HPHS Postsecondary Counseling News

Dear Class of 2025 ~

You are about to complete your junior year of high school which means that you are more than half way through your Giant Life experience! We want to acknowledge the work you have put in and how you have contributed to our HPHS community! It has been a true joy to meet with so many of you as you plan for life beyond HPHS. As we move into the summer before your senior year, we wanted to share with you some information and resources to use before we return to school in August. We hope you enjoy your summer and take the time to research and reflect on what is important to you for your next path in life. We look forward to partnering with you next year as you take the next steps to open those new and varied doors of opportunity!

Your PSC Team,

Mr. Rob Becker - rbecker@dist113.org

Dr. Bill Morrison - wmorrison@dist113.org

Mrs. Jen Pendergast - jpendergast@dist113.org

Ms. Holly Siegel - hsiegel@dist113.org

Throughout the last few years, we have recorded various presentations on the college application process and have a page dedicated to them. Some topics include:

* Researching Colleges

* Admissions Plans & Decisions

* Prospective Student Athletes

Please take a look as there may be a topic you would like to learn more about here.

Additionally, there were several programs recorded this year for your review if you missed them. You will find them on our PSC website under “Information for Juniors” and “Programs”. Check them out for valuable information on the research and application process.

The Postsecondary Counseling curriculum at Highland Park High School is a developmental program designed to assist students with career exploration and the college search, selection, and application process. We work closely with students and parents/guardians to ensure that students craft a plan that is right for them. Please check out our website and our Facebook page to learn more about us and how we serve students

Website: https://www.dist113.org/Page/349
Location: 433 Vine Avenue, Highland Park, IL, USA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HPHS-Postsecondary-Counseling-520027864823500

The summer months can be a great time to plan a visit to colleges you are considering. Check out the Admissions section of the colleges and universities websites you are interested in to find out more information about their visit policies. If you are not able to visit in-person, be sure to use any virtual tours available through their websites. Remember that you have until May 1st of your senior year to make the decision about where you will attend (unless you apply Early Decision) so you don’t need to see them all before applying. We recommend that you try to see enough colleges by August so that you know what you are looking for in a school, which will help you to generate the list of schools you would like to apply to. We also encourage students to engage in the visit by taking notes and having specific questions they want answered; here is one tool to help with this, found in the College Planning Handbook on our website.

The Common and Coalition Applications are single applications you can utilize to apply to multiple schools at the same time. Students should take advantage of the time they have over the summer to begin to fill out one of these applications, including getting to work on the main application essay. The individual college supplements may not “go live” until later in the summer but students can get a head start on the process by filling out the main portions of these applications and getting a start on their essay.

For Common App, specifically, you can get started and then your account will "roll over". Here is more on how that works:

Every year on August 1, Common App launches its refreshed application with updated information. Fortunately, students don’t have to wait until then to begin planning their application.

Common App Account Rollover is a college planning tool that allows students to create an account when they are ready to explore the application. Students can add key information to their accounts and roll over most of that information when the new application year begins on August 1. This could be a time-saving solution for students who are considering multiple college options or looking to get a head start on their college planning. If you want to learn more about the "roll over" process click here.

As you are preparing for the application season next Fall, it is important that you get a handle on what the admission testing requirements are for the schools to which you will be applying. You will find various requirements depending on the institution so it is important to get an understanding of what you will/will not need to submit in the way of testing. Below are some of the types of testing requirements you may find:

Testing Required: There are a number of colleges and universities, state school systems in particular, that have gone back to requiring the SAT or ACT for admission. In these cases you will need to submit your single best score, or perhaps multiple scores if they “Superscore”, as part of the admissions process.

Test-Optional: At these institutions it is up to the applicant as to whether or not they submit testing. They will consider it as part of your application if you do submit a test score, but you will not be penalized if you do not submit test scores. For test-optional schools you will want to have a discussion with your Postsecondary Counselor (PSC) about whether or not you should submit testing.

Test-Blind: This policy means that the school will not consider testing whether you send it or not. Testing is not part of the review process so there is no need to send.

Test-Flexible: These schools may utilize a number of different types of assessments in the admissions process, from traditional ACT or SAT scores to AP testing to graded papers from a high school class. If a school has a test-flexible policy you will want to look more specifically into what they require/will accept.

As a general rule the PSCs suggest preparing for and taking the tests as if you will need them in the Fall and make the determination as to whether or not you will send them at that time, based on your various schools’ policy, practice, scholarship offerings, etc. If you did not get the chance to attend live, watch the recording of the testing program "Admissions Testing and the Test Optional Movement" that we held in October 2023 and our colleagues at Compass Test Prep.

On May 20th, the Postsecondary Counselors will deliver an Essay Writing Workshops to the class of '25 through their English class. Our philosophy is that, from a developmental standpoint, the brainstorming activities and the personal statement prompts from the Common Application or the Coalition Application can be wonderful ways to become clear on who you are, what is important to you and by doing so, evaluate what is best for your next step after high school. Our belief is that the ability to communicate who you are is valuable for future jobs, interviews for different organizations and school settings. We also shared that taking the time to draft the personal statement over the summer can be helpful in this process and can get you started on the four year college application process.

The presentation and links to all tools can be found on the Programs section of our PSC Website. Students will need their student gmail account to access these resources.

Remember, the hardest part can be just getting started - try to have fun with this part of the postsecondary process. There is nothing to lose and only insight to gain.

The college search and admission process is challenging for all students and for students with attention and learning differences, it is especially important that students and families understand what accommodations they will be seeking and how each college they consider will support those accommodations. This section of the PSC website shares a wide range of information and resources to help you in this aspect of the college search process. Additionally, we wanted to share these tips from the University of Arizona SALT center as things to consider in this process.

Questions to Ask Yourself

• Am I ready to begin making independent decisions while attending college?
• What am I looking for in a college?
• When I think about college, what characteristics do I hope for?
• Will I be more comfortable at a large or small college?
• How far from home am I comfortable going?
• What kind of support services will I need to be most successful?
• Do I want to live on campus?
• What kind of majors might interest me?
• Will I want or need to apply for financial aid?

Questions to Ask the College or University

• How many students attend (graduate students and undergraduates)?
• Do most students live on or near campus?
  • Do first-year students have to live on campus?
• What is this school known for academically?
  • What are the top-rated programs?
  • What are the most popular majors?
• What is student life like on campus?
• What is the cost of tuition and room and board?
• How diverse is the student body?
• What about support services?
  • Is tutoring available? How much does it cost? How is it accessed?
  • What is the process to qualify for support services?
  • Who do I contact if I need accommodations for a disability or learning difference?
• What are important dates and deadlines for admissions and financial aid?
• What are the admissions requirements?
• What is the surrounding city or town like?

Many colleges and universities will inquire as to how you utilized your free time this summer. Be productive! Whether it's taking a class, getting a job, engaging in sports/other extracurriculars, or doing a summer program somewhere, be active this summer. We understand and support your need to relax and recharge - and you should take the time to do so, but colleges will want to see that you did spend your time doing something beyond going to the beach or snoozing on the couch or in a hammock.

A summary of things you may want to do this summer:

* Explore your passions

* Consider different careers or majors

* Get a head start on your extracurricular projects

* Discuss the cost of college and explore net price calculators

* Get a summer job or take a class or volunteer

* Visit colleges and/or technical schools of interest

* Finalize your college list

* Study, plan or take any standardized testing you need/want

* Participate in the college essay brainstorming & drafting process

More information on how to spend your summer can be found here. Recharge but also reflect on what is most important to you!