College and Career Advising Notes for October 2025

Zoom recording: Paying for Post-High School Education with David Aramaki, October 2025

October is a long month full of all kinds of opportunities and obligations. One of the main focuses of this month will be financial aid (the FAFSA is open!) and learning about how to pay for post-high school educational expenses. Please reach out anytime you have questions – there are many resources available to support you.

Upcoming Field Trips

Tomorrow a group of 9-12 graders will be off to Western Washington University for one of their Fall Preview Day events! Below are the dates and descriptions of the remaining fall field trip opportunities. For all trips, see Ms. Anderson to sign up and pick up permission forms:

Wednesday, Oct. 15 - Okanogan County Career Expo (during the school day, 8:24am-12:00pm, all AVID CLIMBS students in grades 9, 10 will attend).

Thursday, Oct. 30 - Construction Career Day at the Spokane Fairgrounds (long day trip: 6:30am-6:30pm, any students in grades 9-12 are welcome to sign up). The day will include: Welcome & Orientation (30 min), Heavy Equipment (1 hour 15 min), Hands-on Demos & Info (1 hour), plus a free lunch.

Paying for Post-High School Education (aka Financial Aid) Night, Monday, Oct. 6 

This coming Monday, October 6, from 6:30-7:30pm, join me  in the LBHS Library or on Zoom – the  link will be shared via Skyward message on the day of the event.

We will have the opportunity to learn from David Aramaki, a financial advisor and paying-for-college expert, about the financial aid system and paying for post-secondary educational expenses. David has joined us on a number of occasions to share his knowledge, and he’ll be with us virtually via Zoom. All families and students in grades 7-12 are welcome – there will be a lot of useful information for parents of younger students who are planning for the future. Bring all your burning questions about financial aid and saving for college!

School Day SAT for Seniors on Tuesday, October 21

We’ll be offering the SAT at Liberty Bell during the school day on Tuesday, October 21. Testing will begin at 8:24am and finish by lunchtime.

Students may still choose to register for Saturday SAT/ACT dates at any of the testing sites in our region. See Ms. Anderson to obtain a fee waiver for outside tests (all students who receive free/reduced lunch qualify for free testing!).

There are some excellent *free* online SAT and ACT prep resources:

PSAT for Juniors on Tuesday, October 28

On Tuesday, October 28 all juniors at Liberty Bell will be taking the PSAT exam. Testing will begin at 8:24am and will last until about 11:10am.

What content is covered on the PSAT? See: https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt/whats-on-the-test

Students and families are also encouraged to review the PSAT Student Guide (also available in a Spanish-language version). Additional reminders about PSAT testing will be sent to juniors and their families in the coming weeks.

FINANCIAL AID RESOURCES:

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid - seniors will submit the 2026-27 FAFSA form)

WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid; only for non-FAFSA filers - use the WASFA Questionnaire to determine your appropriate financial aid application)

CSS Profile (additional financial aid application required by some colleges/universities)

Washington College Grant/WA Grant (free money available to WA residents attending WA colleges/tech schools/universities/apprenticeships; eligibility based on FAFSA/WASFA)

College Bound program (additional free money for WA graduates to attend college, eligibility based on family income & FAFSA/WASFA)

Federal Student Aid Estimator (for families of younger students)

Please reach out with any questions or concerns!

Many thanks,

Beth/Ms. Anderson

College and Career Advisor

Methow Valley School District

banderson@methow.org

509.996.2215, x4175

Career and College Advisor Notes for September 2025

Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year, students and families!

Great opportunities for teaching and learning are already happening, both in and outside the classroom, and I look forward to all the ways we will continue to learn and grow together this year. As always, please let me know what ideas you have about how we can explore ALL possibilities for high school and beyond.

Dear Class of 2026…

I know your senior year just started, but now is the time to take stock of your post-high school plans and build a list of tasks/deadlines that will allow you to get wherever you want to go after graduation. Here’s a rough outline, which will be especially helpful for those of you who are thinking about applying to trade & technical schools, community colleges, formal apprenticeship programs, or 4-year colleges & universities:

  • Make time to chat with Beth Anderson and new LBHS counselor Tara Madsen about your future plans. (We’re very excited to talk with every single one of you!)
  • Create a list of potential post-secondary schools or training programs or career paths that appeal to you and feel free to add and subtract as you learn more about each option. Use a spreadsheet or Google doc to track your application progress and Google calendar to remember important deadlines.
  • Work on your personal essay. In October all seniors will begin an in-class personal essay unit during their Senior Seminar or ILC Advisory class. You’ll generate topics and draft personal essays during this unit, and you can continue to edit and refine your work through the fall.  Essays are an important component of many scholarship and admission applications.
  • Talk with teachers who know you well to ask if they would be willing to write letters of recommendation for you. Plan to give them at least 3 weeks of lead time and provide each teacher with background information about your academic strengths and best personal qualities so they’re able to write a compelling letter on your behalf! Beth needs a paper copy of this LOR packet (again, 3 weeks in advance!) in order to complete her counselor recommendations for you.
  • Get a strong start on your fall semester coursework. Some colleges will ask you to submit mid-year transcripts as part of your application, and you want to let them know you’re putting in your best effort.
  • Start searching for scholarships and gathering information related to financial aid (2024 tax documents, information about assets, etc.). The 2026-2027 FAFSA application (the correct version for the Class of 2026) is scheduled to open on October 1. I’ll update you as the date gets closer!
  • Attend Paying for Post-HS Education Night in the LBHS Library on Monday, October 6, 6:30pm

Upcoming Field Trip Opportunities (see Beth Anderson to sign up!)

Friday, October 3:Western Washington University Preview Day

Wednesday, October 15: 2025 NCW Career Expo at Okanogan Agri-Plex

Thursday, October 30: Construction Career Day at Spokane Fairgrounds

Other College/Career Events

Monday, October 6: Paying for Post-HS Education Night, 6:30-7:30pm, in LB Library & on Zoom

Tuesday, October 21: SAT for registered seniors (testing will begin at 8:24am in LB Library)

Tuesday, October 28: PSAT for all juniors (testing will begin at 8:24am, location details to follow)

So Your Student is a High School Senior: A Conversation for Parents on Thursday, Sept. 11, 5-6pm  (online)

Are you a parent of a senior who may be applying to selective colleges? Consider tuning in this Thurs., Sept. 11 for a general overview of the admissions process with an admissions officer from Bowdoin College. Topics will include researching schools, essay writing, application timelines, financial aid, and ways to support your student throughout the process.

Paying for Post-HS Education (aka Financial Aid) Night 

Monday, October 6, from 6:30-7:30pm in the LBHS Library (or on Zoom – link will be shared the day of the event)

We will have the opportunity to learn from David Aramaki, a financial advisor and paying-for-college guru, about the financial aid system and paying for post-secondary educational expenses. David has joined us on a number of occasions to share his expertise, and he’ll be with us virtually via Zoom. All families and students in grades 7-12 are welcome – there will be a lot of useful information for parents of younger students who are planning for the future. Bring all your burning questions about financial aid and saving for college!

Naviance for Career Exploration 

Again during the 2025-2026 school year, students will be using Naviance during classes like AVID, Senior Seminar, and Advisory as a tool to support career exploration and post-high school planning. Students are also welcome to log in to Naviance on their own time to browse careers and educational pathways – just go to https://student.naviance.com/lbjsh, select “Student,” and then “Continue with Single Sign On” to log in through your methow.org Google account.

School Day SAT for Seniors on Tuesday, October 21

We’ll be offering the SAT at Liberty Bell during the school day on Tuesday, October 21. Seniors can register by signing up with Beth Anderson. Testing will begin at 8:24am and finish by lunchtime.

Students may still choose to register for Saturday SAT/ACT dates at any of the testing sites in our region. See Ms. Anderson to obtain a fee waiver for outside tests (all students who receive free/reduced lunch qualify for free testing!).

There are some excellent *free* online SAT and ACT prep resources:

PSAT for Juniors on Tuesday, October 28

Each year we offer the PSAT free of charge to all juniors. Check out the link for test prep resources, and Ms. Anderson will send more details about the PSAT as the date approaches.

Does Test-Optional Really Mean Optional?

Many colleges & universities have officially made  standardized testing optional, and a few have chosen a test-free policy, meaning that no test scores will be reviewed during the admissions process. Have questions about whether to test? Check out FAQs and a current list of test-optional schools at the newly redesigned FairTest: The National Center for Fair and Open Testing.

That’s all for now! You are welcome to contact me anytime by email (banderson@methow.org) or by leaving a voicemail at 509.996.2215, x4175.

Looking forward to a fantastic fall and beyond!

Beth/Ms. Anderson

College and Career Advisor

Methow Valley School District

Career and College Advisor Notes for June-July-August 2025

Hello, Students and Families:

Summer is just around the corner! We celebrated the awesome Class of 2025 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 a different pace of life for the next couple months.

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

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.

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!

  • Complete the Game Plan survey using your Naviance account (to log in, click the “Student” icon and then choose the “Continue with Single Sign On” option to sign in with your methow.org Google account).

  • Make a list of potential careers and the education/training you’ll need to achieve your goals (use Naviance, paper & pencil, or whatever app works best for you).

  • 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 in Senior Seminar in late Sept/early Oct.)

  • Gather information related to financial aid—the FAFSA should be available on October 1, 2025, and we’ll plan a financial aid night for families around the time of its release. Note: you’ll use 2024 tax data to complete the 2026-27 FAFSA application.

If your plan includes applying to 4-year colleges…

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 2025.

TIps for using Naviance Career Exploration Resources

We recommend that students do one or two assessments of their strengths and skills during each year of middle/high school in order to notice how their interests evolve over time – the Self-Discovery tab in Naviance has a number of options, and most of the assessments can be repeated as many times as a student wants.

Our student Naviance link is: https://student.naviance.com/lbjsh. All LB & ILC students in grades 7-12 have accounts associated with their methow.org Google login, so they need to click the "Student" backpack icon and then click the "Continue with Single Sign On" button rather than creating a new account (even if it’s the first time they’ve used Naviance).

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

8 of the Best Colleges Virtual Programs - good opportunity to interact with a number of selective liberal arts college admission representatives in one place

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

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!

All the best,

Beth

Beth Anderson

College and Career Advisor, Methow Valley School District

Career & College Advising Webpage, email: banderson@methow.org

Career and College Advisor Notes for March/April 2025

There are some awesome things on the horizon, including a College & Career Fair at LBHS on April 21 (organized by our AVID CLIMBS students!). Let me know if you have questions about any of the opportunities listed here.

Scholarships!

Seniors, keep checking the Scholarships 2025 Google Classroom page for new scholarship opportunities and updates to deadlines, etc. One opportunity to highlight – the Methow Valley Education Foundation now has four distinct programs (with one universal application): MVEF General Scholarships, Trade/Vocational School Scholarships, the Tom Zbyszewski Memorial Scholarship, and the new Arnold R. Campbell Memorial Scholarship(s). The MVEF scholarship committee especially encourages students who are interested in trade or technical education/training to apply.

SAT Prep for Juniors starting March 18

Ms. Anderson will be offering a test prep series in the library during Advisory on Tuesdays starting on March 18, leading up to the School Day SAT at Liberty Bell on Wednesday, April 23.

Because of the digital format of the test, our test prep will be mostly online. But I encourage all juniors to attend the advisory prep sessions in person for two reasons: 1) having time set aside and a group of colleagues to practice with provides accountability and motivation, and 2) I'll guide you through the resources and show how to use them effectively.

Many colleges and universities will continue their test-optional admissions policies next year. You can check out a current list of test-optional schools at FairTest: The National Center for Fair and Open Testing.

Summer Essay Workshop at The Bush School, Mazama Campus

During the weeks of June 23-27 and August 4-8, The Bush School will be offering writing retreats designed to support rising seniors as they tackle the writing components of college applications. MVSD juniors are invited to register as day students. The full cost is $290, but there are scholarships available to lower the cost to whatever amount your family can afford. Check out the attached flyer for more details, and see Beth Anderson with questions (especially about scholarships!).

Summer Student Teaching Assistant at The Bush School

The Mazama campus of The Bush School is also looking for an intern for this summer! The intern will work with younger students during two week long day camps. See the attached flyer for more information about this paid internship opportunity – students ages 17 and over are invited to apply.

DNR Wildland Firefighting Jobs

WA DNR is accepting applications through April 1 for seasonal firefighting positions. Applicants must be 18 by June 15 in order to apply. See posting for more information: 2025 NE SUMMER WILDLAND FIREFIGHTER 

Park Aide Positions at Pearrygin Lake State Park…and beyond

Washington State Parks is still  recruiting seasonal park aides for this summer! A typical work day may include anything from registering campers and collecting camp fees, to cleaning facilities, mowing lawns, or explaining park rules. (You must be at least 17 years old by the start of work.) Park aides have the chance to grow with the agency, and many have gone on to success as rangers, customer service and human resources managers, environmental planners, and more. Former park aides also have found work in the outdoor industry, for nonprofits, or with other public lands agencies.

Upcoming Events & Deadlines

Tuesday, April 15 — Methow Valley Education Foundation Scholarship Applications DUE

All seniors are encouraged to apply for MVEF scholarships. Funds are available for all types of post-high school education and training. See Beth & Erika with questions!

Monday, April 21 — College & Career Fair at LBHS

The AVID CLIMBS classes are planning a whole-school College & Career Fair that will be held during JH/HS Advisory and lunch on Monday, April 21. Representatives from colleges and local businesses/employers will be on hand to answer questions and give students information about opportunities in their industries/schools.

Wednesday, April 23 — School Day SAT

Juniors are encouraged to sign up with Beth to take the SAT at Liberty Bell on April 23, starting at 8:20am. This opportunity is free and during the school day – please take advantage of it!

Ongoing — Finish the FAFSA

Seniors & families: there’s still time to complete your 2025-26 FAFSA application in order to receive scholarships and financial aid at many post-secondary institutions for the fall of 2025. Remember: even if you’re not planning to continue your education next year, I’d encourage you to fill out the FAFSA because it will give you the opportunity to access the funds you need if you change your mind!

Career and College Advisor Notes for February 2025

February may be a short month, but it’s also packed with opportunities! There are many scholarship deadlines and applications for summer programs and jobs coming up soon.

Pre-College Summer Programs

Summer at UChicago - applications due March 5, 2025

Current 9th-11th graders are eligible to apply for the University of Chicago’s one-week enrichment programs (see link for full list of all twelve program options). If accepted, these programs are free for students with a household income of $120,000 or less, and students with a family income of $65,000 or less qualify for additional funds to cover all transportation expenses to and from campus!

Girls Who Code 2025 Summer Programs - applications due February 26, 2025

Girls Who Code offers two free summer program options, and all girls in grades 9-12 are welcome to apply. You’ll learn to code through hands-on real-world projects in game design, cybersecurity, data science, web development, and artificial intelligence. See attached flyer for more information.

Summer Employment Opportunities

WA DNR Firefighting

The Northeast Region of the Washington State Department of Natural Resources is currently recruiting high school seniors for a summer job as a seasonal firefighter. This is a great summer job for students while going to college. Typically, the start date is early June, and the end date is flexible between mid-August through October. This is an entry level position with no previous experience needed, all training and gear is provided. See attached flyer for more information.

Park Aide at Pearrygin Lake State Park and other area parks

Washington State Parks is recruiting seasonal park aides: a typical work day may include anything from registering campers and collecting camp fees, to cleaning facilities, mowing lawns, or explaining park rules. (You must be at least 17 years old by the start of work.) Park aides have the chance to grow with the agency, and many have gone on to success as rangers, customer service and human resources managers, environmental planners, and more. Former park aides also have found work in the outdoor industry, for nonprofits, or with other public lands agencies.

Post-High School Programs for Students with Disabilities

There are many post-high school educational options available for students with disabilities! If you are interested in pursuing one of the three programs linked below or researching other plans for after high school, talk with Beth Anderson, Erika Spellman, Jill Driver, Kim Brunelle, or Alicia Covell.

Occupational & Life Skills Bellevue College

Achieve at Highline College

WSU ROAR

Scholarships

Seniors, keep checking the Scholarships 2025 Google Classroom page for new scholarship opportunities. Remember – scholarships are available for ANY post-high school education or training you’re planning to do, including apprenticeships, 2- or 4-year colleges and universities, and technical programs (both college-based and industry-sponsored training).

Upcoming Events & Deadlines

Friday, February 7-Friday, March 28 — Healthcare Rotation series, led by Kelleigh McMillan (kmcmillan@methow.org). This pilot program is designed to give students insight into a wide variety of healthcare careers through visits to six different healthcare facilities. See Beth or email Kelleigh for information about how you could join one of these Friday trips to healthcare organizations across our region, including Sawtooth Dental, Jamie’s Place, Family Health Centers, Okanogan Behavioral Health Care, Three Rivers Hospital, and Lake Chelan Hospital. Space is very limited!

Wednesday, February 26 — Washington State Opportunity Scholarship Application Due

Another great funding opportunity for seniors who are planning to major in healthcare or STEM fields at a 2- or 4-year college or university in Washington. Income limits are quite high—a student from a family of 4 with an income of $164,000 or less would qualify for the award. See Ms. Anderson with questions about whether your chosen program qualifies for this funding.

Friday, February 28 — Scrubs Camp in Omak

Another opportunity to explore careers in healthcare! Scrubs Camp offers hands-on experience of a wide variety of healthcare options – students will rotate through stations where they’ll learn about ultrasound technology, medical assisting, pharmacy technology, emergency medicine and other high-demand healthcare fields. See attached flyer, and talk with Beth to sign up!

Saturday, March 1 — Community Foundation of North Central Washington scholarship deadline

Nearly all of the 130+ scholarships available through CFNCW’s universal application have March 1 deadlines. This is one you don’t want to miss, seniors! Create a profile and CFNCW will match you with the awards you’re eligible to apply for, submit the general application, and then add any additional materials requested by individual scholarships.

Tuesday, March 4, 6:15am-6:00pm — Central Washington University Tour

This tour of the CWU campus will be a long day trip open to students in grades 9-12 (students in grades 7-8 may attend as space permits). Permission forms are available from Ms. Anderson – add your name to the list by February 14 if you’re interested!

Ongoing — Complete the 2025-26 FAFSA or WASFA

Seniors & families: there’s still plenty of time to complete your 2025-26 FAFSA or WASFA application in order to receive scholarships and financial aid at post-secondary institutions for the fall of 2025. Aid is available for all forms of post-high school education and training!

Be well,

Beth/Ms. Anderson