Early
College
Awareness
Julia Wek, Director of College & Career Counseling
Herron & Herron-Riverside High Schools
Spring 2025
Julia Wek
8th year with Herron Classical Schools
Oversee Herron and Herron-Riverside HS College & Career programming
Fun facts:
BA in Psychology (minor Childhood Studies & Music Performance) from Case Western Reserve University
MS in School Counseling from Butler University
2 year old daughter
Love to travel and try new foods!
01.
Agenda
02.
03.
04.
05.
06.
Introductions
INvestEd Indiana
Indiana Latino Institute
HCS: General Overview
HCS Specific Resources
Q&A
02.
INvestEd Indiana
03.
Indiana Latino Institute
04.
Herron Classical Schools:
General Resources
First in the Family/First Generation College Student
English
Spanish
College Fit: Loper App
jwek@herronclassical.org
Find colleges based on answering easy questions about your preferences!
College Fit: Tuitionfit.org
Want to build a college list that fits your price range?
Find colleges that have offered similar students a price in your preferred range.
College Fairs & Representative Visits
Want to talk to college admission counselors?
College Fairs and representative visits are another place to learn more about schools!
Many schools in the area host college fairs throughout the Fall and early Spring.
College rep visits at Herron/Herron-Riverside: Sign up through Naviance
Campus visits: Sign up on the colleges’ websites!
Early College Organizations
Center for Leadership Development
Indiana Latino Institute
Thank you for being here!
Early College Enrichment Programs
College Fit and Research
Now is a great time to start having the conversation with your student about college fit!
Check out the schools’ websites
Specialty Colleges/Universities
HBCUs
Schools that serve a larger percentage of Hispanic and Latinx students.
https://www.collegerecruiter.com/blog/2020/10/19/list-of-hsi-and-hacu-schools/
One for each branch of military. Info can be found on the schools’ websites.
*NOTE: admissions process starts Spring of Junior year
Established when most schools did not offer admission to students of color. Known for strong sense of community, supports, & spirit. Each school is known for having a distinct personality.
Currently 104 schools.
Historic Hispanic
Tribal Colleges
Women’s Colleges
Created to meet the need of Native American students.
Established when most schools did not admit women.
Currently 26 colleges in US.
Military Service Academies
05.
Herron Classical Schools:
Specific Resources
Naviance Login
Herron-Riverside HS
Herron HS
Logins are linked to school emails. Use the Forgot Password link if needed. Contact School Counselors if you need assistance logging in!
Login at:
student.naviance.com/riverside
Login at:
student.naviance.com/
herron
Naviance Tools to Use
Career Cluster Finder
*Grades 9-12 under Colleges
See our list of admission counselors that are visiting HHS/HRHS and sign up to attend!
*Grades 11-12 under Colleges
Save your list of colleges that you’re interested in
(Ms. Wek may nominate you for programs!)
*Grades 9-10 under Career
Research careers that fit your interests
College Visits
College Compare
SuperMatch College Search
*Grades 10-12 under Colleges
Research colleges based on HCS’ acceptances rates and data.
*Grades 11-12 under Colleges
Research colleges based on school characteristics
*Grades 11-12 under Colleges
Check out State and local scholarships!
Colleges I’m Interested In
Scholarship Search
Timelines
What should we do when?
TIMELINE - Academics/Extracurriculars
ALL Grades
Take a challenging course load that you can handle
All Grades
Explore your interests, develop leadership opportunities
Grade 11
Reflect on your personality, values, interests, learning style, etc
Take the SAT at school and consider whether you need to take it a second time
Grade 11
Have conversations with your family about what you’re looking for in a college!
TIMELINE - College Applications
August 1, Senior Year
Applications open for all schools
May use Common App, Common Black College App, or the school’s individual app
Fall of Senior Year
Transcripts
Transcripts are due with applications
Request through Naviance for Fall transcripts
Grades through Junior year are submitted
Some schools may request midyear
Deadlines for components of the applications.
Consider whether you want to apply Early Action, Early Decision, Regular, or Rolling.
Fees due upon application submission (waivers may be available)
Summer prior to Senior Year
College Application Workshop (CAKO)
1:1 Meetings w/ student/families & Ms. Wek
Test Scores & Letters of Recommendation
SAT/ACT
Letters of Recommendation
Test Prep
Scholarship Resource
Timeline: Senior Year
Summer
Attend student College Application Kick Off workshop
Summer
Sign up for a 1:1 student & family meeting with Ms. Wek
August
Apps open Aug 1
College App Day late August
September
Consider application deadlines
Consider LORs
October
FAFSA Opens ***
App Office Hours
November- Dec
Early Action deadlines for many IN schools
Early Spring
School decisions
Financial aid packages
April 15th FAFSA deadline
May 1st
College Commitment Day!
THANKS!
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
Julia Wek: Director of College & Career Readiness
college@herronhighschool/herronriverside/herronclassical.org
Academic/Scheduling questions: School Counseling teams
School Counseling: counseling@herron/herronriverside.org