MIDLOTHIAN HIGH SCHOOL
GUIDANCE TEAM
GUIDANCE TEAM
Main Number 972-775-8237
FAX 972-775-3178
A goal without a plan is just a wish. FAX 972-775-3178
Creating a better future, one student at a time.
SPECIAL NOTICE:
SAT and ACT Boot Camps scheduled for Nov 15 (SAT) and Dec 6 (ACT) are full. Please contact LaDon Wooten for more info.
Get Involved, MHS! Follow THIS LINK to the Meadow Library page for many options and opportunities.
TEXAS Graduation Requirements
PREPARE YOUR OWN STUDY GUIDE High School 101
Scholarship Opportunities/
College Invitations
SEE OUR NEW PAGE for more to do with Scholarships and College Invitations!
College Admission POWERPOINT UPDATED
PowerPoint UPDATED
The purpose of the guidance team at MHS is to advocate for the students of MHS. Together, with parents, teachers and administrators, we can help create a better future, one student at a time. Please explore our pages which have specific content to meet different needs.
MHS NEWS AND FAQS
Click on this link to see a video about FAFSA. (Humor Involved!)
Please click on this link for more info on our remaining SAT and ACT Bootcamps.
Coming to MHS on December 12th, the ASVAB exam. This exam is designed as a gauge of skills proficiency, and it is a requirement for military enlistment. All sophomores, juniors and seniors interested may take part. The exam is free, and students need to sign up in the Counseling Center by November 21st to ensure an accurate count for exams. For more information and test prep, please click HERE.
TAKS Retesting Results have been made available for the Social Studies, Math and Science re-testers and first-time EXIT test takers. The ELA tests results should arrive in December. Congratulations to those who were successful!
Those who need to re-test will have TAKS Science and Math classes available.
Senior students are allowed two days per school year for College Visits. This generally requires a week's notice and needs signatures from a principal, all teachers and a counselor. Students need to bring back documentation of their visit to the Attendance Office. For helpful tips on how to plan and what to do when you get there from Collegeboard, CLICK HERE.
Students will need to send transcripts to colleges throughout the year, and students can request TEN free over the course of their academic career. After that, the cost will be $1. Click HERE for a transcript request form.
The PSAT and PLAN tests were given on October 15th to different student groups. Over 1, 000 MHS students took part in one of the exams. Results will be received and reviewed with students in December or January. Thanks to all teachers who made things run so smoothly on this important day.
ACT and SAT test schedules are available in the Counseling Center. The ACT is given 5 times a year at MHS. Please check the College and Career page for sign-up pages. PRINCETON REVIEW will once again be available this year for MHS students. New login information is available to all registered students.
Volunteering Opportunities Are Available in the DFW Area. Please click on this link, or this one for a listing of contacts. Community service is invaluable in gaining scholarships and college admission, and all students must complete at least 10 hours for graduation purposes.
BRAND NEW access site for TAKS Prep Manuals is here. CLICK and select your manual today.
FEATURED ARTICLE
Paying for college after the meltdown
By DAVE CARPENTER
The Associated Press
CHICAGO — A number almost as scary as 401 — as in 401(k) — for parents with college-bound children these days is 529.
The stock market swoon that has shrunk retirement savings by double digits has also put a big dent in Section 529 college savings plans, the state-sponsored programs that offer significant tax breaks, as well as other accounts for college savings.
The financial crisis makes it more incumbent on parents to make the college selection process a decision that’s akin to buying a car — or more precisely, a new car every year for four years — said Tim Higgins, a certified college-planning specialist and author of Pay for College Without Sacrificing Your Retirement.
"Too many people are playing the admissions game as opposed to being smart consumers," Higgins said. "People who get wrapped up in the decal that’s going to be on the back of their car are probably going to make a bad, emotional buying decision. They should be looking for a good education that fits the student at a reasonable cost that their family can afford."
Excerpts of his interview with The Associated Press:
What strategies can parents pursue to limit their expenses?
There are two good options that people were less enthusiastic about five or seven years ago: looking at in-state public schools or at private schools that may be safety schools (fallback choices) for your student. Whenever you’re looking at state schools outside your own state, the costs almost double. A lot of students tend to think it’s more glamorous to go out of state, but as a buying decision it’s gotten to the point where they may need to consider in-state options. Wealthy private colleges where your student is going to be one of the better students coming in may be willing to give you merit-based money or be much more lenient in their need-based formulas to lure the students they want.
What’s a cost-cutting option that’s often overlooked?
One top strategy that people often don’t think of as a financial strategy is SAT (or ACT) test prep. This is huge, because it not only helps you get into schools where the door wouldn’t have been open but can bring thousands of dollars in merit-based aid. I think it’s one of the best investments parents can make in the process. It might cost you $200 for an online program, $500 or so for classroom prep or up to $2,000 or more for personal tutoring. Two of the online programs are Peterson’s (petersons.com) and PrepMe (prepme.com). Peterson guarantees that the student’s SAT score will go up by 200 points, and PrepMe claims its average student goes up 305 points. Those are dramatic increases.
What’s an appropriate amount of debt to take on?
It depends on the family’s finances and what field (the student is) going to go into and how much they’re going to be making. I like to cap the student borrowing at the (federal) Stafford loan rates, which works out to $27,000 over four years. That would be somewhat equivalent to a car payment for the student when they get out. Once you start getting up into the $40,000 range, the $60,000 range, that’s a ton of pressure on the student to be able to make those payments. For parents, I’d say do a financial plan. Maybe the answer as to how much they contribute is zero, depending on what they want to do. And that’s fine.
Under what circumstances do you recommend tapping into home equity?
If there’s going to be parent borrowing, I often recommend looking at home equity first. A lot of things have changed: Home equity has decreased because values have decreased, and it’s tougher to get lines of credit. But, still, it should be pursued because generally rates are more attractive. If you have to borrow, it makes the most sense to do so in the student’s name and to use Stafford and (high-need federal) Perkins loans. Those are the best borrowing rates and the most flexible. For parents, it’s out of your name. And I’ve read studies where students do better and take school more seriously if they are taking on some of the financial burden. Just remember to fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) even if you suspect you won’t qualify for need-based aid. You’ll need to if you plan on borrowing a portion of college costs through the best loan programs available.
What do you tell people who think that by having less savings they’ll qualify for more financial aid?
That’s one of the biggest myths out there. It gets you off the hook, and people like to use it as an excuse. You’ve got to be saving. The key is to have savings in the right places. That’s why I recommend the Roth IRA, if you qualify, which won’t hurt you at all. Even if you have money in a 529 savings plan or a brokerage account, only a small percentage of parents’ savings is assessed in financial aid formulas. And colleges typically allow parents to have between $30,000 and $60,000 as a cash reserve, so savings up to that amount may not even be assessed.
Online collegeplusretirement.com
Click on this link to see a video about FAFSA. (Humor Involved!)
Please click on this link for more info on our remaining SAT and ACT Bootcamps.
Coming to MHS on December 12th, the ASVAB exam. This exam is designed as a gauge of skills proficiency, and it is a requirement for military enlistment. All sophomores, juniors and seniors interested may take part. The exam is free, and students need to sign up in the Counseling Center by November 21st to ensure an accurate count for exams. For more information and test prep, please click HERE.
TAKS Retesting Results have been made available for the Social Studies, Math and Science re-testers and first-time EXIT test takers. The ELA tests results should arrive in December. Congratulations to those who were successful!
Those who need to re-test will have TAKS Science and Math classes available.
Senior students are allowed two days per school year for College Visits. This generally requires a week's notice and needs signatures from a principal, all teachers and a counselor. Students need to bring back documentation of their visit to the Attendance Office. For helpful tips on how to plan and what to do when you get there from Collegeboard, CLICK HERE.
Students will need to send transcripts to colleges throughout the year, and students can request TEN free over the course of their academic career. After that, the cost will be $1. Click HERE for a transcript request form.
The PSAT and PLAN tests were given on October 15th to different student groups. Over 1, 000 MHS students took part in one of the exams. Results will be received and reviewed with students in December or January. Thanks to all teachers who made things run so smoothly on this important day.
ACT and SAT test schedules are available in the Counseling Center. The ACT is given 5 times a year at MHS. Please check the College and Career page for sign-up pages. PRINCETON REVIEW will once again be available this year for MHS students. New login information is available to all registered students.
Volunteering Opportunities Are Available in the DFW Area. Please click on this link, or this one for a listing of contacts. Community service is invaluable in gaining scholarships and college admission, and all students must complete at least 10 hours for graduation purposes.
BRAND NEW access site for TAKS Prep Manuals is here. CLICK and select your manual today.
FEATURED ARTICLE
Paying for college after the meltdown
By DAVE CARPENTER
The Associated Press
CHICAGO — A number almost as scary as 401 — as in 401(k) — for parents with college-bound children these days is 529.
The stock market swoon that has shrunk retirement savings by double digits has also put a big dent in Section 529 college savings plans, the state-sponsored programs that offer significant tax breaks, as well as other accounts for college savings.
The financial crisis makes it more incumbent on parents to make the college selection process a decision that’s akin to buying a car — or more precisely, a new car every year for four years — said Tim Higgins, a certified college-planning specialist and author of Pay for College Without Sacrificing Your Retirement.
"Too many people are playing the admissions game as opposed to being smart consumers," Higgins said. "People who get wrapped up in the decal that’s going to be on the back of their car are probably going to make a bad, emotional buying decision. They should be looking for a good education that fits the student at a reasonable cost that their family can afford."
Excerpts of his interview with The Associated Press:
What strategies can parents pursue to limit their expenses?
There are two good options that people were less enthusiastic about five or seven years ago: looking at in-state public schools or at private schools that may be safety schools (fallback choices) for your student. Whenever you’re looking at state schools outside your own state, the costs almost double. A lot of students tend to think it’s more glamorous to go out of state, but as a buying decision it’s gotten to the point where they may need to consider in-state options. Wealthy private colleges where your student is going to be one of the better students coming in may be willing to give you merit-based money or be much more lenient in their need-based formulas to lure the students they want.
What’s a cost-cutting option that’s often overlooked?
One top strategy that people often don’t think of as a financial strategy is SAT (or ACT) test prep. This is huge, because it not only helps you get into schools where the door wouldn’t have been open but can bring thousands of dollars in merit-based aid. I think it’s one of the best investments parents can make in the process. It might cost you $200 for an online program, $500 or so for classroom prep or up to $2,000 or more for personal tutoring. Two of the online programs are Peterson’s (petersons.com) and PrepMe (prepme.com). Peterson guarantees that the student’s SAT score will go up by 200 points, and PrepMe claims its average student goes up 305 points. Those are dramatic increases.
What’s an appropriate amount of debt to take on?
It depends on the family’s finances and what field (the student is) going to go into and how much they’re going to be making. I like to cap the student borrowing at the (federal) Stafford loan rates, which works out to $27,000 over four years. That would be somewhat equivalent to a car payment for the student when they get out. Once you start getting up into the $40,000 range, the $60,000 range, that’s a ton of pressure on the student to be able to make those payments. For parents, I’d say do a financial plan. Maybe the answer as to how much they contribute is zero, depending on what they want to do. And that’s fine.
Under what circumstances do you recommend tapping into home equity?
If there’s going to be parent borrowing, I often recommend looking at home equity first. A lot of things have changed: Home equity has decreased because values have decreased, and it’s tougher to get lines of credit. But, still, it should be pursued because generally rates are more attractive. If you have to borrow, it makes the most sense to do so in the student’s name and to use Stafford and (high-need federal) Perkins loans. Those are the best borrowing rates and the most flexible. For parents, it’s out of your name. And I’ve read studies where students do better and take school more seriously if they are taking on some of the financial burden. Just remember to fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) even if you suspect you won’t qualify for need-based aid. You’ll need to if you plan on borrowing a portion of college costs through the best loan programs available.
What do you tell people who think that by having less savings they’ll qualify for more financial aid?
That’s one of the biggest myths out there. It gets you off the hook, and people like to use it as an excuse. You’ve got to be saving. The key is to have savings in the right places. That’s why I recommend the Roth IRA, if you qualify, which won’t hurt you at all. Even if you have money in a 529 savings plan or a brokerage account, only a small percentage of parents’ savings is assessed in financial aid formulas. And colleges typically allow parents to have between $30,000 and $60,000 as a cash reserve, so savings up to that amount may not even be assessed.
Online collegeplusretirement.com