Career & College Advisor Notes for September 2026

Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year, students and families!

Great opportunities for teaching and learning are already happening, both in and outside the classroom, and I look forward to all the ways we will continue to learn and grow together this year. As always, please let me know what ideas you have about how we can explore ALL possibilities for high school and beyond.

Dear Class of 2027…

I know your senior year just started, but now is the time to take stock of your post-high school plans and build a list of tasks/deadlines that will allow you to get wherever you want to go after graduation. Here’s a rough outline, which will be especially helpful for those of you who are thinking about applying to trade & technical schools, community colleges, formal apprenticeship programs, or 4-year colleges & universities:

  • Make time to chat with Beth Anderson and LBHS counselor Tara Madsen about your future plans. (We’re very excited to talk with every single one of you!)
  • Create a list of potential post-secondary schools or training programs or career paths that appeal to you and feel free to add and subtract as you learn more about each option. Use a spreadsheet or Google doc to track your application progress and Google calendar to remember important deadlines.
  • Work on your personal essay. In late September/earlyOctober all seniors will begin an in-class personal essay unit during their Senior Seminar or ILC Advisory class. You’ll generate topics and draft personal essays during this unit, and you can continue to edit and refine your work through the fall.  Essays are an important component of many scholarship and admission applications.
  • Talk with teachers who know you well to ask if they would be willing to write letters of recommendation for you. Plan to give them at least 3 weeks of lead time and provide each teacher with background information about your academic strengths and best personal qualities so they’re able to write a compelling letter on your behalf! Beth needs a paper copy of this LOR packet (again, 3 weeks in advance!) in order to complete her counselor recommendations for you.
  • Get a strong start on your fall semester coursework. Some colleges will ask you to submit mid-year transcripts as part of your application, and you want to let them know you’re putting in your best effort.
  • Start searching for scholarships and gathering information related to financial aid (2025 tax documents, information about assets, etc.). The 2027-2028 FAFSA application (the correct version for the Class of 2027) is scheduled to open on October 1. I’ll update you as the date gets closer!
  • Attend Paying for Post-HS Education Night in the LBHS Library, Monday, October 12, 6:30-7:30pm.

Upcoming Field Trip Opportunities (see Beth Anderson to sign up!)

Wednesday, October 21: 2026 NCW Career Expo at Okanogan Agri-Plex

Tuesday-Wednesday, October 27-28: Overnight College Tour, details TBD

Other College/Career Events

Monday, October 12: Paying for Post-HS Education Night, in LB Library & on Zoom, 6:30-7:30pm

Tuesday, October 13: SAT for registered seniors (testing will begin at 8:24am in LB Library)

Thursday, October 15: PSAT for all juniors (testing will begin at 8:24am, location details to follow)

So Your Student is a High School Senior: A Conversation for Parents on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 5-6pm  (online)

Are you a parent of a senior who may be applying to selective colleges? Consider tuning in Tuesday, Sept. 22 for a general overview of the admissions process with an admissions officer from Bowdoin College. Topics will include researching schools, essay writing, application timelines, financial aid, and ways to support your student throughout the process.

Paying for Post-HS Education (aka Financial Aid) Night 

Monday, October 12, from 6:30-7:30pm in the LBHS Library (or on Zoom – link will be shared the day of the event)

We will have the opportunity to learn from David Aramaki, a financial advisor and paying-for-college guru, about the financial aid system and paying for post-secondary educational expenses. David has joined us on a number of occasions to share his expertise, and he’ll be with us virtually via Zoom. All families and students in grades 7-12 are welcome – there will be a lot of useful information for parents of younger students who are planning for the future. Bring all your burning questions about financial aid and saving for college!

SchooLinks for High School and Beyond Planning and Career Exploration 

We have a new tool for High School and Beyond Planning this year, which is called SchooLinks. This statewide platform will provide a helpful container for all of the HSBP work students do from grades 6-12. All students are logging on to SchooLinks during Advisory time and getting an introduction to the resources available for career exploration so they can work on aligning their educational experience to their career goals.

School Day SAT for Seniors on Tuesday, October 13

We’ll be offering the SAT at Liberty Bell during the school day on Tuesday, October 13. Seniors can register by signing up with Beth Anderson. Testing will begin in the library at 8:24am and finish before lunchtime.

Students may still choose to register for Saturday SAT/ACT dates at any of the testing sites in our region. See Ms. Anderson to obtain a fee waiver for outside tests (all students who receive free/reduced lunch qualify for free testing!). For the ACT, students may also apply to do “arranged testing” at Liberty Bell – see James Mitchell, our testing coordinator, for details about the ACT arranged testing process.

There are some excellent *free* online SAT and ACT prep resources:

PSAT for all Juniors on Thursday, October 15

Each year we offer the PSAT free of charge to all juniors. Check out the link for test prep resources, and Ms. Anderson will send more details about the PSAT as the date approaches.

Does Test-Optional Really Mean Optional?

Many colleges & universities have officially made  standardized testing optional, and a few have chosen a test-free policy, meaning that no test scores will be reviewed during the admissions process. Have questions about whether to test? Talk to Ms. Anderson and check out the current list of test-optional schools at FairTest: The National Center for Fair and Open Testing.

That’s all for now! You are welcome to contact me anytime by email (banderson@methow.org) or by leaving a voicemail at 509.996.2215, x4175.

Looking forward to a fantastic fall and beyond!

Beth/Ms. Anderson

College and Career Advisor

Methow Valley School District

About the College and Career Advising Program

The goal of our College and Career Advising program is to provide students and their families with the information and resources necessary for them to make well-informed choices about their post-secondary education. Liberty Bell recognizes the diversity in our families and understands that what might be right for one student may not be a good fit for another.

Therefore, we work individually with students and their families to help them successfully develop and achieve their post-graduation goals – whether that is applying to a 4-year, 2-year or technical college, designing a productive gap year plan or entering the military or workforce. Some of the specific services that we offer include:

  • Educating students and parents about the full range of post-secondary educational options.
  • Meeting individually with juniors, seniors and parents to help them with their college lists, the application process, college essays and financial aid needs, including the FAFSA, the CSS Profile, and scholarship applications, as well as with SAT prep and registration.
  • Holding financial aid information sessions for students and parents to make sure that they have all the resources and support they need to reach their goals.
  • Working with the school counselor to ensure that 9th and 10th graders take the necessary classes to be eligible for their post-HS goals, including college admissions.

Planning for life after high school should be a fun and exciting process; but at times it can be a bit overwhelming. If you find yourself feeling stuck, or if you have questions about any part of the process, contact our office at (509) 996-2215.