The Valencia High School counseling department offers a comprehensive program that focuses on academic, career, and personal development. We meet with each student at various times during the school year to review progress toward graduation and reaching the post-high school goals. Although all counselors can help students and parents in any area, each counselor has a specific area of expertise that all students are encouraged to utilize. Each counselor also has an alphabetical group of students to monitor his / her success. Each counselor serves as a "Walk-In-Counselor" for five hours per week and is available to address the immediate needs of our students and parents. If a student wishes to meet with a counselor, we encourage him / her to complete a request for a counselor appointment form found in the counseling office. We also encourage parents to call in advance to make an appointment to meet with a counselor if the need arises.

SCV College Day

The Hart District counselors, in conjunction with the COC counseling staff, are offering the annual, FREE, city-wide college day on Saturday, October 11th from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm at College of the Canyons.  This enlightening day is for students to meet college representatives from across the nation as well as attending various college workshops including topics such as financial aid, the UC System, the California State System, Private Colleges, and many more.  For more information, go to: www.canyons.edu/offices/collegefair.

College Field Trips-BOTH TRIPS FULL!! (More in the spring!)

Any 10th - 12th grade student with a 2.8 GPA or higher is welcome to sign up for the upcoming college field trips.  (Priority is given to juniors.)  The first one will be from 7:30 am until 5:00 pm on Wednesday, October 8^th to visit CSU, Channel Islands and Pepperdine University.  The second junior field trip will be on Thursday, October 30^th from 7:00 am until 5:00 pm and will visit UC, Riverside and Cal Poly, Pomona.  Spaces fill quickly, so send your student to the counseling office to sign up. Cost is $20 per trip.

PSAT Exam

The PSAT exam will be administered on Saturday, October 18^th between 8:30 and 11:30 am at Valencia High School. The PSAT gives valuable information about academic weaknesses that will help students prepare effectively and raise the SAT scores.  Juniors wishing to qualify for National Merit Scholarship recognition should sign up for this test.  There are only a few spots left, so hurry! To sign up for the exam, students can bring $20 to the ASB office beginning in September.  As part of the $20 exam fee, there will be an exam "give-back" night on December 9th at 7:00 pm in the VHS theater.  Students will receive their exam materials, their results, and training on how to interpret the results for future improvement on the SAT.

CSU Application Help Sessions

There will be two CSU Admissions Application Help sessions on Saturday, October 25^th to help seniors finish working on/submit their California State University application(s).  One session will be from 8:00 am until 10:00 am, and the other one will be from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm.  To have your senior sign up for either one of these CSU application sessions, have him/her come to the counseling office beginning October 2nd.  There are only 15 spots available at each session, so hurry!

UC Personal Statement Presentation

An admissions representative from UCLA will conduct a presentation for seniors and their families about the UC Application Personal Statement on Wednesday, October 29th at 7:00 pm in the VHS theater.  Don't miss out, as the personal statement is an integral part of the UC online application. 

UC Application Help Sessions

There will be two UC Admissions Application Help sessions on Saturday, November 1st to help seniors finish working on their University of California application.  One session will be from 8:00 am until 10:00 am, and the other one will be from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm.  To have your senior sign up for either one of these UC application sessions, have him/her come to the counseling office beginning October 2nd.  There are only 15 spots available at each session, so hurry!

Financial Aid Night

The counseling department will be hosting a financial aid night for interested parents and students on Monday, November 3rd from 7:00 until 8:00 pm in the VHS theater.  The presenter will cover topics such as the FAFSA form, Cal Grants, and other scholarships and aid available to students for college purposes.  All parents are invited, but it is especially helpful for parents of juniors and seniors who are soon to be paying college expenses. 

Parent Academy

The first Parent Academy of the year will take place on Thursday, November 6th from 7:00 until 9:00 pm.  This wonderful evening will include keynote speaker, Dr. Shannon Hanrahan, and will include topics such as "Parent/School Communication," presented by members of the counseling/teaching staff and "Emotional/Socials Concerns for Today's Adolescents," presented by mental health professionals.

ASVAB Exam

fThe counseling office will be offering the ASVAB exam on Tuesday, November 18th from 9:00 am until 2:00 pm in the MPR.  This test is offered to all high school students and is a free career exploration test that empowers students to make informed choices concerning their future careers.  It reveals student strengths and abilities and can be an accurate tool for determining vocational aptitudes in the civilian as well as the military workplace.  Students can sign up in the counseling office. 

Practice ACT Exam

VHS counselors have teamed up with Revolution Prep to provide students a practice ACT exam that will cover all sections of the actual ACT, including the essay. The exam will be graded by Revolution Prep, and individualized feedback will be provided online, including personalized comments on the essay and a detailed score report. This is a great chance to determine the level of preparation that will be necessary to ensure a student’s success on the actual exam. Cost for the exam is $10 and will take place on Saturday, November 22nd from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm. Students must sign up in the counseling office by November 5th.

NCAA Clearinghouse

If you have a junior or senior student who plans on being an athlete at the college level, he/she must register with the NCAA Clearinghouse.  The registration website can be found at:  www.ncaaclearinghouse.com.  If your student needs additional help with eligibility issues, he/she can contact Mrs. Stroh in the counseling office or by email at kas@hartdistrict.org.