EHS Senior Newsletter
Fall 2021
Welcome!
We are so excited to be working with you & your students again in-person for the upcoming 2021-2022 academic year!
We know this is a busy time for senior students and we want to make sure you are up to date on all things college applications, key dates & deadlines, financial aid programming, and more.
Please see our newsletter below for important resources and information. If you have any questions please reach out to our office.
Sincerely,
The EHS Counseling Team
Schedule a College Meeting with your Counselor
Senior students are required to have a meeting with their counselor. We are excited to help you plan for your future! All information about how to schedule these meetings can be found in the School Counseling Google Classroom. Please encourage your students to sign up for meetings with their counselor, we encourage caregivers to attend!
How students can schedule a college meeting:
1. Log into your Xello account
2. Click on the new assignment (see screenshot below).
3. Complete the required activities (5 total)
4. Sign-up for a meeting time using the link provided
Note: These prerequisites are important for guiding our planning session and are required in order to access the meeting link.
Ms. Collins works with students with last names A - L
Ms. Soverow works with students with last names M - Z.
Taking the SAT
SAT fall 2021 exam dates:
November 6th 2021
December 4th 2021
Practice tests and other SAT info can be found on the CollegeBoard website.
College Fairs & Visits
NEACAC College Fairs
College fairs can be a great opportunity to meet college representatives and to ask questions.
The New England Association of College Admissions Counseling has arranged both virtual and in-person college fairs for students to attend. The schedule for these is included below:In-Person:
Western New England University: October 5 from 6-8:00pm
Virtual:
October 21 from 6-8:00pm
November 7 from 1-3:00pm
To register for a college fair, click the register link on the NEACAC website HERE.
College Visits at EHS
Financial Aid: Opens October 1st
All students applying to two- and four-year colleges will need to fill out the free application for federal student aid (FAFSA). Below are resources that can help guide you and your families in this process.
MEFA Webinars
FAFSA Application Opens Oct. 1st
CSS Profile
The CSS profile is an online application to determine eligibility for non-federal aid, which is administered by the CollegeBoard. Students should check their school lists to determine if they require the CSS profile.
Scholarships
CollegeBoard
Going Merry
Xello
We are ow using Xello in partnership with the common app. Students can link their common application for college with their xello account to request their transcript, letters of recommendation, and more. See resources below for how students can use Xello.
The College Application Process
The Common Application
To start your Common Application please visit their website: https://www.commonapp.org/
Letters of Recommendation
Tips for requesting recommendation letters:
1.) Be intentional when asking: Put some thought in who you would like to ask and let them know why you think they would be a good recommender!
2.) Give appropriate time to write the letter: In other words, don't ask someone to write a letter last minute. The more of a heads up you can give them the better.
3.) Share your deadline and other key information: Let your recommender know when your application deadline is and if there is anything specific you would like them to speak about in their letter, let them know. Letters should be broad and not address a specific school-even your dream school!
4.) After you ask, request the letter in Xello: Link your CommonApp account with Xello and request your letters in Xello. Your recommenders will be notified via email.
5.) Thank your recommender!
Student Athletes!
Your school counselor will upload your transcript once you complete all of the registration information.
Be sure to share your NCAA # on the athletic recruitment pages at the colleges that you are applying to. Share the colleges that are recruiting you with your school counselor so we are aware of your plans!
Eligibility Center: https://web3.ncaa.org/ecwr3/
Student Check-list:
- Try to keep your grades up as best as you can. Colleges and programs still look at grades for the 12th grade.
- Ask for help! We know this time can be overwhelming and we are here to help. Please come to us in the counseling office if you are feeling overwhelmed or have questions.
- Think about teachers you could ask for a letter of recommendation. Who do you feel knows you really well and would be able to write a detailed letter on your behalf?
- Pay attention to college deadlines. You'll want to have your application materials ready for your earliest deadline. These differ by school.
- Review your Xello account. Once you create a CommonApp account, you can sync it with your Xello account. This is how you will request documents like transcripts and recommendation letters.
- Have fun! It's your last year at EHS, so enjoy every experience.
EHS Counseling Staff
We're here for you!
Ms. Collins, School Counselor
Mrs. Soverow, School Counselor
Mrs. LeDoux, Administrative Assistant
Contact me for about work permits, enrolling at the high school, and general questions.
phone extension: 2037
Ms. Metzger, School Adjustment Counselor
I am the school adjustment counselor at EHS. I provide individual and/or group social/emotional support to students who have counseling services and as referred by staff and families. I also provide crisis support and services as needed.
phone extension 2032
Ms. Archer, School Counselor Intern
I am a M.Ed/Ed.S. school counseling graduate student at UMass Amherst. I'm at EHS Monday-Wednesday during the academic year and I look forward to working with students and families this year!
Phone ext. 2033