School Counseling Newsletter
2021-2022: Quarter 1
Welcome Back, Eagles!
We are very pleased to send you this first edition of our School Counseling quarterly newsletter. In it, you'll find lots of information regarding post-secondary planning, upcoming events and opportunities, and plenty of resources. As always, please reach out to your student's counselor with any questions.
All Freshman:
Mrs. Alida Nickerson: anickerson@plymouth.k12.ma.us
Grades 10-12:
Mr. Mark Furman, mfurman@plymouth.k12.ma.us (A - Fe)
Ms. Megan White, mwhite@plymouth.k12.ma.us (Fi - Man)
Mrs. Shari Kahle, skahle@plymouth.k12.ma.us (Mar - Pen)
Mrs. Andrea Norton, anorton@plymouth.k12.ma.us (Per - Z)
Please follow us on Twitter @PNHSGuidance
Senior Classroom Guidance
This past Monday, counselors began presenting post-secondary informational sessions in senior English classrooms. During this time, A LOT of information is shared. You can find the powerpoint below.
Next up, all seniors will meet with their counselor to discuss their individual plan. Letters with next step recommendation will be sent home.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR YOUR PPS PARENT/STUDENT EVENING EVENTS!
Financial Aid Information Sessions (Choose One)
Jodi Conway has been our financial aid presenter for the past 18+ years. This year she will be presenting the senior college financial aid session in webinar format. We are pleased to offer you the flexibility of registering for the session below that suits your schedule. Please register for ONE session (the material is the same for both).
Option #1
You are invited to a Zoom webinar.
When: Oct 5, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Topic: College Financial Aid night for high school seniors and parents
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4Q0Fj5gfQHWB4KNEZ3sBEA
Option #2
You are invited to a Zoom webinar.
When: Oct 9, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Topic: College Financial Aid night for high school seniors and parents
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Z72OskIuSymEX2T6U89izg
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
FREE FAFSA Workshops
In addition to the financial aid information sessions offered by Jodi, the Massachusetts Education and Career Opportunities, Inc will be offering free fall workshops for families.
They will walk through the application via Zoom and answer any common questions you may have along the way. Click here to sign up.
If you want a 1-1 session, please contact their office at 508.586.3100 option 0 to schedule an appointment.
See Flyer Below
2021-2022 SAT & ACT Dates
NCAA Eligibility
Student athletes planning to play Division I or II sports in college must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center, send their official high school transcript, as well as officially send SAT/ACT to the NCAA.
Mass Transfer
Beginning your college career at a community college is a smart financial choice. To help you leverage savings towards completion of a State University or UMass bachelor’s degree, Massachusetts’ public college and universities have joined together to offer a variety of cost-saving transfer pathways to reduce the sticker price.
Visit https://www.mass.edu/masstransfer/about/home.asp for more information.
Trade & Technical Schools
Entering a trade offers personal fulfillment, high salary potential, and job stability. Trade schools generally cost less and take less time than four-year college degrees. Trades are in high demand, but continuing education is essential to stay competitive.
Trade schools teach hands-on skills for specific careers. Traditional trades are symbolized by professionals like electricians, auto mechanics, carpenters, and plumbers, but the list of skilled trades is long and even includes high-tech specialists like avionics technicians and wind turbine installers.
If you are interested in searching trade schools in Massachusetts, please visit the links below!
Find My Trade School: Massachusetts
Common App Tutorial
Matching Common App & Adding Colleges
Naviance's Scattergrams
College Supermatch
Requesting Letters of Recommendation
Requesting Transcripts & Counselor Forms
Big Future Part A
Big Future Part B
Register for College Virtual Tours
How to Create Your FSA ID
College Planning Checklist
1. Create a Potential College List:
Consider academics, extracurricular activities and social needs
Include a mix of reach, target, likely/safety schools
Use the college search tools: Super Match” and College Board’s “Big Future.” We recommend using both searches to create your list. Watch our ‘Super Match’ video tutorial here.
Look at Naviance scattergrams to compare your GPA and SAT scores to each school. Watch our ‘Scattergrams’ tutorial video here.
Set up campus visits (physical or virtual) through the admissions office at each school. This is the best way to determine fit and demonstrate your interest.
Create a spreadsheet listing all deadlines for application and financial aid and application requirements.
Use the Net Price Calculators to determine how much financial aid you may receive. These are typically located on the financial aid page on admissions’ websites.
2. Login to Naviance:
Update “Colleges I am applying to” under ‘Colleges’ tab.
Log any Early Action/Early Decision deadlines
Choose how you will apply: Common App or direct to institution
Match Naviance with your Common Application account (you must have a Common App account first)
Complete ‘Guidance Brag Sheet’ if you need a counselor letter of recommendation (found in your tasks)
3. Request Letters of Recommendation:
Ask teachers (in person) if they are willing to write a letter of recommendations before making a request in Naviance. Give teachers three weeks minimum to write letters.
Teacher letter of recommendations requests should be made through Naviance and not Common Application.
Complete a ‘Teacher Recommendation Form’ under ‘Surveys to Take’ in Naviance for each teacher
Send letter of recommendation request to teachers under ‘Colleges’ tab in Naviance. Be sure to check the requirements of each school.
4. Request Transcripts:
Have your parents sign a “Records Release Form” (pink sheet in Guidance) prior to any transcript request.
Submit a “Transcript Request” form for each college (yellow card in guidance) and bring $3 per request to guidance two weeks prior to any application deadlines.
Ensure Guidance Brag Sheet Survey is complete. Counselors will not begin gathering your materials and writing your letter until the Brag Sheet, Transcript Request, and Parent Consent are all submitted.
5. Complete Common Application or Online Applications by Specified Deadlines:
Complete Common App and/or online applications as directed
Decide on Early Decision, Early Action, Regular or Rolling deadlines for each school.
Complete college essays
Complete school specific requirements (SAT Subject tests, supplementals, additional recommendations, portfolios, auditions and NCAA Clearinghouse)
6. Send SAT and ACT Scores:
Many schools are test optional. Decide whether it is best to send scores or not.
Send scores directly to colleges through your College Board or ACT account. These scores can take several weeks to arrive. SAT scores are not listed on your transcript and must come ‘officially’ through College Board.
7. Complete Financial Aid Forms:
Be aware of deadlines for each college.
Submit CSS Profile for some private colleges, start as early as October 1.
All colleges require FAFSA (www.fafsa.ed.gov). This is a free service and it cannot be filled out until October 1st. However, you can register for a FSA ID before this deadline.
8. Apply for Scholarships:
Look on Naviance for list under ‘Colleges’ tab. Naviance includes local scholarships as well as other scholarships, scholarship search engines, and resources.
Apply for PPS High Schools’ Local Scholarship. (Opens Dec 1 on Naviance)
9. Update Naviance:
As you receive admissions decisions, update Naviance, and set attending school for final transcripts to be sent
Communicate with your counselor as needed.
Keep us in the loop so we can best help you!