GHS Counselor Connection

We hope you enjoyed your Spring Break! Please read below for important updates and resources. Our team is available to support students and families in the Counseling & Wellness Center on the 2nd floor of the main office. Students may visit during break/lunch, or with a pass from their teachers. Caregivers should contact the counselor to schedule an appointment.

Grossmont Peer Listeners have dedicated themselves to weekly training sessions since December, which recently culminated in a weekend of growth and connection at Camp Raintree Ranch in Julian. Our senior peer listeners take great pride in helping our juniors practice the peer listening and mediation skills they will use next year, under the leadership of Mrs. Manuel and Mr. Bonilla. We're all excited about our newest group of incredible students! Peer Listeners are available throughout the school day in the Grossmont Wellness Center, to support students with personal concerns and facilitate peer mediations.

The Princess Project is offering free prom dresses to high school teens! Each teen will be able to select one free prom dress and one accessory. You must reserve an appointment online. An online waiver must be completed prior to arrival. The main Princess Project Dress Giveaway location is at Parkway Plaza Mall. There are also several "Pop-Up" Prom Shops hosted by libraries. You must bring a valid ID and proof of enrollment in High School. Click here for the flyer.

Summer school will be held on the GHS campus on Mon.-Fri. from June 8th - 26th with a holiday on June 19th. Students will have the opportunity to repeat a D or F grade in one or two classes. There will be a morning class from 8am - 11am and an afternoon class from 11:45am - 2:45pm. Counselors recently reviewed progress with students and signed them up for summer school if they indicated they are able to attend. Parents, please avoid planning travel during the month of June if your student needs to make up a course. Watch your email in May for more details.

Check out these free opportunities for enrichment this summer! Open to all current GUHSD 9th & 10th graders as well as incoming 9th graders. Register by April 24th!

June 8th - 12th: Culinary, Skate 4 Concrete, Biotechnology or Film

June 22nd- 26th: Sustainability, Sports Medicine or Business Marketing

Click here for more information and registration.

Our district is partnering with the California College Guidance Initiative (CCGI) to support students in their college and career planning. All students have accounts and parents are encouraged to sign up as well! CCGI is a powerful tool that allows you to track A-G progress, explore college and career options, launch college applications, and complete financial aid forms—all in one place. Check out THIS short video for a step-by-step guide on how to get started. Don't miss out on this valuable resource for your student's future! If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Jessica Porfirio.

The Get Schooled team compiled this tool-kit of free resources and supports for AP Exams, college planning & admissions, financial aid, and summer employment. They know that every student learns differently, so each topic is available in a variety of formats!

Planning to visit colleges during summer break? Here is a handy checklist and list of questions to use during your tours, created by Niche School Counselor Lisett Bohannon.

Many universities offer Pre-College Programs during the summer, offering students the opportunity to expand their knowledge in a particular subject and experience a college campus. You can find many of these posted on our website here. Application deadlines vary throughout the spring and can be competitive. Costs vary as well and some programs offer scholarships.

Click here for the presentation slides, recording and resources from this March 2026 event to learn more about the University of California experience. The event included:

• An overview of the UC system and value of a UC degree
• Nine undergraduate campus presentations
• Live panel with current UC students
• An overview of admission requirements for first-year and transfer applicants
• Admission tips and guidance

Please click here for information on how to register new Grossmont students!

Juniors, when you take your CAASPP ELA and Math tests, be sure to do your best and mark the option to share your scores with the CSU and CA Community Colleges! Once you receive your scores, learn about how to understand your scores and results, which are used by colleges for course placement. The Early Assessment Program (EAP) was created to provide high school juniors with an early indicator of their readiness for college-level English and mathematics. The EAP is fully integrated into the CAASPP, which GHS juniors will take on April 14th, 16th, 21st, and 23rd (reverse minimum days). The goal is to help students identify academic areas for improvement before they graduate and to give them time to strengthen their skills in their senior year and avoid having to take Early Start summer classes or remedial classes.

Point Loma Nazarene University is offering a free summer opportunity for current juniors. The 3rd Annual S.E.A. (Striving for Educational Achievement) Scholars Weekend! From June 19–21, 2026, selected students will stay on campus at PLNU, experience dorm life, join interactive workshops, and gain greater insight on the college application and scholarships process. Housing and meals are fully covered! Families only need to handle transportation. Students who attend will qualify for an additional $6000 grant for PLNU. First generation college students and students participating in a college/career readiness organization are eligible. Apply here by April 10th: SEAS 2026 Interest Form

Please click here for SAT/ACT information and test dates. Please note that CSU/UC universities are no longer using ACT/SAT test scores for admissions purposes. However, some universities may require one of these exams, and many have a test-optional policy, which means an excellent score can add value to an application. They may also be required by specific programs or scholarships.

The Summer College Essay & Application Program from College Essay Guy is now open for registration. This comprehensive online program consists of two courses, designed to take you all the way from "I don't know what to write about" to a college application you're proud of. The entire program is available live and on-demand, so if you can't make any of the live sessions, you can watch the recordings. There's even pay-what-you-can spots available. Learn more about the program here.

The WUE is a tuition savings program that makes attending out of state universities more affordable. Through WUE you receive a reduced tuition rate. Click here to find participating colleges and the amount of savings offered.

The Summer Institute Program is a free 6-week summer experience from June 22nd through 30th to support low-income, first-generation, and disadvantaged students as they transition into college. Students will be enrolled in two Grossmont College courses, COUN 120: College & Career Success and SOC 120: Introduction to Sociology. Students will also participate in weekly educational trips to universities, engaging activities and social events that help them build confidence and community. This program is completely free and includes bus passes and gas cards. After completing SIP, the student will be transitioned to the EOPS Program where they will continue to receive additional support through their college education. Students Can Apply here: 2026 Summer Institute Program- Interest Form

As college decision season approaches, it can be challenging for students and their families to navigate financial aid award letters to make an informed choice about which school offers the best financial fit. To make this easier, Going Merry created a detailed, annotated financial aid award letter that highlights and explains the key components of a school’s offer. Niche offers a True Cost Financial Aid Decoder to help families understand financial aid, see what they’re projected to pay and compare college aid offers. Big Future also posted this article and College Essay Guy has a guide on this topic.

Did you know that there are sometimes scholarships that go unused because nobody applied for them? We hear about a ton of incredible scholarship opportunities, which our Administrative Assistant Lori Cromwell posts on our GHS counseling website (click here)! Many of these are local opportunities for our students! They are organized with tabs at the bottom for the month the application is due. Please check back regularly and apply for any that seem like a good fit. Scholarship opportunities can also be found at bigfuture.collegeboard.org, niche.com and scholarships.com.