GHS Counselor Connection

We hope you had a fantastic summer and are feeling excited to make it a great school year. Our team is here 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.

Peer Listeners are GHS seniors who care about their fellow students. They have gone through extensive training to prepare them for one-on-one support and mediations between students who are having a conflict. They are available during periods 2 - 6 in the Wellness Center on the 2nd floor of the main office. Students may request support using this form or by visiting the Wellness Center with a pass from their teachers.

Does going back to school have you feeling a little anxious or stressed out? Click here for some breathing exercises from Charlie Health that can really help calm your nervous system!

"For kids and adults alike, anxiety can feel like an invisible wall...But research has shown that the way we talk to ourselves in those moments matters deeply. In fact, your inner voice can either intensify anxiety or begin to ease it. This is where positive self-talk and affirmations come in. Often misunderstood as surface-level mantras, affirmations are actually grounded in powerful science..." (Click here to read more from GoZen).

Will your student be taking the PSAT, SAT, ACT, or AP Exams this school year? Students with disabilities may apply for accommodations on these exams but they need to plan ahead! Documentation must be submitted to our SSD Coordinator seven weeks before the registration deadline. Any new accommodation requests for the PSAT must be submitted by September 8th for the October 28th test date. Click here for more information.

"Ambitious students often overstack their daily schedules with things 'that will look good on college applications' hoping to set themselves apart. This myth, however, that it is necessary to cram as many activities as possible into the four years of high school is false. For a variety of reasons, it is important for high school students to be involved in some activities during their four years; however, college admissions officers and human resource departments are not just looking for the longest resume or list when evaluating candidates." Read the full article from School Links.

From the Mindset College Collective, "a thoughtful and purpose driven college admission process is within reach...This simple, actionable plan includes tips for students to gain valuable perspective and planning in the areas of academics, extracurricular activities/interests, and personal development, leading up to a purpose-driven college admission process."

The city of La Mesa is now accepting applications for its Youth Advisory Commission. The city is looking for students between the ages of 13 and 20 years old who live within the city limits or attend school in the city of La Mesa. Commission meetings are held the second Monday of each month at 4:30 p.m. in the Community Center, 4975 Memorial Drive, La Mesa. The application deadline is Tuesday, September 2, 2025. More information on the city website.

Grossmont held a 9th Grade Family Orientation on August 7th for all incoming parents/guardians and are grateful to those who were able to attend. We wanted to include everyone with the information and you can access the presentation here: 9th Grade Family Presentation. Please note there are links embedded in the presentation that can take you where you need to go.

We also would appreciate feedback from everyone as we continue to build on this event in the future. Please fill out this quick two minute EVALUATION FORM. We look forward to working with you and your students throughout their high school journey with us.

What can you do as a junior to prepare for college applications? Click here for a junior year checklist video that will give you a month by month breakdown to help you feel less stressed and more confident about the college application process. Lisette Bohannon from Niche, The College Search App, shares important tips and strategies for finding scholarships, resources, requesting recommendation letters and narrowing down your college list.

Prepare for college applications with this senior year checklist video! Lisette Bohannon from Niche, The College Search App, shares important tips and strategies for getting your college applications organized and submitted. She shares valuable insight to guide you through the exciting journey of making it through college app season.

Seniors who are applying to private or out-of-state universities may need to take the ACT or SAT exam ASAP. Check the prospective university's website to find out if the college is test-blind or test-optional. Register for the ACT at www.act.org and/or register for the SAT at www.collegeboard.com. Fee waivers are available in the counseling office for students with financial need. CSU schools, UC campuses, and community colleges do not use the SAT or ACT for admissions purposes but they can be used for placement purposes.

The University of California application opened on August 1st and must be submitted by November 30th! It's time to start preparing your responses to the Personal Insight Questions! Students, this is your opportunity to let the UC admissions representatives get to know the real you. Think of it like an interview rather than an English essay. You will need to respond in your own voice, with a maximum of 350 words, to each of four out of eight prompts. You should write your responses in a separate document, take time to proofread, revise, ask someone else for feedback, and then paste the final draft into the application. Here are some great resources to help!

UC Website: Personal Insight Questions

University of California PIQ Worksheet (English)

University of California PIQ Worksheet (Spanish)

College Essay Guy University of California Resources

Students who need to request a letter of recommendation from their counselor for colleges or scholarships must complete a brag packet. Click here to download a copy and return it to your counselor. Please allow three weeks notice and keep in mind that counselors do not work during holiday breaks. Letters will be sent directly to the college or scholarship committee. To request a letter of recommendation from a teacher, we have a different form that you may find helpful (optional-click here). Please give your teachers plenty of notice, too.

In this video, College Essay Guy's Tom Campbell (former admissions officer at Pomona College) provides a step-by-step walkthrough of the Common App for 2025. The Common Application is a free online platform that helps students apply to college by submitting a single application to multiple schools. The platform is used by over 1,000 colleges and universities, including private, public, and engineering schools.

Are you a member of a military family? There are resources available to help pay for college. Click here for more information.