Graduation, College, & Vo-Tech Information
Our West Essex High School Counselors will be your GPS!
WEHS Counselors understand every step of the college application and vo-tech process, and are committed to guiding your child through it with expert support from start to finish.
The Road to College
WEHS School Counselors know the many components in getting ready for the college application process. They are here every step of the way!
Helpful Tips & Reminders
Seniors, don’t forget to complete your Record Release form and meet with your counselor for personalized application help! Parents of juniors and seniors, join us for Night Presentations, the College Fair, and FAFSA Night to stay involved and support your student’s next steps.
The Road to Vo-Tech
Many high school graduates enroll in trade, vocational, technical and business schools for one or two years before seeking employment. Others may go directly to work but continue their training as they work by enrolling in apprentice programs, business college courses, university extension courses, and public school community education courses available in the area.
Just as it is not wise to choose a college without counseling with people who know colleges, it is not wise to choose business or trade schools without complete information about them. The standing of the school with employers, a clear understanding of its costs and its programs, and the placement and follow-up services are all are factors in making an intelligent choice. Students interested in these opportunities should consult with their counselors in developing plans for their future.
NCAA Clearinghouse
The NCAA Clearinghouse is an organization affiliated with the NCAA that evaluates students' academic records to determine if they are eligible to play in Division I or Division II colleges. See NCAA Clearinghouse Basics for more information.
Student athletes must register with the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse to be eligible to play NCAA Division I or Division II sports in college. (Athletes playing in NCAA Division III do not have to register.) The NCAA recommends that student athletes register with the clearinghouse at the beginning of their junior year in high school, but many students register after their junior year. There is no registration deadline, but students must be cleared by the clearinghouse before they receive athletic scholarships or compete at a Division I or Division II institution.
What are the NCAA academic eligibility requirements?
To play sports at an NCAA Division I or Division II institution, the student must:
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Complete a certain number of high school core courses (defined below)
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Earn a certain minimum grade point average in these core courses
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Earn a certain minimum score on the SAT or ACT (for Division I, this is scaled according to the student's core-course GPA)
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Graduate from high school
For more information, see the NCAA's Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete, available at the Publications section of the NCAA website.
What are core courses?
"Core courses" is the name that the NCAA gives to high school courses that meet certain academic criteria specified by the association. Students must complete a certain number of core courses for NCAA Division I and II eligibility.
How are high school courses classified as core courses?
All participating high schools submit lists of the courses that they offer that meet NCAA core-course criteria. If approved, the courses are added to a database that the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse maintains. To check West Essex Regional High School's list of approved core courses, please visit the High School Administration page and enter the West Essex CEEB/ACT code 311579.
Scholarships
The High School Guidance Team is happy to announce that scholarship can be found at the end of January in Naviance! Accessing Scholarships in Naviance is simple.
(1) Login to your Naviance account. (2) Click on Colleges at the upper right hand side. (3) Scroll down and click Scholarship and Money. (4) Click on Scholarship List. (5) Scroll through the list of Scholarships. (6) Identify the scholarships you are interested in applying for. (7) Click on the title of the scholarship. Here, you will find: a brief description, contact person, and the application. (8) Click on Application Form. The form will be downloaded and accessible to fill out.
If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Patty Smith, Scholarship Coordinator.