Senior Newsletter
November 2018
College Application Season is Here!
Financial Aid Information
FAFSA Day - Sunday, November 4th
- HCC @ 1:00 pm
- Turners Falls High School in Montague @ 1:00 pm
- AIC in Springfield @ 1:00 pm
To register, visit the FASFA Day website.
Financial Aid Workshops
When:
Tuesday, Dec. 5th– Advisory and Period 6
Wednesday, Dec. 6th - Advisory and Period 5
Who should attend: Any student going to a two or four-year college. We will review the financial aid application process, discuss loans, and learn how to review financial aid packages. Please sign up in the guidance office.
Two-Year College Applicants
Two-Year College Workshops
When: Wednesday Nov. 14th during period 7
Thursday, Nov 15th during advisory and period 4
Who should attend: All students applying to GCC, HCC and STCC (or any other two-year college). Students who checked the 2-year college box on the senior questionnaire will automatically be signed up for one of these workshops. Any student applying to a four-year college who would like HCC, GCC or STCC to be a back up, please sign up for a workshop in the guidance office.
What will be covered: the application process, placement testing, field trip to HCC, transferring to four-year colleges.
Campus Tours at HCC & GCC
HCC offers Welcome Wednesdays held every Wednesday at 11 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. in KC 205, these information sessions offer prospective students the opportunity to meet with an admissions counselor, learn about the admissions, financial aid, and transfer process, and take a personalized tour of the HCC campus. It's also a wonderful opportunity meet current HCC students and faculty, ask questions, and discover what makes HCC the community's college.
Greenfield Community College
GCC offers campus tours at the following times. Click here to register for a tour.
- Wednesday November 7 – 3:00pm
- Wednesday November 14 – 3:00pm
- Wednesday November 28 – 3:00pm
- Wednesday December 5 – 3:00pm
- Wednesday December 12 – 3:00pm
Springfield Technical Community College
STCC accepts walk-ins for tours every Wednesday at 10am and 3pm. No sign-up is required. Tours start at the Admissions Office on the first floor of Garvey Hall, Building 16, Room 121.
Decision Days for HCC, STCC & GCC
In December, admissions representatives from HCC, GCC and STCC will come to HRHS for Decisions Days. During Decision Days, students will formally be accepted into the colleges. Prior to the Decisions Days, students will complete their applications.
- HCC - December 11th
- STCC - December 13th
- GCC - December 18th
Military Information
Military Workshop
When: Tuesday, Nov 7th– Advisory and Period 2
Who should attend: Students interested in joining the military should attend this panel of speakers from the Air National Guard, Navy, Army, Air Force and Marines. Students who checked the military box on the senior questionnaire will automatically be signed up for this workshop. All other students must sign up in the guidance office to attend.
ASVAB Testing - Nov. 14th
All branches of the military require potential recruits to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) in order to match people with career paths within the military. Students have the opportunity to take the ASVAB at HRHS on November 14th at 7:45. This is a low stakes testing opportunity as the scores are not sent to any branch of the military.
If you are interested in taking the ASVAB please sign up in the guidance office.
Four-Year College Applicants
Naviance College Lists
Please make sure that your college lists and application deadlines are updated on Naviance. If these lists are not accurate, your transcripts and letters of recommendation will not be sent to schools on time.
Here is how to update the list:
1. Add all colleges to "Colleges I'm Applying To" list.
2. Click the "edit" button next to each college.
3. Click "App Type"
4 From drop down menu, select which type of application you will be using (Early Action, Regular Decision, etc)
5. Check to make sure there is a date under "college deadline" . If there is no date, the college does not have that application type and you must select another type.
See Ms. Scully with any questions.
SAT & ACT Test Dates
Test Date: Dec. 1
Registration Deadline: Nov. 2
There is one more opportunity to take the ACT and receive your scores by December 18th:
Test Date: Dec. 8
Registration Deadline: Nov. 2
Sending SAT, ACT and AP Test Scores
How to Send Scores
SAT Scores
1. Log into your College Board account.
2. Click on "My SAT"
3. Click "Send Scores" and follow the prompts to select the colleges you want to send your scores to.
ACT Scores
The ACT requires you to select colleges to send your scores to at the time you register for the test. If you need to send your scores to a college that was not on your list at the time you took the ACT, click here for instructions on how to update your request.
Common App Help
- There is a Common Application help sheet located in the guidance office and on Naviance. The help sheet includes information about the guidance office that is needed to complete the application as well as tips for filling out each section.
- The Help tab on the Common App website is the best place to go if you need assistance with a technical issue.
- Ms. Scully is available to review your application before you hit submit. She can also help you trouble shoot problems as they come up.
GPA Calculations for College
Your PowerSchool GPA is not the same as the one colleges will calculate.
- College GPAs include only core classes (math, science, English, social studies and foreign language) and one elective (art, chorus, band, business, etc.) for each year. Some electives may not be included if a college deems it to not be a true college prep course.
- Colleges expect that students are taking a minimum of four core classes (or four credits of core subjects) each year.
- Colleges convert numerical grades to a 4.0 scale using the MA Board of Higher Education scale. (See page 15 of this document).
- Colleges add .5 points to each Honors grade and 1 point to each AP grade (this happens after the GPA is converted to a 4.0 scale).
- All state colleges and universities require a minimum GPA of 2.0. If a student's GPA is between a 2.0 and a 3.0, there are certain SAT scores that students must reach in order to be eligible for acceptance. These are minimum requirements and do not guarantee admission.
College Representatives Visiting HRHS
If interested in meeting with one of the representatives, students should sign up in the guidance office or on Naviance and ask their teacher for permission to miss class.
Here is the schedule of visits for November.
Listen to announcements or check Naviance for updates.
- Nov. 1st @ 1:15 - University of Rochester
- Nov. 7th @ 9:15 - University of Southern Maine
- Nov. 8th @ 7:45 - Unity College
- Nov. 8th @ 9:45 - Newbury College
- Nov. 13th @ 7:45 - Florida Institute of Technology
- Nov. 14th @ 12:30 - Rutgers University - New Brunswick
- Nov. 16th @ 12:30 - Southern Vermont College
- Nov. 28th @ 8:45 - University of Hartford
- Nov. 29th @ 9:45 - Salisbury University
Heading to work?
Here are three opportunities for current or future work.
Please see Ms. Scully for more information about these opportunities:
George Propane
George Propane is looking to hire a high school student to work part-time after school. They are flexible with hours. This position has the potential to turn into a full-time position after graduation.
Interested in a manufacturing career?
GCC has free 12-week trainings for students interested in becoming a machinist. Our local area currently has numerous job openings in this field. Starting pay in this field is between $15-20 per hour.
Cabinet Building Training:
The New England School of Architectural Woodworking in Easthampton, trains students to build custom kitchen and bathroom cabinets. There is the potential to team up with a local company who will pay for this training in exchange for a commitment to work with the company after the training is complete.
Scholarship Information
The Henry David Thoreau Foundation Scholarship
This is a scholarship to foster future environmental leaders. Applicants should be interested in environmental studies.
Click here for more information.
Application deadline: Feb 1, 2019
The Massachusetts Junior Chamber International Senate Scholarship
This is a $1000 scholarship awarded to two Massachusetts seniors.
Click here for application information.
Application deadline: January 11, 2019
Abbott & Fenner Scholarship Program
Abbott and Fenner Business Consultants will be awarding a $1000 scholarship. To apply, students must submit a 500 to 1000 word essay on the following prompt:
"Describe your educational career and life goals. Explain your plan for achieving these goals. Include your degree/major, why you selected it, and how this degree/major will help you achieve your goals."
Click here for information on how to submit your essay.
Application deadline: June 14, 2019
Stephen Phillips Memorial Scholarship
Click here for more information.
Application deadline: May 1, 2019
Community Foundation of Western Mass
Click here for more information.
The application will become available on January 1, 2019 and remain open until March 31, 2019.
On-Line Resources
LendEDU Scholarship Guide
Fastweb Scholarship Database
Link: https://www.fastweb.com
College Confidential
College Week Live
FAFSA
MEFA
Link: https://www.mefa.org
Career Spotlight
Like Psychology?
Here are ten growing careers that require a background in Psychology…
1. Career or Vocational Counselor
Average Salary: $46,000
Help individuals make career decisions and utilize tools including personality assessments, interest inventories and other evaluation measures. They help clients work on building skills, practicing interviews, improving resumes and locating job openings.
2. School Psychologist
Average salary: $59,440
School psychologists work in educational settings to help children deal with emotional, academic and social problems. Thanks to increased interest in the mental health of children and federal education legislation, school psychology has rapidly become one of the fastest growing fields.
3. Counselor
Average Salary: $47,530
Counselors help a people with a wide variety of problems, including marriage, family, emotional, educational and substance abuse issues. Nearly half of all counselors work in health care or social welfare settings, while another 11-percent work for state and local governments.
Average salary: $71,100
Genetics counselors help provide information about genetic disorders to couples and families. Genetics counselors often work with a team of medical professionals, including doctors, nurses and geneticists to offer support, guidance and assistance to families who have a family member with a genetic disorder or who may be at risk of passing down an inherited disorder to their offspring.
5. Forensic Psychologist
Average Salary: $59,440
Forensic psychologists apply psychology to the fields of criminal investigation and law. Forensic psychologists often work with other experts to resolve child custody disputes, scrutinize insurance claims, perform child custody evaluations and investigate suspected child abuse.
6. Engineering Psychologist
Average Salary: $79,818
Engineering psychologists use psychology to investigate how people interact with machines and other technology. These professionals use their understanding of the human mind and behavior to help design and improve technology, consumer products, work settings and living environments. For example, an engineering psychologist might work as part of a team to redesign a product to make it more efficient and easier to use in a work situation.
7. Clinical Psychologist
Average Salary: $81,100
Clinical psychologists assess, diagnose and treat clients suffering from psychological disorders. These professionals typically work in hospital settings, mental health clinics or private practices.
Average Salary: $45,000 to $80,000
Sports psychologists focus on the psychological aspects of sports and athletics, including topics such as motivation, performance and injury. The two major areas within sports psychology are centered on helping improve athletic performance or using sports to improve mental and physical health.
9. Industrial-Organizational Psychologist
Average Salary: $97,820
Industrial-organizational psychologists focus on workplace behavior, often using psychological principles to increase worker productivity and select employees that are best suited for particular jobs.
10. Special Education Teacher
Average Salary: $47,650
While slightly outside of a traditional psychology career, the field of special education offers a great deal of opportunity for those who enjoy helping children. Special education teachers work with students with a variety of disabilities.