NACAC Steps to College articles

I am constantly reading articles and news releases from various organizations to gain insight that will help all of you with college options. I received this email today from the National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC) distribution list and wanted to share this resource. I found this particular article to be informative, and thought many of the others may be helpful.

"NACAC's Steps to College articles serve as ongoing discussions of the important factors students face during the admission process. Their primary function, however, is to introduce and reinforce the issues students tend to neglect. The latest article in the series reexamines student debt and financial aid against the backdrop of a recession.

Looking Ahead: Student Debt and the College Admission Process directs students to look closely at their potential for debt very early in the admission process. The article also steers students toward sound financial aid resources from the Department of Education.

“Looking Ahead” joins a collection of other financial aid articles in the Steps to College series that speak directly to college applicants. Please pass along this article and others in the Steps series to interested students and families.

Sean Nyhan
Public Policy and Research Coordinator
National Association for College Admission Counseling"

PSAT Registration Reminder

We are registering sophomores and juniors for the PSAT. We mailed home a flyer, but wanted to send out a reminder in case you missed it.

The PSAT is Wednesday, October 13, 2010 at 8:00AM in the Competition Gym at PHS. The cost of the exam is free for sophomores and $13 for juniors (checks payable to Perry High School). Students must register no later than Friday, October 8, 2010 in the Guidance Office. Space is limited, and registration is first-come-first-served.

We gathered sophomores and juniors from half of their lunch blocks today to give a quick presentation on the test. If you are interested in viewing the presentation, or if your student missed it, the following link will take you to the PowerPoint.

http://professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload/a-step-to-the-future.ppt#311,1,Slide 1

Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions.

Graduation Requirements versus Honors Diploma

As I double and triple check senior records to ensure graduation is possible for this spring, I thought it would be a great opportunity to remind everyone of our requirements. Perry students need a total of 24 credits to graduate, divided in the following areas:

4 English (English 9, 10, 11, and 12)
4 Math (including Geometry and Algebra 2)
4 Science (including Biology 1 and Chemistry 1)
4 Social Studies (including Global Studies, US History, and American Government)
0.5 Physical Education
0.5 Health
1 Fine Art, Business, or World Language
6 Electives (can be comprised of any credit)

Students must also pass all 5 areas of the Ohio Graduation Test - Reading, Mathematics, Writing, Citizenship, and Science.

To obtain an Honors Diploma in the state of Ohio, a student must fulfill Ohio requirements. This is different from our graduation requirements or our recognition of cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude. There are two categories for an Honors diploma - academic or career-technical. Please look through the requirements, as they are different for the class of 2011 and beyond. For example, to fulfill the science requirement, you must take Physics. We have also listed the requirements for honors diploma in our registration guide.

As always, please see your counselor if you have any questions.

College Major Quiz

The buzz has begun! Seniors are talking about their college ideas and applications, and many have begun to compare college major choices. Are you still undecided? Don't worry, many people are, even as they enter their sophomore year of college. To help rest your mind, I entered college set on double majoring in biology and music. I exited with a major in cultural anthropology. And now I'm a counselor. I was certain that I was going to be a doctor from at least fourth grade. Even the best laid plans can change when you find something unexpected that interests you.

There are some connections between my interests that I can see now. Every goal I had - doctor, orchestral musician, and counselor - required social interaction. Not sure how your future goals are connected? Try taking this quiz at About.com. The quiz utilizes Holland based theory to help you find a general area, and then you can narrow down your interests to find a possible major. For example, my result was "Social Personality," which suggests college majors in... wait for it... counseling and anthropology, among many others. The quiz takes about 3 minutes to complete and is only a starting point.

Something else to consider - it is okay to change your mind. Start exploring your academic and extracurricular interests and see if any college major or career choice starts to sound interesting. Research your options. Ask questions of people in the field. If you find something else, repeat the process. Stop by if you'd like more information on a specific major, career, or college. I'd be happy to help.

Welcome Back!

It was my intention to post the first day of school, to reflect on returning after a year away, to discuss all of the smiling faces and the new opportunities at Perry this fall. Somehow the time escaped, and it is the third day of school.

Thank you for making the first few days successful. Working through scheduling issues, credit checks, and the anxiety that accompanies the beginning of the new school year is always a challenge, but we made it. The first Friday of the school year approaches, bringing with it an opportunity to show our spirit (wear red!), spend time celebrating our extracurricular strengths, and reflect on the week while looking forward to the coming year.

A few reminders as we enter the year:

1. We are still on an alphabet split - I work with students A-K.
2. No schedule changes to courses that you requested. We go over this many times in the spring. We mean it.
3. Visit us early and often. Show initiative and seek us out before we have to track you down.
4. We do much more than work with your schedule. Talk to us about college, careers, testing, social needs, extracurricular involvement - whatever you need. Think of us as the Help Desk - we will assist you in navigating your path through high school.

Look for announcements and other notes here. I will be updating our department web page soon, and will note changes. I look forward to a great year!