Senior Newsletter - Summer Edition

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• Introduction
• Preparing for Senior Year
• ACT Information
• Resources
• Lawson Counseling Staff

Hello Class of 2025 students and families,

My name is Linda Swift, I serve as the Senior, College & Career Counselor for James Lawson High School and I look forward to working with each of you next school year. During the year, this newsletter will be published monthly to keep everyone informed about important senior information, college application & admissions deadlines, scholarships, job opportunities, and more!

Feel free to contact me via email at linda.swift@mnps.org -- please note, counselors will be on summer break from June 6-July 15.

Please complete this short end of year survey so we can better plan for your senior year! Thank you in advance!

• Continue college research, examples include:
• College Board's search function
• Review the list of "Colleges That Change Lives"
• Review the list of colleges that meet 100% of financial need
• Visit colleges if you're able to, many colleges have virtual tours available on their website as well
• Create a tentative college list
• Create a list / resume of all high school activities, awards, work experience, volunteer hours, and accomplishments
• Begin drafting admissions application essay(s)
• Common App Essay Prompts for 2024-25
• Estimate your federal financial aid eligibility with the FAFSA Estimator
• Every college has a "Net Price Calculator" on their website to help you understand how much a specific college may cost for you. Google "Name of college + Net Price Calculator" to get started.

• August 1: Common Application opens (many college applications open)
• What is the Common App? Watch this video for an overview!
• August 1: TN Promise Application opens
• August 6: First day of school
• August 24: HBCU College Fair (more info below)
• Mid-September (TBD): MNPS College & Career Fair (brings in over 125 colleges / universities nationwide)

All 11th grade students were offered the ACT for free in March 2024. Students can access scores through their MyACT account. Class of 2025 will test again for free at school in October.

If you'd like to take the ACT again on your own, you can register through your MyACT account. Here are the upcoming National ACT Test Dates:

• July 13, 2024 (register by June 7)
  
• September 14, 2024 (register by August 9)
• October 26, 2024 (register by September 20)

Please note, the ACT costs $68 per administration. See info below re: Fee Waivers.

Your student may already be eligible for a ACT Fee Waiver (meaning they can register to test for free). Please contact Ms. Swift (linda.swift@mnps.org) to see if you qualify.

Parents can complete the MNPS Fee Waiver form to determine if students are eligible to receive College Application and ACT Fee Waivers. Once the form is completed, counselors can see if students qualify for a fee waiver and can provide that for college applications and ACT tests.

MNPS Fee Waiver Form Link: https://www.myschoolapps.com/Home/PickDistrict

• College Admissions Overview Webinar
• Senior Year College Application Timeline - English | Spanish
• Free Guide to Writing a Personal Statement (aka the College Essay)

• College For TN - Resources for college planning, financial aid, & career planning

• ACT Prep Resources:

• ACT Question of the Day
• ACT Official Study Guide & Practice Tests
• Methodize Free ACT Course -- CODE: KRJTFL8
• Request a copy of your transcript - https://bit.ly/LawsonTranscript