Southridge
High School
Counseling, College & Career
Our Mission:
The mission of the Southridge High school counseling department is to provide all students with a comprehensive, developmental counseling program, which aligns with the student achievement goals of the school and district. our school counselors are licensed professionals who advocate on the behalf of all Southridge students. Establishing collaborative partnerships with educators, parents and community members, school counselors facilitate individual and systemic change to ensure every student has equal opportunities and the knowledge and skills necessary for academic, career and personal success.
Our Vision:
As professional school counselors at Southridge High school, we are dedicated to promoting a school-wide achievement and empowering every students to reach his or her highest levels of academic, career and personal success. We believe that a comprehensive counseling program should be an integral part of the total educational program.
- Financial Aid & Scholarships
- Career Information
- College Information
- Counseling Calendar
- Department Members
- Recommendation Letters
- Resources
- FAQ
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Scholarships
- Southridge Scholarship List (updated weekly & arranged by due date)
- MALDEF Scholarship List (Proof of U.S. Citizenship NOT Required)
- Immigrant's Rising Scholarship and Fellowship List (Proof of U.S. Citizenship NOT Required)
- Scholarships for HBCUs, HSI and Minorities
Institutional Aid
Many universities have generous grant and scholarship programs. Some will automatically be applied when your application is submitted and some require a separate application. Check individual college and university websites for specific details and deadlines.
Other Scholarship Resources
- OSAC, Office of Student Access & Completion
- Oregon Goes to College
- Going Merry
- Raise.me: earn micro-scholarships starting as early as 9th grade
Financial Aid
Financial Aid Basics
FAFSA/ORSAA are used to determine financial need and eligibility for various financial aid opportunities. Students may receive a federal or state grant (money that does not need to be repaid) or various loan offers based on the FAFSA/ORSAA results. Colleges also consider FAFSA/ORSAA data in making their own financial aid determinations.
- Who files FAFSA? United States citizens and eligible noncitizens.
- Who files ORSAA? Oregon residents who are undocumented, or have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
- Not sure which one to file? Take the quiz.
Should I apply for financial aid?
YES! Everyone should apply for financial aid. Many students think they will not qualify, but in fact, most Americans are eligible for some type of aid. – cnbc.com
Oregon Free Tuition Opportunities
- Oregon Promise Grant - tuition for Oregon Community College
- University of Oregon - PathwayOregon - full tuition & fees for eligible students
- Portland State University - Four Years Free - full tuition & fees for eligible students
Other Resources
- Understanding Your Financial Aid Award
- The CSS Profile is an online application that collects information used by nearly 400 colleges and scholarship programs to award non-federal aid. Visit their site to see which colleges ask for the CSS profile.
Career Information
Career Exploration
Not sure about a college major or future career path? There are a multitude of career interest inventories and surveys you can access online to help you choose a post-high school path. These resources help you gain a better understanding of your interests, work style, skills, and aptitude, and provide feedback on majors and careers you might be suited for.
- Oregon Career Information system (CIS)
- College Board Career search
- ASVAB - Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery
- US Dept of Labor - Occupational Outlook Handbook
- State of Oregon Employment Department - Career Explorer
The Washington County Chamber of Commerce also offers School-to-Career Events that you can sign up to attend or watch recordings of past events. There are over 100 past events in a wide variety of career areas. The video recordings are password protected. Contact the College & Career Center for more information.
Apprenticeships
Apprenticeship is a training program where you typically earn wages while learning a skilled trade in a specific field such as construction, health care, culinary arts, or one of the many other trades. Apprenticeship combines classroom studies with on-the-job training supervised by a trade professional. Much like a college education, it may take several years to become fully trained and to earn the wages of a professional, or journeyman, in the craft.
OREGON BUREAU OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIES - APPRENTICESHIP INFORMATION
PORTLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE - PRE-APPRENTICESHIP/TRADES PROGRAM
Other Resources for Apprenticeship & Pre-Apprenticeships:
- Associated Builders & Contractors PNW
- Portland Youth Builders
- NW College of Construction
- Also see JobCorps & YouthCorps tab below
Military
Military Academies
If you are interested in becoming an officer in the U.S. military, then attending one of the five military service academies is one of your best options. The service academies offer the biggest scholarships in the nation. If you qualify and are accepted, your will get a four-year scholarship that includes free tuition, room and board, and amazing benefits and training. In the end, you will be commissioned as an officer in the Armed Forces. In exchange for this education and training experience, you will have a service commitment.
United States Military Academy - Westpoint
United States Air Force Academy
ROTC
The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) is an opportunity for you to get invaluable experience while in college. When enrolled in ROTC, you learn and develop leadership skills and prepare for a career in the U.S. military. You will learn firsthand what it takes to lead others, motivate groups and how to conduct missions.
Through ROTC, you can start a military career in health care, aviation, finance, engineering, chemistry, law enforcement and transportation, just to name a few. Additionally, each of the armed forces has its own ROTC programs. That means you can choose the service and career path that appeals to you.
Enlist - Active Duty
Reserves and National Guard
The Military offers many benefits that should not be overlooked when considering post-high school options. Benefits may include
- Education benefits or scholarships
- Advanced and specialty training
- A guaranteed paycheck and cash bonuses
- Travel
- Option for full-time or part-time service
- Tax-free room, board and allowances
- Health and dental care
Below are more resources to explore the extensive military options available, or you can visit Today's Military.
Military recruiters visit throughout the school year and are available for questions during lunch near the Activities Office. Contact the College & Career Center for a schedule.
Job Corps - Americorps - Youth Corps
Job Corps, AmeriCorps and YouthCorps are federally supported programs to help people who are looking for a career, a direction in life or a way to help others.
Overview:
- Job Corps - residential job training program for low-income individuals ages 16-24
- AmeriCorps - U.S. based service organization for ages 18 and up
- PeaceCorps - International service organization for ages 18 and up
- Youth Corps - education and job training programs for ages 15-26
Job Corps
Job Corps is a federally-funded comprehensive program that provides essential academic and career skills training and prepares students for success in every aspect of their lives. Participants improve job skills and find vocational direction while living on Job Corps campuses. Job Corps is the largest free residential education and job training program for young adults ages 16-24. With more than 81 career options, Job Corps will help you find the career that's right for you.
To qualify, students must be:
- 16-24 years old.
- In need of job skills training, education, counseling, or related assistance to help get started on a career pathway.
- Income eligible, meeting one or more of these conditions: receives public assistance, earns poverty-level income, is homeless, is a foster child, or qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch.
- A U.S. citizen, is a legal U.S. resident, or is a resident of a U.S. territory and/or is authorized to work in the United States.
Americorps
AmeriCorps is a network of US-based service programs focused on improving lives and fostering civic engagement. Members commit their time to address critical community needs like increasing academic achievement, mentoring youth, fighting poverty, sustaining national parks, preparing for disasters and more.
Members are dedicated to strengthening communities and can choose to commit to serve anywhere from 3 months to a year.
In addition to the reward of serving your country, the benefits of service include, but are not limited to:
- Student loan deferment
- Skills and training
- Living allowance
- Limited health benefit options
- Education Award upon completion of service to help pay for college, graduate school, or vocational training, or to repay student loans
- Career opportunities with leading employers from all sectors
Learn more about AmeriCorps here.
For more information about International Service opportunities, check out PeaceCorps.
Youth Corps
Northwest Youth Corps offers a challenging education and job-training experience that helps youth and young adults from diverse backgrounds develop the skills they need to lead full and productive lives.
The program focuses on education, challenge, community, leadership and empowerment, giving youth critical life skills and confidence. NYC programs stress teamwork, inclusion and leadership while promoting a solid work ethic and individual achievement. Youth leave NYC knowing they can overcome obstacles, solve problems, make friends and attain their objectives in life.
College Information
College Visit Schedule Fall 2024 (at Southridge)
Campus Preview Events at Oregon Colleges
Southridge High School's CEEB code is 380079.
The college application is a complex process that requires a lot of planning, time, and effort. We've gathered a variety of resources to help students and families research college options, learn about the application process, and find resources to help pay for college.
One such resource is The College Guide prepared by The Fair Opportunity Project. This comprehensive guide is available in 7 languages
All juniors and seniors also have access to one-on-one mentoring through the ASPIRE Mentor Program. If you are interested in participating as a student or mentor, contact Mrs. Mestas.
Information for College Admissions Reps
Thank you for your interest in visiting Southridge High School! We are happy to welcome College Admissions Counselor in-person. All visits are schedule through the online scheduling system, RepVisits. We look forward to seeing you soon!
- College Applications
- College Research
- Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU) and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI)
- Transcripts & Recommendations
- ACT & SAT Testing
- GAP Year
College Applications
Students begin submitting college applications in the fall of their senior year. Check college admissions office websites to access their online applications, as well as to learn more about their admissions criteria, deadlines, and processes. Application deadlines may differ from scholarship deadlines, so make note of all applicable deadlines.
Many schools use the Common Application and the Coalition Application. These applications allow you to complete one application to apply to multiple schools.
- Common Application - includes over 1,000 schools
- Coalition Application - includes 150+ schools that typically target and offer generous financial aid to historically underrepresented students
Some schools may ask you to submit documents through SENDedu, a free, secure electronic document transfer service for counselors, teachers, student references and other officials involved in the application completion process. This service allows you to upload supporting application documents to colleges and universities safely and quickly.
College Research
With nearly 4,000 colleges in the United States that offer degrees, the process of narrowing down a right-fit college can seem overwhelming. Fortunately, there are many resources available to help navigate this process.
College Search Tools:
- Oregon CIS - Explore Resources > Education & Training
- Big Future - bigfuture.collegeboard.org
- Cappex - cappex.com/colleges
- US Dept of Education College Scorecard - collegescorecard.ed.gov
Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU) and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI)
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU)
HBCUs are nationally accredited institutions of higher education in the U.S. that were established before 1964 and primarily serve the African American community. There are more that 100 HBCUs today. Along with graduate and postgraduate degrees, HBCUs offer African American students a place to earn a sense of identity, heritage and community.
HBCU 101 - What you should know when applying to an HBCU
Common Black College Application (One $20 Application for 67 HBCU Schools)
Scholarships for HBCUs, HSI and Minorities
Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI)
Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) are colleges or universities where Hispanic students compromise at least 25% of the full-time equivalent study body, according to the U.S. Department of Education. HSIs must be certified as such by the Department of Education. There are over 300 schools designated as Hispanic Serving Institutions. HSIs have helped Hispanic students earn college degreed, seek meaningful careers, and aspire to be anything they want.
Transcripts & Recommendations
TRANSCRIPTS: To order transcripts, visit the transcript request page.
If you are applying to college through Common App, Coalition App, or Send EDU, your counselor will upload your transcript after you invite them.
RECOMMENDATIONS: Not all colleges require a counselor letter of recommendation. Check the application requirements prior to submitting a request to your counselor. Plan ahead and allow at least 3 weeks for your counselor to complete the recommendation.
Recommendation Packet and instructions can be found below.
ACT & SAT Testing
ALL Public Universities in Oregon are Test Optional. SAT and/or ACT are NOT Required for admissions.
Southridge High School provides FREE ACT (11th graders) and Pre-ACT (10th graders) testing in the spring.
SAT Test Information
If you are on free or reduced lunch, please check with your counselor to see if you qualify for an SAT fee waiver.
Register online: www.collegeboard.org
SAT/College Board Customer Service: 1-866-756-7346 (Toll Free)
ACT Test Information
Register online: www.actstudent.org
ACT Customer Service: 319-337-1270
GAP Year
Some students choose to take a gap year between high school and college. During a gap year, students engage in extra-academic and non-academic courses, language studies, volunteer work, travel, internships, sports and more, for the purpose of improving themselves and their resumes before going to college. These academic gap years are also called Pathways, Prep-Year and Bridge-Year.
Do diligent research before deciding on a gap year, including reaching out to the college or university you are interested in to find out what their philosophy is on gap years. Some colleges will not defer scholarships if a student chooses to take a gap year before starting college.
Find more information at Gap Year Association.
Counseling Calendar
Department Members
|
Staff |
Serving Students |
503-356-EXT |
|
Bijoli Biswas |
All 9th Grade |
2907 |
|
Tom Polzin |
10-12; alpha A-G |
2908 |
|
Erin Evans |
10-12; alpha H-N |
2919 |
|
Tresci Sork |
10-12; alpha O-Z |
2909 |
|
Chris Martin |
IB Programs |
2905 |
|
Amparo Garcia de Reyes |
ELL & Dual Language |
2906 |
|
Amy Mestas |
College & Career Specialist |
2920 |
|
Bryan Cummiskey |
Psychologist |
2917 |
|
Miriam Ramirez / Lyda Roberts |
Bilingual Community Liaison |
2890 |
|
Aly Distor |
Registrar |
2904 |
Recommendation Letters
**NOTE: If you are applying Early Action or Early Decision, please have these supporting documents to your counselor by early October.
Make sure the school you are applying to requires a Counselor Letter of Recommendation. Some do not. Please plan ahead and give your counselor and teacher(s) at least 3 weeks prior to your deadline to write the letter.
Recommendation Request Form: Submit this request and follow up with your counselor by email that it was received.
Outside Recommender Form: Give this form to a person in the community who can speak on your behalf (optional).
Teacher Evaluation Form: Give this form to a teacher who is NOT writing a formal recommendation for you (optional).
Feel free to contact your counselor if you have any questions about this process.
Resources
Counseling & Assistance
Youthline: 1-877-968-8491 / text teen2teen to 839863
Wa. County Crisis Line: 503-291-9111
211
Wa. County Resource Guide
Lifeworks NW
Suicide Prevention
Youth Contact
Cascadia Behavioral Health
Depaul Treatment Center
Morrison Child and Family Services
Western Psychological Services
Academic Support
Homework Club: M/T/TH (library)
NHS Peer Tutors: Request through Facebook here
Khan Academy: Videos great for math and science.
Homework Help at the Beaverton Library
Test taking
Study skills
SAT / ACT Prep
BSD Tutor List
FAQ
- Reasons to visit your counselor
All students are encouraged to visit with their counselor for any of a variety of services. These include academic assistance, scheduling, planning for the future, relationships with others (friends, family, etc.), and life situations that are occurring inside or outside of school.
- When can I see my counselor?
It is best is to visit your counselor before / after school or during your lunch. If your counselor is out, please leave a note and your counselor will contact you.
- I’m a parent / guardian. How do I find out what my student’s grades are?
The best thing to do is to get in contact with the teacher by email or phone because they will have the most up to date information. Many even have websites that allow grades to be checked using the internet. Parents are also encourage to utilize ParentVUE to access student grades.
- How can I change my schedule/drop a class?
Schedule changes will only be made during the first 7 days of each semester for students who are placed in the wrong level of class, for those who are missing a class, or those who need a class to graduate. Any class dropped after the first 7 days of a semester will result in a grade of W/F which will impact a student’s grade point average. Schedules will not be changed for teacher or lunch time preference. If you do feel that you meet the above criteria for getting a schedule change or if you have a special circumstance, you can speak with your counselor and he/she will give you more information on the process.
- What are the options if a student needs extra help?
The first step is to talk to your teachers. Many are more than willing to spend some extra time to help students. Some departments also offer small group tutoring on certain days during the week. In addition to your teachers, your counselor will also have some information on possible students who are willing to be one-on-one tutors. Be sure to utilize your extended period when available.
-
If I’m not at school how can I get my homework?
Students should email their teachers directly to collect homework. ParentVUE and StudentVUE provides teacher's names and emails. Homework can be picked up in the main office. Be sure to call Attendance: 503-356-2894 with all absences.