College and Career Planning

Mead High School Counselors provide college and career counseling and resources to students through individual meetings, small group presentations and large group information sessions. Students and/or parents are encouraged to reach out to their school counselor with questions about career exploration, post-secondary options or the college application process.

The Mead High School counselors have put together this comprehensive College and Career Planning Guide to help juniors, seniors and their parents gain a better understanding of the details involved in the college application process and preparing for life after high school.

College & Career Planning Guide

Writing your college essay and personal statement may feel overwhelming and you may not know where to start. There are lots of free resources to help students write great statements and essays.

College Essay and Personal Statement

Admissions representatives and career speakers schedule time to visit with Mead High School students throughout the school year. Students of all grades are encouraged to attend these presentations. For in person events, please stop by the counseling office for a pass after signing up on Naviance.

These amazing resources will explain the financial aid process and how to search for scholarships using Naviance and other scholarship websites.

Financial Aid & Scholarships

The Mead High School Counselors have put together this resource to help students learn how to ask a teacher or counselor for a letter of recommendation. Included on this page is a short video explanation, as well as letter of recommendation forms.

Letters of Recommendation

Mead High School Counselors have compiled this list of resources, which includes military academies, ROTC programs and military enlistment.

Military Service

Students interested in playing Division 1 or Division 2 sports in college must register with the NCAA and meet specific academic requirements. Those requirements are outlined by following the link below.

NCAA Eligibility

All students in grades 9-11 will be administered the PSAT or SAT in April of each school year. 9th and 10th graders will take the PSAT, while 11th graders will take the SAT. There is no cost for these tests administered at Mead HS in April. Students can retake the SAT during one of their national administrations by registering at www.sat.org. Students should link their Khan Academy account to their College Board account to prepare for the PSAT and SAT. For more information about the PSAT, SAT or Khan Academy, please visit:

PSAT/NMSQT

SAT

Khan Academy – SAT

Seniors will use Naviance to send transcripts, letters of recommendation and Common Application forms to colleges. Please follow the link below for instructions on how to do this within your Naviance account.

This timeline will help seniors and their parents plan for the many events, dates and opportunities that relate to post-secondary planning.

Senior Timeline and Resources

WUE is a tuition reciprocity program that provides Colorado students the opportunity to attend a college in AZ, CA, NM, UT, WY, WA, OR, NV, SD, ND, MT, ID, HI, AK and Guam at roughly 150% of the in-state tuition rate rather than out-of-state tuition. Some states have GPA, test score and/or program of study requirements.

WUE – Western Undergraduate Exchange

Recent News

Take a look at some of our recent news.

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Apr 29, 2026

St. Vrain Valley Schools Earns National Recognition as a Best Community for Music Education for Sixth Consecutive Year

St. Vrain Valley Schools has been recognized by the NAMM Foundation as one of the nation’s Best Communities for Music Education, marking the district’s sixth consecutive year receiving this prestigious honor. This national designation celebrates school districts that demonstrate exceptional commitment to ensuring all students have access to high-quality music education as part of a...<br><a title="St. Vrain Valley Schools Earns National Recognition as a Best Community for Music Education for Sixth Consecutive Year" href="https://www.svvsd.org/2026/04/29/st-vrain-valley-schools-earns-national-recognition-as-a-best-community-for-music-education-for-sixth-consecutive-year/" class="button read-more-link"><span class="sr-only">St. Vrain Valley Schools Earns National Recognition as a Best Community for Music Education for Sixth Consecutive Year </span>Read More</a>

Mar 23, 2026

Student Leaders Experience Government in Action at the Colorado State Capitol

On March 13, student leaders from across St. Vrain Valley Schools stepped beyond the classroom and into the heart of Colorado’s legislative process. As members of the district’s Student Advisory Council—a group of high school students representing their schools and helping inform district decisions—these students traveled to the Colorado State Capitol for a firsthand look...<br><a title="Student Leaders Experience Government in Action at the Colorado State Capitol" href="https://www.svvsd.org/2026/03/23/student-leaders-experience-government-in-action-at-the-colorado-state-capitol/" class="button read-more-link"><span class="sr-only">Student Leaders Experience Government in Action at the Colorado State Capitol </span>Read More</a>

Mar 25, 2026

ParentSquare: Our New District Communication Tool

St. Vrain Valley Schools will begin using ParentSquare, a new district communication tool that allows families to receive notifications based on their preferences. St. Vrain’s communications team will pilot ParentSquare for the remainder of the school year with the plan to expand access to schools at the start of the new school year. We’re excited...<br><a title="ParentSquare: Our New District Communication Tool" href="https://www.svvsd.org/2026/03/11/parentsquare-our-new-district-communication-tool/" class="button read-more-link"><span class="sr-only">ParentSquare: Our New District Communication Tool </span>Read More</a>

Mead High School