• 2024 College Fair flyer

    Now it's really getting serious! College is right around the corner. Junior year is the year where you do some soul searching into what you want to do post HS. For most Junior year is the hardest year with all the core classes you are taking, starting your first Job, balancing your extra curricular activities all while trying to have a social life. It's time to start your research into which college you want to go to, what trade you want to do, or which branch of the miliary you want to inlist in. 

    My advice is Think Backwards, What are your Top 5 College options? Are they Local or are they out of State? Do you want to be close to home/family? What do you want to Study? Does that institution offer that Degree? How much will it cost? 

    Wue- Tuition Savings: We'd rather have you stay local, but If you are planning to go out of State, be sure to check out the WUE(Western Undergraduate Exchange) for a discounted out of State Tuition. Think, west coast states that neighbor Nevada. https://www.wiche.edu/tuition-savings/wue/

    Paying for College, Fafsa: Now that you are a Junior in HS, know what the Fafsa is and what it offers, and see if you qualify for Federal Student Aid. Know the Deadlines and Apply your Senior year.  https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

    Paying for College, Scholarships: Another way to pay for College is to apply for scholarships. It's time to Research and find the scholarships that you qualify for based on a number of factors including your GPA, your Ethnicity, Military Background, your desired Degree, and Financial Need basis. 

    My last words of advice for your Junior year is to reach out and set up an appointment to talk to an Advisor/recruiter from the College you'd like to attend to ask them specific questions on what have to offer there, you can find these on their webpage after you google/search the institution on the Web. If you'd like assistance, students, please come and see me in the Career Center or shoot me an email at gcabada@washoeschools.net. Parents, you can also search and add the 2022/2023 Damonte Ranch Parents group on Facebook to stay up to date on things your should know that are going on in the school. See you around! 

    Hopefully you created your academic resume freshman year to keep track of your accomplishments, and now you can update your Academic Resume as a Junior. This will be helpful in giving the resume to teachers, coaches, etc for letters of recommendation(give them at least 2 weeks). This resume should speed up the process in completing the Letter of Rec. If you would like help with Creating and updating your Resume, please reach out to Mr. Cabada via email gcabada@washoeschools.net. 

    Start applying for Scholarships Junior year, there are some out there, though most are done Senior year. 

    https://scholars.horatioalger.org/horatio-alger-scholarship-applications/ (Opens December 1- March 15.) 

    Horatio Alger Scholarship

    Top 150 Scholarships for High School Juniors to apply to

     

    My advice for Junior year regarding scholarships is to Start researching and making a list of scholarships you qualify for and will apply to Senior year. Be sure to include the title of the Scholarship, include opening dates and deadlines. You can also check out the Calendar here https://www.washoeschools.net/Page/6340#calendar14022/20230918/month to get an idea of how that works. 

    Hopefully we have already met by now, if not come and drop by the Career Center(across from the Counseling office, in Hausauer hallway)  to meet me so we can start planning what i have listed above. After we meet come and see me every other week so we can stay on track. 

     

    TO DO LIST:

    • Meet with your school counselor. Review your grades and discuss your graduation plans. Discuss your current GPA. Keeping in contact with your counselor is important because you will need a letter of recommendation from them next year.  It is easier to ask when you know them and it’s easier for them to write a personal letter when they know you too.
    • Now is the time, if you haven’t already, start paying attention to when colleges come to campus for visits.  Check out a few.  It does not commit you to applying, but it may give you better ideas about what is important to you and where you want to apply next year.
    • Start checking out some colleges on-line and request some information.
    • Take the ACT/SAT. If you don’t like how you did, consider taking it again. Study this time.
    • Start paying attention to the scholarship board for scholarships and essay contests that are open only to juniors.
    • Take a career interest survey. Take more than one.
    • Your classes will probably be tougher this year. Stay focused. Get some sleep and take your vitamins. For some college applications, these are the last grades that will show up on your applications to them.
    • Stay involved. If you have the time, say yes, instead of no.
    • Grab your list! Were you selected for any varsity sports? Have you started taking leadership roles in your clubs or student government? Were you awarded most argumentative for your persuasive essay? Did you solo the Star Spangled Banner at a swim meet? Did you take your club to State or Nationals? Were you the youngest participant that placed in a ROTC rifle competition? What about volunteering? What about after-school commitments?  How many hours a week are you spending on a job? This has become your activity resume!  This will be VERY helpful next year.
    • Make summer plans: visit colleges, consider finances, get a summer job, volunteer and make sure to take time to relax!