College Guidance

The Lima Christian School guidance department is pleased to work with families as they navigate the world of LCS course offerings and college and career options. Our trained guidance counselor works with students grades 6-12 to determine the scope and sequence of their middle and high school courses. Starting in 10th grade, the guidance counselor meets with the class to discuss college entrance examinations, career exploration, and the college search process. Junior and Senior years begin with parent seminars, student workshops, and one-on-one meetings to prepare families for the college search and application process.
Colleges
Our students attend and have been accepted to a variety of colleges throughout the US and the world.
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College Resources
Financial Aid and Scholarships
- www.studentaid.ed.gov: US federal government web site for financial aid
- www.fastweb.com: College search and scholarship search
Common Application
- https://www.commonapp.org: Common Application web site (many colleges accept the “CommonApp” in lieu of a separate application)
Career Exploration
- http://www.onetonline.org: Career interest inventory
- http://www.bls.gov/ooh: US Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook Online, includes statistics on job outlook, salaries, etc.
SAT / ACT Preparation Resources
Lima Christian Students take the PLAN examination in 10th grade and the PSAT in the fall of 11th grade. All juniors should take either the ACT or SAT, possibly both, during the spring semester of junior year. Most colleges, including community colleges, require this assessment. Either or both tests may be taken again to improve the scores.
Sign up for either is most easily done on line:
- SAT – www.collegeboard.com
- ACT – www.act.org
- Plan about 30 minutes to sign up. Student must be present to answer some of the questions. Sign up early to assure test site availability.
- High school code for Lima Christian: 332814 (must be included for the scores to be reported to us to include on student transcript)
- Download practice tests. Spend about 10-20 min each day on these to become familiar with the way questions are worded. Check your results.
- SAT prep courses are available from Sylvan, Huntington, MCC, GCC, and various local high schools and libraries. There is a cost associated with these courses. Prep books also available from book stores. The best preparation is consistent practice over time.
SAT/ACT/Regents Internet Sources
- http://www.barronsregents.com: Regents exam preparation
- http://www.collegeboard.org: College search and SAT exam prep
- http://www.actstudent.org: College and career planning and ACT exam
Checklist
Junior Year
- Register for the ACT or SAT. You should be ready to take them by spring. If not, take them early in your senior year.
- Prepare for the ACT or SAT by using your PLAN and PSAT results. Consider taking a prep course: see counselor for details
- Visit with admissions counselors who come to your high school, attend a college fair, and begin researching colleges online
- Talk with your parents about colleges that interest you
- Prepare a list of questions to ask on campus visits
- Visit colleges and talk with college students
- Investigate scholarship opportunities (internet searches and the local library are good places to start)
- Volunteer for activities and clubs related to career interests
- Get a part-time job, apprenticeship, or internship; or job shadow in a profession that interests you
- Visit with your school counselor to make sure you are on track to graduate and fulfill college admission requirements
Senior Year
July/August
- Sign up for the ACT and/or SAT (if you didn’t test as a junior, or if you aren’t satisfied with your scores)
- Download college admission applications and begin working on essay questions
- Make a list of references (teachers, coaches, employers, and pastors are all good choices) and send them a written request to write a recommendation letter for you
- Sign up for a CommonApp username and password and begin working on that application
- Schedule last college visits before applying
August – December
- Keep working hard all year; senior year grades can affect scholarship eligibility
- Follow up with references, making sure they have the addresses they need to send your recommendation letters to colleges
- Complete college applications
- Give your counselor a list of colleges that need your transcript
- Find out which scholarships you qualify for at your selected colleges
- Start the financial aid application process
January – May
- Complete the FAFSA
- Compare admission offers and financial aid packages from different schools
- Decide which college to attend, and notify the colleges of your decision
- Keep track of and observe deadlines for sending in all required fees and paperwork
- Continue to look for scholarship opportunities
- Notify your college about any outside scholarships you receive