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Post-Secondary Planning

There is a lot to do when planning your education and training after high school. Students have many opportunities for education and training after high school: 

 

  • Attend a 4-year college/university and pursue a Bachelor's Degree.            
  • Attend a community college, then transfer to a 4-year college/university after 1 or 2 years, and pursue a Bachelor's Degree. 
  • Attend a community college and pursue a diploma, certificate, and/or Associate Degree.
  • Attend a "career school" and pursue a diploma, certificate and/or Associate Degree.
  • Join the military and receive training through their programs, including ROTC programs at state colleges/universities.
  • Any combination of the above items.

 

It is important for parents/guardians and students to "do their homework" and research these options fully.  Post-secondary education is a big investment and therefore requires careful planning, research, and investigation in order to make the best decisions possible.

 

Checklist for College/University

 

College applications open August 1st every year. Because applications take so much time to complete, it is recommended that you start the application process early August and September.

 

  • All students graduating from high school are considered Undergraduate Students for College. Please find Undergraduate Admissions on your college/universities website and apply. You may also use the Common Application to apply to some schools.
      • Make sure you pick your major and if you are unsure what major you would like to pursue, simply choose Undecided
  • After the completion of your application, please make sure your transcripts are sent to that institution via MajorClarity.
  • You will also want to apply for Free Application Federal Student Aid, FAFSA, which is free money you may receive from the government. Both parent and student must fill out a portion of the FAFSA. Save your usernames and passwords as you will need them every year you are enrolled in college. Apply now at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa.
  • After you have completed your FAFSA, it is also recommended that you complete your Pennsylvania High Education Assistance Agency, or PHEAA. Only complete your PHEAA if you are attending an institution inside Pennsylvania or within the bordering states of Pennsylvania: Delaware, District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Ohio, Vermont, and West Virginia. This is a state grant available to students. Apply now at https://www.pheaa.org/.
  • Many schools and scholarships require Letters of Recommendations in the application process. You can receive letters of recommendations from your teachers, mentors, counselors, or coaches.. It is courteous to give at least a two week notice before the recommendation is due. Please start thinking about people that you would like to write a recommendation letter that highlights your strengths and can speak to your character.

 

The Application Process

 

Students will apply to college/universities, career and/or technical schools in the fall of their senior year.  This is why it is very important for students to use the summers prior to their senior year visiting schools, investigating majors, writing essays, lining up letters of recommendation, etc. so they are ready to go when they return to the high school in the fall of their senior year.

 

The Montour High School Counseling Department recommends students have all the applications completed by Thanksgiving and no later than Christmas break.  Students are responsible for sending the application (typically online), application fees, essays, letters of recommendation, and having their test scores (SAT or ACT) sent directly to the college from the testing agency.  Test scores do not appear on the transcript and are not sent from the School Counseling office. The High School counselors are responsible for sending official transcripts as requested along with any counselor forms required by the college/tech/career school.

 

Career/Technical schools typically do not require SAT and/or ACT test scores; however check with the schools for their individual requirements.

 

Not all colleges require essays or letters of recommendation; however check with the individual schools for their requirements.  If a school doesn't require these items but recommends them, we advise students to provide the essay and/or letters of recommendation.

 

Letters of Recommendation

 

Having two or three letters from teachers, employers, church advisors, etc. is appropriate.  Schools look for comments about work ethic, character, leadership, and classroom performance.  Students may complete a Recommendation Request Form/Student Information Sheet to help the recommender write a good letter.  These forms are available in the School Counseling office or online on our Counselors Corner website under the Forms tab.

 

College Admission Essay

 

The essay can range from a general personal statement to a specific topic or prompt.  Each school's requirements are different.  Students can get a lot of use from a good solid essay, because it can be tweaked for various scholarships and/or used for other college applications.  If you are unsure of your essay, have your English teacher look it over and critique it for you.

 

The Common Application

 

The Common Application (Common App) is an online college application platform that allows students to apply to multiple colleges and universities using one main application. Students create one account and enter their personal, academic, activity, and family information. Individual colleges may then require additional questions, essays, or materials. To find out which schools use the Common Application and details about submission, please visit commonapp.org.

 

Students with Financial Need

 

Students who qualify for the Free/Reduced Lunch Program are also eligible for fee waivers when taking the SAT and/or ACT.  College Application fees may also be waived.  You need to speak with your counselor if this applies to you.

 

Students with financial need have many opportunities for financial aid.  Do not let the costs of college attendance dissuade you from applying.  School-based aid, government grant money, and many scholarships are based on financial need.

 

Special Education Students

 

Students with an IEP or 504 Plan may be eligible for accommodations when taking the PSAT, SAT and/or ACT.  See your special education teacher(s) for more information.  You must apply for accommodations well in advance of the registration deadlines.  Schools will have no way of knowing a student tested with accommodations.  See your special education teacher(s) or counselor for more information.

 

Most college/tech/career schools have some supports in place for students with disabilities; however it is up to the student to request help.  Post secondary schools require a much higher level of independence than high school, therefore students with disabilities must advocate for themselves to be successful.  When investigating post secondary schools, please speak to admission counselors about the supports and possible accommodations available at that school to students with disabilities.  All schools are different.