CRC Connection

Date: February 23, 2023

Time: 6:30-8:00 PM

Where: Vernon Hills High School Auditorium

Who: Sophomore and Junior Families

Have you ever wondered how colleges decide who to admit? Would you like to experience reviewing an application for admission? Please join us for an evening with college representatives as they guide you through an application review. This is an excellent opportunity to walk step by step through all the stages of reviewing an application. How are transcripts looked at? How do letters of recommendation help? Do admission offers vary based on institutional needs? For the evening, you will be working for a fictional university and reviewing the applications of 3-4 prospective students. By the end of the evening, your job is to make recommendations on who to admit, waitlist, and deny. This will help you understand how colleges and universities look at students and how decisions are made. This event will be run by college admission representatives who belong to the CARR (Chicago Area Regional Reps) organization. Registration is required. The registration deadline is February 8.

Date: February 7, 2023

Time: 6:30 pm

Interested in learning practical, usable information about standardized testing and college admissions? In response to the pandemic, colleges have radically adjusted their admission testing requirements. Currently, around 95% of US colleges are test optional, but the decision to test and submit scores is not so simple. To add another layer of complexity, College Board has announced the debut of a fully digital, adaptive P/SAT for the Class of 2025.

Hear from the experts at Compass Education Group as they lead a pragmatic discussion of college admission testing and the recent outcomes of the test optional movement.

Presentation topics will include:

- The evolving role of ACT, SAT, and AP Exam scores in specific contexts
- Parsing the subtlety and variety of testing policies
- Fresh admissions data from test score submitters and non-submitters
- Understanding the forthcoming Digital P/SAT
- Making an informed choice between the ACT and SAT
- The diagnostic value of the PSAT and other practice tests
- How to build a successful prep timeline

The presentation will run for about one hour, followed by Q&A.

Date: March 7, 2023

Time: 6:30 pm

Last spring, College Board announced a sweeping overhaul to the SAT suite of assessments. Starting in the fall of 2023, paper-based administrations of the PSAT and SAT will be completely replaced by an adaptive, computer-based format. The Class of 2025 will be the first to take the redesigned Digital PSAT and Digital SAT during junior year.

The introduction of a digital assessment comes at a poignant time in today's admission context, where colleges are actively interrogating the value of standardized testing in students' applications. And while many schools have retained test optional policies in the wake of the pandemic, admission offices have demonstrated varying preferences for test scores.

Hear from the experts at Compass Education Group as they lead a thoughtful and pragmatic discussion of the future of college admission testing.

Presentation topics will include:

- The evolving role of ACT, SAT, and AP Exam scores in specific contexts
- Making sense of the subtlety and variety of testing policies
- Fresh admissions data from test score submitters and non-submitters
- Making an informed choice between the ACT and SAT
- The specs and adaptive design of the Digital PSAT & SAT
- Optimal timing and smart approaches to test preparation and testing

The presentation will run for about one hour, followed by Q&A.

Date: March 17

Time: 3rd period

Erin Martin, our CLC admission navigator, will be available to answer questions about next steps, the CLC scholarship application, course registration, and financial aid.

Seniors, now that you’re beginning to hear back from colleges where you applied, please remember to record your outcome and final decision in Scoir. Here’s a quick how-to you can reference. Thank you!

• FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) Application If you plan to complete the FAFSA, we encourage you to do so by the end of 2022.

• D128 FAFSA Nonparticipation Form - If you do NOT plan to complete the FAFSA, please complete the nonparticipation form as soon as possible.

• Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid - this allows undocumented students and transgender students to qualify for Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) grants to attend eligible in-state colleges and universities, and career education programs.

MacLean Fogg Scholarship - One VHHS Student who is interested in Mathematics, Sciences, Industrial Arts, or Engineering will be awarded a four year scholarship for $12,000 ($3,000 a year). There is a potential Summer Internship along with this scholarship.

DEADLINE: February 13th, 2023

Sports Lodge B'nai B'rith Scholarship - VHHS Jewish Student Athletes can apply for this scholarship from Sports Lodge B'nai B'rith. The amount varies per year and student based on financial need.

DEADLINE: February 3rd, 2023

Rotary Club Vocational Scholarship - One VHHS Student pursuing a degree at a local Community College or Trade School will be awarded $1,500.

DEADLINE: March 10th, 2023

Mundelein/Vernon Hills Rotary Club Scholarship - One VHHS student will receive tuition and are awarded to students pursuing formal education beyond high school. Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, extra-curricular activities, community service, and financial need.

DEADLINE: March 10th, 2023

Vernon Hills High School Scholarship Program - The VHHS Scholarship Program is a variety of scholarships specifically designated for VHHS and vary in amount and requirements.

DEADLINE: February 21st, 2023

We define First Generation students as those whose parents have not graduated from a four-year college in the U.S. Does that definition fit you? The CRC will be offering small group workshops for First Gen students. Sessions will be held one period a week for 5-7 weeks and will go over different aspects of the college search and application process.

Would you like to discuss your postsecondary planning process with Mrs. Bellito? Sign up for a 30 minute meeting where you can ask questions, talk about your future goals, and start searching for the right "fit" for you after high school. Students should sign up to meet during one of their free periods, and parents are always welcome to join these meetings.

1/27: Gap Year Fair at Oak Park & River Forest High School

1/28: Gap Year Fair at New Trier High School

3/9: CLC Spring College Fair 6-8 pm

Stay up to date on CRC News and Information. Find past issues on the VHHS CRC website. Make sure to keep an eye on your email to receive the CRC Connection.

Did you miss past issues of the CRC Connection? Head to the CRC page on the Vernon Hills High School website. You can check out all of the past CRC Connections by clicking here for the Newsletters & Webinars Tab.

The LHS and VHHS CRC offices are pooling resources to give you a robust listing of jobs, internships and volunteer opportunities in our area. Check back often as we update the list regularly.