PHS College & Career Corner
September 2023
Counseling Department Changes
Fall brings excitement, the return of activities, and, often, a little bit of stress. It is important to remember to enjoy the present while planning for the future. Wherever your student is at in the process of developing their postsecondary path, the Penncrest Counseling Team is here to help!
There are a few changes to the department this school year. Mr. David Harple retired in the spring and we are grateful to him for his many contributions to Penncrest. Students who were previously on his caseload have been reassigned to our school counselors alphabetically by the student's last name:
Ms. Lori Rice-Spring: Grades 10-12: A, D-K
Ms. Karen Kerr: Grades 10-12: Ba-Bo, Ca-Ck, L-Q
Mrs. Helen Douglass-Garrett: Grades 10-12: Bp-Bz, Cl-Cz, R-Z
Mrs. Eaton: All 9th grade students
Ms. Cassandra Allen is joining us as the new College and Career Counselor. She will support students throughout their 4 years at Penncrest with exploring postsecondary opportunities, engaging with career exploration activities, and the entire college process from starting the search to selecting a school!
Examples of types of support include:
- Small group I/E College Application Help Workshops (details for how to signup outlined below!)
- Individual sessions to discuss finding the right fit, researching colleges, the recruiting process, exploring majors, career pathways, prospective jobs, and gap years
- Career speaker series
- Evening programming for Financial Aid, College Planning, and FAFSA Completion
- Classroom career lessons
Senior Year Do Now Tasks
- Visit the 12th Grade Counseling Schoology Page
- Review the College Applications and Information folder for all videos, forms, and directions for the application process
- Register for the SATs or ACTs if you are planning to take them one more time
- Remember that if you are sending scores to colleges, official reports must be sent directly through the College Board/ACT Student websites
- College Representative Visits in the Counseling Office
- Get organized
- Keep track of usernames, passwords, and deadlines
- Stay focused on your senior year classwork
- Attend College Applications Help Workshops during I/E sessions with Ms. Allen
- Stop down to the counseling office by the end of homeroom on Tuesday or Thursday morning sign up and pick up your pass
- Find your path
- If you are not sure where you want to go after high school, schedule an appointment with your counselor or Ms. Allen to discuss employment, gap years, and other opportunities!
The Importance of Colleges Visiting the High School
Penncrest is fortunate to have over 50 college admissions representatives visiting our high school in the month of September alone! These visits are invaluable opportunities for students to speak directly with someone from the admissions office who possesses a strong understanding of the college and its offerings, as well as the admissions process. Students should ask questions about academics, campus life, and areas of interest specific to them.
Explore Majors and Careers
My Favorite Career Search Tool: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/
