School Counseling

You may find your counselor is not on your path to class, or you may be way too busy to talk with us at length. Yet, we still wish to meet up. Requesting a quick appointment may be less disrupting to your day.

Please click on the counselor's name below with whom you wish to make an appointment. If we don't call you down within 48 hours of scheduling the appointment, please feel free to stop and check in.

If this appointment is time sensitive, please directly inform Mrs. Slany.

Mr. Blechman (Cr - Ham)

Mr. Young (Han - Kr & Strongsville Academy)

Naviance

Naviance is a comprehensive website that you and your student can use for college, career, and scholarship searches. Family Connection is linked with Naviance, a service that we use in our Guidance office to facilitate communication among you, your student, and our office.

Naviance Student allows your student to:

Family Connection also lets us share information with you and your student about upcoming meetings and events, local scholarship opportunities, and other resources for college and career information.

Login

Students and parents will both use the student login and start at strongsvillehs

Transcript Request

CURRENT STUDENTS:
Current 12th graders who need SHS transcripts sent for College Applications, will request them through Naviance.
1. Go to the page: Student.naviance.com/ strongsvillehs
2. Use the Single Sign On and your Google Login
3. Go to Colleges I'm Applying To
See your Google Classroom for your graduating class for more videos and instructions.

For Current students who need a transcript for CCP, the NCAA Eligibility Center, or for a scholarship, CLICK HERE

PREVIOUS STUDENTS: CLASS OF 2016-2022
CLICK HERE

PREVIOUS STUDENTS CLASS OF 2015 AND PRIOR
CLICK HERE

Credit Flexibility/PE Waiver

Earning credit through Credit Flexibility or Waiver

What is P.E. Waiver?

P.E. Waiver is a way to complete one’s Physical Education requirements. With P.E. Waiver, students receive no credit and no grade. Students are waived from taking two P.E. classes. A student may waive Physical Education classes completing two full seasons of SHS athletics, cheerleading or marching band. Should a student become injured or not complete the season for ANY reason, he/she must find an alternate way to satisfy his/her P.E. requirement.

A student interested in a P.E. Waiver should indicate so on the Final Forms associated with Athletic Participation.

The following due dates apply for the application waiver form: Fall Sports - August 30th, Winter Sports-November 30th, Spring Sports-March 30th.

What is the best way for your child to satisfy the P.E. Requirement?

P.E. Credit Flexibility

What is Credit Flexibility?

Credit Flexibility, as defined by the Ohio Department of Education, is designed to increase curricular options available to students, increase the depth of study available for a particular subject, and tailor the learning time or conditions needed to a complete high school diploma.

Credit Flexibility allows students to earn credit by demonstrating academic and skill level performance through a variety of educational options. Students may pursue alternative coursework or create a plan to demonstrate subject area competency. Approved credit awarded through these guidelines will be posted on a student’s transcript and counted as required graduation credit in the related subject area or as an elective. A student must complete the Credit Flexibility Application and obtain approval PRIOR to beginning the coursework. Applications will be approved 3 times a year. The deadlines are May 30th, August 30th and November 30th.

Credit Flexibility Applications pertaining to Physical Education should include a specific outline about how and when time will be spent. At least 60 hours must be spent participating in the chosen physical activity. In addition, students will be required to purchase a workbook and complete the workbook to receive credit. For more information, see the Credit Flexibility Guidelines and Application.

GPA Information

Try out this Website to determine what you need to do to get to a specific GPA: http://www.back2college.com/raisegpa.htm

To determine your Grade Point Average (GPA), each letter grade has a numerical value as indicated below. Note: numerical values are higher for Honors and AP classes if a grade of C or higher is earned. These classes are said to be weighted.

For most classes: For Honors and AP classes:

In addition to knowing the grade earned for each class, one must also know that credits awarded for each class. Here most classes are 0.5. Physical Education classes are 0.25. There are also just a few classes that are worth 0.625 credits.

Class Scheduling

Online Registration Instructions

Online Registration

Go to www.strongnet.org

Click on Grades in the upper right corner

Log into your PowerSchool account

Click class registration

Click in the box to select your classes - Don’t forget to click Okay after each class

Click submit after all classes have been selected

If you do not see the class you would like, it could be because the teacher did not recommend you for the class or you did not complete the prerequisites. If you failed a class and want to retake it, look for it in electives.

See anyone in guidance for login information and s ee your guidance counselor for help.

Grade Placement

The minimum student course load is 5 credits per year. A student must carry a minimum of 5 classes per semester, not including Physical Education. Every effort will be made to limit study halls to no more than two per semester.

TO GRADE 10: A student will be placed in the 10th grade homeroom if he/she has completed a minimum of 5.5 credits.

TO GRADE 11: A student will be placed in the 11th grade homeroom if he/she has completed a minimum of 11 credits.

TO GRADE 12: A student will be placed in the 12th grade homeroom if he/she has completed a minimum of 15 credits and/or has a graduation plan/credit recovery plan in place by the grade level administrator and counselor.

These guidelines should be viewed as minimums. Usually a student will have earned more credits than are needed for grade promotion.

SHS Virtual Tour

School Profile

Information

ACT, SAT & PSAT

ACT/SAT

If you do not want your SAT or ACT score on your transcript, do not fill out the high school code on the answer document prior to the test. Doing this will not send the scores to the high school. If you decide to have your score placed on the transcript at a later date, you may do so. If you fill out the high school code, the scores will be sent to the high school. At this point, the scores will go on the transcript. *Note: This does not apply for the district sponsored ACT test. The scores will automatically be placed on the transcript.*

Wondering if you should take ACT OR SAT? Click Here: ACT or SAT ??

What would your counselor say? If you have the time and money, take both the ACT and the SAT during the spring/summer of your junior year. If you decide to retake to get a higher score, retake the test that you felt most comfortable with during the testing process.

Looking for test prep?

ACT Registration and other online and printable resources at: www.actstudent.org

SAT Registration and other online and printable resources at www.collegeboard.org

ACT Free State Testing Day

Ohio provides all juniors a free ACT opportunity each year. The test session is during the school day. Due to the length of the test and the amount of space needed to test, we only have juniors report on this day.

Juniors report at normal time for test pre-administration and testing begins around 8:00. Students finish testing at around 12:30. The test date will be announced each year in February.

PSAT

The PSAT registration will start on August 27th and end at 11:59pm on September 8th. The date of the PSAT is Thursday, October 10th.

Understanding Your PSAT/NMSQT Score Report

AP Courses

For more information on AP Courses, please contact Mr. Young at jyoung@scsmustangs.org

English

Social Studies

Math

ART

Science

World Language

Computer Science

AP Capstone

www.apcentral.collegeboard.com for extensive information about the AP Program.

Career Pathways

"A Career Pathway is a collective look at education and training, wage and outlook information for related occupations. These pathways offer an overview of the various career options along with education and training that can begin as early as grade 7. Whether a student is interested in going to college, getting a certificate or working right after high school, career pathways can be customized for any ambition or plan."

Information gathered from http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Career-Tech/Career-Connections/Career-Pathways

College Credit Plus

Ohio’s College Credit Plus allows qualified students in grades 7-12 to earn college and high school credits at the same time by taking college courses from community colleges or universities. Taking a college course from a public college or university through College Credit Plus is free. That means there is no cost for tuition, books or fees. If a student chooses to attend a private college or university, there may be costs. The college will admit you based on your college-readiness in one or more subject areas. Your school counselor can help you understand your options, deadlines, and how to proceed. You may not participate in the College Credit Plus program beyond your anticipated high school graduation date. If you fail a class or withdraw after 14 days, you will have to pay for the expenses.

Visit Ohio Department of Higher Education site for more information --> Click Here

College Partnerships

Cleveland State University

Cuyahoga Community College

Kent State University

Lake Erie College

Lakeland Community College

Lorain Community College

University of Akron

Youngstown State University

College Planning

Where do I go from here…..

Decision making for life after S.H.S.

Making plans for your life after you leave Strongsville High School is a process of making decisions! Good decision-making involves a process of gathering information, examining alternatives, and assessing consequences before making a decision. We are ready to help you gather that information and help you take each step as you prepare for a career, college, or further training in the military, or a technical/vocational school. Doing NO planning for your future will insure you one thing….you WILL NOT be prepared for ANY job or school!

IMPORTANT! Get to know your guidance counselor! Stop in to talk with your counselor on a regular basis to discuss career ideas, possible majors, college selection, college visits, financial aid, college applications, letters of recommendation, scholarships and other important matters. Your counselor will be able to write a more impressive letter of recommendation if he/she gets to know you! Individual scholarships and opportunities become available weekly….check the guidance website daily to know which scholarships are available or follow @MustangMonies on Twitter.

Please use our resources, invite your parents to join us and ask for help as you prepare for an exciting future!

Best of Luck,

Strongsville High School Guidance Department

Senior Time Line

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

JANUARY

FEBRUARY-APRIL

MAY

Military Information

All branches of the military would prefer a high school diploma for enlistment. There are very few exceptions made to this requirement. The following steps will lead to a military career:

  1. Complete high school graduation requirements.
  2. Contact the recruiter of the military branch in which you are interested. *Recruiters visit SHS throughout the year. They will meet with students during their lunch periods.
  3. Take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (your recruiter will arrange this). The ASVAB is an ability test used by the military for placement purposes.
  4. Pass the physical- details to be provided by your recruiter.

Two Year Colleges

A two year junior/community college is a way of beginning a four year program or obtaining a two year associates or technical degree. Many occupations require a two-year technical training program rather than a four year college degree. To attend a community college you will need to:

  1. Complete high school graduation requirements.
  2. Obtain an application. SHS guidance office usually has applications for Cuyahoga Community College, and Lorain Community College.
  3. Most community colleges will require you take placement tests to insure you will be placed in the appropriate level of English and Math classes. Be advised that if you are placed below the lowest college level course, you will be in courses designed to improve your proficiency, charged for the course, but will NOT receive credit for the course.
  4. Community colleges usually do not require ACT/SAT information for admission. It is our recommendation that you dotake either the ACT or SAT because you may transfer to a four-year school after a semester or year at the community college and may be required to take it later. Depending on how well you score, you may also be able to bypass taking the placement tests.

Techincal Schools

Technical schools provide training for very specific careers. Programs at specific technical schools can provide a variety of types of training:

Four Year Admission Process-Step-By-Step

STEP 1:

Register to take the ACT and/or SAT Reasoning test. You can register at www.actstudent.org and on www.collegeboard.org. The testing company will forward your scores to three or four colleges without additional fees. A copy of your scores will also be returned to our school. We will forward a copy of your test scores along with any transcripts you request from the guidance office. It is our recommendation that you take the ACT Writing Option if you register for the ACT-it is recommended/required by quite a few colleges.

STEP 2:

Decide to which schools you wish to apply. You should have gathered information to help with this decision by: following the suggestions in the College Planning Guide which was available to Juniors, looking at information available in the guidance office, visiting college campuses, checking out each colleges websites, and using OCIS in the media center. Do not eliminate private colleges due to cost; many private schools have decent financial aid packages available.

STEP 3:

Apply online using the colleges’ website or the common application. Remember: applying to colleges can be an expensive endeavor, as non-refundable application fees range from $20-$70 or more. If you are considering applying for financial aid at a particular school, you will also need to request information about that school’s financial aid application process. If you have questions, please see your counselor.

STEP 4:

Call the admissions office or register online to schedule a campus visit/tour. This is an important step! A few hours on the campus will provide you with much more information about the particular campus than looking through the college’s view book or looking at the website. Your absence from school WILL be EXCUSED if your complete a PLANNED ABSENCE FORM prior to your campus visit. Information about campus visits follow later in this booklet.

STEP 5:

College representatives regularly visit SHS. Listen to the morning announcements, check the guidance website and Facebook page, and watch the school Cable Channel to learn which representatives are visiting each week. Your parents are also welcome to talk with these representatives. Teachers may refuse to grant students’ permission to leave class if they believe that doing so will adversely affect the student’s grade.

STEP 6:

Complete your college application- suggestions about completing college applications and essays appear later in this booklet. Your counselor will assist you with your application. Make sure you have completed a SENIOR INTERVIEW as the information you share with your counselor will be used to complete your counselor’s recommendation for you. It is advisable to keep a copy of your completed application.

STEP 7:

Complete the Transcript Request Form and Request Transcripts via Naviance/Family Connections.

STEP 8:

Applying for Financial Aid:

WRITING APPLICATION ESSAYS

Some colleges will require one or more essays as part of the application process. Colleges make this requirement for a variety of reasons:

College’s asking for student essays value students’ thinking and writing skills as an integral part of the admissions process. Many colleges look for evidence of critical and abstract thinking skills. Some schools may ask for a copy of an essay written as a class assignment that contains teacher’s comments and evaluations. This allows the admissions counselor to assess demands placed upon the student at the high school level.

You may wish to ask your English teacher to proofread your essays. The Write Place will also be open to help students with their essays. Please be sure to thank them for their time.

COLLEGE VISITS

During your Junior year and throughout the summer, you should have visited colleges to tour the campus and meet with admissions officers. Sample questions for admission officers and guidelines for campus interviews were printed in the College Planning Guide-which was made available to Juniors. Extra copies may be found in the guidance office.

When possible, it is advisable to return to campuses in which you have a strong interest and stay overnight. The college admissions office will help with arrangements. It will provide you with an opportunity to spend the night in a dorm, speak with students and faculty, visit classes, meet with financial aid personnel, and athletic personnel. This is the best way to determine if the campus is the “right fit!” Some activities you may wish to include on such a visit are:

FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION

There are three main types of financial aid:

  1. Need-Based Aid: Financial aid from national or state government, or from the applicant’s college. This aid is based upon income and assets of the family and their ability to pay college costs.
  2. Merit-Based Aid: Financial aid provided because the applicant has some form of talent, i.e. academic, athletic, musical, artistic, etc.
  3. Self-help Based Aid: in the form of work study or co-op program on campus.

What are some sources of aid? A majority of aid comes as a result of completing the FAFSA (Free Application Form for Student Aid). This is a standardized application form which is completed in January or February. You apply for a pin number at fafsa.ed.gov and then you can apply online. The FAFSA is processed by a firm that sends the results to the colleges, federal government, and state government to determine if the student is eligible for aid from those three major funding sources. SHS will present several programs throughout the senior year to provide information about the financial aid process. Other sources of financial aid include local scholarships, private organizations (e.g. parents place of employment, churches, community organization), and nationwide scholarship opportunities.

How is financial aid packaged? The college financial aid office uses the information from the FAFSA to determine the amount of aid the student and family are expected to contribute, the amount of grant money available from the state and federal government, the amount of money available from the college, the amount of money needed from other sources (work study, loans, etc.)

What college can I afford? DO NOT ASSUME A MORE EXPENSIVE SCHOOL IS OUT OF REACH! Private schools often have more money available to students than state schools, which could make the costs more comparable.

How do I get aid? The first step to receive financial aid is to gain acceptance to the college. The financial aid office will NOT award aid until the admissions office has accepted the student. The high school guidance office has internet access to do scholarship searches. Students should spend time with their counselor, learning how to use the materials in our office to obtain scholarship information. Parents are always welcome to use our facilities with your son/daughter. How will parents and students learn of scholarship opportunities? As scholarship notices arrive in the guidance office, they are: listed on the morning announcements, posted on our Guidance webpage and Facebook page, and on Twitter @MustangMonies. Students can also regularly check in with their counselor for scholarship information as well.

FINANCIAL AID ON-LINE

  1. Log into the following website; pin.ed.gov
  2. Enter personal information: Name, Social Security Number, Date of Birth
  3. Provide address-street, city zip, e-mail

**Parent and student will each need to do this prior to completing the actual form in January

QUICK GUIDE TO FINANCIAL AID

TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE

FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible you must:

Financial aid eligibility is the difference between the Cost of Education and the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). A federal formula performs a needs analysis to determine the EFC.

Cost of education includes tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, transportation and miscellaneous expenses.

HOW TO APPLY FOR FEDERAL AND STATE AID

  1. Students must complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) online at fafsa.ed.gov. The FAFSA should be completed and submitted after January 1 st . Deadlines will vary by college and state (They may be as early as February 1 st .) Students should check with the college they plan to attend for application deadline dates.
  2. Students will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) after the FAFSA is processed. Information is also sent to the college(s) named on the FAFSA. If the student does not receive a SAR in 4-6 weeks, or needs another copy, she/he should call (319) 337-5665 for a duplicate SAR.
  3. Students should check with the college(s) they expect to attend. Additional applications/forms are often required.
  4. The student’s selected College Financial Aid Office will send a letter to the student indicating the types of aid the student is eligible to receive.

FEDERAL AND OHIO PROGRAMS

FEDERAL PELL GRANT- Up to $4000/year

SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANT (SEOG)- Amount varies based on need and available funds

FEDERAL PERKINS LOAN- Maximum amount available each year, repayment begins 9 months after the student graduates

FEDERAL STAFFORD LOAN- Maximum amount available per year, repayment begins six months after graduation.

PLUS LOAN- Parent loan, payment begins 60 days after dispersement

OHIO WAR ORPHANS SCHOLARSHIP- Awards tuition assistance to students of deceased or severely disabled Ohio Veterans who served in the armed forces during a period of declared war or conflict. Applications are available in the guidance office.

ROBERT BYRD HONORS SCHOLARSHIP- Merit award available for students with outstanding academic achievement. Recipients are selected based upon class rank, GPA, test scores and participation in leadership activities. One scholarship awarded in each Congressional District.

NURSE EDUCATION ASSISTANCE LOAN- Need based award to students enrolled in Ohio schools.

SAMPLE ACTIVITIES LIST

Extra Curricular Activities

Other Activities

Work Experience

Volunteer Opportunities

Awards

Leadership Positions