NEWS - JUNIORS

A NEWSFLASH from Your Counselor…..

May 2023

Now is the time to plan for your senior year and life beyond Spring Hill High School.  Take some time to read the NEWSFLASH and start right now taking steps into your future.  –Mrs. Williamson

Dates to Remember:

May 30-June 23, 2023 - SHHS Summer School (pick up an enrollment form in the office)

May 30-June 15, 2023- EOC Tutorials (You have been or will be notified if you need to attend.)

June 20-22, 2023- EOC Retesting (6-20 English 1, 6-21 Algebra 1, Biology, US History, 6-22 English 2)

August 1, 2023- Apply Texas Annual Application opens for students entering college the summer of 2024, fall of 2024, and the spring of 2025.

July 31^st/August 1^st- Packet pick up high school office.

August 2, 2023- Senior registration/schedule pick up 8:30-11:30 (You must have 18 credits to be classified as a senior.)

August 16, 2023- SCHOOL STARTS! Welcome to your senior year!

August 28, 2023- First day of Kilgore College classes.

December 2023 FAFSA opens for students planning on attending college starting in the summer of 2024 (You will use 2022 income and tax information.)

Summer “To Do” List:

Start applying to your top colleges, talk to military recruiters, etc.  It is good to have a three layered plan: 1. Your dream school/job/first year out plan 2. Most realistic acceptable option and 3. Fallback plan if things don’t pan out.

Write a generic essay answering the question, “Why do I deserve to be the recipient of ____________ scholarship?”  This is a common theme in many scholarship applications that will be available to you during your senior year. Have your essay already written and ready to go. Tweak it to apply to each individual scholarship. College is very costly and every little bit of money you can get COUNTS! Don’t get into the mind set of, “I will never be awarded this scholarship.…. or This is only a $500.00 scholarship.” Scholarship committees are looking for a very diverse group of students to award monies to. Plus, you might just be the only student that applies! One scholarship for $500.00 can pay for a book for a class!

Write a resume listing all of your community service hours, organizations that you participate in, jobs you have held, and anything extracurricular that you are involved in. A completed resume is helpful when you ask someone to write you a letter of recommendation.

What does “Test Optional Mean?” Test optional means that you are not required to provide SAT and/or ACT scores to the university as part of your admission file. You must check with the prospective college or university to determine admission requirements regarding test optional. Applying test-optional doesn't hurt your chances if you've got an outstanding application and are as strong as or stronger than the other applicants. If a school or program has a test-optional admissions process, each applicant gets to choose whether or not to submit their ACT or SAT scores. In other words, submitting your test scores is not a requirement for admissions. Usually, this policy applies broadly to all applicants. SOOOOO, should you test or not?  It is recommended that high school students in the class of 2024 still consider taking the ACT or SAT, but whether or not they submit their scores should depend on test availability and personal performance. My advice is that: 1. Students should not sacrifice their mental or physical health to take a test; 2. If your test score does not fall within the upper 50% range of your desired school OR it doesn’t reflect your academic school performance, you have the option not to submit; 3. Remember, if you decide not to submit your test score, everything else will matter more in the admissions process. Rigor and grades continue to matter the most supported by a compelling story.

Plan a College Visit:  Summer is a great time to take a college visit!!! Be sure to make appointments ahead of time for a tour of the campus and set up a time to visit with the financial aid office and/or academic counselor.

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) GRADUATION REQUIREMENT

THE FAFSA OPENS FOR APPLICATION ON December 1, 2023

The FAFSA® is the application that students must complete to apply for federal student aid, which can be used to attend an eligible college or career school.  Federal student aid includes Federal Pell Grants, federal student loans, and work-study opportunities.  In addition to determining eligibility for federal student aid, many states, private organizations, colleges, and career schools rely on information from the FAFSA® to determine eligibility for nonfederal sources of aid.

The FAFSA® will collect income information from 2022.

TEXAS COMMON APPLICATION FOR FRESHMAN ADMISSION:

Apply Texas annual application opens August 1, 2023. This is for applications for summer 2024, fall 2024, and spring 2025.

www.applytexas.org-  This is the website used by most 2 and 4 year PUBLIC SCHOOLS in TEXAS.  It is recommended that you create your account in early June and begin entering your information so that you will be ready to submit your application when Apply Texas opens on July 1, 2023.  Admission to many universities is highly competitive and it is to your benefit to apply early.

Apply Texas Essay Prompts A, B and C:

For U.S. Freshman and International Freshman Applications Slated to replace current Apply Texas essay choices A, B and C for inclusion in Apply Texas applications for the 2023-2024 cycle (Summer 2024, Fall 2024, and Spring 2025 - opening 8/1/23)

Essay A: Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today?

Essay B: Some students have an identity, an interest, or a talent that defines them in an essential way. If you are one of these students, then tell us about yourself.

Essay C: You’ve got a ticket in your hand – Where will you go? What will you do? What will happen when you get there?

www.commonapp.org- This is the website used for most PRIVATE SCHOOLS across the nation.

***If you are planning on attending an out of state school, I recommend that you become very familiar with that institution’s website.  It is YOUR responsibility to know application deadlines, financial aid information, registration information, etc. 

**If you need a transcript sent electronically to a prospective college/university in the State of Texas between July 1st and July 31st you can email a transcript request to Ms. Baskin at [email protected]. She will have the capability to send your transcript electronically. No paper copies of transcripts will be handed out until we are back in school on August 16th or thereafter. I will come to your classrooms and give each of you an updated transcript. Remember you will be able to view your transcript in Skyward under Portfolio on July 1, 2023.

TSIA2 :  All first-time-in-college students are required to take the TSIA2 (Texas Success Initiative Assessment 2.0) if not previously tested and enrolled, TSIA2 complete or exempt before the institution’s first class day of the fall 2024 semester.  Please listen for dates and times the TSIA2 will be given on our campus throughout the fall and spring. Sign up to take the TSIA2 right here on our campus.

PROSPECTIVE COLLEGE ATHLETES: Register online with the NCAA Clearinghouse if you want to play college athletics. http://web1.ncaa.org/ECWR2/NCAA_EMS/NCAA.html

SENIOR MALES: You must register with the Selective Service within 30 days of your 18^th birthday.  IT IS THE LAW!!!!  Men can now submit their registration information when they turn 17 years 3 months and will automatically be registered upon turning 18.  Pick up a registration form at the post office or go to www.sss.gov

Email: [email protected]

I will not be working the month of July. I will be back at work August 1, 2023. Please email any schedule changes prior to schedule pick up on August 2nd.  

Periodically check my website for updates and information! Have a nice summer!

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Allison Williamson