MHS Counseling Staff
7 months ago
Scholarship Information
12 days ago
Scholarship Information
- Please complete the MHS General Scholarship Application (available 3/8/23) This application will determine your eligibility for certain local scholarships (local scholarship with their own applications are listed below). YOU WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED IF YOU DO NOT APPLY. Please check with the counseling office if you have questions.
- Scholarships on this page are listed in order of due date. We update regularly, please continue to check for new scholarships.
- In addition to the scholarships listed below, we encourage you to check with your employer, parents' employers, your church & other community organizations.
- Links to national scholarship sites are on the bottom of the page.
- Apply for scholarships within the college/university you plan to attend. These are listed on the 'Scholarship' section and sometimes the 'Foundation' section of a university's website.
- As you become aware of any scholarship you've received, please inform your counselor. We want to make sure that you are invited and properly recognized at this year's Awards Night
NSHSS- National Society for High School Scholars- SCAM ALERT!!! Please reach out to your counselor before giving them any of your information (or money)!
ACORN Equality Fund - September 22, 2023 - Acorn Equality fund provides scholarships to LGBTQ+ students and allies in downstate Illinois. Scholarships range from $1,000-$4,000 with $40,000 awarded annually. For more information and the application, click here.
SIUE Meridian Scholarship - November 15, 2023 - This is a full ride Scholarship. Seniors that are interested in attending SIUE and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 (4.0 scale) are encouraged to apply. To be considered, students must submit an SIUE application, official high school transcript, and Meridian application and a 2-page essay. For more information and the application, click here.
SEMO President's Scholarship - December 1, 2023 - This scholarship is given to five top applicants each year and starts at $10,000, growing to a total of $43,000 over four years. Students with a 3.9 GPA with no ACT or SAT score, or a 3.75 GPA with a 31 ACT/1390 SAT are eligible to apply. Select applicants will be invited to interview for the scholarship in the spring. For more information and the application, click here.
Mensa's Health Minds Scholarship - March 18, 2024 - High school seniors from (home town in) the area covered by St. Louis Area Mensa. Applicants must be students in good academic standing with cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 who are currently enrolled in any accredited undergraduate two or four year institution with a declared major in any of the mental health related fields. high school seniors who have been admitted to any accredited two or four year institution who plan on pursuing one of these majors are also eligible. Majors include, but not limited to, psychology, counseling, social work and psychiatric nursing. For more information and the application, click here or pick up in Guidance.
College Board Scholarship Drawing-Earn entries in monthly drawings for $500 and $40,000 scholarships by completing steps on BigFuture. Log in to your account, complete steps on your dashboard, and earn entries to win. One step completed = one entry in each monthly scholarship drawing. There are drawings starting January of your sophomore year until February of your senior year. Click here to enter.
The National Cyber Scholarship Foundation Cybersecurity is one of the world’s fastest growing industries. The National Cyber Scholarship Foundation is working hard to address the current cyber skills shortage by developing and championing the next generation of cybersecurity professionals, through the provision of $2 million in college scholarships and $13.8 million in cybersecurity training. Qualify for the National Cyber Scholarship Competition through CyberStart America; an exciting gamified learning platform that will build and challenge your cybersecurity skills.
For more scholarship opportunities please visit here.
College Greenlight - By building a student profile on College Greenlight, we can match you to college and scholarship opportunities that reflect your accomplishments and interests. When creating your account, be sure to select 'yes' for this question: "Are you part of a college readiness or college success program?" and then select Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) & Kylee Medina.
Opportunities for students
7 months ago
Schedule Changes:
You must be logged in to your MHS email to use the form. Be sure to read it carefully and do not complete it if your request does not meet the criteria. You should follow your original schedule until you've heard from your counselor (check your email) or see that it is changed in PowerSchool. Schedule change requests are only allowed the first three days of every semester.
Opportunities for students
Illinois Society War of 1812 - Charles Schweizer History Essay Contest - Contest open to all students who are United States citizens. Contestants shall be attending public, parochial, or private high schools (including accredited home schools) and shall be in any grade of study during the contest year and attending a school in Illinois. For more information on how to enter please click here.
John A Logan College Dual Enrollment Courses- Taking college courses during high school can be a great way to get a head start on your college career. If you meet the requirements, you may be eligible for a tuition waiver* each semester (beginning the summer after your sophomore year, & ending your final semester of your senior year). More information & eligibility found on the MHS/JALC Dual Enrollment Agreement (this form is required for students wishing to participate). JALC Placement test (Accuplacer) will be offered at MHS this spring. Students must meet requirements (listed on agreement) to register for Accuplacer. See your counselor with questions.
HOBY: Attention all Sophomores! Are you interested in enhancing your leadership skills? The HOBY program allows high school sophomores to realize their leadership talents and apply them in becoming effective, ethical leaders in their home, school, workplace and community. Please see Ms. Hargraves for more details!
U of I - College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences - Interested in STEM? Spend two weeks discovering your interests in STEM-based careers through lab tours, lectures, and mini science demonstrations in the food, human, and environmental science fields conducted by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Students who are currently rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors that rank in the top 25% of your class and have B grades should apply. For more information click here.
Pathways to Saluki Medicine - SIU can help you reach your dream career with the Pathways to Saluki Medicine camp. You'll visit research and learning labs, interact with current students, faculty, and medical professionals. For more information click here.
Juniors & Seniors- Are you interested in learning more about our political process? Do you want to pursue a career in public service? If you are actively serving in an elected or appointed capacity in student government (student council), civic or educational organization you may qualify for the United States Senate Youth Program. Please see your counselor if interested.
Job Opportunity - Silkworm - Production Job
Under the supervision of the Production Manager:
- keeps the shop clean and organized
-reviews sales order forms and lays out goods
-check all questionable order forms with the Production Manager or Sales Representative
-Applies heat transfers
-Inspects final goods, completing the sales order forms and packing
-Maintains the flexibility to perform related work as required.
Job Type: ENTRY LEVEL
Apply in person at Silkworm 102 South Sezmore Drive Murphysboro, IL 62966 or call 618-6874077
College & Career Planning
7 months ago
COLLEGE REP/MILITARY VISITS are posted on the main MHS Calendar. Visits occurring during ELP will be in the auditorium unless otherwise noted. See Hillary in the Counseling Office for a pass.
VIRTUAL COLLEGE FAIRS:
National Association of College Admission Counseling College Fairs: Log in on these fairs to meet with 600+ colleges and universities. They'll be online to talk with high school juniors and seniors. Find out when they're having Zoom sessions and drop in to attend! There are many additional resources on this site.
Illinois Virtual College Exploration Program- More than 375 sessions from which to choose: local, national, and international colleges and universities, skilled trades, military branches, career exploration, financial aid & scholarship organizations, non-college training programs and more! Watch as many recorded sessions as you want.
YouTube Channel for College Spotlights- videos are approximately 15 minutes
Interested in playing sports in college? Make sure you are on the right track- click on resources below:
Guide for College Bound Student Athletes
Division I eligibility standards are changing- Learn more at 2point3.org
Create an account on the ISAC Student Portal (https://studentportal.isac.org/student) to stay updated on important due dates and get information about different events. There is also a toolbox that has information about internships, apprenticeships and summer jobs. There's also a college checklist that will help you navigate the college going process!
Learn more about colleges, majors, & careers:
Guide for College Bound Student Athletes
Division I eligibility standards are changing- Learn more at 2point3.org
Create an account on the ISAC Student Portal (https://studentportal.isac.org/student) to stay updated on important due dates and get information about different events. There is also a toolbox that has information about internships, apprenticeships and summer jobs. There's also a college checklist that will help you navigate the college going process!
Learn more about colleges, majors, & careers:
www.explorehealthcareers.org
Midwest Student Exchange Program- a multi-state tuition reciprocity program (find schools offering in-state/discounted tuition for Illinois graduates)
Midwest Student Exchange Program- a multi-state tuition reciprocity program (find schools offering in-state/discounted tuition for Illinois graduates)
Testing Information
7 months ago
NEW- REDESIGNED SAT
Per the Illinois State Board of Education, all public school students in grade 11 will complete the SAT. The SAT will serve as the state assessment for purposes of state and federal accountability, will be provided at no cost to public school districts in Illinois, and will be offered to students during the school day. The SAT aligns with the Illinois Learning Standards and provides a college-reportable score for admissions purposes. It and will continue to empower educators to measure college and career readiness. Students also receive a waiver to retake the SAT- see your counselor.
To access your College Board account, click here
For more detailed information on the SAT components visit https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/inside-the-test
9th, 10th & 11th grade students will take the PSAT on October 13th
For more detailed information on the PSAT visit
Get Free, Personalized SAT Practice from Khan Academy!
Test Date | Test | Registration Deadline | Late Registration | Multiple Choice Scores Available |
28-Aug-21 | SAT | 30-Jul-21 | 17-Aug-21 | September 20, 2021* |
11-Sep-21 | ACT | 6-Aug-21 | 20-Aug-21 | September 24–November 3, 2021* |
2-Oct-21 | SAT | 3-Sep-21 | 21-Sep-21 | October 15, 2021* |
23-Oct-21 | ACT | 17-Sep-21 | 1-Oct-21 | November 5–December 17, 2021* |
6-Nov-21 | SAT | 8-Oct-21 | 26-Oct-21 | November 19, 2021* |
4-Dec-21 | SAT | 4-Nov-21 | 23-Nov-21 | December 17, 2021* |
11-Dec-21 | ACT | 5-Nov-21 | 19-Nov-21 | December 24, 2021– February 4, 2022* |
12-Feb-22 | ACT | 7-Jan-22 | 21-Jan-22 | February 25–April 8, 2022* |
12-Mar-22 | SAT | 11-Feb-22 | 1-Mar-22 | March 25, 2022* |
2-Apr-22 | ACT | 25-Feb-22 | 11-Mar-22 | April 15–May 28, 2022* |
7-May-22 | SAT | 8-Apr-22 | 26-Apr-22 | May 20, 2022* |
4-Jun-22 | SAT | 5-May-22 | 25-May-22 | June 13, 2022* |
11-Jun-22 | ACT | 6-May-22 | 20-May-22 | June 24–August 5, 2022* |
16-Jul-22 | ACT (Not Offered in NY) | 17-Jun-22 | 24-Jun-22 | July 29–August 29, 2022* |
ACT Information
ALL colleges & universities accept both the ACT & the SAT. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO TAKE BOTH, but you can. Admissions offices will usually take your highest score, whether it be your ACT or SAT score. Please see your counselor if you are interested in taking the ACT or SAT. Make sure you see your counselor for a waiver—so you don’t have to pay the registration fee!
We suggest that you take the December, April or June ACT & so you can order the Test Information Release (TIR). For $19, you will receive a list of your answers, a copy of the multiple-choice test questions used to determine your score, the answer key, and scoring instructions. You can order a TIR form when you register, or during the three-month period after your test date. See your counselor for more information. This is a great way to improve your score!
ACT ONLINE PREP IS FREE!!! Normally $25, just see your counselor for a username & password. This is a great resource to prepare for the ACT.
Here's what you will find in the ACT Online Prep™ program:
- Practice tests with real ACT test questions
- Practice essays for the optional ACT Writing Test, with real-time scoring
- Comprehensive content review for each of the ACT's four required tests—English, Math, Reading, and Science
- Diagnostic test and study path
- Anywhere, anytime access via the Internet
ACCUPLACER TESTING
If you plan to attend JALC during, or after high school, see the counseling office to sign up for ACCUPLACER testing. This test is free, & is required for all college classes at JALC.
** If you have any questions, please contact your counselor