College Planning
Preparing for your Future
See below for online resources, college financial aid and scholarships, and forms, transcript requests and information sheets pertaining to Guidance Services.
College Application and Career Planning
Learn more about applying for colleges and visit career planning websites.
- Christian College Planning – College fair and planning resources for Christian higher education
- Education Planner – comprehensive info on careers and colleges.
- Career Cruising (user name: lmhs; password: careers) – excellent career information.
- The Common Application – Common Application for Undergraduate Admissions
- CollegeBoard BigFuture – College Board’s college and career planning portal
- FastWeb Career Planning – various career resources, including resumes and internships
- The Princeton Review– all sorts of college information
- Undergradzone.com – free college prep checklist and free test prep
SAT/PSAT, ACT, CLEP, and AP Testing Resources
Learn more about how to register for the SAT, where the SAT exams are offered and how to send score reports to colleges.
The SAT/PSAT and ACT
- What is the PSAT/NMSQT and the PSAT 10?
- Where do I go to take the SAT test?
- How do I register for the SAT?
- How do I send my SAT Scores to colleges?
- When are SAT test dates and registration deadlines?
- SAT/PSAT Testing Accommodations
- Where can I find information about the ACT?
CLEP Testing
Advanced Placement (AP) Testing
College Funding and Financial Aid Resources
Explore some of the many options for college financial aid.
- Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA)
- U.S. Department of Education: Loans, Grants, etc.
- Federal Student Aid
- Student Financial Aid Guide
- Find Scholarships to Help Pay for College
- GoodCall Scholarships – a database of scholarship information
- FrugalDad – website on college financial prep
- BigFuture – CollegeBoard planning assistance
- Princeton Review – for general college prep info
Local Scholarships
- Lancaster County Community Foundation – for Lancaster County residents who plan to pursue higher education. Applications can be found at lancfound.org/grants. The deadline to apply is February 4, 2020.
- Ervin Steele Nursing Scholarship – for Lancaster or Chester County seniors who will be pursuing a degree in Nursing after graduation. Applications are available in the Counseling Office. The deadline to apply is April 15, 2020.
- Towne Club of Lancaster – for seniors planning to enroll in a technical school after graduation. A transcript, counselor recommendation and a yearbook photo must accompany the application. Applications are available in the Counseling Office. Everything must be received by the chairman no later than March 14, 2020.
- Everence College Scholarship – for seniors who plan to enroll full-time at a two or four-year program upon graduation from high school. A transcript is required. Applicants (or their parents) must be using an Everence product in order to be considered for this award. Applications are available in the Counseling Office. The deadline to apply is March 10, 2020.
- Gerald Forney Memorial Scholarship – a $2000 award given annually to a graduating senior planning to continue studies towards either an associate or a bachelor degree. The applicant or his/her parents must be a member of the LANCO Federal Credit Union. Applications are available in the Counseling Office. The deadline to apply is April 1, 2020.
Planning for International Students
Along with the college planning process information that is available for every student, the process for international students is often more involved. School counselors are available to serve our international students. Here are several recommendations to help international students as they prepare for college:
- Be Involved – LMH has great opportunities for extracurricular involvements that colleges consider valuable. We encourage international students to participate in areas such as sports, dramas, student clubs, music and volunteer service opportunities. Talk to a teacher or a counselor who can help you identify a good place to become involved.
- Practice English – The best way to prepare for college is to read, write and speak English. This will help international students prepare for the SAT/TOEFL tests and will aid in the social transition to college life.
- Begin Early – Often the college planning process for international students is more involved and typically requires many steps along with the regular application.
- Prepare for Tests – Adequate SAT and TOEFL scores are necessary for acceptance into college. There are many ways to prepare for these tests. Along with speaking, writing and reading English, there are online resources and preparation classes available to help prepare.
- Course Selection – Take rigorous courses throughout each year of high school. LMH offers many advanced, honors and advanced placement courses. School counselors can serve as a support for course selection.
- International students who regularly associate with native English speakers can score higher on the SAT and TOEFL. Many international students make the serious mistake of spending most of their time speaking their first language with students from their own country.