find that some colleges aren’t as interesting as you first thought. Others only look better the more you research them.”

Good luck and happy college searching… I can’t wait to hear about the schools that spark your interest!

Junior Reminders

I mentioned this at the end of last night's post about Parent/ Teacher Conferences, but I want to give you a heads up that two weeks from tonight on Wednesday, October 17th the WKHS Counseling department will be hosting a Student and Parent College Planning Information Night. Over the last few years, this program has received some of the best feedback out of all of the information nights we host. The students and parents who attended this meeting in the past have expressed how much this helped them get started and move forward with the college search process and developed a better understanding of what to expect along the way.  The meeting is primarily targeted at juniors, but sophomores and freshmen are welcome to attend if interested. The meeting is at 7:00pm in the auditorium. 

I hope you will plan to attend! And yes, I want you to bring your parents to this meeting and no, I don't want you to just send your parents instead... this is YOUR future and you are responsible for deciding what direction you will take.

Of a more pressing timing reminder, juniors, don't forget, if you are going to sign up for the PSAT, the registration deadline for that is this Friday, October 5th.  The cost is $16.  I know that you have taken it over the last two years, but this test is the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship Competition.  Additionally, I'd like to remind you that every time you take a standardized test it is good practice.  There are few times and experiences that you have to be able to work to focus for this long and to work this quickly as when you take these practice tests.  This will help you for when you go to take the actual ACT or SAT.

Parent/ Teacher Conferences

Parent/ Teacher conferences are coming up in the next two weeks.  Conferences will be held on Monday, October 15th from 3:30 - 7:30pm and on Wednesday, October 17^th from 5:00 - 9:00pm.  Each conference will be scheduled in 20 minute time blocks.  Conferences allow parents the chance to learn about your student’s classroom performance from the teachers, it allows the opportunity for you to ask questions and they provide an opportunity to build a dialogue with the teachers regarding any thoughts and concerns you might have.

Parents, if you are interested in arranging to meet with one of your son or daughter’s teachers during conferences, the online system will be up and running for you to register for a meeting slot as of tomorrow morning.  Conferences will be scheduled as people sign up for them, so if you want to make sure you have times that work well for you, I strongly encourage you to register right away.  

Please follow the steps below to register for a parent/ teacher conference:

- Follow this link to take you to the conference scheduler:  http://ptcfast.com/schools/Worthington_Kilbourne_High_School 

-  Click on the teacher you would like to meet with for a conference.

-  Sign up by entering your child's last name, first name, your name and your e-mail address and then click Submit.

-  The next screen will direct you to check your e-mail inbox for a message with the subject "Select Date/ Team for Teacher Conference Now."

-  Open the e-mail and click on the link to select a conference time.  If you do not receive an e-mail, please check your junk/ spam folder.  Please note, you MUST follow the link in the e-mail in order to complete the sign-up process.

-  The link will take you to a Time Picker.  Available time slots will appear on this page.  If there are no available appointments that suit your schedule, please e-mail the teacher directly to set up an alternate meeting time.

-  After submitting your time slot, you will be prompted to finish, schedule another appointment for the same student or register another student.  Once you have completed your reservations, you will receive an e-mail confirming the date and time of your conferences and a link by which you can make changes to your date or time if you need to do so.

If you have any problems using the online conference registration system, please contact Sharon DeSantis at WKHS.  She can be reached by e-mail at sdesantis@wscloud.org or by phone at 450-6400.

Also, junior students and parents (as well as any interested students/ parents in younger grades), Wednesday, October 17th at 7:00pm is the College Information Night.  We schedule this meeting on a conference night to try to help parents minimize the number of nights that you have to be at school, so if you'd like to take advantage of both opportunities on the same night, simply select teacher conferences before 7 and then come and attend the college night in the auditorium.