Counseling Center News
Lincoln High Guidance and Counseling Mission Statement
To systematically provide Guidance and Counseling services to all students which facilitate growth and development toward their full potential.
LEARN TO DREAM SCHOLARSHIP
Southeast Community College (SCC) and Lincoln's high schools announced that they are partnering with Union Bank & Trust and Nelnet to offer a scholarship program for low-income Lincoln youth to attend SCC. With funding from Union Bank & Trust and Nelnet, the innovative Learn to Dream Scholarship program pays tuition and fees for up to 45-quarter credits at SCC for eligible students. All Lincoln high school students who qualify for a free or reduced-price lunch (as defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture) are eligible for the scholarship.
The Learn to Dream Scholarship program has the potential to make college possible for nearly 600 students each year in our community. Through the program, students will be able to attend SCC for approximately one year of classes without having to pay for tuition and fees. The program will be offered to eligible students who graduate from one of Lincoln's public, private or parochial high schools on or after January 1, 2008. To encourage participation, Nelnet and Union Bank & Trust will work closely with the Lincoln schools and community organizations to promote the scholarship program to parents and students as early as the 8th grade to provide an incentive to students to plan and prepare for post-secondary education.
FREE COLLEGE PLANNING ADVICE
Free year round college-planning advice is available from EducationQuest. To sign up for this valuable service go to: www.educationquest.org
STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES
BEWARE OF SCHOLARSHIP AND FINANCIAL AID SCAMS!
As a junior or senior, you'll receive solicitations for scholarship and financial aid services. Don't ever pay for these services! You may also want to check out these helpful web sites:
COLLEGE ENTRANCE TESTING! WHAT? WHEN? WHERE?
Students who plan to continue their education after high school will usually need to take a college entrance examination. All colleges in the Midwest prefer students take the American College Test (ACT), schools on the East and West Coast and some other highly selective colleges prefer students take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). LHS Counselors recommend that students take the ACT and/or SAT for the first time in April, May or June of their junior year. Registration materials are available in the Counseling Center. Both exams are given on Saturday mornings. The ACT may be taken at Lincoln High or several other sites in Lincoln. The SAT Exam is offered only at Lincoln East.
*ACT has a 30-minute Writing Test as an optional component to the ACT Assessment.
The ACT Writing Test complements the English Test. The combined information from both tests will tell post secondary institutions about student's understanding of the conventions of standard written English and their ability to produce a direct sample of writing.
Some colleges will require the Writing Test; others will not. Most colleges will accept scores from the Writing Test even it they do not require the test. At this time no Nebraska institutions are requiring the Writing Test.
ACT TEST DATES AND DEADLINES
| Test Date | Reg. Deadline | Deadline Late Reg. |
|---|---|---|
| October 25, 2008 | September 19, 2008 | October 3, 2008 |
| December 13, 2008 | November 7, 2008 | November 20, 2008 |
| February 7, 2009 | January 6, 2009 | January 16, 2009 |
| April 4, 2009 | February 27, 2009 | March 13, 2009 |
| June 13, 2009 | May 8, 2009 | May 22, 2009 |
SCHOLASTIC APTITUDE TEST (SAT) DATES AND DEADLINES
| Test Date | Reg. Deadline | Dealine Late Reg. |
|---|---|---|
| October 4, 2008 | September 9, 2008 | September 16, 2008 |
| November 1, 2008 | September 26, 2008 | October 10, 2008 |
| December 6, 2008 | November 5, 2008 | November 18, 2008 |
| January 24, 2009 | December 26, 2008 | January 6, 2009 |
| March 14, 2009 | February 10, 2009 | February 24, 2009 |
| May 2, 2009 | March 31, 2009 | April 9, 2009 |
| June 6, 2009 | May 5, 2009 | May 15, 2009 |
ACT and SAT have their own web sites where students can register on line, take practice tests, access college information etc. To visit these websites go to:
COMPASS TEST
This computer-adaptive test is used at Southeast Community College. It measures skills in writing, reading English and mathematics and is used for placement in all SCC programs. There is no test fee, the test is untimed, and you receive your results immediately after testing. A variety of times are available. It is recommended that students take the COMPASS as soon as they decide to attend SCC. You can schedule your test or obtain more information by calling 437-2715. All students must take the ACT, SAT or COMPASS for admission to a program.
INTERESTED IN STUDYING ABROAD?
The following programs have 800 numbers and websites that parents and students can visit.
The Youth for Understanding USA
1-800-833-6243
EF Foundation for Foreign Study
1-800-310-7416
AFS Intercultural Programs USA
1-800-AFS-INFO.
Center for Cultural Interchange (CCI)
1-888-440-8750
Rotary International Youth Exchange Program
LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Lincoln Public Schools Graduation Requirements
2006-2007 Freshmen have new requirements! **
Beginning with the Class of 2003
The minimum program for graduation from Lincoln Public Schools is 220 total credit hours earned in grades 9-12 including the following requirements which deliver specific course learnings that support the district "Goals for Students".
**230 credits for freshmen 2006-2007 and beyond
Credit Area |
Courses and Special Conditions |
Credits |
Applied Arts |
Business, Family and Consumer Sciences, Industrial Technology |
15 total (with at least 5 credits in Fine Arts & 5 credits in Applied Arts) |
Fine Arts |
Dramatic arts, music and visual arts |
|
Educational and Career Planning |
2.5 |
|
Economics |
5 |
|
English |
30 |
|
Oral Communication |
5 |
|
Human Behavior |
5 |
|
Mathematics |
20 * Complete Algebra |
|
Physical Ed |
7.5 |
|
Health |
2.5 |
|
Science |
15 *20 credits- a minimum 5 each of GeoScience, Physical Science, Life Sciences |
|
Social Studies |
Civics & Intro to Geography |
10 (5 + 5) |
|
World History |
5 |
|
US History |
5 **10 |
|
Government/Politics |
5 (formerly Citizenship Issues) |
Technology |
10 |
|
In addition to accumulating the required number of credit hours, students will also be required to demonstrate that they have necessary math, reading and writing skills. Demonstrations and standards for successful completion of these skill areas will be developed. Demonstrations may be completed in a particular class or through testing. |
||
Credit Area |
Graduation Demonstration |
|
Mathematics |
Demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to apply basic computational skills to problem-solving situations, numeracy, statistics, correlation and cause/effect, recognize how numbers are used to influence decisions, and demonstrate the skill of first-year algebra. |
|
Reading |
Demonstrate the ability to read and comprehend newspapers such as the Lincoln Journal Star and Omaha World-Herald. |
|
Writing |
Demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to write consistently at a predetermined level. |
|
COLLEGE ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS
Now is a good time for students and parents to see if college entrance requirements are being met. The requirements for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln are: English: 4 years or 8 semesters. Math: 4 years or 8 semesters including one year beyond Advanced Algebra Science: 3 years of science. Social Studies: 3 years of social studies World Language: 2 years of the same world language See a Lincoln High Counselor if you have any questions.
For more specific University of Nebraska-Lincoln admissions requirements please visit:
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Admissions
COMMON APPLICATION
If you are applying to a number of selective colleges, the Common Application will save you valuable time. The Common Application is the recommended form of many selective for admission to their undergraduate programs. Details, schools participating, and application form available at www.commonapp.org .
NCAA ACADEMIC STANDARDS
A student who wants to compete in either Division I or II sports must complete 14 core academic courses and must achieve a minimum grade point average in those courses. The student must also take the ACT and/or SAT College entrance exam. A sliding scale is used to determine the minimum a student-athlete can score.
Students who are potential Division I or II athletes should register with the Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse after completing their junior year in high school. To register, prospective student-athletes should access the registration materials by visiting the new clearinghouse Web site at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net. From the home page, the prospect should click on "Prospective Student-Athletes", which will link the student-athlete to the necessary information. Students who have received a payment waiver for the ACT or SAT can have the Clearinghouse fee waived as well. Students must also have their ACT or SAT scores sent to the Clearinghouse, either from the testing agency or from the high school.
Lincoln High students who are planning to register with the Clearinghouse are urged to check with one of the counselors in the Counseling Center so that a preliminary check of eligibility can be made.
Student's who enroll in a Division I college in 2008 or later and want to participate in athletics or receive athletic scholarships, must meet all NCAA requirements for 2005-2007 and have completed two additional core courses (new total of 16). See a Lincoln High counselor for more information.
For more specific information on eligibility and clearinghouse information please visit:
NCAA Clearinghouse Eligibility
Lincoln Public Schools, Lincoln, Nebraska