• April 12: MOACAC College Fair at Maryville University 1-3pm
• April 18: Deadline to register for the May 3 SAT
• May 3: SAT National Test Date
• May 9: Deadline to register for the June 14 ACT
• May 22: Deadline to register for the June 7 SAT
• June 6: Deadline to register for the July 12 ACT
• June 7: SAT National Test Date
• June 14: ACT National Test Date
• July 12: ACT National Test Date

As a reminder, the Missouri Association for College Admission Counseling is hosting their annual College Fair tomorrow, April 12, from 1-3pm at Maryville University. Students should preregister

with Strive Scan here.

Juniors: Save the Date!

Counselors will host Common Application Workshops (you choose one) at Viz on 8/14 from 12-2pm and 8/15 from 10-12pm. With the support of their counselor, students will:

• learn how to navigate the platform
• complete the Education section of the application
• organize their activities and experiences
• learn how to avoid common mistakes

Additional information will be sent closer to the start of the school year.

We are pleased to announce a College Essay Writing Workshop at Visitation again this summer. College Essay Coach, Katie Guymon, will present a three-day college essay workshop for rising Viz seniors. During this three-day event, students will learn about the various types of college essays, brainstorm topics, draft essays and conference with the instructor, and leave with a finalized Common Application essay. Space is limited to 18 participants. Additional class dates may be offered depending on interest level. For more information about the instructor, visit Katie Guymon Coaching.

Workshop Information

Dates: Monday, June 2, Tuesday, June 3, and Wednesday, June 4 (3 mornings in total)

Workshop Time: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm each day

Location: Visitation Academy (room is TBD)

Cost: $235 (non-refundable)

Daily Schedule

Monday 6/2:

9:00 am - 11:00 am -- In-Person Interactive Instruction

11:00 am - 12:00 pm -- In-Person Writing Lab

Tuesday 6/3:

9:00 am - 11:00 am -- In-Person Interactive Instruction

11:00 am - 12:00 pm -- In-Person Writing Lab

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm -- Office Hours & Google Docs Editing

Wednesday 6/4:

9:00 am - 11:00 am -- In-Person Interactive Instruction

11:00 am - 12:00 pm -- In-Person Writing Lab

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm -- Office Hours & Google Docs Editing

Monday 6/9:

9:00 am - 11:00 am -- Office Hours & Google Docs Editing

Did you know? The ACT college admissions test rolled out a new test this month featuring a shorter test length, a digital testing option, and an optional science section.

Here's a breakdown of the changes:

Shorter Test:

The core ACT, including English, math, and reading, will be significantly shorter, lasting just two hours, compared to 2 hours and 55 minutes.

Digital Testing Option:

Students can now choose to take the ACT digitally or on paper.

Optional Science Section:

The science section is now optional, allowing students to focus on their strengths and present their best possible scores.

New Composite Score Calculation:

The composite score will be based on the average of the English, reading, and math scores, regardless of whether the science section is taken.

Fewer Questions:

The number of questions has been reduced, with the core ACT having 108 questions compared to the previous 215 (excluding experimental and science questions).

Timeline for implementing the new ACT:

April 2025: Digital testing options and the new composite score calculation are rolled out for students who choose to test online.

September 2025: The new ACT format, including the shorter test length, optional science section, and new composite score calculation, is implemented for all students, regardless of whether they test online or on paper.

Important reminder! ACT testing centers fill up! Students should register early in order to secure spot for their desired testing format (digital or paper) and location.

For more information about the changes, visit the ACT website.

Sophomores and Juniors

While a student's testing plan may depend on several factors, summer is a great time for rising seniors to take an additional ACT or SAT, and for rising juniors to start thinking about exam preparation. Below is some information to help with your planning.

​Summer ACT Dates

The ACT offers two test dates during the summer of 2025:​

June 14, 2025: Regular registration deadline is May 9, with late registration available until May 27. ​

July 12, 2025: Regular registration deadline is June 6, with late registration available until June 20. ​

Note: For the June, and July 2025 test dates, the ACT will offer an optional science section for online testing only. When taking a paper test, the science section will be included as part of the testing experience. ​

Students can register for the ACT at: Sign In | MyACT

Summer SAT Dates

College Board is offering two more SAT exam dates prior to the start of the school year:

May 3rd: regular registration deadline is April 18th and late registration deadline is April 22nd

June 7th: regular registration deadline is 5/22 and late registration deadline is 5/27

Note: The SAT is only offered in a digital format; students can bring their own device, which must have the Bluebook program downloaded and updated.

Students can register for the SAT at College Board

College Board and ACT will publish 2025-2026 school year exam dates this summer

Summer ACT and SAT prep courses

Listed below is a sample of ACT and/or SAT preparation opportunities. There are a lot of good preparatory offerings in the St. Louis area beyond the ones listed here.

• Compass Education Group: offers online courses
• Craig Hannick's ACT Prep at SLUH: in person ACT prep classes
• Darr Tutoring, St. Louis: offers in person and online classes and tutoring
• The ACT Summer Academy- Offers in person ACT prep courses and mini Boot Camps
• Kleitz Education Group: In person ACT and SAT courses
• Dr. Gary Moss: ACT and SAT classes and tutoring GARY@GARYMOSSTUTORING.COM
• Princeton Review: online ACT and SAT prep Test Prep Tutoring

Final exams are fast approaching (April 28-30 for grades 11-12 and May 20-22 for grades 9-10)! While preparing for exams can be daunting, with the right study strategies, you can boost your confidence, improve retention, and perform at your best. Study strategies are deliberate techniques designed to enhance learning and make studying more efficient. Trying different approaches will help you discover what works best for you—and make you a more flexible, well-rounded learner. Here are some tried-and-true strategies to help you prepare.

In addition to enjoying some downtime and having fun with family and friends, summer is a perfect time for students to gain exposure to different college majors and career paths while also building their resume to show prospective colleges their commitment to being involved in activities and to being a learner outside of school.

Here are examples of things students often do in the summer to explore colleges and careers, meet new people, and continue their academic and/or personal growth. Knowing that no type of activity is better than another, students should engage in something meaningful to them.

• Participate in a specialized high school program
• Get involved with community service
• Conduct research
• Take a class
• Participate in an internship
• Get a job

For more information including activity ideas for this summer, click here.

Students who choose to cancel their exam may receive a refund of $60 per exam if the cancellation request is submitted by April 15, 2025, at midnight CST. (Credit card fees are non-refundable). To cancel an exam, email cancel@aptsusa.com and include in your email your name, the name of your school, and the title of the exam to cancel.

Questions related to AP exams? Contact our AP Coordinator, Mrs. Bodlovich.

Join admissions officers from University of Notre Dame, Washington University in St. Louis, Johns Hopkins University, and Emory University for an in-person information session featuring four of the preeminent research institutions in the US at 7pm on Tuesday, April 29 at Clayton High School.

During the session, you'll hear an overview of each university, including academic programs, extracurricular opportunities, and the unique features of each institution, followed by a look at each school's application process. At the end of the program, students will have a chance to meet with individual admissions officers to ask questions about each university.

Students should register ahead of time here.

To support students and families in managing their educational finances effectively, the MO Scholarship and Loan Foundation is excited to host virtual sessions on two timely topics this month:

• Breaking Down Financial Aid: Understanding Ways to Pay for College – Zoom sessions will be hosted on April 18 @ 10am, and April 23 @ 6pm.
  Register here: https://mohela.zoom.us/meeting/register/52c4keQORKCfcznIIVhCkw

• Understanding Your Financial Aid Offers: Comparing College/University Packages – Zoom sessions will be hosted on April 18 @ 11am, and April 23 @ 7pm. Register here: https://mohela.zoom.us/meeting/register/i22JAwJ0RJCnCHs2v6LIdA
  
  

"As a New College Parent, you might see more, hear more, and know more about your student's life than you might expect. On the other hand, some of you might hear nothing, see nothing, and know nothing. This presents other major challenges. Whatever your situation, Harlan is here to help.

New York Times bestselling author and America's #1 College Success Coach, Harlan Cohen, will help you prepare for all the changes ahead. Harlan will prepare you for what to expect, what to do, and what not to do during this info-packed, lively, and entertaining event. There is no cost to attend. Register to get access to the replay."

For more information and to register visit here.

While most scholarships are awarded by the colleges to which students apply, thousands of scholarships are also offered by external agencies and organizations. Below are a few websites to help guide your search. Deadlines vary, and new scholarships will be added throughout the year, so be sure to check back regularly!

St. Louis Area Scholarships:

https://stlouisgraduates.academicworks.com/opportunities

https://stlgives.org/community-impact/scholarships/

National databases:

Fastweb: https://www.fastweb.com/

College Board’s Big Future: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/scholarship-search Going Merry: https://goingmerry.com/

Peterson’s: https://www.petersons.com/scholarship-search.aspx

Sallie Mae: https://www.salliemae.com/scholarships/search/

Unigo: https://www.unigo.com/scholarships/our-scholarships

The Visitation Academy Counseling website also has information about scholarship opportunities. This information is updated as we receive it. Viz Scholarship Information

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