Searching for the perfect job/career is a life long journey for some people. It's important that you start your search now! Here are a few resources to help you with your search:

• Career Interest Profiler: This is a 180 question quiz found under the "Career" tab in Naviance. It will help you determine what careers fit your personality. When you get your results, remember they are listed in order of the amount of preparation. The jobs at the top of the list will be jobs you can do with little to no preparation while the jobs at the bottom may require a master or doctoral degree.
• Pennsylvania Career Guide: Published by the Department of Labor & Industry, this guide is packed with great information on a variety of different careers and resources to help with your career search.
• O*Net Online: This is a government database of careers. This will allow you to search for careers you are thinking about and see what that job entails, what education you would need, and even the average salary.
• Job Corps: Not sure what to do after graduation? Why not take advantage of this free job training program available to young adults ages 16-24.

Thinking about a career in the trades? You may want to further your education before you get started. Check out these somewhat local and affordable options:

• Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology: Co-Ed trade school with housing in Lancaster, PA that offers very generous need based awards.
• Williamson College of the Trades: Very structured, all boys college located in Media, PA that offers a free education to accepted students.
• Pennsylvania College of Technology: Co-Ed college located in Williamsport, PA that offers 2 and 4 year degrees in a number of trade and technology related fields.
• Empire Beauty School: Multiple locations with two within an hour radius of Spring-ford. This school offers a number of different cosmetology certifications.
• The Professional Salon Academy: Conveniently located in Collegeville, PA. This school offers a number of different cosmetology certifications.
• Montgomery County Community College: Offers certificate and 2 year degree programs for many different careers like realty, medical assistance, culinary, and more.
• Northampton Community College: Offers many certificate and 2 year degree programs as well as housing who choose to attend.

Interested in playing sports in college at the DI or DII level? There are a few things you need to do:

• Review the NCAA Guidelines outlined on pages 9-12 of the 2021-22 Course Book.
• Complete the Spring-Ford Student-Athlete Identification Form and turn it into the FPC.
• Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center.
• Send your official SAT/ACT scores to the Eligibility Center through the testing agency (College Board or ACT) using the CEEB Code 9999.
• Be sure to list Spring-Ford as your high school when you register with the Eligibility Center. As long as we are listed as your school, we will automatically upload your junior transcript at the end of junior year and your final transcript after graduation.

Wondering how to find the "perfect" college? Here are some tips to help you with the search:

Getting Started:

• Try out the Super Match College Search: This tool can be found under the "Colleges" tab in Naviance. It will allow you to select all the things your dream college would have (activities, location, size, setting, majors, etc.) and it will generate a list of colleges you may like based on those factors.
• Add colleges to your "Colleges I'm Thinking About" list: This tool can be found under the "Colleges" tab in Naviance. It will help you get organized and give you some great information on the colleges you are considering. Click on the graphing tool next to each colleges to see what type of students that college has accepted from Spring-Ford in the past.
• Visit the College: The best way to get to know a college is by visiting campus. We recommend that you do a formal visit by scheduling a tour or registering for an open house with the Admission Office. Many colleges have moved to online scheduling, so check the college website or give the admission office a call! If there is something specific you would like to see or someone specific you would like to meet while you are there, make sure you request that with plenty of notice. The best time to visit is while college classes are in session. You can find more tips on what to expect and recommended questions to ask during a meeting with your College and Career Advisor. 
• Meet with a College Rep: Many colleges will visit Spring-Ford either for the College & Career Fair or for a day visit. You can check the "FPC Events for Juniors" section of this page to see when the next fair will be or you can sign up to meet with a college rep during the school day on Naviance under the "College" tab. Meeting with someone from the college in person is a great way to get a feel for what the college is like and to get your questions about the college answered without having to visit.
• Do Online Research: Visit the website of each of your colleges and maybe take a look at their social media pages too. Look around to see what current students are doing, activities are available, majors you can choose from, and don't forget to stop by the admission page while you are there! It is important to stay on top of deadlines and admission requirements for each college because many colleges will require different things. Don't miss out on your dream college or a great scholarship because you missed a deadline!

3 Factors of Your Best Fit College:

1. Academic Fit: This is why you are going to college! Make sure that the college offers the academic program you need to set you up for your future career. You can determine if a school is a good academic fit by meeting faculty members for your major, checking out the classrooms/labs/facilities for your major, asking about student research/internship/co-op opportunities for students with your major. Not sure what you'll major in? Find out what the opportunities the college offers to students who are undecided.

2. Social Fit: This is going to be your home for the next 4 years! Do you like the campus? Have you tried the food? Would you want to be friends with the people you see walking around on campus? Does the school offer the clubs, sports, music programs, etc. that you want? The more comfortable you feel on campus, the more likely you are to take academic risks and get involved. You will build up your resume without even realizing it!

3. Financial Fit: For some families this may feel like the biggest factor of the three and for good reason! College is expensive! When searching for a college, we recommend that students apply to both expensive and inexpensive schools because sometimes those expensive schools offer the most free money to our students. Each school will provide students with a financial aid package after the student has been accepted. This will break down the entire cost of the college and what types of scholarships, grants, and student loans that are being offered. Students should review their financial aid package before committing to a college.

The SATs and ACTs are two different college entrance exam options that are considered equally for college admission. Highly selective colleges may also require students to take SAT Subject Tests (formerly known as SAT II tests).

Testing Recommendations:

• All students interested in going to college should take SATs and/or ACTs in junior year.
• There is a good amount of Algebra II on the exams. If you are currently in Algebra II, we recommend you test later in the spring. If you have already completed Algebra II, you can test at any time.
• Students should try both the SAT and ACT to determine which test they like better and results in a better score. We then recommend that students take that test at least once more to get their best possible score.
• Three seems to be the magic number of times a student should take the SATs or ACTs. After three testings (without some sort of extra preparation like a prep course) scores will begin to plateau.

To Prepare:

• Practice on Khan Academy: This site will allow you to link to your College Board Account to get free, tailored SAT practice.
• Practice on March 2 Success: This site has partnered with Petersons to provide ASVAB, SAT, and ACT
• Take a Prep Course: Prep courses are offered locally by Montgomery County Community College, Penn State Berks, and Kaplan.
• Get a Practice Book: Free practice books are available in the FPC.
• Download the App: Get free practice questions and test prep on your phone.

To Register:

• SAT: collegeboard.org
• SAT Subject Tests: collegeboard.org
• ACT: act.org

To Send Scores:

• Scores must be sent by the testing agency (College Board or ACT). Requests to have scores sent to different colleges can be processed online. Students can send scores to four schools for free if they request to send the scores during registration or within a week of the test.
• For more instructions, check out the Sending and Viewing Sent Scores Tutorial.

Considering a military career? You have a lot of options to consider:

Which Branch?

• Army
• Marines
• Air Force
• Navy
• Coast Guard
• National Guard

How would you like to serve?

• ROTC: Army, Air Force, Navy
• Military Academies: West Point, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, Merchant Marine Academy, Coast Guard Academy
• Reserves: Army Reserve, Marine Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Navy Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve, National Guard
• Active Duty: Army, Marines, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard

Don't forget to take the ASVAB!

• See sample questions on the ASVAB here.
• Spring-Ford will host the ASVABs for free on Thursday, February 25 (must sign up ahead of time)

Have you ever considered a career in Military Social Work?

Military service members, veterans and their families have special needs that may necessitate working with a social worker. For example, military personnel may be dealing with psychological and emotional disorders, including depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress, especially if they have been fighting on the front lines of war. Families of veterans may be struggling with domestic violence, child abuse, substance abuse or suicide. Military social workers must be prepared for the complexity that comes with treating both active-duty and civilian clients who are part of military culture. Learn more about this program here!

Contact a Recruiter Today:

• Army- SSGT Nathan Bellardini
• Marines- SGT Brandon Sanzone
• Air Force- SSGT Terrence Paton
• Navy- Petty Officer Candida Reyes
• National Guard- SSG Michael Coletta
• Coast Guard- SSG Brian Armstrong

Naviance is an essential college and career planning tool that all Spring-Ford students have access to use. You must now access Naviance through your Clever account. Just follow these simple steps:

1. Go to Spring-Ford.net
2. Hover over “Student” in the top right corner
3. Select “Clever Login”
4. Select “Log In With Active Directory”- if it asks for a username/password, use your Spring-Ford District Login
5. Once in Clever, click on the Naviance icon

What will you do after you graduate Spring-Ford? It is a great time to start making plans and setting goals for yourself. Here are some great resources to get you started:

• Meet with a College or Military Rep: The FPC hosts college and military reps in the FPC throughout the year. You can see who is coming and sign up on Naviance.
• Meet with your College and Career Advisors: Stop by the FPC to set up an appointment and talk about all your options.
• Pennsylvania Career Guide: Published by the Department of Labor & Industry, this guide is packed with great information on a variety of different careers and resources to help with your career search.

Did you know that you could get college credits for your Project Lead The Way courses?

Click here for Dr. Colyer's letter explaining this unique opportunity.

Click here for more information on the RIT-PLTW connection.

Click here for more information on other PLTW college connections and opportunities.

Spring-Ford is excited to announce that once again we will offer juniors the opportunity to take the PSAT (Preliminary SAT) test in October. Please note that College Board will not allow make-up or last testing due to test security.

Students may want to test in their junior year because it:

• Prepares students for the SAT by helping students identify target areas for improvement. Please note that this test is taken for practice and colleges do not require PSAT scores for admission.
• Is required to compete for scholarships from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (details about the scholarship can be found at www.nationalmerit.org).

How to register:

• Click here to complete the online registration form.
• Pay the testing fee by debit card, credit card, check, or money order. All payments must be made through School Pay. Students who participate in the Free/Reduced Lunch Program will qualify for a fee waiver from College Board (built into online registration).
• Print or save the confirmation page as proof of registration.

On test day:

• Be on time! Testing will begin promptly at 7:40am. College Board prohibits make-up or late testing due to testing security.
• Don’t schedule any doctor appointments for this day! Testing will take at least 4 hours. Students who must leave early will not be given time to make up the time they miss and scores will be cancelled.
• Bring 2 number two pencils. Students cannot use mechanical pencils for the PSATs.
• Bring an approved calculator for the math section. A list of approved calculators can be found here.
• Be prepared! Practice books are available in the FPC for no additional cost and will be distributed to registered students during homeroom.

Trying to figure out what you want to do for the rest of your life can be a daunting task for a person at any age. We encourage students to start their career exploration early to make the process easier.

Helpful Resources:

• Career Interest Profiler: Take this easy 180 question quiz found under the "Career" tab in Naviance. This quiz will give you a list of careers that you may like based on your interest. Remember when you get the list, it is in order of the amount of preparation for each career- NOT by which career fits you best. If you are considering college, you will want to scroll down to the "considerable preparation" and "extensive preparation" sections of the list.
• MyMajors.com: Know you want to go to college? Take a quiz to see which major fits your interests the best?
• O*Net Online: Already have a career in mind? O*Net Online is a database occupations and has detailed descriptions of almost every job out there. In addition to job descriptions, it even tells you what level of education you need for each job and the average salary.
• Pennsylvania Career Guide: Published by the Department of Labor & Industry, this guide is packed with great information on a variety of different careers and resources to help with your career search.

Explore Careers Beyond Your Computer:

• Talk to the adults in your life! Ask you neighbor, aunt, uncle, parent's friend, etc. if they like their jobs, what they majored in, where they went to college, and if they like what they do.
• Volunteer! A great way to explore career options is by getting hands on experience volunteering for a closely related organization or business.
• Get a part-time job! Depending on what career you are thinking about, you may be able to get a part-time job as an assistant for that line of work. For instance, if you think you may want to work in a salon, you could probably make some extra cash while you explore your career options by working as a salon assistant.
• Take a class that relates to your career interests! Spring-Ford offers a variety of career focused classes like accounting, management, education, criminal justice, international studies, athletic training, biomedical sciences, engineering, etc. This can be a great way to test if this is an area you would want to spend your college years studying. 

Interested in playing sports in college at the DI or DII level? There are a few things you need to do:

• Review the NCAA Guidelines outlined on pages 9-12 of the 2021-22 Course Book.
• Complete the Spring-Ford Student-Athlete Identification Form and turn it into the FPC.
• Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center.
• Send your official SAT/ACT scores to the Eligibility Center through the testing agency (College Board or ACT) using the CEEB Code 9999.
• Be sure to list Spring-Ford as your high school when you register with the Eligibility Center. As long as we are listed as your school, we will automatically upload your junior transcript at the end of junior year and your final transcript after graduation.

Wondering how to find the "perfect" college? Here are some tips to help you with the search:

Getting Started:

• Try out the Super Match College Search: This tool can be found under the "Colleges" tab in Naviance. It will allow you to select all the things your dream college would have (activities, location, size, setting, majors, etc.) and it will generate a list of colleges you may like based on those factors.
• Add colleges to your "Colleges I'm Thinking About" list: This tool can be found under the "Colleges" tab in Naviance. It will help you get organized and give you some great information on the colleges you are considering. Click on the graphing tool next to each colleges to see what type of students that college has accepted from Spring-Ford in the past.
• Visit the College: The best way to get to know a college is by visiting campus. We recommend that you do a formal visit by scheduling a tour or registering for an open house with the Admission Office. Many colleges have moved to online scheduling, so check the college website or give the admission office a call! If there is something specific you would like to see or someone specific you would like to meet while you are there, make sure you request that with plenty of notice. The best time to visit is while college classes are in session. You can find more tips on what to expect and recommended questions to ask during a a meeting with your College and Career Advisor.
• Meet with a College Rep in the spring: Many colleges will visit Spring-Ford either for the College & Career Fair or for a day visit. You can check the "FPC Events for Sophomores" section of this page to see when the next fair will be or in the spring you can sign up to meet with a college rep during the school day on Naviance under the "College" tab. Meeting with someone from the college in person is a great way to get a feel for what the college is like and to get your questions about the college answered without having to visit.
• Do Online Research: Visit the website of each of your colleges and maybe take a look at their social media pages too. Look around to see what current students are doing, activities are available, majors you can choose from, and don't forget to stop by the admission page while you are there! It is important to stay on top of deadlines and admission requirements for each college because many colleges will require different things. Don't miss out on your dream college or a great scholarship because you missed a deadline!

3 Factors of Your Best Fit College:

1. Academic Fit: This is why you are going to college! Make sure that the college offers the academic program you need to set you up for your future career. You can determine if a school is a good academic fit by meeting faculty members for your major, checking out the classrooms/labs/facilities for your major, asking about student research/internship/co-op opportunities for students with your major. Not sure what you'll major in? Find out what the opportunities the college offers to students who are undecided.

2. Social Fit: This is going to be your home for the next 4 years! Do you like the campus? Have you tried the food? Would you want to be friends with the people you see walking around on campus? Does the school offer the clubs, sports, music programs, etc. that you want? The more comfortable you feel on campus, the more likely you are to take academic risks and get involved. You will build up your resume without even realizing it!

3. Financial Fit: For some families this may feel like the biggest factor of the three and for good reason! College is expensive! When searching for a college, we recommend that students apply to both expensive and inexpensive schools because sometimes those expensive schools offer the most free money to our students. Each school will provide students with a financial aid package after the student has been accepted. This will break down the entire cost of the college and what types of scholarships, grants, and student loans that are being offered. Students should review their financial aid package before committing to a college.

Considering a military career? You have a lot of options to consider:

Which Branch?

• Army
• Marines
• Air Force
• Navy
• Coast Guard
• National Guard

How would you like to serve?

• ROTC: Army, Air Force, Navy
• Military Academies: West Point, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, Merchant Marine Academy, Coast Guard Academy
• Reserves: Army Reserve, Marine Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Navy Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve, National Guard
• Active Duty: Army, Marines, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard

Don't forget to take the ASVAB!

• Study for the ASVAB here
• Spring-Ford will host the ASVABs for free each February during the school day.

Have you ever considered a career in Military Social Work?

Military service members, veterans and their families have special needs that may necessitate working with a social worker. For example, military personnel may be dealing with psychological and emotional disorders, including depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress, especially if they have been fighting on the front lines of war. Families of veterans may be struggling with domestic violence, child abuse, substance abuse or suicide. Military social workers must be prepared for the complexity that comes with treating both active-duty and civilian clients who are part of military culture. Learn more about this program here!

Contact a Recruiter Today:

• Army- SGT Nathan Bellardini
• Marines- SGT Brandon Sanzone
• Air Force- SSGT Terrence Paton
• Navy- Petty Officer Candida Reyes
• National Guard- SSG Michael Coletta
• Coast Guard- SSG Brian Armstrong

Naviance is an essential college and career planning tool that all Spring-Ford students have access to use. You must now access Naviance through your Clever account. Just follow these simple steps:

1. Go to Spring-Ford.net
2. Hover over “Student” in the top right corner
3. Select “Clever Login”
4. Select “Log In With Active Directory”- if it asks for a username/password, use your Spring-Ford District Login
5. Once in Clever, click on the Naviance icon

What will you do after you graduate Spring-Ford? It is never too early to start making plans and setting goals for yourself. Here are some great resources to get you started:

• Explore Naviance: Did you know Naviance has a Career Profiler that can help you find careers that fit your interest? Did you now that it has a Super Match College Search to help you find your dream college? Utilize all these great tools as you try to find the right path for your future!
• Meet with your College and Career Advisor: Stop by the FPC to set up an appointment and talk about all your options.
• Pennsylvania Career Guide: Published by the Department of Labor & Industry, this guide is packed with great information on a variety of different careers and resources to help with your career search.

Did you know that you could get college credits for your Project Lead The Way courses?

Click here for Dr. Colyer's letter explaining this unique opportunity.

Click here for more information on the RIT-PLTW connection.

Click here for more information on other PLTW college connections and opportunities.

The PSATs are a Preliminary SAT that helps students identify areas of strength and weakness before taking the real SAT that will be used during the college application process.

Fast Facts on PSATs:

• Sophomores will take the PSAT at Spring-Ford for free in October. Sophomores do not need to register to take this exam.
• PSATs are not scores on the same scale as the SATs. The SATs are scored out of 1600 points and the PSATs are scores out of 1520 points.
• Detailed score reporting is available online for all students who take the PSATs. Score reports will be available on CollegeBoard.org in December. For help understanding your scores, check out this PSAT 10 Understanding Scores Packet.
• Students who test well on the PSAT as a sophomore should consider taking the PSATs again as a junior to compete in the National Merit Scholarship Competition. Details on the National Merit Scholarship can be found here.
• Students who do not test well on the PSAT should consider doing some prep work on Khan Academy. After score reports are available, students are encouraged to link their College Board account with Khan Academy to get free, tailored practice for the SATs based on their PSAT scores.
• Students who do not test well on the PSAT may want to consider taking the PSAT again in junior year for more practice. While the PSAT is offered at no cost for sophomores, juniors must pay to register for the PSATs.

Be Prepared on Test Day:

• Be on time! Testing will begin promptly at 7:40am. College Board prohibits make-up or late testing due to testing security.
• Don’t schedule any doctor appointments for this day! Testing will take at least 4 hours. Students who must leave early will not be given time to make up the time they miss and scores will be cancelled.
• Bring 2 number two pencils. Students cannot use mechanical pencils for the PSATs.
• Bring an approved calculator for the math section. A list of approved calculators can be found here.
• Be prepared! Practice books are available in the FPC for no additional cost and will be distributed to registered students during homeroom.

Trying to figure out what you want to do for the rest of your life can be a daunting task for a person at any age. We encourage students to start their career exploration early to make the process easier.

Helpful Resources:

• Career Interest Profiler: Take this easy 180 question quiz found under the "Career" tab in Naviance. This quiz will give you a list of careers that you may like based on your interest. Remember when you get the list, it is in order of the amount of preparation for each career- NOT by which career fits you best. If you are considering college, you will want to scroll down to the "considerable preparation" and "extensive preparation" sections of the list.
• MyMajors.com: Know you want to go to college? Take a quiz to see which major fits your interests the best?
• O*Net Online: Already have a career in mind? O*Net Online is a database occupations and has detailed descriptions of almost every job out there. In addition to job descriptions, it even tells you what level of education you need for each job and the average salary.
• Pennsylvania Career Guide: Published by the Department of Labor & Industry, this guide is packed with great information on a variety of different careers and resources to help with your career search.

Explore Careers Beyond Your Computer:

• Talk to the adults in your life! Ask you neighbor, aunt, uncle, parent's friend, etc. if they like their jobs, what they majored in, where they went to college, and if they like what they do.
• Volunteer! A great way to explore career options is by getting hands on experience volunteering for a closely related organization or business.
• Take a class that relates to your career interests! Spring-Ford offers a variety of career focused classes like accounting, management, education, criminal justice, international studies, athletic training, biomedical sciences, engineering, etc. This can be a great way to test if this is an area you would want to spend your college years studying.

Interested in playing sports in college at the DI or DII level? There are a few things you need to do:

• Review the NCAA Guidelines outlined on pages 6-9 of the 2021-22 Course Book.
• Complete the Spring-Ford Student-Athlete Identification Form and turn it into the FPC.
• Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center.
• Send your official SAT/ACT scores to the Eligibility Center through the testing agency (College Board or ACT) using the CEEB Code 9999.
• Be sure to list Spring-Ford as your high school when you register with the Eligibility Center. As long as we are listed as your school, we will automatically upload your junior transcript at the end of junior year and your final transcript after graduation.

You are just starting out at the high school, but some of you may already be thinking about your next step. Looking ahead is a great way to make sure you are working towards meeting all the requirements you would need to get into college.

Planning Ahead:

• Do a preliminary college search: Use tools under the "College" tab in Naviance such as the College Match or Super Match College Search to start checking out colleges. Add any colleges that stand out to your "Colleges I'm Thinking About" list in Naviance.
• Check out the college admission website: Look to see what the average student looks like for each college. Colleges will look at what students have accomplished in grades 9-11 with little input from senior year. As a freshman you can set yourself up to be the ideal applicant before you even start the application. Look for things like average GPA, average SAT/ACT score (are they test optional?), and special course requirements. For instance, colleges in the states of South Carolina and California both require that students take at least one art class while in high school. Doing a little research now will help make sure you are prepared!
• Attend the Spring-Ford College & Career Fair: This is a great way to be introduced to colleges you had never heard of and hear what colleges are looking for directly from the source.
• Talk to your school counselor: If you want to talk to someone about your search or have questions about what lies ahead, head over to the office to make an appointment with your school counselor.

Considering a military career? You have a lot of options to consider:

Which Branch?

• Army
• Marines
• Air Force
• Navy
• Coast Guard
• National Guard

How would you like to serve?

• ROTC: Army, Air Force, Navy
• Military Academies: West Point, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, Merchant Marine Academy, Coast Guard Academy
• Reserves: Army Reserve, Marine Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Navy Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve, National Guard
• Active Duty: Army, Marines, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard

Don't forget to take the ASVAB!

• See sample questions for the ASVAB here
• Spring-Ford will host the ASVABs for free

Have you ever considered a career in Military Social Work?

Military service members, veterans and their families have special needs that may necessitate working with a social worker. For example, military personnel may be dealing with psychological and emotional disorders, including depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress, especially if they have been fighting on the front lines of war. Families of veterans may be struggling with domestic violence, child abuse, substance abuse or suicide. Military social workers must be prepared for the complexity that comes with treating both active-duty and civilian clients who are part of military culture. Learn more about this program here!

Contact a Recruiter Today:

• Army- SGT Dartanyun D. Harvey
• Marines- SSGT Johnathan Morris
• Air Force- TSGT Bradly Lucas
• Navy- Petty Officer Vivian Roberts
• National Guard- SSG Charles Bundy
• Coast Guard- SSG Brian Armstrong

Naviance is an essential college and career planning tool that all Spring-Ford students have access to use. You must now access Naviance through your Clever account. Just follow these simple steps:

1. Go to Spring-Ford.net
2. Hover over “Student” in the top right corner
3. Select “Clever Login”
4. Select “Log In With Active Directory”- if it asks for a username/password, use your Spring-Ford District Login
5. Once in Clever, click on the Naviance icon

Did you know that you could get college credits for your Project Lead The Way courses?

Click here for Dr. Colyer's letter explaining this unique opportunity.

Click here for more information on the RIT-PLTW connection.

Click here for more information on other PLTW college connections and opportunities.