Viz US Counseling News

• October 16: Testing Day @ Viz (Grade 9: PreACT,
  Grades 10-11: PSAT, Grade 12: College Application Workday)
• October 18: ACT National Test Date (registration closed)
• October 26: NACAC National College Fair, 1:00-4:00pm at St. Louis University
• November 3: Deadline to register for AP exams
• November 20: Financial Aid 101 Presented by SLU @ 6:30pm in DeChantal
• December 6: SAT National Test Date (regular registration deadline 11/21, late deadline 11/25)
• December 13: ACT National Test Date (regular registration deadline 11/7, late deadline 11/24)

As a reminder, October 16 is Testing Day at Viz. All students in grades 9–11 will take a practice college admissions test. Students will be dismissed once they finish testing (around 11:30 a.m. for standard time and 1:00 p.m. for extended time).

9th Grade: The PreACT

The PreACT is a paper and pencil, multiple-choice assessment that will give students an early measure of college and career readiness while serving as a practice opportunity for the ACT college admissions test. Students will be tested in English, Math, Reading, and Science. For more information about the PreACT click here.

10th and 11th Grade: The PSAT

The PSAT is a digital, multiple-choice assessment that will give students an early measure of college and career readiness while serving as a practice opportunity for the SAT college admissions test. Students will be tested in English and Reading and Math. Additionally, the PSAT is the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship Competition for juniors. For more information (including practice questions) about the PSAT click here.

12th Grade: College Application Day

While all other students are testing, seniors are encouraged to work on their college applications that day. They may choose to work from home or join our counseling team in Jane's Place to ask questions and receive assistance with their applications.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is used by the federal government, state government, and colleges to determine your daughter's eligibility for financial aid including grants, loans, and work-study funds. Some colleges (especially those meeting full demonstrated need) will require additional forms such as the CSS Profile. Seniors: Be sure to check with your prospective schools to determine which form(s) they require and their deadlines. Your counselor will be glad to help!

We hosted several parent presentations in September, and we hope you found them informative and helpful. For your records and for those who couldn’t attend, links to the presentations are shared below. As always, please feel free to reach out to your daughter’s counselor with any questions.

Senior Parent Night

Junior Parent Night

Freshmen and Sophomore Parent Night

The College Funding Coach - Villa Duchesne and Visitation Academy Financial Aid Night (expires November 25th)

The Viz Peer 2 Peer Tutoring program is up and running! The goal of this program is to provide a productive and positive learning experience in which students support each other. This offers students the opportunity to receive extra academic support and guidance from a trained peer tutor. Tutors have the chance to apply their knowledge in a meaningful way, knowing they are helping others. Students in this program will benefit from one-on-one attention and positive reinforcement from their peer tutor. For more information and to connect with a tutor, students should visit the Peer 2 Peer website. Please contact Meghan Swaller with any questions mswaller@vizstl.org.

Each fall, admissions representatives from colleges across the United States visit Viz to share information about their respective institutions with our students. Juniors and seniors are welcome and encouraged to attend any session, but if they will miss class, they need to ask for teacher permission prior to attending. Freshmen and sophomores may attend sessions during Collaboration or their free period. All students must sign up to attend a college visit in Naviance and get teacher permission (if applicable) at least 24 hours in advance.

Upcoming visits:

• Grinnell College
• Missouri University of Science and Technology
• Denison University
• The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
• Boston College
• Brandeis University
• Bowdoin College
• Butler University
• Lawrence University
• University of Dallas
• Webster University
• Holy Cross College

For date and time information and to view a complete list of scheduled visits, click here.

Note: Visits are added almost daily. Please check back for an updated list.

Emory, Johns Hopkins, Notre Dame, and Wash U Virtual Admissions Event

Join Emory University, Johns Hopkins University, University of Notre Dame, and Washington University for a virtual information session. Admissions staff from each university will share valuable information about their respective schools, application requirements, and important dates. There will be time for an audience Q&A as well.

Virtual Information Sessions

Wednesday, October 15

7:00 p.m. ET

Monday, November 10

7:00 p.m. ET

Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Hosting Engineering Palooza at Missouri S&T-October 18

Calling all Future Engineers in grades 9-12! Are you curious about college life, STEM careers, and the exciting world of engineering? Don't miss your chance to experience it all at Engineering Palooza 2025 - a fun and inspiring day hosted by the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) at Missouri S&T!

What to Expect:

• Interactive presentations led by university faculty and staff
• A student-guided campus tour
• A chance to explore the many engineering majors offered at S&T
• Meet current students and get a taste of college life!

Cost: $15 to cover food and materials - lunch is included.

Registration is limited to the first 30 students who register and pay.

Harvard, Princeton, UVA, Wellesley, and Yale Offering Virtual Admissions Program

Harvard, Princeton, the University of Virginia, Wellesley, and Yale invite you to join them for a special virtual evening program. Admissions officers from all five schools will share insights into the unique opportunities available at their institutions, along with details on scholarships and their generous need-based financial aid programs. For more information and to register, click here.

St. Louis Scholarship Foundation FAFSA Workshops

Attend the St. Louis Scholarship Foundation's FAFSA Workshops to learn the basics of the FAFSA, including the part it plays in the college application and financial aid process and why it is important to complete the form accurately and submit it early.

October 7: Online FAFSA Workshop 6:00-7:00pm – Click here to register

Visit their website for a full list of upcoming workshops.

The Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student (MVS) Contest:

The 2025 MVS application is now open. Applications can be found online at enf.elks.org/MVS. The application deadline is November 12, 2025.

The Elks National Foundation Legacy Awards – The Legacy Awards program begins on September 1, 2024. Legacy Awards provide $4,000 scholarships for children and grandchildren of dues-paying Elk members. The ENF offers a total of 350 national awards. The application deadline is February 2, 2026. Please visit enf.elks.org/Leg for more details and the application link.

Stephanie Sparks, 9th Grade Counselor (all)

Karen Verstraete, 10th-12th Grade Counselor (A-G)

Mary Bodlovich, 10th-12th Grade Counselor (H-M)

Chrissy Boyce, 10th-12th Grade Counselor (N-Z), Counseling Department Chair

Meghan Swaller, Counseling Department Coordinator