College & Career Monthly Newsletter
March Edition
Planning on taking the ACT?
Beaverton School District is offering the ACT for free for Juniors. The ACT will be held on April 7th and will be held in-person at FLEX. All juniors are automatically registered for the ACT. See below for reasons you might want to (or not) take the ACT.
ACT. Why?
Some things to consider about the ACT:
It can’t hurt to take it:
BSD offers the ACT for Free for all Juniors, so you can take it without having to do any application or any fees. If you feel like you did poorly on the ACT, you do not have to send your score to colleges.
It can qualify you for certain scholarships:
Depending on your score, you may qualify for certain scholarships that you otherwise may not have. You can see the breakdown here at this link.
Some schools can give automatic scholarships if you hit certain scores.
It leaves doors open (even if you’re not sure):
A decent ACT score can leave your future self options. Maybe you don’t want/need to go to college right now, but maybe you’ll change your mind in the future. There are no expiration dates on your ACT (although they do recommend people to retake it if your score is older than 5 years).
It could help you avoid extra classes
Depending on the ACT score, some colleges/universities will place you into higher level math or english classes, saving you time and money.
It could offset a low GPA
If your GPA isn’t exactly amazing, but your ACT score is, it may help you look good to colleges.
It can be a point of pride
If you historically have not done well in school, a high ACT score can be something to be proud of in your academic career.
Important Dates!
Dates that you should put down in your planner!
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) open now!
- ABSA Scholarship deadline: April 8th, 3:00 PM
- Oregon Promise has opened: Check it out here!
- [Go to the September Newsletter to learn more!]
- Senior Career Credit due: May 8th
Seniors, you may be aware that you need to complete something in order earn your last bit of career credit to graduate high school. That instinct is correct, as you will need to fill out a Career Credit Form created by yours truly.
Here's what you'll need to do:
1. Access the form here: https://forms.gle/HU1mxsKyiEv4uyBc6
2. Fill out the Form
3. Access the APEX modules (Financial Aid and Careers) through the FOS Class of 2026. There are a few modules you must complete, but they are not graded.
4. In the form, there will be a section that asks if you are planning on going to college or pursuing another option. Choose the one that is appropriate for you and complete the relevant documents.
5. Submit the form!
Once you've completed everything, the counselors and I will review the submissions at a later date and award the career credit
Other info to note: The due date for the career credit is May 8th.
If you are stuck or have questions, please contact me at philip_hou@beaverton.k12.or.us
- Are you going to a 4 or 2 year school? You may need to make a Common Application account and start the application process!
- Do you need to take the SAT or ACT for your school? Check the Registration Deadlines!
- Do you need a Letter of Recommendation for a school? (Most schools don't, but it's always good to double check)
- FAFSA or ORSAA? Take a short quiz to see which one you need!
- What the heck are those? Learn more about FAFSA and ORSAA here!
- Are you an athlete and want to play sports in college? Register for NCAA or NAIA!
For-Profit vs Non-profit Colleges
For Profit:
Focus mainly on earning revenue through tuition and fees paid by students
Channel earned revenue into non-education expenses or directly to investors
Usually offer career-oriented training programs.
Often deliver programs in an online format.
Require a high school diploma and no GPA or standardized tests scores.
High acceptance rates and flexible admission options.
Most two and four-year institutions do not accept transfer credits from for-profit institutions.
Good option for specific trades, professions, and industries like mechanic or massage therapist.
Make sure they are Accredited
Non-Profit:
Receive support from state and federal governments, endowments, and donations.
Channel funds from tuition and fees into educational programs.
Spend more money on instruction, curricula development, and recruitment.
Help students explore opportunities and foster community.
Have student unions, green spaces, and football games on the weekends
Look out for Scams!
The unfortunate truth is whenever money is involved, there will be bad actors. This includes scholarship searches as well. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you search for scholarships:
Signs that a scholarship might be a scam/fraud
They ask for money (like an upfront fee)
They ask for personal information that shouldn't be necessary (Social Security #, bank information, credit card info, etc)
They "guarantee" winning (without any effort)
You get a notification that you’re a finalist when you never applied
No contact info/errors across the information
Trust your instincts. If it’s too good to be true, it usually is.
If you still aren't sure, feel free to contact me about a scholarship and we can take a look at it together!
Again, my contact information is philip_hou@beaverton.k12.or.us
Addendum: Scholarships
If you're uncertain where to look for scholarships, I will provide a list of websites that are trusted and verified:
- Appily.com
You can sort by many different filters that can help narrow your search.
Job of the Month: Veterinary Technologist/Tech
What is a Veterinary Assistant?
- "Perform medical tests in a laboratory environment for use in the treatment and diagnosis of diseases in animals. Prepare vaccines and serums for prevention of diseases. Prepare tissue samples, take blood samples, and execute laboratory tests, such as urinalysis and blood counts. Clean and sterilize instruments and materials and maintain equipment and machines. May assist a veterinarian during surgery." Quality Info
What level of Education do I need?
The typical entry level education for this occupation is a Associate's degree.
What's the wage range look like? (Throughout all Oregon, 2025)
- $18.16 (10th percentile) - $29.18 (75th percentile)
- Average Annual: $51,687
What does the growth look like in 10 years?
- 10 year growth is projected to be 15.1%. Employment in this occupation in 2024 was similar to most occupations across the state. The total number of job openings is projected to be similar to job openings for most occupations in Oregon through 2034. This occupation is expected to grow at a much faster rate than the statewide average growth rate for all occupations through 2034.
What are some schools I can go to for this occupation?
- Blue Mountain Community College (Associate's Degree/ Diplomas)
- Portland Community College (Associate's Degree)
- Central Oregon Community College (Associate's Degree / Diplomas)
What are some other related fields?
- Vet Assistant
- Animal Caretakers
- Nursing Assistants
- Learn more here: Quality Info (Oregon)
Contact me!
Scheduled an appointment using the link HERE
Email: philip_hou@beaverton.k12.or.us
Location: Tuesday Afternoon (PCC/Zoom Only) Wednesday/Friday (FLEX site)
Phone: 503-356-9170