Life After High School at the King County Library System: November & December

Life After High School online events provide teens and families the information they need to plan for the future. 

Join the King County Library in November and December for free college and career prep programs:

Demystifying the College Common App Essay Questions, Saturday, November 20, 3pm.  Presented by Poojha Daryanani, Yale Alumna and College Coach.

The Scholarship Market, Tuesday, December 28, 2pm. Presented by Doug Breithaupt, College Planning Network.

All KCLS programs are hosted on Zoom. Teens can register for these and other career and college events at 1.kcls.org/LAHS Please share this information with any students you think might be interested. Follow @kclsteens on Instagram to learn more about library programs and services.

Don’t Let Financial Aid Myths Limit Options for the Future

 Think you can’t afford college or training? Financial aid helps many students pay for education beyond high school, and more families in Washington are now eligible. Even if you didn’t qualify before, you might now!

Myth #1: My parents make too much money, so I won’t qualify for financial aid. 

Fact: Applying for financial aid is the only way to know for sure whether you qualify. With Washington College Grant, an eligible student from a family of four making up to around $102,000 per year can receive some money for college or training.

Myth #2: Financial aid only pays for universities. That takes four years—I need to start working now. 

Fact: Financial aid can be used for many types of full-time or part-time education or training, including career and technical schools, community colleges, some apprenticeships, and yes, universities too. You have options!

Myth #3: I can’t apply for financial aid because I don’t know what I’m going to do after high school. 

Fact: You can complete a FAFSA or WASFA financial aid application before applying for college or training. You can make your final choice about whether and where to go later, and you’ll know more about what you can afford.

Applications are now available for fall 2022! Learn more and apply for financial aid on the Washington Student Achievement Council website.

Why Apply for College or Training?

 Want More Money and More Options? Get More Education Beyond High School.

Even in uncertain times, you can secure a better future. A college degree, certificate, or other training beyond high school can lead to a good job, higher wages, and more. And financial aid helps make college or training affordable.

Why apply for college or training? Adults with a college degree or certificate:

• Are more likely to enjoy their work.

• Can change careers more easily.

• Are less likely to be unemployed.

• Live longer, healthier lives.

• Earn around $1 million more over their career than high school graduates.

Need to start working sooner than later? Move beyond minimum wage with an apprenticeship or other job training. Even a one-year program at a community college or technical college can increase your future earnings. And in an apprenticeship, you earn while you learn. In many cases, apprentices can get paid to work and use financial aid to cover out-of-pocket costs like tuition, fees, and materials.

Put your passion to work. More education means more job stability and higher earnings. For life.

Learn more and plan your future on the Washington Student Achievement Council website.

FINANCIAL AID: FAFSA for 2022-2023 NOW OPEN

Apply Now for 2022-23 Financial Aid!

A family of four making up to $102,000 may be eligible for aid...

As of October 1, 2021, students can apply for financial aid for the 2022-23 school year. With all the uncertainty caused by COVID, education beyond high school is more important than ever. Applying for financial aid gives you more options for the future.

In Washington, there are two ways to apply for financial aid:

• Most people should complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The FAFSA is used by U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens to apply for both state and federal financial aid.
• The WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid) is an application for state financial aid only. The WASFA is for people who are undocumented or who do not qualify for federal aid because of their immigration status, and can be used in limited circumstances by others who cannot or choose not to file a FAFSA.

Applying for financial aid is a crucial first step toward college or job training. Many families assume they won’t qualify, but there’s more help available than ever before. This year, a family of four making up to $102,000 can qualify for financial aid in Washington. The only way to know for sure if you’re eligible is to apply.

Learn more, get support, and apply for financial aid at wsac.wa.gov/apply.

KCLS Life After High School Programs September and October 2021

From the King County Library System:

 Life After High School online events provide teens and families the information they need to plan for the future.  

Join us at 6pm on Wednesdays this fall for a college application series:

• Demystifying the College Common App Essay Questions, September 22, 6 pm.  Presented by Yale Alumna and College Coach, Poojha Daryanani.

• All about Financial Aid for College, September 29, 6 pm. Presented by David Aramaki, MBA, Financial Advisor.

• Reducing Anxiety About College Applications, October 6, 6 pm.  Presented by Denny Meadows of Silver Fern Advisory.

• Essays that Really Stand Out, October 13, 6 pm.  Details coming soon.

All KCLS programs are hosted on Zoom. Teens can register for these and other career and college events at 1.kcls.org/LAHS Please share this information with any students you think might be interested. Follow @kclsteens on Instagram to learn more about library programs and services.

Montana State University announces MSU Fridays Visitation Program

From Montana State University:

"We wanted to pass on the exciting news that Montana State University in Bozeman will be hosting two MSU FRIDAY programs this fall!

This is a chance for your students to find out what MSU is all about. MSU Friday is a prospective student and family preview day hosted by the Office of Admissions in which students and their family members can come and learn about the MSU campus, living and dining on campus, student life, scholarships and so much more. 

Mark your calendar!

• September 10, 2021
• October 22, 2021

​​​​We encourage attendees to sign up early! Students may REGISTER online for either our September or October program dates. For more information, a sample schedule of events, travel recommendations and more, please review our MSU Friday webpage. 

Also, we know how quickly schedules can fill up, and that planning around just a few dates isn’t always realistic. The Office of Admissions is happy to offer comprehensive virtual visit opportunities and open its doors for personalized daily campus visits all year long. "

Construction Trades Training for 16+

 

Trades Apprenticeship Informational Sessions!

 

Graduation Clearance

 With just 22 school days remaining until graduation, it's time to start getting those ducks in a row. Graduation clearance is a checklist of all the things that Advisors, Patti, and I need to verify to allow you to graduate!

You advisor will verify that you've met all of your competencies, completed your Capstone project, finished your math, internship, writing portfolio, learning plans, and exhibition. Patti will make sure you don't owe any fines and that you've returned any district technology. I will verify that all of your state graduation requirements are met: your High School & Beyond Plan, NW Studies, Graduation Pathway (this used to be the SBA ELA and Math tests), and the Senior Survey. There's good news here. The district has waived the Software Tech graduation requirement for the Class of 2021, and if you haven't met your Graduation Pathway, the state has a waiver process for that. I will be reaching out individually about any incomplete items, and it's important that you respond right away.

Remember: Graduation is June 10th! It will be here before we know it!

Colleges and Universities that are test-optional in 2021-2022

 The number of colleges and universities that are test-optional for 2021-2022 is vast! Here's a list of many of those schools from an organization called Spark Admissions. There are some notable omissions for Washington state students, like Western Washington University, Central Washington University, and Eastern Washington University which are all test-optional. This list also erroneously lists the Evergreen State College as "test-flexible". It is actually test-optional.

This list also contains schools that are 'test-flexible' meaning that above some GPA threshold they are test-optional. Not a great situation for Gibson Ek students, but as always if you find yourself in that position reach out and we'll work through it.

What Colleges and Universities Will Be Test-Optional in 2021-2022?

Washington State University makes Test Optional Permanent

 Following the University of Washington, the WSU Board of Regents has voted to make permanent the test optional policy instituted during the pandemic emergency. From the email I received this morning:

"On Friday, March 12 the Washington State University Board of Regents voted to eliminate the SAT and ACT tests in the admissions process. The vote also recommends that SAT or ACT scores no longer be considered for scholarship and tuition waivers.

In response to COVID-19, the Washington Student Achievement Council allowed public universities in the state to waive or make optional the SAT and ACT for students applying in the 2020 and 2021 admission cycles. WSU opted to waive the test score requirement.

The Board of Regents decision makes that permanent for the WSU system.

Beginning with the 2022 admission cycle, students are no longer required to submit an SAT or ACT score per university policy. Instead of using these scores, admissions officers will rely on metrics, including grade point average, that better reflect a potential student’s ability to succeed. This change eliminates the ambiguity that can persist when universities make tests optional. It also alleviates the financial and structural barrier to taking the tests. The admission application for fall 2022 will open in August 2021."

Class of 2022: Young Women's Leadership Summit 2021