College and Career Planning

While Comparing Colleges Use this worksheet to help organize your thoughts on schools you are currently considering.
This is a helpful tool to stay organized and give you a graphic representation of what each school has to offer you!

College Comparison Worksheet 

• CollegeFairComparisonWorksheet

College Search Tool (click here) check out  https://www.scholarships.com/college-search

The College Selection Process can be described as having 4 main components:
Information, Preparation, Visitation, & Application.

 

1. PREPARATION:
Begin by prioritizing the factors is most important to you in a college. By prioritizing, you begin to develop a means for compromise, if necessary. Before you begin gathering information and speaking to colleges, ask yourself where and what you are willing to compromise on.

TO DO:

• Meet with counselor to discuss your grades & GPA. See how you compare to students enrolled.
• Ask for Advice on taking SAT Reasoning, SAT Subject Tests, & ACT
• Maintain academically rigorous schedule and good grades through 12th grade

2. INFORMATION
Once you have prioritized the factors that are important to you in a potential school play a simple game of matching. Research and visit schools that come the closest to your "ideal". Remember this is an involved process and you should use these factors that are a way of assessing your post-secondary options.

TO DO:

• Attend WCCC College Fair in September and/or Pittsburgh National College Fair in February.
• Use these sites to search for schools to visit:   
  • https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/find-colleges
  • https://www.niche.com/colleges/search/best-colleges/
  • https://new.cappex.com/register/matches
• Attend College Rep visits during your Junior & Senior years.

3. VISITATION
The campus visit is the most important way of assessing the school. Pay attention to your gut feelings while there. You may have 2 days excused from school during your Junior & Senior years. See the Guidance Office for the College Visitation Form.

TO DO:

• Make a lit of questions to ask during the visit
• Take an unofficial copy of your transcript with you on the visit
• Take a walking tour with a student guide and meet an admissions counselor and a Financial Aid Officer

4. APPLICATION
The Application component of the College Selection Process can be very involved. Gather the application and review this with your parents and counselor

TO DO:

• Consult with your counselor on an appropriate list of Reach, Realistic, & Safety Schools.
• Follow the instructions in pulling your application materials together!
• Know your deadline!

Plan Well: try to have all applications out by Thanksgiving of your Senior Year.


Questions to ask when visiting college:

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/questions-to-ask-on-a-college-visit
https://www.princetonreview.com/college-advice/questions-to-ask-on-a-college-tour

Scholarships - 2023-2024 - In Order by Deadline

 

GENERAL ARTHUR ST. CLAIR CHAPTER, Sons of the American Revolution – Knight Essay Contest – available to students in grades 9-12.  The topic of the essay must be an event, person, philosophy or ideal associated with the American Revolution, the Declaration of Independence, or the framing of the Constitution.  Each essay will be judged on its historical accuracy, clarity, organization, grammar, spelling, and documentation.  Contest rules and application are available in the Guidance Office.  Deadline is November 17, 2023.  Visit sar.org – George S. & Stella M. Knight Essay Contest – National Society Sons of the American Revolution.

 

WPGA – Western Pennsylvania Golf Association Scholarship Fund – this scholarship is renewable for up to four years or until graduation, whichever is shorter.  Students must maintain a 2.8 GPA per term to continue receiving the scholarship.  The total value is about $16,000 (over 4 years).  Application is available in the Guidance Office.  Deadline is November 30, 2023. 

 

THE AMERICAN LEGION OF PENNSYLVANIA SCHOLARSHIP AND CAMPS -   Deadlines vary. 

 

2024 High School Oratorical Scholarship Program – “A Constitutional Speech Contest,” open to students in grades 9 through12 – Contest information available at https://www.legion.org/oratorical. 

 

2024 PA American Legion 89^th Annual Essay Contest – “Why Is The 1^st Amendment Important In American?” – open to students in grades 9 through 12 – Contest information available at https://pa-legion.com/programs/student-and-youth/essay-program/. 

 

Elmer Hafer Youth Camp June 9-15, 2024 at Messiah University. For students age 15-17 interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement or the military.  This is not a recreational camp.  Additional information available at https://pa-legion.com/programs/student-and-youth/state-police-youth-week-program/ 

 

Keystone Boys State Camp June 16-22, 2024 at Messiah University. Leadership training and Civics experience open to Junior Boys (grade 11).  Application for this camp available at https://pa-legion.com/programs/student-and-youth/keystone-boys-state-program/. 

 

THE HAGAN SCHOLARSHIP – a nationwide need-based merit scholarship, providing recipients with the opportunity to graduate debt-free.  The scholarship provides $7,500 each semester for up to eight (8) consecutive semesters.  Eligibility:  must be US citizen; must attend a traditional public high school located in the US that is governed by a school district; must have a 3.5 cumulative GPA; must enroll at an eligible 4-year college or university following high school graduation; must work 240 hours from January 1, 2024, until commencement of 2024 fall semester in college.  Work must be regularly scheduled employment performed under supervision for compensation.  Additional financial information and application available at www.hsfmo.org.  Deadline is December 1, 2024.

 

RAISEME MICRO-SCHOLARSHIPS - Our Mission:  At RaiseMe, we’re expanding access to higher education so that every student has a shot at the American Dream.  RaiseMe is a social enterprise focused on expanding access to higher education, especially among low income and first-generation students. Rather than waiting until the end of high school to earn scholarships, which is often too late to impact a student's college ambitions or choices, RaiseMe enables students to earn scholarships throughout high school, starting as early as 9th grade, for doing all the things that best prepare them to succeed, whether that’s getting good grades, volunteering in the community, or joining an extracurricular.  "RaiseMe enables students to earn scholarships throughout high school, starting as early as 9th grade..."  Visit https://www.raise.me/ for more information. 

 

BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY 2023-2024 DREAM…INNOVATE…GROW SCHOLARSHIP – Three - $1,000 renewable scholarships for four years (equaling $4,000 total).  To be eligible, the applicant must be a high school senior and plan to attend a college, university, or trade school in the fall of 2023.  Recipients of the scholarships are eligible for renewal for up to four total years, provided the student maintains a cumulative 3.25 GPA; making the value of this scholarship worth $4,000.  Additional information and application available in the Guidance Office and Class of 2024 Teams.  Deadline is March 1, 2024.

 

NATIONAL ITALIAN AMERICAN SPORTS HALL OF FAME – Scholarships will be awarded to four very deserving 2024 high school graduating student athletes.  The award consists of $4,000 is scholarships funds, awarded as $1,000 per year for four years provided the recipients successfully complete full-time course leads each semester.  The criteria are as follows:  high academic achievement; financial need; athletics at varsity level; June 2024 graduate.  Additional information and application available in the Guidance Office and Class of 2024 Teams.  Deadline is March 1, 2024.

 

DOROTHY STAFFORD SCHOLARSHIP FOR NURSING AND/OR THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS – $1,500 awarded to GSHS student attending Westmoreland County Community College (WCCC) for Nursing or other Health Profession programs.   If a GSHS senior does not apply or is not eligible for the Dorothy Stafford Scholarship, a GSHS Alumni may apply.  Applicant must have a GPA of 2.5 or higher; must be accepted into the Nursing or Health Profession Program at WCCC.  Additional information and application available in the Guidance Office and Class of 2024 Teams.

 

LIVE SURVEY LINK-GREENSBURG SALEM SCHOLARSHIP- Annual - $1000 scholarship

Requirements:  Must be GS Senior Student of 17 years or older on date of application; Must be planning to attend a college or vocational school; Must be a student currently receiving special education services and/or a student going into the education field.  Students apply via survey link - DEADLINE: April 15, 2024  https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7572432/Scholarship-Application

 

 

 

Student athletes must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center to be eligible to play NCAA Division I or II sports in college. Athletes playing in Division III do not have to register. The NCAA Eligibility Center certifies whether prospective college athletes are eligible to play sports at NCAA Division I or II institutions. It does this by reviewing the student-athlete's academic record, SAT or ACT scores, and amateur status to ensure conformity with NCAA rules.

The NCAA recommends that student-athletes register at the beginning of their junior year in high school, but many students register after their junior year. There is no registration deadline, but students must be cleared by the Eligibility Center before they receive athletic scholarships or compete at a Division I or II institution.

You are eligible for a registration fee waiver if you have received a waiver of the SAT or ACT fee. This is not the same as a U.S. state voucher. You must have an authorized high school official submit your fee waiver documentation online after you complete your registration.


NCAA Freshman Eligibiltiy Standards Quick Reference Sheet:

Quick_Reference_Sheet
 

NCAA Eligibility Registration Website:

NCAA Eligibility Center
 

How to Register for NCAA Eligibility: 

2016_How_to_Register_20161101