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Cristo Rey Jesuit High School

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College Counseling

Our mission calls us to serve students, through high school and college.

Our College Success Program is tailored to the needs of first-generation students, offering a combination of college counseling and support after graduation. Graduates are tracked and supported through college graduation.

Beginning in 9th grade, students work with college counselors to:
-Initiate and plan the necessary steps of choosing and applying to college
-Review college options
-Visit colleges
-Prepare for and take the ACT
-Complete application, essays and financial aid information
 
After graduation, alumni counselors:
-Assist with the transition to college
-Help graduates access campus resources
-Troubleshoot issues with enrollment, financial aid and academic support
-Maintains contact with graduates

College counseling and planning begins as soon as they become a Cristo Rey Jesuit High School student. Our students have great resources and expertise at their fingertips.

 

Our rigorous college-prep curriculum prepares students for college courses. Our career exploration assessments and career speakers help identify professions that would be a good fits for students. Our online search tools help students research colleges. Our campus tours and admissions officers’ visits help students become more familiar with a school’s culture and programs. Our financial aid workshops and scholarship information help students figure out how to pay for college. Our Transition-to-College activities and Graduate Support Coordinator help students to be successful beyond their high school years.

 

To help our students achieve their dreams, the services available to them include:

 
Campus Visits
Each fall, we visit various colleges in Minnesota and Wisconsin on our Saturday campus tours. These trips are open to all Cristo Rey students, regardless of grade. All that is required is a parent/guardian to accompany them and a $20 deposit to reserve each bus seat. The deposit is refundable when the student arrives before the bus departs. Students are strongly encouraged to visit as many campuses as possible so that they can make an informed choice about the school that best suits them.

Naviance Family Connection
Naviance Family Connection is an online tool for exploring colleges, careers, and for applying online to colleges. All students have an account with this program. All parents are eligible and welcome to apply for an account as well. Students will use Naviance to select colleges, request teacher recommendations, request transcripts, and research scholarships. 
 
ACT Prep and Exams

Each student who registers for the ACT Exam has an account for one full year of online test prep with ACT. They are able to use this tool to take practice test questions anywhere, any time. An email is sent about this program at the time of registration for the exam. Student should check their email for information on activating this free account.

Each October and April, juniors take the ACT Exam at Cristo Rey. Each October, seniors take the ACT Exam at school also. The exam is offered the third Saturday of the month. Students are eligible for fee waivers if they qualify for free/reduced lunch and have turned in their federally-funded lunch form (the "blue form") to Ms. Maggie Schmidt, Nutrition Coordinator.

Students must bring their ACT admission ticket and a valid photo I.D. (school photo I.D. or government-issued photo I.D.) to be admitted to the exam

College Application Process

Seniors create and finalize their list of colleges with the college counseling department. They are encouraged to make an appointment for help updating resumes, polishing essays, and completing applications. Students should pay careful attention to all college admissions deadlines, as these dates are firm.

Rolling Admission

Students who apply to colleges with a regular admissions policy will receive an admissions decision by April 1st of their senior year.

Regular Admission

Students who apply to colleges with a regular admissions policy will receive an admissions decision by April 1st of their senior year.

Financial Aid/Scholarships
College is expensive! Fortunately, there is help to pay for college. Families can receive assistance completing the FAFSA and if needed, the CSS Profile. In addition, there are many scholarships targeted specifically to first-generation students. Scholarship information is available on the Senior Bulletin Board, on the Naviance Family Connection website, during College Seminar, and from the college counseling department. New scholarship information is updated weekly. Pay careful attention to all requirements and deadlines in order to qualify.
 
Transition to College
Once a student has selected the college they will attend and submitted their enrollment deposit, there are several activities and workshops available at the end of your senior year to help them prepare for your move from high school to college. These take place during their College Seminar period.
 
Contact College Counseling
Raquel Gudiel 
[email protected]