Counseling Corner: Willowbrook Guidance Department shares information about scholarships and Advanced Placement (AP)/college-level exams

To assist with the challenges of college expenses, the Willowbrook Guidance Department provides information about scholarships, which can help relieve that financial burden.

Scholarships are a great way to help students and their families afford the costs associated with a post-secondary education. There is quite an array of scholarships available, so there is something for everyone. Many scholarships are based on merit, but there also are some based on ethnicity, gender, volunteer work, future education plans, financial status and other factors.

Students can search and apply for scholarships through multiple avenues, including:

  • The financial aid page of the colleges/universities to which they apply
  • Student’s or parent’s employer (many companies offer scholarships for children of their employees)
  • National scholarship search sites such as www.fastweb.com and www.Scholarships.com
  • A large focus at Willowbrook is local scholarship offerings. There are many businesses and organizations throughout DuPage County that offer scholarships for students. Students can find those scholarships by visiting the Scholarship Bulletin Board in the Counseling Office or on Willowbrook’s website. Students also are highly encouraged to visit the Financial Aid & Scholarships web page at https://tinyurl.com/WBScholarships2019. On that page, students will find financial aid information, helpful websites and a list of available scholarships.

For questions or more information about scholarships, contact Guidance Counselor Scott Forcash at sforcash@dupage88.net or 630-530-3420.

Seniors should report scholarships they receive to the Guidance Office as soon as possible. Students who do not report their scholarships or grants by April 16 will not be included in the program during the Senior Recognition Assembly. Seniors can report scholarships they’ve earned through completing the Senior Scholarship/Grant Sheet at https://tinyurl.com/y4cv4cld.

The Guidance Department also offers the following advice regarding Advanced Placement (AP)/college-level exams. All students enrolled in AP courses are encouraged to take the corresponding AP exams, which will be administered from May 6 to 17 (during school hours). The following is important information regarding AP test registration.

  • Students must register for AP exams between March 4 and 15 at the Willowbrook Bookstore.
  • The registration fee is $94 for each exam. Students can pay with cash, credit card (Visa or MasterCard) or check made payable to Willowbrook High School. Students who miss the registration deadline will be charged a $55 late fee.
  • Students who receive free or reduced lunch will have their test registration fee waived. However, those students must still sign up during the dates listed above.
  • To help prepare students for AP exams, there will be a mandatory pre-administration session during Warrior Time on April 23 in the cafeteria. All students who plan to take an AP exam are required to attend.
  • Final instructions will be sent to AP teachers before the testing dates. Those instructions will include the exact time and location of each exam.
  • To see the AP exam schedule, go to www.dupage88.net/WBAPExams2019.

One of the benefits of taking AP exams is they offer students the opportunity to earn college credit. Students must receive a certain score on the exam to earn college credit, and that score varies depending on the college/university. However, all public colleges in Illinois must give students credit if they score a 3 or higher on the exam. For more information about AP credit, go to www.collegeboard.org/apcreditpolicy.

Gaining college credit while in high school can save students money by not having to take those courses in college. Exposure to AP exams also familiarizes students with high-stakes, college-level assessments. The more comfortable and confident students become with those types of tests, the better they typically perform.

This school year, Willowbrook will offer 24 AP exams. For more information about AP exams and test registration, contact Willowbrook Guidance Counselor Cindy Zamora-Failla at 630-782-3137 or czamora@dupage88.net. General information about the AP program can be found at https://apstudent.collegeboard.org.