Almond College & Career Center News

Has been a delightful soaking in the crisp weather and beautiful fall colors. Hope you are enjoying your extended weekend!

Halfway point

• Believe it or not, we are at the half way point in our first semester! Students, continue to be diligent about your coursework and communicate with your teacher and/or counselor if you need assistance.

Both Juniors & Seniors

• Visiting Colleges
• Typically this month is a very popular time for colleges and universities to host open houses and college visits for interested high school students. Feel free to take a drive to see campuses when you can. Even if you can't schedule an admissions tour, much of the research revolves around what the surrounding community has to offer: where the nearest grocery stores, local coffee shops and shopping areas are. You have to be comfortable with the surrounding community and if the town near the colleges meets this, then go back and schedule an admissions visit and go into the buildings, classrooms and dorms. The more exposure your family can get with colleges now, the easier it will be to narrow your selections later.

• 10/17: Illinois Regional College Fair (6-8 pm)
• Each fall, the College of Lake County hosts an Illinois Regional College Fair bringing in over 200 colleges and universities from across the country. Check out who is attending and pre-register with StriveScan.
• Ms. Hartley and I will be at the counselor table, so stop by to be entered into our raffle to win a Starbucks gift card! You can also do this BINGO card to earn an extra raffle ticket!
• Preview these questions to assist in your planning.

• Colleges Visit the Almond Campus
• Over the next 2 weeks, we have several colleges/universities planning to meet with you as Juniors and Seniors in the Almond Campus College and Career Center. See the schedule and how to sign-up below. Colleges will continually be added throughout the semester and school year, so check back frequently!

College of Lake County Events

• October 29th, 7pm via Zoom, CLC Informational Webinar:
  • Interested WTHS families are welcome to join Ms. Quinnlyn Meadowcroft, our CLC College & Career Navigator, at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom to learn more about the opportunities at CLC. Register HERE or see the flier.
  • Zoom access: https://clcillinois.zoom.us/j/8502366304?omn=94241132444

Career Navig8 Lake County Field Trip

• October 30th: See below for more details! Open to the first 50 students from Almond who submit a permission form linked below.

Juniors

• 10/15: Best of luck to our over 200 juniors who are registered to take the PSAT-NMSQT test on Tuesday, 10/15 at the Almond Campus! Check out the College Board's test prep suggestions and get a good night's sleep with a hearty breakfast that morning!

• 11/7: Save the date for our College Planning Presentation for Junior Families at 3pm in Room 211 at Almond or 7pm in the O'Plaine Auditorium!

• 11/9: Practice, Virtual ACT Test
• WTHS is once again facilitating a FREE practice, optional ACT test for our Sophomore and Junior students virtually on Saturday, November 9th-Sunday, November 10th. Compass Educational Group will be virtually proctoring the practice ACT that morning. Click HERE to review the details & to register. Deadline to register is November 4th at 5pm CST.
  

Seniors

Finalizing college applications and requesting supporting documents

• Reminder: If you need to request a letter of recommendation from a teacher or counselor or need an official transcript for a college application, please link your SchooLInks account to Common App or add the college to your application list ASAP as staff members need at least two weeks notice to process your requests.
• For early, priority application deadlines of November 1st, that would mean you need to request these documents no later than Thursday, 10/17.
• Here is a GUIDE to help with the SchooLinks process.
• There is no formal transcript request process other than adding your colleges to your list or linking your Common App to SchooLinks.
• Here is also the helpful FAQ sheets about letters of recommendation and transcripts.
• As always, the College and Career Center is open during lunch periods for student assistance or you can come down to the office to see your counselor or Mrs. McGahan.

College Application Fee Waiver Codes

• Southern Illinois University-Carbondale (free application until 11/1)
• • Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (free application until 12/1)
  • Western Illinois University (free application until 11/1)
  • Northern Illinois University (always free)
  • Eastern Illinois University (always free)
  • University of Illinois-Springfield (free application until 12/1)
  • Miami University of Ohio has free application until 12/1 (select Miami Fee Waiver on application)
  • Ripon College (free until 1/15)
  • Lawrence Tech (month of October): enter October1932
  • Kent State (free application until 10/31)
  • Bowling Green State University (free application until 10/31 with code BGSU)
  • Central Michigan University (free application until 10/31 on their website or using code FireUp2025 in the Common App)
  • University of Cincinatti (must apply between 10/18-10/20 on their website or enter code UC Homecoming on Common App)

  
  

  Colleges that have Free Applications:

  • There are many!!! Click HERE for a list of 2,500+ you can narrow down.

Here is the contact information for Student Services.

Have a wonderful week!

Mrs. McGahan, Post-Secondary Counselor

If you would like to make an appointment to meet with your Almond Campus Counselor please email them or stop down to Student Services in the main office to submit a request form. If you would like to meet with Mrs. McGahan, please scan the QR code to the right or click HERE. Book an appointment during your free period.

WTHS is excited to announce the roll out of our new college & career readiness platform, SchooLinks. This comprehensive tool can help families navigate their post-secondary planning throughout high school.

For students, simply click "log in with Google" using your WTHS credentials.

Our Junior Class of 2026 will need to complete the onboarding process in order to view and sign-up for our upcoming college visits. Juniors are encouraged to view the tutorial below. As always, please stop into the College & Career Center in the main office if you would like additional help.

VIDEO tutorial

SLIDES tutorial

**NOTE: Parents/Guardians are now able create a shadow account to view the college information, view upcoming college visits (under Events) and more! See this UPDATED communication.

College Reps will begin to visit with our Almond Campus students starting in September! Meeting with these reps is an excellent way to gather information about your college of interest, answer questions you may have and make that personal connection. Juniors and Seniors are welcome to attend in the College and Career Center!

Students can view the upcoming college visits in SchooLinks --> Events.

Students are expected to sign-up in SchooLinks for the visit by clicking on the events --> Register for the Event.

**Students are allowed to attend 3 college visits per semester if they are missing an academic class. Students attending during a lunch or study hall period will not count towards the 3 visits. If you are not able to attend, but would like the information from the institution, please email Mrs. McGahan (cmcgahan@wths.net).

Tuesday, October 15th

• Period 6: Vanderbilt University and Washington University in St. Louis
• Period 7: University of Illinois Chicago

Thursday, October 17th (Illinois Regional College Fair night)

• Period 2: DePaul University, Loyola University & Xavier University
• Period 3: University of South Carolina & North Carolina State University
• Period 4: University of Iowa, Iowa State University, Northern Iowa University
• Period 5: Butler University, Saint Louis University, Drake University
• Period 6: Purdue University, Indiana University Bloomington
• Period 7: Colorado State University, University of Kentucky, North Central College, Illinois Wesleyan University & Lake Forest College

Tuesday, October 22nd

• Period 3: University of Oklahoma
• Period 4: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Eastern Illinois University, Western Illinois University
• Period 7: University of Illinois Chicago

Tuesday, October 29th

• Period 2: Hofstra University
• Period 5: University of Arizona

Thursday, October 31st

• Period 3: University of Illinois-Springfield
• Period 5: Arizona State University
• Period 7: Marquette University

While visiting college campuses is an important part of the college search process, college fairs are free and a great way for students and their families to visit with many colleges at once. See list below for some upcoming fairs in our area, including the college fair at CLC on October 17! Click links below for more info and to register (registration is required).

10/13 NACAC Virtual College Fair, 12 - 5 pm

10/16 Christian College Fair in Elmhurst, 6 - 8 pm
10/17 Regional College Fair at the College of Lake County, 6 - 8 pm

10/19 Christian College Fair in Northfield, 6 - 8 pm

11/3 NACAC Virtual College Fair, 12 - 5 pm

If you are the first in your family to earn a college degree, then you are welcome to join us for a field trip to visit Northern Illinois University on Friday, November 8th! This happens to also be National First Gen Day!

Please see this permission form for details.

Completed forms must be returned to Student Services by 10/25 to attend. Space is limited to the first 50 first gen students who submit their form.

The University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is hosting several webinar opportunities for families to hear from several Colleges about their academic programs. Click HERE for additional information.

UIUC is hosting upcoming virtual application workshops to get all the tips students need to submit a strong application. Their admissions counselors will walk them through the process and answer any questions you have about Illinois or applying.

As part of the CLC Manufacturing Month programs in October, CLC is pleased to invite students in grades 9 -12 and their parents to the Women in Manufacturing program on Tuesday, October 15th 4:30 -6:00 pm at the CLC Advanced Technology Center in Gurnee. Students who may be interested in or want to learn about a manufacturing career should consider attending this informative program.

SoFi is hosting a Preparing for College Webinar Series for high school counselors and the parents of college-bound students. This three part series will help prepare your family with the information, insights and tools necessary to navigate college financing, and get ready to complete the FAFSA.

Register for one or all of the upcoming events:

The Parent College Prep Guide
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
7pm

Breaking Down the Basics of College Financing
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
7pm

Figuring Out Your FAFSA®
Tuesday, December 03, 2024
7pm

Can’t join? Register via the link above and they will send you a copy of the recordings.

Lake County High School students and their parents can learn from more than 150 colleges and universities at the Illinois Regional College Fair, hosted by the College of Lake County from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 17. The fair will be held in-person in the Physical Education Center, Building F, on the CLC Grayslake Campus. For additional information, including the financial aid sessions and a list of colleges being represented, check out who is attending and pre-register with StriveScan. Ms. Hartley and I will be at the counselor table, so stop by to be entered into our raffle to win a Starbucks gift card!

On October 18 from 8:30 am - 12:00 pm, Lewis University will host the annual Sí Se Puede Conference. Sí Se Puede is an inspirational conference for Latinx high school students and families. This conference will empower and motivate students to pursue higher education, encourage them to overcome barriers, understand that they can achieve their goals, and expose students to a myriad of educational and career paths. Participants will engage in workshops designed specifically for their educational goals. Visit www.lewisu.edu/sisepuede for more information and to register.

The Illinois Council on Women and Girls, chaired by Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton, invites all girls in Illinois in grades 5 - 12 to apply for Girls Lead: a unique job shadow and mentoring opportunity. Accepted students will shadow a woman leader in state government to see the direct impact women make on Illinois. Participating mentors come from different areas of state government and serve in various leadership roles, including elected General Assembly-women, policy directors, general counsels, chiefs of staff, agency directors, and more. Students who demonstrate a strong desire to learn about the inner workings of state government should apply. Applicats will not be evaluated based on grades; instead, applicants will be judged on a scale emphasizing diverse achievements, personal resilience, examples of leadership (any size or shape), and community contributions. Click here to apply. Apps due Oct. 20.

The Six Colleges (Amherst, Bowdoin, Carleton, Pomona, Swarthmore, and Williams) are hosting a panel discussion centering the experiences of first-generation and/or BIPOC alumni on Thursday, October 24, 2024 from 6:30 to 7:45 pm at The Academy Group, 900 N North Branch St. Chicago, IL (second floor). Students will hear from a panel of alumni from our six schools as they reflect on the academic and co-curricular opportunities they had in college, and how a liberal arts education uniquely prepared them for their work today. They’ll also learn about our panelists’ personal backgrounds, and the way their college experiences inform their life and leadership. This year’s panelists will include local alumni working and pursuing graduate study in fields like neuroscience, law, filmmaking, tech, consulting and social justice work. Pizza will be provided! Students and their families are welcome. Register here.

With the recent ISBE contract change from SAT to ACT Illinois students will now be preparing for the ACT. Get ready to achieve your best score on the ACT! Engage in practice tests and cover the four topic areas of Reading Mathematics English and Science. Practice algebra geometry advanced algebra and basic mathematical refreshers to polish your math skills. Discover helpful ways to remember grammatical rules and effective strategies to help you approach reading passages and questions confidently. Be prepared for the upcoming fall ACT test dates of October 26 and December 14, 2024. Students should bring to each class the required textbook (book info TBA soon), as well as paper, a pencil, pen and highlighter. The textbook can be purchased online or at the CLC bookstore. Classes meet 10/26-12/7 from 9am-12pm. Cost is $275. Register HERE.

• Interested WTHS families are welcome to join Ms. Quinnlyn Meadowcroft, our CLC College & Career Navigator, at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom to learn more about the opportunities at CLC. Register HERE or see the flier.
• Zoom access: https://clcillinois.zoom.us/j/8502366304?omn=94241132444

Career Navig8 Lake County’s goal is to involve a wide range of businesses and individuals, each representing different career pathways to our Lake County students. Every business will have a booth featuring a hands-on activity to engage students and provide insight into their respective careers.

During our one hour session, students will visit various career booths grouped in pathways, enhancing their career exploration journey. Exploring careers helps students become more informed when choosing high school electives and making post-secondary choices.

Students will eat lunch before they leave for the field trip. Students who are in 6th period lunch will be excused to eat lunch 5th period.

*Students will need to complete the SchooLinks onboarding process (Find Your Path career assessment) and identify the career pathway they prefer prior to departure.

**WTHS is taking 50 students from Almond and 50 students from O'Plaine to participate. Please complete the permission form and return to Student Services to secure your spot! Forms must be returned by 10/25.

Students who aspire to attend the U.S. Military Academy (USMA), the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), or the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) are required to apply for a congressional nomination for appointment.

Attending a service academy is a tremendous honor, and it entails a commitment to serve in the military for at least five years after graduation.

For more detailed information, click the link and review the Frequently Asked Questions page for those seeking a Military Academy Nomination. https://schneider.house.gov/services/military-academy-nominations/military-academy-nominations-faq

Applicants should ensure that all materials for the academy classes of 2029 are submitted before 5:00 p.m. on October 31, 2024.

We will carefully review these materials in our office and subsequently reach out to students to schedule an interview with our Service Academy Nomination Board in December.

Should you have any questions during the application process, please don't hesitate to reach out to me at 847-383-4870 or via email at Patrice.Campbell@mail.house.gov.

For students interested in learning more about the U.S. Military, representatives from the following branches will be located at the front of the Almond Cafeteria. Stop by their table to receive additional information!

Air Force -- 4th Thursday of the month

Army Reserve – 3rd Tuesday of the month

Army National Guard -- 1st Tuesday of the month

Army – 2nd Tuesday of the month

Navy – 4th Tuesday of the month

Marines – 3rd Thursday of the month

This presentation will be offered to junior families on Thursday, November 7th at 3:00 p.m. in room 211 at the Almond Campus and at 7:00pm in the Auditorium at the O'Plaine Campus. At the 7:00 p.m., we welcome the Manager of Illinois Recruitment, Sylvia Hernandez, from Michigan State University to present to students and families on the college search process.

WTHS is once again facilitating a FREE practice, optional ACT test for our Sophomore and Junior students virtually on Saturday, November 9th-Sunday, November 10th. Compass Educational Group will be virtually proctoring the practice ACT that morning. Click HERE to review the details & to register. Deadline to register is November 4th at 5pm CST.

Take a timed practice SAT or ACT test, sponsored by the Huntington Learning Center of Grayslake. Check-in starts at 9:15am for the 9:30 am test start time. The test will begin promptly at 9:30 am, so please don’t be late. Students should bring a #2 pencil and a non-phone calculator (ideally a graphing calculator). Tests will be graded by Monday (11/11) and distributed at the follow-up event. Open to anyone in grades 11-12. Register here.

Vanderbilt University's PTY has just announced courses for the Spring 2025 cohort of Mentor Immersion: A Virtual Research Experience, a virtual program for 10th-12th grade students.

• This is a five-month program in which students participate in an application process for a placement in a mentorship focused on a specific academic area of interest.

• Information about application components and placement process, including the test score or educator recommendation option, can be found here.

• Participating students will be paired with a mentor in an academic field and participate in weekly live meetings for 2.5 hours with their mentor and 2-9 other students with similar interests who are working with the same mentor. An office hour is available for student support.

• The mentorship experience culminates with a final project that reflects work in the field of the mentorship.

Beginning October 1, through February 28, the Lake County Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committee will begin accepting applications for both the five-year electrical construction and the four-year telecommunication apprenticeship programs.

· Students must be 18 by June 30, 2025

· High school graduate

· One full-year HS algebra

· Valid driver's license by 2/28/2025

· Minimum score of 4 on NJATC Aptitude Test

· Pass physical exam, background check & drug screen (hair follicle)

https://lakecountyjatc.org/howtoapply/

Electrical Construction Apprenticeship Program - Inside Wireman

· Five-year program

· $17.72+ per hour to start

o Raises at specified times throughout 5-year program

· Journeyman pay rate upon graduation approximately $44.30+ per hour

Telecommunication & Data Apprenticeship Program

· Four-year program

· $18.54+ per hour to start

o Raises at specified times throughout 4-year program

· Journeyman pay rate is approximately $41.20+ per hour

Registration is required

Questions? email esie.sweillinois@gmail.com

Event Highlights:

• For Students: A fantastic opportunity for middle and high school students interested in healthcare careers (aligned with the College and Career Pathway Endorsements for Health Sciences and Technology).
• For Adults: Ideal for those considering a career change to healthcare.
• Variety of Careers: Featuring both clinical and non-clinical positions with various educational requirements.
• Work Now Opportunities: Positions available for those looking to start working immediately after high school.
• Career Paths and Educational Assistance: Talent Acquisition and Workforce Development teams will be available to answer questions about career paths and educational assistance within our organization.
• College Representatives: Meet representatives from colleges with healthcare-focused programs.
• Event Updates: Access event updates via a QR code or link provided on the flyer.

The Congressional App Challenge is a nationwide competition that encourages students to learn science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills by coding their own app for any digital device. This challenge is open to all middle and high school students who live or attend school in the Tenth District. Students can choose to participate individually or as part of a team of up to four students, if two of the team members meet eligibility requirements. To enter, participants must upload a video showcasing their app and an explanation of what they learned throughout the app-making process. Click here to register by November 1, 2024 (registration indicates your intent to compete).

The Golden Apple Scholarship Application is now open! High school students graduating in 2025 or first- and second-year college students can apply to become a Scholar by clicking here. Priority applications close on December 1, 2024. Final deadline is April 1, 2025. See flier for more information.

This program is open to any 14 to 21-year-old interested in learning more about law enforcement careers. Students will help the community as well as learn about careers in law enforcement and learn foundational policing skills. For additional information see their website.

Click HERE to access and explore 170+ careers with videos and information. By participating, you will gain a better understanding of the variety of industries and positions. Some employers may also have possible internships, apprenticeships, job shadowing and/or employment opportunities for our students! For those of you who may not know what you want to do, there’s a career assessment included that will help you narrow down a career cluster to further research. At the end, please complete the exit survey to reflect and provide feedback so we can continue to assist you with your post-high school plans.

WTHS has in-person Study Tables on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:20-3:00 p.m. in the Almond Campus Library for English, Math, Science and Social Studies. Students who need bus transportation home are able to take the shuttle from Almond to O'Plaine and take the O'Plaine busses home.

To date, www.fairtest.org as published over 1,800 colleges and universities which are allowing Fall 2025 applicants to apply test-optional. Many institutions are stating students are at no disadvantage of applying test-optional. But it is good diligence on your part to verify the institution will still distribute merit, academic scholarships, be considered for direct-entry, competitive majors and Honors College consideration.

Almond Post-Secondary Counselor

Instagram @wthsccc

(847) 548-6709

Email: cmcgahan@wths.net
Website: https://www.d121.org/Page/313
Phone: (847) 548-6709
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wthsccc