Senior Counseling Corner
Brighton High School Counseling Office
December 8, 2023
Seniors,
Two weeks until break! There's still time to get things done so you can have a restful and work free vacation! Be sure to schedule a 1:1 appointment with your Counselor or Mrs. Stern if you need help.
Even if you've submitted most or all of your applications, or have a plan for next year, below are some tips on what to do to keep things moving in December and January:
- Follow-up. If you've submitted your applications, now is a good time to confirm all of the schools/jobs received your application and materials. The first place to start is with the Common Application and the Coalition applications. Check their dashboards to see if a school has downloaded your application. In addition, confirm your school materials (transcript, letters of recommendation, school profile) have been submitted. If you have any doubts, you can reach out to the admissions offices or places of employment and ask for them to confirm receipt.
- Check your emails (and spam) daily. Most colleges will email you access to a portal. You’ll need to create a login user name and password for each school – keep track of this information. This is where you will find any updates from the school and it’s the best place to confirm that your application is complete for each of the schools on your list. Colleges will notify you if your test scores or letters of recommendation haven’t arrived.
- Send notes. Now is a good time to show your appreciation to staff who have taken the time to write your letters of recommendation. A simple note is all it takes!
- Keep researching. Continue to take virtual tours and info sessions for colleges where you’re applying. The more research you do, the better informed you can be when making a decision in the spring.
Don't forget about Instant Decision days- still room available for:
- December 11- St. John Fisher University
- February 12- MCC
Sign up here: https://www.bcsd.org/Page/2085
**Next week's Senior Newsletter will be our final one for the year. Any additional senior information will be included in our month 9-12 Counseling Corner newsletter for the remainder of the school year.**
As always, please come see us if you need anything.
Best,
BHS Counseling Office
(585) 242-5000 x4526
Financial Aid
Create your FSA IDs now!
While we wait for new information about when the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) will be available, now is the perfect time to recommend your students and their contributors get their FSA IDs. That way, they are ready to complete and submit the FAFSA® as soon as it becomes available.
Our office is here to support your students and their families throughout this process. While additional information can be found on our A Better FAFSA® website, we included some key FAQs related to the FSA ID and who needs one and why to help as you work with your students and their supporters:
What is an FSA ID?
An FSA ID is a username and password that is required to log in to certain U.S. Department of Education (ED) websites.c Your FSA ID identifies you as someone who has the right to access your own personal information on ED websites such as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®).
Why do you recommend doing this now?
Processing a new FSA ID can take up to 5 business days. By getting those IDs now, it means your students and their families will be ready to complete and submit the FAFSA® once it's available and not have to wait for their FSA IDs to process.
Who needs an FSA ID?
Beginning with the 2024–25 FAFSA®, all contributors (student, student's spouse, and/or parent) must have their own FSA ID.
To find out if your student is eligible for financial aid and to submit a FAFSA®, please encourage them to visit our eligibility page.
How does someone get an FSA ID?
To create an FSA ID, please go to studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch.
What if the student or contributor doesn’t remember their FSA ID or is not sure if they have one?
To retrieve a forgotten FSA ID or password, please go to studentaid.gov/fsa-id/sign-in/landing and click either the "Forgot my Username" or "Forgot my Password" links.
What if the parent of a student doesn't have a Social Security Number (SSN)?
Those contributors without an SSN, but whose student is eligible to apply for federal student aid, will need an FSA ID. However, they cannot yet create an FSA ID without an SSN. We expect this access to be available around the same time the FAFSA® is released.
Please feel free to check our website often for any updated information and check your email, as we'll work to update you, your students, and their families as we know more. Let us know if you have any questions at finaid@finaid.wisc.edu.
On, Wisconsin!
Office of Student Financial Aid
University of Wisconsin–Madison
College & Career Exploration
Join us for a special guest speaker - Dr. Christine Coward from UR Flaum Institute
Interested in the medical field? Dr. Coward will be here on December 8th to speak with Brighton students about her career in medicine. She is the region's only Black female eye surgeon!
December 8, 11am-12pm
Mrs. Maloy's room - 251
Hope to see you there!
Explorers Programs
Exploring provides exciting activities and one-on-one mentorship for youth looking to discover their future. Whether you’re a local organization looking to strengthen the community or a young person wanting to uncover the possibilities of your future, Exploring is a great place to start.
Exploring let’s you “try a career on for size!” Young men and women, ages 14-20, can explore their career interests in a hands-on real-world environment with professionals in that field. There are Explorer Posts for areas of advanced manufacturing, aviation, cosmetology, culinary, engineering, firematics/EMS, health care, law enforcement, legal, military, skilled trades, sports management, veterinary, and many more!
https://senecawaterways.org/exploring-ages-14-20/
**You can earn INTERNSHIP CREDIT for joining an Explorer Post! See Mrs. Stern for details!
Ways to get on campus
Although you may not be able to physically get on campus right now, this is a great time to take a virtual trip! Check out these resources:
- Individual college websites
- Naviance (many of the colleges have videos and interactive information posted there)
- www.campusreel.org - over 15,000 real videos, tours and experiences from 300+ college campuses, created by current students
- Thanks to an incredible colleague in a College Admissions Counselor group who put together this working excel file. Including demographic data from College Board, she lists colleges in the US and Canada who offer virtual tours, youtube channels, etc. UK coming soon! https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1sO7pVos0EvK0BvXoMbnyg00K6r7hXbOQE0HNXF4N4eM/htmlview
BHS Events & Info
Instant Decision Days
This fall we will be offering Instant Decision days with 14 phenomenal institutions!
Students will have the chance to meet with an admissions representative and receive instant feedback on their application- most students will be informed of their admissions decision that day!
We will provide much more detail in Senior Seminar, but below are the general instructions. This is SUCH a great opportunity to learn more about what the college has to offer you and get some early feedback. Save the dates if you are interested!
If interested, please follow the instructions below:
- Sign up for your 15 min admissions appointment with any of the institutions you are interested in.
- If you haven't completed or submitted your application yet, THATS OK! Still sign up!
- An admissions counselor will review your materials and could provide an admissions decision and estimate of your scholarship package that night! (some colleges may require a few additional days to process materials)
- Please note- Geneseo is an ADMISSIONS INTERVIEW ONLY. This will be used as part of your application to be reviewed later. No decision will be made that this time. If interested in Geneseo, we highly recommend taking advantage of this.
Sign up here: https://www.bcsd.org/Page/2085
A few recommendations:
- Show up a few minutes early- you don’t want to be late!
- Wear appropriate attire- no need to dress up, but please look presentable. This is YOUR opportunity to show them who you are other than a name on a piece of paper!
- Come prepared with questions about the school- we are happy to help you with this.
If you have any questions about these opportunities, please contact Mrs. Stern!
Senior Office Hours - CHANGED AS OF 11/30
At this time, we feel we can best support you with 1:1 appointments for your post-secondary plans. Please schedule a time with your counselor or Mrs. Stern during a free period using our Booking Links:
Hope to see you soon!
Senior Seminar & Parent Nights
In case you missed our Senior Parent Night Series, all information from the presentations are posted on the Senior Information Page of the BHS Counseling Website.
See your counselor or Mrs. Stern if you need more help!
College Rep Visits to BHS
Registrar Deadlines
Check out the Registrar deadlines- based on the college/job/scholarship deadlines, the dates below are when your application is DUE TO THE REGISTRARS OFFICE.
Standardized Testing
SAT & ACT- IMPORTANT Updates
**If you take an SAT or ACT exam AFTER we have submitted your transripts/scores to a college, YOU must submit the new scores directly to the college via College Board or ACT. See your counselor with questions.
If you have questions specific to BHS testing procedures, please reach out to Deirdre Carter: deirdre_carter@bcsd.org. As things are changing so often, please refer to the testing sites for updated information:
ACT- www.actstudent.org
SAT- www.collegeboard.org
Brighton High School Counseling Department
Email: courtney_stern@bcsd.org
Website: https://www.bcsd.org/Page/2063
Location: 1150 South Winton Road, Rochester, NY, USA
Phone: (585) 242-5000