We hope this information will help you start planning for senior year and your post-secondary plans. We are excited to welcome you back this fall graduating class of 2025!

July 15-20 - Virginia Private College Week Tour

August 24 - SAT test date

September 14 - ACT test date

Oct - FAFSA Available

• Mrs. Harris will be hosting a College Jump Start Workshop for students who are interested. Indicate your interest in participating by completing the interest form to secure your spot. The event will be held on August 14th, more information will be shared late July early August with those who sign up.
• There will be a Senior Family Night in early Fall to provide more information about narrowing down and applying to colleges/technical schools, financial aid, scholarships search tips and more.
• Senior Advisory Meetings will occur in September for counselors to assist students with post-high school planning, review graduation requirements and explain the Gainesville High School process for sending transcripts and recommendations to colleges.
• The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) has been revised and will available in fall for families to apply to see if you’re eligible for certain grants, loans, work study or scholarships.
• There will be two PWCS-wide college fairs to include more than 90 college representatives.
• College admission counselors, including NOVA, will come to Gainesville to provide an in-depth overview to students about their college and answer individual questions.
• The ASVAB military entrance test will be offered in person at Gainesville High School in the fall.

In September each senior will meet with their counselor. This is a great opportunity to continue conversations about your post-secondary plans. Throughout the school year we will have opportunities for you to meet with representatives from the following:

• Two and Four Year Colleges
• Career and Technical Schools
• Local companies looking to hire our graduating seniors
• Military

Fall is the time to apply to college. Many colleges allow you to use a common application that can be sent to multiple colleges. You can start reviewing and filling out the basic information on the application this summer. Check to see which colleges accept the Common Application, the Common Black College Application and fill those out this summer. DO NOT enter counselor information until the fall after you’ve met with your counselor.

Don't forget to check out Naviance this Summer.

https://student.naviance.com/gainesvillehigh Select the ‘Student’ Icon, Continue with Clever, and Log In with Office 365 using your PWCS email and password.

• The Careers Tab will allow you to look up information about careers including job descriptions and projected salaries.
• The About Me Tab contains valuable assessments to help you identify your strengths and career interests.
• The Colleges Tab is a great place to create, revise and narrow down your college list based on majors, location, cost etc.

Many colleges are still test-optional for the class of 2025 and not requiring students to take these tests as part of their admissions requirements. You can check the test score requirements for your school of interest in Naviance.

Make sure you double check the facts on the college’s website as well. Though the tests may be optional for admissions, they may be required for certain scholarships, academic honors, or programs.

If you decide to take the SAT or ACT, check the dates and plan accordingly. Make sure you take the test in time to ensure the results are in by the college deadlines.

If you think you would benefit from a prep course, there are many options. We do not endorse any particular company so research to see what might work best for you. Khan Academy offers free practice tests based on your PSAT scores.

SAT Registration

ACT Registration

Practice For College Entrance Testing

• Take an ACT practice test today at Study.com
• ACT Study Guides at Study.com
• AP Students - Practice for the Exams - College Board
• Khan Academy - Official SAT Practice - Free!

PWCS College Entrance Testing Website

The Virginia Department of Education “Regulations Governing Secondary School Transcripts” mandates that local divisions include a student’s test record, to include at least the highest score earned on college performance-related standardized tests such as the SAT and ACT on the student’s secondary school transcript. Parents, guardians, or others having legal control or charge of a child may elect in writing to have their child’s test record excluded from the student transcript (opt-out).

It is important for parents to understand that it is the expectation of four-year colleges, which require an SAT or ACT score for admission, that the test score is sent to the college directly from the testing agency (College Board or ACT). The score which appears on the transcript is for informational purposes only and does not serve as the “official” score for college admissions purposes.

If you do not want your child’s college performance-related standardized test scores such as the SAT and ACT to be included on his/her official secondary school transcript, please submit the ACT/SAT Opt-Out Form (PDF) to your child’s school counseling department.

You do not need to submit an opt-out form if you wish to include your child’s college admission test record on his/her secondary school transcript. You can contact your child’s school counselor for more information regarding this option.

Parents can download this form and submit it to the school counseling office if they wish for college entrance testing scores to not appear on the student transcript.

If you are considering community college, there are many options. NOVA and Laurel Ridge Community College are two of our local community colleges.

If you are looking to enter into the workforce you might find a certificate program or Applied Associate Degree of interest. These programs can range in length to as short as a year to three years. For those interested in transferring to a four year college, you will find that the Associate Degree in your topic of interest will suite your needs.

Learn more about guaranteed admissions and transfer options at Nova and Laurel Ridge.

Earning a Certificate, Diploma or Associate’s Degree is all that's needed for many quality jobs in the commonwealth's key industries. Learn more about technical and vocational school options. Also, check out the PWCS Career and Technical Education Website for more information.

Register on a few databases and apps this summer to start receiving national scholarship information. Most local organizations will start posting their scholarships in the fall and winter. Naviance will be updated with various scholarships, local and national, at the start of next school year.

As a senior, you will have ample local scholarships available to you. Mrs. Harris will send weekly communications during Scholarship Season (January to May) to advertise available opportunities.

Tips on scholarships: Most will require an essay and a letter of recommendation from a teacher or community member. Consider who you will ask to write for you and ask them at least two weeks in advance. For the essay, they are often looking for your experiences with leadership and/or community service. If you don’t have experience in those areas, summer is great time to achieve these goals.

College-bound student athletes are interested in continuing their athletic journey into college. There are several different ways to do this. Monitoring student academic progress for qualifications is critical. Students should research the opportunities associated with athletics in college and best-fit opportunities within the college experience. There are two associations that both consist of divisions and conferences. The divisions are determined by the size of the institution, level of competition, and the funding of the athletic program.

NCAA Eligibility Center

• NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student Athlete (PDF)
• NCAA Student-Athlete Eligibility
• NCAA Division I/II Worksheet
• NCAA Eligibility Center - Create an Account

If you are considering a career in the military after high school, the ASVAB is required. Get familiar with the ASVAB test, know the minimum scores for each branch and start practicing for it now. We will offer the ASVAB at Gainesville next fall, more information about the test will be released when school starts. Recruiters from various branches also come to visit the school during lunch, look out for their table next school year.

Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC)

• Guide to Understanding ROTC Programs
• Today's Military—ROTC Programs
• Army National Guard Scholarships
• Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)
• Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets

Gainesville High School will be hosting an ASVAB in the Fall and Spring. More information will be forthcoming.

What is the ASVAB?

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is a multiple-aptitude battery that measures developed abilities and helps predict future academic and occupational success in the military. It is administered annually to more than one million military applicants, high school, and post-secondary students.

Some students take the ASVAB because they plan to enter the military; however, others, especially seniors, who aren't planning to enter the military but may still be unsure of their career interest path, may take it to gather more career interest information about themselves. Scores on ALL of the ASVAB subtests are used to determine the best job for you in the military.

ASVAB Fact Sheet

ASVAB Resources:

Free Study Guides for the ASVAB—Union Test Prep

Sample Questions:

• Today's Military
• Official ASVAB
• US Military.com

Practice Tests:

• ASVAB PracticeTests.com (PDF)
• 4Tests.com
• Military.com