A presentation for Seniors brought to you by:

The Guidance Team

Agenda:● How We Support Your Next Steps● Present Alternative Pathways● Present Application Process

Our Goal: Every student has a plan upon graduating!

● 112 credits minimum● Required courses

● Academic Pathway● 4 English● 4 Math● 3 Social Studies● 3 Science● 1 Music/Fine Art● 4 Wellness

● 2 years Foreign Language*● MCAS (English, Math, and Science)● 60 Hours of Community Service

(*special exceptions for MVTHS/transfer students)

CTE Pathway● 4 English● 4 Math● 3 Social Studies● 3 Science

● 4 year colleges or universities● 2 year colleges

● MassTransfer● Technical Colleges/Trade Schools● Military Academy ● Military Service ● Gap or Service Year● Employment

● Involve parents/guardians

● Make an appointment to speak with counselor about all options

● Put forth your best academic effort (all year long)

● Get Your Resume Ready To Go!

● Get familiar with Collegeboard, Naviance, & CommonApp

● Standardized tests, if required, for admission

● Visit potential schools of interest

● Attend the College Fair on October 23, 2019● Bring your resume to make a great impression!

● Know each school’s deadline

● Turn in all transcript requests at least 2 weeks prior!

● Turn in brag sheets at least 1 month prior!

What to expect from your counselor:● An individual meeting with or without parents present● Sharing of knowledge and resources● Suggestions for programs/schools to consider

● Assistance fine-tuning your “list”● Guidance through the college application process● Letter of Recommendation

● Must have completed brag sheet and minimum of 1 month notice

What not to expect from your counselor:● Ability to read your mind/Know your thoughts● Keep track of deadlines and appointments for you● Apply to schools or scholarships for you● Financial aid consultation/advice

● Please seek outside experts for this

● Great if you want to continue learning what you focused on in shop or try something new

● Often 1 or 2 Years

-Phlebotomist -EKG Technician

-Culinary Arts -Automotive Technology

-HVAC -Construction Management

● Have a resume ready to go! Mr. Menasha will be providing workshops in English class later this year

● Practice Interviewing!

● Consider your NETWORK- Who do you know here in Medford (or outside) who could help you get a job? Do you know someone who knows someone?

● Does not require SAT/ACT ● Requires college placement test for course/level placement

● Does not usually require letters of recommendation● Transfer to 4 year colleges after 1 or 2 years through

agreements with state colleges (MassTransfer Program/Commonwealth Commitment)

● Scholarships & honors programs for high-achieving students

● No housing on campus in Massachusetts● Huge Variety of Degree/Certificate Programs

o● There are 1,462 community colleges in the United States

○ 15 of these are in Massachusetts● About 25% of community colleges now offer housing

options for students.○ States such as Maine, Alabama, California, Oklahoma,

and New York offer housing for students.● The closest community college that offers on campus

housing option is Southern Maine Community College.

→ Just goes to show that not all community colleges are the same!

*Visit https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org to find the right community college for you :)

Steve Jobs Aaron Rogers George Lucas

Tom Hanks Arnold Schwarzenegger Queen Latifah

● UMass Amherst● UMass Boston● UMass Dartmouth● Umass Lowell

15 Community Colleges including:● Bunker Hill CC● Middlesex CC● RoxburyCC● North Shore CC● Mass Bay CC

● Bridgewater State● Fitchburg State● Framingham State● Salem State● Westfield State ● Worcester State● Mass Art● Mass College of Liberal

Arts (MCLA)● Mass Maritime Academy

UMass System State Colleges

**Note: This is simply the sliding scale. However, with college admissions getting more competitive every year, most of public 4 year school in the Massachusetts system are looking for around a 3.0 GPA and around a 1000-1100 combined SAT (math & verbal). Umass Amherst rarely takes a student with a GPA below a 3.5 (regardless of SAT scores).

GPA SAT / ACT● 2.51-2.99 1030/ 20● 2.41-2.50 1070/ 21● 2.31-2.40 1110/22● 2.21-2.30 1140/23● 2.11-2.20 1180/24● 2.00-2.10 1220/25

● GPA SAT / ACT● 2.51-2.99 990 / 19● 2.41-2.50 1030 / 20● 2.31-2.40 1070 / 21● 2.21-2.30 1110 / 22● 2.11-2.20 1140 / 23● 2.00-2.10 1180 / 24

● SAT: @ collegeboard.com● Two sections: Critical Reading, Math (Essay Optional) (total

possible score-1600)● No points deducted for incorrect answers (So go ahead and answer

ALL questions!)

● SAT Subject Area Tests: @ collegeboard.com● Subjects include: English Lit., Bio., Chem., Math, History, Foreign

Langs. (full list on website)

● ACT: @ actstudent.org● Four sections: English, Math, Reading and Science Reasoning (total

possible score-36)● No points deducted for incorrect answers (So go ahead and answer

ALL questions!)

● TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): @ ets.org/toefl*Any student who has taken an ELL class in 9-12th grade, please see guidance counselor for TOEFL info packet

● Scores MUST be sent to colleges directly from testing agency ● www.collegeboard.com or www.act.org

● Students are responsible for checking each college website for specific SAT, ACT, Subject test, and TOEFL requirements

● Some schools no longer require admissions tests● www.fairtest.org/university/optional

Counselors CAN NOT SEND Scores for you!

● GPA and Class Rank● SAT/ACT scores (except if applying test optional)● Rigor of high school record (transcript)● Senior year academic performance● Extracurricular activities/ Community Service/

Co-op Placement/Internship● College essay● Recommendations● Interview (if applicable)● “Demonstrated Interest”

● REACH – The student’s GPA and SAT / ACT scores fall below the historical averages for the college and / or past MHS students

● MATCH– The student’s GPA and SAT / ACT scores fall within the historical averages for the college and / or past MHS students

● BEST BET– The student’s GPA and SAT / ACT scores fall above the historical averages for the college and / or past MHS students

● Regular Decision● Most common admission option● Turn in your application by the college’s deadline

● Deadlines are often January 1 but may be as early as November 30● Schools notify you by a specified date of acceptance

● Early Action● Send your application earlier, and the college sends you its decision earlier

● Deadlines are usually November 1 or 15● Some colleges have additional restrictions on their early action programs● Academically strong students will often apply to one Early Action school

● Early Decision● You can apply Early Decision to only one college

● Deadlines are usually November 1 or 15● You are committing yourself to going to a particular school if accepted

● The bind can only be broken for proven financial hardship● If you are looking at several colleges and don't want to limit your choices

yet, Early Decision is not for you● Rolling Admissions

● There is no deadline for this option. Schools review and make decisions on applications as they receive them

● Early Decision / Early Action● Usually Nov 1 or Nov 15

● Regular Admission● Often Jan 1st, but can be as early as Nov 30 or

Dec 1st● Rolling Admission

● Anytime - The earlier, the better

● Application materials must be received by guidance department 2 weeks prior to application deadline

● Search for colleges that provide a Learning/Support Center or Tutoring in addition to accommodations

● Community Colleges have special programs● Please attend the Special Education Transition to

College Presentation● Wednesday, October 23rd in the MHS Library prior to the

College Fair

● Important to know the process

● This packet helps to simplify applying to college!

● Make an appointment with your counselor○ September/October appointments for Early

Action/Early Decision○ November/December for Regular Decision

● Plan on bringing parent/guardian if possible● Come Prepared

○ Bring a list of colleges○ Your green college folder○ Have your Common App & Naviance linked○ Any other materials you have

● Request Letters of Recommendation● Give your brag sheet to teachers & counselor ● Please allow at least 4 WEEKS notice minimum ● Ask teachers if they will do this electronically or if they need stamped

envelopes & CommonApp forms● Invite MSH teachers electronically via Naviance, NOT via

CommonAPP● Only outside recommenders such as coaches (or anyone without a

medford.k12.ma.us email address) should be invited via CommonApp● Counselors do not need an electronic invite via Naviance, just a brag

sheet and a MIMIMUM of 4 weeks notice.

● Request online that your SAT/ACT scores be sent directly to your colleges.

● Please note: This can take 6-8 weeks!

● Prepare THANK YOU notes to those who have written letters for you or assisted you in the process

● Fill out your transcript request form completely with all your colleges

● Forms must be turned in to your counselor at least 2 weeks before the application deadline

● Through the CommonApp or the college’s website, submit your applications● Many MA State colleges DO NOT accept CommonApp

● Be careful of deadlines!● Review your application checklist● Double check that your schools have received all

materials● CELEBRATE!!!

● Financial Aid Night – Tuesday, Sept. 24th @ 7:00pm ~Presented by MEFA (Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority) ● Website: www.mefa.org

● FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid Available October 1st @ http://www.fafsa.ed.gov

● CSS Profile - College Scholarship Service Profile- Some private schools require this

● Start at MHS/MVTHS● Students do the research and complete

applications● Community scholarship applications are

available starting in January● Local scholarships will be posted in Naviance

and updated frequently● Hard copies will also be available in the guidance

office● Look Local- place of employment, community

organization/affiliation, church, etc.● Check with your colleges

1. Read the college packet2. Create both the CommonApp & Naviance Accounts

a. Complete needed steps to link accounts (see video)

3. Meet with your Counselor4. Request Teacher Letter(s) of Recommendation (2)5. Send your SAT/ACT scores directly through

Collegeboard.org or ACT.org to the colleges and NCAA (for athletes)

6. Turn in your transcript request form7. Submit your application8. Write thank you notes

Director: Maureen LavinSecretary: Andree Pierre-PaulCounselors:

Mr. NascimentoMs. HorneMs. NormandinMs. GlasserMs. BrunoMr. Menasha