Orange High School
Underclassman newsletter, May 2021
It's almost time, summer is almost here! Keep focusing on your grades, and study hard for your final exams so you can finish out the year strong. Juniors, summer is a great time to get a jump start on college applications and scholarships. Sophomores, summer is a great time to start visiting (even virtually), researching colleges, volunteering, and taking advantage of one of the many great summer options we have in our area!
AP Exam Updates
For in-person paper/pencil tests, check out this handout with test dates and locations.
For digital tests, students will test at home. The district is working on an update that will allow you to test on your school laptops. See this guide for the steps you need to take prior to test day.
Taking care of your mental health
- OHS Virtual Calming Room (and look out for an in-person calming room at OHS for the 21-22 school year!)
- Enroll for free in the science of well-being at Yale University
- Tips for managing Anxiety and Stress
Junior College Resources
- Next Step program-Sign up before May 31st and complete six steps to ensure you're college ready!
- College Essay workshops-Sign up for a series of two workshops designed to get you ready for your college essay and applications.
- Applying to college overview
- Scholarship overview
- College Admissions chart
- Scoir.com-Make sure you're using your scoir account to organize your college search, keep track of activities, and to take the free YouScience career assessment. Set up your free account here.
- Requesting a letter of recommendation, do this now!
Summer to-dos
- Visit colleges! Many colleges will resume in-person tours this summer and all have virtual options. All grade levels can visit, contact the admissions office to set up a visit.
- One final chance to get in an ACT! Register here by June 18 for a July 17 test date. Also, College Board typically has an August SAT with a July registration date so watch out for that.
- Get a part-time job, volunteer and participate in summer programs.
- Set up an account at cfnc.org and complete your application for NC Residency (required!) beginning July 1st.
- Set up an account on http://www.commonapp.org/ beginning August 1st and get a jump start on your essay. The prompts are already up!
College Admissions Terms
Early Decision: Early Decision is a very early deadline, typically in October or November, and a binding agreement with the school. If you choose to apply to a college early decision, it means this college is your number one choice. It also means the decision is binding, meaning if you are admitted you are committing to attending that university. You may apply early decision to only one school. You may have a slightly better chance of being admitted if you apply early decision as it expresses your commitment to the college, but it limits your opportunity to compare financial aid or scholarship packages from multiple schools.
Early Action: Early action is similar to Early Decision in that it is typically a very early deadline, often in October or November. However, it is not binding. You may apply to one school early decision and multiple schools early action. You will usually get a decision by early in the next year.
Regular: Regular deadlines are usually a school's second deadline and it is later in the school year, often in early January. You won't receive a decision until spring.
Rolling: Rolling means a school will accept an application at any point until their class is full. They will typically issue an admissions decision fairly quickly, within a few weeks.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Grants: A grant is financial aid that is awarded by the federal government, the state government, or the specific college and does not have to be paid back. It is usually based on your financial need which is determined by filling out the FAFSA (fafsa.ed.gov).
Scholarships: Scholarships are also free money that do not have to be paid back. They are usually based on some type of merit, which could be academic, athletic, artistic or even volunteerism or leadership. Scholarships are awarded by the colleges, large and small organizations, individuals and even employers. Begin now to start researching all the scholarship options available to you and when you become a senior, read the scholarship announcements regularly.
Loans: Loans are also based on your financial need but do need to be paid back with interest. Take loans out after you have exhausted your free aid and be aware of the debt you're incurring.
Work Study: Work study is also based on your financial need, and you are given employment on the college campus that assists you in paying your expenses.
Expected Family Contribution (EFC): After you complete your FAFSA, you will be given your EFC. This is the number based on your family's income and other factors, that the federal government believes you can pay for your college education. Individual colleges then use the EFC to guide them in making financial aid decisions.
Net Price: Many colleges offer a net price calculator on their financial aid websites. Go to each site and plug in some basic information about your family's income and circumstances, and they'll give you an approximation of what it will actually cost to attend the school.
Check out this guide from CFNC that provides extensive details about financial aid and scholarship programs in North Carolina: https://www.cfnc.org/static/pdf/paying/pubs/pdf/FANC.pdf
North Carolina Promise
CSTEP Program
C3
Your Counselors
Sam Westbrook, last names Go-N, samuel.westbrook@orange.k12.nc.us
Kelly Schaeffer, last names O-Z, kelly.schaeffer@orange.k12.nc.us
Jose Ortega, College Adviser, jose.ortega@orange.k12.nc.us
Nick Montgomery, CDC, nick.montgomery@orange.k12.nc.us
Cal Beneze, Counseling Intern, cal.beneze@orange.k12.nc.us
Email: kelly.schaeffer@orange.k12.nc.us
Website: http://www.orangecountyfirst.com/ohs/content/counseling
Location: 500 Orange High School Road, Hillsborough, NC, USA
Phone: 9197326133
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrangeHighSchoolStudentServices