MHS School Counseling Newsletter
March Edition
Information for Seniors
Financial Aid
We know that there have been lots of disruptions to the FAFSA for the Class of 2024. Recently, we learned that many colleges will not be receiving student information from the FAFSA until mid-March at the earliest. It is disappointing to hear that we are encountering these delays and we want to assure everyone that this causes a delay in students receiving their financial aid packages, but it does not put financial aid packages at risk. If you have not yet completed the FAFSA, we want to encourage you to do it as soon as possible.
The greatest burden of these delays will fall on the financial aid offices at the colleges students have applied to. Many colleges are either pushing back their enrollment deposit deadline or they are making the deposit refundable because of the delays. Please check your emails frequently so that you receive this information from the colleges. It is okay to wait to commit to a college until you receive the financial aid packages from all of the schools you are considering.
MEFA Resources
- The MEFA Podcast - The MEFA Podcasts has conversations with experts about every step of planning, saving, and paying for college and reaching financial goals. The February 20th episode is "What Families Should Know about the Latest FAFSA Delays"
- What We've Learned about the New 2024-25 FAFSA Blog Post
- Student Aid Index Calculator - In the financial aid process, colleges calculate a student’s Student Aid Index (SAI) based on the FAFSA data submitted. The cost of a college minus the SAI equals the student’s financial aid eligibility. Some students received an SAI estimate after they submitted their FAFSA, but it might not have included the recent adjustment made for inflation. Anyone who didn’t receive an SAI estimate, or did but wants to make sure it’s as accurate as possible, can use this SAI Calculator to get one within minutes.
- FAFSA Days - If you haven't already filled out the FAFSA, MEFA is still hosting FAFSA days! If you need any assistance completing the FAFSA, log on to one of the FAFSA day sessions with financial aid professionals from colleges and organizations across Massachusetts. They will be available to answer any questions and walk your family through the application process. The next FAFSA day is March 11th from 6-7:30pm.
- FAFSA Checklist - Comprehensive Steps to Complete your FAFSA checklist for students and families
Scholarships
It is scholarship season! Please continue checking the Class of 2024 Google classroom to see scholarship announcements. This is the time of year when more scholarships become available and we always post them on the 2024 Google classroom.
We know that searching for scholarships can be overwhelming! Please check out out Scholarship Resource List which has tons of information on where to start when looking for scholarships.
Maynard Scholarship Application
Earlier this month, we went into the Senior Project classrooms to announce the local Maynard scholarship application. We are very lucky here in the Maynard community to have so many sponsors who want to help our students pay for college! The local Maynard scholarship application is one application that qualifies students for 60+ scholarships in the local community. Any student that is paying for a program next year is eligible to apply. This includes 4-year college, 2-year college, training programs, and certificate programs. The scholarship committee makes sure that everyone who applies gets some type of scholarship! The application is due on April 5th at 2:05pm. The application has been shared on the Class of 2024 Google classroom
Post-Secondary Planning Information
We will be going into junior classrooms at the end of March and the beginning of April to talk to students about post-secondary planning. Shortly after that, we will begin our individual meetings with juniors to talk to them about their specific plan for after high school. Please keep your eye out for an additional newsletter specifically for families of 11th graders in the coming weeks!
**Save the Date!!**
We will be hosting our annual junior post-secondary planning night virtually on March 25th at 6:30pm. The link for the event will be sent out in our follow up 11th grade newsletter.
College Fairs and Post-Secondary Planning Events
Sudbury Education Resource Fund (SERF) College & Gap Year Fair
This fair consists of a series of webinars culminating with an in-person College & Gap Year Fair held at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High school. This year the webinars will be held on March 11th-14th in the evening from 7pm-8pm and the in person fair with over 80 College Representatives in attendance will be on Saturday, March 16th from 12pm-3pm. Students and families do not have to attend the webinars in order to attend the fair. Please see the attached flyer for additional information.
College & Your Mental Health Webinar
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is hosting their annual “College and Your Mental Health” program on Monday March 18th from 7-8:30pm.
Managing the transition to college while living with a mental health condition is a unique scenario that the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) understands. Their annual “College and Your Mental Health” program prepares students and parents/caregivers for transition and success in a college environment for those living with a mental health condition. The panel includes a student currently balancing college life and mental health challenges and administrators from Middlesex Community College, UMass Lowell, and Boston University. Please register in advance for the webinar at this link.
Landmark School Post Secondary Fair for Students Who Learn Differently
- Thursday March 28th from 6-8pm at Landmark School 447 Hale Street, Prides Crossing, MA
This fair will give students the opportunity to meet representatives from college and university admissions and student support services, gap year programs, technical schools, and other non-traditional options.
National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) College Fair
Both dates are hosted at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center 415 Summer St. Boston, MA
May 2nd from 9am-12pm and 6-8:30pm
May 3rd from 9am-12pm
New England Association for College Admission Counseling (NEACAC) College Fair
This fair is being hosted in multiple locations throughout the spring
- Sunday May 5th from 6-8pm at Merrimack College in North Andover, MA
- Wednesday May 29th from 5:30-7:30pm at Assumption University in Worcester, MA
- Thursday May 30th 9-11am and 12-1pm at Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater, MA
SAT and ACT Registration
SAT - Register at collegeboard.org
May 4th test - register by April 19th to avoid late registration fee
June 1st test - register by May 16th to avoid late registration fee
ACT - Register at act.org
April 13th test - can still register until March 24th with late registration deadline
June 8th test - register by May 3rd to avoid late registration fee
July 12th test - register by June 7th to avoid late registration fee
Additional Resources
Visiting any college campuses during spring break? Check out this Guide to Campus Visits for Families
Check out this article to learn about the three life skills every kid should know before college.. and how to teach them!
AP Testing Schedule
Mon. 5/6 8am - AP US Government
Mon. 5/6 12pm - AP Chemistry
Tues. 5/7 12pm - AP Statistics
Wed. 5/8 8am - AP English Literature
Wed. 5/8 12pm - AP Computer Science A
Fri. 5/10 8am - AP US History
Fri. 5/10 12pm - AP Spanish Literature
Mon. 5/13 8am - AP Calculus AB
Tues. 5/14 8am - AP English Language
Wed. 5/15 8am - AP French
Wed. 5/15 8am - AP World History: Modern
Wed. 5/15 12pm - AP Computer Science Principles
Thurs. 5/16 8am - AP Spanish Language
Thurs. 5/16 12pm - AP Biology
Fri. 5/17 8am - AP Physics 1
Scheduling Update
We went into English classrooms at the beginning of February to walk students through the elective course selection process for next school year. Students were able to select their electives at that point and also see what core classes they were recommended for by their current teachers.
School counselors will continue meeting with students individually throughout the rest of the month to review students' course requests. Students should receive their schedules for the 2024-2025 school year later this spring.
Child Mind Institute's Positive Parenting Thriving Kids Series
The Child Mind Institute knows that sometimes it's hard to know how to help kids thrive. Their Positive Parenting, Thriving Kids Project is a series of 20 free videos that feature more than 150 caregivers, kids, and experts talking about some of the most pressing, confusing, and challenging questions that parents face. These videos are designed to help every parent and caregiver support their kids’ mental health fitness and self-esteem in today’s stressful world.
The series is organized into four categories each containing multiple videos. There are videos in both English and Spanish. For each video topic, you’ll also find a downloadable learning guide with tips, tools, and suggestions for additional evidence-based resources and programs that may help you and your family.
MHS School Counseling
Nicole Fernald nfernald@maynard.k12.ma.us (978) 897-8891 ext. 3209
Dana MacPhee dmacphee@maynard.k12.ma.us (978) 897-8891 ext. 3105
Amy Petroskey apetroskey@maynard.k12.ma.us (978) 897-8891 ext. 3210
Please also visit our MHS School Counseling website!