COUNSELING SERVICES
Contact our school counselor here for more information.
COUNSELOR CORNER – weekly updates from our arts high school counselor – September 25, 2026
FROM CAROL:
On Monday, September 21st, I met with the juniors in a group and then the seniors during Advisory. The juniors were introduced (or reintroduced) to Naviance and were asked to complete two surveys while thinking about life after high school: Strengths Explorer and Career Interest Profiler. More detailed information about careers and colleges were discussed with the seniors and each student was encouraged to sign up for their 1:1 “Senior Meeting” with Carol.
SENIORS
PLEASE sign up for a meeting with me during the first semester. It’s a time to go over your high school credits and have a discussion about your future after high school.
Please sign up via this link which is also at the end of any email I send out and the QR codes are posted around the building (including the one across from the front desk window).
I am happy to meet with students when they want or need to, but…my goal is to meet with each student one-on-one, at least once, each year they are at Perpich.
NATIONAL COLLEGE FAIR FIELD TRIP
Every year I take students to the National College Fair. A bus will be heading down to the Minneapolis Convention Center on October 5th at 5:40 p.m. and will return at 7:30 p.m.
There will be 303 colleges, trade schools, and career organizations represented.
Sign up at the front desk!
SENIORS – SEPTEMBER TO DO LIST
- Sign up for a Senior Meeting with Carol
- Finalize personal statement or essay
- Set up Common App account if needed (Here’s a guide you might like to reference)
- Review application portals and school-specific requirements
- Continue drafting and revising supplemental essays
- Ask core academic teachers for letters of recommendation
- Set personal deadlines for fall applications and make final decisions on EA/ED applications
- Organize financial documents required for FAFSA and other aid applications
FAFSA IS OPEN
The Education Department officially opened the FAFSA for the 2027-2028 school year on Wednesday, September 23rd.
MINNESOTA GOES TO COLLEGE
Attend a Virtual Event – Ongoing webinars about college and financial aid – free to students and families.
If you or someone you know is looking for more information on the college and financial aid process, we are here to help! Join a series of college and financial aid webinars created specifically for students and families to walk through components and steps of apply for college and financial aid.
FREE COLLEGE
The North Star Promise program provides free college tuition to help make education after high school possible for more Minnesota students and families. Free tuition is available at all Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, all University of Minnesota campuses, and all Tribal Colleges. It began in the fall of 2024. Residents with an Adjusted Gross Income below $80,000 can receive support towards fulfilling their undergraduate degree. North Dakota schools, along with several private institutions, also honor this.
DIRECT ADMISSIONS MINNESOTA
How does Direct Admissions work? Over 50 colleges and universities in MN participate in the program.
Students: on Tuesday, September 15th, you received a personalized survey that lists all the Minnesota colleges and universities that you are proactively admitted to. Here’s what to do next:
- Check your school email: Look for your personalized survey link and your list of eligible colleges. The email was sent by direct.admissions.ohe@state.mn.us
- Explore your options: Use the links in your email to visit college websites and learn more about what they offer.
- Complete your survey: Select the colleges you’re interested in being directly admitted to after you graduate. Once you complete the survey, those colleges will be notified and will reach out with next steps.
- Follow each college’s process: Even though you’ve been directly admitted, you still need to complete each college’s application process and meet their deadlines to secure your spot. Some colleges may also request additional materials.
Here is a great resource that can answer any questions you may have about Direct Admissions.
ACT SUPPORT
Here’s a link to several resources that will help you prepare.
Here are some TikTok content producers who are giving quick, helpful tips for the ACT exam! Look them over – even one of the hints could really help you!
- https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8bVjbBX/ Effective Guessing Strategies for the ACT Test
- https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8bVhGKY/ 36 on the ACT Math
- https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8bV8EK6/ ACT Reading Double Passage Tip
- https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8bVjp9f/ 36 on the ACT Science
MENTAL HEALTH THERAPY
“Reach for Resources” offers on-site mental health therapy for students at Perpich on Wednesdays. This service removes common barriers to care like transportation and scheduling. Therapy is billed through insurance. Please contact your insurance provider to confirm if Reach for Resources is in-network with your plan.
Contact information:
952-256-6734
counseling@reachforresources.org
https://www.reachforresources.org/therapy
- The Real Cost of College. How to Plan Now.
- The 2026-2027 Common App: A Complete Guide
- Hit the Ground Running: Preparing for a Successful Transition to College
- Reading Your Application, Transcripts and Test Scores Like An Admission Officer – College Essay Guy
- What a Student-Centered University Really Looks Like
- Should You Use An AI Tutor to Study For the SAT or ACT?
- Advice for College Essays
- Test-Optional Admits Don’t Feel Underqualified
- Questions Parents of Juniors (and Sophomores) Ask Me About College Admissions
- Resources For Supporting LGBTQ+ Students in the College Search Process
- Campus Q provides free resources for LGBTQ+ students and their counselors
- What You Need to Know After College Decisions Arrive
- The Quiet Math Behind College Acceptance Letters That Decides Who Gets In, Who Waits, and Who Never Gets an Explanation
- The Ultimate List of Hidden College Scholarships
- College Admission Leaders Share Tips For Talking To Teens At The Holidays
- 1 in 8 Students are Abandoning College Dreams Due To Application Stress, Study Says
- How to Create an Outstanding Common App Activities List (w/ examples) (YouTube)
- Steps for Students Filling Out the FAFSA® Form
- The Costs Students Don’t See Coming—and Why They Matter
- The Free Guide to Writing a Personal Statement
- How to start the college admissions process
COLLEGE INFO LINKS
- College Resources
- Sign up for a college visit – some are on campus and some are virtual
- Northstar Promise – free college
- FAFSA – application opens October 1st
- The Go-To Guide for College Financial Aid
- List of Test Optional/Test Blind Colleges (ACT/SAT)
- List of MN colleges with zero application fee
- How to fill out the Common Application – YouTube video
SCHOLARSHIPS
Links to several resources you may find useful. The content of these websites is not controlled by Perpich Arts High School.
Anxiety and Depression Association of America
Move Forward Minnesota (formerly Teens Alone)
myHealth for Teens & Young Adults (formerly West Suburban Teen Clinic)