Counselor's Corner

SENIORS

August, the beginning of a new year and what an exciting year, finally you are a senior! However, there is no time to delay the college application process is rapidly approaching and there are some necessary steps to be making at this time. You should be finalizing your high school resume, asking teachers to write letters of recommendation, and start retrieving applications of the school in which you plan to apply. Start getting organized – a file for each school – so that when it is time to make the big decision you have the necessary information.

September and October are the months to be completing the college application process. Applications can be completed in paper form or via the internet. Most applications require: a “counselor’s page” to be completed by the school counselor, an official high school transcript, 2-3 letters of recommendation, a high school resume, and a school profile. Remember to work carefully when filling out the applications and completing the essays. You do not want to send in applications/essays with errors or grammatical mistakes. Many colleges will be visiting our campus at this time so sign up to meet with a college rep and learn more about the schools that interest you.

College entrance exams should be scheduled also. By your senior year you should have already completed the ACT or the SAT. The dates for the exams are as follows:

ACT October 22 – test date September 16 – registration deadline
December 10 – test date November 4 – registration deadline
February 11 – test date January 5 – registration deadline
April 8 – test date March 3 – registration deadline
June 10 – test date May 5 – registration deadline

You should take the writing assessment at least one time since most colleges are starting to evaluate the score. You will have to select the writing assessment option when applying.

You can register online at www.act.org or pick up a registration packet and practice test in the counselor’s office.

SAT October 8 – test date September 7 – registration deadline
November 5 – test date September 30 – registration deadline
December 3 – test date October 28 – registration deadline
January 28 – test date December 22 – registration deadline
April 1 – test date February 24 – registration deadline
May 6 – test date April 3 – registration deadline

You can register online at www.collegeboard.com or pick up registration material in the counselor’s office.

November 1st college applications should be in the mail! By having your applications postmarked by November 1st automatically makes you eligible for scholarship opportunities. Once you have been accepted into your post-secondary schools you should receive information regarding scholarships, the renewal process and how many years you will be eligible for the monetary reward. You should not stop there! Scholarship opportunities will be pouring into the counselor’s office. Take time to review the scholarship opportunities posted in your English and Religion classes as well as in the counseling office. You will need to complete an application, sometimes online and other times they will be requesting a paper application, but ALL information can be found in the “SCHOLARHIP” box located in the office. Many but not all scholarships will require an essay so you need to take some time and get familiar with all the money that is available. Pay attention to the deadlines and the specific requirements of each scholarship opportunity. APPLY, APPLY, APPLY! www.fastweb.com is a great wealth of scholarship information. You may have to do a little “digging” but the money is out there but you have to find it.

This is the month you will also have the opportunity to re-take the MEAP test for those seniors who did not score at least a 1 or a 2 on the Reading, Writing, Math, or Science portion of the test. You will be asked if you would like to participate in the re-testing process.

December should be the month filled with scholarship applications and getting a response from the schools in which you applied. You may also be getting a form from colleges/universities called a “mid-year report” and this should be given to the counselor to report your progress half-way through your senior year. You need to continue working hard in classes and getting good grades. Remember college/universities can rescind their invitation for you to attend their school if you fall below their standards.

SCHOLARSHIP DUE DATE IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• Discover Card Tribute Award October 1 - July 1, 2006 JUNIORS ONLY who have 2.75 G.P.A or higher after completing their sophomore year.
• Horatio Alger Scholarship 15-Oct-05 Financial need, must have 2.0 or higher and a completed application.
  
• Burger King Scholarship Available between October 15-December 15, 2005 You can receive an application on-line at www.bkscholars.scholarshipamerica.org
  
• National Alliance for Scholastic Achievement October - March 4, 2006 Students must have a cumulative G.P.A. of at least 2.75, complete the ACT or SAT, submit a letter of recommendation from a teacher or school official and complete the application and required essay.
  
• Centralis Scholarship Competition 22-Oct-05 CMU applicants who have 3.5 G.P.A. or higher can apply. (cmuadmit@cmich.edu)
  
• Prudential Spirit of Community Scholarship 31-Oct-05 Previous volunteer experience required and a completed application.
  
• Coca-Cola Scholarship 31-Oct-05 Applicants must apply online at www.coca-colascholars.org.
  
• FIRESIDE Catholic Publishing Essay Contest 1-Nov-05 Outstanding leadership in "embracing religious education". Essay required.
  
• Target Scholarship 1-Nov-05 Students who have participated in community service and leadership activities and have maintained a 2.0 G.P.A. can apply online www.targetscholarshipamerica.org
  
• Wal-Mart Scholarship November 1 - February 1, 2006 Applications are available on-line starting November 1, 2005. You must have a store identification number when completing the application process. Visit your local Wal-Mart and speak with any Wal-Mart employee to retrieve this information.
  
• Susan G. Koman 1-Nov-05 Student who has lost a parent to breast cancer and have a G.P.A. of 2.5 or higher.
  
• Toyota Community Scholars Program 3-Dec-05 St. Francis High School will select one academically strong student who has been active in school programs and recognized as a leader by peers and instructors.
• Applications are here and need to be turned in by November 1st.
  
• Ron Brown Scholar Program 15-Nov-05 Academically talented and highly motivated African American students can apply at www.ronbrown.org.
  
• 2005-2006 Principal's Leadership Award 18-Nov-05 Leadership experience and a completed application.
  
• MHSAA Scholar Athlete Award 21-Nov-05 One athlete per sport is eligible to apply. Completed application, 500-word essay, and 2 letters of recommendation. Make the essay "stand-out"!
  
• Pope John Paul II Cultural Center 1-Dec-05 Essay competition. Information provided in the Counselor's office.
  
• SAE Engineering Scholarship (University Sponsored) 1-Dec-05 Awards provided to engineering majors by selected schools.
  
• SAE Engineering Scholarship (Corporate Sponsored) 1-Dec-05 Scholarships are available to engineering majors which can be utilized at the college of your choice.
  
• DAR Christopher Columbus Essay Contest 1-Dec-05 Essay Contest open to ALL students grades 9-12.
  
• AXA Achievement Scholarship 15-Dec-05 Well rounded students who have demonstrated achievement in a job, sport, or extracurricular activities. Apply online at www.axa-achievement.com
  
• The American Express Scholarship Competition January 1 - May 1, 2006 Student must be actively employed (at least 20 hours per week) at a hotel or lodging establishment that is a member of AH&LA or be a dependant of an employee who meets this requirement and have past experience in the hospitality industry.
  
• McDonald's USA National Employee Scholarship Program Officially begins January 1, 2006 Must be currently employed at McDonald's working at least 15 hours per week and be employed at McDonald's at the time awards are presented.
  
• Ashley Marie Easterbrook Internet Scholarship Fund January 1 - March 31, 2006 Students with a G.P.A. between 3.5 and 3.74 must complete a 500 word essay and have a recommendation by a teacher, counselor or administrator.
  
• Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student 13-Jan-06 Completed application and essay and letter of recommendation to be turned into the Elk's Lodge of Traverse City.
  
• Gates Millennium Scholars 13-Jan-06 Minority student, who has maintained a 3.3 G.P.A., has demonstrated leadership and meet the Federal Pell Grant eligibility criteria.
  
• Tylenol Scholarship February 1-April 1, 2006 Scholarship will be available online at www.scholarship.tylenol.com
  
• Holocaust Remembrance Project 1-May-06 Essay competition open to ALL students grades 9-12.
  

January, February and March should still be filled with scholarship applications and finalizing your decisions for your post-secondary education. You should also remember to tell the schools you are not choosing that you are planning to attend another college or university. That is just good manners! It also may give others an opportunity to win some scholarship money.

April and May is a time to enjoy your friends, reflect on your high school career and continue working hard on your academics! Senioritis may be setting in but it is not time to give up! You need to work hard as you come to the end of this historic time.

June is the time to calculate all the scholarship money you have been offered and what school you have decided to attend. This is the time to celebrate all your accomplishments as we take time to recognize the awards/scholarships you have earned. Graduation is upon you and yet you still have to work hard to get through the final exams!

JUNIORS

August, the beginning of a new year and usually the most difficult academic year in your high school experience. That is said not to evoke fear but encourage you to work hard. This year you have the opportunity to take AP classes which could not only count as college credit but should also improve your standardized test scores (such as the ACT and SAT). AP classes require higher level thinking which will benefit you in the years to come. Even though you may feel overwhelmed the first couple of weeks in the AP classes you have to get into a routine, learn how to “take the tests” and give your teachers the answers for which they are looking. AP classes are a PROCESS! You may not see that “A” immediately, but you will “grow” academically.

September and October is the time to begin the college search process. Many college/university representatives will be coming to school to discuss the application process and admission requirements. This is a great opportunity to gain a lot of information about the schools you already love but also learn about new schools and what they have to offer you! You will have to get a permission form from the counselor’s office and sign up to attend each session. Announcements will me made before each visit. This is also the time to do some college searches on the internet. You can search colleges by looking at www.collegeboard.com and you can narrow you searches by region, religious affiliation, college majors and more! You can make the search as broad or as narrow as you wish. When you have a “day off” of school take some time to actually go and visit the schools. You often have a new perspective when you see the campus, the residence halls and a class currently in session. It can be quite a learning experience. This is also the time to be planning on taking either the ACT or the SAT. All colleges and universities will require one of these tests before considering admittance. After you receive your score report we will then be able to determine what areas are your strengths and which areas need a little more support. The ACT has provided me with a helpful tool called the “Standards of Transition” which shows us what skills still need to be mastered in order to achieve a higher score. You can pick up a copy in the counselor’s office.

ACT October 22 – test date September 16 – registration deadline
December 10 – test date November 4 – registration deadline
February 11 – test date January 5 – registration deadline
April 8 – test date March 3 – registration deadline
June 10 – test date May 5 – registration deadline

You should take the writing assessment at least one time since most colleges are starting to evaluate the score. You will have to select the writing assessment option when applying.

You can register online at www.act.org or pick up a registration packet and practice test in the counselor’s office.

SAT October 8 – test date September 7 – registration deadline
November 5 – test date September 30 – registration deadline
December 3 – test date October 28 – registration deadline
January 28 – test date December 22 – registration deadline
April 1 – test date February 24 – registration deadline
May 6 – test date April 3 – registration deadline

October is also the month you can register to take the PSAT. The PSAT is a practice test for the SAT. It also is the key to the National Merit Scholarship. In order to be eligible for this honor you have to score extremely well on the PSAT. Only eleventh grade students are eligible and you are encouraged to participate in this opportunity. This is also a good time to update your high school resume. Continue to make additions to the resume as the year progresses.

November and December should be used to review any scholarship opportunities. Scholarships are NOT just for seniors and one scholarship The Discover Card Tribute Award is available to JUNIORS only. This scholarship is available beginning October 1st and the deadline is usual at the end of March. You should stop by the counselor’s office to pick up an application. Scholarships will be posted outside the counselor’s office and you need to be aware of new scholarships as they become available. Many juniors do not take advantage of this so put this on your “to do” list.

January, February, March should be filled with college visits and receiving information from colleges that interest you. You can request catalogues, scholarship lists and applications. You need to begin making a file for each school that interests you. One strategy is to create a folder and fill it with all the information pertaining to the school. On the cover of the folder, list all PERTINANT information to use as a quick reference (desired ACT/SAT scores, desired G.P.A., majors of interest, size of school, scholarships available). This is helpful when you will begin the selection process next year. Remember to schedule a campus visit. Many colleges host “JUNIOR DAYS” usually during the spring to encourage a visit. Take advantage of these opportunities, meet some students, and speak with an admissions representative. You will have an opportunity to take the MEAP test. This stands for Michigan Educational Assessment Program and includes Reading, Writing, Math, and Science. If you score a 1 or 2 on each portion of this test, you will be eligible for the Michigan Merit Award with money ranging from $1,200 to $2,500.

April, May, and June should continue to be college searching time as well as planning for your senior year class schedules. Colleges/universities are stressing the importance of the classes taken during the twelfth grade year. Colleges are looking for that “rigorous” course work which may include AP classes and higher level math and science classes. Schools are looking for motivated and “driven” students so you are encouraged to take these higher level classes. This will not only increase the likelihood you will be successful in college bet it can also help make you more “desirable” to the college of your choice. Also by this time you should have already completed or be scheduled to take the ACT or the SAT.

SOPHOMORES

August and September is the time to start making positive strides towards a strong academic year. Many teachers will give you the opportunity to elect to take HONORS level classes. If you are a strong and motivated student you are encouraged to take this opportunity. Colleges and universities are looking for students who take a strong curriculum. If honors classes are not for you, don’t worry you will still be desirable to post secondary schools, but it is the time to FOCUS on your GRADES! Every grade you earn will impact your grade point average or G.P.A. so work hard and challenge yourself to “grow” as a student. This is also a good time to pull out the resume you began in the ninth grade year. You need to begin thinking about community service and leadership opportunities within the school and community. You may also register to take the PSAT in September. This is a “pre-test” to help you prepare for the SAT which should be taken your junior year. The PSAT is given on a Saturday in October.

October is the time for testing! The MAP testing or “Measures of Academic Progress” include: Reading, English, Math and Science. We encourage you to give this test your very best effort. We can use the results of the test to see your strengths and weaknesses and how to best adjust our teaching to meet your needs. We test again in the spring, a shorter version of the test, to see how much progress you have made throughout the year. The MAP test is given to all ninth and tenth grade students. Continue using your leadership skills and completing some community service activities this month.

November and December are great months for volunteering. Keep you ears open to announcements regarding volunteer opportunities and give some of your time helping others. You will also have the opportunity to take the PLAN test which is scheduled this month. The plan test provides a “projected” ACT score which will break down your areas of strengths and weakness and help you better prepare for the ACT in the fall of your junior year. This test is OPTIONAL and costs approximately $9.00 and you are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity. This is also the time to investigate scholarships that are available for tenth grade students. A posting of all scholarships is located outside the counselor’s office. This list is frequently updated so take some time to see if any of the scholarships are right for you!

January is final time at St. Francis. Study hard, use a study group, and use your time wisely. The final exams count 20% of the final grade so good study skills and strong time management are a must at this time of the year.

February and March will be the beginning of registration for next year. You are encouraged to take challenging classes including thinking about the honors curriculum and AP or Advanced Placement classes. In order to take the AP classes your parent/guardian will have to sign permission form agreeing for you to take this challenging curriculum. By this time you may have already had one foreign language which is the minimum requirement for graduation. I would encourage at least two years but recommend three or more! Before beginning your college education you may have to take a placement test which includes your foreign language. You should do better on the test with more preparation during high school. We also encourage you to take as many math and science classes as you can schedule throughout your high school experience. This could make you more “desirable” to colleges/universities in the years to come. February is the month to take the shorter version of the MAP test. This testing window lasts about two weeks and provides us information regarding how you are progressing throughout the year and in your English, Math and Science classes. We encourage you to do the best you can on these exams.

April, May, and June is a time to be working on your resume noting any awards/honors you have received and documenting your community service hours. Continue working on your grades and creating good study skills and habits. Typically your junior year is one of the most challenging so the more preparation you do this year will help. Fine tune those study skills!

Freshmen

August is an exciting time as you embark on your high school experience. This year will be filled with a lot of “firsts” and you have the opportunity to experience a variety of classes, clubs, sports, and extracurricular activities. It is also the time to plan for your future and start paving the way for college and the working world. This year your grades, test scores and school progress is monitored and recorded. This recording is called you high school transcript which will be part of your permanent record and will impact future decisions you will make. Colleges and universities look at the grades you earned in the ninth grade so it is time to work hard! You need to work on study skills, organizational skills and listening skills as you begin your classes. Your teachers will expect a lot from you and in turn will give you all the support, guidance and direction they can to help you be successful. It is up to YOU! This is a big and exciting step and we welcome you to our St. Francis Family!

September is a great time to get involved! Go to the games and cheer for the Glads! Find something at school that you can invest your time. Whether it is a club, a sport, or you are a fan spend some time at school having fun! Studying is only ONE component of the high school experience. The more you put into school, the greater your experience will be. Run for a class office and be a leader! You will now know what to expect from your teachers and what study skills need to be adjusted. You may have to spend more time studying than you ever have before, so create a “study schedule” which will ultimately give you more free time. Have fun but remember to study hard! This is also the month for HOMECOMING! This is an exciting time at St. Francis and you can participate in class competitions and “dress up days”. We complete hall decorations and float building…get ready for some fun!

October is the beginning of the MAP testing cycle. The MAP test is completed on the computer and you will be tested in English, Reading, Math and Science. This test is to help us determine how much knowledge you presently have on each subject. We then retest in February to see how much you have gained and measure your “growth”. We want to teach to your needs. Do the best you can!

November and December will be a time to be working on your high school resume. This resume is a chronological list depicting community service, extra-curricular activities and awards and honors you have received. This resume is to be updated throughout your high school experience. When you are a senior, you will send a copy of this resume with your college applications. You can pick up a copy of an example of a high school resume from the counselor’s office. This is also the time to investigate scholarships. A scholarship list is posted outside the counseling office. This list will include scholarships available to you. Stop by the office and see if there is a scholarship opportunity for you!

January is final exam month. You will be officially completing your first semester at the end of this month. This will be the first record listed on your high school transcript. Final exams count 20% of your overall grade so this is the time to study, study, study. Take good notes, review with your friends, and don’t wait until the night before to study!

February is MAP retesting month. We will have a shorter testing period only lasting about two weeks. The test is still on the computer and will see how much “growth” or “progress” you have made during the year. Please work hard and do your best so we know how best to help! Continue with your school involvement and community service activities. This is the start of the second semester many of you will have new teachers and you will need to learn of their expectations. Work hard as you begin this second semester of your high school experience.

March, April, and May we will be talking about classes for next year. This is the time to think about taking another foreign language and in some cases doubling up on a math or science. Colleges and Universities are looking for the “well rounded” student who has elected to take the most challenging classes. Take time to plan for your future and take classes that challenge and encourage academic growth.

June is the end of your freshmen year and the start of summer! End the year positively with good final exam scores. After finals it is time to relax and enjoy your break. Unfortunately you cannot forget school completely because there may be summer reading for you to enjoy.