December Updates From the Counseling Office
Holiday time! Colored lights, family celebrations, gift giving and receiving... and generally more eating. All great stuff, but it can also be a challenging time for people too. Make sure you are keeping an eye on your own mental health as well as checking in with friends, classmates, and family to make sure they are OK. This is a great time of year to spread holiday cheer to those that need it the most!
Here are some updates from the AHS Counseling Department... the last ones for twenty-twenty twooooo...
⛄ Junior seminars are in full swing! All members of the junior class are starting to meet in small groups with their counselor to start the process of researching their own personal plans for after they graduate from AHS. Four-year college, two-year college, trade school, tech school, working, apprenticeship, gap year, serving our country in the military... we are good with any of these plans for yourself! All we want you to do is be thoughtful about what your goals are, what you want out of your life, and figuring out how to meet those goals. We're here to help you!
⛄ Seniors, this is the time of year where we are starting to get the first ACCEPTANCE LETTERS in from colleges. Please bring them in so that we can put them on the Wall of Acceptance! Just the other day I walked by two underclassmen that were looking at the letters and starting to think out loud about where they might be getting in when its their turn. Bring those letters in so that we are able to celebrate and recognize you! Choosing not to go to college? That's OK - let us know what your plan is so that we can recognize you too! We're OK with non-traditional paths as long as they are thoughtful and perfect for you!
⛄ Seniors, if you are a student that did not apply early and are planning on applying regular decision, please make sure you submit your Transcript Request Form well in advance of winter break. Counselors will not be working or checking e-mail, so it is important that you proactively request materials be sent, especially for those schools with January 1st deadlines when we will not be in school. We need to be on break and with our families during that time!
⛄ Seniors, if you are finished applying and now just waiting for responses, you can use this time to look for scholarships! Prime scholarship season is in March/April/May, but you can start now to look for scholarships that are available. Here are the top five places to look for scholarships:
1. Your Naviance account for the local ones (these are generally easier to actually win, as there is a smaller applicant pool). Log in to Naviance and click on "Colleges" then "Scholarship Search."
2. goingmerry.com
3. fastweb.com
4. cappex.com
5. https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/bigfuture-scholarships
⛄ For those that took the PSAT's this year, the official score reports from the College Board will be released next week. For juniors your counselors will review how to read them in your junior seminar. For sophomores who took the test, go see your counselor proactively to learn how to read your report. It has valuable data within it that will help you prepare for the SAT!
⛄ Top five questions we get all the time about SAT (or ACT) scores:
1. Should I take the SAT (or ACT?).
Answer: If you are even thinking that you might apply to a four-year college, then yes! You definitely should take it!
2. But I heard that a lot of colleges make it optional. So why should I still take it?
Answer: Because if you happen to do really well, it will help you get acceptances. If you do really well, and the college you are applying to is optional, you don't have to send them! So, in short, you take them because they can help you, but they can't hurt you.
3. Should I take a prep class?
Answer: If you can afford a prep class, sure. They can help (but you will get out of it exactly what you put into it). The best FREE prep is Khan Academy (khanacademy.org). If you are disciplined and practice on a regular basis, you can really improve your scores.
4. When should I take the SAT (or ACT)?
Answer: Ideally twice, if possible. Once at the very end of junior year, once at the beginning of senior year. End of year is super important, especially if you haven't finished Algebra II yet. Every day you are in school you are getting smarter and more prepared for these tests. So, the later you take them, the more prepared you will be.
5. Do colleges care whether you take the SAT or the ACT? Which one is easier?
Answer: No, they don't care which one you take. Either is fine. They are both the same level of difficulty. If one was really easier than the other, the colleges would know that and adjust the required scores accordingly.
⛄ Thinking about playing a sport in college? The NCAA Eligibility Center is hosting a free online webinar for athletes and their families about the first steps for being eligible. Register here: https://