Almond College & Career Center News

What a Once Upon a Homecoming week!

After all the Homecoming festivities wrap up and temperatures start to cool off, it's a great time for our Seniors to cuddle up indoors with your computer to complete your admission applications, essays, and start thinking about your financial aid and scholarship applications.

Juniors--we have several events coming up for you as well!

SENIORS:

• 10/3: Essay Tips from a College Rep (during WIN Time from 12:40-1:30pm in CCC)
• We are welcoming Siobhan Conners from Mizzou to talk about the college essay, review sample student essays and provide feedback on your essay.
• Senior students are welcome to sign-up with your Flex registration instructions:
• Here is a link to the video with instructions for signing up for Activities for 10/3.
• To sign up for for Activity go to Flex.securly.com
• Log in with Google
• Navigate to WIN Time on 10/3 using the calendar button in left hand corner
• Click Join Activity
• Then select the Activity you would like to attend on 10/3 and choose Join this Activity
• Then click on the Close button

• 10/8: FSA ID Creation Workshop
  
• We are hosting a workshop on Tuesday, 10/8 during periods 3-6 in the CCC to help students create their FSA IDs. Interested students should bring their Social Security number and Chromebook to begin the financial aid process. Sign-up in SchooLinks under Events.
• 11/1: Priority Application Deadline
• Many 4 year colleges and universities hold a November 1st priority deadline for their admission applications. Verify the deadline of each college you are thinking of applying to and plan to submit your applications at least a few days before their stated deadline.
• NOTE: The College of Lake County does NOT have a 11/1 deadline and is on rolling admissions each semester.

• CSS Profile
• Some selective colleges will require families to complete a detailed financial aid application, the CSS Profile, by the college's priority application deadline (usually November 1st). If applicable, please make sure to submit and monitor all deadlines! Contact your Counselor or myself for assistance.

• 12/1: FAFSA Opens
• As a reminder, the FAFSA for the 2025-2026 school year opens December 1st this year. Here is the Paying for College presentation from September 12th which highlights the process of applying for financial aid for our senior families. Here is also a folder of resources to assist in the financial aid process.

• FAFSA Completion Workshops

• We will host FAFSA completion workshops in December, January & February. Register HERE.

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

Colleges that have Free Applications:

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

JUNIORS:

10/1: Navigating College Admission Tests Presentation

• Are you curious about the SAT or ACT and the impact on college admissions? Then join your family and friends on October 1st at 7pm in the O'Plaine Auditorium to learn from Eric Anderson, Senior Director of Compass Education Group. He is an expert in the field and has spoken in front of hundreds of families over the past few years!

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!

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 1st

• Period 3: Northeastern Illinois University
• Period 7: Carthage College, Ripon College, Carroll University
  

Thursday, October 3rd

• Period 5: University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

Tuesday, October 8th

• Period 2: Calvin University
• Period 7: Northern Michigan University

Thursday, October 10th

• Period 2: Louisiana State University
• Period 3: University of Florida and UW-Stevens Point
• Period 5: Marian University (WI) and Colorado State University-Pueblo
• Period 6: Aurora University
• Period 7: University of Louisville

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

The Class of 2026 and 2027 are experiencing the biggest changes to the ACT & SAT in a century with the digital, adaptive PSAT and SAT and shifting landscape of the ACT.

With the State of Illinois now requiring the Class of 2026 and beyond students to complete an ACT to graduate from a public high school, this is one presentation you won't want to miss!

On October 1st at 7pm in the O'Plaine Auditorium, hear from the experts at Compass Education Group as they lead a pragmatic discussion of how to navigate this change. Please REGISTER in advance.

Learn about careers in engineering and computer science and meet with representatives from area engineering schools on Wednesday, October 2 at CLC from 5:30 - 8 pm. This event is free and open to high-school students and their parents. Pre-Registration is highly encouraged.

Attendees can expect to:

• Learn about various engineering professions and majors (civil, electrical, mechanical, chemical, computer science, aerospace, etc.) from practicing engineers
• Get an overview of the college search process for engineering (how to research engineering schools, the application process, college costs, choosing an engineering major, etc.)
  
• Tour the CLC Baxter Innovation Lab, a makerspace/fab lab for CLC students and the Lake County community
  
• Get info on CLC's guaranteed engineering admission partnerships with UIUC (Engineering Pathways), UIC, and NIU

Universities with Engineering programs will also be in attendance, including Illinois Tech (IIT), Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE), Northern Illinois University (NIU), MTU, UW-Milwaukee, Iowa State, Southern Illinois University (SIU), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) and University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC).

The University of Illinois is hosting a Spanish-speaking virtual admissions session on October 3 from 7:30-8:30 p.m.

The event will be held entirely in Spanish. A counselor will walk students and their families through their admissions process, providing valuable insights, key dates, and available resources that will ensure students and parents are well-equipped to navigate the admissions journey.

Students and their families should sign up. If you have questions, please contact their Campus Visits Office.

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).

10/5 NACAC National College Fair in Chicago, 11 am - 3 pm

10/6 NACAC National College Fair in Milwaukee, 12 - 3 pm

10/8 Choices: For College-Bound Students with Learning Differences at Niles North High School, 6 - 8:30 pm

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

Harvard, Princeton, the University of Virginia, Wellesley, and Yale would like to spend some time with you. Learn what it takes to attend these schools and hear more about the opportunities, scholarships and more from admissions officers of each. Webinar date is October 6. For additional information and to register, click here.

If you're planning to attend college and neither of your parents completed Bachelor's degree in college, then YOU are considered First-Generation or First-Gen! Did you know many of our Warren teachers are first-gen? Nationwide, about half of all college students are first-gen.

All first-gen Almond students are invited to attend our next I'm First workshop on 10/7 during 4th period in the Almond CCC. Email Mrs. McGahan (cmcgahan@wths.net) if you are first-gen and would like more college/career info, including our upcoming meetings!

First Gen students will receive a pass to remind them to attend. Students can be cleared out of an academic class to attend as long as they are passing that class and receive teacher permission.

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.

The Office of Undergraduate Admission would like to cordially invite first-generation college students and their families to spend a day on campus and see what it’s like to be a Northwestern student—from the perspective of a first-generation college student.

At our Exploring Northwestern event families will hear from a panel of current first-generation college students who will talk candidly about their Northwestern experience, answer students' questions about how they navigated the admissions process, and share how they adjusted to campus and student life. Families will also receive an overview of our admission and financial aid process, attend a essay writing workshop, enjoy lunch on campus, and can go on a campus tour. Please note: while we cannot offer travel assistance, lunch will be provided.

Exploring Northwestern

10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Sunday, October 13, 2024

Norris University Center, 2nd floor, 1999 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL

First-gen students and families should RSVP by September 25, 2024. Online registration is required and space is limited: REGISTER HERE

Questions? Please e-mail ugadmissionoutreach@northwestern.edu .

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.

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!

• 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

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

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.

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.

NW Medicine’s mission is to “create a pathway for the next generation of healthcare leaders”.

Through this program, chosen students are exposed to a broad range of healthcare careers through tours, guest speakers, group discussions, and hands-on projects.

The Discovery Program takes place at Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital one Saturday a month from November-June

This is geared toward students at least 15 years old, current sophomore or junior, and highly interested in a career in the healthcare field.

This program is highly competitive (only 30 students per Chapter).

The deadline to apply is September 30, 2024. Click for additional information on their website.

The STEAM Scholar Program aims to connect highly motivated students interested in science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics with hands-on learning experiences throughout our district.

Students selected to participate in the STEAM Scholars program will have the opportunity to visit four STEAM-related businesses and facilities during the 2024-2025 school year. On these visits, students will have the chance to participate in discussions with local employees, business owners, and educators, and learn more about the STEAM career opportunities in our backyard.

This program is open to all rising Sophomores and Juniors who live in or attend high schools located within Illinois’s Tenth Congressional District. Due to space constraints, we will only be selecting two applicants per high school for participation in this competitive program.

How do I apply?

The application is available here.

The deadline to apply is September 30th.

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

Bass Pro Shops are hosting a National Hiring Event for Seasonal and Regular positions in all Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s retail locations on Oct 9th and 10th from 10am-7pm. They will be offering immediate, on-site interviews in applying for Seasonal and regular open positions. They hire students 17 years of age for seasonal position in Santa’s Wonderland and 18 years of age or older for their regular positions. To apply: www.basspro.com/careers, and all applications must be submitted online.

Contact Judy Lukauskas should you have any questions at 847-782-2502 or jalukauskas@basspro.com.

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