PHS College and Career Corner

As we enter February, events are in full swing at Penncrest! We will be hosting a FAFSA Completion Night with PHEAA, 2 and 4 year colleges are visiting, and the Course Fair evening is happening as course selection for the 2024-2025 school year begins! Read on to learn about events for each grade and opportunities for all.

Tuesday, February 6th

• University of Oregon - 1:30 pm - virtual visit
• FAFSA Completion Night - 6:30 and 7:30 pm in the PHS Library. Spots are still available: PHS FAFSA Completion Night Registration

Thursday, February 8th

• Course Fair - 6:30 pm

Friday, February 9th

• Harcum College - 11:00 am

Details and registration links can be found under the College Visits tab in Naviance (you must be logged in): https://student.naviance.com/colleges/visits. Visits will be held in the College and Career Center in the counseling office or Lecture Room A. Please view the location when registering. You will receive an email prior to the scheduled visit that will confirm your registration. Please show that to your teacher to use as your pass. Attendance is documented at all visits!

Senior students and families, you are not alone if you are frustrated by the financial aid process this year! You may have heard that an update in the FAFSA calculation has now pushed back the date that colleges will receive financial information: FAFSA Announcement - Federal Student Aid Office. In turn, this means that you will likely not receive your financial aid letter from your colleges and universities until April: NACAC statement on FAFSA processing delay.

What should you do now? First, do not panic. We have already heard from many colleges that they are dedicated to working efficiently to get you your offers in a timely fashion. Many have also shared that you can still submit your FAFSA even if you missed their priority filing deadline without fear of penalization. Second, if you still have concerns and have not yet submitted, please register for the FAFSA Completion Night this Tuesday. Our PHEAA representative will be able to answer all your outstanding questions. Finally, keep applying for scholarships! Check out the Financial Aid and Scholarship Information folder in Schoology for up-to-date scholarships.

Don't forget to request your mid-year grades if your colleges need them to complete your application: Midyear Grade Request Form. Check your application portal and the college's website for more details.

• Prepare and schedule your junior meeting:Junior Planning Meetings
• Register for the SAT/ACT: Online SAT Registration and ACT Registration | ACT Testing Dates | The ACT Test
• As you start course selection, consider taking a dual enrollment class: Dual Enrollment Steps - Delaware County Community College
• Attend the upcoming college and career visits to Penncrest High School. Register to attend in Naviance and start planning for your future!
• If you are interested in attending a hands-on learning program at the Delaware County Technical High Schools next year, please review their offerings 24-25 DCTS Course Guide and apply by February 29th: Career & Technical Education / Apply Now
• Complete your Career Portfolio tasks in Naviance if you have not done so already. Freshmen did a wonderful job with their career lessons this week!

Penncrest students do not have to travel far to find one of the top liberal arts college in the nation! Haverford College is a close-knit community focusing on individual growth with a commitment to bettering the global society through collaboration and activism. Their unique mascot - the black squirrel - and their impressive 6:1 tree to student ratio are just two of the highlights for this small college that holds big opportunities!

• Neumann University College Fair - 4/17/24: College Fair | Neumann University
• PACAC Main Line Villanova College Fair - 5/22/24: Main Line Villanova College Fair

• Whether it is a job, camp, or summer program through a college, make sure you start planning for a fun, educational summer to explore potential careers/majors or serve the community. Our DCTS Medical Careers Instructor, Mrs. Wolhafe, reminded us this week that volunteering at the hospital is an excellent way to start gaining hours often required for graduate school in healthcare and see if the medical field is the right place for you: Volunteer Opportunities | Give to Main Line Health

The counselors are in the classroom this month to help students with their career portfolios and course selection. Take some time to dive a little deeper into career searching and growth using this wonderful resource from the PA Center for Workforce Information & Analysis: Pennsylvania Career Guide