CCR Update

The CCR Update is a weekly newsletter from the St. Charles North Office of College and Career Readiness. Our weekly update contains information to help navigate students through high school and into post-secondary options. A variety of links will be provided to assist students and families in making choices along this journey. For additional information students should reach out to their individual counselor.

On Thursday, October 22nd, all 11th-grade students are scheduled to take the Digital PSAT/NMSQT during the regular school day. The standard time test will begin 1st period and run through 6th period. Juniors will resume their regular class schedule after testing.

The PSAT/NMSQT consists of the following test sections:

• Reading & Writing (64 minutes)

• Module 1= 2 pretest & 25 operational for a total of 27 questions; 32 minutes

• Module 2= 2 pretest & 25 operational for a total of 27 questions; 32 minutes

• Math (70 minutes)

• Module 1= 2 pretest and 20 operational for a total of 22 questions; 35 minutes

• Module 2= 2 pretest and 20 operational for a total of 22 questions; 35 minutes

All standard-time students will test in the Main Gym. Students testing with accommodations will be testing in the LRC. More details and room/section assignments will be shared via email as we get closer to the test date. Please review the PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide to help prepare for test day.

Students who took the PreACT or ACT can now view their assessment results in the Progress Learning app through ClassLink.

To access your scores:

1. Log in to Progress Learning through ClassLink.
2. Select Graded Work from the left-hand menu.
3. Select your PreACT or ACT assessment.

Students can review their Summary Report, Subsection Details, and Questions and Answers. The Questions and Answers section includes an item analysis feature, allowing students to compare their responses with the correct answers.

We encourage students to review their results to identify areas of strength and opportunities for continued growth.

Did you miss Junior Jumpstart? That's okay! Please find our presentation HERE. Reach out to your counselor with questions!

P. A. 101-180 requires all Illinois public high school students to complete either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (Alternative Application) as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma. Additionally, high schools are expected to provide students and their families with any support or guidance necessary to comply with the requirement. For students who choose not to file an application, a waiver may be completed by their parent. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) makes available through their website a FAFSA Nonparticipation Form (English and Spanish) for this purpose. Check out our FAFSA Update for more information.

Elgin Community College will host 145+ colleges and universities to help students and families explore post-secondary options. All current college, high school, and prospective students are encouraged to attend to discover transfer opportunities. The Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling sponsors this free event with ECC and other local schools.

The fair utilizes StriveScan to make information sharing easier for students. This app-based system is free for students, and registration is encouraged before the fair. Colleges will scan your barcode during the fair to send you more information about their schools. The day after the fair, you will receive a report with information on the colleges with whom you scanned. Additional details can be found here.

REGISTER HERE! 🎓

• Date: Wednesday, October 21, 2026

• Time: 6 to 8 pm

• Location: Main Campus, Building J, Events Center

Our Counselors will be offering workshops in the LRC Courtyard A to assist our Seniors with their post-secondary planning for college, military, trades, etc. These workshops will run during lunch periods every Wednesday from September 9th until October 28th. Seniors are reminded to attend during a lunch period in their schedule.

Sign-up in SchooLinks:

1. Log in to your SchooLinks account (https://app.schoolinks.com/).
   

2. On the Student Dashboard, click on the Events section to see all upcoming college application workshops.
   

3. Click on the date and period of the workshop you want to attend, and then click on the Register for this Event button.

Important information for students who are interested in taking an AP exam that are not enrolled in the corresponding AP course:

Students wishing to take any AP exams for classes in which they are not enrolled must register and pay for the exam no later than Friday, November 6th. The fee is $100 per exam and is non-refundable. Please register HERE by completing this form. Once payment is received, you will receive a join code from Mrs. Gomez to complete your order. Stop by the CCR Office with questions!

• Senior College Night: Tips & Advice from Experienced Admissions Counselors on August 25th 2026 in the St. Charles North Auditorium from 6:00-8:00 p.m.
• D303 Financial Aid Night on September 16th 2026 in the Auditorium at St. Charles North from 6:30-8:00 p.m.
• 2027-2028 FAFSA Application: Scheduled to open October 1, 2026
• Junior Jumpstart Night on October 6th 2026 in the St. Charles North Auditorium from 6:00-8:00 p.m.
• Pathways Night (2 Year, Tech, Trades & Military Post-Secondary Options) - October 28th 2026 at Compass Academy/Haines Center from 6:00-8:00 p.m.
• Early College Credit Information Night at St. Charles East HS in the Little Theater on November 17th 2026 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
• Fox Valley College Fair on March 24th 2027 in the Main Gym at St. Charles East HS from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

More details will be shared as we get closer to each event date.

Elgin Community College is offering a series of College & Career events for the fall and spring semesters. Session topics include The Start of College Decisions, Financial Aid 101, Early College Credit options, Professional Etiquette, Discovering Careers, Career Clusters & Opportunities, Successful Interviewing and more. All events are free and open to the public. Events will be held virtually over Zoom on Tuesday evenings from 6 to 7 P.M. unless otherwise noted. For more information and meeting links, please visit https://elgin.edu/community/college-transitions/ccr/

Upcoming Events: Career Spotlight: Fire Science & Public Safety

Date: Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Time: 6:00 pm to 7:15 pm
Location: Virtual

A successful career begins with a plan. Explore rewarding opportunities in Fire Science, Emergency Medical Services, Law Enforcement, Emergency Management, and other public safety professions. Participants will learn about educational pathways, certifications, career outlooks, and the skills needed to enter and advance in these essential fields. Attendees will also hear from public safety professionals and discover how ECC can help prepare them for a career dedicated to serving and protecting their communities. Special Guest Speaker: Ronald S. Two Bulls, MS, EMT-P Battalion Chief (Ret.)Senior Director of Academic Programming and Public Safety Training Center for Emergency Services Join us for this installment of the College & Career Success Series, a year-long webinar series designed to help students Plan. Prepare. Succeed. in college, career, and beyond.

The 2026 DuPage County Trade Apprenticeship Expo will be held on Thursday, October 15th, 2026 from 3:30pm – 6:30pm. The event features interactive, hands-on demonstrations by the county’s building trade organizations as well as opportunities to meet with instructors to learn more about each individual trade apprenticeship program. Advance registration is required to attend.

This highly popular event is for current high school or college students, parents, guidance counselors, and teachers. It is an interactive way to introduce interested parties to the building trades, and more importantly, outline the career potential that exists outside of the traditional collegiate path.

This includes building a career without incurring student debt.

Register today to find out how!

Have you ever thought about a career as an electric lineman, firefighter, police officer, lab technician, or in tree maintenance, or IT/Networking? These are all individuals, and many more, who are employed by the City of St. Charles.

The City of St. Charles is offering a career pathway job shadow program to St. Charles high school students interested in exploring a career in municipal government. You may schedule up to three different job shadow experiences per school year, during which you can explore work sites, ask questions, see demonstrations, and learn about education and certifications. Students will be responsible for transportation to and from the City. The date, time, and length of the job shadow will be scheduled outside of school hours directly with the City’s job shadow program coordinator. Please return your completed registration form to Ms. Gomez in the College & Career Office.

College Visit Sign-up in SchooLinks

1. Log in to your SchooLinks account (https://app.schoolinks.com/).
   

2. On the Student Dashboard, click on the School Events section to see all upcoming college visits.
   

3. Click on the name of the visit you want to attend, and then click on the Register for this Event button.
   

Before attending the visit, make sure you pick up a College Visit Pass from our College & Career Readiness Office. You will need to fill out the form and have your teacher sign it before attending the visit. You will also be responsible for making up any missed work when attending a college visit.

If you have a conflict with a college visit, please email Ms. Adrienne Geiseman at adrienne.geiseman@d303.org for the college rep's contact information.

For Scheduled Virtual Visits: Click the link to enter the live virtual conference with a college rep. For the full listing go to the College Visit page on our CCR Website.

Upcoming Visits:

Information for local scholarships and select national scholarships is available in the College and Career Office and through our Scholarship Listing tile on our CCR Website! This list will continue to be updated throughout the school year.

The Voice of Democracy

The Voice of Democracy is the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ premier scholarship program. Each year nearly 26,000 high school students compete for more than $2 million in scholarships and incentives, with a top prize of $30,000. Students compete by writing and recording an audio essay on an annual patriotic theme. The 2026-2027 audio-essay competition topic is: What a Veteran Taught Me About America. The Voice of Democracy is open to students in grades 9-12. Please email Richard Zawislak (richard.zawislak@yahoo.com) to submit your entry. All entries should be submitted by October 23, 2026, in order to meet the national deadline. Rules and criteria for submitting your application are attached here.

Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship Foundation

The Cooke Foundation College Scholarship Program is the largest undergraduate scholarship program available to high-achieving high school seniors with financial need who seek to attend the nation’s best four-year colleges and universities. In addition to the monetary award, Cooke Scholars receive comprehensive educational advising, significant cohort-based programming, and graduate school funding, as well as a thriving network of nearly 2,500 fellow Cooke Scholars and alumni.

Each award is intended to cover a significant share of the student’s educational expenses – including tuition, living expenses, books and required fees. Awards (up to $40,000) vary by individual, based on the cost of tuition as well as other grants or scholarships he or she may receive. Key requirements include: Unweighted GPA of 3.5 or above. Demonstrated financial need and family income up to $95,000. Application deadline is November 11, 2026.

Elks National Foundation Scholarship Program

The Elks National Foundation will award 500 four-year scholarships to the highest-rated applicants in the 2027 competition. Most Valuable Student scholarships are for students pursuing a four-year degree, on a full-time basis (minimum of 12 semester hours), in a U.S. college or university. All scholarships are in the form of certificates of award conditional upon the full-time enrollment of the winner in an accredited U.S. college or university. Male and female students compete separately. Awards range from $1,000 per year to $7,500 per year. The Chicago office of the Elks National Foundation will announce the 500 national winners in late April 2027. (Many local Lodges, districts and state Elks associations award their own scholarships through this program. These scholarships are not to be confused with the 500 Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student Scholarships.) The application deadline is November 12, 2026.

ECC-Seigle Scholars Program

The Seigle Scholar Program at Elgin Community College (ECC) is an incredible opportunity open to high school seniors planning to transfer to a four-year university. It offers a full-ride scholarship to ECC covering tuition, books, fees and more—so you can focus on your studies. For scholarship details, eligibility, and an easy online application, visit the Seigle Scholars web page. The application deadline is January 18, 2027.

College & Career Readiness Team

255 Red Gate Road, St. Charles, IL, 60175

331-228-6290