Students now have more resources to prepare for life after high school with the launch of SchooLinks and the opening of the new College and Career Center.
“The College and Career Center is designed to be a center for post-secondary planning,” Jennifer Giorgetti, counselor, said. “Our goal is to give students access to resources and support that help them make informed decisions about their futures.”
SchooLinks, an online platform, helps students explore colleges, careers and scholarships.
The site includes tools such as career interest surveys, resume builders and lists of upcoming deadlines, allowing students to be efficient throughout the application process.
“SchooLinks has helped me stay more organized and know where to find things,” Madilyn Fewkes, senior, said.
The College and Career Center, located in C140, provides a space for students to meet with visiting college representatives, receive assistance for applications and learn more about financial aid. The center also assists students who plan to attend a community college, trade school, or enter the workforce following graduation.
“The College and Career Center has made it a lot easier for me to communicate with the college ambassadors,” Cesar Arciniega, senior, said. “It gives me a setting where it feels a lot less personal but more professional, making it less stressful.”
The new resources are also expected to ease the process of asking for teacher recommendation letters.
With SchooLinks, students can organize their applications and share information about themselves, making it easier for teachers to write stronger, more personalized letters.
“A strong letter stands out when it shows that a student is pursuing goals both inside and outside the classroom,” Benjamin Nugent, AP Physics teacher, said.
For seniors, the new center has been especially helpful in navigating applications.
“It’s given me the opportunity to know that I have somewhere to go to get help,” Fewkes said, “It has more of a welcoming atmosphere rather than just meeting with my counselor.”
The addition of SchooLinks and the College and Career Center represent a step forward in making career or college planning more accessible for all students.
“Ask your counselor questions and they will tell you exactly what to do,” Yinyereth Villalobos, senior, said.