Class of 2023 Counselor Connection

There are many important dates coming up for the Class of 2023! Please mark your calendars.

College Application/Naviance Help Sessions Start Tomorrow!

Seniors, if you need help with Naviance or your college applications, you are invited to attend one of our help sessions. The help sessions will all take place in the ORHS Amphitheater. Please come to the Amphitheater to see an ORHS Counselor during one of the following times:

Thursday, September 15th – 7:15 am – 7:45 am

Thursday, September 15th – 3:15 pm – 3:45 pm

Thursday, September 22nd – 7:15 am – 7:45 am

Thursday, September 29th – 7:15 am – 7:45 am

Thursday, September 29th – 3:15 pm – 3:45 pm

Tuesday, September 20th - Students Attend TN Promise / Community College Day

• In the ORHS Amphitheater throughout the day. This event is only for students.
  
• Representatives from TSAC (TN Student Assistance Corporation) will help students complete the TN Promise Scholarship Application (DUE NOVEMBER 1st) and apply to a community college. We realize many students do not plan on attending a community college but we encourage all students to still apply as a backup plan even of they plan to attend a four-year college. Seniors should report to the amphitheater on 9/20 using the following schedule:
  

First Block: Last Names Ajaz - Fouche

Second Block: Last Names Francis - Lowe

Fourth Block: Last Names Lucas – Sanders-Ball

Fifth Block: Last Names Sangrey - Zorn

Tuesday, September 20th - Attend College Admissions Evening

• In the ORHS Amphitheater at 5:30 PM. This event is for parents/guardians and students.
  
• Representatives from Roane State, the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, and a Maryville College will give a presentation about their institutions, the admissions process, and they will be available to answer questions.

Tuesday, September 20th - Last Day to Request a Letter of Rec for Nov. 1st Deadlines

• Please see Letter of Recommendation information below. If students need a letter of recommendation for a November 1st college deadline, the last day to request that is Tuesday, September 20th.
  

Thursday, September 22nd - Attend Financial Aid 101 Meeting presented by TSAC

• In the ORHS Amphitheater at 5:30 PM. This event is for parents/guardians and students.
  
• Detailed Information on the financial aid process will be presented to parents and students.
  

Monday, September 26th - Attend the College & Career Fair

• In the Wildcat Arena from 5:30 – 7:00 PM – Parents and students are strongly encouraged to attend. Around 80 various colleges, businesses and military reps will be there to meet with students.

Senior Seminar for students took place on Thursday, August 25th. Students should have brought home their red senior folder. They can keep this folder. Seniors were supposed to submit their senior forms by September 2nd.

Senior Seminar for parents took place on Tuesday, August 30th at 6 p.m. in the ORHS Amphitheater. Here a link to the Senior Seminar video presentation that you can watch at your convenience if you were unable to attend the Senior Seminar for Parents: https://youtu.be/a_lBaMsOgRM. The slides from the PowerPoint are also included below.

September is TN College Application and Exploration Month. More schools are signing on daily, but here is a list of those who have agreed to waive application fees so far:

• August 1 – September 30: Union University
• September 1 – 30: Bethel University, East Tennessee State University, Tennessee Tech University, The University of Memphis
• September 18 – 24: Middle Tennessee State University
• September 19 – 23: Lipscomb University, The University of Tennessee at Martin, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, The University of Tennessee Knoxville

The following participants have no application fee: Carson-Newman University, Chattanooga State Community College, Cleveland State Community College, Dyersburg State Community College, Jackson State Community College, Lincoln Memorial University, Maryville College, Northeast State Community College, Pellissippi State Community College, Rhodes College, Southwest Tennessee Community College, Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology, Tennessee Wesleyan University, Trevecca Nazarene University, University of Tennessee Southern, Volunteer State Community College, Walters State Community College

The Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) has partnered with Tennessee higher education institutions to provide college application instructional videos. These videos, created by Tennessee colleges, walk students step-by-step through each college’s application process. The Video link below will open the college’s instructional video. The Application link will bring you to the college’s admissions application or website. To celebrate Tennessee College Application and Exploration Month, many institutions are offering application fee waivers during September.

The institutions listed are those that volunteered to create an application video. If the institution you are looking for is not listed, please visit the institution’s website for access to their college application.

Please see the document below for more information:

Naviance is College & Career Software that Oak Ridge Schools provides for the students in our district. The ORHS Counselors have been tracking college admissions data in Naviance since 2015. You will have to use Naviance as a senior to request transcripts and letters of recommendation that are sent to colleges. It is in your best interest to start using it now so you are already familiar with Naviance when you start your senior year.

All students can log into their Naviance accounts by visiting this website and clicking the blue button that says "Sign In with Clever". Students will sign in with their Active Directory information. Be sure to sign in with Clever - you cannot sign in with a Naviance ID.

• Transcripts were finalized and uploaded to Naviance on September 12th. Transcripts WILL NOT be sent without an official request in Naviance.
  
• When you need to send transcripts to colleges, official transcripts MUST be requested via Naviance. Emailed requests will not be processed. Follow instructions here to request a transcript: HOW TO REQUEST A TRANSCRIPT IN NAVIANCE.pdf
• STUDENTS should go ahead and submit their college applications. They do not need to wait for transcripts or letters of recommendation.

• ORHS policy requires student to check with the faculty member who they want a letter from prior to requesting the letter in Naviance to ensure the faculty member will be able to provide a letter.
• Once the student verifies that the faculty member is able to provide a letter, the student needs to submit an official request in Naviance. Without this request, ORHS faculty will be unable to submit a letter. Please follow these instructions to request a letter of rec: Request a LOR in Naviance.pdf
  
• If Mrs. Ottinger has agreed to provide you with a Counselor Recommendation and you have submitted your request in Naviance, your next step is to complete this form: https://forms.office.com/r/1A2QHeZvj8
• It is imperative that you ask your teachers and your counselor for a letter of recommendation at least 3 WORKING WEEKS before the deadline. Fall Break does not count as working weeks. This is necessary for your teachers and your counselor to be able to meet deadlines. Failure to request a letter within the required timeframe could result in us not being able to provide a letter. Please see deadlines here: 2022-2023 counselor recommendation deadlines.pdf
  

• In order for ORHS to communicate with Common Application, students complete the Common App FERPA Release Authorization and they MUST link Common App & Naviance. Transcripts and Letters of Recommendation CANNOT be sent until the student completes this. Linking is a very simple process explained here: Link your Naviance Account with your Common App.pdf

The vast majority of financial aid and scholarships will come directly from the colleges and universities that students are applying to but be sure to check these scholarship websites often to stay informed about other potential scholarships:

ORHS Scholarship Page

www.collegexpress.com

www.fasteb.com

www.scholarships.com

www.myscholly.com

www.scholarships360.org

www.goingmerry.com

Unigo.com

salliemae.com/scholarshipsearch

www.cappex.com (Unique in that it allows you to search merit aid at many schools, not just private scholarships)

https://accessscholarships.com/

HELPFUL ADDITIONAL SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION

Here's Every College That Offers 100% Financial Aid
This is a list of lists. Broken into categories like grade level, major, military, LGBTQ, etc...

This is a list of Colleges that meet full demonstrated need and colleges that are need-blind

This is a spreadsheet of Average need and merit aid statistics

This is a list of colleges with full ride scholarships based on MERIT.

This is an additional list of competitive scholarship resources and programs.

Remember to file your FAFSA during the Fall of your senior year and never pay for a scholarship or scholarship search! The FAFSA opens on October 1, 2022 and is due by March 1, 2023 (original date was February 1, 2023 but it has been extended).

Apply for the TNPromise Scholarship between August 1, 2022 and November 1, 2022. You must meet this deadline - no exceptions! Detailed instruction on how to apply are linked below.

Please also see the THEC/TSAC (TN Higher Education Commission / TN Student Assistance Corporation) State Financial Aid Summary below. For more information, visit

www.tn.gov/collegepays or www.collegefortn.org.

• August 1 – November 1, 2022 – TNPromise Scholarship Application Open. Apply at www.tnpromise.gov

• October 18, 2022 - ACT Senior Retake Date - The ACT will be given during the school day to all 12th graders. This test is FREE.

• November 1, 2022 - TN Promise Scholarship Application Deadline
  

• November 10, 2022 5:30-7:30 Financial aid completion night - ORHS Media Center/Library

• December 13, 2022 3:40 p.m. – Mandatory TNPromise Meeting for Students - ORHS Food Court

• January 24, 2023 5:30-7:30 Financial aid completion night - ORHS Media Center/Library

• March 1st – FAFSA deadline for the Class of 2023 (fafsa.gov)

All juniors should have taken the ACT on the State Test date of Tuesday, March 1, 2022. This test was free and it was given during the school day at ORHS.

Seniors will also get a free ACT retake opportunity on October 18, 2022. This test is free to seniors and will be given during the school day.

To take the ACT any other time, students must register HERE. Dates, cost, and all additional information are available on the ACT website. Visit the School Counseling office if you believe you may qualify for an ACT fee waiver. This requires a student to receive free/reduced lunch.

Students should make sure they are on track academically by comparing their transcript to the Graduation Requirements Chart below. To view the transcript, students can log into Skyward Student Access, click on Portfolio, and then click on Unofficial Transcripts for Senior Seminar to view their UNOFFICIAL transcript.

Need to know what classes to take to pursue a certain career? Click here for the ORHS Career Cluster Maps: Oak Ridge Career Clusters 02.03.22.pptx

All seniors are enrolled in the Class of 2023 Canvas Page. The Canvas page will be updated frequently. Parents can view this Canvas Page as Observers. If you need help with Canvas, contact Mr. Dunkel.

Click here to view the 2022-2023 ORHS Academic Planning Guide!

CLICK HERE TO REVIEW VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT PARENT/STUDENT/COUNSELOR COLLEGE APPLICATION RESPONSIBILITIES

The first step for college bound athletes should be to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center. Visit ncaa.org to learn about the latest initial-eligibility news, requirements you must meet to play sports on campus, and the best resources for you as you pursue your dreams of studying and competing at an NCAA Division I or II school.

Visit the ORHS Curriculum Page for links to:

• The complete 2022-2023 Academic Planning Guide
• Once available, the ORHS Tutoring Schedule will be posted on the Curriculum Page.
  

PLAN FOR SENIOR YEAR

•  Make a list of colleges that you wish to research online. Start researching in Naviance.

•  Research requirements regarding entrance and placement exams at the college in which you are interested in.

•  Narrow your college list to your top 5 or 10 schools that interest you.
•  It’s not too late to get involved. Pick up a new extracurricular activity (or two) and jump right in!
•  Start certification process if you want to play Division I or II college sports. Click here to register with the NCAA.
  
•  If you are thinking the military you need to speak with a military representative about your options. For more information go to: www.todaysmilitary.com
•  Consider getting a job to gain work experience to put on your college application.
•  Take the ACT again. ALL SENIORS WILL TAKE THE ACT FOR FREE AT SCHOOL ON OCTOBER 18th. To take the ACT additional times you must register at www.actstudent.org. To take the SAT, you must register at www.collegeboard.com. UTK will accept ACT scores through December.
  

•  Start finalizing your college list and investigate college cost.
•  Check the ORHS scholarship page often.
•  Familiarize yourself with ways to pay for college.

The best way for students to set up a time to meet with me is to stop by the Counseling Office and ask Mrs. Campbell, the Counseling Office's Administrative Assistant, to schedule an appointment. Students are encouraged to stop by before school, during the lunch break, or after school to make an appointment. If the student's need is urgent or an emergency, students must tell Mrs. Campbell and she will find a counselor immediately.

If parents need to schedule an appointment, please call Mrs. Campbell at (865) 425-9607 to schedule a time. Counselors are in the office from 7:40 a.m. – 3:40 p.m.

Parents and students are also welcome to email Mrs. Ottinger.

Email: bottinger@ortn.edu
Website: https://www.ortn.edu/highschool/academics/school-counseling/
Location: 1450 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
Phone: (865)425-9607
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oakridgehighschoolcounseling
Twitter: @ORHSCounseling