high school and beyond planning...high school and beyond planning 13 3. complete a senior portfolio...

High School and Beyond Planning

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GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS Each student who has successfully completed an instructional program appropriate to his/her

interests and needs shall be awarded a diploma at graduation ceremonies. The School Board shall

award a high school diploma to every student enrolled in the district who meets the requirements

of graduation established by the district. Diplomas shall be awarded with distinctions being made

between the various requirements of programs of instruction that may have been pursued. These

distinctions are the Honors Diploma, Standard Diploma and Essential Diploma. The graduation

requirement at Lopez Island High School is 24 credits for the Standard and Honors Diploma, and

20 credits for the Essential Diploma.

In order to graduate from Lopez Island High School, a student must:

1. Develop a “High School and Beyond” Plan Within the first year of high school enrollment, each student must develop a plan for satisfying

the state and district high school graduation requirements, including their first year after high

school completion. The plan should be developed in collaboration with the student, parent, and

district staff. The plan should include the following:

● how the student will satisfy the district’s academic credit requirements

● preparation for successfully completing the Washington Competency Test

● a progressive description of the student’s culminating senior project

● the student’s goal(s) for the year following graduation

Each student plan should be reviewed annually at the beginning of the school year to assess

student progress, to adjust the plan, and to advise the student on steps necessary for successful

completion of the plan.

2. Complete a Culminating Project During the course of their last year of high school, students shall complete a culminating project based

on primary research. The project shall demonstrate the student’s ability to think analytically, logically,

and creatively and to integrate experience and knowledge to form reasoned judgements and solve

problems.

The project will have societal and global significance and will demonstrate that the student understands

how performance, effort, and decisions directly affect future, career, and educational opportunities. The

Culminating Project will be completed and evaluated as part of the senior Career Choices class

requirements as outlined in the course syllabus.


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3. Complete a Senior Portfolio The purpose of the senior portfolio is to allow students to articulate and demonstrate skills they

have developed during their high school career.

The portfolio will include the following:

● Resume

● College/Trade or Tech School Application

● Job Application

● Letters of Recommendation

● Essays reflecting on a deep understanding of their time in high school

Copies of the requirements may be found in the secondary office or with the school counselor.

4. Perform Community Service All students are required to perform a minimum of 20 hours of community service. The service

may be performed and documented at any time during the high school years. Students graduating

with the Honors Diploma must have a minimum of 35 hours. More information on this

requirement is available in the high school office, as are occasional suggested service

opportunities that are brought to the school’s attention.

5. Receive a Certificate of Academic/Individual Achievement A separate document detailing test requirements for graduation may be available in the

secondary office.


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SUGGESTED FOUR-YEAR PLAN FOR GRADUATION SUCCESS

COURSE AND CREDIT PLANNING

Grade Semester 1 Semester 2 Semester 1 Semester 2

9 English English

Math Math

Physical Science Physical Science

PE* and Health PE* and Health

CTE or

Fine Arts elective

CTE or

Fine Arts elective

Elective Elective

World Language World Language

History Elective History Elective

10 English English

Biology Biology

Math Math

CTE or

Fine Arts elective

CTE or

Fine Arts elective

Elective/PE Elective/PE

Elective Elective

World Language World Language

History Elective History Elective

11 English English

US History US History

Math or Elective Math or Elective

Science Elective Science Elective

Elective Elective

Elective Elective

12 English English

Government Government

Math or Elective Math or Elective

Elective Elective

Elective Elective

Career Choices Career Choices

Competency Tests: Writing _____ Reading ______ Math ______ Science______

* Students can also earn 1.5 PE credit for playing high school sports.

Health and Elective requirements (Occ. Ed, Fine Arts, etc.) may be fulfilled in any year 9-12.

WA State History requirement must be fulfilled prior to graduation.


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STANDARD DIPLOMA REQUIREMENTS Subject area Number of

credits

required 24

Standard

Minimum

requirements for

public, four-year

colleges and

universities ##

Recommended

courses for

highly selective

colleges and

universities

English 4 4 Years 4 Years

Mathematics Algebra I (1.0)*

Geometry (1.0)*

Algebra II (1.0)

Integrated Math (1.0)

3 3 Years ### 3-4 Years ###

Social Studies** Hist Elective (1.0)

US Hist (1.0)

CWPS (1.0)

3 3 Years 3-4 Years

Science Physical Science (1.0)

Biology (1.0)

Elective (1.0)

3 2 Years 3-4 Years

Fine Arts 2 1 Year 2-3 Years

Career Concentration

Courses (Based on the HS

and Beyond Plan)

3 3 3

Health and Fitness*** (.5 credit Health and 1.5

fitness or from an extra-

curricular sport)

2 2

World Languages* (If the High School and

Beyond Plan stipulates a

student is college bound)

2 2-3 3-4

Electives (Based on whether a student

must take World Languages)

2 or 4 4 4

Total 24 Students who complete Algebra or Geometry and a foreign language in middle school will have those credits added

to their high school transcript. The grade will be computed into their high school grade point average. The grade

cannot be removed unless the student retakes the course.

* High school credit for classes completed in middle school.

** WA State History is required for graduation; students usually fulfill this non-credit requirement before they

enter high school.

*** Students should request that their extra-curricular sports credit be added to their transcript.

## Minimum 2.0 grade point average.

### Must be Algebra II or levels above.


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HONORS DIPLOMA Subject Areas for Honors Diploma include all of the requirements for the Standard Diploma

plus students must also satisfactorily complete:

● 1 credit of a classroom taught Advanced Placement or College level

● 3 credits of a science including either Chemistry or Physics

● 3 credits of college prep math (i.e. Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II)

● A minimum of 2 sequential credits of a World Language - One year of living in a

foreign country where the language is other than English will be equal to one-half credit

of foreign language, or one full credit subsequent to a placement exam.

● 1 elective credit in Chemistry, Physics, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, or an additional

Advancement Placement or College in the High School course taught within a

classroom setting

General Requirements ● An honors-level senior project

Common criteria will be provided and specific criteria will be defined, taking into

account individual academic accomplishments, interests, and goals.

● An honors-level graduation portfolio

Common criteria will be provided and specific criteria will be defined, taking into

account individual academic accomplishments, interests, and goals.

● Thirty-five hours of community service

Extracurricular Activities Students must participate in at least two of the following:

● Drama (two performances)

● Student Council (two years)

● Sports (three seasons)

● Volunteer Fire or EMT program (one year)

● Foreign exchange program (one semester or year)

● Any alternative service or project pre-approved by the Honors Committee

Examinations A student must have a composite score at the 70th percentile on the PSAT, SAT or ACT, or a raw

score at the 80th national percentile on the verbal, writing, and mathematics portion of the PSAT,

ACT or SAT, or the student must receive a score of at least “3” on an AP exam.

A student must “declare intent” no later than the end of second semester of the junior year for

the Honors Program. Students who earn honors will have an Honors notation on their

transcript, receive Honors diplomas, and wear Honors cords at graduation.

Honors Students who achieve at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA for their high school work and meet the

Honors requirements will wear a gold cord at graduation.


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Faculty Honors Students who achieve at least a 3.75 cumulative GPA for their high school work and meet the

Honors requirements will wear a gold stole at graduation.

Running Start Honors Running Start students will be eligible for Honors only if they complete at least one year of their

schoolwork while attending Lopez Island High School.

Selection of Valedictorian Students successfully completing the Honors Diploma Requirements, and who achieve a

cumulative GPA of 3.9 or above, will be co-valedictorians. If no student graduating with Honors

achieves a cumulative GPA of 3.9, the honor will be given to the student with the highest

cumulative GPA who has successfully completed the requirements for the Honors Diploma.

If there are no students who have successfully completed the requirements for the Honors

Diploma, the valedictorian will be determined by the graduating senior with the highest

cumulative GPA.

Graduating with Distinction Students who achieve at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA for their high school work will wear a silver cord at

graduation.

POST SECONDARY PLANNING Post-secondary planning helps high school students prepare for life after graduation. In today’s

world, a high school diploma may no longer be sufficient for people to earn a living. Most jobs

now require some sort of continuing education after high school.

There are many paths students can take. It is important to understand the requirements for each

path, so that students can ensure they are taking the proper classes; for example, the majority of

four-year colleges require students to take a language. Students are encouraged to keep options

open and to choose classes that are challenging for them. Continuing education/training is

offered through a variety of programs including:

• 4-year colleges

• 2-year colleges

• Technical & Vocational schools

• Certificate programs

• Military

The type of school or program students choose will depend on many things including what

career they would like to have, GPA and class rank, courses taken in high school, SAT or ACT

scores, and cost of attendance. When looking at options, it is important to start family

conversations early in high school so your student can work towards his/her goals throughout

high school and everyone is aware of the expectations upon graduation.


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Post-Secondary Education Options

Four-Year College Students apply to colleges in their senior year. At a four-year college, students will typically live

on campus. At the completion of the four-years, students earn a Bachelor’s degree and can enter

the workforce or continue on to graduate school. Students must typically complete coursework in

high school that is rigorous. Most four-year colleges also require students to take the SAT or

ACT for admissions. Four-year colleges will also consider teacher and counselor

recommendations, extra-curricular activities, and in some cases an interview.

Two-Year College Two-year colleges can be public or private and offer students an opportunity to obtain an

Associate’s Degree. Two-year colleges do not require SAT or ACT scores and do not have

specific course or GPA requirements. Most two-year colleges do not provide campus housing

and can be a great option for a student who is planning on pursuing a four-year degree, but is not

able to do so financially. At the conclusion of the two years, students can transfer to a four-year

college or enter the workforce. Technical/Vocational College There are numerous technical and vocational schools available to students interested in pursuing

a specific course of study. These schools can offer four-year, two-year and certificate programs.

Most schools require a high school diploma. Students who are interested in attending a

vocational or technical school should be confident in their chosen course of study and career

goals, because credits do not typically transfer to another school.

Military Students who join the service can earn money towards college. Students interested in joining the

military are encouraged to take the ASVAB. This is a skills test that is used to help place them in

an appropriate job once they join.

Students who wish to attend college prior to joining the military may wish to attend a school

with an ROTC program. See page 25 for more information.

TESTING Students may register online or by mail for the SAT and ACT tests. Please pay attention to the

deadlines; late registration fees are high. Lopez High School Code is 480630. Students with

disabilities can take these national tests with accommodations. Our school sends in all the

necessary paperwork for the fall (October) testing date.


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College Entrance Exams

All students planning to attend college should consider taking the PSAT, SAT and/or ACT test

beginning with the PSAT in the 9th grade year. Most colleges require the SAT or ACT test for

admission; higher scores allow students to be more competitive. PSAT, SAT, and ACT tests are

offered at Lopez Island School. The school pays for PSAT tests. SAT and ACT tests are paid for

by the student and are a worthwhile investment for admission and scholarship purposes. Fee

waivers are available.

Freshman through Junior Year

Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test and National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test By taking PSAT/NMSQT, students are able to practice for the SAT I: Verbal, Writing, and

Mathematical Reasoning Tests. The PSAT/NMSQT also helps students find out about their

developed abilities, participate in national scholarship and recognition programs, and get

information from colleges. In math, the use of a calculator is recommended. Some of the math

questions require students to solve problems and correctly enter their answers on a grid, instead

of selecting multiple-choice.

MyRoad All high school students who take the PSAT are able to take advantage of MyRoad – the College

Board’s online majors, college, and career exploration program. MyRoad is one of the newest

resources included with the PSAT/NMSQT. With their individual accounts, PSAT/NMSQT test-

takers are able to access MyRoad’s wealth and depth of major and career information, search for

colleges, take a personality-type assessment, and get exclusive, first-hand perspectives from

students and professionals working in their respective disciplines and fields.

Junior/Senior Year SAT - Like other assessments in the SAT Suite of Assessments, the new SAT includes a

Reading Test, Writing and Language Test, and a Math Test.

For every passage or pair of passages in the Reading Test, at least one question will ask which

part of the text best supports the answer to the previous question. In other instances, the best

answer to a question may be found by pulling together information conveyed in words and

graphics.

The Writing and Language Test also focuses on command of evidence. Students may be asked to

analyze a series of sentences or paragraphs and decide if it makes sense. Or they may be asked to

interpret graphics and to edit a part of the accompanying passage so that it clearly and accurately

communicates the information in the graphics.

The Math Test focuses in-depth on three essential areas of math: Problem Solving and Data

Analysis, Heart of Algebra, and Passport to Advanced Math.

The SAT has an optional essay component, which some colleges will require. SAT questions

focus on skills that matter most for college readiness and success, according to the latest

https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/about

https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/inside-the-test/reading

https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/inside-the-test/writing-language

https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/inside-the-test/essay


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research. After reading a passage on The SAT Essay test takers will determine how the author

builds an argument to persuade an audience through the use of evidence, reasoning, and/or

stylistic and persuasive devices. Scorers look for cogent, clear analyses supported by critical

reasoning and evidence drawn from the text provided.

On the new SAT, students simply earn points for the questions answered correctly. Test takers

should give their best answer to every question; there is no advantage to leaving them blank.

SAT Subject Tests Subject tests, formerly known as Achievement Tests, measure a student’s knowledge or skills in

a particular subject and his/her ability to apply that knowledge. The tests fall into five subject

areas:

1. English: Writing, Literature

2. History: Social Studies, American History and S.S., World History

3. Mathematics: Math Level I, Math Level IC, Math Level IIC

4. Science: Biology, Chemistry, and Physics

5. Languages: Chinese, French, English, German, Modern Hebrew, Italian,

Japanese, Latin, and Spanish

All of the subject tests take one hour, and all consist entirely of multiple-choice questions,

except the Writing test, which consists of a 20-minute essay and 40 minutes of multiple-choice

questions. Calculator use is prohibited on all subject tests except Math Level IC and IIC.

American College Test

Mathematics Test Description for the ACT - The ACT mathematics test is a 60-question, 60-

minute test designed to assess the mathematical skills students have typically acquired in

courses taken up to the beginning of grade 12. The test presents multiple-choice questions that

require reasoning skills to solve practical problems in mathematics. Most questions are self-

contained. Some questions may belong to a set of several questions (e.g., several questions

about the same graph or chart). Knowledge of basic formulas and computational skills are

assumed as background for the problems, but recall of complex formulas and extensive

computation is not required.

The material covered on the test emphasizes the major content areas that are prerequisites to

successful performance in entry-level courses in college mathematics. Nine scores are reported

for the ACT mathematics test: a total test score based on all 60 questions and eight reporting

category scores based on specific mathematical knowledge and skills.

Reading Test Description for the ACT - The ACT reading test is a 40-question, 35-minute test

that measures reading comprehension. The test questions ask the tester to derive meaning from

several texts by (1) referring to what is explicitly stated and (2) reasoning to determine implicit

meanings. Specifically, questions will ask for the use of referring and reasoning skills to

https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/inside-the-test/essay


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determine main ideas, locate and interpret significant details, understand sequences of events,

make comparisons, comprehend cause-effect relationships, determine the meaning of context-

dependent words, phrases, and statements, draw generalizations, and analyze the author’s or

narrator’s voice and method. Four scores are reported for the ACT reading test: a total test score

based on all 40 questions and three reporting category scores based on specific knowledge and

skills.

Science Test Description for the ACT - The ACT science test is a 40-question, 35-minute test

that measures the interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem-solving skills

required in the natural sciences.

Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery ASVAB Obtaining accurate and useful information about students’ aptitudes and abilities is dependent

upon a number of factors: the interest and motivation of the student, the performance of the test

administrator, the quality of the testing environment, and the quality of the test battery. Military

and civilian personnel with professional training and practical experience in test construction

and personnel measurement and evaluation developed the High School Testing Program. The

program includes guidelines and materials for the school to use prior to, during, and after the

administration of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. There is no cost for the

ASVAB.

SENIOR YEAR

Senior Year Course Selection, Combining Challenge and Success Colleges look first to see whether applicants have challenged themselves. They then look to see

if an applicant has succeeded at the challenges. Our advice to students is to take the strongest

program in which they are able to earn honors or A or B grades.

Math Course Options for the Senior Year Most students have completed their math requirements by the end of the junior year. Even so, we

strongly recommend that they take a senior math course during at least the fall semester.

Studies of seniors who do not take math show that over 80% drop significantly on the math

portion of the SAT while 90% of those who continue with math are able to maintain or improve

their SAT math score. Furthermore, when evaluating a transcript, college admissions officers

like to see a senior math course. Students who dodge challenging courses in their senior year

give the impression of bailing out after having reached the limits of their ability.

Advanced Placement Courses: Asset or Liability? Occasionally, a student will question

whether Advanced Placement courses are worth the extra effort and time commitment. Students

who can earn honors grades in AP courses gain several distinct advantages:

1. AP courses show "challenge," the first criteria colleges use in admissions. Students who

succeed in AP courses show their ability to do college work. The University of

Washington admission officer suggests that AP is the best preparation for students.


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2. AP course grades are given extra benefit at many colleges. For example, the University

of California system computes an A in an AP course as a 5 rather than a 4. AP grades are

not given extra GPA weight at many of the most selective colleges. One admissions

official said, "We only admit students who take AP courses.” Most colleges give

placement and/or credit for advanced placement courses taken in high school.

3. The content and rigor of AP courses are their own rewards.

CHOOSING A COLLEGE The following are not all-inclusive, but help to guide one’s personal thoughts.

1. Geography - Do I need to be away from home? Do I want West, East, Midwest,

California, Washington, Oregon, etc?

2. Setting - Urban, suburban, or rural? Does the community offer what I cannot get at

school or vice versa? What about internship possibilities, graduate school?

3. Size - l,000 l,500 l0,000 l5,000

4. Competitive? What are GPA and SAT requirements?

5. Curriculum - What are my interests? What are my known strengths: What do I want to

explore: Will I seek an advanced degree: Am I interested in liberal arts? What is the

core curriculum?

6. Finances? What can I afford? How much can I afford to borrow?

7. Should I go to a community college first? (Consider 3, 4 & 6 above)

8. What about a conservatory, drama or art school?

9. Am I interested in athletic teams?

10. What about housing, class size, and other special programs?

Going Out of State? Because of the wide variety of entrance requirements, application procedures, etc., it is

IMPORTANT that students contact the counselor very early in the fall when considering

attending school out of state. Each institution is highly individualized and a lot of the

responsibility for the application to these schools falls upon the applicant. Attending out of state

takes more time and effort, so it is very important to START EARLY.

Students should utilize as many sources of information as possible by checking out books about

post-secondary options, attending visitation presentations by college representatives at Lopez,

and talking to other students who have attended particular schools.

Be familiar with: 1. The college catalog of the schools they are investigating. Catalogs may be checked out

from the Career Choices classroom. See the counselor if the catalog of interest is not on

file. A catalog may be requested from a specific school; there may be a fee for this.

2. The descriptions of the colleges, which are found in the national publications in the

office and on the computers.

3. The Index of Majors catalog in the counselor’s office, which gives additional

information about most college coursework.


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These catalogs provide condensed descriptions of selected institutions and their programs,

admission policies, and test data of admitted students to compare with one’s test scores. Note

particularly the deadlines for application, financial assistance, housing applications, and

applying to specific programs within the institution itself. Many institutions limit their number

of out-of-state applicants, so it is wise to decide early.

Steps to follow:

1. Take the SAT or ACT in time for those scores to meet the school's admission time

schedule. Request the scores to be sent to the institution of application. Results may take

approximately six weeks to be processed.

2. Contact the institution for additional information regarding the particular program of

interest. Ask for admission, housing, and financial aid forms.

3. Remember that many institutions limit their number of out-of-state students due to lack

of space. Request information very early and have the completed application on file

early before their quota is filled.

4. If possible, visit the campus, or at least talk to a college representative from that

institution.

5. Compare the selected programs in an out-of-state institution with some local state

schools. This is recommended in the eventuality that students transfer back to a

Washington school before obtaining their degree.

College Representatives Colleges send representatives to high schools, the college conference at Skagit Valley College

and the College Fair at the Seattle Center. These are open to students and parents. Because of our

isolation and size, few colleges send reps to Lopez, although Lopez continues to invite them.

College visitations during vacation time are a good alternative.

College Applications Applications should be well thought out before filling out the form and then typed. It is very

important to keep a copy of everything sent.

Students are advised to apply to between four and six colleges. One or two should be certain

acceptances, one or two should be within reach and one or two may be "dream" possibilities.

The rest of the application requires the following:

1. Transcript - This may include the first semester of the senior year and classes in progress

for the second semester. Students complete a transcript request. The transcript includes

GPA (all classes weighted the same), number of credits, and vital statistics. Some

colleges recalculate the GPA using other formulas which generally leave out the arts,

PE, etc. (California, for example). Admissions committees look at patterns (such as poor

9th grade with improvements), the difficulty of courses taken, type of classes taken the

senior year, and honors or AP courses.

2. SAT Testing - The national average for the SAT is the mid-500's for the English,

reading, and math portions. Private colleges tend not to weigh the SAT as heavily as

public institutions. The University of Washington, for instance, uses an index, which

includes GPA and test scores only, unless there are special skills (athletic, music).


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3. SAT Subject tests - One to three are required or recommended. Students should check

the requirements for the colleges in which they are interested.

4. Essay - Often students have a choice of topics. Schools look for the ability to use written

English, originality, and the type of person reflected in the essay.

5. Recommendations - Private institutions require one, two, or three. Students usually

choose faculty members who have known them and their work. It is strongly suggested

that recommendations fill in weak areas or reinforce anticipated courses of study.

6. List of Extracurricular Activities - These are important and students should include as

complete a listing as possible. Work experience should also be included.

7. Portfolios or Samples of Work - Private schools read samples of writing, peruse pictures

of artwork and listen to tapes of music or dramatic arts. These take time but are worth

the effort!

8. Application Fee - It is important to include the required fee. Most two-year institutions

in the state have no admission fee. Fee waivers are available; see the school counselor.

9. Auditions and Interviews - Private colleges, after receiving the application, will seek

interviews. Students should take advantage of these. Students receive notifications when

their application is complete.

FINANCIAL AID

▪ Scholarships are awarded for special skills and sometimes for merit in academic areas.

This money does not need to be paid back.

▪ Grants are usually monies from the college, which are allotted by the Federal

government. This money need not be repaid.

▪ Loans must be paid back. Last year the lowest interest rate was 8% for a loan of up to

$2,500 from monies that the college made available. Individuals can make their own

loan arrangements directly with lending institutions at considerably higher rates.

▪ The Federal government makes a certain amount of money available to schools for

work-study.

Financial Aid application is available online in December. Start early when more money may

be available. This application will determine how much a family should contribute per year to a

student’s expenses including a student job in the summer. Colleges and universities attempt to

make up as much of the difference with money they have available.

Typically, a school will offer a package including all four of the above types of aid. For

instance, if the family can contribute $6,000 of the $l2,000 per year according to their FAFSA

then the school may offer a $l,000 Pell Grant, $l,000 loan, $l,000 scholarship and $l,200 work

study. The family could then exercise the rest of the possible loan of $l,500 and come very close

to the total amount. Parents are invited to speak with the counselor to learn how to fill out the

financial aid form. FAFSA forms are available in the secondary office and online.

Scholarships Scholarships are an important part of senior planning. While most require academic excellence,

some are awarded for specialized achievement in music, art, drama, vocational aptitude and

other areas. Applications for these scholarships are made available to students. In addition to

national and statewide scholarships, numerous local scholarships are offered at Lopez.


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What Can Parents Do to Help? 1. Discuss careers, colleges, and the future.

2. Support extra-curricular activities, study habits, grades, and the idea of learning.

3. Utilize vacations and short trips to college campuses.

4. On nights before testing, encourage sleep and a good breakfast.

5. Discuss finances if they are going to be a factor.

6. Encourage students to look at a wide variety of possibilities including jobs and travel

after graduation.

7. Help students not to wait until the last minute.

A. Career Choices - Portfolio components for Post-Secondary Applications 1. Start gathering material on yourself. Fill out the “High School Accomplishments” form.

Things to include:

a. Grade point average, class rank, courses selected (know areas of emphasis)

b. Test scores - SAT, ACT

c. School and community activities

d. Honors or awards

e. Hobbies or interest

f. Work or volunteer experience

2. Take appropriate tests. Scholarship programs, especially those with national

competition, prefer or require that applicants take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT).

This test should be taken no later, preferably earlier, than December of your senior year.

3. Continue to examine personal goals. Students may be asked to write essays on these

types of topics:

a. What are your educational and career goals?

b. Where do you see yourself five years from now?

c. What are your three best characteristics?

4. Contact three individuals to act as references. Take down their addresses and phone

numbers. Ask if they would be willing to write a letter of recommendation.

B. Scholarship Application Process 1. Start early. Most scholarship applications require an application form, a personal essay

(l50 to 500 words) and letters of recommendation. Allow yourself at least two weeks to

complete this process. Complete the application form. Generally it is wise to answer all

the questions on a separate piece of paper, and then transfer or type your answers on to

the application form.

2. Meet with your counselor. Often a school representative will be required to complete a

section of your application, confirming your academic record and perhaps

recommending you. Give your counselor at least two weeks to complete the school's

portion of your application.

3. Fill out the transcript request form and give the form to the counselor.

4. Draft your essay. Do not expect your first essay to be perfect. Allow enough time to

evaluate and rewrite.

5. Be aware of deadlines. A late or incomplete application may automatically be

disqualified.


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C. Start Your Essay 1. You are writing for a purpose. Be persuasive in showing the reader you are deserving of

the award. Remember your audience.

2. Make certain you understand the question or the topic. Your essay should answer the

question or speak directly to the given topic.

3. List all ideas - any possibilities. Be creative; brainstorm without censoring.

4. Sort through ideas and prioritize. You cannot tell them everything. Be selective.

5. Choose information and ideas which are not reflected on other parts of your application.

This is your chance to supplement your application with information you want them to

know.

D. Write the Draft - Apply What You Learned in English Class 1. Develop paragraphs - one idea at a time. Include topic sentence with examples of your

point or convincing reasons.

2. Make transitions between paragraphs.

3. Select action verbs and avoid the passive voice.

4. Use concrete examples. Often examples of behavior demonstrate an idea better than an

adjective (show how or why, do not just tell).

5. Develop exact, concrete language. Avoid vague reference, wordy usage, or clichés.

E. Edit Your Draft 1. Does your introduction capture the reader's attention?

2. Are you consistent in your verb tense?

3. Are you clear and coherent?

4. Are you concise enough to adhere to the limits in length?

5. Have you checked for grammatical and spelling errors?

6. Does the essay present you as you wish to be seen?

7. Did another person review your essay for possible mistakes?

8. Would you remember your essay if you had read two hundred other essays?

9. Does your closing paragraph present you as you wish to be remembered?

F. Complete Your Scholarship Application 1. Should you type it? Some applications list a preference for typed or handwritten work.

Regardless of the preference, the application should be neat and legible.

2. Retain a copy for your records.

G. Follow up on Your Scholarship Application 1. Thank those who assisted in the application or wrote letters of recommendation. A thank

you note would be especially nice.

2. Acknowledge and thank the scholarship donors. If you are granted a scholarship, be

certain to keep in touch with the donors. This is especially crucial to maintain contact if

the scholarship is renewable.

3. Clarify terms for scholarship renewal. Find out if you must meet specific conditions to

renew your award.


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NATIONAL COLLEGIC ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (NCAA)

If you plan to enroll in Division I, II, or III college or university athletics, core courses include

the following: English, Math (Algebra I or higher), Natural/Physical Science, Social Science,

Foreign Language or non-doctrinal Religion or Philosophy. There are additional core course

requirements for Division I sports. Students will be required to complete three years of

mathematics, algebra or higher and four years of additional core courses.

The students and parents are responsible for registering their athlete with the NCAA

clearinghouse and providing a printed copy of their registration to the Lopez Island School

counseling office.

Students should register the spring of their junior year. For further information and registration,

access the NCAA website at www.ncaaclearinghouse.org. Once registered, the NCAA monitors

your core course completion and your eligibility status for Division I or Division II sports.

SERVICE ACADEMIES OR ROTC PROGRAMS Realistically, students should begin the application process to a service academy in the spring of

their junior year. If they do not however, they must see their counselor before the end of

September. There are required physical, medical, and aptitude tests, in addition to the SAT or

ACT test. Admission to service academies is by appointment only. It costs nothing to attend,

students are paid while in the academy, and each cadet receives his/her education at government

expense. See the counselor for more information.

If students are not interested in a service academy, perhaps they should give some thought to the

Reserve Officer Training Corps Programs. Thousands of students yearly get the majority of

their college education paid for through ROTC scholarships. A student who applies for and

receives the four-year ROTC scholarship gets his/her full tuition and fees paid at the college

he/she selects (provided ROTC is available there). While attending college, students generally

major in the field of their choice. One to three hours per week are spent in military science

courses or activities. During summers while enrolled in college, students spend some time at

summer camp or on military bases. At the end of four years students receive a degree as well as

a commission as an officer in the branch of service selected. They then serve four to five years

of active duty. In addition to these 4-year scholarships, any student can sign up to take military

science courses (ROTC) on campus while attending college, provided the college has a

program. If it does not, many local colleges have cross-registration with a college that does.

After trying the program for a while without pay, a person may then apply for a two or three-

year scholarship. Approximately 3,000 different colleges offer Army ROTC. Air Force

programs are available on l80 different campuses, and the Navy/Marine program is found at 58

institutions. Women and men are eligible. If interested, see the counselor.

http://www.ncaaclearinghouse.org/


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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Additional resources are available for student use in the School Counseling Office:

College Planning

Career Counseling Materials

Scholarships and Financial Aid

ACT/SAT Preparation

Career Search-Interest Inventories

high school and beyond planning...high school and beyond planning 13 3. complete a senior portfolio...

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