Salina South High School

Senior Information

Class of 2022 Seniors.  Take a moment to view Senior Information (9/7/21) from Ms. Smith.

Got a question for Ms. Smith?  Click HERE to post your question.

Senior Parent Night

Senior Parent Night was held on Wednesday, September 15th, 2021. 

21-22 Senior Parent Night Powerpoint

RECRUITERS/COLLEGES at SHSS - During Lunch in Commons

• Friday, October 22nd - University of Kansas
• Monday, November 1st - Cloud County Community College
• Monday, November 8th - Washburn University
• Wednesday, November 10th - Hutchinson Community College

Senior News... 

2022-23 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) Form
The 2022-23 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is now open! Students enrolling for academic year 2022/2023 can submit their FAFSA; families should use their 2020 income tax information. Before students and parents can complete the FAFSA, the student and parent must create an FSA ID. To create your FSA ID go to FSA ID Website.  How to Create FSA ID Video

College Planning Conference at South High
On Wednesday, October 20th, from 1 pm to 3 pm, South High will be hosting a College Planning Conference.  The Kansas Association of College Registrars and Admissions Officers (KACRAO) hosts College Planning Conferences for high school students throughout the state of Kansas. South High juniors and seniors will have the opportunity to visit with college, technical, and trade school representatives from across the state and nation. KACRAO is pleased to announce we have partnered with StriveScan to bring their student barcode scanning technology to our college fairs starting this fall. StriveScan will make the experience more efficient and productive for students and colleges, plus provide KACRAO and the fair organizers with valuable data about the events. For more information, visit Barcode Scanning.

#ApplySouthHigh
ApplySouthHigh will be held on Friday, October 22, 2021, in the South High Library.  The first step in going to college is to apply! The goal for the Class of 2022 is for every senior to apply to at least one post-secondary school. Apply South High will give you time and space to work on your post-high school plans during the school day with help, guidance, and a cheering squad from school staff. Please fill out the following form. You will be contacted by student services staff with more information before the dates of the event. Applying to a post-secondary school does not obligate you; but once you do, it is that much more obtainable! Immediate questions? Ask Mrs. Sellers or Mrs. Goodrich in the Student Center. Click #ApplySouthHigh to register.

Salina Area Technical College - Home Health Aide Online Course
Salina Tech will offer an online Home Health Aide course for students who may be interested in earning an additional Allied Health credential.  To enroll, you must have an active CNA certificate.  The Home Health Aide course will allow you to earn two college credits and enable you to find employment beyond a hospital or long-term care facility.   The course will run from October 4th through October 22nd, and the cost will be $38.00.  For more information, see Ms. Smith or Mrs. Sellers.

KSU - Engage: Multicultural Scholars Day
Engage: Multicultural Scholars Day offers future Wildcats interactive experiences throughout campus that will highlight what life as a K-Stater will be. You will get a chance to test out new technologies in our Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab, learn from current students about how to get involved in undergraduate research, get an insider's tour of the Morris Family Multicultural Student Center and much more!  Engage: Multicultural Scholars Day will take place on Monday, October 18. Check-in will begin at 8:30 a.m., and the program will start at 9:00 a.m. Please have your seniors register here. The event is FREE to attend and includes lunch for you and your guests, materials for the day, and parking. Parents and Guardians often find value in attending sessions as well. Students may bring up to two guests with them. Call 785-532-1521 or email events@k-state.edu with questions.

U.S. Service Academy Application
Congressman Tracey Mann is the new Congressman for the First District in Kansas is accepting applications from seniors interested in attending a United States service academy. Below is the link to our website that also includes the same application. All applications when complete need to be sent (via email or mail) to our District Director Reid Petty who’s contact information is also listed below. Please do not send them to our Washington D.C. office. Please direct any questions to Reid as well. The deadline for applications to be turned in to attend a service academy next year is Monday, November 1, 2021. Interview dates will be set up at a later time.   https://mann.house.gov/services/military-academy-nominations

ACT Method Test Prep
Students can take advantage of ACT Method Test Prep in XELLO. This is an excellent tool to prepare for the ACT test. Student can access Method Test Prep under "Links and Resources" in their XELLO account.

Class of 2022 Senior Photos for the Yearbook

The deadline for senior photographs for the yearbook will be December 21, 2021 so plan now to meet the deadline. Photographs can be turned in as printed pictures, digitally on a CD or jump drive, or emailed to kim.warren@usd305.com. If you are sending them digitally, make sure they are at a high resolution or the reproduction in the yearbook will be unsatisfactory. Senior portraits must meet the following criteria to be used in the yearbook:

• Head and shoulder shot or can be cropped to head and shoulders shot.
• No hats or hands
• Color (not black and white or duo-tone)
• Plain background (It can be outside.)
• Vertical picture
• No selfies

The rationale behind these regulations is that head size remains consistent among all pictures and that all portraits command the same amount of attention rather than one individual standing out on the page. If you have any questions about the requirements or want the yearbook adviser to look at a photograph to see if it meets requirements, contact Kim Warren at kim.warren@usd305.com or 309-3798.  Yearbook staff members are also available to take a senior portrait for the yearbook. Students can contact Kim Warren to set up an appointment. Lifetouch photos can also be used. If you didn't take Interstate (school) photos, take them on retake day The yearbook staff has access to the photos, but students just need to let Mrs. Warren know they want these used.

South High Student Opportunities...

Please read carefully. Some opportunities apply to a specific age/classification of student. Additional information is available in the Counseling Office.

Volunteer Opportunities
Are you looking for opportunities to volunteer in the Salina and Saline County community?  Here are some links to get started.

Volunteer Match, Catholic Charities, Salina Family YMCA, Saline Emergency Food Bank, Salina Area United Way 

Test Optional Colleges and Universities

Test Optional Admissions policies are not new to College Admission. Many colleges and universities have offered a test optional admission option for decades. Due to COVID-19 and the closing of many test sites, throughout the US, Colleges and Universities have revisited their college entrance exam requirements, implementing test optional policies, either temporarily (for Fall 2021 admissions) or permanently.  FairTest.org has a comprehensive list of Test Optional Colleges and Universities. It is important that you review the test optional policy for the Colleges and Universities that you are planning to apply to. Every institutions requirements vary. 

                                                                                    READ THE FINE PRINT:                                                                                              Some colleges are test optional for admission, but require testing for special programs and scholarships.

Virtual College Visits

COVID-19 has changed the where and how we visit colleges campus. Recently, some college campuses have opened back-up their campuses for socially distanced and masked college tours, while others still remain closed to visitors. Your best source of information for how colleges are sharing their campuses with prospective students is each College/Universities Campus Visit website.

Virtual Campus Tour Resources & Events:

Tips for a (Virtual) Campus Visit You'll Remember

YouVISIT

STRIVE Virtual College Exploration

Go to College Fairs

NACAC Virtual College Fairs

2020/2021 Senior Parent Night Presentation

2020/2021 Senior Class Career Planning Presentation

To view full calendar click here

EMPORIA STATE UNIVERSITY

• February 1 - Priority deadline
• March 15 - Priority deadline for Federal Financial Aid
• To apply for talent scholarships, contact the department directly. Contact information is on their site.

FORT HAYS STATE UNIVERSITY

• December 15 - Priority deadline for general scholarship
• February 15 - Final deadline for general scholarships
• March 15 - Priority deadline for Federal Financial Aid

KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY

• December 1 - Priority deadline for premiere scholarships
• If your application for admission is submitted by November 1st, it will automatically be forwarded to the departments.
• February 1 - College/Departmental scholarship deadline
• February 1 - Priority deadline for Federal Financial Aid

PITTSBURG STATE UNIVERSITY

• February 1 - Deadline for general scholarships

UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS

• December 1 - Priority deadline for general scholarships
• March 1-Priority date for Federal Financial Aid

WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY

• WSU begins awarding scholarships for incoming freshmen in September. Apply early for full consideration for scholarships
• October 1 - Deadline for admittance to be included in the DSI Competition (Distinguished Scholars Invitational)
• December 1 - Deadline for freshman merit scholarships

August/September

• Register for the SAT and/or ACT if you didn't take it as a junior, or if you aren't satisfied with your score and want to take it again. (remember that your counselor can help you with fee waivers)
• Take a look at some college applications and consider all of the different pieces of information you will need to compile.
• The SAT test date most popular with high school seniors is this month.
• Visit with your school counselor to make sure you are on track to graduate and fulfill college admission requirements. If you're ahead of schedule, consider taking courses at a local university or community college to get a jumpstart on college credit.
• Take every opportunity to get to know colleges: meeting with college representatives who visit your high schools during the fall, attending local college fairs, visiting campuses (if possible). Ask your counselor if they know of special campus visitation programs.
• Narrow down your list of colleges and begin to consider "safe," "reach," and "realistic" schools. Make sure you have the application and financial aid information for each school. Find out if you qualify for any scholarships at these schools.

Create a checklist and calendar to chart:

• Standardized test dates, registration deadlines, and fees
• College application due dates
• Financial aid application forms and deadlines
• Other materials you'll need for college applications (recommendations, transcripts, essays, etc.)
• Your high school's application processing deadlines

Some schools require the CSS/Financial Aid Profile. Ask the colleges to which you are applying for their deadlines. You can register as early as September. See your guidance counselor about fee waivers.

October

• It is time to fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). File the form as soon after October 1 as possible. In addition to determining your eligibility for federal funds, many colleges and states use the form when distributing grants, so don't delay. Watch the mail for your Student Aid Report (SAR)-it should arrive four weeks after the FAFSA is filed.
• Some colleges will have deadlines as early as this month. These would include rolling admission, priority, early decision, and early action deadlines.
• If you cannot afford the application fees that many colleges charge, ask your counselor to help you request a fee waiver.
• Finalize your college essay. Many schools will require that you submit at least one essay with your application.
• Request personal recommendations from teachers, school counselors, or employers. Follow the process required by your high school or provide a stamped, addressed envelope, the appropriate college forms, and an outline of your academic record and extracurricular activities to each person writing you a recommendation.
• Research possibilities of scholarships. Ask your counselor, your colleges, and your religious and civic groups about scholarship opportunities. You should never pay for scholarship information.

November

• Finalize and send any early decision or early action applications due this month. Have a parent, teacher, counselor, or another adult review the application before it is submitted.
• Every college will require a copy of your transcript from your high school. Follow your school's procedure for sending transcripts.
• Make sure testing companies have sent your scores directly to the colleges to which you are applying.

December

• Begin to organize regular decision applications and financial aid forms, which will be due in January and/or February.
• Register for the January SAT (If needed). It is the last one colleges will be able to consider for a senior.

January

• Many popular and selective colleges will have application deadlines as early as January 1. Others have deadlines later in January and February. Keep track of and observe deadlines for sending in all required fees and paperwork.
• If necessary, register for the February ACT (some colleges will be able to consider it).
• Ask your guidance office in January to send first semester transcripts to schools where you applied. At the end of the school year, they will need to send final transcripts to the college you will attend.

Feb/March/April

• While most of your applications will be complete and you are waiting to receive admission decisions, don't slack in the classroom. The college that you do attend will want to see your second-semester transcript. No Senioritis!
• Acceptance letters and financial aid offers will start to arrive. Review your acceptances, compare financial aid packages, and visit your final choices, especially if you haven't already.

May

• May 1 is the date when the college you plan to attend requires a commitment and deposit. When you've made your college decision, notify your counselor and the colleges. Send in your deposit by the postmark date of May 1. If you've been offered financial aid, accept the offer and follow the instructions given. Also, notify schools you will not attend of your decision.
• Make sure that you have requested that your final transcript be sent to the school you will be attending.
• If you are "wait-listed" by a college you really want to attend, visit, call and write the admission office to make your interest clear. Ask how you can strengthen your application.

Information Courtesy of 2016 National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC)