January Guidance Newsletter

Guidance Office Newsletter

January 2020

Happy New Year! This school year is flying by! Please read this month’s newsletter for some important information and deadlines. 

Some reminders for the month of January:

• Dania Barazi, the founder of Seas the Day Foundation, will be here during the third and fourth week of January. She will present to every grade about suicide prevention and mental health awareness. Dania’s message is positive and uplifting. You can visit her website to learn more. Dania has spoken at many local Catholic schools and the feedback has been nothing but positive.  Seas the Day Foundation also works closely with Catholic Charities and has the enthusiastic support of the Diocese of Covington. If you previously completed this Opt-Out Notice, you do not need to do so again. If you would like your child to not attend sessions and have not completed the Opt-Out Notice, please do so and return to the front office or email it to me (erin.stone@covingtonlatin.org) by Friday, January 17, 2020. I will be present during each lesson with Dania.  

As always, please watch for any updates from the Guidance Department in Mr. Gressock’s Friday emails. 

Upcoming College Representative Visits to CLS:

Colleges are still contacting CLS for visits. There is only one scheduled for the month of January, but this may change as more colleges request a visit. The visits will take place outside of the forum or in senior guidance class. I encourage all students to stop by to say hello to the reps, but especially those who are thinking about attending that particular college - tell the rep your name, introduce yourself and let them know you are interested. 

1/10 Siena Heights University - during 5th-period lunch outside the forum

College Applications

Thomas More University - You can always apply to TMU for free through their website. Apply here. 

Senior Checklist for January

• Make sure your applications were received on time. 
• If you applied Early Decision, were accepted, and financial aid packages are acceptable, please remember to withdraw your applications to other colleges.  
• Meet with college admissions representatives at college fairs or when they visit your school. 
• It’s time to finalize your college list. 
• Double-check that testing companies have sent your scores directly to the colleges to which you are applying.  
• Check with each school’s financial aid office to see what financial aid forms are required.
• Keep track of ALL deadlines!
• Prepare your application materials and when everything is in order, apply!
• Start thinking about financial aid and obtain applications from the colleges. The earlier you apply, the better.
• Stay on track with grades and extracurriculars. Watch out for senioritis! 
• Continue searching for scholarships!

Junior Checklist for November

• Work to stay on track in your classes and keep grades up.
• Meet with the school counselor to discuss college options, standardized testing, and any other concerns you may have. 
• Start to think about and evaluate your college options. 
• Create a college list.
• If you go out of town, plan to visit colleges along the way.
• Research colleges.
• Create a standardized testing plan - what are the requirements of the schools in which you are interested.
• Explore your interests.
• Stay involved in extracurriculars.
• Explore volunteer opportunities with organizations that may interest you or relate to your intended undergrad field of study.
• Search for scholarship opportunities.

Scholarship Opportunities!

Start your scholarship search now. Look for scholarships that apply to your unique traits or interests! Many scholarships are open to freshmen through seniors. There are many websites to search for scholarships. Try scholarships.com, fastweb.com, studentscholarships.org, College Board, or goingmerry.com to name a few. You may also contact local organizations, companies, and religious organizations to ask if they offer scholarships. Cincinnati Scholarship Foundation is a great resource for local scholarships! Start accumulating your college money now!

Listed below are some scholarships of interest.

Profile in Courage Essay Contest: Students in grades 9-12 can submit a 700- to 1,000-word essay about "an act of political courage by a US elected official who served during or after 1917, the year John F. Kennedy was born." Essays must have at least five sources. Deadline: January 17, 2020, First place receives $10,000

Remembering Marine SSGT Mark Anthony Wojciechowski (“Tony Wojo”)

Please submit a two-page essay using 12-point Times New Roman font, one-inch margins and 1.5 spacing that address the topic “What it Means to me that Servicemen like SSGT Mark Anthony Wojciechowski (“Wojo”) are Willing to Serve and Protect Our Country and Our Way of Life”.  Include how Wojo’s leadership abilities and qualities might inspire you. More information available by clicking the link. Deadline: April 15, 2020                                                                                                             

Ramsey Debt-Free Degree Scholarship Giveaway is giving away $10,000 in college scholarships. Answer a few easy questions about going to college debt-free and be entered for a chance to win one of three scholarships. Open to freshmen through seniors. First place wins $5,000, second and third place wins $2,500 each. It really is as simple as answering a few True or False questions! You may apply here. 

ACT/PSAT

January 15, 2020, is the next Practice ACT test date. It is mandatory for all Sophomores. This test will be held at CLS. Parents and students do not need to do anything to register. 

The next ACT test date is February 8, 2020. This test will not be held at CLS. You must register by January 10, 2020. You can register at act.org. 

In 2020, students will have the option to take retake the ACT as Subject Tests. This means if there is an area where there is room for improvement, students may take only that subject instead of the entire ACT. Registration for subject tests will be through act.org. 

Other News:

The US Department of Education has combined several websites in an effort to improve how students and parents deal with federal student aid. The website launched on December 22, 2019, and can be found at studentaid.gov. More tools will be rolled out for parents, students, and borrowers in 2020. Some of the tools include:

• Get personalized information about the aid they received.
• Compare loan repayment options to find a strategy that meets their needs.
• Receive counseling about their remaining loan and grant eligibility, make informed borrowing decisions and manage their existing debt.
• Access chats that will provide specific answers to their questions.
• Plan and maintain eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

If there is a topic you have questions about or would like covered in the guidance newsletter, please feel free to contact with suggestions at erin.stone@covingtonlatin.org!