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College and Career Counseling

Beth Anderson, College & Career Advisor

Be sure to watch for announcements with reminders about the various opportunities and deadlines mentioned below.

Career & College Advisor Notes

October 2022

Hello, Students and Families,

October will be a busy month for all things post-high school! There are financial aid forms to fill out, field trips to go on, and essays to write, just to name a few. Please reach out when you have questions about any of these tasks or opportunities – there are many resources available to support you.

A request: Do you have ideas for career or college trips or events? Please let me know!

Many thanks,
Beth/Ms. Anderson

College and Career Advisor
Methow Valley School District
banderson@methow.org
(509) 996.2215, x4175

Office Hours:
Available at LBHS or ILC from 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. on M/Tu/Th/F
Available remotely on Wednesdays
 

 

Upcoming Events & Deadlines

Recap on Paying for Post-HS Education Night

The Zoom recording of Financial Aid Night with financial advisor David Aramaki financial advisor David Aramaki is available, in case you missed the event or just want to revisit part of the presentation.

Let me know if you would like to have a one-on-one meeting to work through the FAFSA or talk about paying for your post-HS plans. And please feel free to reach out to David with any questions that are specific to your family’s finances – he is more than willing to respond, free of charge.

FAFSA Work Party • Tuesday, November 1, 6-8 p.m

Join us in the LBHS Library to work on the FAFSA in the company of your fellow students/families! Beth & Erika will be there to assist you as questions come up,and there will be plenty of snacks to fuel your efforts. Drop in when you’re available, between 6 – 8 p.m. on November 1.

Both Ms. Anderson and Mrs. Spellman recommend that seniors and their families fill out the 2023-2024 FAFSA by November 15 in order to receive all the aid for which their students qualify. Regardless of whether you attend the work party, please feel free to ask us any financial aid questions, big or small.

Hagan Scholarship Application Due December 1

The Hagan Scholarship is a nationwide need-based merit scholarship, providing recipients with the opportunity to graduate from college debt-free. The scholarship is worth up to $6,000 each semester. See the full eligibility and application details on their website. This is a nationwide scholarship program, but only students from rural and relatively small school districts are eligible. If you meet the criteria, talk to Ms. Anderson about how to apply!

PSAT for Juniors Now Scheduled for October 25

Note the change in date! In order to avoid conflicts with homecoming activities, we will be doing the PSAT on the alternate test day: Tuesday, October 25. The PSAT is given free of charge to all juniors,and there may be some extra testing materials for 10th graders who wish to test – if you’re interested, check in with Erika Spellman to see whether space is available. (Mrs. Spellman sent more details about the PSAT in a separate email.)

School Day SAT • October 27

We’re excited to be offering the SAT at Liberty Bell during the school day again on Thursday, October 27! Registration is now closed, but please check in with either Erika Spellman or Beth Anderson if you have any questions about what to expect or how to prepare.

Students may still choose to register for Saturday SAT/ACT dates at any of the testing sites in our region. See Mrs. Spellman or Ms. Anderson to obtain a fee waiver for outside tests (all students who receive free/reduced lunch qualify for free testing!).

There are some excellent online SAT and ACT prep resources:

You can also ask Ms. Anderson for printed copies of full-length practice SATs – taking actual practice tests is the best way to improve your scores.

Upcoming Field Trips!

Below are the dates and descriptions of our fall field trip opportunities for grades 9-12. Talk to me to sign up for a trip and get a permission form.

Friday, October 21 (Long day trip, 5:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.)
Western Washington University Fall Preview Day

Wednesday, October 26 (During the school day, 8:20 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.)
Okanogan County Career Expo

Thursday, November 3 @ 7a.m. – Friday, November 4 @ 6 p.m.
(Overnight trip, 11th & 12th grade only) Everett Community College, UW, Cornish College of the Arts, and the National College Fair at the Seattle Convention Center

Wednesday, November 9 (Day trip, 8:20 a.m. – 3:30 p.m)
NCESD Computer Science Fair in Wenatchee
 

Helpful Resources

Application Process

  • College Board
    The College Board website provides you with all the information you need for applying to college. It allows you to compare colleges. It provides you with GPA and SAT information to how you compare with other students. It provides financial information about the cost of schools and how they distribute their financial aid. This website also has a Expected Family Contribution and a Net Price Calculator available.
  • Common Application
    Start your Common Application.

Career Exploration

  • Naviance
    Career and college research tools available to all LBHS/ILC students. (*Coming soon* – sign in with your methow.org Google account!)
  • ReadyWA
    Career exploration & financial aid resources for students and families.
  • Find Your Grind
    Research careers based on your lifestyle assessment; free to all LBHS students.

Financial Aid & Scholarship Information

  • FAFSA Checklist & Financial Aid Timeline
    FAFSA checklist and timeline displayed in an easy to follow format.
  • FAFSA
    Official site for the 2023-2024 FAFSA. Opens October 1, 2021.
  • Washington Student Achievement Council – financial aid resources for all Washington families, and the new home of the WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid), which is the financial aid application for WA residents who do not qualify for federal aid due to immigration status.
  • Fastweb
    “Leading online resource for finding scholarships to help you pay for school.”
  • Scholarship Training Guide – Washington Apple Education Foundation (WAEF)
    “Twenty-six years ago, members of Washington’s tree fruit industry formed the Washington Apple Education Foundation (WAEF) to develop, promote and manage the industry’s charitable works. The foundation has increased support for college-bound students annually. This year 310 students are on college campuses with help from $1 million in WAEF scholarships.”
  • The College Solution – “Guide for Finding the Right School at the Right Price” by Lynn O’Shaughnessy (website & Book)
  • Unigo/Scholarship Experts
    “Sign up to get matched to scholarships that are perfect for you.”
  • WashBoard
    “Looking for scholarships? We connect Washington students of all types with Washington scholarship providers….for FREE.”
  • Western Undergraduate Exchange Tuition Reduction
    List of all schools in the Western Undergraduate Exchange. Students who are residents of WUE states are eligible to apply for a reduced tuition rate of 150% of resident tuition at participating schools.

School Lists & Virtual Tours

Testing

  • Fair Test: National Center for Fair & Open Testing
    FairTest lists all of the colleges that do not use SAT/ACT scores for admitting students.
  • Test Optional
    In the wake of pandemic-related disruptions, many colleges and universities have decided to make standardized testing.
  • ACT
    Register for the ACT.
  • ACT Prep
    Online ACT prep resources.
  • SAT
    Register for the SAT.
  • Khan Academy
    Free SAT prep and practice tests.
  • SAT Test Prep Google Classroom See Ms. Anderson for access to the Google Classroom site. You can also ask her for a printed copy of a full-length practice SAT.

 

About the College and Career Counseling Program

The goal of our College and Career Counseling program is to provide students and their families with the information and resources necessary for them to make well-informed choices about their post-secondary education. Liberty Bell recognizes the diversity in our families and understands that what might be right for one student may not be a good fit for another.

Therefore, we work individually with students and their families to help them successfully develop and achieve their post-graduation goals – whether that is applying to a 4-year, 2-year or technical college, designing a productive Gap Year plan or entering the military or workforce. Some of the specific services that we offer include:

  • Educating students and parents about the post-secondary educational choices available to them.
  • Meeting individually with juniors, seniors and parents to help them with their college lists, the application process, college essays and financial aid needs, including the FAFSA, the Profile and College Bound Scholarship, as well as with SAT/ACT prep and registration.
  • Holding college information evenings for students and parents to make sure that they have all the resources and support they need to reach their goals.
  • Working with the guidance counselor to ensure that 9th and 10th graders take the necessary classes to be eligible for college admissions.

Applying to college should be a fun and exciting process; but at times it can be a bit overwhelming. If you find yourself feeling stuck, or if you have questions about any part of the application process, contact our office at (509) 996-2215.

We would like to thank the Public School Funding Alliance for their generous support of this program.

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Our Mission

To expect, encourage and facilitate the pursuit of excellence in our students, preparing them for a world in which life-long learning is critical to their success and happiness.

A Vision for Methow Valley Schools

Working in partnership with our families and community, we develop curious, creative, compassionate, competent, action-oriented citizens prepared to change the world.