SCHOOL COUNSELOR NEWS – October 2018
We are in “finals week†and close to ending the first quarter. Student-led conferences are coming up in a couple of weeks and I encourage all parents to set up a conference time.
Reed, Annette and I are inviting all 7th graders for lunch this fall so we can meet all of them. They have been invited in groups of 8 for pizza, and the last group will be invited this Friday. I work a lot with the older students about academic choices and the college application process so this has been a great opportunity for me to meet the younger students. We definitely want to do the same or something similar next fall.
PSAT
We have 25 students signed up for the PSAT. The test takes place on Wednesday October 24. We ask students to report to the MPR at 8:15 so we can have all of them seated and ready to start at 8:30.
Please note:
The day of the test is a half day. The students doing the PSAT will NOT be released at the same time as the other students. The PSAT will end between 12:15 and 1pm, depending on how long time the students spend on entering demographic data before the actual test starts. The test starts and ends at the same time for all participants. Students cannot be late for the test.
Cell phones or smart watches are not allowed in the testing room.
Students need to bring their own calculator and it has to be on the approved list: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/pdf/psat-nmsqt-student-guide.pdf You can find information on calculators on pages 26 and 27.
COLLEGE FAIR
Juniors and Seniors and their families are recommended to visit to the annual Anchorage Alaska College Fair on Sunday October 14 at the Alaska Airlines Center at UAA, 3550 Providence Drive. This is a good time for students to connect with college admission counselors and to learn about colleges they may not have heard of before. Many of the colleges present at the fair offer WUE tuition. Private colleges are also present. Remember to ask about scholarships and financial aid.
SENIORS
I have met with most of the seniors and it has been very interesting to learn about the different plans students have for “after Stellerâ€. Most students are heading for college although some are taking a year off for work or travel. As always, we have a mix of students staying in Alaska and going to the Lower 48 to study. We also have a couple of students interested in looking at university options abroad.
FINANCIAL AID NIGHT AT STELLER BY THE ALASKA COMMISSION OF POST-SECONDARY EDUDATON (ACPE)
Finally, a reminder to seniors and their parents that we are offering a Financial Aid Night at Steller on Wednesday October 24 at 6 pm. A flyer will be posted on Flash. All the seniors have received a form with information on how to obtain a FSA ID (Federal Student Aid), which is necessary to complete the FAFSA. ACPE offers a FAFSA workshop in the computer lab after the presentation.