College Planning

If a student is interested in graduating early, they need to complete the Early Graduation Form. This will allow the student to graduate in December of their Senior Year.

If a student wants to graduate a full year early, they need to have the Early Graduation Form completed. Then the student must set up a meeting with Mr. Lee and get permission from the TAC building. This is a lengthy process that should be started in the students Freshman or Sophomore year.

Resources for Graduating Early: 

(Cost Associated and will be the responsibility of the family).

• UNL High School
• Quest Academy
• Acellus
• Senior Courses that Students will need to consider:
  • English 7 & 8
  • Personal Finance (this is offered for 1 semester only)
  • American Government (typically couples with Personal Finance offered in opposite semesters)

Credit Recovery Program

• Westview High School has begun their Credit Recovery Program for the 23-24 school year. Students and parents were notified via email if they qualify for this program. Credit recovery allows students to recover failed classes so that they can stay on track to graduate on time. Began on Tuesday, September 19 and will continue every Tuesday and Thursday for the remainder of the semester from 3:15 to 5:15 p.m. If you have any questions, please email Dr. Arens at: rachael.arens@ops.org

Tutoring

• High Dosage Tutoring is back at Westview for the second year. Please keep your eyes open for an email or a permission slip that will be sent out over the first week of October. This opportunity is a 1 to 1, or small group of 1 to 5 students tutoring setting. Students are selected for this program.

Paper

• Needing help with an assignment? Have a paper that you would like reviewed? Can’t make it to after school tutoring because you have practice, a game, club, or even work? Have no fear! You can use the Paper tutoring app on your iPad. Paper can be found within Clever on your iPad. What is Paper? It is a free tutoring program for all OPS students that you can access until 11:00 pm each night 7 days a week.  Omaha Public Schools introduced a new option for Academic Support and Tutoring this month. Our district partnered with Paper for online tutoring services for students and families. Through online tutoring with Paper, students in grades 3-12 have access to the following:
• 1:1 live chat tutoring session with experts
• Support in 200 subjects
• Available in English, Spanish, French and Mandarin
• Expert review of written work (essays, creative writing, poetry, lab reports)
• Hundreds of resources and activities for families support students at home.
• Interactive shows and activities to expand learning beyond the classroom. 

Here are some of the features to explore in Naviance:

• Scholarship Match
  • Check out scholarships with requirements that may be a suitable match for you according to the information that has been entered about each scholarship.
• Scholarship List
  • This list contains scholarships or financial aid awards that may be relevant for you. Click on local where you find scholarship information from area resources that have been posted by the guidance office. Click the name of a scholarship to view more information or click the column headings to sort by name, category, deadline or maximum award.
• Resources
  • This feature provides links to other useful websites relating to college information, financial aid, test preparation, NCAA eligibility, etc.
     

Other helpful websites:

• EducationQuest
  This is the best local site for college planning. EducationQuest covers all the bases, from how to write a resume, to how to figure out the financial aid process. Check out ScholarshipQuest and the College Funding Estimator, a tool that uses your income and asset information to estimate your FAFSA results. These folks are the experts in financial aid, and all college-bound students in Nebraska should check their web site... and go visit them at Rockbrook Village. Their help is free!
• Scholarships.com (National Search)
  This is the largest free and independent college scholarship search and financial aid information resource on the Internet, and has been recognized by high schools, colleges, and universities nationwide. Their mission to assist students and their families in not only finding college scholarships but helping them explore valuable financial aid opportunities they may not have discovered otherwise.​
• CSS/Financial Aid Profile On-Line
  The CSS/Financial Aid Profile is the form many private colleges and universities require, in addition to the FAFSA, for those applying for financial aid.
• FAFSA on the Web
  Use this site to complete the free application for federal student aid on-line.
• FastWeb.com
  A free scholarship search program. You log in, fill out a profile and receive a mailbox that you can periodically check for scholarship application sources.
• Midwest Student Exchange Program
  If you are interested in attending schools in states surrounding Nebraska, be sure to check out this program to save money!
• Selective Service Registration
   To receive any government-backed loans, all 18-year-old males must register with the Selective Service. Use this site to register online.
• The Student Guide
  This government publication is one of the best, most concise and well-organized explanations of the financial aid process anywhere. Check it out to find out the answers to all your financial aid questions!
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund
  This website is designed to strengthen America by advancing higher education for Hispanic Americans.
• Questbridge
  For academically talented low income, minority, and first-generation college students.
• The Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation
  • https://buffettscholarships.org/
  • The Susan T. Buffett Foundation has offered scholarships to college students in Nebraska for over 50 years. Scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis to first-time freshman entering college who live in Nebraska, graduate from a Nebraska high school (or GED) with plans to attend a Nebraska public college, and demonstrate financial need. There are a limited number of scholarships, so the Foundation is unable to provide awards to all eligible candidates.

• Research which Universities or Colleges that you are interested in and then schedule a visit. This will help you get a feel of the school and its culture.
• Decide if you will be living on or off campus.
  • On campus living – begin to gather the needed items that you will need for your dorm room. Start early so that you have time to look for cost-effective options.
  • Speak with your Academic Advisor at your school to discuss your classes or schedule. While you are there ask for advice on clubs that you are interested in.
  • Research what is local for transportation, entertainment, work, shopping, and food.
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid – Fill this application out as soon as you decide on a school or schools. Give yourself a one moth minimum window for this process from start to finish.