Every year, CHS seniors graduate and choose to pursue a variety of opportunities: higher education, taking a gap year, or directly going to work. With many options and rules, especially during the college application season, CHS counselors, Kelly Maveal and Brian Williams, are trying to make the time more manageable.  

So during the second week of school, on Sept. 6, Maveal and Williams hosted the first of many senior meetings discussing the options students have and how to do them.

Here are some of the key points from the first senior meeting:

College is not the only option; Maveal and Williams shared a list of “50 Hot Jobs in Michigan.” The jobs have expected growth within the next years and many don’t require a college degree, and some can pay up to $80,000 per year. Students could also take a gap year and choose to pursue college after.

Letters of recommendation are important; Many colleges require Letters of Recommendation — which allow another person to talk personally about the student — from teachers or counselors. Williams clarified that they are gifts from teachers and not expectations. Students should ask for a letter, in person, from one or two teachers they know well. Colleges vary in number and types of letters. A Letter of Recommendation must come from a teacher who taught the student academically (excluding forum leaders unless a student has  taken their class). However, if a college requires a counselor’s Letter of Recommendation, this is the place where people in the student’s personal life can write about the student (including Forum leaders here).

CHS’ counselors will let colleges know about CHS’ unique system; With CHS as AAPS’ “alternative school,” things are done differently, like how there are no AP, Honors, or IB classes. However, students won’t have to explain the situation. 

“This profile [we send out to colleges] talks about what makes Community unique and different from other schools in the state,” Maveal said. “[It] showcases the excellent academic work that goes on in our school, and as a result, colleges highly regarded [Community].”

Your high school transcript is important; Your high school transcript is important. Grades are unweighted unless a student took an AP class from another high school, and that one grade will be weighted. It’s also important for students to not give up on grades, as many colleges do check semester one grades from applicants.

College visits are here for students; During college application season, visitors from colleges come to CHS to talk about their college. The visitors talk to applying students and get to know them, and sometimes they can even be the ones who look over a students application.

“What I felt last year [is that] students were hesitant to meet the college,” Maveal said. “[But] they’re here for you. They’re not here just to get a coffee.”

As college deadlines approach, senior student’s years can get overwhelming and there are many important things to keep in mind. However, Williams and Maveal are here to help. With many moving parts in the senior year, the counselors hope to make it easier to manage.