January 26, 2007 - Volume 35 Issue 7
Preparation for future
Students faced with options for life after high school
By Katie Hauser, sr.
Editor-in-Chief
Just like the game “Life”,
high school students have two main options for what to do after graduation:
start a career or go on to some
sort of postsecondary institution.
For those choosing to go straight into the workforce, they should weigh their
choices before settling on something they could be doing for years to come.
If students choose to get more education after high school, they have many
things to do to prepare.
During the second semester of their senior year, many students fill out scholarship
applications and finalize what they plan to do after high school.
While this semester may be critical, preparations for education after high
school can actually begin as early as middle school.
Classes taken, activities involved in, and test scores can all have an effect
on applications. If students wait until their senior year to worry about
those things, they can often find there is not enough time to make a resume
that colleges or scholarship committees will like.
Another decision students have to make is what type of postsecondary education
they want.
Students can attend technical colleges, junior colleges, community colleges,
or four-year colleges. They sometimes have to decide if they want to attend
a private or public school as well. Campus size and location is another factor
to consider when deciding what college to attend as students spend years
on campus getting a degree.
“
Go visit the campus your looking at, find out if its right for you, seniors
at HHS get out of school for two days to do so, with parent permission,” said
Jason Feeback, counselor.
The 2000 Edition of “Preparing Your Child For College” is now
archived by the U.S. Department of Education, but it still contains information
that is relevant for getting ready for education after high school.
One piece of advice the publication gives is to take courses recommended
for college-bound students.
For students pursuing technical education after high school, they should
take courses in the field they are interested in.
Taking the right courses can also possibly help a student on the ACT or SAT.
Many portions of the course lists take four years to complete, so starting
early is suggested.
Taking these tests is important because many scholarships ask for good scores,
and colleges require a certain score for admittance. Some students take these
tests several times in order to get a better score.
Preparing outside the classroom can also be helpful.
“
Preparing Your Child For College” suggests that “independent
reading and study, extracurricular activities, and work experience will all
help [students] develop skills, interests, and goals.” Those skills,
interests, and goals can play a big part on applications.
Some scholarships are based almost solely on community service, so that is
also worth doing.
While all of this can help prepare a student early in high school for moving
on, they still have to decide where to go and make sure to meet deadlines.
Several options exist for postsecondary education, and students should be
sure to find the option that is best for them.
Financial
aid night provides application information
By Bethany Wolverton, jr.
Reporter/Photographer
January starts the time of the year when many applications
and scholarships are due for seniors, so a Financial Aid Night was held last
night in the cafeteria in order to aid students in this process.
Barbara Leavitt from Allen County Community College went over the FAFSA (Free
Application for Federal Student Aid) forms and covered what students and
parents need to know about grants and loans.
In order to learn more or obtain a FAFSA form, students and their parents
or guardians can go to www.fafsa.ed.gov.
“
The best time to begin applying for college is the summer of your junior
year and the beginning of your senior year; you want to get a good start,” said
Janelle Herder, sr.
Infographic by Dustin Corban, sr.
Information compiled by Melany Megenity, jr., from www.usd258.net
Many college and scholarship applications are available online.
Students can also contact the College Admissions Representative for an application
for their desired college.
“
I think you should have several options available when applying for college,” said
Josh Honas, sr.
Colleges look for academic information such as a student’s GPA, class
rank, and ACT score. Junior colleges do not always require an ACT score,
although all students are encouraged to take ACTs. The remaining test dates
for 2007 are Feb. 10, Apr. 14, and June 9. There is a $29.00 basic registration
fee in order to take the test; in addition, students may take an optional
writing test for $14.00, but most colleges do not require that part of the
test for admission.
Local scholarships are due to the counselor’s office on April 15. Applications
can be found on the district’s website, www.usd258.net or in the school
office. Other scholarships are due at various times. Students should be sure
to check the deadline for any scholarships they wish to apply for, as late
applications are usually not accepted.
When filling out applications, students should make sure they give all the
information necessary and that they follow all the guidelines. Putting together
an application that looks good can also help students get the scholarship
they want.
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