Scores of Lynwood High School seniors are completing college applications with help received during more than a dozen socially distanced workshops provided by Lynwood High School counselors and staff.
Workshops were launched in early October and continued through November, providing students tailored guidance during the application process, including assistance with personal statements, choosing a major and applying for financial aid. There have been 13 workshop sessions, with 15 to 20 students attending each.
The goal of the workshops is not only to help students complete their applications, but also to cultivate a sense of normalcy and connection between students and their peers during distance learning.
“Our students have greatly missed their peers and teachers during this season of distance learning,” LUSD Board President Gary Hardie Jr. said. “Any opportunity for our students to safely receive in-person support, whether academically or personally, is crucial to staying connected.”
During the two-hour workshops, many students worked on Personal Insight Questions from the University of California application. These questions are the basis for short essays students use to show who they are for admissions officers.
Lynwood counselors assist students with their essays, demonstrating how to best edit their work and brainstorm unique topics.
“We are so happy that our dedicated Lynwood High School counselors and staff have found yet another way to adapt to the new learning circumstances of this year,” LUSD Superintendent Gudiel Crosthwaite said. “College application season is one of the most important times in a student’s academic career.”
Many students also work through financial aid applications during these workshops, such as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and the California Dream Act Application. Workshops on Thursday nights have been dedicated to answering student and parent questions about post-secondary financial planning.
“Our counselors and support staff are here to help students with their applications and offer students motivation to apply to schools they might not have even considered,” 12th-grade Counselor Yvette Torres said. “Students have a real support system here.”