Maple Heights High School Guidance Department
5445 West Boulevard t Maple Heights, Ohio 44137 t (216) 438-6400
Gretchen Tucker-See, Counselor
Vince Sztul, Counselor
Amber Rahas, Freshman Counselor
The School Counseling Staff at Maple Heights High School assists students with educational planning, college and career counseling, and personal development. Appointments with the counselors are available by contacting them using the information below or students may complete an appointment request form, available in their Community Office.
Vince Sztul Community S2C Ext. 1321
Gretchen Tucker-See Community A3 Ext. 1331
Amber Rahas Freshman Acad. Ext. 1341
Table of Contents for School Counseling Department
¶Additional Services / ¶Calendar / ¶Career Planning¶College Planning / ¶Informational Links / ¶Scholarships and Financial Aid
¶Admission Requirements for Ohio’s Public Universities / ¶Scheduling/Planning Sheets, 2011-12
¶Scholarship Bulletin #1 2013 / ¶Scholarship Bulletin #2 2013
High School Counselors
· Provide direct counseling services to students individually and in support groups.
· Advise students on academic planning.
· Provide career guidance to students.
· Provide education and support services to parents.
· Provide career information to parents.
· Provide consultation services to teachers.
· Facilitate referrals to community support services.
· Maintain an up-to-date library of career and post-secondary school information.
· Network with post-secondary schools.
· Are here to listen and much more!
High school is a time when students begin to discover what the future holds for them. With a comprehensive developmental counseling program, students can receive accurate information, concrete experiences and successful planning to take the steps necessary to become productive, contributing members of society. Together, professional school counselors, parents, teachers, and the community can provide the most effective support for young people.
Last updated: 12/3/11
Additional Services
Individual Counseling
School Counselors provide individual counseling to assist students with educational planning, college and career counseling, and personal development. Appointments may be made in the Community Office by completing a request form. We can also refer to our Applewood Counselor in the building to meet with students on a more regular basis for mental health counseling.
Group Counseling
A variety of groups will be made available for MHHS students. Groups will be developed based on the needs presented to the counseling staff by the students and staff.
Calendar
Please look at the planners listed below so you can be sure you are completing all necessary steps for high school graduation and college acceptance.
FRESHMAN PLANNER
FALL
· Welcome to Maple Heights High School!
· Get Involved! Join a school club or sport.
WINTER
· Become involved in community service and other volunteer activities.
· Keep your grades up.
· Select your courses for next year. Talk with teachers about your course selections. Check with your counselor to be sure your chosen courses are preparing you for college entry.
SPRING
· Continue to explore your interests and careers you think you might like.
· Ask your English teacher for a summer reading list.
Sophomore PLANNER
September
· Get involved with a school club or sport. Volunteer to take a leadership position.
· Participate in volunteer/community service activities.
October
· Take the PLAN (ACT Practice Test) on October 12, 2011.
November
· Visit Web sites for advice on test taking and general college entrance requirements.
December
· Presentation from Vocational Program Instructors which offers students a variety of career and technical education programs during their junior and senior years.
January
· Discuss your PLAN results with your counselor.
· Post Secondary Enrollment Option meeting on January 11, 2012.
February
· Select courses for next year. Talk with teachers about your course selections. Check with your counselor to be sure your chosen courses are preparing you for college entry. If appropriate, challenge yourself with AP/Honor courses.
March
· Consider applying for a summer program at a college, designed to introduce high school students to college majors/courses.
· View college/career Web sites.
· Take the Ohio Graduation Tests, March 12-16, 2012.
April
· Think about careers you might enjoy, and contact people doing these jobs. See if you can shadow them during spring or summer break.
· Look for summer employment or volunteer opportunities.
May/June
· Ask your English teacher for a summer reading list.
July/August
· Read, Read, Read!
· Continue investigating careers by talking to parents' friends or friends' parents. Visit workplaces when possible.
· Talk to college friends about their college experiences.
· Volunteer!
junior PLANNER
September
· Get off to a good start in the classroom.
October
· Take the PSAT/NMSQT on October 12, 2011.
· Meet with College Admissions Representatives who are visiting MHHS. Sign up with your Counselor in your Community Office.
· College information meeting in auditorium on October 6, 2011.
November
· Explore StudentEdge.com Search for colleges, careers, and scholarships. Click on “New User” and then enter the access code of “SLTBMXSU”.
December
· Explore college Websites to see what colleges have your intended major and fit your interests.
January
· Post Secondary Enrollment Informational meeting on January 11, 2012. Gain college credits while in high school.
February
· Start looking through college catalogs and guidebooks. Put together a list of schools you would like to visit.
· Select senior year class schedule with your counselor.
· Take the free ACT on February 11, 2012.
March
· Register for the April ACT test by March 9, 2012.
· Talk with your parents and counselor about colleges.
· Finalize schedule for senior year.
April
· Visit colleges during Spring Break.
· Take the ACT on April 14, 2012.
May
· Ask your English teacher for the summer reading list.
· Register for the June ACT test by May 4, 2012
· Take the SAT on May 5, 2012.
· Continue to search college catalogs and websites.
· Have your Senior Service Learning Project approved by your Advisor Teacher
June
· Take the SAT June 2, 2012.
· Take the ACT June 9, 2012.
· Read a variety of books and review your math skills over the summer.
· Obtain a summer job that relates to your career interests.
· Volunteer!
· Schedule summer college visits.
July/August
· Read, Read, Read!
· Save money from your summer job for college.
· Continue to visit colleges.
· Look forward to your senior year!
· Sign up to take the September ACT by August 4, 2012
senior PLANNER
September
· Parents and Student need to meet with School Counselor for Senior Interview to verify graduation and discuss college/career plans.
· Consider volunteering and community service.
· Obtain college applications.
· Sign up to take the October ACT test by September 16, 2011.
October
· Take the ACT on October 22, 2011.
· College information meeting in Auditorium on October 6, 2011
· Meet with College Admissions Representatives who are visiting MHHS. Sign up with Ms. Tucker-See in the Community A3 Office.
· Visit your top college choices.
November
· Review college essays with an English teacher.
· Submit college applications BEFORE Thanksgiving break.
· Review scholarship bulletins in your community office.
· Submit Senior Service Learning Project Proposal to Advisory Teacher
December
· Begin getting pin number for parents and student for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
· Attend Financial Aid Night – “Completing the FAFSA”, December 15, 2011
· Pay Senior Dues
January
February
· Request to send mid-year transcripts, if necessary.
March
· Look for your Student Aid Report if you completed the FAFSA.
· Explore interests. Volunteer or work in a field you are considering.
April
· Decide which college to attend and send in required deposit.
· Prepare for AP Exams.
May
· Take AP Exams, if appropriate.
· Senior Honors and Awards Night
June
· Commencement, June 5, 2012.
· Complete Senior Exit Survey and final transcript request on day of commencement practice.
· Look forward to a great summer and future!
Career Planning
Computer Searches for Career Information
Studentedge.com helps MHHS students find detailed descriptions of hundreds of occupations. Students can generate a list of occupations that use their skills, abilities, and interests. You can click on “New User” then enter access code of “SLTBMXSU” to get started.
Career-Technical Interests
Maple Heights High School and Bedford High School offer career-technical education programs for our students. Some of the two-year programs are Cosmetology, Marketing, Business Tech, Auto Tech, Home Improvement, Cisco Networking, Health Science and Media Arts. Every student will be given a tour and information on these programs in December. Students must express interest for these programs when scheduling classes for 11th grade.
College Planning
College Planning
· Testing Schedule
· College Application Procedure
o Electronic Application
o Paper Application
o Helpful Hints
· NCAA Clearinghouse
· College Fairs
· College Night
· College Representatives
· Searching for Colleges?
· Test Preparation Information
· Post Secondary Enrollment Options Program (PSEOP)
· Challenge Yourself: Take Advanced Placement (AP) Courses
Testing Schedule
Maple Heights HIGH SCHOOL CODE: #363190; Testing Site # 223230
ACT ( http://www.actstudent.org )
College-bound juniors are encouraged to take the ACT Assessment during the spring of their junior year. This test is widely used in the state of Ohio for college admission. The ACT Assessment measures academic skills in English, reading, math, and science reasoning. The Writing Test, which is optional, measures skill in planning and writing a short essay. Test fee is $34 (plus writing $49), late fee is $21. Students who receive free or reduced lunches are eligible for two ACT fee waivers. We recommend each student take the writing portion of the ACT at least once.
2011-2012 ACT Testing InformationACT TEST DATE / REGULAR DEADLINE / LATE FEE REQUIRED
September 10 / August 12 / August 13-26
October 22 / September 16 / September 17-30
December 10 / November 4 / November 5-18
February 11 / January 13 / January 14-20
April 14 / March 9 / March 10-23
June 9 / May 4 / May 5-18
SAT ( http://www.collegeboard.com ) High School code #363190; Testing site #36452
The SAT Reasoning Test (formerly SAT I: Reasoning Test) is used along with a student’s high school record and other information to assess competence for college work. College-bound juniors usually take this test during the spring of the junior year. This test measures critical reading, writing and mathematical reasoning skills. The test fee is $49, late fee is an additional $21. Students who receive free or reduced lunches are eligible for two SAT fee waivers.
2011-2012 SAT Testing InformationSAT TEST DATE / REGULAR DEADLINE / LATE FEE REQUIRED
October 1 / September 9 / September 10-21
November 5 / October 7 / October 8-21
December 3 / November 8 / November 9-20
January 28 / December 30 / December 31-January 13
March 10 / February 10 / February 11-24
May 5 / April 6 / April 7-20
June 2 / May 8 / May 9-22
PSAT/NMSQT
Test Date: Wednesday, October 12, 2011. PSAT/NMSQT stands for Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The PSAT/NMSQT is recommended for juniors planning on attending a four-year college program. By taking the PSAT/NMSQT students may practice for the SAT, enter scholarship competitions, request colleges to send them information, and find out if they have the academic skills needed to succeed in college. The PSAT/NMSQT measures critical reading skills, math problem-solving skills, and writing skills.
PLAN
Test Date: Saturday, October 12, 2011. The PLAN test is a helpful tool for college-bound sophomores. This test provides the student with an idea of how they may perform on the ACT assessment, which is used for college admission. In addition to gauging academic achievement, the PLAN provides information for educational and career planning. The PLAN measures academic skills in English, reading, math, and science reasoning.
College Application Procedure
Electronic Application
Most colleges prefer online applications and some colleges will waive the admission fee if you apply online. The application fee is usually charged to a credit card. Students will need to bring the following to the School Counseling Office:
1. MHHS Transcript Release Form – Parent signature required if student is under 18. (It is the student’s responsibility to request that their high school transcript be sent to the college. Your admission decision will be delayed if you forget to request the transcript.)
Allow 5 days for processing!
Paper Application
Students will need to bring the following to their School Counselor’s Office:
1. Application
2. College Application fee
3. MHHS Transcript Release Form-parent signature required if student is under 18
4. Teacher recommendations/ essays (if required)
Allow 5 days for processing!
Helpful Hints
1. APPLY EARLY! The MHHS Counseling Department recommends that your college applications be completed by Thanksgiving!
2. Make the application neat. Type or apply online for a more professional looking application.
3. Check to see that all information is correct-name, social security number, etc. Proof spelling. Make sure you signed the application or it will be returned.
4. Give teacher and counselors 1 week minimum to complete applications/ recommendations. There will be no guarantee that applications will be submitted to meet deadlines if received with less time.
5. Be sure everything is completed and turned in at one time. Missing or incomplete information may delay an acceptance decision.
6. Many applications are available in the School Counseling Office located in the Media Center. Applications may also be downloaded from college web sites.
7. College visitation is helpful in the decision-making process. A College Visitation Request Form must be completed two days prior to the scheduled visit. Forms are available in your Community Office.
8. The ultimate inspiration is the deadline!
NCAA Clearinghouse (http://www.ncaaclearinghouse.net )
This site provides information about initial eligibility at NCAA Division I and II member colleges and universities.