Senior Newsletter

The College Application Process

The start of senior year signals the beginning of the college application process.  Seniors who are planning on attending a four-year college or university must get started on their college applications as soon as possible in the fall.   We are asking that students wait to create a common app account or apply directly to a university until we return in the fall and walk through the process with them.  We highly recommend that students have all of their applications complete and submitted by the end of October to ensure their greatest chance of acceptance into the schools of their choice.  There are four main steps a student will need to take to apply to a college.

1. Complete the application online at the college or university website or by using the Common Application online.  (please wait until you return in the fall to start, as we will have a new process for college applications using Naviance).

2. Send your official HHS transcript to the colleges you are applying to, transcripts will be requested using the student's Naviance account. 

3. Many schools are test-optional, if you plan to send your official test scores to colleges please do so by using the SAT or ACT score-sending services. Register for SAT or ACT at least a full month in advance if you plan to retake it.

4. Let your counselor know if you need a counselor recommendation form or letter of recommendation completed. **Please note: Counselors will not be able to complete recommendations during the new semester drop/add period. 

Many college applications require student essay submissions. We strongly urge students to begin working on these essays in the summer without the pressures of coursework and school activities. The fall is an excellent time to have someone proofread these essays.

Financial Aid Information

Families can start the FAFSA application anytime after October 1.  It is important that you fill out the FAFSA whether you believe you are eligible for aid or not, and for both 4 year and community colleges.  Your student’s college financial aid office will use this to determine any scholarships, grants and loans. 

Naviance

Naviance is a secondary/post-secondary planning tool to help direct student’s educational plans and career planning activities. By matching students to colleges based on students’ interests and goals, and comparing admissions rates at students’ top college choices, the Naviance college planning tools allow students and families to make informed decisions. Naviance helps students find their best-fit higher education institution.

Naviance Login Instructions:

1. Go to: https://student.naviance.com/hollandhs
2. At the bottom click “LOGIN WITH CLEVER”
3. Enter School Name - Holland High School
4. Log in with Google
5. Choose your Holland Public Schools account and sign in -- it should automatically log you in, if it doesn’t log in you can use your HPS username and password.  

Naviance helps high school students:

• Understand their strengths, preferences, and skills with career opportunities that may match.

• Explore high school specific college admissions stats

• Match to best-fit colleges

• Identify ideal college majors

• Participate in virtual college visits

Naviance Tasks Important for Seniors to Complete:

• Career Cluster Finder

• Career Interest Profile

• Supermatch College Search

• Senior Goals

Naviance Colleges:

• Students will be able to identify colleges they are interested in and applying to

• Manage transcript requests

• Request letters of recommendation

• Sign up for college rep visits

SAT and ACT Testing

Rising seniors took the SAT at school during April of their junior year, but may like to take it again to improve their scores. A student may also like to take the ACT to see if their skills show better on that assessment. Advanced registration, at least a month before the test date, is required for all testing on the testing websites (see websites below to sign up).  Fee waivers are available in the counseling office or from our college advisor for students who qualify for free or reduced lunch. Many scholarship committees also use SAT and ACT test scores for scholarship consideration.

SAT= www.collegeboard.org

ACT= www.actstudent.org

College Visits

“Visiting” is the only way to get a true picture of what a college has to offer in academics and student life. Visiting campus in person and getting the feel of campus life is highly recommended. However, If you are unable to visit in person we would recommend checking out the virtual tours available on the college website or also linked in Naviance. There is an attendance college visit waiver form available in the HHS Counseling office for in person visits.  College visit attendance should be communicated with the high school attendance office.

We also hope to have many college reps visit HHS again this Fall.  Students are encouraged to sign up for these lunchtime visits in the counseling office with the college advisor. Please keep an eye on the daily announcements in the Fall for a list of schools that will be on our campus. 

The Senior Checklist

1. Read this Senior News and start a calendar with important dates

2. Review your academic plan and note the courses required for graduation..

3. Register to retake the SAT. May also choose to take the ACT test.

4. Research colleges and universities of choice using their websites

5. Visit selected colleges and universities through virtual college visits and/or live when open

6. Begin college selection essays

7. Complete Naviance Tasks

8. Search and begin a list of college scholarships and due dates

Student athletes who plan to play a sport at a D1 or D2 college should make sure they are registered with the NCAA eligibility center (www.eligibilitycenter.org) and meet with Mrs. Nichols.

Scholarship Information

Seniors are encouraged to begin looking for scholarships early in their 12th grade year. Seniors are also encouraged to research the financial aid websites of the colleges of interest for further individual college scholarship opportunities. The HHS website contains the tab “Scholarship News You Can Use”.  The information located in this area of our website is updated throughout the year.  There are also several general scholarship search websites recommended in this tab. PLEASE BE AWARE… YOU SHOULD NEVER PAY A FEE FOR SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION! There are many scams out making big scholarship claims for a cost. If you ever have questions about a scholarship, please feel free to contact your counselor for confirmation.

Ordering High School Transcripts 

Holland High School sends transcripts electronically.  Students will request transcripts in Naviance to be sent to prospective schools. There are several times throughout Senior year that you may need to send your transcript, counselors will help guide you using Naviance when we return in the fall. It is important to note that almost all colleges require that transcripts be delivered electronically so we do not accept requests for paper transcripts.  

Checking Credits and Seeing Transcripts 

Credits and transcripts are available for students to view through Infinite Campus.

1. Log Into Student’s Infinite Campus
2. Click upper left for Menu
3. Documents - Log in here to find Transcripts
4. Academic Planner - Log in here to check for missing credits, and see what you chose for next year.

Holland High School, Holland Early College, and Holland Virtual Tech Counselors:

Mrs. Suzanne Hemmeke: (shemmeke@hollandpublicschools.org) Serving students with last names A - J 
Mrs. Bethany Nichols: (bnichols@hollandpublischools.org) Serving students with last names A - J
Mrs. Rebecca Siegel: (rsiegel@hollandpublicschools.org) Serving students with last names K-Sa and HVRT
Mrs. Dana Loveland: (dlovelan@hollandpublicschools.org)  Serving students with last names  Sc - Z and HEC