Bishop Shanahan High School - Downingtown, PA

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COLLEGE COUNSELING SERVICES

Welcome to the College Counseling Services information page! We look forward to working with you and your student who is preparing for college! If you have any questions, please reach out to Mrs. Marie Weyback, Director of College Advising & Registrar,​ at extension 6242 or mweyback@shanahan.org.
At Bishop Shanahan High School, we know that applying to colleges and universities is an exciting time in our 12th grade students' lives.  As our students engage in their college search, they will be inspired to develop an attitude of determination, persistence and self-discipline. The application process requires all of this and we are here to help.

BSHS College Counselors work closely with our students and their families as they prepare for this next important step in their lives. It is never too early to begin evaluating the wide range of college choices. Our goal each year is to help students to find their best college or university fit, and we have a 100% college acceptance rate each year.

Summer Pre-College Program Fairs

TEMPLE UNIVERSITY (Only for Students Grades 9 - 11)

The Association for Pre-College Program Directors is proud to present the 2021-22 Summer Pre-College Program Fairs, a series of virtual events that provide students and their families the opportunity to learn about academic summer programs at top US colleges and universities. 

At each fair, attendees may visit virtual booths, where you can ask questions via text or video chat with summer program representatives. 
Registration is FREE to attendees. We invite you to visit the Virtual Fairs website at https://precollegeassociation.org/fairs  for complete information on dates, times, and which institutions will be represented at each event. 

The next Virtual Fair will be held on January 22, 2022 from 1:00pm to 3:30pm Eastern time. 

Registration for the January 22 fair is now open on the Virtual Fairs website . We recommend completing the free registration process for this event as soon as possible, as there may be more students wishing to register than can be accommodated in one fair. 
Questions about the event can be submitted to the email found on the Virtual Fairs website. 

Representatives from Temple Pre-College will be at the next event on January 22. We hope to see you there! 
​

Sincerely, 
Temple Pre-College

College/University Scholarships

More to come! Contact Mrs. Marie Weyback, Director of College Advising & Registrar,
at  mweyback@shanahan.org for more information!
Alma Newlin Scholarship Fund
  • Award: $1000
  • Deadline: February 28, 2022
  • Eligibility: Must be a resident of Avon Grove, Kennett, Octorara, Oxford, and Unionville-Chadds Ford School Districts. Pursuing a human healthcare-related profession.
click here for more information

The Amina C. Valocchi Book Scholarship 2022
The Amina C. Valocchi Book Scholarship, administered through the Downingtown-Thorndale Regional Chamber of Commerce, provides a $1,000 book scholarship awarded annually to three students who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to public service in their communities. Graduating students from Downingtown West, Downingtown East, Downingtown STEM, Bishop Shanahan and Coatesville high schools are eligible to apply.

Click Here for More Information

Chadds Ford Township Residents' Scholarship
click here for more information

Charles E. Swope Scholarship Award
click here for more information

Chester County Engineers Scholarship
  • Award: $2500 total
  • Deadline: May 1, 2022
  • Eligibility: US citizen. Resident of Chester county, or graduating from a high school located in Chester County. Pursuing Engineering degree. Must be enrolled full time in the Fall of 2022.
click here to learn more

Drexel University Undergraduate Scholarships

Harvey M. Thomas Scholarship
Click here to learn more

Honorable Charles B. Smith Scholarship Award
click here to learn more

Karen L. Baker Scholarship
The Team CMMD Foundation is a locally based charity, and its mission is to support those living with cancer and their families. It is through this mission that we have developed the Karen L. Baker Scholarship Fund. An active Team CMMD Foundation volunteer, Karen Baker lost her battle with liposarcoma, a rare form of soft-tissue cancer, in November 2016. With the support of Team CMMD, her friends, and her family, Karen showed exceptional bravery through eight years of treatments living with her cancer. In honor of that bravery, we offer a Chester County high school graduating senior the opportunity to apply for this special college scholarship.  Three qualifying students graduating from Chester County high schools will be awarded college scholarships from the Team CMMD Foundation.

KAREN L. BAKER SCHOLARSHIP AWARD DESCRIPTION:
  • $10,000 scholarship for college attendance, paid in four consecutive annual payments of $2,500 per (2 recipients) Karen L. Baker Scholarship Honorable Mention: 
KAREN L. BAKER SCHOLARSHIP HONORABLE MENTION:
  • One time $2,500 grant (2 recipients)

Yearly award contingent on college student maintaining a 3.0 GPA or better 

APPLICATION CRITERIA:
  • Completed applicant information form (see attached page)
  • 2022 Graduation from one of the following Chester County High Schools
    • WCASD: Henderson, Rustin, WC East
    • DASD: West, East, STEM
    •  Other: Bishop Shanahan, Unionville, Phoenixville, Coatesville, Great Valley
  • Attendance at a four-year accredited college (If acceptance received by time of application for scholarship, please include a copy of your acceptance letter)
  • Current GPA of 3.0 or higher (high school transcript to be submitted with application)
  • Applicant directly IMPACTED by cancer, either by illness of applying student, a family member, or person of close personal significance.
  • A maximum of a 1,000 word essay to be submitted with application.
    •  References with your family's name or the specific name of the person you are writing about should not be used in the essay as they need to be blinded for our selection committee.

​Thank you for your interest in the Karen L. Baker Scholarship Award. We look forward to learning about your bravery as we work together in the fight against cancer.
click here for more information

Law Day Scholarship

The 2022 Law Day theme is “Toward a More Perfect Union: The Constitution in Times of Change.”  Commemorated annually on May 1, Law Day is an opportunity to host or participate in discussions about law and its role in society.
The Chester County Bar Foundation awards two local High School Juniors and/or Seniors with a $5,000 scholarship every Law Day.  

  Each Application Requires the following:
  • Completed application form
  • Completed essay
  • Academic transcript (Please obscure Social Security #)
  • Deadline to submit Application: April 15, 2022

The essay question this year is: 
  • In what ways has our Constitution changed towards a more perfect union, and how can everyday citizens play a role in that process in the future?

We are looking forward to reading your students' essays!

Please submit application and essay to:
Chester County Bar Foundation
15 W. Gay Street, 2ND floor
West Chester, PA 19380
Attn: Rachel Prince
Deadline: APRIL 15, 2022

Mensa Foundation Scholarship Program
  • Awards: $300 to $2500
  • Deadline: January 15, 2022
  • Eligibility: US residents. Must be enrolled in an accredited US post secondary institution for the 2022-2023 academic year.
click here for more information

The Noel Soccer Foundation Scholarship
The Noel Soccer Foundation would like to inform you of a scholarship opportunity for a senior soccer player who will be attending college or trade school in the fall. The Noel Soccer Foundation is a certified 501c3 organization that provides scholarships to graduating high school students and financial support to local soccer organizations throughout the Tri-State area and Florida. The application deadline is April 15, 2022.
click here for more information

PA Society of Professional Engineers Scholarship
The Valley Forge Chapter of PSPE has elected to increase scholarships offered to three $1500 scholarships to high school seniors for their Freshman year in college.

In addition, Temple University offers a one-four year scholarship program which includes $2000/year for four years. The scholarships are for students pursuing engineering. The Application deadline is March 15, 2022.
click here for more information

Thomas & Mary Jo Russo Scholarship
  • ​Award: 4-year of up to $5,000
  • Deadline: March 15
  • Eligibility: Graduating senior and resident of Chester County or Delaware County in PA. Pursuing a degree in Business-related field or vocational/trade program. Demonstrating financial need. Applications for the ​2022-23 school year will open in December 2021.
click here for more information

West Chester Running Club Scholarship

The West Chester Running Club is awarding a scholarship for students graduating from Chester County high schools. Eligibility Rules:
  • The student has been accepted at an accredited two- or four-year college or university.
  • The student has been a member of their high school’s cross country and/or track and field teams in grades 11 and 12 (although season(s) may have been cancelled due to Covid-19).
  • The students has demonstrated academic excellence, athletic excellence, and leadership qualities.
  • The student is a graduating high school senior from a Chester County, PA public or private school.

Selection will be made by the WCRC Scholarship Committee. The recipient(s) will be notified by late May and the scholarship will be awarded in June 2022. APPLICATIONS AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY MAY 1, 2022.
click here for more information

Resources for College Bound Seniors

  • ACT Registration
  • Centennial Conference
  • College Affordability
  • College Board's College Search
  • Common Application 
  • CSS Profile for Financial Aid
  • FAFSA
  • Fair Test
  • Fast Web
  • FINAID
  • Federal Commission Scholarship Scams Information
  • NAIA
  • Naviance
  • NCAA Clearinghouse
  • The Princeton Review
  • SAT Registration
  • UNCF

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College Placement

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100% College Acceptance Rate
​$41,578,720 in Total Scholarships
30 Full Scholarships
92 Presidential Scholarships
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The Class of 2021 was accepted to the following colleges and universities:
Albright College
Alvernia University
American University
Appalachian State U
Arcadia University
Arizona State University
Auburn University
Ave Maria University
Baylor University
Benedictine College
Binghamton University
Bloomsburg University
Boston College
Boston University
Bridgewater College
Bucknell University
Butler University
Cabrini College
California State Univ
California Univ.of  PA
Carlow University
Central Michigan U
Champlain College
Clark University
Clemson University
Coastal Carolina Univ
College of Charleston
College of the Holy Cross
Colorado State University
Connecticut College
Darmouth College
DCCC
Delaware Valley University
DeSales University
Dickinson College
Drexel University
Duquesne University
East Carolina University
Eastern University
Eckerd College
Edinboro University
Elizabethtown College
Elon University
Fairfield University
FIDM
Fordham University
Franklin & Marshall College
Gannon University
George Mason University
GW  University
Gettysburg College
Gonzaga University
Grand Canyon University
Gulf Coast State College
Gwynedd Mercy U
Harcum College
Haverford College
Hawaii Pacific University
High Point University
Hofstra University
Immaculata University
Indiana U Bloomington
Indiana University of PA
Iona College
Iowa State University
JMU
Juniata College
King's College
Kutztown University
La Salle University
Lafayette College
Lebanon Valley College
Lehigh University
Liberty University
Lock Haven University
Long Island University
Louisiana State Univ
Loyola Marymount U
Loyola University Maryland
Lycoming College
Lynn University
Marist College
Marquette University
Marywood University
MCCC
McDaniel College
Mercyhurst University
Messiah University
Miami University
Millersville University
Misericordia University
Monmouth University
Montana State University
Montclair University
Moravian College
Mt. St. Mary's University
Muhlenberg College
NASCAR Tech Institute
Neumann University
Niagara University
NC State University
North Carolina University
Northeastern University
Ohio University
Old Dominion University
Pace University
PA College of Technology
Pennsylvania State U
Point Loma Nazarene U
Providence College
Purdue University
Quinnipiac University
Regis University
Rider University
Robert Morris University
RPI
RIT
Rosemont College
Rowan University
Rutgers
Sacred Heart University
Saint John's University
Saint Joseph's University
San Diego State University
Seton Hall University
Shenandoah University
Shepherd University
Shippensburg University
St. Bonaventure University
St. John's University
Stevenson University
Stonehill College
SUNY FIT
Susquehanna University
Syracuse University
Temple University
Texas Christian University
Thaddeus Stevens
The Catholic U of Am.
The Citadel
The GW University
The Ohio State University
The University of Alabama
The University of Arizona
The University of Maine
The University of Scranton
The University of Tampa
The U of TN Knoxville
The University of Vermont
Towson University
Union College
USMMA
USMA
University of Alabama
University of Arizona
University of Connecticut
University of Dayton
University of Delaware
University of Florida
University of Georgia
University of Hartford
University of Kentucky
University of Maryland
UMBC
UMASS Amherst
University of Miami
University of Mississippi
Univ. of New Hampshire
University of New Haven
Univ of North Carolina
University of Notre Dame
University of Pittsburgh
Univ of Rhode Island
University of Richmond
University of San Diego
University of South CA
Univ of the Sciences
University of Vermont
Ursinus College
Villanova University
VA Commonwealth Univ
Virginia Military Institute
Virginia Tech
Washington College
Wesleyan University
West Chester University
West Virginia University
Western Carolina U
Widener University
William & Mary
Williamson C of the T
Wilson College
Worcester P. Institute
Xavier University
York College of PA

College Counseling Process

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With the support of the BSHS College Advisor, our Guidance Counselors will meet with your student regularly  throughout  their high school career  and our college advisor will meet individually with them and their parents frequently during their junior and senior year, after the College Process Assembly.
Check Out the Full Process Here

College Fair

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Bishop Shanahan High School hosts an annual College Fair in October each year. Over 120 universities and colleges from 18 states, as well as the District of Columbia, have admissions representatives on hand to speak with prospective students regarding admission, majors, financial aid, and student life. This College Fair provides parents and students with the opportunity to visit colleges and universities from all across the country in one evening, while making lasting connections with college officials too. In turn, the colleges have the opportunity to meet and greet many prospective students at one venue. 

College Athletics Recruitment

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By junior year, if our students are interested in participating in varsity intercollegiate sports, our coaches and Athletic Department help them to begin determining which college/university athletic programs appeal to them.

Each year, college-bound students interested in participating in intercollegiate athletic programs are also invited to a recruitment event held at BSHS. Division I, II, and III colleges and universities and schools from the Colonial Athletic Association attend this event. 

Instant Decision Day

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Students who normally submit applications in November or December can wait up to four or five months to hear a reply from the college or university of their choice. At BSHS, we help interested students to shorten their college/university admission process by hosting an Instant Decision Day. On this day, seniors or rising seniors apply, interview and receive an admissions decision (including, in some cases, financial or merit aid) all in a single day - a great alternative to the long wait. If accepted, students then have until National Decision Day, May 1, of their senior year, to accept or refuse the admissions offer.

Small Group Sessions

BSHS College Counselors organize an annual small group session with colleges and universities who are interested in meeting with students who measure in the top 10% of their class. Sessions are informational and by invitation. 

College Admissions Visit BSHS

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Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, and Senior students are welcome to connect with college and university admissions officers during their lunch period throughout the school year. The admissions officers are hosted at their own individual table in the Cafeteria, bringing a wealth of information about their respective school. They are available to share information about their school, answer students' questions, and provide brochures to interested students.

Financial Aid Workshop

Each school year, BSHS hosts a representative of the PHEAA who hosts a workshop for interested parents about how to fill out FAFSA Application. Sign-up and event information is emailed to parents well in advance by the BSHS College Counselor.

Writing Resource Officer

Bishop Shanahan High School partners with the Chester County Intermediate Unit to bring a Writing Resource Officer to the school to provide students with assistance in writing their college essay. Students schedule appointments directly with the Writing Resource Officer, and usually meet during their lunch periods. 12th grade students especially find the Writing Resource Officer helpful during September and October, the peak college admission season. The Writing Resource Officer also speaks with junior students, presenting in their English classes about the college essay and how the Officer may be a resource for them.

Transcript Information

With the completion of college applications and deadlines upon us, we are requesting that you adhere to the following transcript deadlines:
College Application Due Transcript Request Turned In By
October 1, 2021 September 9, 2021
October 15, 2021 September 20, 2021
November 1, 2021 October 18, 2021
November 15, 2021 November 1, 2021
November 30/December 1, 2021 November 18, 2021
December 15, 2021 December 2, 2021
January 1, 2022 December 13, 2021
The Guidance Office allows for 10 school days processing.  Please keep in mind once the documents are received by the colleges and universities, it takes at least 6 to 8 weeks for them to process.
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Bishop Shanahan High School
220 Woodbine Road
Downingtown, PA 19335
Phone: 610-518-1300
Fax: 610-343-6220
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