ESHS-South Career & College Planning Program
EAST STROUDSBURG HS SOUTH
CAREER & COLLEGE PLANNING SERVICES
At ESHS-South, students are provided with assistance in forming their individual academic and career plans through a combination of career planning courses, small group presentations, and individual counseling sessions.
Career & College planning classes are conducted with all students in grades 9-12 to assist each student in developing his/her individual post high school plan (i.e. post-secondary education, the armed services, or workforce). In 9th grade, students complete an on-line interest survey and begin to explore and to research careers of interest. Additionally, 9th grade students are introduced to career pathways and receive an explanation and subsequent discussion regarding graduation requirements. Study skills, time management, and appropriate usage of social media are also addressed in a student’s freshmen year. During the sophomore year, career planning classes continue to focus on career awareness and information. Also, college admission (e.g. PSAT, SAT, ACT, etc...) and military enlistment testing (ASVAB) is introduced. The content, preparation and timeline to register for exams are discussed in detail. During the 11th grade year, college admission testing is once again reviewed; however, one of the main topics is assisting students with the college decision making process. The proper steps to make a well informed decision in selecting a post-secondary school and major are reviewed along with making students aware of the on-line resources available to aide them with their college research. The 12th gd. year topics which are covered through the career planning classes include: financial aid, resume writing, and interviewing skills. All career related activities/lessons are documented for each student through their Career Cruising on-line portfolio.
Throughout a student’s high school experience, counselors also meet with each student through individual counseling sessions. These individual sessions provide students with the forum to ask their counselors specific questions related to graduation requirements, academic achievement/study skills, curriculum planning, and potential careers and colleges. While the career classes inform all students about the process of developing an academic/career plan, the individual sessions assist a student in forming and refining his/her unique plan based upon their specific talents, abilities, and interests. Furthermore, small group sessions are conducted each year to assist all students with scheduling and curriculum planning. At the beginning of the senior year, students are provided with small group presentations to assist them with the college admissions and application process. Counselors also assist seniors with college applications and decision making questions via a drop-by booth in the school cafeteria in the Fall and through individual appointments in the guidance office.
List of Individual Services/Events
- Career & College Planning Courses/Program (all students – gds. 9-12; specific courses address topics such as career awareness, career research & decision making; college admission testing; college research & decision making process; financial aid; resume writing; interviewing skills & armed services information)
- Annual College Fair (over 65 colleges, all students participate)
- Annual Career Fair (held in coordination w/ Martina Matheis’ English 11 courses; all 11th gd. students participate)
- College Seminar Night (Seniors & their parents are given an overview of the college application process by counselors and a panel of local college representatives from ESU, NCC, Lehigh and Penn College of Technology are available to address specific questions)
- Senior College Application Process Presentations (small group sessions; all seniors planning to apply to college participate)
- Financial Aid Night (applying for financial aid & types of aid available are reviewed w/ seniors & their parents; local PHEAA Access Partner is available for parental questions)
- FAFSA Completion Night (opportunity for parents of seniors needing help with completing the financial aid application (FAFSA); counselors & PHEAA Access Partner work one on one in the high school career lab to aid parents with submitting the FAFSA)
- College Corner (in Oct. & Nov. counselors are available in the cafeteria to assist students with questions pertaining to their college applications)
- East Stroudsburg University (ESU) Immediate Decision Day (seniors applying to ESU apply in person with ESU admission director, Jeff Jones, in the guidance office, and receive an immediate decision on their candidacy)
- Northampton Community College (NCC) Instant Decision Day (seniors applying to NCC are given the opportunity to see the NCC Monroe campus via a field trip coordinated by the guidance office & also apply in person during their visit)
- Senior Scholarship Newsletter (seniors can access a listing of state, local, and district specific scholarships in which the guidance office is made aware. Scholarships are up- dated throughout the year on the guidance website and seniors are given the ability to directly access all applications for eligible scholarships)
- Senior Award Presentations (seniors receiving local scholarships are recognized for their achievement at a special ceremony held in the school auditorium; the event is coordinated by the guidance staff; scholarship sponsors and the parents of award winners are invited to attend)
- Individual Student Appointments with Counselors (students can meet continuously with their guidance counselor from gds. 9-12 to discuss and to develop their post-secondary plan)
- Letters of Recommendation, Counselor Reports and Transcripts for College Applications (throughout the Fall & into the Spring semester, counselors are writing letters of recommendations, completing counselor reports for college applications and sending transcripts to colleges to assist seniors in successfully submitting all their college applications)
- PSAT Testing (gds. 10 & 11)
- PSAT Score Interpretation Sessions (gds. 10 & 11)
- SAT Testing (3 Test Dates per Year)
- AP Testing (AP students are given the opportunity to earn advanced college credit/placement)
- ASVAB Testing (conducted twice per year for interested Juniors & Seniors)