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Reynolds High School

College and Career

 

College and Career

In the RHS Career Center, students in GR 9-12 can get help exploring post-high options, including colleges, universities, trade schools, and apprenticeship programs. Find out about options to pay for post-high training, like grants (FAFSA/ORSAA & Oregon Promise), loans, work study, and scholarships. Students can find out how to track their community service hours to earn the silver Extra Mile cord to wear at graduation, as well as find volunteer opportunities, apply for internships &/or mentorship programs, and learn how to participate in career days.

Students needing help with post-secondary planning activities and goal-setting should contact their school counselors.

Resources

  • College Possible’s mission is to make college admission and success possible for students from low-income backgrounds through an intensive curriculum of coaching and support. College Possible Oregon serves 2,000 students annually on their paths to college graduation, and the results are striking: students enroll in college at a rate of 90% and are nearly twice as likely to graduate compared to to their peers from similar backgrounds.

    Julia Adesida, Access Advising Specialist (College Possible)
    8 AM-4 PM  |  Tuesdays & Thursdays  | RHS Career Center
    jadesida@collegepossible.org

    Yulissa Flores Lopez, Access Program Manager
    yflores@collegepossible.org | 503-676-7538

  • Students can plan for a bright future with Naviance, a powerful, web-based college and career exploration resource that helps guide students through the post-high planning process by exploring colleges, training programs and other post-high training options, scholarships, and more!

    Think of Naviance as your one-stop shop for college, career and life readiness! Naviance is rich with resources, activities, and valuable, interactive tools to help students make well-informed decisions when planning for their post-high goals and dreams. 
     

    All RHS students have a Naviance account. To access your Naviance account: 

    • Find the Naviance icon in Clever, where your other school-based apps live.
    • Log in using your school-based username & password
    • Use the tabs along the top to navigate 

    In Naviance, students can:

    • Take assessments to help students realize careers and career pathways based on their strengths, talents, skills, abilities, and preferences.
    • Explore careers and career pathways; build career & career pathways lists
    • Research colleges and universities; build college lists
    • Explore careers in the trades
    • Explore military options
    • Watch Road Trip Nation videos by people actually doing the jobs students are interested in learning more about. 
    • Check the schedule of Rep Visits (under "What's New" on your Naviance Home Page, bottom right corner of the home page)
      • College admission counselors schedule time to visit RHS throughout the fall to meet with prospective students and answer questions about their schools. Admission counselors will either be tabling in the Commons (in front of the Career Center), or inside the Career Center meeting with students individually or in small groups. 

  • Get Schooled helps young people get to college, find first jobs, and succeed in both. Get Schooled is free, has no advertising, and never shares personal user data.

    Subscribe to Get Schooled's YouTube channel
     

    SIGN UP for a FREE Get Schooled account to get digital resources on topics, like:

    • Financial Aid Help: Access to helpful articles to support you in completing the application, or text #FAFSA to 33-55-77 to chat with an advisor (We have a ton of resources to support FAFSA/ORSAA completion this summer!)
    • Text-based Advising: You can SIGN UP to the advising text line that will send timely updates to meet your goals. You can also text in any questions you might have about the college-going or first jobs process, and we’ll help you out.
    • Scholarship Emails: You’ll receive emails about scholarships that are easy and accessible.

    It's easy...SIGN UP for a FREE Get Schooled account today! 

     

College

  • What Qualities Do Colleges Want? 

    Colleges want to see more than just good grades and test scores on your college application. They want evidence that you possess personal qualities associated with success in college. They are looking for qualities that foster cooperation, community, and compassion. “It’s no longer the individual leader at the helm; now it’s the collaborative team member who attracts attention; students’ self-centered career ambitions are not appreciated as much as sincere personal and professional aspirations to make the world better a better place.

    Highlight the "7C's" in your essays and college applications: 

    • Collaboration
    • Commitment
    • Character
    • Curiosity
    • Cultural intelligence
    • Challenge
    • Creativity

    When colleges describe their ideal candidates, here are 9 character traits that colleges often cite when describing what they're looking for in students.

    9 Personality and Character Traits Colleges Look for in Applicants

    CollegeData.com, your free online college advisor--a service of 1st Financial Bank USA

    1. Curiosity - Passion for learning and enthusiasm about the world around you
    2. Persistence - How do you challenge yourself, persevere through those challenges, set goals, and achieve them without giving up? 
      1. EXP: Sticking with challenging classes or activities even though you struggled or faced setbacks)?
      2. The key is to show that even when you faced obstacles, you maintained your energy, enthusiasm, and passion for what you set out to achieve.
    3. Risk-taking - How have you ventured out of your comfort zone, either in the classroom or in life. Colleges are looking for students who are not afraid to make mistakes, and who understand that mistakes are part of the learning process. 
    4. Compassion - How do you show concern for your peers and classmates? How has being compassionate and having empathy made you a stronger person? 
    5. Open-Mindedness - College can be a great opportunity to engage with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures, and to consider ideas, perspectives, and opinions that might be new or different from your own, and do it respectfully?
    6. Social Consciousness - Colleges seek individuals who care about the world, and believe they can make it a better place...and who have the courage to try. 
    7. Creativity - Do you think creatively or out-of-the-box? Are you a good problem solver, innovator, or entrepreneur? How do you come up with creative solutions and unique approaches to a problem or assignment?
    8. Collaboration - How well do you collaborate with students and faculty? Do you put the needs of your team over your own? Do you demonstrate leadership abilities in a group setting? How do you bring people together? 
    9. Cultural intelligence - Do you appreciate cultural diversity? Are you eager to engage with and learn from people who come from a wide range of cultural backgrounds? Are you interested in the world, in other peoples and cultures, and enjoy examining important issues from a global perspective? 

  • If college is in your future plan, it's important to start exploring different colleges/universities and the programs they offer early in your high school career. Don't wait until senior year to figure out your next steps! Do online research by using Naviance.

    Request information from the colleges that interest you, check out virtual tours, attend virtual college fairs and contact Admissions Counselors with any questions you have about their programs and campus life. Most colleges/universities have extensive resources available online to help you make informed decisions.

    Much of your college research can be done in Naviance. Every student at RHS a Naviance account. You can explore colleges and universities all over the US in a variety of ways by using Super Match, College Match, Advanced College Search and College Lookup.

    Prioritize what you want to get out of college and make a list before you call or visit. 

    • Do you want to attend a big school or would a smaller campus suit you better?  
    • Does class size matter to you?
    • Check out the cost of attendance: does it fit within your budget?
    • Does the college/university you want to attend offer the program you need for your desired career goals?
    • Do you want to stay in state or attend college in another state or even another country? 
    • Do activities and clubs on campus matter to you?
    • What about athletic programs, such as football, basketball, baseball and track? 
    • Do you want to join a sorority or fraternity?  

    Make a pros and cons list of all the things you've considered before making a decision on the college or university that best suits you. 

  • Oregon Promise is a grant program provided through Oregon Student Aid/HECC. The Oregon Promise Grant (OPG) provides students who qualify with free to low-cost tuition at any community college in Oregon (some exclusions/limitations may apply).

    To qualify for Oregon Promise, students must:

    • Have a 2.0+ cumulative GPA (by end of senior year)
    • Live in Oregon for 12+ months prior to starting college
    • File the FAFSA or ORSAAA by June 1st (earlier if the student graduates earlier than June)
      • List one or more Oregon community colleges on their FAFSA or ORSAA
    • Start college the term directly following HS graduation (graduate in January=start college in spring term; graduate in June=start college in fall term)


    APPLY for Oregon Promise

    IMPORTANT: Oregon Promise benefits may or may not be subject to Student Aid Index (SAI) limits (as determined by FAFSA). Unfortunately, SAI limits (if applicable) are usually not announced until 2nd semester of a student's senior year in high school and will be adjusted based on the state's budget for that aid year.

    Oregon Promise FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

    Oregon Promise TOOLKIT

  • Most colleges and universities used to require submission of SAT or ACT scores when you apply for admission. However, over the past few years, the rising trend made by many schools has been to adopt a "TEST OPTIONAL" policy.  

    • What does TEST OPTIONAL mean? At its most basic definition, test optional means that you do not need to submit ACT or SAT scores to be considered for admission to a particular school. While you may submit test scores if you want, you are not actually required to do so. Your school will make its admission decision based on your application, transcript (course history, course rigor, GPA, grades), essay(s), if required, and letter(s) of recommendation. 
       

    Most Oregon universities have gone TEST OPTIONAL. Incoming freshmen are not required to submit SAT/ACT scores to be considered for admissions. You will need to check your schools' admissions requirements to find out if ACT/SAT scores and SAT Subject Tests are required as part of their admission process.

    It's good practice to take the ACT and/or SAT in the spring of your junior year.  If you aren't satisfied with your scores, it would benefit you to study and take practice tests over the summer and retake the test(s) in the fall of your senior year.

    Some schools may require that you take a specific test (either ACT or SAT), so make sure to check the school's website before you register for testing. It's also recommended that you find out if the school(s) to which you are applying require the Essay portion and/or Subject Tests

    DID YOU KNOW...if you're planning on attending community college, it is not necessary to take the ACT or SAT. Community colleges use a college placement test (Accuplacer or ALEKS) or transcript review process that assesses your reading, writing and math skills to determine appropriate class placement when you register for college classes.

     

     

  • Oregon Goes To College makes the college exploration and application process easier by providing: 

    • Info & resources for students and families (website, social media, app, checklists, worksheets)
    • Info & resources for educators (templates, activities, presentations, newsletter)
    • Support for schools to host events (College Application Week, Spring Into Action, Decision Day)
    • Opportunities for educators to learn & share (webinars, workshops, & monthly virtual chats)

     

    How they do it: Oregon Goes To College is the first and best place to learn about getting ready for college. They are: 

    • A centralized hub - By curating information from a variety of sources to be the best, first place to go for college information in Oregon.
    • Comprehensive - By providing information and resources for educators, students and families so everyone is on the same page.
    • Responsive - By listening to audience needs and collaborate with experts to produce timely information and resources.
    • User-Friendly - By using clear, easy to understand language and simple, attractive and modern design.
    • Oregonian - By providing information and resources about Oregon colleges and financial aid. They are attuned to meet the diverse needs of rural, suburban, and urban Oregon communities.

    Oregon Goes To College is a statewide initiative of Oregon GEAR UP

     

     

    • Explore your options for education beyond high school. 
    • Apply - Make your plan. Learn the steps to apply for education beyond high school.
    • Pay - You can afford college. Learn ways to pay and how to apply for financial aid.
    • Go - Make your decision and learn how to get ready and be successful in college.

    Prepare for college - Getting ready for college starts now. Here's an OVERVIEW of what students should be doing in each grade:

    • Stay organized with Oregon Goes To College's Google Docs WORKSHEETS & TEMPLATES. 12th grade students: Make a copy and fill out the worksheet templates with the information you will need to apply, pay, and go to college.
      • Activities Chart - Track your school, community, and personal activities for college and scholarship applications.
      • College Application Information - Get organized and be prepared to apply to college by keeping track of the information you will need.
      • Compare Costs & FInancial Aid - Use your financial aid offers from colleges to compare the final out-of-pocket cost for one year.
      • Create a Budget - Make a budget to estimate and track your income and expenses in college.
      • Financial Aid Verification Tracker - Stay organized by keeping track of the financial aid verification process.
      • It's A Plan College Checklist - Keep track of what you need to do to apply, pay, and go to college.
      • Make Your College List - Make your college list by thinking about your needs and preferences and researching your options.
      • Make Your Decision - Compare colleges and reflect on your preferences and needs before making a decision about where to attend college.
      • Passwords & Logins - Keep track of your log in information to the various colleges you apply to, financial aid and scholarship sites, and other college-related sites.
      • Scholarship List - Make a list of scholarships to apply to and track the information you will need to apply.