Senior Year

As you enter your senior year of high school, there are lots of important things to know! Senior year is more about time management and organization than anything else, so if you haven't developed a strategy that works for you yet, now is the time!

Throughout the year, you have a team here at MRHS to support you. If you need help with your schedule, mental health, AP exam information, or graduation requirements, reach out to your counselor. Many colleges (though, not all) will require a counselor letter of recommendation or evaluation as part of your college application. If you apply to a college that requires this or apply to any college via Common App, make sure you fill out a Purple Packet and submit it to your counselor. The only way she can write you a strong recommendation is if you provide her with helpful information in a timely manner.

Office: Counselor Office (room 1526)

Email: KathrynSBoyle@katyisd.org

College & Career Website - https://bit.ly/MRHSCCF

Instagram: @mavs4college

Senior Beginning of Year Presentation: Class of 2027

While my office is in the counseling office suite, my work is different from that of your counselors. I can help with college research, admissions, and transition, career prep, military prep and enlistment, financial aid, dual credit, and more. I can help with all your postsecondary planning!

Students can meet with me by appointment only. To request a meeting, fill out the MRHS Counselor Request Google Form. Include details about your reason for requesting a meeting, and be diligent about checking your KISD Outlook email because some requests can be resolved via email rather than missing class time.

For parents wanting a meeting, please email me your request, including the topic of your meeting, your student's name, and your availability. Meetings will be between 7:00 AM-3:00 PM.

KISD provides students with post-secondary planning via SchooLinks. Many of you have used SchooLinks for course selection, and some of you have used it to sign up for events, search for colleges, build your resume, and more! As a senior, you will be required to use it for a few tasks, including tracking college applications, submitting proof of financial aid completion, and completing the KISD Senior Survey.

SchooLinks enables you, your teachers, your counselor, your parents, and your CCF to work together as a team in the process of your transition from high school to any post-secondary program. Students access SchooLinks via MyKaty Cloud.

You can access your GPA, unofficial transcript and profile, view test scores, explore careers and colleges, track college applications, request transcripts and letters of recommendation, and access scholarships through your SchooLinks account! SchooLinks is also where you will access your MRHS transcript after you graduate by creating an alumni account!

Parents can access SchooLinks, too! In fact, KISD now requires parents to complete a FERPA Authorization in SchooLinks to grant KISD permission to send transcripts to colleges when students apply. To access the parent SchooLinks account, log into MyKaty Cloud with parent credentials and search for SchooLinks.

Parents can view a video guide for completing the FERPA waiver by clicking here. Instructions are also shown in this visual guide.

Once parents have accessed SchooLinks, they, too, can view attachments to messages, access scholarship information and unofficial transcripts, view test scores, and view career choices.

As you prepare to graduate, it's time to learn how to write a professional email. This year, you may need to email teachers or your counselor to request letters of recommendation, college admissions offices to ask clarifying questions about your application, Mrs. Boyle to seek guidance, a scholarship organization to submit an application, etc. Use the information below to learn how to write a professional email.

Creating a Professional Email Account

• Establish a personal email account before graduating high school. You can use free services, such as Gmail or Yahoo. If you already have a personal email account, ensure the inbox is not full so you can receive messages and update your email handle (i.e. name) if it is not professional.
• The personal email address should include a professional format, such as your name or initials.
• Create an automatic signature with your first and last name and phone number.
• Avoid using offensive or inappropriate words in personal email addresses.
• Stay organized by creating folders for various content, such as Colleges, High School, Stores, etc.

Email Etiquette

• Include a subject that is brief and tells the topic of the email.
• Use complete sentences.
• Be respectful and professional.
• Wait at least 48 hours for a response before sending a follow-up request.
• Check your email regularly.
• Copy parents or school personnel on important emails if help is needed.
• Avoid including your Social Security Number (SSN) or credit card information in emails.

Writing a Professional Email

• Capitalize proper nouns and beginnings of new sentences.
• Use punctuation.
• Make sure your signature includes your full name and student ID (college ID if you have one and are emailing a college).
• See the guide above for a basic format.

A student who is college-ready is prepared for any post-secondary goal without the need for college remediation. This student meets the minimum Texas Success Initiative scores through the SAT, ACT, or TSIA2. Please see the scores that are required to be considered college-ready listed below.

College remediation is when a student will need to enroll in additional developmental courses (English and/or Math) at a 2-year or 4-year college or university to prepare a student to complete the standard college-level courses. These courses will not count toward the student's college degree plan and must be taken prior to enrolling in college-level courses.

A student is considered career-ready if the student has completed or is working toward a TEA approved industry-based certificate. TEA has specific criteria for which certificates meet the CCMR requirement. You can learn more on the Katy ISD CTE website at https://www.katyisd.org/career-and-technical-education/home/ccmr. Questions can be directed to the CTE Director or your MRHS counselor.

A student is considered military-ready once the student has successfully completed the ASVAB exam, fully enlisted in the military and submitted a copy of their military enlistment paperwork (DD4) to their MRHS counselor or CCF.

SAT: Scholastic Aptitude Test - https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat

The SAT is an entrance exam used by most colleges and universities to make admissions and scholarship decisions. The SAT is a multiple-choice, computer-based, timed test created and administered by the College Board.

ACT: American College Testing - https://www.act.org/

The ACT is an entrance exam used by most colleges and universities to make admissions and scholarship decisions. The ACT is a multiple-choice, computer-based, timed test created and administered by the ACT.

The purpose of both the SAT and the ACT is to measure a high school student's readiness for college and to provide colleges with one common data point that can be used to compare all applicants. College admissions officers review standardized test scores alongside your high school GPA, the rigor of classes you took in high school, letters of recommendation (if applicable) from teachers and mentors, extracurricular involvement, admissions interviews (if applicable), and personal essays. Each college determines the value they place on the components of the application differently; while some may heavily consider test scores, others may not consider them at all. It is important to research test policies at each college before you apply, ideally during junior year, so you have time to retest if needed.

TSIA2: Texas Success Initiative Assessment 2.0

The TSIA2 is a placement test used to determine college-readiness for students who may go to college in Texas. Only students who do NOT prove college-readiness via the SAT or ACT will need to take the TSIA2. Colleges do not use the TSIA2 for admissions purposes; rather, they use it to determine course placement after students have been admitted to the college. Unlike the SAT and ACT, the TSIA2 is untimed. Both MRHS and KISD offer the TSI throughout the year for seniors who have not proven college-readiness via the SAT or ACT. To sign up, see SchooLinks Events and Canvas announcements.

Test Prep Resources

Doing well on standardized tests requires dedicating a significant amount of time to study and practice. Many students spend years preparing for the SAT or ACT because of the opportunities and benefits provided to students with strong scores. For a list of test prep resources, please visit the MRHS College and Career website.

College Search Tools

SchooLinks, Appily and BigFuture are free, easy-to-use college search tools available to KISD students. Each of these college search tools allows students to search for colleges using a variety of search factors, such as major, location, selectivity, and more.

Because SchooLinks is the system KISD uses to process college applications, the benefit of using SchooLinks in the research process is that it allows students to save colleges they like to a list for easier tracking come application season. When it comes to searching for admissions data, however, Appily and BigFuture College Seach websites have more accurate information in terms of admissions requirements and a students likelihood of being admitted.

For students planning to apply to Texas public colleges and universities, you can view automatic admission requirements on each college's website. If you don't meet automatic admission or are applying to colleges that are not Texas public, Google search "(name of college) Common Data Set" to get admissions statistics so you can determine your likelihood of being admitted.

• How will this college prepare me for my life after college?
• Does this school serve my academic and personal interests?
• What kind of intern or career opportunities does this school provide?
• How far away from home do I want to live?

• College Websites are loaded with information pertaining to admissions and academic programming
• Attend a college admission representative visit at MRHS during Focus, lunch, or after school
  
• Attend a college fair
• Join the mailing list of the colleges you are interested in
  
• Make an official college visit and visit more than once if needed

College visits are both an important and exciting part of the college selection process. If you’re going to spend four years somewhere, you'd better like what you see and feel when you’re on campus. Many colleges have a variety of opportunities for potential students to participate and access information. Check out all the opportunities on your interested college website to take full advantage of their potential student programming.

Why Visit?

There are many great reasons to make an official visit to a college, including to learn about academic opportunities, get an understanding and a sense of the educational programming and students life, and get answers to your questions!

When Should You Visit?

• Make a college visit whenever you can, but it is best to visit when classes are in session prior to applying.
  
• It is highly recommended that you make an 'official' visit with the college admission office so you have access to direct information and resources. You may even have opportunity to meet with professors within your major or coaches.
• If you didn't have a chance to make a visit prior to completing the college application, then you will want to make a visit prior to making a decision during senior year.
  
• Try to avoid only visiting on a weekend... every campus is great on a Saturday.

How Can I Make Arrangements for a Visit?

• Most colleges will have an online sign up for a tour or visit. Check their website under future/prospective student or admissions.
  
• Call admissions office if you have further questions about the visit and want to inquire about specific priorities for your visit.

Considerations Prior and During Visit

• Read information about the college prior to visit. This way you won't be overwhelmed on the tour and can listen for the 'insider scoop'.
• Ask if they will allow you sit in a class. Look up the schedule of classes and pick a few classes you would be interested in visiting.
• Visit the department or "college of your major"
• Talk to students
• Eat the food
• Bring your list of questions. Take time to reflect in advance what is most important to you in a college.
• Take pictures and notes
• Find out what other out reach opportunities they offer: summer camps, career days, etc.

College Visit Question Resources

1. How easy is it to get help in class or get in touch with your professors?
2. Have you been able to get into the classes you’ve wanted?
3. What’s life outside of the classroom like?
4. Do most students stay here on weekends, or do they go home?
5. How is the food?
6. How much time do you spend studying?
7. How responsive is the administration when is comes to addressing students’ problems?
8. Do you feel safe on campus?
9. What do you wish you’d known before coming here?
10. If you had to make the decision again, would attend this college?

College Visit Tips

• https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/find-colleges/campus-visit-guide

Virtual College Tours

• http://www.youvisit.com/search/colleges
• https://www.thecollegetour.com/

Questions to reflect on after your visit:

• Does it feel like it could be your home?
• Will you have enough to do outside of class?
• Is it the right mix of support and challenge?
• Will it meet your academic goals and needs?
• Will it meet or support post college goals?
• Does it meet your personal needs?

Juniors and seniors are allotted two excused absences per school year for college visits! This is to encourage students and parents to explore their post-high school options. For an absence to be counted as excused, the college visit form must be completed. The absence will remain unexcused until the form is submitted.

College fairs will typically have a variety of colleges represented. College fairs offer students and families an introduction to the college, an opportunity to connect with the admission rep and to gather resources about the college.

Local College Fairs:

As you are looking ahead to your next step beyond MRHS, the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) hosts both online and in-person fairs in Houston. We will have visits from colleges here at MRHS throughout the year. To sign up for those college visits, students need to register in SchooLinks (see below). KISD also hosts a large college fair every October at the Merrell Center. This fair has colleges from all over the country as well as trade schools and military recruiters. Additionally, the Black College Expo has an HBCU College Fair every fall, typically at NRG. Follow @mavs4college on Instagram and regularly check SchooLinks Events for all events. Don't miss these opportunities to learn more from the experts and to make an impression on the people who make admissions decisions!

The Common Data Set (CDS) is a standardized, annual data report colleges and universities publish to answer a common set of questions about their institution, especially around admissions, academics, cost, and study body characteristics. It was created so the same types of information are reported in the same way from college to college.

How to Find a College's Common Data Set

1. Go to Google.
2. Search Using this Formula: "[College Name] Common Data Set"
3. Look for Official Results: Click on the results from the college's official website (usually ending in .edu). The CDS is typically found in the Institutional Research or Facts & Figures section.
4. Download the PDF: Most colleges publish their CDS as a downloadable PDF. Look for the most recent academic year available.

Which Sections of the CDS to Focus on

Section C: First Time, First-Yeas Admissions

• C1: Applications & Acceptance Numbers: See how many students applied, were admitted, and enrolled. Calculate the true acceptance rate for yourself.
• C7: Basis for Selection: Shows how the school rates each admission factor as "Very Important," "Important," "Considered," or "Not Considered." This lets you know where to focus the most attention on your application!
• C9-12: Test Score Ranges: Shows SAT and ACT score ranges for admitted students. Wondering if you should submit your test scores? This section is where you'll find your answer. If your scores fall within or above the 25th-75th percentile range, submitting scores strengthens your application. If they're below the 25th percentile and the school does not require test scores, applying test-optional may be a more strategic choice.

• Enrollment by gender and status: Full-time vs. part-time breakdown
• Retention rates: shows the percentage of freshmen return for sophomore year
• Graduation rates: shows 4-year and 6-year completion rates

Section H: Financial Aid

• H1: Aid to first-time freshmen: percentage receiving grants, loans, and scholarships
• H2: Types of aid: Need-based (based on FAFSA) vs. non-need-based awards
• Average financial aid package offered

Section G: Annual Expenses

• Tuition and fees for in-state and out-of-state students
• Room and board costs (on-campus vs. off-campus)
• Books, supplies, and other estimated expenses

Source: CCMR with Ms. Thrash

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) now requires students graduating from Texas public high schools to opt in or out of My Texas Future's Direct Admissions.

Direct Admissions is a way for students to enter minimal information to see a list of colleges who will guarantee the student will be admitted before they even apply! There are a few programs out there, including the two common platforms listed below. Niche is another option.

My Texas Future Direct Admissions: Graduation Requirement

My Texas Future matches your academic information with the admission requirements of Texas public colleges to show you which colleges will accept you before you even apply! Click this link for a video walking you through this process.

1. Create your account and your profile.
2. Opt-in to direct admissions. Agree to share your profile with participating colleges.
3. Share at least one component of your academic information, including your unweighted GPA, class rank, SAT and/or ACT. Make sure you list your KISD ID number to meet the graduation requirement.
4. View your offers! See where you are guaranteed to be admitted as long as you apply on time, and if you're ready to apply, click more information to apply on Apply Texas.

• If you prefer to opt-out, fill out the opt-out form and submit it to your MRHS counselor or Mrs. Boyle.

Common App Direct Admissions

• Participating colleges set their requirements, such as a minimum GPA, to offer guaranteed admission.
• Common App then finds first-generation, low- and middle-income students who meet these requirements using their Common App responses.
• Students are notified of direct admission offers in their Common App accounts and by email. They can learn more about the college, including academic program exclusions or other requirements.
• If a student chooses to apply with this non-binding admissions offer, they don't have to pay an application fee and aren't required to enroll if they apply. Sometimes, they also do not have to write the admissions essay.
• Colleges will review student applications to verify accuracy. The colleges will also ensure the students' applications meet their stated criteria, including any college-specific program and academic major exceptions.

College applications do not open until the summer before your senior year; most colleges begin accepting applications on August 1st, though a few begin accepting applications in July. Ideally, your college list will be complete by July 1st so you can begin submitting applications when they open on August 1st. It is your responsibility to check each college's admissions website for application timelines, including opening dates and deadlines!

Students in the top 10% of their graduating class who are on the Foundational graduation plan with endorsements will be automatically admitted to all four-year Texas public colleges in Texas (except UT, which automatically admits top 5%) if they submit all application requirements by the application deadline. Many Texas public colleges offer assured admissions for students outside of the top 10% based on their class rank and SAT or ACT scores; check the college's admissions website for assured admission policies. Be sure to read everything carefully because assured admission often requires students to meet curriculum requirements in high school and may recalculate GPAs using only core classes. Most private and out-of-state universities do not have assured admissions policies; this is where researching the college's CDS is useful!

Students who do not meet assured admission requirements will have their applications holistically reviewed by the college. This is where essays, resumes, grades, course rigor, letters of recommendation, and more really count! This is also where you should refer to the CDS to see what the college considers the most important factor(s) in applicants. Even students who meet assured admission for the university are often holistically reviewed for their major. For example, you may meet the assured admission requirement to get into the University of Houston but not meet the requirements to get admitted to your major, like Business or Engineering.

College Application Terms to Know

• Assured Admission: a policy that automatically admits applicants to a college if they meet certain criteria. These criteria often include GPA, test scores and class rank.
• Holistic Review: an admissions process that considers an applicant's entire profile, including their academic performance, experiences, and other attributes.
• Placement Tests: tests that measure the academic skills needed for college-level work. They cover reading, writing, math and sometimes other subjects. Placement test results help determine which courses you are ready for and whether you need remedial classes.
• Early Action: an option to submit an application to a college you're highly interested in before the regular deadline. This means you really like this school and are hoping to get an offer sooner than Regular Decision applicants.
• Early Decision: an option to submit an application to your first-choice college before the regular deadline. When you apply ED, you get an admission decision earlier than Regular Decision applicants. ED plans are legally binding, meaning you agree to enroll in the college and withdraw all other college applications if this college admits you. You are only allowed to apply to one college ED since it is a binding agreement. Not all colleges offer ED. You should only apply ED if you are certain this is your number one school and you can afford to attend if admitted.
• Priority Deadline: an application deadline that is earlier than the regular deadline and often tied to scholarship consideration. Typically, to be considered for merit scholarships from the college, you need to apply by their priority deadline.
• Rolling Admissions: an admission policy of considering each application as soon as all required information has been received rather than setting an application deadline and reviewing applications in batches after the deadline.
• Deferred Admission: permission from a college that has accepted you to postpone enrolling in the college. The postponement is usually up to one year.
• Need-Blind Admissions: a policy of making admissions decisions without considering the financial need of applicants. Colleges that use this policy may or may not offer enough financial aid to meet a student's full need.

Once you've had an opportunity to learn about colleges and their opportunities and have spent time reflecting on what your preferences are in a college, you can begin to build a plan. Students will apply to college in the fall of their senior year. We want students to apply before November 1st to be eligible for the most amount of scholarship. It is helpful to start building some plans and options throughout junior year and into the summer. These are just considerations for building a potential college list and educational plans.

• There is no exact amount of college applications you should send; however, we recommend you consider a range of 3-6.
  
• Include "Match" colleges: You have a good chance of getting in; your data matches their incoming freshmen data profile.
• Include "Safety" colleges: Your data is above their average incoming freshmen.
• Include "Reach" colleges: The college's profile data is above your profile or this college is a highly selective school. A highly-selective college is defined as the acceptance of 15% or less of everyone who applies. The number of these colleges have gone up and their admit rates have gone down, so some have rates as low as 5%. An Outstanding Academic Record Is No Guarantee of Admission.

The more Reach schools you apply to, the larger your total list should be with "match" and "safety" colleges.

• Example list: 1-2 reach, 2-3 match, 1 safety

A simple way to find a college's incoming freshmen profile and admission trends is through the university's website. You can also Google "Incoming Freshman Profile of (University name)" or "Common Data Set of (University name)".

Example: Incoming Freshman Profile of Michigan Tech

*Note: Admissions data is typically listed as UNWEIGHTED GPA. Students should view their unweighted GPA to have a realistic comparison to the college incoming freshmen profile.

College application platforms allow students to apply to multiple colleges through one account, entering personal information once instead of every time they apply to another college. Each college or university will have unique questions or requirements that students will need to complete within the application platform. Students will create an account, complete the student profile, and then add any colleges they want to apply to that accept that application platform. For example, Apply Texas is an application platform nearly all Texas public colleges/universities accept. Students would have one Apply Texas account and complete the profile only once; then, they would add and complete the college specific questions to apply to each college.

The most commonly used platforms by MRHS students are Apply Texas and the Common Application (i.e. Common App). Some colleges, like Prairie View A&M University and Baylor University, use their own web based applications accessible through their website. Students will choose only one of the methods the college accepts to apply. Once you have your college list, research their admissions websites to see which application(s) they accept. If they all accept the same platform, use that one! If you have colleges that use different platforms, though, you will have to create more than one account.

The QuestBridge National College Match is another application platform that is unique and highly competitive. QuestBridge offers high-achieving high school seniors from low-income backgrounds the opportunity to apply Early Decision to some of the nation's best colleges. QuestBridge will review all applications holistically and go through a process of moving forward in stages. Students who match with a college earn a full ride for all four years of college!

Applying to college is actually not as difficult as many students fear! It's more about being prepared, organized and meeting deadlines than anything else.

To begin applying, organize any necessary information you will need to complete your applications. Some things you will need include your address, phone numbers, social security number, high school activities list, volunteer work, work history with employer information, leadership roles, a copy of your unofficial transcript and senior courses.

Create your account(s) (i.e. Apply Texas, Common App, etc.) and write your username and password on a Google Doc. If you apply to colleges using Common App, link SchooLinks to your Common App. If you apply in any other platform, add each college to SchooLinks. We cannot submit documents on your behalf if you don't do this!

If there is an application fee, Common App requires you to pay when you submit. Apply Texas, on the other hand, instructs you to pay the college directly once you receive your college applicant portal. If you have done your research and see you qualify for a fee waiver, you will submit that to your college portal or on the college's website. Each year, Apply Texas has a Free Application Week where they waive application fees for all college applications submitted by Texas residents that week. This year's Apply Texas Free Application Week is October 12-18, 2026.

Types of Fee Waivers:

• College Application Fee Waivers
• Testing Fee Waivers

For College Application Fee Waivers:

• Check the college's admissions website to see if the college accepts fee waivers and, if so, how to qualify. If you don't qualify, you have to pay.
• If you do qualify, when submitting your college application, select the option that says you will be using a fee waiver instead of paying the application fee. This will allow you to submit without paying the fee.
• Fee waivers will be sent with your transcript when you request it in SchooLinks. However, many Texas public colleges will require you to upload the fee waiver to your college portal, so pay attention to your portal and what's required.

For Testing Fee Waivers:

• Email your counselor or Mrs. Boyle to request an SAT or ACT fee waiver. Students are limited to one fee waiver code each. Each SAT fee waiver covers the cost of two tests while the ACT fee waiver covers the cost of one test.
• Students can request an SAT fee waiver directly from College Board instead of emailing their counselor or Mrs. Boyle. That link is listed below.

NOTE: Some colleges have more than one portal for perspective students or accepted students. This could include a portal for tracking your application status and another one for housing, financial aid, etc. It is essential that you keep track of your login information for each portal. As you receive emails from colleges, track your accounts in a Google Doc.

All teacher/counselor recommendations for college applications must be submitted through SchooLinks after each application is submitted (with the exception of Texas A&M University, which requires LORs to be uploaded directly through the AIS portal).

Teacher Recommendation: also known as teacher evaluation, this is a written evaluation expressing the academic characteristics of the applicant, as demonstrated in the classroom.

Counselor Recommendation: also known as the counselor evaluation, this is a written statement completed by the applicant's HS counselor that addresses the applicant's academic performance, extracurricular involvement and personal character. It is important to provide your counselor with a Purple Packet so they can address your involvement.

You must provide a staff member with at least two weeks to write a letter of recommendation. Remember, writing a strong LOR is not a part of a teacher's day-to-day job and does require work outside of their normal schedule. Please ask nicely and show your appreciation to everyone who helps you with the application process!

Students will make the request (after asking in person or via email) through SchooLinks. Teachers/Counselors will upload the LOR to SchooLinks, and it will be sent to the college(s) for which the student has made the request. Students will need to provide the teacher/counselor with a resume or brag sheet to help the writer write the LOR. Do NOT assume the teacher will agree to write your letter. ALWAYS ask ahead of time via email or in person.

Be sure to send your teacher/counselor a follow up email thanking them for agreeing to write a LOR. This is a great time to send the brag sheet or resume! You will be able to track the completion of your LOR requests in SchooLinks; once the name turns green, the LOR has been submitted. If your due date is nearing and it has been two weeks, send a gentle reminder asking for the LOR to be submitted. Note: all applicants who apply to colleges via Common App will need a counselor LOR as it is a part of the School Report.

If you are making a request for a LOR outside of KISD:

• When using Common App, you will use the "Other Recommender" feature in Common App.
• When using Apply Texas or other college application platform, you will use the "Add them manually" feature in SchooLinks.

The college application essay can be a critical piece of the admissions process because it's the one part of your application where you're able to show who you truly are! Try not to dread this part of the application; rather, think of it as a unique opportunity to show your personality, experiences and ambitions. The essay can feel daunting, so use the many resources available to you and dedicate adequate time to crafting a strong essay that shows them who you truly are. Here are a few tips:

1. Authenticity: Admissions officers are not looking for a perfectly crafted essay that you would turn into your English teacher. They want an essay that shows your voice and experiences. Authenticity is the primary goal. Express yourself honestly rather than trying to write what you think they want to hear.
2. A Good Story: A well-written essay is more than just words on a page; it takes the readers through a journey into who you are. Admissions officers appreciate essays with a clear structure - beginning, middle, end - that captures and holds their attention.
3. Personal Reflection: Beyond describing events, admissions officers want to see how these experiences have shaped your character, values and goals.
4. Personal Growth: Admissions officers are interested in your journey of growth and development. They want to see how you have evolved through your experiences and how you apply these lessons to your future. Highlighting these moments in your essay can make a strong impression.
5. Alignment with College Goals: A compelling essay connects your experiences and aspirations to your college goals. Admissions officers are interested in how your background aligns with the college's offerings.
6. Proficient Writing Skills: While the content is more important, the quality of writing in your essay is also valuable. Admissions officers are looking for essays that are well-organized, clear, and error-free.
7. A Distinct Perspective: Admissions officers appreciate essays that offer a unique perspective even on a common topic. That want to see what differentiates your viewpoint or experiences from those of other applicants.
8. Passion: Demonstrating true passion and enthusiasm can make your essay stand out. Admissions officers want to see that you're genuinely excited about your interests and goals.

Source: CCMR with Ms. Thrash

The activities and awards list is used to show colleges what students do outside of class and how students have been recognized for their work. It helps admissions readers see student interests, commitment, leadership, impact, and achievements beyond grades and test scores.

Together, these lists help admissions officers see student character, initiative, leadership, and potential impact on campus. Even if an activity or award seems small, it can add context and strengthen your application when it reflects sustained effort or meaningful responsibility.

The activities list should do two things: show what students have done and show why it mattered. For college applications, the strongest entries are specific, concise, and focused on impact, leadership, commitment and growth.

How to Write an Activities List

Use active verbs, state the role clearly, and include concrete results when possible. Instead of generic wording, like "member," show what was contributed, what was learned, or what changed because of the work. Use strong verbs when describing activities.

What to Include

Students can include sports, arts, volunteering, personal/passion projects, research, jobs/internships, and many other meaningful commitments outside of the classroom. Quality matters more than quantity, so it's better to show depth in a few activities than to list many that are shallow or repetitive.

The Best Order

Students should put the most important (to you!) activities first, not necessarily the oldest ones. The top spots should usually go to the activities that best show leadership, major-related interest, long-term commitment, or major-impact.

A simple way to order activities is the most meaningful or impressive activities at the top, activities that show breadth, consistent involvement, or a different strength, and less central activities lower on the list, unless one has a special achievement or strong story.

A strong awards list should highlight the most selective, impressive, and relevant honors first. The best order is usually national awards first, then state/regional, then school or local awards.

How to Write an Awards List

Keep each award short and clear. If the title of the award is not widely known, add a brief explanation or the level of competition so admissions readers understand why is matters.

What to Include

Students can include academic honors (Honor Roll, National Honor Society, AP Scholar), competition-based awards (Speech & Debate, Robotics, Math Olympiad), artistic or performance recognition, leadership or service recognition (e.g., "Volunteer of the Year"). Academic honors and other recognitions that show achievement, selectivity, or distinction. If you have limited space, choose awards that are most impressive or most relevant to your intended major or interests.

The Best Order

A good order is national or international awards first, state or regional awards next, and school-based awards after that. Local or participation-based recognition last. If two awards are at the same level, put the more selective one first. ​Use the available spots for the strongest honors, not just the most recent ones.

Transcript Requests should only be requested once a student has completed and submitted the application to their college/university. Your applications must be marked as submitted or completed in SchooLinks for the transcript to be sent. SchooLinks and the Common Application connect, but only when the student logs into their Common App account in SchooLinks using the instructions above. Once SchooLinks and Common App are connected, everything will be updated in SchooLinks to reflect the same status within the Common Application College section. The School Report in the Common Application contains information about the student's academic profile, the Morton Ranch High School profile, and the student's transcript. It can be roughly six-to-eight pages long.

SchooLinks must match the college application status and reflect the applications that are being submitted. Transcripts will not be submitted if the college/university information is not added and kept updated in SchooLinks.

If your application is marked as "In Progress," it will not be sent to your college. Please make sure you are monitoring this and updating it to "Completed and Pending Results" as necessary. If your transcript is sent and your application has not been submitted, the college will not have an application file to place the transcript in and it will be discarded. Many applications will require you to enter your diploma type, GPA, and class rank. You can find this information 24 hours a day on your unofficial transcript. Your unofficial transcript can be downloaded from SchooLinks.

Check with the college before paying to submit an official HCC transcript. Many will accept an unofficial copy of your transcript during the application season and then require an official transcript once you've graduated.

Houston City College has partnered with Parchment, a digital credential service, to offer more convenient ways for sending your transcript.

Choose from three easy methods:

• Electronic delivery (fastest)
• Email (secure PDF)
• USPA first class mail

A self-reported academic record (SRAR)/Self-reported Transcript and Academic Record System (STARS) is a list of courses and grades that a student has attempted or will attempt for high school or college credit. You can submit your SRAR/STARS to participating colleges and universities as part of your application process and use a downloaded transcript from SchooLinks to complete your SRAR/STARS. Some colleges require students to enter all the courses and grades into a separate portal. Students will receive additional information about this process after they have submitted their applications.

Understanding the Test Optional Policies:

Students will be evaluated for admission through what is called a holistic admissions process.

Some colleges require an additional essay, extra letters of recommendation, an extended resume, or completion of additional short answer questions in the application for admission when students apply as test optional. Some schools require that applicants submit test scores to be considered for their scholarships and students must meet the required deadlines for scholarship consideration. Every college has approached the test optional admissions in a different way. Check with your prospective college/university for their test optional requirements.

Test Scores in the Enrollment Process:

Once you begin the enrollment process for the college/ university/ trade school you will need to submit test scores to demonstrate college-readiness (please see the What it Means to be College & Career Ready section for more detailed information). If SAT or ACT scores prove college-readiness, students will be able to enroll in college-level courses upon going to college. If college-readiness was not proven with the SAT, ACT or dual credit (ENGL 1301 and MATH 1314), colleges will require TSIA2 scores to determine course placement in courses such as English, Math, History, Science and Social Studies at the college. Certification programs, two-year or associate degree programs and bachelor’s degree programs require placement testing. If you have met college readiness with an ACT or SAT test, then you will be exempt from taking a course placement test or TSIA2 (Texas Success Initiative Assessment 2.0), but you will need to submit those scores to your future school.

• You may need to use your TSDS Number and NOT your school Student ID. Your TSDS Number can be found by clicking the button below. Mrs. Boyle does enter your KISD ID number as a supplemental ID when you test, so you can try to retrieve your scores that way as well.
• When looking for your scores, the institution you took the TSIA2 is Katy ISD. The institution you are wanting to send the scores to is the college/university you are attending.
• The report will be sent to your email address on file; you were instructed to list your personal email address on test day. Once you receive the email, you can then share it with the college/university you plant to attend. Sometimes you will need to send it to a specific email address associated with the college/university or person/advisor with the college/university. Please make sure to get that information from the college/university.
• Please check to make sure that you have a personal email address on file with Accuplacer or email College & Career Facilitator to request an email change.

Check your email(s) often and respond in a timely manner. Email is where students tend to get notified first about admission status, scholarships, or missing items. Contact your admissions representative about any questions that you or your parents have about the college, your admissions status or missing documents.

About 2-3 days after you submit your application, you will receive an email from a college/university acknowledging the submission of the application, and it will prompt you to log into/create a prospective student account. Do this as soon as possible and write your login information on a Google Doc! Pro Tip: Try to use the same password for each portal so you do not have to keep track of multiple logins.

Check your student account/admissions portal at each school at least once per week for messages, missing documents, or to-do items from admissions or financial aid. I suggest using a computer as everything is not always visible on your mobile device. Uploading additional documents may require a computer as well.

If/when you are accepted to colleges and/or universities, read your acceptance letters. They may contain important information about setting up an account, the deadline to accept your admission, procedures to enroll, and register for summer orientation.

A mid-year report provides colleges with an update on their applicants. High school counselors submit the reports directly to colleges after first semester grades are finalized and the school registrar has updated the transcript. Not every college needs a mid-year report; although, they are a common obligation at selective private colleges. Counselors only complete mid-year reports that are marked as required in SchooLinks. If a college is requesting a mid-year report and it is not marked as required in SchooLinks, it is your responsibility to ensure that your counselor is aware that they need to submit the mid-year report.

KISD typically has mid-year transcripts available in late January to early February. Please reach out to your school registrar with any questions.

Colleges will require you to provide a copy of your health records that show a Bacterial Meningitis vaccination. This does not have to be submitted to colleges during the application period. Rather, you only need to submit this to the college you choose to attend in late spring. For more information or to receive a copy of your vaccination record(s) to send to the college you are enrolling to, contact your health care provider.

If you know where you plan to attend and are planning on living on campus, submit your housing application as soon as possible. Each college has a different policy and some require additional fees for housing applications, please be sure to review the colleges policy for housing.

Check the college website and/or ask about how dual credit courses are used by the college and which AP tests are accepted for credit or advanced placement. Also, find out their procedures for getting the credits applied to your college transcript.

Beginning with students enrolled in 12th grade during the 2021-2022 school year, each student must do ONE of the following to graduate:

1. Complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
2. Complete and submit a Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA)
3. Submit a signed opt-out form (link provided below)

For Further Information

If you have any questions regarding House Bill 3, please contact HB3info@tea.texas.gov or visit the TEA website.

FAFSA: To be eligible to complete the FAFSA, the student must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident or be an eligible non-citizen. See eligible non-citizen statuses at https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/eligibility/requirements/non-us-citizens. Scroll to the FAFSA section to learn more about the FAFSA and how to apply.

TASFA: Students who are not eligible to complete the FAFSA due to citizenship requirements but who do legally reside in Texas can complete the TASFA. Visit https://www.highered.texas.gov/texas-residency/ to see if you qualify for legal residence in Texas. Scroll to the TASFA section to learn more about the FAFSA and how to apply.

Opt-Out Form: Students who do not plan to go to college or trade school, who do not qualify for the FAFSA or TASFA, or whose families simply have no intention of applying for financial aid must submit an opt-out form to meet the Texas graduation requirement. That form is linked below.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens on October 1 every year for the following school year with the state priority deadline of January 15. Some years, including this one, it opens early. To complete the FAFSA, follow the steps below.

1. Create FSA ID: Student and parent(s) must each create an FSA ID at https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account. Most of the time only one parent will need an FSA ID, but there will be times that both parents need an FSA ID or the parent and the stepparent will need an FSA ID. Parents without an SSN must still create an FSA ID. Watch this video for a guide on how to create your FSA ID.
2. Begin FAFSA Application: The FAFSA is very simple these days and can be completed in as little as 10-15 minutes! The FAFSA works best when the student completes their portion of the application before the parent completes their portion. Class of 2027 seniors need to complete the 2027-2028 FAFSA. Students will enter their personal information, invite their parent via their parent's email address, and add the colleges to which they plan to apply so those colleges receive their FAFSA to review for financial aid offers. See the chart below for a guide on which parent(s) need to complete the contributor information of the FAFSA. Student completes their portion, signs, and submits.
3. Parent Contribution: Parent receives email invitation to contribute to the FAFSA. Note: This does NOT mean parents are agreeing to help fund their student's college education. Parent information is simply a requirement for students considered dependent's to be considered for financial aid. Without parent information, students will be ineligible for any financial aid.
4. Confirmation: Student receives confirmation email with Student Aid Index (SAI). The SAI is what college's use to determine how much and what type(s) of need-based financial aid to offer applicants.
5. FAFSA Processing: New this year, the FAFSA processes immediately! This means students can immediately see their SAI, Pell Grant eligibility, and student loan eligibility. This does NOT mean students must take out loans; it is informing students of what they qualify to receive from the Federal government. The Department of Education sends the student's SAI to the colleges the student listed on their FAFSA.
6. Financial Aid Award: To receive a financial aid offer, students must be admitted to the college and have added the college to their FAFSA. This is why it's important to apply to colleges early and to complete the FAFSA early. Delays in applying result in delayed results and less funding available. After submitting the FAFSA and being admitted to the college, the student receives notification from college/university that FAFSA has been received and will inform student if they have been flagged for verification. If flagged for verification, the student must complete the verification process before the college will process FAFSA. Expect to begin receiving award letters in mid-February if student submitted college applications and FAFSA in the fall semester.
7. Evaluate and Decide: Once the student has received their college admissions decisions and financial aid offers, the student and parent(s) should review their options together. Ensure the college is affordable and will not require more debt than you are comfortable accumulating. Many colleges require students to submit their decision by May 1st.

Special Notes:

• Students need to the initiate FAFSA application.
• Both student and parent must approve IRS consent. To be considered for aid, the FAFSA checks the IRS for tax documents, even if there is no tax filed.
• If required, student and parent need to have their 2025 taxes filed to complete the 2027-2028 college year FAFSA application. It is normal for the student to NOT have filed taxes.
• Student MUST provide parent information for financial aid eligibility. There are very few exceptions that qualify a student as an independent. See those at https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/filling-out/dependency.
• Consult with your College & Career Facilitator before answering "yes" to extenuating circumstances.
• Upload processed FAFSA screenshot to SchooLinks. SchooLinks is how we track that the graduation requirement has been met.

Students who are not U.S. Citizens, U.S. legal permanent residents, or eligible noncitizens are not eligible to complete the FAFSA and do not qualify for federal financial assistance to pay for college. However, they may qualify for state aid.

Beginning Fall 2025, changes to Texas law mean that students who are not lawfully present in the U.S. generally cannot qualify for Texas resident (in-state) tuition at public colleges and universities.

Previously, certain undocumented students could qualify for in-state tuition under Senate Bill 1528 (the Texas Dream Act).

TASFA: Students who are not lawfully present are also generally not eligible for Texas state financial aid through TASFA because state aid requires Texas residency. Students with an immigration status that establishes lawful presence may still qualify for in-state tuition and/or TASFA if they meet the other eligibility requirements. Students should check with their college's admissions and financial-aid offices for an individual determination.

Before you Apply

To be eligible to apply for state financial aid you must meet the following criteria:

• You must not be eligible to apply for federal aid through the FAFSA
• Have/will have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate
• Be classified as a legal Texas resident
• Be enrolled for a minimum of nine hours in a degree-seeking program
• Be registered with the Selective Service, or be exempt
• Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress
• Submit a Residency Affidavit to the college's Financial Aid and/or Registrar's Office. *(Please note: This form is for admitted students only. If you have not graduated high school, your submitted form will stay in pending status until your final high school transcript is received by the Admissions Office. We encourage you to fill out the TASFA even if your Residency Affidavit is pending.)
• No felony conviction or crime involving a controlled substance

The TAFSA opens on October 1 with the state priority deadline of January 15.

1. Create an account through Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board: Student creates account using personal email address.
   
2. If parents file US taxes, request 2025 IRS tax transcript at https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript
3. Make copies of tax transcript if received by mail.
4. Upload or mail tax transcript to college if requested. Only send tax transcript to the college if requested, otherwise, do not send.
5. Once both the student and parent have submitted their information to TASFA, students need to submit a screenshot of the confirmation email to SchooLinks to prove the graduation requirement has been met.

Note: TASFA is an online application sent directly to college financial aid offices, not to any government agency.

Now that you've completed either the FAFSA, TASFA, or Opt-Out Form, you need to submit proof to SchooLinks to meet the Texas graduation requirement. Examples of what qualifies as proof for the FAFSA are shown below. For the TASFA, students can screenshot the confirmation email as long as it includes their name. The Opt-Out Form can be signed and uploaded to SchooLinks. See instructions for all three below.

The CSS Profile is an online application used by some colleges and scholarship programs to award non-federal institutional aid. This will be required by some colleges in addition to FAFSA or TASFA. It will ask you financial questions so that the school(s) can determine what aid you are eligible for.

Check your colleges' website to determine if they require the CSS Profile. A list of participating schools is available online through the CSS Profile website. Some schools may also require divorced or separated parents to complete separate applications.

Like FAFSA and TASFA, the CSS Profile opens on October 1 (though, it opened early with the FAFSA this year!). Schools may have various deadlines, so be sure to check with each school you are applying to.

When looking at the total cost to attend a college, known as the Cost of Attendance (COA), it's important to keep an open mind. Rarely do students pay the full "sticker price" of a college, so while I do strongly encourage students to have some affordability safety nets, I don't recommend cutting colleges based on COA alone.

What's included in the Cost of Attendance?

COA is broken into two categories: direct expenses and indirect expenses. Direct expenses are those that must be paid directly to the institution, including tuition & fees and room & board. These are the most predictable and the bigger costs. Indirect expenses are additional costs that may be due at the beginning of the year or throughout the year and are sometimes paid to organizations other than the college. Indirect expenses vary widely from student to student and school to school.

Direct Expenses:

• Tuition & Fees: this covers the cost of classes and all the fees required to be a student at the college, such as a recreation center fee, library fee, etc. The price will depend on the number of hours the student is taking as well as their major.
• Room & Board: This is the cost of a dorm room and meal plan, both of which will have various options that can be researched on the colleges website. If a student chooses to live off-campus, the price would be different and would depend on rent, groceries, utility bills, etc.

Indirect Expenses: The posted estimates are based on averages the the college determines.

• Transportation: consider whether you will have a car on campus requiring a parking pass, gas, and car maintenance, or will be flying out of state, or will be living on campus with no car, etc.
• Textbooks: students are required to pay for their course materials in college. This cost varies widely from semester to semester. New textbooks cost more than rented or used; more and more classes now require online course material access.
• Personal Expenses: this is the area in which students have the most control. Living on a budget can reduce the cost while spending freely can add up quite a bit.

You will see a college's COA posted on their website. Look at the direct vs. indirect expenses and consider how much it may cost you. For example, will you be living at home or with family somewhere for free? Will you go to a college where you qualify for free tuition and fees (see below)? Both of these can cut costs significantly.

Most often, college will not be affordable from the FAFSA or TASFA alone. As such, it is important for students and parents to communicate openly about affordability and research college costs together. All colleges are required to have a Net Price Calculator on their website. While you won't know the true cost of each college until you've been admitted and given a financial aid award letter, the Net Price Calculator is a tool you can use for your best estimate. Search Net Price Calculator on the website of each college you're considering to get estimates.

In addition to applying for financial aid, students planning to go to college should apply for scholarships throughout high school and when they're enrolled in college. While most scholarships are for high school seniors and enrolled college students, there are many scholarships for younger students, so start applying now!

Scholarships can be awarded from a variety of organizations for any number of reasons. In fact, the amount of scholarships that exist is overwhelming. While I post scholarships on Instagram and on Canvas, please do not limit yourselves to the scholarships I share. Sign up for some scholarship search websites to narrow the search. As with college admissions, students who have proven themselves to be strong students academically and with other skills will have more scholarship opportunities than students who do not have strong grades or activities. Keep this in mind, parents and underclassmen; start strong freshman year and keep going! Hard work can literally pay!

University Scholarships

• Need-Based Scholarships: are awarded primarily or exclusively based on the applicant's financial needs, typically based on the FAFSA, TASFA or CSS Profile. As a result, the application process for these scholarships does not tend to extend far beyond disclosing the relevant financial information. It's important to apply to the college and complete your financial aid applications early to qualify because scholarships are first-come, first-serve.
• Merit-Based Scholarships: are awarded to students who excel in a particular area. That might mean students with high academic grades and/or SAT/ACT scores (this is often a big component) will be the most likely to receive some scholarships, or it might mean that to be eligible, students need to demonstrate exceptional leadership abilities or a strong commitment to serving their community, for example. Some merit-based scholarships may look at students' athletic or fine arts background, their ability to write a compelling essay, or their extracurricular experience.
• Each college has their own process and deadlines for scholarships. Typically, these deadlines are early (i.e. November or December). Please check with the schools on your list for more information and ask your College & Career Facilitator for support.

Third Party Scholarships:

• Check out SchooLinks (run by KISD) and MRHS College & Career Canvas (run by Mrs. Boyle) where you will find hundreds of scholarships. Please remember some scholarships are available to students in ALL grade levels! It is important to double check the scholarship requirements to ensure that you are eligible to apply.
• Instagram Pages:
• @mavs4college - MRHS CCF account - I share lots of scholarships!
• @collegeforallprogram
• @xollegepass
• @scholarworld
• @scholarships_360
• @scholarshipscom
• @scholarshipinformer
• @scholasrhipmoneyforstudents
• @scholarshipscorner
• @accessscholarships
• @scholarship.junkie
• Additional Scholarship websites
• BigFuture Scholarship Page: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarships
• The Scholarship Plug: updated weekly!
• SoFi: https://www.sofi.com/scholarship-search/
• Career One Stop: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-scholarships.aspx
• Scholarships 360 and Scholarships.com are really good about providing lists for specific majors/focus areas, niches, etc. too!

For some, it may seem early to know what career you’d like to pursue. But by developing career and option awareness now so when the time comes, you’ll feel more confident in making some decisions down the road. Additionally, this comes in handy when you are looking at and considering what types of college, college majors or educational training you need to plan for.

The career development process includes:

1. Self-discovery: who am I, what are my strengths/talents, what am I passionate about, what problems in the world do I want to help solve, what is my personality type and how can that impact my work, what are my interests/what do I enjoy doing, what are my spiritual gifts, what am I created for.
2. Career Option Awareness & Exploration: what careers and jobs exists in the world today, what are the career pathways, what industries are in development, what careers are in demand, what skills and education are required for careers of interest, what companies are connected to my career of interest.
3. Decision Making: putting together what work you were created for and what industries and communities would you serve well. Researching opportunities for education and training to develop the skills necessary. Analyzing and evaluating options.
4. Career Planning: making plans to attend college and prepare for your career pathway, career or industry. Seeking opportunities to connect with your interested industries through internships or shadows. Networking with professionals in the career of interest to obtain insights and opportunities to step into the career path and learn more.

Through investigation and exploration students gain awareness of changing industry, academic and skill requirements and workforce needs. The career readiness process creates opportunities for students to consider their skills and passions, lifestyle goals, who they are as an individual, and how they see themselves as a contributing member of society.

Many students are not interested in pursuing a college degree, and there are lots of careers that don't require a college degree. Even though entering the workforce or pursuing career training usually requires less preparation than college, it does still take planning!

Trade Schools/Technical Colleges

Most, though definitely not all, careers require some sort of certification or licensing. Examples of popular careers that require certification or licensing include welding, HVAC, plumbing, automotive mechanic, cosmetology, construction, commercial truck driving, real estate, electrician...the list goes on and on. To earn your certificate or license, students often choose to go to a trade school or technical college.

Programs for these careers require targeted classes that teach the skills and information needed for that career only. The good news is you will only be studying what you're interested in and the programs are typically short-term. The cons are the classes you take will not transfer to a college or be applied to other programs if you change your mind about your career. Do your research to see what skills and qualifications are needed to enter the workforce in your desired career, and then, search for training programs if needed!

BridgeYear Career Cohorts

Every year, we bring a career prep organization, BridgeYear, to Morton Ranch High School. BridgeYear connects employers, educators, and community partners to ensure students have the tools and support to begin a meaningful career right here in Houston. Check out their website, and if interested, join us in the spring to connect with BridgeYear and get set up to begin your career training, often for free, the summer after you graduate!

Texas Workforce Commission

Important: Please call before visiting any of these offices to verify that it provides the services you want and to make an appointment if needed. Telecommunication device for the deaf (TDD) users can communicate with Texas Workforce Solutions offices by using Relay Texas: 1-800-735-2989 (TDD) or 711 (Voice).

Texas Workforce Solutions: Katy Office

Phone Number: (281) 644-1030

Physical Address:

I-10 24025 Suite D

Katy, TX 77494

Services Texas Workforce Solutions provides:

• Employment Services
• Access to Unemployment Insurance Benefits Information
• Access to Child Care
• Claims for Unpaid Wages (under the Texas Payday Law)
• Access to Post-Secondary Career and Technology Training
• Referral to Apprenticeship Programs
• Access to Adult Education
• Literacy Services
• Training for Adults, Dislocated Workers, and Youth
• Employment & Training under the Workforce Investment Act
• Employment & Training for Food Stamp Recipients

For additional career guidance, please visit the MRHS College & Career website.

Basic Requirements

Military Enlistment Process:

1. Academic Requirements:

• High school graduation
• ASVAB test with minimum score for desired job

2. Physical Requirements:

• Initial medical history review
• Physical exam at MEPS
• Tattoo assessment

3. Legal Requirements:

• Background check
• Substance use inquiry

Enlistment Steps:

1. Meet with assigned recruiter
2. Parent meeting (if under 18)
3. Submit personal documents
4. Take ASVAB test
5. Visit MEPS for processing
6. Swear in and join Delayed Entry Pool
7. Notify College & Career Facilitator
8. Graduate high school
9. Receive diploma and complete enlistment
10. Prepare for and report to boot camp

Note: MRHS offers ASVAB testing in the fall and spring and recognizes enlisted graduates at graduation ceremonies. If you would like to be recognized, you will need to notify your College & Career Facilitator by April 15.

For more information about military pathways and enlistment, please visit the MRHS College & Career website.

The ASVAB is a career aptitude exam that helps students explore careers and plan their future by providing tools for assessing aptitudes and interests along with evaluating skills and identifying potential careers.

Tenth-12th grade students are able to take the exam with no obligation to enlist in the military with the scores being confidential unless they are released by the student and/or parent. For military enlistment, the scores are valid for two years.

Benefits:

• Measures academic strengths and weaknesses
• Aids in realistic career decision-making
• Integrates results with work values for career prioritization
• Emphasis of the importance of planning and decision-making skills

Watch your emails and Canvas announcements in early fall and mid spring for registration information.

​United States Air Force Academy

​The United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado develops officers for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force with a curriculum that blends engineering and science with military and flight training. The academy focuses on producing critical thinkers and leaders who can operate in air, space, and cyber domains.

​United States Military Academy

​The United States Military Academy, commonly called West Point, educates and commissions officers for the U.S. Army and is the oldest U.S. service academy, founded in 1802 in West Point, New York. The academy emphasizes academic excellence, military leadership, and physical development in a structured 47‑month program.

​​United States Coast Guard Academy

The United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut trains officers for the U.S. Coast Guard and offers majors in areas such as engineering, government, and marine and environmental sciences. Founded in 1876, it emphasizes maritime operations, leadership, and an honor system captured by its motto “the sea yields to knowledge.”

​United States Naval Academy

The United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland prepares midshipmen for service as officers in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. Established in 1845, it combines a STEM‑focused curriculum with naval leadership training on a historic waterfront campus known as “the Yard.”

United States Merchant Marine Academy

​The United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York is a federal service academy that educates licensed Merchant Marine officers who support U.S. commercial shipping and national defense sealift. Graduates serve in the U.S. Merchant Marine, armed forces, and related transportation and logistics fields under the academy’s motto “Deeds Not Words.”

Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) scholarships help pay for college tuition and fees. They also provide stipends and other financial benefits.

Eligibility requirements:

• Be a U.S. citizen
• Be at least 17 years old
• Have a high school diploma or equivalent
• Have a minimum high school GPA
• Take the SAT or ACT
• Meet physical standards
• Agree to serve in the military

Scholarship types

• Air Force ROTC: Covers tuition, provides a textbook allowance, and offers a monthly stipend

• Army ROTC: Covers tuition and fees, provides a subsistence allowance, and offers a textbook allowance

• Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC): Covers tuition, books, educational fees, and other financial benefits

Application process

• You can apply for an Army ROTC scholarship online

• You can contact the Cadet Command Scholarship Branch for more information

• You can contact the NROTC program for a list of participating colleges and universities

Scholarship benefits

• Scholarship benefits may be suspended or terminated if you fail to maintain academic or military standards

The Selective Service System and the registration requirement for America’s young men provide our Nation with a structure and a system of guidelines which will provide prompt, efficient, and equitable draft possible, if the country should need it. America’s leaders agree that despite the success of the All-Volunteer Force, registration with Selective Service must continue as a key component of national security strategy. The law requires virtually all male U.S. citizens (regardless of where they live), and male immigrants residing in the U.S. (permanent resident aliens), to register.

Here are your options for registering for Selective Service:

1. Register Online (linked below)
2. Post Office
3. By Mail

You will complete this in SchooLinks in April of your senior year. The importance of this survey is it:

1. Provides SchooLinks with your personal email address to set-up your alumni account;
2. Includes your enrollment decision so the campus registrar knows where to send your final transcript proving HS graduation once KISD makes them available;
3. Gives you an opportunity to enter scholarship information.

Use this Senior Planning Packet to help organize your career plans and college search.