College planning can seem daunting for students and their families. There is no reason families need to wait until a student's junior or senior year to begin to explore college as a post-high school pathway. School counselors will work with students and their families to identify the resources available to them as early as freshman year and to help manage this process over their high school years. Linked below is a general timeline for college planning and the tasks associated. We have also provided a few things to think about as part of this process.
Counselors met with all seniors through English 12 classes at GHS in the first two weeks of school to discuss, in detail, the steps necessary in their post high school planning. An evening event was held for parents, guardians, and any student who misses the classroom lesson due to absence or college release. Below is the powerpoint used during the presentation.
Post High School Pathways Planning Night Powerpoint
These surveys are available in Naviance beginning in the spring of a student's junior year. They are crucial for staff to have when writing recommendations for college admissions and career opportunies. These surveys should be completed no later than June 1st of a student's junior year. To access these surveys go to your Naviance homepage and click the blue circle icon with your initials in it in the upper right hand corner, and click Surveys From Your School.. Students should not complete the teacher information surveys until they have obtained a verbal commitment from the teacher that they are willing and able to write on their behalf.
Please click HERE to review frequently asked questions about the college planning process.
Student Services will run two College Essay Writing workshops in the fall of 2024. These workshops will be held on Tuesday, September 17 and Wednesday,October 9th right after school in the media center. College admissions representatives and GHS staff will be on hand to discuss student essay topic ideas and read over essays, offering input.
Students can access the list of college representative visiting Glenelg this fall in their Naviance account. This list is continually updated as colleges schedule appointments with Student Services. Once the school year begins, students will be able to register for college visits and the essay workshops through their student Naviance account.
Every student applying to college should complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) regardless of family income. The FAFSA opens for completion in October of a student's senior year.
For information on additional ways to pay for college visit U.S. Department of Education website. Also check out the information shared by the Office of Financial Aid and Howard Community College.
Student Services meets with all in the spring of their junior year to begin to outline several early deadline tasks that a part of the college application process. Our team also offers a parent/guardian evening event to share this information. Counselors then meet with all students through English 12 classes in the first two weeks of senior year to review the post high school planning and college application process more in-depth. Another parent/guardian workshop is offered at this time as well to help answer many of your questions. Dual enrollment students, not taking English 12 at GHS, should plan to attend this event.
College Application Checklist Junior/Senior Year
College Admissions Exams (SAT/ACT's)
School staff use Naviance to send transcripts and letters of recommendation to colleges and universities. Students must complete very specific steps in Naviance in order to request transcripts and letters of recommendation and ensure they are sent. There are also a variety of reasons a student will need to request transcripts that are not part of the college application.
Naviance Instructions (All requests for transcripts for college applications and NCAA)
All other requests for transcripts - All non-college related transcript requests (ie. Scholarships, internships, employment, NHS application
In order for school staff to send transcripts and letters of recommendation on behalf of current students, a Waiver of Rights and Records Release Form must be on file. The form below should be completed and submitted to our registrar in advance of a request.
Waiver of Rights and Records Release Form
Seniors (and Juniors) can begin to access a variety of scholarships through the Scholarship Bulletin below. Be sure to explore all links at the top of the bulletin to review college specific, senior class, and junior class specific scholarship opportunities. This document will continually updated so interested students should check back frequently for updates.