College & Career Resources
College and Career Resources
Choosing a Career
There are many opportunities for students to choose a career during their tenure at Grain Valley High School. During freshman year, students take the EXPLORE test which estimates their future ACT score and also gives valuable information about what career the student may wish to consider. During sophomore year, students take the PLAN test, which gives another prospective on possible career choices that may be of interest to the student. During junior year, students have the opportunity to take the ASVAB test on OTED day. The ASVAB is a free government test used for admission into the military and is also as good career aptitudes assessment for people who do not wish to go into the military. Students also look at career information provided by Missouri Connections.
Students also work on choosing a career during Eagle Time through lessons as well as post secondary groups where they are grouped by their post secondary plans.
College Resources
MyMajors
A 15 College Major Assessment that will recommend your best-fit majors that match your academic achievements, interests, and preferences.
ACT
The ACT is the most widely used admissions test in the Midwest. It consists of four parts, English, Reading, Math, and Science. Most of the scholarships offered by colleges and Universities are based mainly on GPA and ACT score.
Most of the deadlines for seniors to apply to college are November 1st, December 1st, or January 1st so it is recommended students take the ACT during their Junior year. Keep in mind that many students take it multiple times to increase their score.
Students may also take an ACT prep course as one of their classes at Grain Valley High School.
ACT Quick Links
Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)
The ASVAB test is a free test offered by the federal government and measures aptitude in a variety of fields. It is required for entrance into the military, but is often used for its information about what careers students would excel in. The test is free to take through a military recruiter or it can be taken on the Opportunity To Excel Day (OTED).
ASVAB Quick Links
SAT
The SAT is test generally preferred by colleges near the east and west coasts. Accepted by all U.S. colleges, the SAT is an opportunity for students to show colleges they’ve got what it takes to succeed on campus. Most students take the SAT for the first time during the spring of their junior year and a second time during the fall of their senior year.
The tests are designed to:
- Measure the essential ingredients for college and career readiness and success, as shown by research.
- Have a stronger connection to classroom learning.
- Inspire productive practice.
SAT Quick Links:
Top Ten College Application Mistakes
- Fill out the application yourself. Admissions people know if your parents help, whether you have two different styles of handwriting or your admissions essay sounds more like a 45-year-old than a 17-year-old. It’s fine to get advice, but do the work yourself.
- Misspelling and grammatical errors – This is a big pet peeve of admissions people. If you misspell on something as important as the application, it shows that either you don’t care or you aren’t good at spelling. Some students even misspell their major. Don’t stop with a spell check – proofread for grammatical errors, too.
- Follow through and make sure that your application has been received. If you apply online, you should receive confirmation that the college or university received it. Confirmation could be an email message, a Web page response or a credit card receipt.
- Forgotten signatures – make sure you sign and date the application form. Often students overlook that part of the form if it’s on the back. Check that all spaces are completed.
- Read carefully – for example, if the form asks what County you live in, don’t misread it as Country and write United States.
- Listing extracurricular activities that aren’t – those that make the list include sports, the arts, formal organizations and volunteer work. Talking on the phone and hanging out with friends don’t make the cut. Make sure your activity information is accurate. Colleges may check with your high school.
- Not telling the Guidance and Counseling Center for GVHS where you have applied, so a transcript with ACT scores can be sent to that college.
- Writing illegibly – first impressions count, so take your time and use your best handwriting. It will make a better impression.
- Using an email address that friends might laugh about, but colleges won’t – select a professional email address. Keep your fun address for friends, but select an address using your name for college admissions.
- Not checking your email regularly – if you’ve given an email address, the college will use it. You don’t want to miss out on anything because you did not read your email.