I grew up on a farm 20 minutes from Columbus Junction and have always loved this area.
I began my college experience at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana and completed my BS in Justice Systems at Truman State University in Kirksville, MO. I earned my MA in School Counseling at the University of Iowa in 2009. This is my twelfth year in the School Counseling profession.
My unique position as College and Career Counselor allows me to have one foot in the high school world and one in the college world. I have worked at Columbus Community High School and Muscatine Community College since 2018 and Louisa-Muscatine Jr/Sr High School since 2009.
As a College and Career Counselor, I want to help you find your passion/profession in life and help you to reach your goals. Whether your post-graduation plan is a job, military, apprenticeship, trade school, community college, or 4 year college - I am here to help!
Ms. Putnam Genz
Ms. Theresa Putnam Genz
College and Career Counselor
Continuous Learning
All Students
There has been a big shift in your world.
Here are 50 prompts you can use to explore/express during this time
Juniors
Get a head start on your college planning!
View the presentation I gave in English 3 about college and career planning
View this Course to College booklet online (hard copy as a senior!) (English) (Spanish)
Review ICAN's Countdown to College Calendar!
View ICAN's presentation on Paying for College
Don't forget to register for classes for senior year - visit Mrs. Wulf's page for instructions on how to register!
*****Make sure to register for my MCC Strategies for College Success class semester 1!*****
Seniors
Are you ready for your Next Steps in life? Is everything done for your plan after high school?
Check out this Next Steps document - we will go through these together, too!
Remember to reach out to me to finalize plans for after graduation!
Have you taken an MCC or PLTW class while at CCHS? If so, you must send your transcript to your next college.
Here are the directions to send your MCC transcript
Have you taken your ALEKS test for placement at your community college or regent (UNI, ISU, U of I) university?
If you have taken an MCC class this year you can take a practice ALEKS and get a tailored study plan!!
Go to eicc.edu and enter your MCC username and password (if you don't know it, please contact me!)
Click on EICConnect
Sign in, ALEKS will be on the left side of the screen
The practice placement test is 30 questions, NO CALCULATOR
Once you have completed the practice, it will give you lessons to work through to improve your score!
Have you considered how you are paying for college? Remember to take loans as a last resort.
To compare award letters and predict your future debt, go here
Review ICAN's Countdown to College Calendar (scroll down to second page)
Are you receiving scholarships? HOORAY and CONGRATULATIONS!!
You need to tell me each scholarship awarded by your college and each awarded by an outside source.
See an example of how to format your scholarship thank you letter (required! do them)
Ready to go to college or nervous about the next step. You BELONG at your chosen college, job, military, or trade school.
Remind yourself of that and do some thinking, here is a Student's Guide to the First Year of College!