College & Career Prep for Juniors

We will be presenting during junior English classes in April and May. During these sessions, juniors will learn about the following topics:

• Getting started on the Common Application - Over 1,000 colleges and universities use the Common Application to help simplify the application process for students. Juniors will learn how the Common App works and create an account to get started on their application.
• Preparing for recommendation letter requests - Students will get started on the questions to help their counselor when it is time to request recommendation letters in the fall.
• Continuing to work on resumes - We started this work in Theology classes and encrouage students to update and have them ready for college and job applications.

Mr. David Blue & Ms. Teri Calcagno

College, Life & Career Counseling Team

Be sure to sign up if you would like to receive periodic text message reminders regarding upcoming college & career events, test registration deadlines, college visits, etc.

• Juniors - https://www.remind.com/join/ccrams25
• Parents/Guardians - https://www.remind.com/join/e6cg4d9

Please only sign up for one account as space is limited. The same information will be sent to everyone.

Complete your Junior Planning Survey in Naviance Student - Juniors are automatically scheduled for an individual appointment once they complete and submit the Junior Planning Survey found in the "Tasks from My School" section of Naviance Student.

Keep your grades up - Most colleges will be making admission decisions based on grades through junior year initially. Make them count!

Attend college fairs - Check out the upcoming in-person and virtual college fairs being offered this spring in the Events section below.

Make a plan for summer - Explore summer and part-time job opportunities through our Job & Internship Board (linked below). Consider visiting some college campuses.

Register for an ACT or SAT Test unless you are applying Test Optional - Be sure to register for the SAT or ACT this spring. If needed, you could retest in the fall. Check out "SAT and ACT Policies and Score Ranges for Popular Colleges & Universities" to find out testing policies and test score ranges for admitted students. See below for test dates and registration deadlines.

Keep working on your resume of activities - All students will need a resume of activities regardless of their plans for after high school. During our visits to Theology classes in March & April, juniors have dedicated time to work on their resumes in Naviance Student to help them keep track of all activities in one place. If a student already has a resume, we encourage them to update it.

Complete the College & Career Planning Survey - We welcome input from you about your student. If you haven't already done so, please take some time to complete the Parent/Guardian College & Career Planning Survey.

Provide support - Your student may need help keeping track of important dates and deadlines. Make time to have a conversation about how your student feels you can best support them.

Learn about resources to help pay for college - Colleges post their tuition and fees on their website—the “sticker” price. This can seem like an overwhelming amount! But most students get financial aid to help pay for college so they don’t end up paying full price. The Federal Student Aid Estimator can be a good starting point. You can use a net price calculator to get an estimate of what your actual cost would be for individual colleges. It is important to set realistic expectations with your student especially with regard to paying for college.

Not sure how to start these conversations? Check out "Five Conversations You and Your Student Should Have as You Begin the College Admission Process" from College Parent Central

Our online Job & Internship Board provides information about paid work experience as well as career exploration opportunities. Central Catholic High School is a vehicle for sharing this information. It is the responsibility of students and families to fully investigate these opportunities.

Looking for a job? Mr. Blue has been pulling together a list of job openings for students who are looking for work. Positions include part-time, full-time and summer positions. Click on the button below to view all opportunities. We will be updating the board as new openings come in, so keep checking back.

Interested in trying out a career this summer? We have added opportunities fo students to learn what it is like to be in the FBI, fight fires or try out carpentry and much more.

Parents/Guardians: Interested in hiring students? Please send your information to Mr. Blue at dblue@centralcatholichigh.org and we'll add it to the job board.

Representatives from different colleges and scholarship organizations will be visiting our campus soon and hoping to meet with juniors. All visits are listed under the "What's New" section in Naviance Student. Be sure to check back frequently. Below are some of the ones already scheduled:

• April 9 at 11:10 am (1st P) - Army ROTC and related-scholarships
• April 10 at 12:55 pm (6th P) - Linfield University
• April 29 at 9:50 am (2nd P) - University of Puget Sound
• April 29 at 12:55 pm (4th P) - University of Strathclyde

To attend a visit, students need to pick up a Visit Pass from the Counseling Center and get it signed by their teacher at least one day in advance.

Case Studies allow students and parents to gain insight into the college admissions process by reading three fictitious applications, discussing the merits of the candidates in a group led by a couple of admission professionals, and coming to a consensus on which applicant to admit.

On May 7th from 6 to 8:30 pm, the Portland Area Catholic High Schools will host our annual Case Studies at Central Catholic High School. The last part of the night will be a college fair with the 38 colleges participating. This is an optional (and highly recommended) event for juniors and their families, but registration is required. Please check your schedules and use this link to register by Friday, April 26th. Register here

IMPORTANT NOTE: We will split students and parents into two different rooms, but you only need to register once.

What: This year's college fair features over 100 colleges and universities from all over the country and some international institutions as well.

Who: The fair is free and recommended for juniors and sophomores who are interested in learning about individual colleges and universities.

How to Prepare: To make the most of the fair, students should begin creating a list of colleges they would like to talk to at the fair.

Registration: Students should register in advance at the link above or directly through StriveScan by filling out a quick form. After signing up, StriveScan will send a barcode via text message and email. At the college fair, students present their barcode to the college representatives they talk to and will receive more information about that college. The next day, students receive an email with a report of all of the colleges and representatives they met, along with contact information and social media profiles.

CAN'T ATTEND AT CC? The Fair will also be held at Jesuit High School in the evening from 6 to 7:30 pm in the Hollman Family Student Union. Campus Map: www.jesuitportland.org/about/campus-map

We are hosting some drop-in sessions this month. Juniors can drop in for assistance during any or all of the following sessions:

• April 10 from 8:30 to 9:10 am in the Commons
• April 17 during extended lunch in the Counseling Center Conference Room
• April 24 during extended lunch in the Counseling Center Conference Room

The free, virtual Oregon-wide ECMC College Night will be on April 17 at 6 pm and will focus on the following topics:

• Understand how education can change their lives
• Choose their education path
• Learn how to pay for college
• Identify what steps they can take now to prepare for education beyond high school

The session is suitable for high school students of all ages, but will most timely and relevant for the Class of 2025. One lucky student will win a $1,000 scholarship at the end of the evening. Register in advance HERE.

Mark your calendar for the NACAC Virtual College Fair on April 21 from 10 am to 3 pm PT.

Connect with numerous colleges all in one place. Click HERE to register in advance and prepare for the fair. Be sure to check out the MatchMaking feature to determine which colleges might be best for you to meet with at the fair. At the time of registration, you select the attributes that were most important to you in a college. You then receive an email with best matched specific colleges and universities to your criteria. Reference this email on the day of the fair to connect with your best fits!

Amherst, Bowdoin, Carleton, Pomona, Swarthmore, and Williams—are joining forces to support first-generation and/or low-income prospective college students and their families on April 23 at 5 pm PST. Wondering what a fly-in program is and whether it's the right option for you? Or other ways you can get to know us? Join this session to learn about their respective programs and how they can benefit you. Students can register here.

National Portfolio Day events are free for students to attend from anywhere around the world! Join on May 4 from 9 am to 1 pm to launch your future in art and design. Visit with counselors, admissions team members, and faculty from art and design schools for a portfolio review before applying to colleges or universities. Click HERE for registration infomration.

• June 8 - Register by May 3
• July 13 - Register by June 7

Since the the SAT has eliminated the optional essay portion of the test, many colleges no longer require it with the ACT Test as a result. Be sure to check the policy for each of the colleges on your list.

REGISTER - HERE

FREE ACT PREP - HERE

• May 4 - Register by April 19
• June 1 - Register by May 16

Most, if not all juniors should already have a College Board account. DO NOT create a new one -- use the one you have!

REGISTER - HERE

FREE SAT PREP - HERE

NEW

Beans for Brains - Scholarships for students who have a 3.0 GPA and who know how to knit and/or crochet. The scholarship closes on May 1 or when they reach their limit of 300 applications.

Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes - This award honors students currently working on an inspiring service project or have done so within the past 12 months. By April 15

The Bill of Rights Institute's MyImpact Challenge - This a civic engagement contest promotes and fosters a robust understanding of citizenship to get students active in their communities now. Student service projects can win up to $10,000. Submission is open to US citizens and US-based young people who are between the ages of 13 and 19. Submissions must be received on May 19 by 11:59 pm PT.

STILL AVAILABLE

College Board BigFuture Scholarships - Juniors can make themselves eligible for scholarships each month. Earn entries in monthly drawings for scholarships by completing steps to plan for college. The sooner you start and the more steps you complete, the more chances you’ll have to win. This month’s entries will continue to be included in upcoming monthly drawings.

Sign up for our free College Application Workshop Sessions through CC Summer Session. Participants can choose one the sessions offered below or they may choose to sign up for both a June and an August session if they would like to do so.

• June 24 & 25 from 12:30-2:30 pm: Participants will have dedicated time and support to continue their work on the main part of the Common Application and prepare for the letter of recommendation request process.
• August 13 & 14 from 9-11:30 am or 12:30-3 pm: Participants will fine tune the main part of the Common app, begin working on college-specific questions and prepare for the letter of recommendation request process.

During Oregon Private College Week, twelve of Oregon’s private, independent colleges host concurrent sessions that will offer informational presentations about admissions, financial aid, and academic programs. Visit up to ten private colleges in only five days! Be sure to register soon as space is limited.