A message about college and career planning:

Welcome LHS students and parents!  This page of the LHS website includes many helpful resources with regard to college and career planning. For example, you will find information on SCOIR, financial aid opportunities including FAFSA and MO 529, the Common App, a smattering of scholarship opportunities, and a detailed College Planning Timeline by grade level. If entering a career after high school is a better option than college at this time, you will find relevant resources for this pathway as well.  Below is a general timeline for students who plan to attend college. Remember, God has created each one of us uniquely and He has wonderful plans for us!

Early Childhood – 8^th grade:  Years to develop, learn about yourself, and explore healthy activities. All our experiences help us to prepare for life after high school!

Freshmen Year -  Transition to the demands of high school: academically, socially, physically, and emotionally.  Learn more about your relationship with God. Develop time-management skills. Try extra-curricular activities new to you. Spend summer wisely. Keep reading!

Sophomore Year – Take challenging academic courses. Sharpen time-management skills. Develop your interests and try new activities at school and in your community. Consider MO A+ Agreement. Spend summer wisely. Keep reading!

Junior Year – Continue to challenge yourself academically. Begin exploring the idea of higher education:

1. Attend LHS College Fair in the fall.
2. Visit with individual college reps during the school day. Sign up in the office prior to the visit.
3. Take the SCOIR interest and aptitude assessment called YouScience. Read your individualized report. Consider the suggested college majors and career matches.
4. Select 3 to 5 colleges that fit you. Consider the finances. Be aware of admission criteria, scholarship opportunities, and deadlines. Remember to consider community colleges and certificates. College is not for everyone and that is ok, but some form of higher education/training is almost always needed beyond high school.
5. Study for ACT if needed. Take the ACT. Re-take the ACT if it would benefit you. Check merit scholarship grids on college websites to help you determine if retaking the ACT would benefit you financially.
6. Be aware of MO A+ criteria. Make progress toward that goal if relevant to your plans.
7. Tour prospective college campuses. Visit with departments. Have lunch on campus.
8. Enroll in challenging courses for your senior year.
9. Spend summer wisely: Include activities that will develop your strengths and interests.

Senior Year – Be aware of admission requirements and scholarship deadlines if applying to college. Most colleges as well as Common App open applications in August of senior year.

1. Apply early. Use SCOIR or keep a Google sheet to help you stay organized. A list of 3 to 5 prospective colleges is reasonable.
2. Use the LHS website to request high school transcripts to be sent to colleges.
3. Attend LHS College Fair in the fall.
4. Visit with individual college reps during the school day.
5. Continue to tour prospective campuses in the fall.
6. Create your FSA ID and submit your FAFSA when it opens. The earlier you complete the process, the better. Be aware of institutional deadlines as they vary.
7. Complete your ACT goals by the end of the first semester. Check the merit scholarship grids on college websites to help you decide if retaking the ACT would be beneficial financially.
8. Complete your college applications by the end of the first semester (ideally). Some colleges will accept applications in the winter and early spring. Decision Day for college is traditionally May. However, most students feel better about finalizing their decision by spring break.
9. Be aware of competitive scholarship deadlines. Many colleges set deadlines in late fall.
10. Apply for private scholarships throughout the second semester and summer.
11. Once you have committed to your college, send courtesy emails to decline other offers.
12. Check your email from your college. Look for information about creating your student email, registering for orientation day, selecting freshmen classes, signing a housing contract, etc.
13. If you have earned Dual Credit, the student must contact the relevant institution and request a transcript to be sent to your college (and make payment). Request official transcripts for yourself to keep as well.
14. Celebrate your high school career. Be grateful to God for all your opportunities, and enjoy your summer before college!

A note about student-athletes: If you are pursuing NCAA or NAIA, be aware of the eligibility criteria for each organization. The test code for NCAA is 9999. The test code for NAIA is 9876.

Below are links to additional resources for college and career planning:

www.scoir.com- LHS students can create their SCOIR account at no cost.  Students can invite parents to view their accounts. Use this resource to research colleges, learn about admission requirements, view your standardized test scores and cumulative GPA, upload your high school career and personal statement docs, and stay organized during the application process. 

https://act.org/ - Everything about the ACT: Testing dates and locations, test prep, and more.

www.collegeboard.com - Seniors can complete six steps and be entered in the scholarship drawings after each step. College Board also hosts AP exams and links with Khan Academy for study help.

https://journeytocollege.mo.gov/about-journey-to-college/ -  Great information about planning and paying for Missouri colleges

https://dhewd.mo.gov/ppc/grants/aplusscholarship.php  - Eligibility criteria for MO A+ Scholarship

https://dhewd.mo.gov/ - Create a student portal

https://www.missourimost.org/ - Missouri’s 529 Educational Savings Plan

https://kcscholars.org/ - Scholarship for juniors plus matching college savings program for younger students.

http://www.thehundred-seven.org/hbculist.html - Historical Black Colleges and Universities

www.goingmerry.com - Create an account to view private national scholarship opportunities

www.growyourgiving.com- Create an account to search for local private scholarship opportunities

https://www.best-trade-schools.net/  - Resources for trade schools.

https://www.bls.gov/ooh/production/home.htm - View the Occupational Outlook Handbook for insights!

Plus, here are some books for parents and wonderful songs by Jason Mraz to enjoy (be aware of ads):

1. Letting Go:  A Parent’s Guide to Understanding the College Years by Kevin  Coburn & Madge Lawrence Treeger
2. How to Listen so Your Teen Will Talk by Adele Faber and  Elaine Mazlish

3  Plus songs by Jason Mraz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5WiqJFq2-o 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFkTu8Y1KLs    

The mission of The SCOIR College Network is to improve access to the opportunities that a college education provides. SCOIR was founded on the belief that students are more than their SATs and GPAs and that colleges are more than their rankings. SCOIR transforms the college admissions process from a short-term, quantitative transaction to a long-term, qualitative engagement. 

Students can create their SCOIR account at no cost and then use this online platform to manage their college application journey. Students can identify factors important to them in their college experience, research colleges that match those descriptors, follow social media using the College Wall and keep track of their application steps and deadlines for admission. Parents can view the colleges their students are pursuing and access information regarding the cost of attendance for each college. 

Click here to help students through the college application process. Click here to view a college application checklist. These resources provide tips on the following:

• A comprehensive outline of the full college application process
• Tips for completing the Common App and the Common App essay
• College interview tips and sample questions
• Expert advice on researching schools and touring campuses.

Journey to College helps students and parents in the state of Missouri plan and pay for college. Sponsored by the Missouri Department of Higher Education, Journey to College provides information about the college through publications, social media, and events. For more information, please click here to visit the Journey to College website.

Online College: Financial Aid Opportunities

Follow this link to learn about financial aid for online colleges and to see a list of online college options:
https://edubirdie.com/blog/financial-aid-for-online-colleges 

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University HQ offers free educational resources to help students determine their best college and career path options. Follow this link to learn about colleges, test prep, financial aid, career statistics, and more: 
https://universityhq.org/how-to-become/

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The Common Application is a not-for-profit, member organization committed to the pursuit of access, equity, and integrity in the college admission process. The Common Application allows students the opportunity to apply to more than 800 colleges with only one application. Click here to visit The Common Application website. 

Many local, state, and national scholarships can be found at
https://www.goingmerry.com/ 
Here is an article from Going Merry to help with understanding award letters:
https://www.goingmerry.com/blog/financial-aid-award-letter/