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Schools

Planning for Your Academic Future

Eastlake and Skyline counselors offer tips for getting into college.

Fall is here and this year’s crop of high school seniors has headed back to class for their final year. Soon enough it will be time for them to start planning for the future and applying to colleges.

and competition for a limited number of spaces has made getting into and paying for college a tough proposition, though. Fortunately for prospective collegians, counselors at and have plenty of advice for applying to college and ideas for alternative ways students can expand their horizons and improve their applications.

Janet Houghton, a counselor at Eastlake High School, says that regardless of cost or the odds of getting accepted every student owes it to themselves to apply to the school they most want to go to.

“They’ve got to apply to their dream school,” said Houghton.

Houghton says that with student loans, grants and scholarships students have several options to help them pay for the school of their dreams. But if they don’t even try to apply they’ll certainly never be able to go. 

Houghton says that in addition to their dream school students should apply to five or six schools to give themselves plenty of options.

Houghton also said that every student should apply for grants and scholarships regardless of their financial situation because the extra money could be the difference between going to a good school and going to a great school.

What if you can’t get into the university you want to go to, though, or there isn’t space for you at the time? Houghton says that students should always be open to attending two-year community colleges because they’re a great way to get general education requirements out of the way while saving money.

Having a two-year degree can also improve a student’s chances of eventually getting into their dream school when they’re ready to transfer.

Diane Hogle, a counselor at Skyline High School, says that if students don’t get into the school of their dreams right away that they shouldn’t think of it as the end of the road. Again, there are the two-year schools and a myriad of ways students can work to improve their chances later on.

“I feel employers and colleges value life experiences,” said Hogle.

Hogle recommends getting involved in community projects, taking on challenging course work and developing yourself as a person.

“It’s really about stretching yourself,” said Hogle.

Hogle said that a successful college application isn’t just about good grades, but about who you are and what you want to do with yourself.

“People value different things,” Hogle said.

Houghton and Hogle both say that there are plenty of resources for students, both at their respective high school’s counseling offices and on college campuses, and that students should take advantage of those resources.

“Our goal is just to give kids as many options as possible,” said Hogle.

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