STAYING CONNECTED!
A Newsletter From Your IU 13 High School Counselor
Back to School Edition!!!
Welcome Back Letter
As we begin a new school year, I'm struck by the resilience of my students and their families. Despite an often-chaotic world full of unknown challenges, you all continue to move forward to achieve your goals. You are to be commended for your drive and your determination!
Some of you are beginning your final year of formal education and preparing to begin a career. Or you are getting ready to pursue post-secondary education, or to enter the military, or to take a gap year. Seniors, you are full of anticipation, and maybe a little fear, about what this year will bring. Questions swirl in your head: Will I be prepared for the next steps in my journey? What ARE the next steps? Will we ever get "back to normal"? What will happen to my friendships after I graduate?
No matter what grade you're in, remember, we are all in this together! You are never alone. We will face all the challenges of this school year as a team, friends! Your teachers and I are ready to help you, and we want you to succeed. Never forget that you are loved by your teachers and school staff. We are part of your team, and we will be with you all the way!
Here's to an exciting school year full of challenges, learning, friendships, fun, faith, and victories! Make sure to stay connected to those who support you, keep a positive outlook, and work hard. And have a productive year!
Mrs. Casanova's Updates
My school assignments and my schedule have not changed this year! Yayyyy!! Here's where you can find me:
Anchor Christian School (alternating Mondays)
Hinkletown Mennonite School (alternating Mondays)
Lititz Christian School (Wednesdays and Fridays)
Mount Calvary Christian School (Tuesdays and Thursdays)
I am starting the year off with Senior Meetings in which we will discuss your post-high school plans and the steps you should be taking to achieve them. These meetings will take from 20 to 30 minutes. Once I've had a chance to meet with all the seniors, I'll move through grade-level meetings with the rest of you.
In the meantime, if you would like to schedule an appointment with me, please use the appropriate link below (instructions are provided once you click the link), or just send me an EMAIL.
LCS and MCCS students & families: https://calendly.com/lori_casanova/meeting
HMS students & families: https://calendly.com/lori_casanova/meeting-with-mrs-casanova-hinkletown
ACA students & families: https://calendly.com/lori_casanova/30min
I plan to continue using Google classrooms and Schoology to provide some guidance lessons and information this year. In fact, I will be expanding on those resources, so please watch for more and better content! I'll also continue to keep my website updated. You can find it HERE.
As always, I am available to meet with you at your request to support you through academic, college and career, and personal/social-emotional counseling. Please remember that when you meet with me, you MUST wear an approved face covering. IU 13 guidelines prohibit me from meeting with any student who is not doing so.
Mrs. C.
In This Issue of Staying Connected:
PSAT Updates
How To Prepare for the PSAT (video)
How Do I Decide Between the SAT and the ACT?
Seniors: 22 Items On Your Fall To-Do List
College: How To Get There From Here (a monthly step-by-step guide)
What If College Isn't Right For Me?
Virtual College Fairs
Very Important Dates
Career Focus: Meeting, Convention, and Events Planner
For Parents & Caregivers:
From Here To College: A Resource For Parents
10 FAFSA Mistakes That Affect Financial Aid
How Are We Going To Pay For College?
Dave Ramsey Video: How To Pay For College (The Right Way)
Common Back-To-School Questions For Parents
COLLEGE ADMISSIONS TESTING FOR JUNIORS & SENIORS
PSAT Update
The 2021-2022 PSAT will be offered on Wednesday, October 13, 2021. If you're wondering who should take the PSAT, all Juniors should test, and many Sophomores should consider taking it as well, particularly if you are contemplating college. The PSAT is offered only once per school year.
Preparing for test day is simple:
- Ask your school counselor when your class will take the PSAT/NMSQT or the PSAT 10.
- Get a list of what materials to bring on test day and what to leave at home.
- Take a practice test to see what the tests are like and receive a personalized skills workout. Get free practice.
- Decide if you want to opt in to Student Search Service®
From the Princeton Review:
The PSAT/NMSQT is the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The PSAT is a great primer for the SAT, and even the ACT, but it’s more than just a trial run. PSAT scores are used to identify National Merit Scholars and award merit scholarships. More than 3.4 million high school students (mostly juniors and sophomores) take this nationwide, multiple-choice test every year.
PSAT Quick Facts:
Frequency: 1 time/year
Duration: 2 hours, 45 minutes
Sections: Math, Evidence-Based Reading & Writing
Max. Score1520
What is the PSAT and why is it important?
The PSAT/NMSQT won’t count towards your college admissions applications, but it is the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship (for juniors only). Some of the highest scoring students may win scholarship money, so while you shouldn’t stress out about the PSAT, you certainly shouldn’t ignore it either. Use the PSAT as practice for the SAT and ACT and an important guidepost on your college admissions journey.
Watch this video to learn more about why you should take the PSAT and how you can prepare for it.:
How Do I Decide Between The SAT and the ACT?
Seniors: 22 Items On Your Fall To-Do List
- Finalize the college list by making certain it is a balanced list with reach/target/safety schools
- Be sure to include an in-state safety school for financial reasons
- Review the standardized testing calendar and register for the SAT in October, November or December or the ACT in October or December
- Find out if any of the colleges on your list have separate “Scholarship Deadlines” – they are earlier than the traditional deadlines and you forfeit your opportunity for scholarship opportunities if you don’t apply by that deadline
- Check your school’s calendar and take advantage of any teacher work days and schedule campus visits
- See if any of the colleges you’re considering offer Open House Dates or Discovery Days for seniors
- Determine which schools offer Early Action
- Decide if a binding Early Decision option at one college makes sense
- Figure out which of the colleges on your final list are on the Common Application and which are not
- Research the number of essays required or recommended by each college and create a document for each college listing their essay prompts and their deadlines
- Set up accounts on each college’s website
- Prepare a timeline of activity based on each college’s deadline
- Brainstorm essay ideas for colleges with the earliest deadlines first
- Write a first draft of essays
- Edit essays and yes, edit again
- Ask a trusted source to review your essays
- Meet with college representatives when they visit your school
- Review and then order high school transcripts – find out how your high school is sending transcripts to each college. Most high schools are now transmitting transcripts electronically.
- Prepare your resume/brag sheet/activity list and give it to your recommenders
- Research which colleges accept letters of recommendation and find out how many they require and how many they will accept
- Ask teachers, coaches, advisors and employers for letters of recommendation
- Begin researching scholarship opportunities
College: How To Get There From Here
What If College Isn't Right For Me???
While I'm definitely NOT trying to talk anyone out of going to college, I do want you to know that if you're considering skipping the student loan debt cycle, you may be making a wise choice! THIS ARTICLE from Praxis discusses five valid reasons why college isn't the right move for everyone. It's worth a read.
If you are thinking that a four-year college degree might not be the right choice for you but you're not sure what to do next, please take a few minutes and read this 2019 article about 12 Great Ways How To Be Successful Without College, from UoPeople. You'll be glad you did!
Coalition for College Fall Events
The Coalition for College hosts virtual college fairs designed to help students build smart college lists. All schools participating are members of the Coalition, meaning they have a proven commitment to access, affordability and student success.
The Coalition will host a virtual college fair Oct. 5 & 6, 2021. The fair is free, and students and student supporters are welcome to register for as many sessions as they like.
Want to build a strong college list? The Coalition for College’s virtual fairs are a great way to discover smart college choices.
Explore Coalition schools, all committed to access, affordability and student success.
140+ smart college choices at the largest Coalition virtual fair yet.
Connect with great schools you know, and discover new schools to add to your list. Registration is open for the Coalition for College’s virtual fair Oct 5 & 6:
Very Important Dates To Remember!
Friday, October 1: Seniors - Are you ready to fill out your FAFSA? The FAFSA will be available for completion beginning on October 1! Click here to start your form.
Sunday, October 3, 1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.: NACAC Virtual Signature College Fair - 389 colleges and 510 live sessions!
October 5 & 6: Coalition for College Virtual College fair (see above)
Friday, October 8: Registration deadline for the November 6 SAT. Click here for FREE SAT prep.
***Tuesday, October 12, 6:00 p.m.: PHEAA Financial Aid Night Virtual Presentation - open to all, but especially important for 11th and 12th grade students! Watch my website and this newsletter for more info.***Wednesday, October 13: PSAT/NMSQT day! Check the College Board website for PSAT prep resources.
Tuesday, October 19, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.: NACCAP Christian College Fair, IN-PERSON! Lancaster County Christian School.
Career Focus: Meeting, Convention, and Events Planners
To kick off this year's career focus section, let's take a look at what an Events Planner does! Do you love the idea of helping people to plan their wedding? Working with businesses to plan professional events? Coordinating the activities of convention personnel? Then you might consider exploring the career of Meeting, Convention, or Events Planner. To learn more, watch the video below
From Here To College: A Resource For Parents
10 FAFSA Mistakes That Affect Financial Aid
A mistake on your FAFSA can delay the processing of your application for financial aid. If your FAFSA is verified and contains errors, it can cost you.
To avoid the most common FAFSA mistakes, read THIS ARTICLE from Fastweb.
How Are We Going To Pay For College???
- Attend the October 13 virtual PHEAA Financial Aid Night. Watch for more information in the near future.
- Senior parents: As I am working through senior meetings, I am providing your students with a Financial Aid guidebook that you should find to be a useful starting point.
- Bookmark https://www.pheaa.org/. The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency is a national provider of student financial aid services, serving millions of students and thousands of schools through its loan guaranty, loan servicing, financial aid processing, outreach, and other student aid programs. Check out THIS PAGE from their website for five steps to financial aid.
- U.S. News And World Report has compiled THIS TOOLKIT of tips, tools, and articles to keep you up-to-date on paying for college. You will find information about colleges with "cheap" out-of-state tuition, The most and least expensive private schools, how to access free college applications, 16 tuition-free colleges (!!), and more.
- Dave Ramsey believes that it is possible to pay for college without student loans. In THIS ARTICLE, he explains how. This will be of particular interest to those of you who have attended Financial Peace University!
Here's more from Dave Ramsey:
Mrs. Lori Casanova
My name is Mrs. Casanova, and this is my 23rd year as a high school counselor! I have served students at IU 13 non-public schools since January 2018, and prior to that I worked in a public school. My husband, Lou, and I have two young adult kids, two German Shepherds, and a cat to keep us busy. I love to read, observe birds and other wildlife, and camp.
As your IU 13 high school counselor, I am here to support all ACS, HMS, LCS, and MCCS students and families with academic, social/emotional, and college/career needs. If you would like to schedule a virtual or in-person meeting with me, please use the appropriate link below, or email me at lorraine_casanova@iu13.org.
LCS and MCCS students & families: https://calendly.com/lori_casanova/meeting
HMS students & families: https://calendly.com/lori_casanova/meeting-with-mrs-casanova-hinkletown
ACA students & families: https://calendly.com/lori_casanova/30min
Email: lorraine_casanova@iu13.org
Website: https://lorrainecasanova.wixsite.com/casanovaiucounselor
Phone: 717-947-1635