Counselor Connection

The West High Counseling Department is seeking parent/guardian feedback in an effort to focus and improve our program delivery to better serve our students and their families. Please click here to access the survey. The survey will close at the end of March. We truly appreciate your input!

Now is a great time for juniors to dive in and start the college search process! Juniors and their parents/guardians are invited to attend our College Planning Night on Thursday, March 1, at 6:00 PM in the West High auditorium. Our guest speaker, Erika Adams from the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation, will present information about state and federal financial aid programs, including the TN Promise Scholarship and HOPE Scholarship. Area college representatives will also be present to answer questions and provide information about financial aid, scholarships, admissions, college visits, etc. Kayla Huber from Walters State Distance Education will discuss their dual enrollment program, including the application process, eligibility, etc.

May 7 - AP Chemistry (8:00 AM); AP Psychology (12:00 PM)

May 9 - AP English Literature and Composition (8:00 AM)

May 10 - AP United States Government and Politics (8:00 AM); AP Environmental Science (12:00 PM)

May 11 - AP United States History (8:00 AM); AP Studio Art deadline

May 14 - AP Biology (8:00 AM)

May 15 - AP Calculus AB (8:00 AM); AP Calculus BC (8:00 AM)

May 16 - AP English Language and Composition (8:00 AM); AP Macroeconomics (12:00 PM)

May 17 - AP Statistics (12:00 PM)

May 18 - AP Human Geography (8:00 AM); AP Microeconomics (8:00 AM); AP European History (12:00 PM)

University of Tennessee in Knoxville is hosting 2 engineering programs this summer for rising 10th and rising 12th grade students. Each of these residential programs lasts for one week.

• Engineering VOLunteers for Tenth Graders (EVOL10): rising 10th grades students live in a residence hall on the UT campus and engage in chemistry, ACT preparation, compete in engineering challenges, and tour an engineering industrial plant. Throughout the program, students team with each other to apply what was learned and work on an engineering design project. All eVOL10 applicants must have taken a standardized test, such as the aCT Aspire, ACT Residual, ACT, PSAT, or SAT. Application deadline: March 2, 2018. Program dates: July 15-20, 2018.
  
• High School Introduction to Engineering Systems for Twelfth Graders (HITES12): Rising 12th grade students live in a residence hall on campus, engage in hands-on engineering fundamentals activities, college life sessions, compete in engineering challenges, and tour an engineering industrial plant. Throughout the program, students team with each other to apply what was learned and work on an engineering design project. All applicants must have a minimum ACT math score of 25 (SAT math score of 590). Application deadline: April 13, 2018. Program dates: July 8-13, 2018.

For more information and to apply, please visit http://www.engr.utk.edu/diversity/pre-college/. All application materials must be received by the stated deadlines.

Registration for the 2018-2019 school year will be held as follows:

March 6, 7, 8 - Rising Seniors

March 12, 13, 15 - Rising Juniors

March 21-22 - Rising Sophomores

During the above dates, students will work in small groups with their counselors to finalize course selections for the upcoming school year.

George Washington University in Washington, D.C., offers several summer programs for rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Please visit precollege.gwu.edu for more information and to access the on-line application. Please note that there are costs associated with each of these programs, but limited scholarships are available. The deadline to apply for scholarships is March 1. The deadline to apply for the summer programs is May 1.

Summer Work Based Learning Internship Applications are now available to current sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Students may pick up applications from their TNN teacher or in the counseling office. Applications are due to TNN teachers or the counseling office by April 1, 2018.

QuestBridge College Prep Scholars Program was designed to give high-achieving, low-income juniors an early advantage in college admissions to top colleges. Qualifications include: high school juniors who have strong academic records, come from households earning less than $65,000 per year, may be eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, may be part of the first generation in their family to attend college. All Scholars receive specialized guidance on applying to college, essay coaching and identification by college partners to be admitted to highly selective colleges. You could also receive full scholarships to college summer programs to a select number of schools, all-expense-paid campus visits, an invitation to a QuestBridge National College Admissions Conference and telementoring from Amherst College students. The free online application is due March 21, 2018. Please click here for more information and to access the online application.

The Furman Scholars program seeks to honor high school juniors who have a genuine interest in an education in the liberal arts and sciences, exhibit strong academic potential (GPA of 3.5 or higher and minimum ACT score of 29/(or minimum SAT score of 1300/SAT-R score of 1360/PSAT score of 1360), demonstrate leadership potential, and show significant involvement in extracurricular activities and community service. Students selected as Furman Scholars are eligible to receive at least $20,000 in scholarships if admitted to Furman University. Juniors who would like to be nominated should see Dr. Reuschel by April 1.

This program focuses on leadership development and team building for rising seniors. Sessions will be held at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi, during three different time periods: June 10-13, June 24-27, and July 8-11, 2018. Selection is competitive and is intended for students who have demonstrated leadership or who have leadership potential. The deadline is March 30, 2018. Students who wish to be nominated may see Mrs. Byrd in the counseling office prior to the deadline. Students who are selected will be required to pay a $100 participation fee or provide an ACT/SAT fee waiver in lieu of the fee. Students are responsible for travel to and from Oxford, Mississippi. All other program expenses will be covered by the university.

March 1 - College Planning Night for juniors at 6:00 PM, West High cafeteria

March 16 - AP forms and money due to AP teacher

March 20 - Junior ACT

April 16 - May 4 - TN Ready exams

May 7 - May 18 - AP Exams

May 15 - 3rd, 4th periods final exams

May 16 - 1st, 2nd periods final exams

Don't miss out on important events and deadlines! Please sign up to receive updates from the West High Counseling Department. To receive messages via text:

Class of 2019: Text @mowest2019 to 81010

Class of 2020: Text @mowest2020 to 81010

Class of 2021: Text @mowest2021 to 81010

Any student graduating with a regular diploma from a Tennessee high school is required to take the ACT (or SAT) prior to graduation. All juniors will take the ACT at school on March 20, 2018. Registration for the state-wide junior ACT will take place during school. This ACT is offered free of charge for all juniors.

For students wishing to take the ACT on a national test date (see below - these are on Saturdays), students must register on-line at www.act.org. [Please note: students who qualify for free/reduced lunch may use a total of 2 fee waivers during junior and/or senior years to pay for the cost of the ACT (without writing). Students should see Ms. Davidson in the Counseling Office for a fee waiver].

West High ACT Code 431-587 (Where your scores are sent)

West High Test Center Code 193810 (Where you take the test)

*April 14, 2018 - registration deadline is March 9, 2018

June 9, 2018 - registration deadline is May 4, 2018

July 14, 2018 - registration deadline is June 15, 2018

Please visit www.act.org for information about late registration and photo upload deadlines.

*The test will be administered at Morristown West High School

Students will not be admitted to the test center without an admission ticket.

To register and to check for late registration information, visit collegeboard.org/sat/register.

March 10, 2018 - registration deadline February 9, 2018

May 5, 2018 - registration deadline April 6, 2018

June 2, 2018 - registration deadline May 3, 2018

The following websites offer free standardized test preparation:

Tennessee Electronic Library

Khan Academy

Analyze Ed (for students with existing accounts)

Number2.com

March2Success

Also, free ACT practice booklets are available in the Counseling Office.

It's never too early to start planning for life after high school! Check out some of these websites for great information about colleges, financial aid, careers, etc.

College Navigator

Big Future (College Board)

Federal Student Aid

College Scorecard

e Campus Tours

My Next Move

BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook

College visits can be extremely helpful as a student is making important decisions about to which schools he/she will apply and eventually about to which school he/she will eventually commit to attending. College visits and open house events often give students opportunities to learn about the application process, available financial aid and scholarships, housing options, and academic programs/majors. Students will generally be offered a tour of campus which includes dorms, dining and recreation facilities, student centers, and academic buildings. Setting foot on a college campus and experiencing some of the same things experienced by the college's students can help high school students decide if the school is a good "fit". Click the links below to register on-line for upcoming events. If these dates do not work, students may check college websites for other visit opportunities.

Carson Newman College

March 20

April 10

East Tennessee State University

March 17

April 7

King College

March 17

Middle Tennessee State University

March 17

Lincoln Memorial University

April 21 - Preview Day

March 23-24 - Railsplitter for a Day

University of Tennessee Knoxville

April 28 - Big Orange Preview Day/Spring Open House

The West High Counseling Office will be open until 6:00 pm on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month to offer more availability for parents who are not able to come in during the school day. Please call the Counseling Office at 423-581-1600 to make an appointment.

• Jill Reuschel: Students A-E
  

• Gwen Ledford, Lead Counselor: Students F-L

• Renae Byrd: Students M-R

• Melanie Justis: Students S-Z

• Crystal Davidson: Counseling Office Secretary
• Erica Gillett, Niswonger College and Career Advisor
  

• Office Contact Information:

• Phone- 423-581-1600
  
• Fax- 423-585-3791
  

West High is excited to have NiswongerCARE College and Career Advisor Erica Gillett with us for another year! Mrs. Gillett can help with career searches, college applications, scholarships, registration for ACT exams, and any other college and career needs. Students may stop by and see Mrs. Gillett in the Counseling Office during school hours on Mondays-Thursdays.

Email: ebruce@niswongerfoundation.org
Website: niswongercare.com
Phone: 423-581-1600