Twice a month, Mrs. Noelle Essig publishes this Counselor Connection newsletter as a way to share important information from our WBHS Counseling Department. We highly encourage you to read through the newsletter each time so that you do not miss important opportunities. This is our primary means of communication with you.
If you know of someone who is not receiving communication from us, it may mean they need to update their email address with us in PowerSchool.
Happy reading!
Parents - You can view the information by being an "observer" of your student in Canvas.
Below are some helpful links for Canvas.
Every fall WBHS hosts college representatives in our building. We invite juniors and seniors to learn more about a variety of colleges and establish relationships with the college rep.
Below is a link to the visits currently set up. Please know that this list is updated daily! Please bookmark this page and check frequently for updates.
Out of respect for the representative's time, if you sign up, please make sure you attend. Remember that many times the rep hosting these meetings is also the rep reading your college application. This is a great opportunity to ask questions!
Remember, this list is updated daily!
SEPTEMBER:
Wednesday Sept. 4, 2024 8:00 AM Tulane University LA
Tuesday Sept. 10, 2024 11:45 AM University of Southern California CA
Wednesday Sept. 11, 2024 9:00 AM Spelman College (Women's HBCU) GA
Wednesday Sept 11, 2024 2:30 PM Scholarship Club in iCenter
Tuesday Sept. 17, 2024 8:00 AM Oakland University MI
Tuesday Sept 17, 2024 9:00 AM Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) GA
Tuesday Sept. 17, 2024 1:00 PM Hope College MI
Tuesday Sept 17, 20242:30 PM Mini College App Boot Camp
Wednesday Sept.18, 20248:30 AM Purdue University IN
Wednesday Sept.18, 20249:30 AM Ferris State University MI
Wednesday Sept 18, 202411:30 AM Vanderbilt University TN
Wednesday Sept 18, 20242:30 PM Scholarship Club for Seniors
Thursday Sept 19, 2024 8:30 AM University of Michigan - Dearborn MI
Thursday Sept. 19, 202410:00 AM University of Michigan - Ann Arbor MI
Wednesday Sept 25, 20242:30 PM Scholarship Club for Seniors
Thursday Sept. 26, 20248:00 AM Hillsdale College MI
Monday Sept 30, 20249:30 AM Central Michigan University MI
OCTOBER:
Tuesday October 1, 20241:10 PM Western Michigan University MI
Wednesday October 2, 20248:34 AM University of Chicago IL
Wednesday October 9, 20242:30 PM Scholarship Club for Seniors
October 10, 2024 Onsite Admissions Day
Wednesday October 16, 20248:00 AM Kent State University OH
Wednesday October 16, 20241:00 PM Loyola University (Chicago)IL
Wednesday October 16, 20242:30 PM Scholarship Club for Seniors
Friday October 18, 20249:15 AM Miami University (Ohio)OH
GRADES - As you know, the junior year is an important year for your college and career planning. As we've mentioned before, this is the last set of grades that a college will see as they make their admission decisions.
COLLEGE REP VISITS AT WBHS - Juniors have the opportunity to meet with college reps coming to WBHS. We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to learn about colleges that spark your interest. College Rep Visit Sign-Up Sheet
PSAT/NMSQT TEST: See the information below to learn more about this upcoming test for all juniors. This is the test for National Merit consideration!
ACT/SAT TESTING - In the past few years many colleges have gone test optional. It is always best to check the website of the college in which you plan to apply. We plan to administer the SAT to all juniors in the spring. If you would like to do some test prep, Khan Academy offers free test prep for students and can be extremely helpful. Mrs. Essig has test prep materials in the College and Career Center that you can check out for 2 weeks. Stop by!
COLLEGE PREP SEMINARS - Watch for a variety of College Prep Seminars that will be offered by Mrs. Essig.
JUNIOR YEAR CHECKLIST: Check out this checklist that Mrs. Essig created for you! Junior Year Checklist
YOU'VE GOT THIS - Navigating the college and career search process can be overwhelming. But know that you are not in this alone and our Counseling Office and College and Career Center counselor is here to help!
COLLEGE REP VISITS AT WBHS - Seniors have the opportunity to meet with college reps coming to WBHS. We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to learn about colleges that spark your interest. Many times the reps visiting our school are the first person reading your application. Mrs. Essig is adding colleges daily. Check this list often and click here to sign up: College Rep Visit Sign Up Sheet
CAMPUS VISITS: If you haven't already, the fall is a great time to go on an official college tour given by the admissions office. Tours will fill up quickly so register early. All college admissions offices have information about visits on their website.
SAT/ACT: While many colleges have gone "test-optional," not all have. Some colleges are using test scores for merit scholarship consideration so be sure to check the college website to see if your score is sufficient or needed. Every college is different so check their website for the most accurate information. If you need help deciding if you should send your scores (or not), please make an appointment with your counselor or Mrs. Essig.
ESSAYS: In our experience, the college essay is not something most students can whip up in one night. It takes time and careful thought. Please know that many colleges do NOT require an essay.... do your homework and check their website to see if it's required!
MINI-COLLEGE APP BOOT CAMP: Prior to the start of school, we hosted 160 seniors in our College Application Boot Camp. Mrs. Essig will host one last "mini" College App Boot Camp on Tuesday, Sept.17th at 2:30 p.m. in the College and Career Center. Students must pre-register here: Mini College App Boot Camp
APPOINTMENTS - After you've had a chance to view the information in Canvas, please know that your counselor and Mrs. Essig are available to meet with you. Mrs. Essig's appointments will fill up as we get closer to the November 1st early action deadline. Please sign up early!
COLLEGE APPLICATION CHECKLIST: Check out this great resource from Mrs. Essig to make sure you don't miss a step. College Application Checklist
SCHOLARSHIPS: Mrs. Essig posts scholarship opportunities on the College and Career Center Canvas page and in this newsletter. Do not miss out on opportunities and watch deadlines!
MRS. ESSIG'S SCHOLARSHIP CLUB: The first meeting will be Wednesday, September 11th at 2:30 in the iCenter. Join Mrs. Essig as she educates you on the scholarship search process! For the first semester, we will meet weekly as there is a lot of information to share. Once we get resumes built and essays written, our goal is to apply for at least one scholarship per week! We will meet in the College and Career Center. All seniors are welcome. Come join us! Register here:
https://forms.gle/SW1vsBuXEeGkYE986
APPLICATION FEE WAIVERS - Many colleges in Michigan will waive their application fees during the first week of October or for the full month. Mrs. Essig will post the fee waiver codes in the College and Career Center Canvas page.
ONSITE ADMISSIONS DAY: Our annual onsite admissions day will be held on October 10th. Registration details will be emailed out in mid-September.
Please read the announcements in Canvas and this newsletter. We pride ourselves at WB in assisting our students with the college and career process. We are here to help!
Hello Laker Nation!
We're excited to announce a new testing opportunity for all 11th-grade students. This fall, every junior will take the PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test)! With testing season just around the corner, here’s what you need to know:
PSAT/NMSQT Test Day Details:
- Date: Thursday, October 24, 2024
- Location: WBHS Aux Gym
- Arrival Time: 7:30 a.m.
- Test Start Time: 8:00 a.m.
*This will be a normal school day. Students will resume class after test concludes.
We'll share more details about test day expectations soon. We're thrilled about this opportunity for our students, and we can’t wait to see them shine! In the meantime, you might be wondering what the PSAT/NMSQT is and why all 11th graders will be taking it. Here's why this is a fantastic opportunity:
- See where they are and set a target: You’ll get details on the exact skills and knowledge they need to focus on, while they have plenty of time to improve. They can also use their score from the PSAT/NMSQT, along with some research about their college and career goals, to set their own personal target SAT score. Historically, students who took the PSAT/NMSQT scored better on the SAT, on average, than those who didn’t take the test.
- Find out about their AP Potential: Students who take an AP® course are better positioned to succeed in college. Your child may not realize that they’re ready to take college level courses and that they have the potential to succeed. Using their personalized view of AP Potential , found in their score report, they’ll get recommendations for courses that may be a good fit for them.
- Enter the National Merit Scholarship Program: Students who take the PSAT/NMSQT and meet other program entry requirements specified in the PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide will enter the National Merit® Scholarship Program, an academic competition for recognition and scholarships conducted by National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC®) Visit NMSC’s website at www.nationalmerit.org for more information..
- Help pay for college: Taking the PSAT/NMSQT gives your child the chance to access over $300 million in other scholarship opportunities.
- Connect to their future: When your child takes the PSAT/NMSQT, they’ll be asked for their mobile phone number so they can download the free BigFuture School™ mobile app and have their PSAT/NMSQT scores delivered right to their phone. They’ll get customized career information and guidance about planning and paying for college. Depending on their school or district, they can use the Connections feature, which lets them here from nonprofit colleges, scholarships and educational organizations interested in them—without having to share any personal information.
We are thrilled to offer this opportunity to our students. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to check out The Parent’s Guide to PSAT/NMSQT. You will find that this document offers a plethora of information. Thank you for taking the time to familiarize yourself with this communication. I look forward to partnering with you this school year.
Best,
Dr. Clark
Assistant Principal
Starting in your senior year of high school, through college graduation and into the workforce, the Midnight Golf Program provides a comprehensive support system and essential resources so students can thrive during this exciting time in your lives. More than 3,200 MGP participants have moved on to college since our program began in 2001. They have studied at more than 150 different colleges and universities across the country.
Apply NOW - The registration deadline wasn't on their website, but it's typically the first week of Sept. Apply today!
Mrs. Noelle Essig, College and Career Counselor, regularly uses her expertise to provide a personalized college search experience for WBHS students. This fall, she is also using her expertise to help interested students find ways to help pay for their education. Join Mrs. Essig as she guides you through the process and provides time each week for students to research and work on scholarship applications. Mrs. Essig will also conduct mock interviews for students who get selected for scholarship interviews.
Our first meeting will take place on Wednesday, Sept 11th at 2:30 p.m. in the iCenter.
Pre-register here: https://forms.gle/SW1vsBuXEeGkYE986
10th and 11th grade: If you qualify for free and reduced lunch, you can receive a code to waive your fees for the ACT and/or SAT. Please apply for free and reduced lunch first and confirm that you qualify then see your counselor
September 21 @ 9:00 am - 3:30 pm EDT
We are pleased to announce a Perry Outreach Program in Detroit, MI on September 21st, 2024.
We will be holding our POP event for high school students in the Detroit area. Students, of all gender identities, in grades 10 and up who are interested in orthopaedics or engineering and the advancement of women in STEM are encouraged to apply. In addition to six hands-on mock surgical exercises, participants will hear lectures from local women surgeons and engineers.
We are accepting online applications for this event until the application deadline of August 28th, 2024.
Click here for a downloadable/ printable flyer for this event.
Several of you have reached out to us inquiring about fancy invitations you have received in the mail inviting you to apply for what seems to be prestigious honor societies and also expensive leadership seminars relating to medicine, political science, etc. I'd like to share a few thoughts with you about these. My biggest advice is to always Google the company and see what reviews have been written before you write the check!
Honor Societies - There are many companies that will send you very fancy embossed invitations to what seem like prestigious opportunities. They charge you $50-150 dollars to publish your name in a book and invite you to apply for their scholarships. While they might provide you with some interesting college prep information, I do feel that at WBHS we provide you with great support and resources for free. Some students mistakenly feel that colleges will be impressed seeing these listed on the college application, but in reality, colleges understand that students have paid a fee to join. These "mail-in honor societies" are not to be confused with the National Honor Society at our high school. The WBHS NHS is a wonderful opportunity and we encourage students to apply to NHS if they quality at our high school.
Fancy Invitations to Summer Programs - Some of you have recently been invited to participate in special summer programs relating to medicine, political science, and so on. These also are beautiful invitations to events that take place in Washington, DC, Boston, Chicago, Salt Lake City, etc. We have had students participate in the past and many of them have really enjoyed the experience. However, these are equated to "Pay to Play" type experiences and don't necessarily give you an advantage in terms of the college application. Colleges know that these are extremely expensive programs and thus they don't typically award extra consideration in the admission process. Students interested in participating in these programs should do so because they want the experience but not because they think it will give them an advantage in the application process.
I'm including a few articles below that you might find helpful. If you have any questions, please let us know.
https://wehavekids.com/education/Is-the-National-Society-of-High-School-Scholars-Legit-or-is-it-a-Scam
https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-lazarus-20160129-column.html
Top Reasons to Visit Colleges
- You won’t really know how you feel about a place until you’ve been there. A college catalog, view book, or website can only show you so much.
- The college information sessions and the campus tours will give you a much better idea of what the college is like and if you would be happy there.
- A small investment in time now can save significant time, money, and hassles during the college application period.
- You’ll get a sense of the college’s vibrancy, character, and facilities. Visits will provide you with a more complete picture.
- College tours allow students to ask questions, meet other prospective students and understand the college on a deeper level.
- How you feel about schools once you visit in person may affect the direction your college search and application process takes. College visits help you to refine your search.
- Applying to college is a complex process and visits to campuses will serve you best if you use them as a research tool, rather than a final decision-making aid.
- Time, energy and money are finite resources and you want to use them wisely throughout the application process. First-hand knowledge will help you to clarify your vision and narrow your list.
- Most colleges love students who are sincerely interested and visiting colleges is one way to show this.
- You want to be able to relax and make a fully informed choice once you have been accepted. If you’ve already visited those schools at least once, that’s just what you will be able to do.
Interested in an HBCU but not sure where to look? Check out this search tool that allows you to search by major. http://thehundred-seven.org/matchme.php
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Be sure to create a personal email account that is used just for college applications and/or the Common App.
If you are using a scholarship search engine, use a "junk" email address that you don't mind getting a lot of spam-type email.
Important Contacts
WBHS Counseling Department
Alpha Splits
Kelly Casinelli - Students with last names A-Ch
Joanne Wegrzynowicz - Students with last names Ci-Gra
Karen Brody - Students with last names Grb-Kl
Kason Dickerson - Students with last names Km-M
Kyle Landon - Students with last names N-Sh
John Hepper - Students with last names Si-Z
Noelle Essig - College & Career Counselor
Carla Jones - Mental Health Specialist
Administrative Staff
Mr. Eric Pace, Principal
Susie Aisner, Assistant Principal
Jamie Glinz, Assistant Principal
Dr. Stephanie Clark, Assistant Principal
Eric Pierce, Assistant Principal/Athletic Director
Newsletter Contact:
Email: noelle.essig@wbsd.org
Website: https://www.wbsd.org/west-bloomfield-high-school/counseling-office
Location: 4925 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield Township, MI, USA
Phone: (248)865-6768
Twitter: @WBHSCounseling