I’m A Senior! Now What???

Presented by your

Stafford Senior High School Counseling Department

Who is my school counselor?

• Mrs. Tammy Marshall A-Can
• Mrs. Lauren Comerford Cap-Fo
• Ms. Briana Hackett Fra-Ja
• Ms. Katie Tate Je-Mil
• Mrs. Cathie Tobin Min-Pot
• Mr. Jake Wolff Pow-So
• Mrs. Cami Ferranto Sp-Z

Goals & Overview

• Introduction
• SchooLinks Onboarding
• The College Application Process
• Common Application (CA)
• Understanding Application Deadlines
• SchooLinks
• Financial Aid
• Trade School Information
• Military Information
• Tips for Landing a Job

SchooLinks Onboarding

What is Onboarding?

• Log in to Clever
• Scroll down to SchooLinks
• Click Let’s Go!
• Briefly review your personality match.
• Click next and progress through the remaining onboarding steps.
• Once complete, go to Dashboard (blue button on the bottom)

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Enrollment

A complete application includes:

• Online application (via Common App (CA), directly to the institution, etc.)
• Transcript (High School vs. Germanna)
• Common App must be linked and/or schools added to SchooLinks 10 school days prior to the deadline.
• Official test scores
• You must request official test scores to be sent directly to the college/university from collegeboard.org or act.org. Test scores on your transcript are considered unofficial.
• Suppression of unofficial scores from your SHS transcript must be requested by parent/guardian.
• Essay/Personal Statement/Writing Sample
• Letters of Recommendation*
• You must request teacher recommendations through SchooLinks.
• Counselor Recommendation*

*Requirements/number of recs vary by college

Restrictive/Non-Restrictive Deadlines

• Regular Decision (RD)
• Typical regular decision deadlines: Jan. 1 or Jan. 15, receive admission decision by mid April
• NON-BINDING (apply to as many as you want)
• Rolling Admission
• Colleges review applications as they are submitted and offer admission decisions throughout the admission cycle
• NON-BINDING
• Early Action (EA)
• Students apply early and receive a decision well in advance of the institution’s regular response date.
• NON-BINDING
• Typical EA deadlines: Nov. 1 or 15, receive admission decision by December
• Can apply EA to as many colleges as you like (as long as it is an option at the college)
• Early Decision (ED)
• Students make a commitment to a first-choice institution that you will attend if admitted (regardless of financial aid, etc.)
• Application deadline and admission decision occur early in the year
• BINDING
• Typical deadlines: Nov. 1 or 15, receive admission decision by December

Transcript/LOR Deadlines and Dates for 2025-26

Please pay attention to the deadlines.

Failure to plan ahead does not guarantee enough time for counselors to process your request.

Online Application

• Many schools utilize a centralized application system called Common Application (CA). You will submit your application at www.commonapp.org
• E.g. GMU, ODU, UMW, UVA, VCU, W&M
• If the college you are applying to does not utilize Common App, you will submit your application through the college website (“directly to the institution”).
• There is usually an application fee that can vary depending on the school. Fee waivers are available, if eligible (criteria outlined in Common App/SchooLinks process).
• No matter how you apply, you must always have these colleges listed in SchooLinks.
• Match your Common Application and SchooLinks accounts (important step).
• FERPA Waiver must be completed in both Common App and SchooLinks

The Essay or Personal Statement

• The essay is the highest ranked non-academic piece of your application.
• Do NOT repeat your resume.
• Essays are the one thing in which you have TOTAL control over.
• You only have one chance to make a good first impression.
• Be honest.
• Be authentic - your true, genuine self.
• Fill in the holes of your application.
• Proofread, proofread, proofread.

Essay/Personal Statement Do’s

• Think small
• Write what you know
• What makes you unique? Stand out?
• Express passion
• Be willing to show vulnerability
• Be willing to take risks
• Be honest
• Did we say proofread? Proofreed? Prufread? (See what we mean?)

Essay/Personal Statement Don’ts

• Join the herd (say what everyone else is saying)
• Be vague
• Let your parents take over
• Fixate on impressing the reader with how awesome you are
• Repeat your resume
• Take too long setting the scene (make sure you get to the point)
• Do NOT dispute the fairness of a grade or a disciplinary action. It happened, you can’t go back -- what did you learn? How did you grow?
• Submit an essay to Virginia Tech that references how much you want to be a Mountaineer (Can we remind you one more time? Proofread!)

Recommendation Basics

• Official teacher letter of recommendation requests must be submitted through SchooLinks.
• Be sure to discuss it in person/email prior to submitting the request in SchooLinks
• Complete the SchooLinks Brag Sheet
• Reminder: request all recommendations at least 10 FULL SCHOOL DAYS before due date (see Deadlines and Dates slide).

Counselor Letter of Recommendation

“Counselor Recommendation” vs. Letter of Recommendation

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• SchooLinks will automatically request a “Counselor Recommendation” for all schools that require it. This is just a Common App/other school form and is not a letter.

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• Email your counselor if you want a Letter of Recommendation written on your behalf

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NOTE: We do not respond to recommendation requests through Common App.

Applying: Where and How Many?

Things to Consider:

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• Majors/Programs
• Job Placement/Internships
• Location/Campus
• Student Life
• Size of school/classes
• Cost

How Many?

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We recommend you apply to approximately 5 schools:

• 1 “reach” school
• 3 “match” schools
• 1 “safety” school

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*Remember: Right now, you are deciding what options you want to have, not which school you are going to attend. The final decision will become more clear as you receive admission decisions.

2 Year College Option Highlights

• Open admissions
• Apply directly through the college.
• Transfer options-Guaranteed Transfer Agreement
• Lower tuition
• Variety of pathways, programs, and apprenticeships offered (trades, certifications, etc.)
• Local examples: Germanna and Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA)
• VA Community College Resource

Financial Aid: NOT Just for College

Types of Financial Aid

• Scholarships
• Money awarded for merit - the responsibility to search for scholarships is YOURS
• Check out each individual college financial aid website
• Internet search (beware of scams - you should never PAY for a scholarship)
• Speak with your counselor or Ms. Tate
• Check out Scholarship Matching in SchooLinks (under “College” in left menu bar)
• Create a profile on one of the numerous scholarship search engines (i.e. Fastweb, BigFuture, Going Merry, etc.)
• Grants
• Money awarded based on financial need
• Does not need to be repaid
• Work Study
• Part-time work for students who demonstrate financial need
• Does not need to be repaid
• Loans
• Borrowed money (with interest) that must be paid back
• Federal vs. Private

FAFSA the Free Application for Federal Student Aid

• The application is anticipated to open October 1st
• By filling out this application, you can find out how much money in loans, grants, and work study your family may qualify for to help with your educational expenses.
• Please create a personal (not SCPS) email address to use to apply (to FAFSA and also colleges)
• By filling out this this application, you are not required to accept any loans that are offered to you, but you will learn what your SAI or Student Aid Index toward your education is.
• Money is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, so do your app early.
• Go to the FAFSA website for more information and to start the application

Trade Schools

Trade School vs. College

Trade School

• Focused on providing training in a specific industry in the shortest amount of time possible
• You study just the subject you need for the career you want
• Lower cost

College

• Much more general and provides education in a wide range of subjects
• You will take a broader range of classes in your major area as well as different subject (electives)
• Higher cost

Examples of Trade Schools

• The Apprentice School
• Universal Technical Institute
• Culinary Institute of America
• Germanna Community College (GCC) has trade programs (e.g. welding)
• Northern VA Community College (NOVA) has trade programs (e.g. sonography)
• Henrico Workforce and Career Education
• Eastern Virginia Career College (EVCC) (e.g. massage therapy)

Enlistment

Branches of the Military

• Army
• Navy
• Air Force
• Marine Corps
• Space Force
• Coast Guard

Enlisted vs. Officer

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• Enlist directly out of high school
• Military Service Academies
• ROTC Scholarships

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**Representatives from several of the branches visit during lunch shifts**

Did you take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude (ASVAB)?

What is the ASVAB?

• A test that measures developed abilities, and helps predict future academic and occupational success in the military.
• The higher your score, the more job opportunities.
• Practice tests are available and encouraged
• We give the test for free multiple times a year. Look for an emails from Mr. Wolff.

Employment

Employment

Tips for getting hired

• Consider your skills - apply for a job that you know you can (and will) do
• Create a good resume - this includes proper grammar and use of punctuation
• Attend job fairs (CHART YOUR FUTURE!!!)
• Practice interview skills
• Wear appropriate clothing to an interview
• After the interview, send an email thanking them for the interview opportunity
• Give 5 business days before emailing to inquire about the decision

Tips for the Interview

Do…

• Research the company for which you are interviewing to find out more about them.
• Be on time! (plan for traffic, parking, etc.)
• Dress appropriately
• Be honest
• Come prepared with concrete examples of your achievements and how you can contribute.
• Come prepared to ask one question about the company to show your interest.

Don’t…

• Ask about salary and benefits in the initial interview
• Speak badly about a former boss or co-worker
• Complain about past events
• Speak over the interviewer
• Lie about your achievements
• Talk to the interviewer as if they were your buddy.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TODAY!

Please complete the “My Plan” form and turn it in to one of the counselors before leaving today.

You will have an individual meeting with your counselor. Bring questions!

SchooLinks Work Session