College and Career Center News for October

College and Career Center News for October

 

Cal State Application Workshop: 10/5

• Applying to a Cal State University for Fall 2027? Join us in the College and Career Center during 2nd lunch on Monday, October 5 for a CSU Application Workshop presented by admissions counselors from SDSU and Cal Poly.
   
• Registration is required: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/n76azZtxsW?origin=lprLink

 

2026 COLLEGE FAIR: 10/14/2026

• The 2026 district-wide annual College Fair will take place on Oct 14 at Issaquah High School from 6:00-8:00pm. Attending college will be announced soon.
   
• Workshop 1: 6:15-7:00pm
   
• Finding The Right Fit College presented by UC Davis
   
• Workshop 2: 7:15-8:00pm
   
• College Essay Writing presented by Reed College

 

NEW CAREER & COLLEGE PLANNING PLATFORM, ‘SCHOOLINKS’

• Starting in Fall 2026, ISD students in grades 7-12 and their families have access to Washington State’s universal High School and Beyond Plan (HSBP) and career-readiness platform, “SchooLinks.”
   
• Students: Students in grades 7-12 can log in to SchooLinks though Classlink.
   
• Families: Families of students in grades 7-12 will also have access to SchooLinks to review their students plans and have conversations about career and post-high school goals.
   
• To activate your account, go to https://app.schoolinks.com/login/k12. Log in using the email address on file in your Family Access account. How you log in depends on your email provider:
   
• Google or Microsoft email: Click the matching button on the right side of the login page.
   
• Any other email provider: Click "Forgot password?" below the login fields and follow the steps to create a password. Then log in with that password

 

2027-2028 FAFSA OPENS NOW 

• The 2027-2028 FAFSA form is now open and available for students and families to complete
   
• Academic Year: 2027-2028
   
• Tax Year Needed: 2025 tax returns and records
   
• Where to Apply: Official Federal Student Aid Site
   
• Create an account: Set up your StudentAid.gov account ID if you don’t have one

 

EARLY PATH TO WA GRANT- FREE MONEY FOR COLLEGE OR CAREER TRAINING

• Washington students may qualify early for the Washington College Grant (WA Grant), which can help pay for college, career training, or approved apprenticeships. Students in grades 10-12 whose families receive Basic Food (SNAP) or Food Assistance Program (FAP) benefits can verify their eligibility through Early Path to WA Grant. Eligible students can receive at least one year of maximum WA Grant without completing a financial aid application.
   
• Even if you qualify through the Early Path, seniors are encouraged to complete the FAFSA or WASFA to access additional state and federal financial aid.
   
• Learn more and verify your eligibility: Early Path to WA Grant

 

COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER APPOINTMENTS

• If you would like support on any stage of the college application process, e.g: Building a balanced college list, Common App help, essay brainstorming or review, or if you are interested in applying for the 2026-2027 Running Start program and would like to have extra support on setting up an account – make an appointment by emailing ihscollegeandcareer@issaquah.wednet.edu with 2-3 dates and times that work for you.

 

UPCOMING COLLEGE REP VISITS

October 6

• Linfield University: 1st lunch
   
• Emory University: 1st lunch
   
• University of Richmond: 2nd lunch
   
• Occidental College: 2nd lunch

October 7

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute: 1st lunch
   
• Hope College: 1st lunch
   
• University of Chicago: 2nd lunch

October 8

• Loyola Marymount University: 1st lunch
   
• Brown University: 1st lunch
   
• Reed College: 2nd lunch

October 13

• Seattle University: 1st lunch
   
• UC Santa Cruz: 2nd lunch
   
• Loyola University Chicago: 2nd lunch

October 14

• Mount Holyoke College: 1st lunch
   
• Johns Hopkins University: 1st lunch
   
• Wellesley College: 2nd lunch

 

RULES FOR REP VISITS

• Only seniors may be excused from class to attend a rep visit. They need to ask for a pass from the CCC ahead of time and go to class.
   
• Most of these visits are fair-style tables and students won't need more than 5-10 minutes. Some schools with more selective admissions will do a presentation and take a bit longer.

 

SCHOLARSHIPS

• Our updated Scholarship Calendar lists current opportunities and deadlines to help you apply for scholarships. Check it out HERE.

 

CTE WORKSITE LEARNING – EARN CREDIT FOR HAVING A JOB!

Did you know that students can earn high school credit for having a part-time job? This program is called CTE Worksite Learning.

 

Students must meet the following requirements:

• Be employed by an organization (self-employment doesn’t qualify)
   
• Be at least 16 years old
   
• Passed or currently enrolled in a CTE course related to their job

 

How many credits can a student earn per school year?

A student earns 0.5 CTE (or general elective credit if they've already met CTE credit requirements) for every 180 hours they work during the school year and can earn up to 1.0 credits (360 total hours) per school year. A student should work an average of at least 8 hours per week to reach 180 hours by the end of the school year. The credits will show up on the student’s transcript as Work Experience with a P for “Pass.” There is no way to fail CTE Worksite Learning, so if a student doesn’t earn 180 hours by the end of the school year, the credit simply won’t show up on their transcript. Students cannot use CTE Worksite Learning credit to replace other graduation requirement credits, such as Art or PE.

 

How does a student enroll in CTE Worksite Learning?

To enroll in CTE Worksite Learning, students must complete the required paperwork. Hours don’t count until the paperwork is complete and returned to the College and Career Center, and once the employer has completed orientation with the district’s Worksite Learning Coordinator. Students cannot retroactively count hours (e.g. hours worked during the past summer or past school year don’t qualify).

 

What is the student’s role? How about the employer’s role?

Once the paperwork and employer orientation are complete, the student submits their work hours once per week via Canvas. The district's Worksite Learning Coordinator visits the employer every 180 hours that the student works, so the employer can verify the student's hours and complete a brief evaluation of the student's work.

 

Questions

To access the paperwork and more information, visit this webpage or visit your school's College & Career Center. You can also reach out to Jess Hall, CTE Post-High School Pathways Specialist, at hallj@issaquah.wednet.edu with questions.

 

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