College Prep: What LHES Seniors Need to Know
Now’s the time for LHES juniors and seniors to start taking steps toward achieving their post-graduation goals.
Whether they have their sights set on a mainland school, or island-hopping to attend college on Maui or Oahu, there’s much to be done in these next few months to ensure acceptance letters get delivered next spring.
With deadline after deadline piling up, keep tests, application paperwork and scholarship information in check with this handy prep guide:
What’s your number?
The majority of college applications require students to take standardized tests, the most common being the SAT and ACT.
Seniors may have already taken the SAT during their junior year, but if they haven’t — or if they are looking to improve their score — they can register online for an upcoming test date at LHES on Oct. 3, Nov. 7 or Dec. 5.
The ACT is offered less often, and LHES is not a designated test center, meaning students will need to travel to Maui to sit for the exam. The closest test center, Lahainaluna High School, is scheduled to hold its next exam on Feb. 6, 2016, while St. Anthony High School in Wailuku is still open to register online for exams on Oct. 24 and Dec. 12.
Don’t delay — you have just a few days to register for those October test dates.
Finding the right fit
Our students have a whole wide world of post-graduation opportunities to choose from. They may dream of studying in the big city, or wish to attend a two-year college, study a trade, join the military or enter the workforce.
Encourage your high schooler to visit the counselor’s office at LHES, where he or she can speak with guidance counselor Beth Conroy-Humphrey to narrow down options and determine a course of action.
If higher education is their primary goal, students should gather their applications and start working on materials—letters of recommendation, essays, etc. — now, as most will be due at the end of this year or early on in 2016. Linda Uehara and Marcie Uehara Herring at the college+career network are available to provide virtual assistance and advice on the application process.
Figure out financial aid
Scholarships can be awarded based on academics, extracurricular activities, volunteer work or interest in a particular field of study, among other requirements.
With so many opportunities available, every student is encouraged to seek out the right prospects to apply to. The Hawaii State Department of Education and U.S. Department of Labor have a search feature on their websites, and Federal Student Aid has more tips on where to look for scholarships.
Parents, learn more about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which can help your child fund his or her college education depending on financial need. Although the process can seem complicated, Herring and Uehara at college+career network can assist with common application questions by phone or email. Linda Uehara will be on island on Oct. 19–21, meeting with parents and students. Contact her soon to set up an appointment.
Contact college+career network:
Linda Uehara: 808-256-8468
Marcie Uehara Herring: 808-256-8472
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