HRHS Senior Newsletter
January 2020
Congratulations on finishing the first half of your senior year!
We hope you had a fun and restful vacation!
Heading to Work After Graduation?
Joining the Military?
The meeting to review ASVAB results has been moved to January 16th at 12:20.
The next step, after taking the ASVAB, is to reach out to recruiters from the branch(s) of your choice. Take time to investigate the career and enlistment options for multiple branches of the military in order to ensure you are choosing the best path for you.
Doctor for a Day
If you are interested in becoming a doctor in the future, you are invited to apply for the Doctor for a Day Program. On Tuesday April 7, 2020, students selected for this competitive program will will be assigned to spend a full day with a physician observing daily rounds, office visits, surgery, or emergency care. This program is open to students in their junior or senior year, who have a serious interest in becoming a physician and have a strong background in the sciences.
Two-Year College Process
Community College Applications
IF YOU MISSED DECISION DAY and you wish to apply to a community college, you must send your application directly to the college and request your transcript in the guidance office.
See Ms. Scully if you have any questions.
Next Steps
If you are planning to attend a community college, your next steps are to fill out the FAFSA and take your placement test.
Financial Aid
Every student who wishes to receive financial aid (including loans) must fill out the FAFSA. Click here to apply. You will need your 2018 tax returns in order to fill out the application.
GCC Placement Test & Tour
HCC Placement Test & Tour
Tuesday, March 3rd, 7:45 - Students who have applied to HCC will take the placement test at HRHS.
Tuesday, April 14th - Students will tour HCC and register for classes. There is an option to re-take the placement test during this event. Students on an IEP or 504 will meet with disability services.
STCC Placement Test & Tour
Thursday, April 16th: This spring, students who applied to STCC will be invited to take a field trip to STCC to tour the school and take the placement test.
Four-Year College Process
Check the Status of your College Applications
Most colleges mail a letter to let students know that the college has received your application materials. If they do not mail a letter, typically colleges will provide an access code (via email) for you to check the status of your application. Be on the look out for this information.
If two weeks pass after you submit an application and you have not received either of these, follow up with the college to make sure they have received your application.
Complete Your Applications by January 31st
See Ms. Scully if you need help with your applications.
Steps to Complete After You Apply to College
The following should be completed after submitting your application.
Check to make sure that all of your supporting materials have been received by the admissions office. Many admissions offices will send an email with a login for you to check the status of your application. Create an account for each school and check that your transcripts, test scores, letters of recommendation and financial aid forms have all been received. If you did not receive an email or a postcard, within two weeks, stating that your application has been received, call the college to ask about your status.
Check if there are any school-specific scholarship applications you can fill out.
Begin to search for and apply for local and national scholarships.
Possibly visit the college again to show your continued interest.
The following should be completed after you are admitted to colleges.
Compare financial aid packages.
Attend Accepted Students Days.
Send a deposit to the school of your choice by May 1st.
Sign and return your Financial Aid Award Letter.
Applying to Colleges Before the Deadline listed on Naviance?
Have you been accepted to college?
Come share the good news!
Please come to guidance and let us know where you have been accepted. The book of college acceptances is located on Ms. Jablonski’s desk in the guidance office.
Financial Aid
College Financial Aid Packages
Make an appointment with Ms. Scully if you would like help going over your financial aid packages. She can help you figure out exactly what the college is offering and help you decide which financial aid package is the best option.
FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid
Every student who wishes to receive financial aid (including loans) must fill out the FAFSA. Click here to apply. You will need your 2018 tax returns in order to fill out the application.
*Remember to keep an eye on the financial aid application deadline for the colleges you apply to. If you miss a deadline, you will not be eligible for financial aid from that school.*
CSS Profile
Click here to see if your college requires a CSS Profile.
Click here to start your CSS Profile application.
College-Specific Scholarship Applications
Scholarships
Need Transcripts and Letters of Recommendation for Scholarships?
In order to request transcripts and letters of recommendations for scholarship applications, please bring the following to the guidance office at least 5 school days before the deadline:
A filled out Scholarship Checklist/Records Release Form.
Large 9x12 envelope with four stamps.
Your scholarship application
Scholarship Application Hint
Since many students do not take the time to write essays, there will be a smaller pool of applicants for scholarships that require essays. Take time to write essays in order to increase your chances of being awarded a scholarship. Essays also allow you to show your personality and stand out to the scholarship selection committee on a more personal level, rather than relying solely on your grades or other qualifying data.
Searching for Scholarships
Local Scholarship Listings
This year, we are using a new scholarship platform, Going Merry, to manage and advertise local scholarships that are awarded to HRHS students. We have not uploaded all of the local scholarships yet but students are welcome to create their account to get a head start on scholarship applications. Students will apply to scholarships directly through this website.
Going Merry also allows students to search for scholarships that are offered throughout the state and country.
Naviance Scholarship List
Students should also check out the scholarship listings on Naviance. This scholarship list includes a number of scholarships that are available to students from our general area but are not limited to HRHS students. Naviance provides information on how to access the application for each scholarship.
To access this scholarship list, log on to your Naviance account and click on the "Colleges" tab. Click on "Scholarships and Money" at the bottom of the menu. This will open the following helpful options:
- Scholarship Match and Scholarship List - These links produce the same list of all of the scholarships that are advertised to our counseling office. Many are local scholarships and some are state/national scholarships.
- National Scholarship Search - This will take you to the Sallie Mae Foundation's national scholarship database. You can use this tool to search thousands of scholarships nationwide.
Other Online Scholarship Databases
In addition to Naviance, we recommend these on-line search tools for finding scholarships:
Community Foundation of Western Mass Scholarships
The Community Foundation of Western Mass awarded scholarships to over 700 local students last year. One application puts you in the running for over 130 different scholarships based mostly on county of residence or area of study, many of which YOU ARE HIGHLY ELIGIBLE FOR.
Some examples include:
- Raymond E. Carr Scholarship Fund - For students attending American International College, Elms College, Springfield College, Western New England University, or Westfield State University.
- Stanley Ciejek Sr. Scholarship Fund - For residents of Hampden, Hampshire, or Franklin Counties to attend Massachusetts institutions of higher education.
- Carol Craig Scholarship Fund - For residents of Hampden, Hampshire or Franklin Counties.
- Eleanor M. Morrissey Scholarship Fund - For graduating seniors from Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden or Hampshire Counties pursuing a career in nursing.
These scholarships are available to graduating seniors and to current college students, so you should apply again next year. In fact, there is a scholarship available exclusively to HRHS grads who are in their junior or senior year of college. (Lena A. Tucker Scholarship Fund)
Click here for a complete list of available scholarships and application guidelines.
Full Scholarship at Framingham State
Stephen Phillips Memorial Scholarship
Click here for more information.
Application deadline: May 1, 2019
Career Spotlight
Interested in Green Careers?
There are a variety of new and exciting careers that focus on green technology and helping to improve our environment. Here are 11 of the fastest growing green jobs:
1. Urban Growers
Rooftop gardens in urban areas maximize space, cut down on shipping and growing costs for buyers, and improve the air quality for city residents.
2. Water Quality Technicians
Protecting clean water is a growing concern, even here in the United States. Natural and man-made contaminants are a constant threat to our water supply.
3. Clean Car Engineers
Electric cars and other alternatively powered vehicles are considered to be an important step towards reducing petroleum dependence, protecting the environment, and improving transportation sustainability.
4. Recyclers
Recycling has become an increasingly important issue in the United States as both the population and the amount of waste each person generates continue to increase.
5. Natural Scientists
Natural scientists, such as biologists, chemists, and physicists, are essential to the development of green energy, the study of climate change and the monitoring of mankind's impact on ecosystems.
6. Green Builders
There is a growing demand for green buildings, which requires specialized construction knowledge. Green builders understand and care about the long-term impacts of their projects.
7. Solar Cell Technicians
Solar energy is one of the fastest growing sources of green energy. Specialized technicians are needed to install, maintain and repair the solar panels used to harvest solar energy.
8. Green Designers
Architects, engineers, urban planners, and even landscapers can be part of green design teams that are creating new, more energy efficient ways to co-exist with our natural environment.
9. Wave Energy Producers
Did you know that scientists and engineers are currently developing ways to harvest the power of ocean waves? This is one of the newest green energy industries and it is expected to expand rapidly as new technology is developed.
10. Wind Energy Workers
Wind turbines are becoming more popular as output from wind energy improves. Many different types of workers are needed in this field, from the technicians who build and maintain the turbines to the analysts working behind the scenes to monitor and improve energy output.
11. Biofuel Jobs
Biofuels, such as ethanol, are being developed as alternatives to petroleum. Jobs in this field range from scientists to farmers to factory workers.
For more information, check out: