Counseling

Students: Counselors will now be assigned based on your last name and will remain with you throughout your time at SVHS. Please see below for your school counselor and contact her with any questions. 

• A-Cr: Mrs. Berton, carol.berton@ucps.k12.nc.us
• Cu-Ha: Ms. Hargrove, adriana.hargrove@ucps.k12.nc.us
• He-Mc: Mrs. Cervini,  brittanee.cervini@ucps.k12.nc.us  
• Me-R: Mrs. Hill,  jessica.hill@ucps.k12.nc.us 
• S-Z: Ms. Jackson,  nichole.jackson@ucps.k12.nc.us 
• Guidance Secretary/Registrar: Nicole Clark, nicole.clark@ucps.k12.nc.us
• School Social Worker: Jasmine Sinclair-Jones

Counseling Center Presentation for Freshmen

9th Grade To-Do List

Ask most seniors what they wish they could do over to get ready for college, and they would reply with two statements:

• I wish I had made better grades in my 9th-grade and 10th-grade years.
• I wish I had been more active in community service and extracurricular activities.

Hopefully, you will not make those two mistakes!

Here is a list of things you should be doing to prepare for college admissions and scholarships in your freshman year:

• Make the best grades possible. Colleges only see your final grades from 9th, 10th, and 11th grades; they do not see your report card grades.
• Try to challenge yourself by taking honors-level classes, and if your teacher recommends them, AP classes. (Advanced Placement-college level/college credit classes)
• Get involved!!! Extracurricular activities might not influence college admissions, but they are a deal-breaker when it comes to scholarships.
• You need community service hours. Keep a calendar and every time you do something to help someone and you are not getting paid for it, mark the time and the service on your calendar.
• Do your research! You need to be looking at colleges and scholarships now. Go to www.cfnc.org to research any NC college. To research out-of-state colleges, just google the name of the college.
• If you do not do well on standardized tests, start preparing for the SAT and ACT now. You can go online to collegeboard.org for study questions. See your guidance counselor for study information.
• Watch your actions!!! Don’t do anything foolish that could negatively influence your recommendation for college. Be a rule follower.
• Need help with anything? Have questions? See your guidance counselor.

Things to know

• You must pass three out of four classes to get your driver’s license.
• You can only miss 7 days in a class. If you miss more than 7, you do not pass the class. (Doctor notes are waived, BUT you have to complete and turn in a waiver form).

Educational Opportunities Available in Union County

Application process for Central Academy of Technology and Arts, Union County Early College, and the International Baccalaureate Program. 

• CATA
• UCEC
• IB Program

Counseling Center Presentation for Sophomores 

10th Grade To-Do List

Continue to pull up your GPA

• The transcript we send for college applications, scholarships, and NCAA Clearinghouse reflects the grades you have made through the end of your junior year.

• How to compute your GPA: Add your quality points and divide by the number of classes. What are quality points? Points awarded to you for the grade you made in a class.

Take the PSAT

• It is given in October. This test is a good predictor of how you will do on the SAT. It is also a good idea to take the PSAT again in your junior year before you take the SAT in the spring.

Look for Scholarships

• You apply for scholarships in your senior year, BUT you should begin looking for them now; some scholarships are given to students in 9th-12th grades. Below are some websites that will assist you in looking for scholarships. Please keep in mind that most of the scholarship money comes from the college and you must meet their criteria to apply. Your SAT/ACT scores are very important when applying for a scholarship. Most scholarships are interested in your character, leadership, community service, and extracurricular activities. 

Educational Opportunities Available in Union County

Application process for Central Academy of Technology and Arts, Union County Early College, and the International Baccalaureate Program. 

• CATA
• UCEC
• IB Program

Counseling Center Presentation for Juniors 

11th Grade To-Do List:

Continue looking at colleges. This is the year to be narrowing down your long list of colleges to about five.

Things to consider

• Does it offer the major you're interested in?
• Is it the right size for you?
• Location - how far is it away from home? What is the weather like? How does the campus look?
• Have you visited any colleges or universities? You get 3 excused absences in your junior year. Also, most colleges gear their Open Houses toward juniors in the spring, so take advantage!
• Can you afford it?

Take College Entrance Exams (aka the SAT and the ACT)

• It is a good idea to take the SAT spring semester.
• The ACT will be given at SVHS in March. Don't miss it!
• Take either the SAT or ACT a second time during the Spring semester, or the summer between your junior and senior year. You should make a 2nd attempt at whichever test you scored better on the 1st time.
• Remember, if you receive free or reduced lunch, you are eligible for fee waivers. See your counselor for fee waivers.
• You can register online for the SAT and for the ACT
• Do NOT begin your senior year without 2 college entrance exams under your belt!

Bring up your GPA

• Colleges look at your classes and the grades you made in 9th, 10th, and 11th grade.
• Colleges use your final GPA from your junior year when making admissions decisions, so this is your last chance to improve upon your GPA.

Create a Resumé

• Your resumé should include extracurricular activities (in and outside of school,) any honors you have received, leadership positions held, and detailed information concerning community service you have participated in.
• You should include grades 9-11 right now. Make sure you add new information (community service, honors, etc.) as it occurs.

CFNC.org

• If you do not already have an account, create one. You can use CFNC to apply for college next year, so make sure you are familiar with the website.
• The 'Plan' tab has a lot of great information to help you prepare for your senior year and applying to college -Plan for College
• You can take surveys, look at interest profilers, and assess your skills to help you decide what careers would be a good match for you on the 'Learn About Yourself' page.

Athletes

Make sure you register with the NCAA Clearinghouse! See Mrs. Clark in the Guidance Office to do so.

Class of 2026 Senior Presentation

Senior Parent Night Presentation

Senior Brag Sheet Survey

Seniors!  Want to stand out during the college and scholarship search process?  Complete your Brag Sheet Survey in SCOIR to provide a multifaceted view of all you have to offer prospective colleges.  

SCOIR College Application Information

• Student Overview Video
• Parent Overview Video
• Requesting Letters of Recommendation
• Signing the Early Decision Contract in Scoir
• Requesting Fee Waivers in Scoir
• Guide to Completing Recommendations Section of The Common App

Every student will also be enrolled in a Canvas course specific to their graduation year. Additional resources regarding a College Application Timeline, access to virtual tours, and more are available there.

12th Grade To-Do List

• retake the SAT or ACT if needed
• research colleges you are considering applying to by checking application deadlines, majors, cost, etc.
• visit colleges you are considering attending
• apply to colleges by the end of October
• have completed the NCAA Clearinghouse form if you plan on playing a college sport
• check with your college to see if you need to take the SAT Subject Test

Key Questions to Ask When Choosing a College

• Does the college have my major?
• Is the college a fit for me? Consider the size, location, campus environment, etc.
• What percentage of college freshmen stay?
• What percent of graduates are accepted to graduate, medical, or law school?
• What is the typical class size and how much individual attention will I receive?
• Are there opportunities for internships and/or study abroad?
• Is there an active Career Center to help me prepare for a successful job search after graduation?
• Do professors or graduate students teach freshman courses?

College Search Websites

• CFNC - College Foundation of North Carolina
• CollegeBoard - College Planning Made Easy
• UCPS College Readiness Site

Class of 2026 Senior Presentation

Senior Parent Night Presentation

Applying for college can be a stressful, time-consuming process. Below you will find information that will hopefully make the process a little easier for you. 

How to Pick a School

• Focus on Match & Fit

• • • Match - GPA & SAT/ACT Test Scores
    • Fit - Other important factors (location, size, financial aid, major, etc.)
  • Use SCOIR, BigFuture, or CFNC to help you build your college list! All have awesome college search tools that let you plug in your match & fit criteria.
    • BigFuture worksheet 
       

College Rep Visits

Throughout the fall, we will host virtual events in which a college admissions representative will give an overview of their school and provide time to answer student questions. This is a great opportunity to learn what you like and don't like about various schools and to get your application questions answered.  

You'll register for these events in SCOIR: Instructions to Register for a Visit. 
Go to your page in SCOIR to sign up today! 

Application Process

• 4-year College Application includes:
  • Letters of Rec
  • Essays
  • Application
  • Application fee or a fee waiver
  • Transcript
  • Test Scores
  • Residency Number
• Community College Application includes:
  • Free application
  • Transcript
  • Test Scores (only used if a student qualifies to waive the placement test)
  • Residency Number
• Where to Apply:
  • Common App
  • CFNC
  • Individual College Websites
• • • Always check the college website to find the application! 
• Letter of Recommendation Guidelines 
• Send a Transcript 
   
• Send ACT/SAT scores

Residency Number (RDS)

• An online application process that all students applying for admission to a North Carolina public college or university and/or who are seeking to be eligible for a NC State grant as part of their financial aid is REQUIRED. This form determines whether they are deemed a NC resident for tuition purposes.

• Items needed to fill out residency application:
  • CFNC account/ log-in information
  • Parent(s)’ & Student’s SSN
  • Residence Information
  • Federal/state tax return
  • Vehicle registration, driver’s license
• Complete Residency Application (must use CFNC login information)
• Basic Information about NC residency 
• How to appeal a residency decision 

Learn more about Career and College Promise. 

Seniors can apply for financial aid beginning in December. The application used to apply for financial aid is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Complete FAFSA at https://fafsa.ed.gov/.

• Financial Aid Presentation

• FAFSA Tips for Parents

Steps to Complete FAFSA

• Create an FSA ID - both the student and a parent will need to create an FSA ID

• Gather Important Documents 

• Instructions for filling out the FAFSA and Begin the FAFSA

• After Submitting FAFSA 

Financial Aid Websites  

• College Foundation of NC (CFNC)

• Residency Determination Service  

Complete RDS for NC in-state tuition and NC private school grants

• Instructions for completing RDS 

For information pertaining to online learning through North Carolina Virtual Public School and APEX please visit the websites below or talk to your counselor.

• NCVPS offers students access to a wider variety of courses and an opportunity to earn extra credits towards early graduation. 
• APEX provides students with a way to recover credits. 
• Union County Virtual (UCV) offers students numerous online academic opportunities taught by Union County public school teachers in most cases.

NCVPS, UCV, and APEX are all accredited online resources. Note that athletes are not encouraged to utilize APEX for credit recovery, as NCAA regulations may deny such credit for Division I or II recruiting purposes.

• NC Virtual Public School (NCVPS)
• Union County Virtual Public School (UCV)
• APEX

2025-2026 Spartan Registration Information 

Program of Studies

Counselor Assignments 

Counselors are assigned based on students' last names.  The counselor will remain with the student throughout his/her time at SVHS.  Please see below for your school counselor and contact her with any questions. 

• A-Cr: Mrs. Berton, carol.berton@ucps.k12.nc.us
• Cu-Ha: Ms. Hargrove, adriana.hargrove@ucps.k12.nc.us
• He-Mc: Mrs. Cervini,  brittanee.cervini@ucps.k12.nc.us  
• Me-R: Mrs. Hill,  jessica.hill@ucps.k12.nc.us 
• S-Z: Ms. Jackson,  nichole.jackson@ucps.k12.nc.us 
• Guidance Secretary/Registrar: Nicole Clark, nicole.clark@ucps.k12.nc.us
• School Social Worker: Jasmine Sinclair-Jones

Rising 9th Grade Registration Information

• Registration Presentation for Rising 9th grade

• Student/Parent Instructions for Middle School Students 

• Registration Course Request Worksheet Rising 9th grade

• Typical 9th Grade Classes at SVHS

Rising Grades 10th - 12th Registration Information 

• Registration Video for Rising Grades 10th-12th

• Registration Presentation for Rising Grades 10th-12th 

• Student/Parent Instructions 

• Registration Course Request Worksheet 

• Registration Form

General Resources

• Powerschool How-to Video 

• Powerschool How-to Instructions

• SVHS 4-Year Plan

• Next Stop: TeachUCPS

Registration Forms

• High School Registration Form

• Occupational Courses Registration Form

• CTE 9th Grade Registration Form

• CTE 10th Grade Registration Form

• CTE 11th & 12th Registration Form

Volunteer and Community Service

• AmeriCorps - A post-high school residential community service experience
• Job Corps - US Dept. of Labor program for ages 16 - 24, education and vocational training.

Alcohol and Substance Abuse Treatment

• Daymark Recovery Services - Counseling and dependency services
• First Step at Carolinas Medical Center, Union - Dependency treatment for 18 years and older
• McLeod Center - Dependency treatment for adolescents, free walk-in assessments.
• Union County Health Department - Disease prevention and promotion of health

Therapy and Mental Health Resources

• Alexander Youth Network - Offers a wide variety of treatment services
• Novant Behavioral Health - Provides evaluations and both inpatient and outpatient services.
• The Relatives - Emergency Shelter for ages 7-17 for Runaway, Homeless, and Youth Crisis
• Safe Alliance- Crisis intervention as well as individual and family counseling

Grief and Family Resources

• Chameleon's Journey - for ages 7 -16 who have experienced the death of a significant family member.
• Turning Point - Addresses domestic violence, protective services
• Union County Department of Social Services- Protective services, financial assistance

Wilderness and Boot Camps

• Eckerd Connects - for teenage boys who have experienced trouble with the law, short-term juvenile justice residential program 
• Tarheel Challenge Bootcamp - for ages 16 - 18, a structured alternative to school
• Three Springs - Residential treatment for adolescents
• Timber Ridge Treatment Center - Group therapy in a wilderness setting

 Students are able to apply for 3 types of scholarships

• Institutional Scholarships: These scholarships come directly from the colleges that a student is applying/accepted into. All colleges list their scholarships on their individual website. The best way to find these is through a google search. Ex. “UNCW scholarships” “Davidson College scholarships.”  These scholarships may require a separate scholarship application, or scholarships may be provided automatically with acceptance.
• Local Scholarships: These scholarships are specific to SVHS, Union County, and our surrounding community. Most local scholarships start arriving in January through the Spring.
• Private/Website scholarships: These scholarships are found through different websites such as the ones listed below.

Focus most of your time looking for institutional and local scholarships and leave the website scholarship search for last!

UCPS College Readiness and Scholarship Search

Scholarship Websites

• www.cfnc.org
• www.fastweb.com
• www.bigfuture.collegeboard.org