College & Career Monthly Newsletter
February 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.
Did you miss our previous events?
High School and College Student Webinars
Webinars will relate to career and/or college planning and may include financial aid and scholarship support, student loan information, the Oregon College Savings Plan, and more.
FAFSA/ORSAA Drop-In Help Session
Scholarships 101
Important Dates!
Dates that you should put down in your planner!
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) open now!
- OSAC Scholarship deadline is March 2, at 11:59 PM PT // Early Bird is February 11:59 PM
- Oregon Promise has opened: Check it out here!
- [Go to the September Newsletter to learn more!]
- March 2nd DEADLINE: Ford Family Foundation Scholarship
Upcoming Admissions Deadlines
🦆University of Oregon: regular Decision: Jan 15th [PAST]
🦫Oregon State University : Priority Deadline: Feb 2nd [PAST]
🎓Private Colleges/Universities: Many fall between Jan 15 - Feb 15th. Check your schools!
🏖️Going further away? Confirm the deadlines now. Some are early as mid-January!
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!
Scholarship Tips to keep in Mind
Always read the description of the scholarship (Is it for your correct demographic? Do you qualify? Can you apply it to your school/program?)
Keep a Doc with your scholarship essays. Many scholarships have similar (or exactly the same) prompts. You can reuse your essays or slightly adjust them to fit the scholarship so you can save time and effort
KNOW WHEN THE DEADLINE IS! You don’t want to have everything ready for a scholarship and find that you missed the application deadline.
Does it need a letter of recommendation? If it does, you will need to ask a teacher/trusted adult (not a family member) for a letter. Generally, you will want to give the recommender 2 weeks notice for the letter.
Double, Triple check. Make sure you answer all parts of the scholarship/essay question. You also will want to check for mistakes/errors in your application.
Check your email! After submitting your application, sometimes scholarship committees will reach out to ask your further questions or clarification. Missing these inquiries will disqualify you from the scholarship.
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: Electrician
What is a Electrician?
- "Install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures. Ensure that work is in accordance with relevant codes. May install or service street lights, intercom systems, or electrical control systems." Quality Info
What level of Education do I need?
- The typical entry level education for this occupation is a High school diploma or equivalent. Those with a Postsecondary training (non-degree) have a competitive advantage in the labor market.
A certified apprenticeship may also provide competitive training, or may help complete required certification
What's the wage range look like? (Throughout all Oregon)
- $25.61 (10th percentile) - $57.47 (75th percentile)
- Average Annual: $94,652
What does the growth look like in 10 years?
- 10 year growth is projected to be 12.1%.Employment in this occupation in 2024 was much larger than most occupations across the state. The total number of job openings is projected to be much larger than most occupations in Oregon through 2034. This occupation is expected to grow at a somewhat 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
- Lane Community College
- Umpqua Community College
- Portland Community College (They have pre-trades options)
- Apprenticeship and Training Division
What are some other related fields?
- Lighting Technicians
- Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
- 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