Career & College Advisor Notes for Summer 2026

We’re almost to the end! Or is it another beginning?? Many of us celebrated the accomplishments of the Class of 2026 during their commencement ceremony last Friday, and now students are turning in their last assignments, teachers are calculating final grades, and we’re all looking forward to our summer plans.

My personal last-week-of-school tradition is to leave you all with some ideas for how to integrate a bit of post-high school planning into these next couple months. In addition to getting some much needed rest and rejuvenation, summer is also a great time for students to: take on a job or other adventure where you can learn new skills, reflect on your learning experiences and think about goals for next year, and dream about future goals. These are just a few resources to help you along the way...

Rising Seniors

The summer months are a good time to get a head start on post-high school planning tasks. 11th graders (a.k.a. rising seniors!) and their families are encouraged to review the attached slideshow, which contains suggestions and links to resources related to planning for senior year and beyond.

The list below is basically a condensed version of the slideshow; all these things can be accomplished on your own time, at your own pace!

  • Make a list of potential careers and the education/training you’ll need to achieve your goals (use the O*Net Interest Profiler, Career One Stop, or whatever app works best for you). Draw on the High School and Beyond Planning work you did this year in advisory!
  • Brainstorm topics or even write a rough draft of your personal essay. Your summer work will make early scholarship/college application deadlines more doable in the fall. (You will produce a final draft of your essay during Senior Seminar in Sept./early Oct.)
  • Gather information related to financial aid—the FAFSA will be available on October 1, 2026, and we’ll plan a financial aid night for families around the time of its release. Note: you’ll use 2025 tax data to complete the 2027-28 FAFSA application.

If your plan includes applying to 4-year colleges…

  • Create a Common App account and start entering some of the basic information. This will save you a little time in the fall and help you organize your thoughts.
  • Check out Camp College, a free seven-session virtual series covering a range of topics related to college admissions, sponsored by the Western Association for College Admission Counseling.

You can also consider whether test prep will be on your list of summer tasks. There are many test-optional colleges and universities, and if you choose to apply without submitting test scores you can focus your energies on excelling in rigorous coursework and writing stellar essays. However, the decision to test or not to test is ultimately personal; Ms. Anderson is available to discuss your options. We are planning to offer another School Day SAT in October 2026.

Virtual College Admissions Resources

Both 2-year and 4-year colleges and universities offer a number of virtual resources to help students navigate the admissions process. Here are links to those offerings for a range of schools:

Washington Wednesday Webinar Series - specific to the UW, exploring a range of admissions topics

Whatcom Community College Information Sessions - learn more about specific programs at WCC

Reed College Virtual Admissions Events - helpful for understanding selective college admissions

Montana State University Virtual Visits - explore MSU’s degree options or meet with an admissions rep

Renton Technical College Virtual Welcome Center - great workshops & links to online advising

The University of Chicago Virtual Events - range of admissions topics, some involve other universities

Free Fly-In College Visit Programs

Applications for the 2026 STARS (Small Town and Rural Student) College Network senior fly-in programs at Amherst College, Brown University, Case Western Reserve University, and Colby College are now open, and applications are due July 15. And see the STARS event page for more opportunities this summer and beyond – there are also resources available for younger students.

These programs are selective, all-expense-paid opportunities for students to visit a STARS College Network member campus for three days and two nights. During the fly-in programs, students will learn more about how to navigate the college application process, experience life on a residential college campus, and meet other talented and passionate students from across rural America.

All STARS fly-in  programs are free, and include funding for travel, transportation to and from the college campus, and all meals and activities during the visit. Students can apply to multiple fly-in programs through one easy application, and a nomination from an educator is recommended as part of the application process (email me if you’d like to be nominated!).

Wenatchee Hydropower & STEM Career Academy– June 15-19, 2026

During this immersive, week-long academy, you’ll dive into the world of hydropower, engineering, and renewable energy through hands-on experiences alongside industry professionals. You won’t just learn about careers—you’ll try them out. Sponsored by FWEE – Foundation for Water & Energy Education. • Dates: June 15-19, 2026

• Cost: $175, but scholarships are available! • Location: Chelan PUD Rocky Reach Discovery Center,  Wenatchee, WA • Application open til program is filled - APPLY HERE

Local Summer Job Opportunities

Employers in the valley and beyond are still looking for seasonal help in food service, retail, housekeeping, construction, farming, and more. A lot of students find jobs by word-of-mouth or through friends and family, but the Methow Valley News Classifieds can also be an excellent way to see what jobs are available! Either find a paper copy of this week’s paper or use the link above and select “Employment” from the drop-down menu to see the current list of open positions.

ReadyWA - Career Exploration Resources for Students & Families (Grades 7-12)

Ready Washington is a coalition of more than 20 state and local agencies, associations, and advocacy organizations focused on providing career planning resources for all students in Washington state. Click these links to see their suggestions for having conversations with high school and middle school students about high school and beyond.

Whether you’re a graduating senior or a continuing junior high or high school student, feel free to email me with any questions or concerns or interesting updates about your lives, even after this school year ends and before the next one begins. :)

Have an amazing summer!

Be well,

Beth/Ms. Anderson

College and Career Advisor

Methow Valley School District

banderson@methow.org

509.996.2215, x4175

Career & College Advisor webpage

LBHS Counseling Department webpage

About the College and Career Advising Program

The goal of our College and Career Advising program is to provide students and their families with the information and resources necessary for them to make well-informed choices about their post-secondary education. Liberty Bell recognizes the diversity in our families and understands that what might be right for one student may not be a good fit for another.

Therefore, we work individually with students and their families to help them successfully develop and achieve their post-graduation goals – whether that is applying to a 4-year, 2-year or technical college, designing a productive gap year plan or entering the military or workforce. Some of the specific services that we offer include:

  • Educating students and parents about the full range of post-secondary educational options.
  • Meeting individually with juniors, seniors and parents to help them with their college lists, the application process, college essays and financial aid needs, including the FAFSA, the CSS Profile, and scholarship applications, as well as with SAT prep and registration.
  • Holding financial aid information sessions for students and parents to make sure that they have all the resources and support they need to reach their goals.
  • Working with the school counselor to ensure that 9th and 10th graders take the necessary classes to be eligible for their post-HS goals, including college admissions.

Planning for life after high school should be a fun and exciting process; but at times it can be a bit overwhelming. If you find yourself feeling stuck, or if you have questions about any part of the process, contact our office at (509) 996-2215.