October 2020
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
December 12, 2020 November 6, 2020 November 7-20, 2020
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.
- Writing Section – Take the Writing section of the ACT at least one time! Most colleges in Ohio prefer to see that you have just taken this once. If you have questions about a specific college, see Mrs. Meyer.
One of the best ways to contact ACT may be through the use of their online Customer Service Form. They will contact you after you complete it; usually within 24-48 hours. Use this for various issues, including merging your ACT scores all together into your MyACT Account.
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
November 7, 2020 October 7, 2020 October 27, 2020
December 5, 2020 November 5, 2020 November 24, 2020
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.
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 ACT Prep Guide Books and 2 CDs to loan out for your preparation! See Mrs. Meyer or Mrs. Kreitzer if you are interested!
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.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.
College Application Essays
Need help writing college application essays? Check out:
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 and complete the application at www.commonapp.com
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 – The Falcon Tuition Guarantee program will lock in the same price for tuition for four years. 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.
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 Ohio State University - For freshmen applicants to the Columbus campus, they are now solely using the Common Application. Regional campus and transfer applicants will continue to apply through our Ohio State application. For the 2021 application cycle, the early action application deadline is November 15th. Ohio State has implemented a test optional plan for spring, summer and autumn 2021 applicants. The test optional plan is applicable for admission, merit scholarships, honors and scholars programs, and college or program-specific admission. Students should choose their preference for submitting scores when they submit the Common Application. Please note: They will only make changes to their preference if they are impacted by a canceled test.
For information and overviews of both main and the Lima campus, follow these links:
Columbus overview: http://undergrad.osu.edu/pdf/overview.pdf
Lima overview: https://lima.osu.edu/assets/lima/uploads/Admissions/folderPack/preview.pdf
(additional materials can be found at https://lima.osu.edu/students/admissions/visit.html)
Inquiry card: www.go.osu.edu/Limainquiry
Apply by November 15th to be eligible for Merit Scholarships, the Honors & Scholars Program, and
for entrance into the College of Engineering.
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
Miami University is hosting three upcoming virtual events for students to explore their opportunities for attaining a Miami degree. Attendees will also receive an admission application fee waiver.
For more information on event info, visit MiamiOH.edu/admission/onemiami.
UNOH (University of Northwestern Ohio) in Lima will not be hosting their typical Scholarship Testing this year. Instead, every student who attends their Virtual Open House on October 30th, 2020 will automatically receive a $500 scholarship to attend UNOH. See the website for details.
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.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Hagan Scholarship – This is a nationwide need-based merit scholarship, designed to provide each recipient with the opportunity to graduate college debt free. To qualify for this scholarship, students must have a CGPA of 3.75 or better, be in the top 20% of high school graduation class, enroll at an eligible four-year college or university after graduation, must work 240 hours in the twelve months prior to the start of each college year, and who will require financial assistance to attend college. The application deadline is November 15, 2020. To apply please visit the website at www.hsfmo.org.
UPCOMING COLLEGE REPRESENTATIVE SCHOOL VISITS
Students must sign-up in the Guidance office to meet with any college representative at least 2 days prior to the visit.
University of Findlay- October 5, 2020 at 10:30 a.m.
Rhodes State College- October 6, 2020 at 8:30 a.m.