Counseling Newsletter

• There were approximately 6,000 student visits to the High School Counseling Office in the 2025-2026 school year. That translates to thousands of one on one meetings with school counselors.
• School counselors met with students and families over the summer and enrolled 31 new students for the upcoming school year.
• Need to schedule an appointment with your school counselor? Click here to access their calendars.
• Nearly 100 students attended the "App Lab" on August 11th at the high school. Guests included the school counselor advisor from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, English Curriculum Leader, Melissa Tungate, school counselors and an admission representative from the University of Pittsburgh. They spent 3 hours with seniors assisting them with their college applications. Students received guided instruction on how to complete key sections of the Common Application, began their STARS and, in many cases, completed it during this session, and received individualized support. Students left with stronger drafts and a clearer plan for finalizing their essays and resumes.

• School counselors have been working with students on their schedule changes.
• School counselors collaborate with families, teachers, and administrators on the academic, career, and social-emotional development for each and every student.
• School counselors are working with seniors on solidifying their post-secondary plans (writing letters of recommendation, reviewing applications, etc.)

USCHS will host an Open House on September 17th at 6:00 pm. This evening will be an opportunity for parents to walk their child's schedule and receive an overview of the class from their teachers.

• The 2026–27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) will be available on October 1st. You can complete the form to apply for financial aid for attendance at college or career school by June 30, 2027, however, most students apply no later than May 1, 2027.
• FAFSA Completion Workshop will be held on October 15th. Tom Danski from the University of Pittsburgh will be here to help SENIOR parents complete the FAFSA application. More information to come.

Registration for AP Exams is open from September 8th to October 31st. To register, click here.

AP EXAM DATES:

May 3-7 2027

May 10-14 2027

The Westinghouse Science Honors Institute Westinghouse Science Honors Institute is a free program for high school JUNIORS from Western Pennsylvania and surrounding communities who demonstrate a strong interest in science and engineering and who are of high scholastic standing.

Students should contact Dr. Syme for more information. The registration deadline is September 30th.

• There is a virtual Financial Aid Night from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 29th presented by Amy Kotzev, PHEAA’s Higher Education Access Partner in Allegheny County. Amy will discuss information on the financial aid application process, what types of aid are available for students, and strategies to start thinking about affordability before getting ready to apply for post-secondary school admission. Time will be built into the presentation to allow you to ask any questions you may have regarding the financial aid process. Register for the online event.

Scholarships.com offers a wide range of scholarship opportunities for high school students at various grade levels, including seniors, juniors, and sophomores. Whether you're a senior preparing for college applications, a junior starting to plan your future, or a sophomore exploring early options, the platform provides tailored scholarship listings to match your academic achievements, interests, and background. With its easy-to-use search tools and regularly updated database, Scholarships.com makes it simple for students to find financial aid that fits their specific needs, helping them take an active step toward reducing college costs.

Scholarships for High School Seniors

Scholarships for High School Juniors

Scholarships for High School Sophomores

USC Lunch & Learns are designed to educate students on STEAM career opportunities and inspire them to develop skills to pursue their dreams.

Click here to check out the 2026-2027 list of speakers.

Lunch & Learns are held in the new SGI (Room 207) during each lunch

Professionals are increasingly prioritizing work-life balance, driven by a desire for greater control over their schedules and workloads. According to Randstad’s Workmonitor 2026 survey, work-life balance now actually ranks higher than pay when workers consider job offers. Flexibility is paramount to work-life balance. That said, remote work does not necessarily guarantee flexibility. There are careers across healthcare, skilled trades, tech, creative, business and education that can offer competitive salaries alongside work-life balance. Job seekers should thoroughly vet potential employers by researching company culture and asking specific questions about flexibility and employee well-being during interviews to find a fulfilling career.

Read more. Source: Forbes.com

For decades, parents with two or more children in college at the same time could count on receiving more financial aid. But a change in the federal financial aid calculation has eliminated this "sibling discount," leaving more families with multiple kids in college on the hook to cover thousands in college costs. The shift comes as part of the FAFSA Simplification Act, which was implemented in the 2024-2025 academic year. The redesign of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) replaced the long-standing "Expected Family Contribution" (EFC) with the new "Student Aid Index" (SAI). While the goal was to make the application process easier, the new formula no longer considers the number of students from the same household who attend college at the same time. The change was designed to level the playing field for families who have multiple children without overlapping years in college, but it's a drawback for those with multiple children in college at the same time.

Read more. Source:Sunhearald.com

Teens’ glued-to-their-phone habits are turning many of them into night owls on school nights — at a time when they need all the sleep they can get.

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommend teenagers get eight to 10 hours of sleep every night.

But more than half of teens in the United States are spending up to an hour or more on their phone between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. on school nights, new research has found.

Additionally, more than half of teens were using their phones in the middle of the night, between 12 a.m. and 4 a.m., according to lead study author Jason M. Nagata, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco.

Read more. Source: cnn.com

Stevens Institute of Technology VP for Student Affairs Sara Klein gives pointers on making the most of campus tours and developing necessary soft skills for college.

Read more. Source: UsNews.com

While many high school graduates immediately transition to two- or four-year colleges, some elect to pursue a gap year first.

In fact, an average of 40,000 U.S. and Canadian students take a gap year annually, according to the most recent data from the Gap Year Association, a nonprofit that supports student access to these programs.

Read more. Source:UsNews.com

• South Hills College and Career Fair- October 6th
• PSAT/NMSQT ALL JUNIORS-Wednesday October 21st----All juniors will sit for the exam at no cost to families. Registration is NOT required. As a junior, the PSAT/NMSQT offers you the opportunity to qualify for scholarships that can help pay for college.
• ASVAB/PSAT- SOPHOMORES-Wednesday October 21st---All sophomores will sit for the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) Exam at no cost to families. Registration is NOT required. Sophomores can opt out of taking the ASVAB Exam by registering for the PSAT Exam. More information to come.
• AP Exam Registration Deadline-October 31st. Click here to register.
• Financial Aid Update

Post secondary planning

Naviance

Niche

Career Planning

• How to talk with educators at your child's school about bullying
  Get advice on how to communicate with teachers and other leaders at your child's school if you're dealing with bullying.
  

• Tips for parents: What to do if your child is being bullied
  Get tips for supporting your child through this very painful experience.
  

• Tips for parents: What to do if your child bullies others
  If your child bullies others at school, it needs to stop. Find out what you can do at home.
  

• What can parents do to prevent and address cyber-bullying?
  Protect your child from indirect forms of bullying that use text messaging, Web sites, and cell phones.

Highmark Caring Place

Grieving Children

Grieving Adults and Families

Support for Children

https://www.sphs.org/

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/child-and-adolescent-mental-health/index.shtml

How parents can talk to their kids about suicide

Risk-of-Suicide

Risk and Protective Factors

Washington County Crisis Resources

Underage Drinking: Myths vs. Facts

Facts on Underage Drinking

Tips for Teens: The Truth About Alcohol

The shared content and information is from a third party and is provided for general informational purposes only. The Upper St. Clair School District and High School Counseling Department do not specifically endorse the material and make no representations, express or implied.

Email: hs-counselingoffice@uscsd.k12.pa.us
Website: https://www.uscsd.k12.pa.us/domain/200
Location: 1825 McLaughlin Run Road, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Phone: 412-833-1600