Embedded in the Delaware Hayes High School curriculum are tools to prepare students for life after high school.
In an effort to make sure students are ready for what lies ahead, Hayes teachers have been sharing information with students regarding what is expected of them in order to be competitive in the current job market.
Additionally, guidance counselors offer information to students on college fairs, how to fill out applications and Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms, and other information key to their admittance into a college or university.
Guidance counselors offered help to students filling out applications and scholarship or financial-aid forms during the College Application Fest, held earlier this month.
A representative of the University of Toledo also was there to look over applications and make on-site decisions on whether each student would be admitted to the school.
Jennifer Pollard, Hayes guidance counselor, said one of the most difficult things about the application process is knowing what each individual college requires of students.
However, the application process has become easier since the majority of forms can be filled out online through the use of Common App.
Schools such as Ohio State University, Ohio Wesleyan University and University of Findlay use Common App, which allows students to fill out one form and send it to multiple colleges.
Pollard said there have been a lot of technical issues with the program this year, which has caused frustration.
However, even with the electronic glitches, Pollard said she still is seeing a record number of applications being filled out by Hayes students.
"We have already processed 700 applications and we're only halfway through the school year," she said.
In the 2011-12 school year, 574 applications were processed at the end of the year; last school year, 656 were processed.
"It is easier to apply to more colleges since we can even send all the transcripts and letters of recommendation electronically," Pollard said.
She said the majority of Hayes students choose to go to Ohio colleges such as OSU, Columbus State Community College, and Otterbein or Capital universities.
A few students apply to technical schools such as welding or automotive school, and some students choose to pursue other interests before continuing their education.
"We have students who take a year to study abroad, join the Peace Corps, go on missions trips," she said. "A lot of them come back for their transcripts in order to enroll into college."
Pollard said she believes the district does a great job of encouraging students and parents to consider options after high school.
"Students are better prepared for options after high school because many of the skills necessary to make yourself successful in today's job market are embedded in the Common Core curriculum," she said.