1. No category

Junior Future
Planning Night
101
BELMONT HIGH SCHOOL
GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT
1
BELMONT HIGH SCHOOL
GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT
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Ms. Stacie Ross (Last names from A-C)
[email protected]
Mr. James Brown (Last names from D-J)
[email protected]
Ms. Genevieve Guellnitz (Last names from K-Mc)
[email protected]
Mr. Paczkowski ((Last names from Me-Se))
[email protected]
Mrs. King (last names Sh-Z)
j g@
[email protected]
Ms. Vanessa Ranieri (Secretary)
[email protected] .ma.us
[email protected]
2
Junior Future Plans
 Prep
School
 Gap
p Year
 Community Service/Career Training
P
Program/Employment/Military
/E l
/Mili
 College Applications
3
Prep School
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Gives student an extra year to improve academics
and strengthen curriculum
English and Math teachers plus Guidance
Counselor must fill out specific recommendation
forms for each school
Interviews are highly recommended
4
Gap Year
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Should be used constructively
Students participate in anything from City Year,
employment opportunities, community service, travel
abroad
Can be a great way to gain perspective or participate in
something
hi different
diff
prior
i to making
ki more future
f
plans
l
Binders available in Guidance Dept. with different
opportunities
t iti
Gap Year Fairs: www.usagapyearfairs.org
5
College Application Process
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Standardized Testing
College Admissions
Process
BHS Requirements
Application Process
NCAA/Financial
Aid/Scholarships
/
p
6
The SAT Reasoning Test
Critical Reading (Verbal) – 800
Analogies eliminated
Short reading passages added to existing long passages
 Math – 800
Quantitative comparisons eliminated
Includes topics from third year math (Algebra II)
 Writing – 800
M ltipl choice
Multiple
h i questions
ti
(grammar
( r
r and
d usage))
Student-written essay
 Duration: 3 hours 45 minutes
Cost: $51.00
Registration: Online at www.collegeboard.org or paper registration
forms available in Guidance

7
SAT Subject Tests
Duration: 1 hour/up
h / to 3 tests in one sitting
Cost: Basic Registration Fee - $24.50
Language Tests with Listening - $24.00 (plus the basic fee)
All other SSubject
bject Tests - $13.00
$13 00
Subjects Specific, including:
(Be sure to check the website as every subject is not offered at every test date)
-English Literature
-US
US History
-French
French
- Biology
-World History
-Latin
-Chemistry
-Math IC & Math IIC
-German
-Physics
-Spanish
-Modern Hebrew
Languages w/ Listening include:
(Listening tests only offered in November)
-Japanese
-Korean
-Chinese
Chinese
-French
French
-German
-Spanish
Spanish
SAT I and SAT Subject Tests cannot be taken on the same day
*Be sure to check whether your colleges require subject tests and plan accordingly.
Some schools require 2 or 3 subject tests.
*Register online at www.collegeboard.com
8
This multiple-choice
p
test covers four skill areas:
-English
-Reading
-Mathematics
-Science
D
Duration:
i
2 hours
h
and
d 55 minutes
i
The Writing Test, which is optional, measures skill in
planning and writing a short essay.
Duration: 3 hours, 25 minutes with the writing
Cost: $36.50 or $52.50 with writing plus
Score is based on a scale of 36
9
ACT vs SAT
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ACT
1-36 Scoring
Essay Optional
S i
Science
section
i
No penalty for wrong answers
Less
ess emphasis
e p as s on
o vocabulary
vocabu a y
Test length-2hours,55 minutes
without essay, 3 hours 25
minutes with essay
Essay is at the end
Math: Alg, Geo, Alg 2, Trig
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SAT
2400 is highest score; math, CR
& Writing up to 800 on each
section
No Science
Penalty for wrong answers
More emphasis on vocabulary
Test length 3 hours and 45
minutes
Essay is at the beginning
Math: Alg, Geo., Alg. 2
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How To Determine Which Test To
Take?
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Take a practice test
Wh ddoes the
What
h college
ll
require?
i ?D
Do they
h E
Even R
Require
i SStandardized
d di d
Testing? www.fairtest.org/optstate.html
Assess the student strengths
P zzle solver=SAT
Puzzle
Doesn’t work too hard in school, but smart/clever=SAT
Grinder, Good grades=ACT
G dR
Good
Reader
d with
ith a weakk vocabulary=ACT
b l
ACT
Anxious, Does not handle time pressure well=SAT
Also, study by using a tutor, on-line, or even buy a book. The student
should prepare to get used to the format and the questions of the test.
test
www.actstudent.org
www.collegeboard.com
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Test Dates
SAT
SAT DATE
January 25, 2014
January 25, 2014
March 8, 2014
May 3, 2014
June 7, 2014
October 2014
2014
*October
*November 2014
*December 2014
SAT Subject Tests Availability
Available
Available
Available
Available
Available
Available
ACT
ACT DATE
February 08, 2014
p
,
April 12, 2014
June 14, 2014
September 2014
October 2014
December 2014
December 2014
Register By Date
January 10, 2014
March 7, 2014
,
May 9, 2014
TBD
TBD
TBD
Register By Date
December 27, 2013
December 27, 2013
February 7, 2014
April 4, 2014
May 9, 2014
TBD
TBD
TBD
What Is the TOEFL iBT (Internet Based) Test?
•
The TOEFL iBT test measures your ability to use and understand
English at the university level. And it evaluates how well you
combine your listening, reading, speaking and writing skills to
perform academic tasks.
•
More than 8,000 colleges, agencies and other institutions in over
130 countries accept TOEFL scores.
•
Many colleges require students whose first language is not English
to submit a TOEFL score
•
http://www.toeflgoanywhere.org/
•
**If you plan to take the TOEFL, don’t wait to register!
Spots
p tend to fill up
pq
quickly!
y
13
If I Qualify for Extended Time in School Do I
A
Automatically
i ll get iit ffor the
h SAT and
d ACT?
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ABSOLUTELY NOT! THEY ARE TWO DIFFERENT COMPANIES AND
BOTH HAVE CERTAIN DOCUMENTION THEY LOOK FOR:
The SAT, requires an SSD permission form and an SAT application. Belmont
High should have a cognitive test and an achievement test from the past five
years on file. The Special ED liaison or Ms. Turner will register your student
online only for the accommodations. The parent is responsible for filling out
the actual SAT application. When approved, CollegeBoard will assign an SSD
number that can be used for the rest of the student's high school career.
The ACT,
ACT req
requires
ires the extended-time
e tended time or the special testing form to be sent with
ith
the application. ACT would like any relevant assessments along with the
accommodations page of the IEP or 504 plan. Do not forget the payment as
well.
Contact your child's liaison or Ms Turner for help
For SAT only: Extended-Time process is now on-line.; Parents still need to turn
in signed permission form
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Factors in College Admissions
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High
g School Transcript
p
Standardized Test Scores SAT, Subject Tests, ACT &
TOEFL (Some schools are test optional www.fairtest.org)
Application Essay
Counselor Recommendation
Teacher Recommendations-usually 2 academic
teachers from Junior Year–sent by the teachers
Activities/Extra-Curricular
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College Admissions Policies
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Early Action
Early Action – Single Choice
Early Decision
Rolling
Regular
O
Open
E
Enrollment
ll
Waitlist
Deferred
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Applying to College
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Paper or Online
Vi i W
Visit
Websites
bi
www.nameofschool.edu
(example: www.tufts.edu)
www tufts edu)

Common Application
www commonapp org
www.commonapp.org
(Over 500 schools are now on the
Common Application)
*Be sure to check if your schools
have supplemental essay questions
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College Visits and Interviews
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BELMONT HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
English – 4 years……………….................21 credits
(Including Senior Thesis)
Social Studies – 3 years………................15 credits
W ld Hi
World
History
t
Modern World History
American Studies
Math – 4 years……………………………..20
years
20 credits
Science – 4 years………............………...20 credits
Fine and Performing Arts – 1 year………..5 credits
Foreign
g Language
g g – 2 yyears……………..10 credits
Physical Education and Health……………8 credits
4 years – 2 credits per year
Grade 9 – Wellness I required
Grades 10-12 –PE Classes, sports or outside contracts
*PASS - MCAS English, Math and Science
*40 Hrs. of Community Service
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GPA
20
Getting Started with the Application Process
-Students need to set up a common application account at
commonapp.org (summer or September)
-Senior
S i E
English
li h classes
l
will
ill meet with
ihG
Guidance
id
iin
September to go through all of this.
-Students
Students must then link their common application
account with their Naviance account.
-Students will sign off on the FERPA statement in
Naviance.
-Students must list all schools they plan to apply to in
their Naviance account so that the high school can
directly upload their transcript and counselor
recommendation for schools that accept this.
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Seeing Your Guidance Counselor
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Students can make an appointment to go over their future
plans ((college
p
g applications,
pp
ggap
p yyear, career planning,…).
p
g )
Parents are welcome to attend this meeting.
Students who plan on applying Early Action or Early
Decision should notify their counselor and schedule an
appointment at the start of their senior year (Late
September/Early October 2014) .
Come prepared. Students should bring a list of 6-8 potential
colleges
g theyy have researched to the meeting.
g
Use the resources available to you. Review the College
Planning Guide on the Guidance Website prior to the
meeting and
d use Family
l Connection.
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Parts of the Application
Student should send:
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Application: Student Information and family information
R
Resume
(optional
ti l):
) Sample
S
l on the
th guidance
id
webpage
b
under
d fformsAlways fill out the Application portion completely before sending
additional info.
Standardized Test Results: Official score reports
p
sent directlyy from
College Board and/or ACT
Essay(s)
Supplement: Possible additional essay/info required by some schools
who
h use the
h C
Common A
Application
li i
Special Talent (athletics, fine and performing arts)
Application Fee (waivers available – ask your counselor)
COUNSELOR WILL SEND
 Transcript
 Counselor Recommendation/School Report Form
 Special Education Information (if requested by student and/or parent)
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TRANSCRIPT
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OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT RELEASE FORM
NAME_______________________________________ YOG_______ DATE___________
I authorize Belmont High School to release my high school transcript including the following information to schools listed
below:
X
GPA
FIRST QUARTER GRADES (After close of Quarter 1)
X
X
MID-YEAR REPORT (includes Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 grades)
FINAL TRANSCRIPT (this will automatically be sent to the school you plan to attend)
College Name Early Decision Early Action Mail Method (CA/EA/M) Application Deadline CA = Common Application, EA = Electronic Application, M = US Mail
*_____________________________________________
Student Signature (If 18 or older)
*_____________________________________________
Parent Signature
*My signature waives my right to see any school recommendations.
Each student needs to submit this form to Mrs. Sceppa in the guidance office
at least three weeks prior to their application deadline/December vacation
in order for any school information to be sent to colleges. There is a $10 processing fee.
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Teacher Recommendations
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BHS Transcript Release
Deadlines
College Application
Deadline
Belmont High School
Deadline
October 1stt, 2014
September 10th, 2014
November 1st, 2014
October 11th, 2014
November 15th, 2014
October 25th, 2014
December 1st, 2014
November 8th, 2014
December 15th, 2014
November 25th, 2014
January 1st, 2015
November 29th, 2014
January 15th, 2015
December 13th, 2014
The Guidance department submitted over 2,500
transcript packages last year. All transcript requests
tthat
at are
a e received
ece ved by the
t e corresponding
co espo d g deadlines
dead es
above will be sent/uploaded by the college
application deadlines. All late transcript requests will
be processed in the order they are received.
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Missing Information
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It is your responsibility to request that your transcript package be sent to
colleges and ensure that it is received.
If you followed
f ll
d the
h BHS procedure
d (see
( SENDING YOUR
TRANSCRIPT), your transcript package was mailed or uploaded to the
colleges you indicated on your transcript release form within three weeks
of your request
request.
It usually takes colleges 3-4 weeks to process materials once they are
received. Do not panic if the college has not updated your application
sstatus
a s on
o their
e website
webs e within
w
thee 3-4
3 4 week
wee window.
w dow.
After the 3-4 week window, call the office of admissions to verify which
materials are missing. Come to the guidance office ASAP, to verbally
inform Mrs. Sceppa,
pp the gguidance secretary,
y of anyy missingg information.
Your materials will be faxed and re-mailed ASAP.
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NCAA Clearinghouse
Making Sure You Are Eligible to Participate in College Athletics

Division I and II prospective athletes need to register online at
www.ncaaclearinghouse.org
l i h
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Signed copy of transcript Release Form to Guidance secretary (end of junior
year) who will mail a certified copy of the student
student’ss transcript (including final
grades for junior year and senior year) to NCAA Clearinghouse.

Transfer students must send official transcripts from all previous schools

Eligibility is determined by GPA in core courses as outlined by the
Clearinghouse in conjunction with SAT/ACT results.

SAT/ACT must be sent directly from the testing agencies to the
clearinghouse-#9999 is the code for the NCAA. Test results will not be
accepted if sent from the school.
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Financial Aid

FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid is used to apply for
federal and state grants, work-study and loans.
www. a sa.ed.gov
www.fafsa.ed.gov

MEFA – The Massachusetts solution for College Financing.
www.mefa.org 800-449-6332

CSS/Profile – Many private schools require the Profile (or their own
financial aid application) in addition to the FAFSA.
www.collegeboard.com
ll b d
TERI - Non-profit agency, one is located in The Boston Public Library, and
can help with the FAFSA forms www.tericollegeplanning.org
www tericollegeplanning org
BHS sponsors a Financial Aid Seminar in December.
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Scholarships
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Scholarship – Any scholarship information we receive is
posted on Naviance
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Town Scholarships and BHS Scholarships – Applications are
available to the student through Naviance in February of their
senior year.

Free online search services
 www.fastweb.com
 www.finaid.org
 www.collegeboard.com
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College Fair at BHS
October 7-9PM
Representatives from ~150 Colleges
BHS Field House
We encourage
g seniors, juniors
j
and sophomores
p
to
come learn more about various colleges and
universities.
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Resources
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BHS - Summary of College Admissions data available in the Guidance office
and on Family Connection/Naviance
/
Various Publications: Barrons, College Board, Princeton Review etc…
The Internet: Try the list of helpful websites on the Guidance webpage as a
starting
i point
i
http://www.belmont.k12.ma.us/bhs/guidance/search/websites.htm
BHS College Planning Guide
http://students belmont k12 ma us/collegeplanning
http://students.belmont.k12.ma.us/collegeplanning
Family Connection/Naviance http://connection.naviance.com/belmonths
Guidance Office Bulletin Board is frequently updated with information
pertaining to Gap Year, Employment Opportunities, and Military Information
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Using Family Connection
(
(Naviance)
)
www.connection.naviance.com/belmonths
On-line Resource for Planning & Advising
Overview for Students and Parents
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Overview
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What is Family Connection?
How do I access it?
H ddo I sign
How
i iin??
What can I do with it?
How does it help career and college planning?
35
What is it?
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Web based resource that supports course,
Web-based
course career,
career
and college planning
Specific to our school (Uses comparative data from past BHS students)
Linked with Counselor’s Office, a service that we
use in the counseling office
Junior In-School Training Planned on Navigating
Naviance
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How is it accessed?

•
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•
•
•
Family Connection is on the Web and accessible
through the Guidance webpage
http://connection.naviance.com/belmonths
Student accounts
Unless you are a new student, you were registered last year
in the guidance office.
Your username and password should be your email address
and password to that email address
If you can
can’tt remember your password,
password click on the link that
says FORGOT MY PASSWORD and a temporary
password will be sent to your email account.
37
What can it do?
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Complete Share plans
Surveys
Compare
p colleges
g
Links to selected third-party resources
Track deadlines
Produce scattergrams
Sh schedule
Show
h d l off college
ll
visits
i it
38
Please take a look at your Naviance
Family Connection Student Tutorial
Handout.
Handout
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
College Profile
46
College Compare
47
Applications
48
Things to Remember

Sign up for SAT/ACT
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Collegeboard.org
Actstudent.org
Teacher Recommendations
Explore Naviance (Family Connection)
Research/Visit Schools
Summer Homework:
k develop
d l draft
d f off college
ll
essay
49
Appointments with Guidance

You are welcome to make an appointment with
your child and his/her counselor in addition to
utilizing the resources above.
above We strongly
recommend reading the BHS College Planning
Guide before scheduling an initial college
planning meeting.
50
Questions?
51