VOLUME 1 • MAY 2024

COUNSELOR UPDATE
PICKERINGTON HIGH SCHOOL NORTH

Rising Seniors
As your Junior year comes to a close, we want to thank
you for meeting with us and allowing us to become a
small part of your support system here at PHSN. We
appreciate your willingness to share your lives with us in
big and small ways and are deeply honored everyday for
the opportunity to come alongside you during this
season of your lives.

TAKE A PEEK! At this point, you have all had the opportunity to meet
with your counselor to review your credits, discuss your
RISING SENIORS - 1 courses for next year and share your plans for life
beyond PHSN during your personalized Junior Meeting.
SUMMER ACTIVITIES. - 2 Our next steps together will be walking out the
necessary steps and laying the foundation for the life
SENIOR YEAR TIMELINE - 3 you are dreaming of after high school. As you look
forward to summer and a much deserved break from
APPLYING TO COLLEGE - 4 the past school year, we wanted to share some
information that will hopefully help outline what to
SCHOLARSHIPS - 5 expect from Senior year. As you anticipate what is to
come and contemplate what the next year will hold, we
FINANCIAL AID - 6
want to remind you that you are not alone in this
process.
WORKFORCE - 7

MILITARY - 8 Take some time to review the information included in

this newsletter and plan to attend a virtual Google Meet
PARENT RESOURCES - 9 on June 3 at 11:30am to further discuss these items.
Summer Activities
College Visits: Many colleges will be opening up for campus tours. If you have not
already done so, schedule a college visit to your top contenders, if possible.
+ Here are some great questions to ask while on your visit.

ACT/SAT: If you are planning to take the ACT and/or SAT again, consider scheduling for
the July ACT (Registration deadline is June 7). Follow the link to register here: ACT. The
next SAT is on August 24 (Registration deadline is August 9). Follow the link to register
her: SAT.
+ We would recommend taking the ACT/SAT prior to October of Senior year due
to application deadlines.
+ FREE test prep resources: ACT- Naviance (access ending on July 31)
SAT- Khan Academy
+ If you qualify for free/reduced lunch you are eligible for 2 fee waivers for the
ACT and 2 fee waivers for the SAT. See your school counselor for fee waivers if you qualify.

Work/Volunteer: Having real world experiences in a work place, or volunteering in the

community offers you a chance to interact with different people, learn skills that cannot
be taught in the classroom and maybe even discover new strengths and passions.
+ Looking for ways to get involved? Check out this website to explore volunteer
opportunities: United Way of Fairfield County

Rest/Re-Charge: Take some time to do things you enjoy. Spend time with family and
friends, get outside, engage in your hobbies, or try out a new hobby.

Explore your Interests: Attend an interest based camp, take a course, complete an
internship or job shadow someone in a field of interest. If you aren't sure where to start,
utilize the career exploration resources through Naviance or School Links. Figuring out
your interests and passions will help you as you move forward in your post-high school
planning, not to mention may provide some critical networking opportunities that could
lead to potential employment, sources of recommendation and mentorship.

7 Things High School Juniors Can Do Right Now

Senior Year
Timeline
August: Return to school with a list of at least 3-5 schools that you plan to apply to//3-5 places
of employment you plan to apply to//The branch of military you plan to enlist in.

August-September: Request letters of recommendations from teachers, counselor, employers,

community members, etc. You should provide at least 2 weeks of advance notice when
requesting a letter of recommendation. If requesting a letter of recommendation from your
school counselor, please complete this form: Senior Brag Sheet

August-October: Complete college applications and write essays//Create your resume and
cover letter//Make contact with a recruiter and schedule ASVAB.

August-October: Take the ACT and/or SAT for the final time and make sure you have requested
your scores be sent to your intended colleges. Double check to see if your colleges are test
optional and decide whether you will plan to send test scores or not. Many colleges will have
resources on their respective websites to help you determine the best course of action for you.

August-May: Apply for scholarships.

September: Take the ASVAB for military enlistment or career exploration.

October 1: You can begin submitting your FAFSA for the following year. It is FREE to submit the
FAFSA and ALL students are encouraged to do so. Access the FAFSA HERE.

October 31: Have all college applications submitted, with supporting documents to ensure you
meet colleges' early application deadlines and are eligible for the most scholarship
opportunities.

October-May: Review college applications, financial aid letters and begin to narrow down your
final decision by May.
Remember: You've never been a Senior before, so we
don't expect you to know all of the things, but please
ask if you aren't sure what to do. That is the only way
we will know how we can help you!
Applying to College?
Things to Consider
Most colleges will do a WHOLISTIC review of applicants. What this means is that they will consider multiple
measures when making a decision regarding admission. Among the things they will consider are: GPA
(typically unweighted GPA is used to level the playing field among applicants), test scores (if required), extra-
curricular activities (including: athletic participation, music/fine arts participation, work, volunteering,
community service, etc), rigor of high school schedule, essays (if provided), letters of recommendation (if
provided). The more information you can provide a college upon application, the better!

Find YOUR best fit. There are thousands of colleges out there. Find the one that will meet your needs
best and make your college decision based upon that. Utilize the "SuperMatch College Search" tool in
Naviance or College Search tool in School Links to narrow down options, go on campus visits, speak
with current students at that college, to help you discern the pros and cons of each school you are
considering.

In the fall, apply to any and all colleges to which you are interested. While it is important to be
mindful of cost, most students do not end up paying the full sticker price to attend. In the fall you are
casting your net of potential options. Once you receive your letters of acceptance, complete and submit
your FAFSA and review your financial aid letters, you can make the determination about what college is
the best option for you. This decision does not have to be made until May 1.

"Optional" Essays: We would encourage you to include an essay if you are given the opportunity.
Most colleges provide multiple prompts and allow you to select your topic. Sharing additional
information that cannot be gleaned from a transcript alone, allows you to speak to other experiences
you may have had, or strengths that may not automatically be revealed through a simple records
review.
+ Common App Essay Prompts

"Optional" Letters of Recommendation: We would encourage you to include letters of

recommendation, if they are permitted. They, too, provide another perspective into who you are as an
individual and what you can bring to a college's campus. We would also advise seeking out individuals
from different aspects of your life (ie. someone who can speak to your academic work, someone who
can speak to your community engagement, etc. to provide the most well-rounded depiction of you and
your strengths.) To assist your recommenders with writing a strong letter on your behalf, please
complete the Senior Brag Sheet and provide it to the individuals from whom you are requesting a
letter of recommendation. Keep in mind, you should provide at least a 2 week advance notice
when requesting a letter of recommendation!

Organize your High School Activities and Accomplishments: Many colleges will ask for a list of
activities or special recognitions you have received throughout high school. Begin organizing those
activities now so that they can be easily shared with both recommenders and college applications.
+ Sample Activities Resume Template
Scholarships
There are tons of great resources for securing scholarship dollars to offset the cost of
college attendance. Some reputable scholarship websites include:
Fairfield County Foundation (Local)
Columbus Foundation (Local)
Fastweb (National)
Scholarships.Com (National)
School Links (Local/National) **New scholarships are added throughout the year.**
Additional avenues to explore: Parents' employers, civic organizations you or family
members may have affiliation with, religious institutions you have affiliation with,
college scholarship programs or events, and University Foundation Offices are a great
resource to inquire about additional school specific scholarship opportunities.

Additionally, once you have received your financial aid letters from schools, if you notice a
specific school is offering you more scholarship dollars than your first choice school, you
can always reach out to the financial aid office to inquire as to whether there are any
additional dollars they could award you.

Applying for scholarships does take time and energy, but the payoff is worth it, as there
are thousands of scholarship dollars available to students!
Keep in mind you should never pay money to receive free money, so if you find yourself on
a scholarship site that requires a fee, do not proceed.
Financial Aid
The FAFSA
The FAFSA
The FAFSA is used to determine financial aid eligibility. The 2025-2026 FAFSA can be
completed online at www.fafsa.gov beginning on October 1(hopefully). The FAFSA is
FREE to complete and submit, so please be sure you are on the .gov site and you do
NOT pay any money to submit the FAFSA.

The FAFSA will require information from both the parent/guardian and the student.
Many college financial aid offices are willing to answer questions regarding FAFSA
submission, so do not hesitate to reach out to them. Your careful completion of this
document is encouraged, even if you do not feel you will qualify for government
financial aid, as some scholarships also require FAFSA information as a part of their
application. Each college will have a FAFSA deadline, which must be met in order to
receive access to the greatest amount of aid. Make yourself aware of these deadlines
by visiting the college's website.

Once you have completed the FAFSA, the schools you included will receive your
information. If your selected schools need additional information, or if you are
randomly selected for verification, you will receive notification and directions to
complete these additional steps.

You may make corrections to your FAFSA, or add colleges, at any time by logging back
in to your secure account.

The Financial Aid Award Letter

Once you have been accepted by a college and your FAFSA has been filed, you will receive an
award letter from each respective college outlining the cost of attendance, any financial aid you
will be offered and your expected out of pocket expenses. Keep in mind that many award letters
include loans, which must be paid pack, in addition to grants and scholarships, which do not have
to be paid back. Additionally costs such as transportation, textbooks and living expenses are
sometimes included as part of the total cost and are suggested amounts that can fluctuate from
person to person. These letters typically arrive between January-May.
Work Force Opportunities
If you are planning to enter the work force after high school, there are some important steps you
can be taking now to help prepare you for your intended career field. Keep in mind, a college
degree is not necessary to enter all employment fields and there are great opportunities in the
trades. Whether you are pursuing a career with on-the-job training opportunities, or seeking a
specific license or credential in a field that you plan to pursue, there are numerous opportunities
to explore!

Know the career field you plan to enter and begin exploring potential job opportunities and
job requirements.
+ Use School Links to explore careers and learn more about areas of interest by
selecting the Careers Tab.

Build a resume in School Links and draft a cover letter.

Create a profile on Ohio Means Jobs and begin connecting with potential employers.
+ Ohio Means Jobs also has numerous resources for career assessments and training
that can help you stand apart when applying for potential jobs.

If you are looking at a career field that requires a specific credential, or certification, check out
the adult program options available at Eastland-Fairfield Career Center, CTEC, and
Fairfield County Workforce Center, most of which can be completed in under one year.
COTC and Columbus State are also great resources for some short-term industry
credentials.

Learn more about job outlook and potential salary in your chosen career field by reviewing
the Occupational Outlook Handbook

Explore career opportunities and get an in depth look at what specific jobs entail at O*NET

Consider enrolling in the Work Force Development program during your senior year, in
partnership with the Fairfield County Work Force Development Center, Hocking College and
Ohio University-Lancaster, to explore different career areas and have the opportunity to
complete an on the job pre-apprenticeship. See your school counselor for more info or to
sign up!
Military Opportunities
Enlisting in the military is both an honorable and advantageous pursuit. Military enlistment
provides access to education and training that can be utilized both during time of service, as well
as translated to civilian life. Depending upon length of service, branch of service and other
factors, military members may be eligible for health care benefits, compensation, education
credits and more. In some situations, individuals can pursue both college and military service
simultaneously. To learn more about the opportunities available through the military, please
reach out to a recruiter to set up a meeting.

Enlisting in the military does require that the applicant meet certain criteria. Each branch may
vary slightly on these requirements and the most accurate and up to date information can be
provided by a recruiter.
+ Free resources to prepare for the ASVAB (required military aptitude test)
- To access practice tests, please sign into your account, then go to assessments
and training. Next click on View Online Training Center, next in the search bar type
ASVAB then search
- North will administer the ASVAB to interested students in September.
Information to sign up will be forth coming.
+ Enlistment can vary from active duty, reserve and guard options, each providing
different career opportunities and commitment requirements.

College ROTC programs provide students the opportunity to attend college, while also
preparing them for military service. Students taking part in these programs receive
scholarships to offset the cost of college and commit to military service after graduation.
+ Ohio Colleges that offer ROTC

Obtaining admission to one of the five military academies in the US is a great honor and
follows a different path than traditional college applications. To learn more about the process
please review this article: Getting Into a Service Academy
+ Students must receive a nomination from a member of Congress to attend the U.S.
Military Academy, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and Merchant Marine Academy.
A nomination is not required for the Coast Guard Academy.
Parent Resources
Sometimes the hardest part of parenting is knowing how to support our children through the
transitions. When they are learning to walk, we have to find the balance between providing
supports and safety measures and allowing them the space to attempt and fall. When it comes to
driving, some of us would prefer they do as we say, rather than mimic what they have watched us
do in the drivers seat for the past 16 years. Moving from dependent child to (semi) independent
adult and all that comes along with that, is no different. Over the course of the next year, your
child will undoubtedly have concerns and questions, fears mingled with anticipation for all of the
excitement that lies ahead and a smorgasbord of other thoughts and feelings and whether they
will admit it or not, they will be looking to you for support and encouragement.

In this time, you will also be experiencing your own litany of emotions as you watch your child
move towards adulthood and begin making decisions about their own futures. It will be important
to acknowledge your own feelings during this time and maintain an open and honest dialogue
with your child. This year may bring up difficult conversations about the cost of college and what
is feasible, future aspirations that may not align with your ideals, and the responsibilities and
consequences that are associated with adult decisions. Sometimes you will want to course
correct and make the decisions you feel are best, but this really is a time to have conversation
and allow your child to forge a path that they can take ownership of.

Please know that we are here to support you as well. If you have questions or concerns, please
don't hesitate to reach out.

When Should Parents Step In

Planning for College

Contact Info:
Assigned Counselor by Last Name
A-Cn Linda Kelly ([email protected])
Co-He Colby Schmitt ([email protected])
Hf-Mc Kendra Stewart ([email protected])
Md-Sc Eric Rutter ([email protected])
Sd-Z Emma Baucher ([email protected])