Postsecondary Counseling Newsletter

January 28th, 2025

Juniors and Families,

I have almost wrapped up the first postsecondary planning meetings with all of the juniors. I take notes during these meetings and each student and parent/guardian should have received an email with the following information:

• Transcript review and credit check - are you on track to graduate?

• General Course plan for next year (Dual Enrollment for Fall 2025 semester will open in March- If you are interested, Complete the Dual enrollment interest form so I don't forget about you)

• Your Postsecondary goals and plans right now:

• Based on Your Academic Profile - What are colleges looking for?, the Rigor of your course selection, and your GPA - You have categorized yourself as a good fit for the following types of schools (selectivity, etc.):
• Likely = 
• Target = 
• Reach = 

• SAT: Your Fall PSAT scores are attached. We also looked at the detailed breakdown and discussed ways to do some targeted studying in Khan Academy. The Khan Academy sections match up exactly with the SAT sections, so you can target the sections you didn't do as well in.

• YOUR Factors of fit: What you're looking for in a college:
• 2-year or 4-year
• Size
• Location
• Setting
• Academics
• Program of Study
• Affordability
• Other?

• Great resources to use to search for colleges:
• Scoir
• Big Future
• College Scorecard
• CollegeVine
• College Navigator
• Common Data set - get specific information about colleges
• Watch some episodes of the College Tour

• LINK status:

• Action steps/What to focus on until we meet again in the Spring:

-Research colleges! Use the resources listed above & attend a virtual or in-person college fair

-Attend Junior postsecondary planning night on 4/9

-Complete some cost estimators for colleges: Net Price Calculators

-Attend the admissions case study on 4/17

When we meet again in the spring, it is important that you have put time into building your college list. Please come with a list of 15-20 colleges in Scoir that you have researched and are considering applying to.

$$How will I pay for education after high school?$$

Last Thursday during chemistry, we talked about the FAFSA, how the financial aid process works, and how to know which schools/postsecondary programs will be affordable for you.

All students were given the homework to complete a Net Price Calculator for a college they are interested in at home with a parent or guardian. If you haven't done this yet, I strongly encourage you to do so - this is invaluable information that we will use to create a college list that includes colleges and programs that are a good financial fit.

View the slides from our lesson

Upcoming College and Career Events

2/5: Scholarship Fair 5:30-6:30 @ AHS Commons (11th & 12th)

3/11: Rising Seniors @ FLC

4/9: Junior Spring Postsecondary night 5:30-7:00pm @ AHS

4/17: Admissions Case Study 5:00-8:00pm @ AHS

NACAC Virtual College Fairs

Free and open to the public, National College Fairs are the perfect place to kick off your college search.

Admission representatives from schools across the country are all gathered in one place. Their goal: To encourage you to learn more about their institutions, and help you sort through the qualities you’re looking for in a college.

Use a fair to:

Explore your options. Each fair draws representatives from 175 to 400 colleges. The schools are located throughout the US, and from around the globe.

Ask questions. What’s college life like? What majors are popular on campus? Chatting with representatives from a variety of colleges can help you cement your own preferences.

NACAC Virtual College Fair - February 16 More Info

NACAC Virtual College Fair - March 23 More Info

NACAC Virtual College Fair - April 27 More Info

We're excited to invite your students to our upcoming virtual event, Introduction to the College Application Process, where admissions officers will guide them through the essentials of the college search process. Students will also learn about different types of institutions, how financial aid works, and the various applications available. Whether they're just starting out or need help figuring out their next steps, this session will provide the knowledge and confidence they need to move forward in their college search journey!

AHS Admissions Case Study and College Fair

Mark your calendar for this incredible opportunity to learn about the admissions process and meet admissions officers! Open to all AHS students. The list of attending colleges will continue to grow as I continue to receive RSVP's. Feel free to share this opportunity with friends at other high schools in the area! REGISTER HERE

Opportunities