Counselors’ Corner
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Students are assigned to school counselors by last names.
A-K Mrs. Hardy, bethhard@hpsvikings.org
L-Z Mr. Crook, toddcroo@hpsvikings.org
Valuable information for each grade level can also be found at the Virtual HS Counseling Office.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Information for All:
Summer Camps: Check out a few of the local summer camps information that was sent our way.
GVSU Lake Michigan Writing Project
GVSU STEM Summer Camps
GVSU 2025 Accounting Careers + Education Discovery Summer Camp
GVSU Young PI’s Summer Scholar Program – July 7 - July 11, 2025
Hope College: Nursing (9th-12th grades) and Amazing Animal Abilities (6th-9th grades)
Summer Employment: Looking for a summer job? Check out the Virtual Counseling Office job board. Some positions are full-time.
Grand Canyon University Information: Exciting News! GCU is introducing a new policy designed to help families explore what makes our campus special. Effective immediately, GCU will reimburse families up to $1,500 for flights to Phoenix, Arizona, for the purpose of touring the university. This initiative aims to provide parents and guardians the opportunity to experience firsthand the vibrant campus life, cutting-edge facilities, and supportive community that GCU has to offer. By visiting in-person, families will gain valuable insights into the student experience, from academic programs to extracurricular activities, making it easier to make an informed decision about their student’s future. We invite you to take advantage of this opportunity and schedule a campus tour at your earliest convenience. To learn more about the reimbursement process and how to apply, please contact HHS’s GCU representative Jerry E. Bowser (jerry.bowser@gcu.edu). Visit the GCU website by clicking this link.
College, Military, & Trade School Representative Visits to HHS
College and Military Representatives will be coming to Hopkins throughout the year. All students are welcome to talk with them. Please sign up by adding your name to this document. Rep Visits: 2024-2025 Colleges and Military reps add dates frequently.
FREE Virtual Financial Aid & Scholarship Presentations for Students & Families!
If you are interested in learning more about finding help to pay for college,check out the recorded Virtual Financial Aid Presentation. If you would like to learn more about the MI Achievement Scholarship, click here to view a recorded presentation. Topics covered include eligibility requirements, award dollar amounts, important action items for students and families, and additional resources and program information. Both presentations are provided by the MI Student Aid team.
AP Exam Dates
Below are this year’s dates for AP Exams. Please plan doctor appointments and other school absences around these dates, so that students will be in attendance for the exams. These dates are determined by the College Board; they cannot be altered. Students will need the following on test day: a fully charged chrome book, #2 pencils, and dark blue or black pens. Depending on which test a student is taking, other materials may be needed. Please follow your instructor’s directions given in class.
Monday, May 5 8am - Biology
Tuesday, May 6 12pm - United States Government & Politics
Wednesday, May 7 8am - English Literature and Composition
Friday, May 9 8am - US History
Monday, May 12 8am - Calculus AB
Tuesday, May 13 8am - PreCalculus
Wednesday, May 14 8am - English Language and Composition
Friday, May 16 8am - Physics 1: Algebra-Based
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Information Specific to Grade
Seniors
Trimester 3 Grades Matter! Stay focused and work hard in your classes during your final trimester of high school. Your 3rd trimester grades do matter! Colleges and trade schools will request these grades. You will need to send them your final transcript showing all of your classes and grades throughout your entire high school career, including trimester 3. So, finish high school strong and do well this last trimester. You got this!
Michigan’s “Ticket To Tuition” Giveaway! Check out the flyer below for a chance to win big bucks for college or trade school. Click this link to visit the website.
Decision Day Celebration! The School Counselors celebrated Seniors’ post-graduation decisions during both lunches on May 1st. Thanks to a grant, seniors received gifts and cupcakes to celebrate their Next Steps after graduation. Congratulations Seniors! We are proud of and excited for you!
SEND FINAL TRANSCRIPT. Colleges and trade schools need your Final Transcript. Make your request in Parchment and send it as soon as you have made your decision of where you plan to attend next year. Directions were given at the Senior Meeting on April 1st. An email was also sent from Mr. Crook. Make sure you request “Hold For Grades.” After Tri 3, your transcript will be automatically sent. This is free while you are still a HHS student.
Scholarships - Periodically look at the Scholarships link on the Virtual HS Counseling Office. Scholarship deadlines vary. Some deadlines are approaching. Once you are accepted to a college/university or trade school, there are scholarship opportunities for admitted students. Ask your college or trade school about scholarships specific to their institution and to the field of study you are planning to pursue.
Making Financial Aid Reward Decisions! Have you already been accepted to colleges &/or trade schools? If so, you may be receiving Financial Aid letters from them indicating your financial options. Please be aware that not all letters are the same; different colleges have specific forms/options, and each one can be a little confusing if you are not familiar with the format of these letters. This MichiganLEAP video “How to Compare Financial Aid Offers” is informative and helpful. If you have questions, consider contacting the admissions office or the person of contact mentioned in the letter. Once you have tried to reach the school and if you still have questions, make an appointment to see your school counselor for some assistance.
Complete the 2025-2026 FAFSA! Students applying to 2-year and/or 4-year colleges and trade schools are encouraged to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to be eligible for scholarships, grants, and federal aid. Many schools use the FAFSA information to determine eligibility for their own in-house scholarships and grants. Students and Families can obtain FAFSA ID now. Once a FSA ID# is received (via email), the FAFSA form can be completed by visiting studentaid.gov. Students are eligible for more opportunities if the FAFSA is completed sooner rather than later in the year. See your school counselor with questions.
College & Trade School Applications & Deadlines: Colleges are still accepting applications! Several Michigan colleges and universities have waived application fees. If a college/trade school requires recommendation letters, give time (at least a week or two) to the professionals from whom you request a recommendation letter. Also, give yourself ample time to write application essays.
ACCEPTED! When a senior is informed of being accepted into a college, university, trade school, or the military, please complete this ACCEPTED form so we can celebrate this accomplishment!
Senior Packet: Please read and refer to this document throughout the school year. The Senior Packet can be found here: Senior Packet
Juniors
Post-Secondary Planning! It’s time to begin making your list of colleges &/or trade schools that you want to apply to next year. Which colleges, trade schools, military, careers, apprenticeships, etc.)? Where are you interested in applying? Brainstorm a long list (you will shorten it later after you research, visit colleges, meet with representatives who visit Hopkins during lunch, job shadow, etc.). You can use XELLO to research careers, colleges, scholarships, and to create and store your list.
College & Trade School Visits/Tours: Summer is a good time to visit colleges and trade schools. Visiting and touring campuses before applying is important! Contact the Admissions Office of a campus you’d like to visit soon and schedule a tour.
Refer to the Junior Packet for information pertaining to “all things 11th grade” throughout this year. Junior Packet
Sophomores
The 10th grade packet is a great resource of information. Find it here:10th grade Packet
Freshmen
A great resource for information is the 9th Grade Packet, which can be found here: 9th grade Packet
