Guidance January 2021

Mrs. Meyer, Guidance Counselor

Mrs. Kreitzer, Guidance Secretary

ACT TEST DATES

You will need to register for the ACT at www.act.org. Be sure to pick up an ACT practice packet in the Guidance Office. Testing dates are as follows:

TEST Deadline to Register Late Fee Required

February 6, 2021 January 8, 2021 January 9-15, 2021

April 17, 2021 March 12, 2021 March 13-26, 2021

June 12, 2021 May 7, 2021 May 8-21, 2021

July 17, 2021 June 18, 2020 June 19-25, 2021

Do NOT wait until the last minute to register as it takes about two hours to complete the first time! It is recommended that juniors who are planning to go to college take the test for the first time no later than the December administration. Seniors who are taking it for the first time should take it as soon as possible! The ACT is the test score that colleges in this area want to see.

When you are completing the ACT Registration Form, you will need to list the colleges that you want your score sent to. Make sure you are including your most likely choices in this list. Larger colleges like Ohio State, Univ. of Miami, and Univ. of Cincinnati require that they receive your scores directly from the ACT company as well as from your high school.

• You should take the Writing portion of the ACT at least one time. Most colleges in Ohio prefer to see that you have taken this portion at least one time. If you have questions about a specific college, see Mrs. Meyer.

SAT TEST DATES

If you wish to take the SAT, register at www.collegeboard.org. Testing dates are as follows:

TEST Deadline to Register Late Registration Closes

March 13, 2021 February 12, 2021 March 2, 2021

May 8, 2021 April 8, 2021 April 27, 2021

June 5, 2021 May 6, 2021 May 26, 2021

ACT PREP WEBSITES AVAILABLE!

www.March2Success.com (free)

This site is sponsored by the U.S. Army (if you do not want to be

contacted by a recruiter, just check “no” when registering—no obligations for

just using the site). Several students who needed to raise their scores for scholarships purposes have found it helpful in the past.

www.kaptest.com/act/free/act-free-practice-test Free Kaplan Live ACT Test Prep

www.actstudent.org/academy (free)

Visit the official ACT student website and view video lessons, interactive practice questions, full-length practice tests, educational games, and other materials targeted to a student’s academic/testing needs. ACT Academy provides learners with a personalized study plan based on pervious scores from the ACT test, Pre-ACT, and official ACT practice tests. Also available is the downloadable American College Application Campaign’s College Research Worksheet guide to help students understand match, fit, and cost when researching colleges and identifying to which colleges they want to apply. There is also an ACT voice-based assistant (Beta Version) that guides users through the ACT registration process, including finding test dates and locations. Users can set-up the skill for test taking tips and set reminders for test dates and registration deadlines.

www.infohio.org (free)

Go to the Learning Express Library. Register as a student, and here you will find free on-line prep courses and free down-loadable prep books to help study for the ACT!

• There are also various resources available at a cost. Copies of some of these preparation books can also be found at local libraries or can be found on-line.

*** The Guidance Office has 2 new ACT Prep Guide Books and 2 CDs to loan out for your preparation! See Mrs. Meyer or Mrs. Kreitzer if you are interested!

ACT Prep Workshop Available!

Fort Loramie High School is offering an ACT Prep workshop in preparation for the Winter 2021 ACT Test dates. Location for the workshop is Walk Up Country Club, 1000 Brandewie Dirksen Rd., Fort Loramie. Classes will be held Sunday, January 17, Monday, January 18, Sunday, February 14 and Monday, February 15. Registration deadline is January 11^th. The cost for the workshops will be $30 per session or $100 for all four sessions. If interested, sign up early as seating is limited. Registration forms and information are available in the Guidance office.

College/Scholarship Searches and Financial Aid Help

For good info about college searches and scholarship notification, you will definitely want to check out the following websites:

www.EducationPlanner.com www.CollegeAnswer.com

www.admissions.com www.studentedge.com

www.CollegeBoard.com www.nitrocollege.com

www.cappex.com/scholarships

www.salliemae.com (free Education Investment Calculator)

www.bgsu.edu/offices/sfa (BG website offers short videos on financial aid topics)

www.christianconnector.com (request information & automatically be entered in $2,500.00 scholarship drawing)

Free Scholarship Searches! Register at www.Scholarships.com and www.fastweb.com.

Take On-line Campus Tours! Go to www.eCampusTours.com

Careers in Public Health

The current pandemic has highlighted the importance of having qualified public health professionals. Whether it's becoming a health educator to ensure the public is receiving accurate information about a recent outbreak, researching a vaccine as an epidemiologist, working in government oversight to ensure communities have safe drinking water, or one of many other career paths, there are so many ways public health professionals can create positive change in the world. Check out the following websites to learn more about careers in public health and opportunities for online degrees:

What Can You Do with a Public Health Degree? - https://www.publicservicedegrees.org/what-can-you-do/public-health-degree/

Guide to Online Degrees in Public Health - https://www.publicservicedegrees.org/online-degrees/public-health-programs/

Playing Athletics in College?

Juniors and Seniors: If you are interested in playing athletics in college, you must register with the governing body of the athletic league to which the college you are playing in belongs. It is preferable to do this at the end of your Junior year in high school. If you are looking into playing at a Division I or II school, you must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center (https://web1.ncaa.org/eligibilitycenter).

When taking your ACT or SAT, designate the NCAA as one of your “College Choices” by entering the code “9999”. The NCAA must receive your score directly from the company; they will not take it off of your transcript from the high school.

If you are looking into playing at an NAIA school, you must register with the NAIA Eligibility Center (www.playnaia.org). If you register with either one of these centers, please let Mrs. Meyer know so that she can forward more information to the sites when asked for it. Complete lists of schools and their affiliations can be found at each website. You are urged to keep in close contact with college coaches you may be working with to ensure a smooth transition from the high school to college arena.

Apprenticeships, Internships and Other Job Opportunities

GROB Systems is excited to announce that we are now accepting applications for our 2021 apprenticeship class! We are actively searching for high school seniors who are interested in joining our team as an apprentice next June. We are seeking your help in finding students who may be a great fit for GROB. Interested students can learn more about the program and apply online at www.grobsystems.com/apprentice.

College Open House Days

Colleges set aside days to feature or “spotlight” certain majors—kind of like an “open house”. To schedule college visits, go to the college’s website for information and registration.

University of Findlay - Upcoming Campus Visit Days

February 15 - Oiler Preview Day

March 13 - Scholarship Competition Day

March 27 - Oiler Preview Day

April 16 - Animal Science, Pre-Vet, Equestrian Discovery Day

College Application Essays

Need help writing college application essays? Check out:

collegeessayguy.com

https://owl.purdue.edu/

(lots of writing resources! Follow links for 7-12 Students)

Additional College Information

*There are over 300 colleges who will accept “The Common Application” to apply to their university. See the map in the Guidance Office to find out which colleges accept this.

For descriptions of Private Colleges in Ohio, go to www.OhioPrivateColleges.com to download info

*Visit www.CIAmerica.org for information on the Court Reporting Institute of America.

Bowling Green State University – BGSU has begun the Falcon Tuition Guarantee program. This is a program that will lock in the same price for tuition for four years and will give students the opportunity to know just how much a 4-year education will cost. BGSU also has joined the Common Application. Students may complete the BGSU application or the Common Application. Students may apply for admission online at http://choose.bgsu.edu/apply/online. Freshman scholarships, automatic and renewable, may be viewed by going to the Scholarship Calculator at http://choose.bgsu.edu/aid/scholarships.

BGSU is still encouraging students interested in Fall 2021 to take and submit the ACT or SAT, but has introduced a one-year test waiver option on our application if students have experienced an adversity when it comes to taking a test. Students who have experienced a hardship due to ACT/SAT cancellation can opt to not submit scores and still be considered for admission to BGSU and scholarships.

The Fall 2021 application is open, which remains free for students until Jan. 15. Students can submit new test scores and updated transcripts up until May 1 for scholarship consideration. Students don't need to wait until they have their preferred GPA and ACT or SAT to apply.

Bowling Green is hosting in-person visits that are small and personalized with top safety and cleaning practices in place. Interested students should contact choosebgsu@bgsu.edu for reservation information. The majority of the visits include a presentation and campus tour, but some days are tours only. Starting a conversation with Admissions is the best way for a student to know what would suit them. Bowling Green continues to offer a variety of virtual sessions as well at their website.

Wright State University- Seniors who are interested in applying to Wright State may do so at wright.edu/apply Browse their scholarship page at https://www.wright.edu/raiderconnect/financial-aid/scholarship-search. For more information about Wright State housing, go to: http://www.wright.edu/residence-life-and-housing

Wright State – Lake Campus- Wright State’s online scholarship application, which includes the Western Ohio Educational Foundation (WOEF) scholarships, is now open! Students must be admitted to be able to access the application. The deadline to apply is February 1, 2021. More information is available at http://lake.wright.edu/scholarships.

RAEBURN E. BARNES TRUST LOAN PROGRAM

The Barnes Trust is a low-interest college loan program open to any student living in a Shelby County school district. Students are encouraged to submit their application as soon as possible, as their funds do run out.

The last possible date to apply is March 31, 2021. Please stop in the Guidance Office for an information packet.

HAUSS- HELMS FOUNDATION

The Hauss-Helms Foundation was established to aid worthy students that live in the Auglaize/Allen Counties of Ohio area to continue their education past high school. The application and rules are now available on the website at www.hauss-helmsfoundation.org. Applications must be received no later than March 15, 2021.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Wapakoneta Area Community Foundation Scholarships- The WACF scholarship application opens January 1, 2021. Students may go to www.wapakacf.org and click on scholarship applications to register and complete the initial application. Once completed, the site will direct student to any scholarships they may be eligible to receive. Botkins seniors may be eligible for the following scholarships: Alvin Egbert, Larry Sanders, AmVets Post #333 Scholarship, Niki Schaub 4-H Scholarship and the Wapakoneta FOE Aerie 691 Scholarship. ** If the initial on-line application indicates students are eligible for the Niki Schaub 4-H Scholarship or Wapakoneta FOE Aerie 691 Scholarship, they will need to pick up hard copy applications at the sites indicated and return the hard copy back to those sites. Applications must be received by March 29, 2021.

Midmark Technical Scholarship- Midmark Corporation is offering the Midmark Technical Scholarship in the amount of $20,000 to students that will be pursuing a bachelor’s degree in the field of Engineering. Students need to commit to work at Midmark Corporation after college graduation, as well as commitment to summer employment while completing degree. The application and further directions are available in the Guidance office. The deadline to apply is February 19, 2021.

Ray Ford Nurses Scholarship- This scholarship is awarded to those graduating seniors who have a minimum of a 3.00 GPA or better and are pursuing a degree in the filed of Nursing. This scholarship is renewable, but not guaranteed. The application needs to be submitted prior to the March 15, 2021 deadline. Applications are available in the Guidance office.

Mercy Health St. Rita’s Medical Center Scholarship- This scholarship is for those students interested in a career in the medical field. Ten $1,500 scholarships will be awarded. Application and directions are available in the Guidance office and the deadline to apply is February 19, 2021 at 4:00 p.m.

Acme Baseball Scholarship- Students applying for this scholarship must have played at least one year of Varsity Acme Baseball and have a minimum 2.5 GPA. Applications are available in the Guidance office and must be returned to the Guidance office by January 26, 2021.

Shelby County Community Foundation Scholarship Application – Approximately 170 scholarships totaling more than $289,000 will be awarded by the Foundation for 2021. The application will become available on December 11, 2020 and is to be completed online at www.commfound.com. The deadline to apply for most scholarships is February 11, 2021. Some scholarships are available for Botkins Local high school seniors only, while some are county-wide or multiple school scholarships. Directions are available online.

Charles L. Warren Memorial Heritage Scholarship- This scholarship is awarded by the Ohio Association for College Admission Counseling and is a one time $1,500 award. Students must have a 3.00 cumulative GPA and be attending an Ohio college or university. Applications must be submitted online, and the deadline to apply is January 22, 2021. See the Guidance office for the website connection if interested in applying.

Pioneer Electric Cooperative Scholarship – This year’s scholarship will be awarded in four different increments to ten chosen students; one $2,000, one $1,500, one $1,000, and seven $500 scholarships. Applicants must have a current GPA of 3.80 or better, a minimum of 25 on the ACT, will be attending a 2 or 4-year college/university, and whose parents are Pioneer Electric customers. Rules and applications are available online at www.pioneerec.com, and can be downloaded, completed, and printed from the website. The application forms must be submitted to Pioneer Electric by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, January 15, 2021. Any applications received after this date and time, will not be accepted. After the deadline, applicants will be notified through their schools of their interview time.

Midwest Electric, Inc. Scholarships –

Touchstone Energy Achievement Scholarship – Midwest Electric will award $2,000 to one high school senior for the Touchstone Scholarship. The minimum Cumulative GPA is 2.75. Students are judged on their essay, how well their activities reflect the Touchstone Energy core values of accountability, integrity, innovation and commitment to community, as well as their drive and dedication to achieving a college education despite personal obstacles or special challenges they’ve faced.

General Scholarship – Midwest Electric will award $9,000 in scholarships to high school seniors whose parents are customers of the cooperative. Six awards will be given: (2) $1,000, (2) $1,500, and (2) $2,000. The minimum cumulative grade point average is 3.5. Students are judged on their scholastic record, personal achievement, school and community activities, cooperative principle essay, and question essay. The top first-place student will represent Midwest Electric and compete against high school seniors from around the state at the Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives scholarship competition for up to an additional $3,800 in scholarships.

NOTE: To qualify, your parents must be customers of the cooperative. Applications, recommendation forms, and rules are available online at www.midwestrec.com under My Community. Completed scholarship applications, transcripts, and an essay must be returned to the Midwest Electric office by January 15, 2021. Judging is conducted by Midwest Electric and personnel of Wright State University-Lake Campus. If you have any questions, or need additional materials, please call Midwest Electric at 419-394-4110 or 800-962-3830.

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

Big Buddies Program- The Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Shelby County is again looking for teen volunteers for their Big Buddies program this year! Teens are needed to meet with an assigned little brother or sister in a supervised after school program two days a month to help with homework, play games, and be a mentor. Pick up an application in the Guidance Office.