Class of 2027 Chief Points

Class of 2027,

Happy October! Quarter 1 ends in a few weeks, the FAFSA for 2027-28 is now open, and the first wave of Early Decision and Early Action deadlines is almost here (Nov 1st). If your plan is to attend a 4-year college after graduation, it's time to get serious about making your college list and starting applications!

In this month's newsletter, you'll find information about:

• 🎓 Grad. Requirements: Links to the Service Hours Sheet and Job Shadow Packet.

• 🏫 College App Help: My presentation in English classes last month was an overview of the college application process (Scoir, Common App, Letters of Rec, Transcripts, FERPA, FAFSA, etc.) I'm resharing those slides and other resources below.
• 📅 MARK YOUR CALENDARS and Sign Up! (links below)
• Oct. 8th Healthcare Expo @ Viewmont Mall (40 max)
• Oct. 15th College Fair @ Wilkes (40 max)
• Nov. 4th Apprenticeship & Career Day @ Valley View (15 max)
• 💵 FAFSA. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now available, and completing it is an essential step for getting any form of financial aid! Resources below.
• Oct. 19th Virtual Financial Aid Webinar (registration link below)
• 📝 SAT @ Lakeland (Oct 23rd Reg. Deadline): The deadline to register for the Nov. 7th SAT @ Lakeland is fast approaching!

Please review these resources, and note that I will be pulling all seniors by the end of the month to check in about your college and career plans. That will be the perfect opportunity to ask questions specific to your goals and where you are in the process.

Cheers to October!

Mrs. Wengert

Remember, this is down from the previously required 20 hours of service! Use the Service Hours Tracker linked below, or pick up a paper copy from the Counseling Office.

*NHS Members: 10 of your hours from NHS can count towards meeting graduation requirements! For our documentation purposes, please write up 10 of your hours on our Service Hours Tracker, and have Mrs. Cantando sign off on your sheet after checking her online system.

Need ideas for volunteer/service hours?

• Check out the U. of Scranton's Featured Volunteer Opportunities for ideas.
• Reach out to the Scott Township Fire Dept. to ask about any way you can volunteer.
• If you're part of (or familiar with) a local faith community, ask them about ways to give back.

All students are responsible for completing a Job Shadow experience and packet. What this looks like is up to you, but the idea is to spend a full day (or at least half a day) shadowing someone in a career you are interested in. Whether you arrange to be in a law office, community center, police department, or construction site, your time should give you a behind-the-scenes look at a career field and help you gain self-insight: Do I like this? Could I really see myself in this field? Am I willing to do the post-high school training/college/etc. needed to enter this field?

Job Shadow Packets are available for pick-up in the Counseling Office and also linked below. *If you are unsure what to do or need help identifying a job site, you can reach out to me to discuss!*

Throughout October, I will pull all seniors to check in about your post-graduation plans. Please be prepared to tell me what your college and career goals look like right now, where you're at in the application process, and how I can help/what questions I can answer. (If you're undecided right now, that's totally okay! I'm here to help!)

If you feel like you need more guidance at this point, take a look at the LHS Postsecondary Counseling Website, specifically the *College Application Guide.* I'm happy to answer your questions in our one-on-one meetings, but until then, you can help yourself with these resources!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) & links to the College Application Guide answers:

• When are college deadlines? Can you explain the different types?
• What should I consider when applying to colleges? How do I know where I should apply?
• What is FERPA? Do I need to sign that release?
• Do I really need to use Scoir ("score")? (Short answer: YES!)
• How do I request letters of rec? Who should I ask?
• Where do I fill out the Senior Brag Sheet so my letters of rec will be strong? (Answer: Scoir!!)
• How do I make sure my transcript gets sent to the schools I've applied to?
• What's the deal with college essays?
• Can you point me to scholarships?
• When/how do I fill out the FAFSA?
• What if college-based and federal financial aid isn't enough?
• How do I sign up for the SAT? How do I send my scores? Do I have to send my scores?

📢 Rep Visits are during Lunch & Learn in the Commons. It's a great chance to meet a representative, ask them your questions, and gather information to help you decide whether to apply to a college.

Log into Scoir (linked below) to see all upcoming college and career rep visits, which are being added all the time. Mark your calendars for when reps of interest will be at Lakeland! We've already had great visits this year from Lackawanna, Marywood, King's, and the U. of Scranton. Upcoming in the next couple weeks are Misericordia (10/16), Penn State (10/19), and more!

Explore careers in healthcare at NEPA AHEC’s 5th Annual Healthcare Career & College Exploration Event! Meet with 40+ colleges, universities, and healthcare organizations to learn about programs and opportunities. Space is limited to 40 juniors and seniors. Sign up using the link below!

Explore your college and career options at a free PACAC College Fair! Meet with college admission representatives, financial aid experts, military, and trade representatives. Space is limited to 40 juniors and seniors, with registration first-come, first-served. Sign up using the link below!

• Departure: 8:00 AM (Meet in the Commons)

• College Fair: 9:00–10:00 AM

• Lunch: Shoppes at Montage

• Return to Lakeland: 12:15 PM

Explore career pathways at NEIU’s Apprenticeship & Career Day! Connect with regional employers, apprenticeship programs, and training providers to learn about opportunities beyond high school. Space is limited to 15 students, with priority given to seniors. Sign up at the link below!

The 2027-28 FAFSA form is now available! Here are a couple resources from our PA Higher Ed Assistance Agency (PHEAA) to help get you started.

• How to Create a StudentAid.gov Account Guide
• 2027–28 FAFSA Preview Presentation: This PowerPoint and PDF include 2027–28 FAFSA screens and instructions for common financial aid scenarios.
• FAFSA Then and Now reel... it's easier than ever!

LHS Postsecondary Counseling Website. The Financial Aid section of our counseling website lays out a lot of the financial aid process and frequently asked questions. I recommend getting familiar now, and referring back to it throughout the year. Here you'll find information such as:

• Why financial aid is important
• What financial aid is
• Tips to get you started
• The different financial aid applications
• When you apply for financial aid
• Who fills out the applications
• What the different types of applications look like

I will be continually updating you on scholarships available via these newsletters and the Class of 2027 Google Classroom. In the winter and spring, applications for scholarships within our local community (not advertised on scholarship search sites) will open up. For now, you can check out the Scholarships page of the LHS Postsecondary Counseling Website (linked below). It has some search sites that may provide you with opportunities!

To start looking for scholarships right now, you can:

• Create an account on reputable scholarship search websites and enter your demographics, GPA, etc. to get matched with scholarships you may be eligible for.
• BigFuture Scholarship Directory
• Fastweb
• Scholarships 360

• Research scholarships offered directly by the colleges you are applying to, especially for your intended major (i.e., Nursing, STEM fields, Education, etc.).
• Start a tracker spreadsheet/list of scholarships you have applied/will apply to, along with their requirements and deadlines to apply.
• Start brainstorming or drafting essays that you may be able to reuse for multiple applications. Think smarter, not harder! You can refer back to your resume/activities list and copy/paste.

Pro Tips: Stay organized and apply throughout senior year—not just all at once in the spring!

The SAT will be offered at Lakeland on Saturday, November 7th. The deadline to register for the November testing date is October 23rd. Register using the button below.

Our SAT/ACT testing page can answer all of your questions about SAT/ACT, including:

• What date(s) should I take the SAT or ACT?
• Should I even bother taking it? What does it mean for schools to be test-optional?
• How can I find test prep?
• How do I register?
• How do I send my scores? etc...

These newsletters are always a lot, but remember: it's a marathon, not a sprint. You don't need to have everything figured out right now. Stay organized, focus on what's in front of you, and keep chipping away at your to-do list—the small steps you take now will make the months ahead much less stressful.

Don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions or aren't sure where to start. I'm here to help!

Cheers,

Mrs. Wengert

Mrs. Wengert - ewengert@lakelandsd.org

Classes of 2027, 2029 & 2031

Make an appointment with Mrs. Wengert

Mrs. deQuevedo - ddequevedo@lakelandsd.org

Classes of 2028, 2030 & 2032

Make an appointment with Mrs. deQuevedo

Website: http://counselingatlakeland.weebly.com/
Location: 1355 Lakeland Drive, Jermyn, PA, United States
Phone: 570-254-9485
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lhscounselors/