CCS Junior Update
3rd Edition, 2021-2022 -CCS Office of School Counseling
Staying Motivated
"The only thing that I see that is distinctly different about me is I'm not afraid to die on a treadmill. I will not be out-worked, period. You might have more talent than me, you might be smarter than me, you might be sexier than me, you might be all of those things you got it on me in nine categories. But if we get on the treadmill together, there's two things: You're getting off first, or I'm going to die. It's really that simple, right?" (Will Smith)
Junior year comes with harder classes and more responsibility, but you're half way done, and spring break is around the corner. Just remember: the harder you work, the more you succeed.
Reach out to teachers and counselors if you need help! Find your School Counselor contact HERE .
Reminders
- Keep track of your grades. If you did well Semester 1, great! If not, get off to a strong start Semester 2. See below for more grades information.
- Schedule a meeting with your teacher(s) and counselor for help on study skills and steps you can take to be more successful.
- Check out the free tutoring resources HERE!
- If you are interested in FREE College Credit Plus classes for next year, see the directions below.
- Start planning the classes you will take next year. Plan on the most challenging courses you can handle. Make sure to earn all needed graduation requirements. Check off your classes on the 2023 Planner and touch base with your counselor!
- Follow the CCS Calendar for 11th Graders .
More Important Grade Information!
- Semester 1 ended Jan 14- check the Infinite Campus for your FINAL grades.
- If you failed any courses first semester, contact your counselor to discuss retaking it on APEX or plan for summer school. Don't wait until next year- you may not graduate!
- You can retake courses to improve your grades/GPA. See the CCS repeat course policy at the bottom of the page HERE.
College Credit Plus (CCP):
- CCP is a great opportunity to earn college credit for FREE from local universities, however, there are many risks to consider, and several steps to follow for eligibility. Take one or more college classes that can satisfy both high school and college requirements.
- Seniors to Sophomores is a specific CCP program for strong students who want a full-time experience. Finish your first year of college next year as a senior in high school! Apply to take full-time classes at OSU, Capital, Otterbein and/or CSCC. Juniors must apply by March 7!
- Parents and students need to engage in an informational session and return a signed Letter of Intent to Participate in CCP EVERY year. This is all online! Click HERE to watch the whole CCP presentation and complete your electronic Letter of Intent to Participate. Submit by the April 1 deadline! Questions? Call your counselor!
- Students are responsible for ensuring they meet all state and college deadlines and eligibility requirements for CCP. These deadlines are fixed and not set by CCS, so please make sure you are following ALL steps and checking colleges' sites for more details. Help your child stay on task!
Apply for summer programs!
- Wait, there's snow on the ground- I'm supposed to start planning for summer? Absolutely- especially if you don't want to miss out on some fantastic summer programs with early deadlines!
- Click HERE and scroll to bottom for lots of great summer program links, scholarships and ideas. And, don't forget to check our Latest Picks page for announced programs!
- Looking for a highly selective summer program? Check out a few HERE. Early deadlines!
- While summer's a time for unwinding after the school year, it's also a time for finding your real interests, testing your abilities and building your skills.
- This will also help you build a resume that could lead you to your ideal college and/or career!
Think About Volunteering and Summer Internships
- Did you notice that there are loads of internship and job opportunities on the landing page of your SchooLinks account?
- SchooLinks has teamed with Indeed to provide internships (many paid) and jobs in Central Ohio.
- OhioMeansJobs also lists internships and jobs for teens on their site. Create an account and you're on your way!
- Volunteering is a great way to explore careers and help your community. Cap4Kids lists many exceptional opportunities!
- Try other list serves like Chegg and LinkedIn.
- Remember, doing these activities can help you earn your internship requirement and your OhioMeansJobs Readiness and Community Service Seals!
Why Summer School?
CCS Summer School (June 21-July 28)
Get ahead with Credit Advancement:- You may want to get a requirement, like Physical Education or Health, out of the way to make room in your schedule next year.
Retake courses with Credit Recovery:
- Earn any graduation requirements you failed in the past- summer school is the BEST time to do this when you can focus without a lot on your plate.
- Improve your grade(s) for courses you have already taken. See the CCS Grading Policy on retaking courses and how this could help your GPA and rank.
- Starting with one college class outside of the regular school year might be a great way to start or continue CCP.
- Summer college courses cover a lot of material in a short time.
- You must meet all deadlines (apply ASAP!) and application requirements.
College Fairs Online!
- We invite your high school students to join our free virtual college fair for the Midwest Region of the U.S. next week, Feb. 21st-26th.
- Free! REGISTER today under the Student/Parents tab!
- Every student that registers is entered to win a $300 scholarship.
Athletes: Want to Compete in College?
Stay Eligible in High School
- Maintain AT LEAST a 2.3 cumulative GPA in your academic core classes, including English, math, social studies, science and world languages.
- Earn required credits on time. See the Student Guide HERE.
- Work with an experienced coach or mentor who can help with the recruiting process.
- Maintain at least five full courses each quarter for high school eligibility!
NCAA Eligibility Center
- NCAA If you plan to play in a Division I or Division II sport in college, you must register with the NCAA, the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The registration fee is $90 (fee waivers are available for qualified students from your school counselor). You can register now at the website www.eligibilitycenter.org. When you register for the SAT and/or ACT, be sure to add the Eligibility Center as a score recipient by using the code “9999”.
- Also, make sure that you ask your counselor to send an official transcript to the Eligibility Center after you complete your junior year. More information and resources for college-bound student-athletes and parents can be found HERE (scroll to bottom).
- Take the total approved courses you need and keep your GPA up! Do not take online courses for the Eligibility Center this year through next year. See your counselor with questions!
NAIA Eligibility Center
PlayNAIA.org is the official clearinghouse for NAIA eligibility. Every student-athlete must register with the NAIA Eligibility Center to play sports at an NAIA college or university. Register HERE.
Find More Information HERE about Athletic Recruiting- Scroll down to athletics section!
Special Opportunities for Juniors
Buckeye Student Leadership Academy, June – November, 2022: BSLA is a special summer program for rising Ohio high school seniors who are high achieving, first-generation, rural and/or underrepresented minority students. Students apply for the program during their junior year. The FREE program combines five virtual sessions (held June – November) with a one-day, on-campus session. Applicants are encouraged to apply early. Applications are due Monday, March 1 at 11:59 p.m. EDT. Ready? Start the BSLA application process.
The 2022 Questbridge College Prep Scholars Program application is now open! The deadline is Wednesday, March 24. To be considered for the awards and opportunities for College Prep Scholars — including a full scholarship to a college summer program (at top colleges around the country) — submit a free, online College Prep Scholars Program application. This prestigious program is for high-achieving juniors from families with financial need. Check eligibility on their site!
- HCOP Virtual Summer Camp: This three-week virtual program is for rising CCS high school seniors. The Health Science Summer Camp invites students to explore various careers in the health field. Students will also learn about pathways to a college education at Columbus State and partner four-year institutions and professional schools. Students who complete the program will earn $600 dollars. The program is FREE, there is no GPA requirement, we are looking for serious students who are interested in healthcare and college.
- Support for Talented Students Scholarships: Support for Talented Students is a non-profit organization that provides scholarships for gifted students in Central Ohio to attend summer programs of students’ choice. Each year, STS funds programs for students who are economically disadvantaged, and more than $25,000 of their funds go to students in Columbus City Schools. The STS Scholarship Application website is open for parents and students to apply for scholarships for summer programs in 2021. Students must be identified as gifted and should currently be in grades 3-11. Lists of camps and programs from 2020 can be found HERE. 2021 programs are all dependent on any COVID 19 restrictions.
The Achieve More & Prosper (A.M.P .) Program (through ETTS):
Assists young adults (16-18) year old currently enrolled in school. Participants are assigned to a Career Coach who assists with work readiness training, work experience, and post-secondary education opportunities.
Program: Apply Now!- Big Future Scholarships for the Class of 2023! The College Board is offering money to students who complete steps toward attending college. The more effort you put in, the more chances you get to earn a scholarship ranging from $500 to $2,000. If you complete all six steps, you’re eligible to earn a $40,000 scholarship. Scholarships are awarded—through monthly drawings—to students who complete each step.
- The 2022 Martin W. Essex School for the Gifted and Talented™ at Ashland University for rising juniors and seniors will take place in June. This is a fantastic residential camp that many CCS students have attended. See your counselor for more information. Financial assistance is available.
- United States Service Academy Nominations: This is an extremely competitive process that requires a Congressional nomination for a college education that covers all costs. Most students begin seeking these out in their junior year. Ohio senators and representatives usually host information sessions in the spring. Deadline for submission of ALL required materials is October 1 of senior year.
- U.S. Senate Page Program: Page duties consist primarily of delivery of correspondence and legislative material within the Congressional Complex. Other duties include taking messages for Members, calling them to the phone, preparing the Chamber for Senate sessions, and carrying bills and amendments to the desk. Pages are paid on the basis of an annual salary of $ 25,605. Consider applying for this program either in the summer or next year. Applications can be found at: http://www.brown.senate.gov/services/students/pages or at http://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/page-program .
- Raise.me is a site on which students can enter their information for a variety of “micro-scholarships” at specific colleges and universities. Register and see how your individual achievements can add up (beginning now!) at a great variety of colleges (including Oberlin, Denison, U. of Dayton, Kent State, Temple, DePaul, Tulane, Colby, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and more)!
Great advice video above for juniors to know NOW about applying to colleges!
Parents: Need help for your family?
- This is an especially difficult time, so you may need help with housing, bills, food or mental health services for your child.
- Contact your school's social worker (if you don't know who that is, ask your school counselor) or your school counselor.
- Check out all the community assistance and mental health resources HERE! You are sure to find something that helps!
Make sure to always get the latest updates!
Did you miss the first two Junior Updates? Find them HERE!