Counseling

Freshman Year Planning

• Cornerstone - Strength, career, and passion exploration through our Cornerstone course.  Learn the fundamentals of being a Crean Lutheran Saint, a Christian - Learner - Servant! We highly recommend you take Cornerstone during the summer prior to your freshman year or during fall of 9th grade. Cornerstone is a Crean Lutheran High School graduation requirement. If you do not take Cornerstone during freshman year, you can take it later in your High School journey.

• Classroom Presentations - Your counselor will visit you during class to explain high school graduation requirements, and deliver in-service presentations on topics related to high school success.

• Monthly LINK-Up- On the first Wednesday of every month, you will meet up with your LINK Crew during life group time. Touch base with your LINK leader and participate in fellowship activities.

• Freshmen Conferences (September-October) - Meet one-on-one with your counselor to discuss the Counseling Department, hobbies, interests, school involvement, academic and spiritual goals, current classes, and your initial post-graduation ideas. Students will begin to familiarize themselves with Naviance, an interactive college and career planning program. You will make progress on your four-year plan, including an initial review of your understanding of standardized tests.

• Presidential Service Award- If a student is 15 or younger, the Gold Level Presidential Service Award only requires 100 hours of volunteer work in a single year (less than two hours per week).  That volunteer work may take place at more than one location. It is important for a student to complete this award while still 14 or 15 as when they turn 16, they need 250 hours in a single year (over four hours per week).  To associate Crean Lutheran High School as the assigner of the award, the student must use the ROS Key SVU-6020 and complete this form.

• Congressional Award- The Congressional Award is a bit more complicated in that the Gold Medal requires 400 hours of volunteer work, 200 hours of personal development, 200 hours of physical fitness, and a 5 day and 4 night expedition (camping trip in shelter or tent planned and executed by student) or exploration (cultural experience planned and executed by student).  The award also requires these activities to take place over a 24-month period. The Washington D.C. Gold Medal awards ceremony is in June of each year; however, Gold Medal applications are due by February 1; therefore, it is best for freshmen to learn about the award and register online for it prior to February of their freshman year, if they are interested in including the Gold Medal on their college application and resume.

• National Testing Day (October) - You will take the 8/9 PSAT, which will help further familiarize you with standardized tests and prepare you for future tests (e.g. SAT, ACT). Career day takes place after the test. Get familiar with different careers, and explore what careers match your gifts, personality, and passion.

• Lunchtime College Fairs (October and November) - We will have three different mini college fairs at lunch. Start discovering what different universities have to offer, as you explore what schools are the best fit for you. You  will receive information in advance through a weekly emailed called Counseling Corner.

• PSAT Scoring Night (January) - We will meet in the evening with you, your parents, and other freshmen to ensure that you understand the PSAT, your score, and further standardized testing preparation opportunities.

• Freshmen College Planning Night (February) - Take the next step in completing your four-year plan as you learn about how important the freshmen year is to your private college plans.

• Freshman Conference #2 (January-February) - Meet with your counselor and your parents to discuss your progress during the first semester, and discuss classes for sophomore year. Continue updating your four-year plan, and get familiar with The College Blueprint, our test preparation partner.

• Registration Month (March) - Honors/AP Interest Forms, Challenge Test Week and Course selection forms are distributed, collected, and processed.

• Challenge Test Week (March) - If you would like to take a challenge test to enter into a more rigorous course, you will have the opportunity to do so.

Sophomore Year Planning

• National Testing Day (October) - You will take the 10/11 PSAT, which will help further familiarize you with standardized tests and prepare you for future tests (e.g. SAT, ACT). You will also attend Crean Lutheran’s annual Career Fair in the afternoon on the same day.

• Lunchtime College Fairs (September, October & November) - On three occasions during the months of September, October and November, we will host ten to fifteen different colleges on our campus. You will receive information in advance through Counseling Corner and Naviance, so please bring questions for the college of your choice.

• PSAT Scoring Night (January) - We will meet in the evening with you, your parents, and other sophomores to ensure that you understand the PSAT, your score, and further standardized testing preparation opportunities.

• Southern California College Tour (February) - Counselors will take you on a tour of three or more college campuses, right here in Southern California. Colleges we have visited in the past include Concordia University Irvine, Vanguard University, The Master’s University, UCLA, USC, Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Long Beach, Cal Baptist University, Biola University, and Chapman University, University of San Diego, Point Loma, and many more!

• Honor Society Applications Due (January 31) - Students who are interested in seeking acceptance into one or more Honor Societies must be Sophomores or Juniors with a minimum cumulative weighted academic GPA of 3.80 or higher.  Additionally, students who apply must reflect the four central tenets of each Honor Society through documented evidence of Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Character. Admission into each Honor Society is stringent and it is never too early to begin preparations for admission to the National Honor Society.

• Sophomore Conferences (January-February) - Meet one-on-one with your counselor to discuss first semester grades, course selection for the upcoming academic year, graduation requirements, hobbies, interests, school involvement, academic and spiritual goals, current classes, and your initial post-graduation ideas.  Students will begin to familiarize themselves with Naviance, a website for exploring college and post-graduation career options.  You will make progress on your four-year plan, including reviewing your understanding of standardized tests.

• Sophomore College Planning Night (February) - Take the next step in completing your four-year plan as you learn about how important the sophomore year is to all college plans, the Princeton Review Assessment (PRA), Princeton Review services included in your tuition, and potential testing months/timeline. Also, you will continue building your resume.

• ACT/SAT Prep Classes - Through a partnership with The College Blueprint, students are offered one free ACT/SAT test preparation class.

• Spring College Tour; (April) - Counselors will take you on a tour of three of more college campuses. The Spring college tour is a 3-day overnight trip and will range from Northern California schools, to Texas Schools and many more! The schools in which we tour will change from year to year.

Junior Year

• National Testing Day (October) - You will take the 10/11 PSAT, which will help further familiarize you with standardized tests and prepare you for future tests (e.g. SAT, ACT). You will also attend Crean Lutheran’s annual Career Fair in the afternoon on the same day.

• Junior College Planning Night (November) - Take the next step in completing your four-year plan as you learn about how important the junior year is to all college plans.  Also, you will work towards making final touches on your resume in preparation of the college application process. We will also spend time thoroughly covering that process.

• Lunchtime College Fairs (September, October & November) - On three occasions during the months of September, October and November,  we will host ten to fifteen different colleges on our campus. You will receive information in advance through Counseling Corner and Naviance, so please bring questions for the college of your choice.

• Junior Conferences (November through January) - Individual conferences with your counselor.  We will discuss the college application process, deadlines, the colleges at the top of your list, 50/50 schools, and colleges on your ‘safety’ list.  We will review your academic progress, your involvement in extracurricular activities, a tentative course load for your senior year, the resume you have been developing which you will be pulling from for the college application process, and more.

• PSAT Scoring Night (January) - We will meet in the evening with you, your parents, and other juniors to ensure that you understand the PSAT, your score, and further standardized testing preparation opportunities.

• ACT/SAT Prep Classes - Through a partnership with The College Blueprint, students are offered one free ACT/SAT test preparation class.

• Honor Society Applications Due (January 31) - Students who are interested in seeking acceptance into one or more Honor Societies must be Sophomores or Juniors with a minimum cumulative weighted academic GPA of 3.80 or higher.  Additionally, students who apply must reflect the four central tenets of the Honor Society through documented evidence of Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Character. Admission into each Honor Society is stringent and it is never too early to begin preparations for admission to the National Honor Society

• Southern California College Tour (February) - Counselors will take you on a tour of three or more college campuses, right here in Southern California. Colleges we have visited in the past include Concordia University Irvine, Vanguard University, The Master’s University, UCLA, USC, Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Long Beach, Cal Baptist University, Biola University, Chapman University, University of San Diego, Point Loma, and many more!

• Spring College Tour; (April) - Counselors will take you on a tour of three or more college campuses. The Spring college tour is a 3-day overnight trip and will range from Northern California schools to Texas schools and many more! The schools in which we tour will change from year to year.

• College Essay Workshops (May) - Counselors will work with rising seniors in May on understanding the college essay writing process, understanding the prompts, and formulating thoughtful responses.

• NCAA/NAIA Registration (June through August) - Student-Athletes who are interested in participating in a sport in college must register during their junior year. Visit the NCAA and/or NAIA websites for more information.

Senior Year Planning

• College Application Boot Camp (August) - A one-week boot camp where counselors will work with seniors on completing all the components of the Common Application, the UC application, the application, essay, and supplements for each college.

• Finalize College List (August) - Students are encouraged to finalize a list of colleges which they will be applying to in their Naviance account. This will be under the ‘Colleges I’m Applying To’ tab.

• Brag Sheet (October 1)- Seniors submit their Brag Sheet to their Counselor by October 1 so that their letters of recommendation can be written in a timely manner.

• Lunchtime College Fairs (September, October & November) - On three occasions during the months of September, October and November, we will host ten to fifteen different colleges on our campus. You will receive information in advance through Counseling Corner and Naviance, so please bring questions for the college of your choice.

• Senior College Planning Night (September) - Students and parents are invited to kick-off college application season by attending this evening presentation. Review the steps of the college application process; review deadlines; and receive important information to help throughout the process.  

• FAFSA Presentation (October) - Seniors & families can come learn more about financial aid, the FAFSA, and how to fill it out.  

• College application assistance and review (September - November) - College Application Madness, after school college application workshops, to work on all components of any college applications.  Counselors will work one-on-one with students as needed.

• College Application deadlines (November) - (If applicable) Early Action (non-binding), or Early Decision (binding), November 1 or November 15 depending on college. November 30 UC and CSU applications deadline.

• Community College Application Assistance - Students planning on attending a Community college are encouraged to schedule a meeting with their Counselor.  Counselors will help students complete the application and help them in the next steps of the process.

• California Scholarship Federation (CSF) Membership Assessment (January)- Counselors assess senior transcripts for potential membership in CSF.

• Report Acceptances and Financial Aid (Spring) - Students are encouraged to report all college acceptances and financial aid/scholarships received in their Naviance account

• Final College Decisions Reported (May) - Seniors will report to their counselor their final college decision in their Naviance account.