Career Center
The College & Career Center at La Plata High School is the gateway to your future! You will find information on universities, colleges, technical schools, trade and apprenticeship programs, military service, scholarship and financial aid information, employment and job information, and other resources to help you prepare for your future.
Remember, it's your future, look into it!
Mrs. Olivia Sisson
College & Career Advisor
ohurley@ccboe.com
Important Information
- Upcoming Events
- Apprenticeship Programs
- College
- College and Career Readiness - XELLO
- FAFSA
- Military
- Newsletters
- SAT & ACT Testing Dates
- Scholarships & Financial Aid Newsletter
- Selective Service
- Summer Opportunities
- Vocational & Technical Trade Schools
- Work Permit
- New Panel
Upcoming Events
Apprenticeship Programs
College
If you are planning to attend college after high school, you should be taking the most challenging classes and earning the best grades you can. All four years of high school count when you apply to college.
Academics
- 9th – 11th most important for grades because you will be applying to colleges in the early fall of 12th grade
- Every class, every credit matters. Even electives.
- Would you want admissions offices to see those interims? If not, make sure they improve by the end of the year for final grades because the final grades are what get printed on your transcript!
- Discipline Record --> Counselor Page
- Every college asks your counselor to check off whether or not you’ve ever been suspended. If yes, we have to explain why.
- Cell phone violations look silly to college admissions reps --- it looks like you won’t be able to follow simple campus rules.
- Build a resume starting NOW!
- Volunteering/community service is more than just your SSL graduation requirement
- Get involved in an activity and stick with it
- DO something, anything that will make you more than a name on a page
- Jobs and colleges want more than just grades!!!
Methods to apply to college
Common Black College Application
Some Colleges you will apply directly through the college's official website.
Are you interested in a Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU)?
Check out this site: https://hbcuconnect.com/
New Pre-Engineering Program at CSM: For more information about the CSM Engineering Program, visit http://stem.csmd.edu/ or call Pre- Engineering Coordinator Jehnell Linkins at 301-934-7747.
Places to research colleges
If you already know the name of the college you want to learn about or apply to, you can google the college name or click below.
(More colleges will be added daily. Not every college will be listed below.)
Maryland Colleges
College and Career Readiness - XELLO
xello
It is never too early to start making plans for what you will do after high school. Not sure where to start?? Mrs. Hurley-Sisson is available to help you in the College and Career Center and every student has access to Xello!
Xello is the only K-12 online program that fully engages every student in building the skills, knowledge, and plans for future success regardless of background, ability, or pathway.
Xello's award-winning program puts the student at the center of their planning experience. Students document their journey as they build self-knowledge, explore post-secondary options, create plans, and continually reassess as they take in new knowledge, skills, and experiences.
CLEVER APP
Each student has a personal username and password for accessing this information.
FAFSA
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) 2022-2023
(All students planning to attend a 2 or 4-year college or a trade or technical school should complete the FAFSA!)
www.fafsa.gov
Federal Student Aid myStudentAid in your Apple App Store or Google Play is a government form that is used by colleges to award merit-based scholarships, need based grants and student and parent loans. FAFSA open enrollment is October 1st for senior year students. The state of Maryland deadline is March 1st of the student's senior year. However, several schools even in Maryland require the form to be completed and submitted earlier. Please check with universities in which you are interested.
Remember you are always completing the FAFSA for the college school year you are going into. So, for High School Seniors Class of 2023, you will complete the 2022-2023 FAFSA.
La Plata High School holds a Financial Aid Night each year. Our next Financial Aid Night Event will be December 12, 2022, at 6:00 pm at La Plata High School, with a representative from St Mary's College of Maryland. CSM and other organizations hold FAFSA line-by-line workshops typically in January. All workshops are free. The actual form is free and there is a free on-line live chat, free e-mail help and a toll-free phone number all at www.fafsa.gov.
Military
If you are interested in enlisting the military after high school, you must take the ASVAB test. Please see Mrs. Hurley-Sisson in the Career Center for more information about the ASVAB. You must also pass a physical exam. You should talk to recruiters from all branches of the military before making a decision on which one you want to enlist. Recruiters come to the College and Career Center at least twice a year or you can visit the recruitment office in Waldorf.
Opportunities
Check out ROTC programs at the colleges you are interested in attending. Apply for ROTC Scholarships during Spring of your junior year.
If you are currently in NJROTC, See Gy. Sgt. Bailey for additional scholarship opportunities.
Apply for Military Academies during Spring of your junior year. Also, most Military Academies have a summer camp during the summer after your junior year that can help boost your application.
Juniors and Seniors may take the ASVAB test at La Plata High School. The test is free and is administered by the ASVAB administration during our school day. Students must sign up in the Career Center with Mrs. Sisson. Scores are valid for two years and will only be distributed to the student.
ASVAB Study Sites
ASVAB Test Dates
On Saturday November 19, 2022, the ASVAB will be given to students who are interested in a career in the military. Students must be at least 16 years old, and a current 11th or 12th grade CCPS student. The test will take place at Maurice J. McDonough High School. Students should arrive at 8:45 am. The testing will last approximately until 12:30 pm.
ASVAB Registration Saturday, November 19, 2022 (office.com)
Please see Mrs. Sisson in the Career Center if you have taken the ASVAB and would like to retake the test.
Military Recruiters
Air Force
Technical Sergeant David Miller
317 USAF Recruiting Squandron
173 Saint Patricks Drive
Waldorf, MD 20603
Cell: 240-304-4476
E-mail: david.milner.3@us.af.mil
Army
Staff Sergeant (SSG) Michael E. Gilliam
U.S. Army Recruiting Center
173 St. Patricks Drive Suite 202
Waldorf, MD 20603
Cell: (757) 748-7195
Office (301) 645-9190
michael.e.gilliam.mil@mail.mil
Coast Guard
BM2 Christopher Daniels
USCG Recruiting Office Washington, D.C.
645 Pennsylvania Ave. S.E. STE 202
Washington, D.C. 20003
202-543-8313 (phone)
202-430-1300 (cell)
202-543-8317 (fax)
www.gocoastguard.com
Marines
Staff Sergeant Demetrius L. Munnerlyn (Flyer)
Recruiting Sub Station Waldorf (RSS WA)
173 St. Patricks Drive, Waldorf MD, 20603
O: 301.843.0353 C: 443.421.1406
Email: demetrius.munnerlyn@marines.usmc.mil
Navy
AO2(AW) Andrzejewski, Walter
US Navy Recruiter
NRD Richmond NRS Waldorf
Office ~ 301.843.8572
Cell ~ 301.602.2576
walter.andrzejewski@navy.mil
Newsletters
SAT & ACT Testing Dates
SAT - ACT: School Code, CEEB Code, ETS Code - 210685
The best way to prepare for these college entrance exams is to participate in the daily schoolwork, and homework, then prior to the test to study to refresh already learned knowledge. It is recommended that Juniors take an exam during May or June and Seniors take an exam during August or October. To learn more about each test, free study material or to register go to www.collegeboard.org for the SAT and to www.act.org . If you think you may qualify for a fee waiver, please see Mrs. Sisson in the Career Center. Also see Mrs. Sisson, College & Career Advisor or you School Counselor for information.
SAT/ACT Score Conversion chart: https://www.princetonreview.com/college-advice/act-to-sat-conversion
College Admission Test information click here for more information!!
https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/registration/dates-deadlines
Scholarships & Financial Aid Newsletter
Selective Service
Do you know about the Selective Service System? Almost all male U.S. citizens and male immigrants, who are 18 through 25, are required to register with Selective Service.
Registering is the law.
Summer Opportunities
Vocational & Technical Trade Schools
There is a large selection of vocational and technical trade schools in this area. They take anywhere from six months to two years to complete, with either a certificate or an Associate’s degree. There is no room and board at most of these schools. They usually concentrate on just the major classes with very few other courses offered. . You will want to make sure the school is accredited for the program you are considering. You will need to complete an application.