Seniors Going to College - How Far Along Are You?

We are now into November.  Any senior planning on going to college should be started with the process. If not, TODAY is the day to get started.  Below is a checklist of things that should be done or at least underway by now.

• Investigate colleges and possible majors to find a good fit. (See your counselor if you are struggling with this step.)
• Visit colleges (It is important to see if a specific college is a good fit for you.)
• Apply to colleges (All applications can be found on the colleges' websites.)
• Complete FAFSA (Please complete ASAP. You do not want to lose out on money that will be gone if you wait. FAFSA is mandatory this year for graduation.)
• Look for scholarship (Check out Scholarship link to the right and the Off to College Guide for more links to great scholarship websites.)

Check out your account on Naviance.com to update your college page. This will help your counselor send out materials in a timely fashion.

Transferology - How Will Your Classes Transfer?

Are you taking college classes this year? Curious as to how they will transfer to your prospective schools? Check out transferology.com! You will need to create an account consisting of your name, email address, and password, but you will then be able to enter your current school and classes to compare them to credits you will earn at your next school. This is a great way to check out how your credits can check off graduation requirements before entering your four year university.

College Applications - Hurry Hurry Hurry

The College Application process is underway and seniors should be applying. There are a lot of steps to navigate so it is important that the process get started.  

Each school has different deadlines and requirements for needed items. Be sure to check with each school to verify that you have the correct information. November 1st is a deadline for several schools, so check these out soon!

If you have any questions or need to clear any confusion, please see your counselor as soon as possible.  We will try our best to help with any questions regarding applications, common app, Naviance, or even FAFSA.

IVC Spring Dual Credit Classes

 

IVC is partnering with ICC to give our juniors and seniors a chance at earning college credit at a discounted price. Classes available are:

-- ART 110 Art Appreication
-- ENGL 110 Composition I
-- ENGL 111 Composition II
-- MATH 110 Concepts of Mathematics
-- MATH 111 General Statistics
-- PSY 110 Introduction to Psychology
-- SOC 110 An Introduction to Sociology
-- BUS 110 Introduction to Business
                                                             -- HLTH 121 Medical Terminology

If you have any interest in taking any of these classes, all of which are held virtually, please contact your counselor ASAP or call IVC Guidance and 274-5481 x2. The deadline to enroll is Friday, October 30th.

How To Write a Personal Statement

On October 14th at 2 pm, the admissions rep from U of I - Springfield is conducting a How to Write an Outstanding Personal Statement webinar. With so many schools going test-optional this year the personal statement is more important than ever before. This is geared toward any student who is thinking about going to college, not just students looking to attend University of Illinois Springfield.

There are limited spots available for this webinar. It is only being offered to students from the Peoria area at this time. Students can sign up to participate with the link below:

https://apply.uis.edu/register/?id=e84aba92-3033-403d-b113-e0a196f128b5

Virtual College Week - Up and Going

Virtual college week has begun. There is still time to sign up.  Scroll down this blog for a complete line-up of schools attending. There has been a great turnout from the students. University of IL - Champaign, for example, had 16 seniors attend their virtual visit today.

$500 Up for Grabs to an IVC Student

One IVC student will walk away with $500 in this year's Voice of Democracy Contest sponsored by our local VFW. Students need to create a 3-5 minute oral essay. The competition is open to all IVC students. The winning submission from IVC will move on to the state competition. Last year's winner Reese Hankins finished 10th in State.

Topic: Is This the Country the Founders Envisioned?
Grades: 9-12
Top Prize: $500
Second Prize: $200
Due Date: October 30th
For more details: Entry forms may be picked up from any counselor, English teacher or social studies teacher.

Basically students will need to write an essay and then turn it to an audio file. It is actually quite simple. The teachers at the high school use many different programs to save audio. Students should ask their English teacher if they are unsure what program to use.

Link to Rules/Application

Financial Aid Presentation

Financial Aid Presentation

Last night was the Financial Aid Presentation hosted by Brady, our ISAC representative.  Almost 30 people attended the virtual event. Great turnout. For those who were not able to attend, we have attached the slide portion of that presentation.

Click here for presentation

College Rep Virtual Week is set!

This is the list of colleges that will be visiting IVC virtually during the week of Oct. 5-9.
Students will be called to the library to participate in this first-ever, week-long event. 

Click on the picture to see an enlarged list and QR code to sign up (or Click Here).

OPEN TO PARENTS ALSO!

College Isn't For Everyone - Week 2

College isn't for everyone...How about a career in the skilled trades? Each week we will be featuring a 2 minute video created by Dirty Jobs' Host Mike Rowe which hopefully sheds a bright light on the skilled trades.

The topic this week... The Myth that Trade Jobs are Dead End Jobs

Helpful Website for Teens

The State of Illinois is unveiling a new website for teens and younger kids. Safe2Help Illinois is designed to encourage students to get help and help others with important issues such bullying, abuse, depression, self-injury and suicidal thoughts.

The website not only provides teens with information about these topics but, more importantly, gives them concrete ideas about how to move forward, including ways to get help.

U of I - Program Explorer Tool

Before students apply to U of I, they are encouraged to check out the Program Explorer tool.

For each major at U of I, the Program Explorer tool provides a brief description, what graduates do with the degrees, how much the program costs, graduation and retention rates, related majors, and more.

Students can also take a self-assessment to discover which of the majors relate to their interests, explore majors by Holland type, and compare majors side by side.

Since students are admitted by major at UIUC, this tool is especially important to those applying. Hopefully this tool will help them make an informed decision on prospective major.

College Isn't For Everyone

College isn't for everyone...How about a career in the skilled trades? We will be featuring a weekly video created by Dirty Jobs' Host Mike Rowe which hopefully sheds a bright light on the skilled trades.

Click below for a list of skilled trade careers that do not require a four year degree.

Get the most out of Khan Academy and SAT - and it's FREE

 

Are you looking for ways to prepare for SAT? It is less than a month away seniors (Oct. 14th) and will be used for many scholarship opportunities later in the year.  It is so simple to link your PSAT scores with Khan Academy to get a personalized study plan for the SAT. The video above explains.

For those who did not take the PSAT, Khan Academy is still a great way to prepare for the SAT.  

Illinois Colleges with No Application Fees

Some colleges are offering no application fees for up to the whole year. That means it will cost you $0 to apply to these colleges. You can't beat that deal.

Augustana College 
Aurora University
Bradley University
Eastern IL University - No fee until Oct. 15th
Elmhurst College
Eureka College
Illinois College
Illinois Wesleyan University
McKendree University
Millikin University
Monmouth College
Northern IL University
Rockford University 
Southern IL - Carbondale - No fee until October 31st
Southern IL - Edwardsville - No fee from Oct 5-16

College for Free - It's Possible

SIU Carbondale is now offering the Saluki Commitment. The Saluki Commitment is their pledge that all students who meet certain criteria are guaranteed that tuition and mandatory fees will be fully covered for eight consecutive semesters at no cost to students or families.

Recipients must meet all of the following criteria:

• Be a first-time incoming freshman enrolling full-time in the fall 2021 semester or later
• Have a cumulative high school GPA of 2.75 or higher
• Have an annual family income less than $63,575 with assets less than $50,000 based on the FAFSA
• Be an Illinois resident who attended an Illinois high school
• Be a dependent student under age 24
• Be eligible for Federal financial aid

How to qualify (and stay qualified):

• Have a current FAFSA on file by December 1
• Apply for admission by March 1
• Enroll in a four-year degree program at SIU Carbondale
• Stay enrolled full-time for eight consecutive fall and spring semesters
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress in order for the commitment to be renewed

Illinois State Universities - At A Glance

State Universities - Summaries At a Glance

This document provides a summary of minimum high school course requirements for admission of freshman to Illinois public universities. That includes course requirements, foreign language requirements, admissions requirements, application filing dates, and tuition and fees.

State Universities - Majors At a Glance

This document provides a summary of majors at Illinois public universities.

Golden Apple Scholarship Program

 For those students interested in teaching!!

Golden Apple Scholarship Application and Info - Click Here
Priority Deadline: December 15, 2020

Awesome Virtual College Fairs - Start This Weekend

It's Free! It's Easy! It's Awesome!

 

What a great way to learn about colleges without leaving the comfort of your home.  The National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC) will begin a series of virtual college fairs this weekend.

 

--- Sunday, September 13    11:00 - 7:00

--- Monday, October 12       12:00 - 8:00

--- Sunday, October 18         11:00 - 7:00

--- Sunday, November 8        1:00 - 9:00 

 

More than 600 colleges will be in attendance, over 25 from IL. Registration is simple. Go to virtualcollegefairs.org. 

 

 -- Meet with colleges -- 

 -- Watch videos of daily life -- 

-- See a fly over of the campus --

Click here or on the flyer for more info!

OFF TO COLLEGE Guide

The brand new Off to College Guide is out for the 2020-21 school year. It covers the ins and outs of the college exploration and application process. Since things have changed a bit because of the covid situation, we felt that the earlier this packet comes out, the better. The counseling department will be creating a video for the seniors which will cover the most important points of the guide. To view the guide, click here.

Senior Parents - FAFSA Completion Now Required

More information will soon be coming out about the new law requiring the filling out of FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) by high school seniors and parents. IVC will conduct a number of FAFSA workshops throughout the year to help families through the process.  The FAFSA is used when determining the amount of aid that a student can receive while attending post-secondary schooling. The following article explains the rationale behind the new law.

(Excerpt taken from chicago.chalkbeat.org)

To help pave the way to college, a new state law will require Illinois high school seniors to complete an application for federal student aid in order to graduate.

The new law allows families to sign a waiver, for those not wanting to complete the application.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the law to nudge more students to access federal dollars for their post-secondary plans, whether they’re paying for college or vocational schools.

“This law will help give students the freedom to choose the pathway that’s best for them – not the path they’re forced down because nobody gave them the information to explore their options,” Pritzker said in a statement. “My administration will do everything in our power to make college an option for any student who wants that opportunity.”

SAT Coming Up in October

What: State SAT test
Who: All Seniors
When: Wednesday, October 14th
Where: IVC High School (possible other location for remote learners TBA)
Cost: Free

The state mandated SAT test will be taking place next month for all seniors at IVC. This test is a graduation requirement. Although many colleges and universities are going test optional for the current class of high school seniors, it is important that the students do their best on this test. It has the possibility of increasing chances at successful admissions and boost their opportunities at earning scholarships for college and/or trade schools.  For free SAT testing strategies and practice tests, check out www..khanacademy.org/.  

College 101 Presentation

College 101 Presentation

Seniors were given the opportunity to hear a presentation yesterday morning about the basics of life after high school. The main portion of the presentation focused on the many components of the college exploration process and different options available to the students. A PDF version of the presentation will give you an idea of what was discussed. It does not have any audio but it does have many tips, links and other important info for any student planning on heading off to college.

College 101 Presentation

Attention SENIOR PARENTS: Some Important Parent Dates

Obviously Co-vid has changed a lot of things at the high school.  The counseling department will be doing our best to keep the parents and students informed about everything. Listed below are our parent events.

Below is a list of important dates this year with a short description of each. We encourage parents to attend as many of these programs as possible. For more info on any of them, please call (309) 274-5481 x3217.

All of these presentations will be available online after they are completed.

Off to College Parent Breakfast  (IN PERSON) 

Friday, Sept 18th 8:00 a.m. - IVC Auditorium 

Limit 45 people (please call Shana Placher at 274-5481 x3217 to reserve a spot)
This is our 13th year offering an Off to College Breakfast. The breakfast will cover the application process, some of the ins and outs of college, tips for parents, and more. The program lasts about 45-60 minutes.

(Click below to see the rest of the dates)

Colleges Visiting IVC in 2020

Each year, over 20 colleges visit IVC to meet with prospective students. Because of Covid-19, that plan will look a little different this year.  Starting very soon, we will begin having Admission Reps from schools meet with the students, but it will all take place virtually.  We will compile a list of virtual meetings. Students will be allowed to join these visits on their Chromebooks at the designated times.

Positives

• Students who are remote learning will also be able to join these visits. 
• There is no reason a parent couldn't also join in, listen to the presentation, and ask any pertinent questions.
• We will be able to host more colleges since travel for the Admission Reps is not involved.

More information will soon be coming out with a complete list of virtual meetings.  

Juniors - PSAT TEST - Sign Up Now

What:  PSAT/NMSQT Test

Who: Open to any junior

When:  October 14th

The PSAT/NMSQT is a great way to preview and practice for the SAT. It will test the same skills and knowledge as the SAT. When you get your test results, connect your College Board and Khan Academy®accounts to get free personalized SAT study recommendations.

In addition, when you take the PSAT/NMSQT, you’re automatically screened for the National Merit® Scholarship Program, an academic competition for recognition and scholarships.

There are only 35 spots available. You can sign up with Mrs. Placher in the guidance office. The test will cost $17.00. Checks can be made out to IVC. Payment must be received before test day. We will test on October 14th, 2020 at 8:00 am.

How The Coronavirus Has Upended College Admissions

 The coronavirus has certainly wreaked havoc to this year's college admissions process.  This story appeared on NPR recently.  It details the situation very well with a well rounded explanation and tips for parents and students. Available as a 7 minute audio clip or article.

NPR Story on Admissions

Welcome to Parchment - What is it?

Parchment is the electronic transcript site that makes sending transcripts simple. It is completely free for all students currently in high school. The best part...it takes about 2 minutes to go on the site and request a transcript. The counselors then click an approve button and the colleges have the transcript. It is the only way that transcripts will be sent to colleges, universities, NCAA, etc.

Reminder to seniors: You must register using the email that was sent to your school email from Parchment. Registration takes about 5-10 minutes but will only need to be done once. After you are registered, ordering transcripts couldn't be simpler.

Note to Parents: The student must sign up for Parchment using the link to his/her school email address. Any accounts using other email addresses will not work because the account will not be properly linked to our school. Please encourage the students to set up the account as soon as possible. It is the only way transcripts will be sent.

Meet The Counseling Department

Mrs. Placher - This is Mrs. Placher's 5th year running the show in the Counseling Department.  She is the Admissions Director, Registrar, Administrative Assistant, and more.  She basically is in charge of everything, lol. When in doubt, ask Mrs. Placher.  Fun fact...The Placher family recently got another puppy, named Hazel. Also, her son Gunnar just enlisted in the Army.

Mr. Kosinski - Mr. K is the counselor for students whose last name begins with the letters A-K.  This is his 20th year at IVC, making him old.  He is in charge of all of the retreats. Hopefully we will be having some this year. He also takes a group of students to Michigan each summer to work on a Native American Reservation. Fun fact...Mr. K's daughter Becky recently got engaged.

Mrs. Davis - Mrs. Davis is the counselor for students whose last name begins with the letters L-Z.  This is her 8th year at IVC.  She is an IVC alumnus, class of 2006.  While not at IVC, she spends most of her time loving on her puppy (even though he's 5) and 14 month old son James.  Fun fact...she has the soul of a 90 year old lady. She enjoys crocheting, crossword puzzles, and Murder She Wrote.

Ms. Lee - Ms. Lee is the counselor for students with IEPs and 504s. This is also her 8th year at IVC.  She lives in the tiny town of Manito, but we won't hold that against her.  She is a huge fan of positive energy.  Her 3 1/2 yr old twins, Georgia and Avery, are absolutely adorable.  Fun fact...Ms. Lee has her own YouTube Show, Angie's Action Kitchen. 

Welcome to the School Year

As odd as this school year is going to be, we are so happy to see everyone back!! Things will look a little difference in the Guidance Department. Many of the assemblies and parent nights will have to be virtual. Thankfully we will still be able to do some in person.  We will be making a commitment this year to getting all of the typical information out to students and parents in a variety of ways such as emails, videos, this blog and others.  

Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you are needing information about anything.