THE COLLEGE & CAREER PLANNING OFFICE (CCPO)
The role of the CCPO is
to support students in the post-secondary planning process,
including assistance with conducting college searches and
making college selections, completing college applications,
elements in the financial aid process, researching available
scholarships, as well as helping with career exploration
opportunities. The office is in Counseling Center North.
Students are permitted to eat/drink in the CCPO.
The CCPO is staffed by a counselor and is open several periods
a day. If students need assistance during a period when the
CCPO is closed, the CCPO counselor is located in Counseling
Center South. The office is open to students in grades 9,
10, 11, and 12. Appointments are scheduled during lunch,
study hall, or during a class, with written permission from
a teacher. Students may also request individual
appointments. To request an appointment please fill out an
appointment request form in Counseling Center South or
North. Parents of any LHS student may also visit the CCPO
during school hours. We encourage students to begin the
college planning process in ninth grade to allow the student
ample time to be well-prepared for the application season in
their senior year. We invite students to familiarize
themselves with the CCPO, by getting involved in the
following activities over the next few years.
9th Grade Suggested
Activities
-
Complete an
interest inventory to find a possible career: Career
Connections Interest Profiler using the website:
www.guidancedirect.com.
-
Explore job
descriptions. Search career information on O*Net online
http://www.onetonline.org/.
-
Learn about
potential openings in different fields:
http://www.bls.gov/oco/.
-
Create an account
on Method Test Prep to prepare for the PSAT/SAT or ACT
exams at
/cms/One.aspx?portalId=2549526&pageId=2797965.
-
Begin an Activity
Sheet.
-
Inquire about
community service opportunities.
-
Create a tentative
high school class plan for grades 10, 11 and 12.
-
Research summer
enrichment programs.
10th Grade
Suggested Activities
11th Grade
Suggested Activities
-
Sign up for the
free October PSAT exam in September.
-
Register for the
SAT and/or the ACT in the spring.
*Longwood
High School (C.E.E.B.) CODE: 331-478 *
-
Create an account
on College Board.com or ACT Student.org and learn all
you can about the SAT and ACT exams.
-
Set up an account
on Method Test Prep, in preparation for the SAT and/or
ACT.
-
Complete all of the
assignments/practice tests on Method Test Prep.
-
Do the Question of
the Day on CollegeBoard.com
http://sat.collegeboard.org/practice/sat-question-of-the-day.
-
Review your high
school class plan. Take the most difficult classes you
can handle. Stay focused on your schoolwork.
-
Draft a college
essay/personal statement for next year’s college
applications and scholarships.
-
Research
scholarships for 11th graders and identify scholarships
you can apply to as a senior.
-
Research possible
colleges and careers of interest.
-
Think about
teachers you can ask for letters of recommendations.
-
Visit open houses
and take an overnight trip to visit colleges.
-
Use the computers
to research local job opportunities and phone the
employers to set up an interview.
-
Get a job to earn
and save money for college, or explore your skills
through an internship or apprenticeship.
-
Prepare a resume
related to your potential career choice.
-
Research summer
programs.
-
Request materials
from schools that interest you and visit their websites.
12th Grade
Suggested Activities
-
Ask teachers,
counselors and others for letters of recommendations who
can comment on your abilities and talents. Provide them
with an Activity Sheet and a Self-Assessment Profile.
-
Register for the
SAT and/or the ACT in the fall.
*Longwood
High School (C.E.E.B.) CODE: 331-478 *
-
Work on Method Test
Prep by completing all of the assignments, quizzes, and
practice tests, in preparation for the SAT and/or ACT.
-
Select the schools
to which you will apply. Make a list of the deadlines
and application components for each school.
-
Speak to your Art
teachers regarding the development of a portfolio.
-
Finalize your
college essay/personal statement, based upon essay
written in your 12th grade English class.
-
Apply to colleges
in the fall of your senior year.
-
Apply for
scholarships, particularly in the spring semester.
-
Visit open houses.
-
Attend Financial
Aid Presentation, held in December, in the LHS Auditorium, to learn how to complete
the FAFSA Form and to understand the financial aid
process.
-
Apply for financial
aid by completing the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after January 1.
Your parents previous year's income tax information is
required.
-
Review your Student
Aid Report (SAR) for accuracy, after you receive same in
the spring.
-
Evaluate your
college acceptance letters and consider which offer to
accept.
-
Choose a college
and notify your counselor as to your choice as well as
any scholarships that you receive.