guidance home page

Some useful websites for high school students and parents
http://www.act.org	Register for ACT, free practice tests
http://www.collegeboard.com	Register for SAT, free practice tests
http://eCampusTours.com	Virtual tours of over 1200 featured campuses; information on financial aid; college and career planning; 10,000 independent scholarship programs
http://eligibilitycenter.org	National Collegiate Athletic Association
http://www.fastweb.com	Set up student profile for college and scholarship search.
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov	Apply for Pell Grant, student loans, and work study (government funding)
http://www.finaid.org/	Financial Aid Information
http://i-am-the-one.com/	College planning, parent/student resources
http://www.number2.com	Vocabulary builder, free practice tests for SAT, ACT and GRE
http://www.pin.ed.gov	Register student and parent for PIN number to complete FAFSA online
http://www.schev.edu/	This site provides a listingof public and private 2 and 4 year colleges and universities in Virginia financial aid resources. Information about the Academic Common Market.
http://www.studentaid.ed.gov	Source of information from the US Department of Education on preparing for and funding education
http://www.students.gov	Online study help, financial aid information and career development
http://testpreview.com	Online practice tests for SAT and ACT
http://www.vaview.org/	College planning information. Interest and career assessments.
http://www.vawizard.org	Career and college planning; Transfer information
http://www.collegeportraits.org	College links and contact information

Youth Exchange Scholarships for US Highschool Students

The U.S. Department of State announces scholarships for American high school students to study abroad (listed below). Visit www.nsliforyouth.org for more information. The following are the eligibility requirements.

U.S. citizen
15 - 18 years of age at start of the program (age varies by program - read more on the Languages and Programs page)
Enrolled in high school at time of application (Gap year programs available)
GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, or the equivalent
Immediate family members of individuals who work with the NSLI-Y program at the U.S. Department of State, American Councils, or one of the implementing organizations are not eligible.

The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Abroad Program offers scholarships to American high school students to spend a semester or an academic year in Bosnia & Herzegovina, Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mali, Morocco, Oman, Thailand, and Turkey. This post 9/11 program focuses on increasing understanding between people in the U.S. and countries with significant Muslim populations. The application deadline is January 11, 2012. Visit the YES Program’s website for more information.

The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program (CBYX) was established in 1983 to celebrate German-American friendship based on common values of democracy. Secondary school students live with host families, attend local schools, and participate in community life in Germany. Young professionals (undergraduates) and high-school graduates of vocational studies ages 18-24 study and participate in practical training. Scholarships are now available for academic year 2012-13. Prior German language skills are not required. For more information visit USAGermanyScholarship.org.

The American Youth Leadership Program offers opportunities for American high school students and educators to travel abroad on a three- to four-week-long exchange program to gain first-hand knowledge of foreign cultures and to collaborate on solving global issues. Several different organizations implement this program, and each has organized an academic and experiential educational exchange focused on dialogue and debate, leadership development, and community service. Recruitment areas and application deadlines vary, so please check the American Youth Leadership Program website for more information.

SAT Dates	ACT Dates
Oct 1, 2011	Sept 10, 2011
Nov 5, 2011*	Oct 22, 2011*
Dec 3, 2011	Dec 10, 2011
Jan 28, 2012	Feb 11, 2012
Mar 10, 2012	Apr 14, 2012
May 5, 2012*	Jun 9, 2012*
* means testing at ACHS
Stop by guidance if help is needed for registering for any of these tests.

Stephanie Allen	Grade 11 counselor, Testing	slallen@appomattox.k12.va.us
Connie Gaulden	Secretary	cmgaulden@appomattox.k12.va.us
Dolly Cooter	Grade 9 counselor	dwcooter@appomattox.k12.va.us
Robyn Whorley	Grades 10 & 12 counselor	rlwhorley@appomattox.k12.va.us
Betty Jo Smith	CVCC Career Coach; Gr 9-12 (take survey)	bjsmith@appomattox.k12.va.us