Junior Counseling Corner
Brighton High School Counseling Office
February 11, 2021
Juniors,
Thanks for checking out this weekly newsletter as your "virtual seminar"!
- College Visits start after February Break! Check out Naviance to see a complete list.
- 2021 Junior Family Night- SAVE THE DATE- March 16th, 6:30pm via Zoom. The Zoom link for the session will be sent to via email 10 minutes prior to starting.
- FREE PROCTORED SAT EXAMS over February Break- check out these great opportunities from our friends at Chariot Learning.
- Careers in Education Conference March 17- register now!
- Are you a QuestBridge Scholar? Check out more information on this incredible opportunity for select students.
- Continue to read our MONTHLY 9-12 Counseling Newsletter. We will be posting information about colleges, fairs and career exploration opportunities that are available.
Don't forget to check out our BHS Counseling Website! This will be your go-to spot for all things related to post-secondary planning. We are working on this site as we speak so more to come!
Stay in touch and we'll see you soon!
Best,
BHS Counseling Office
(585) 242-5000 x4526
Junior Seminar 2
Help us help you this week! Over the summer and into the fall we will be writing letters of recommendation on your behalf. We are also given the opportunity to nominate you for scholarships. In order to do so, wee want to have the most updated information and feedback from YOU! Please take these few steps so we are well informed on your interests, future plans, etc.
- Log into Naviance to complete the Junior Survey and update your Resume. This is EXTREMELY helpful in writing your letters of recommendation.
- Have your parents complete the Parent Brag Sheet! They know you best, so we love to hear what they have to say about you. Please see the link below to fill this out.
- Continue to attend College & Career Office Hours, Junior Family Night, virtual college visits and college fairs to help you research your options. See the information below to help you sort through all the opportunities out there and finding the right match!
- February Break is a great time to really start researching your post-secondary options. Visit websites, attend virtual visits, or even just drive around a campus or two! Check out our tips below on how to make the most out of your visits.
- See your counselor if you have any questions or to further discuss your plans!
Parent brag sheet:
“It’s a match to be made, not a prize to be won.”
This is your future we’re talking about. It’s all about FIT, and which opportunity will give YOU the best chance at being successful in life beyond BHS.
When thinking about what to do after high school, there are many things to consider. We recommend having honest conversations with your family to help make the right choices. To keep it simple, start by considering the following 5 factors:
- Academics (what am I good at? what has been a struggle? how can I best utilize my strengths?)
- Finances (what is affordable for my family? loans vs. grants and debts to pursue my plans?)
- Location (is moving across the country an option? do I want to stay close to home?)
- Circumstances (will COVID still impose restrictions on my options?)
- Services & Programs (will I have access to counseling or tutoring?)
Now how do we narrow down all of the options available to you? It's helpful to categorize them as follows:
Reach- Options that might be a little out of “reach”
Ex- your GPA may be a little below the median, the cost might include personal loans, the location may be out of state, might struggle academically without supports, COVID considerations-quarantine, online learning.
Match- Options that match who you are and what you are looking for
Ex- your GPA is in median, the cost is affordable for your family, you are just far enough away, offers needed academic/social-emotional supports, COVID considerations-you are comfortable with these options if things were not to change.
Safety- Options that exceed what you are looking for, will meet your needs and then some
Ex- your GPA is above the median, the cost is affordable/offers scholarships, location is a preferable, COVID considerations- you might need to take this option if things do not change.
There are MANY matches out there. There are MANY good fits! WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU SORT THIS OUT! Join Mrs. Stern at office hours or schedule an appointment with your counselor to help us help you!
Junior Family Night
Tuesday, Mar 16, 2021, 06:30 PM
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College & Career Office Hours
Mrs. Stern is available to support you in your post-secondary planning!
HYBRID STUDENTS:
Stop in the Career Center from FLEX through 8th period:
- Please come to the Career Center prepared with questions if you can. I want to be sure I can best support you! I hope that you will leave with questions answered and a plan for next steps (which could include another meeting with myself or your School Counselor).
- Don't forget your lap top!
- Check out our Virtual Reality headsets!!
- Not sure what you want to do, no worries! We can work together to figure that out!!
REMOTE STUDENTS- please use my Calendly link to schedule a Zoom appointment!
https://calendly.com/courtney_stern
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out. I hope to see you all soon!
Careers in Education Conference
The 20th Annual Careers in Education Conference will be held Wednesday, March 17, 2021. This year, all workshop sessions and activities will be done virtually. We encourage all students who are interested in pursuing a career in education to participate in this unique event!
This year’s conference will continue focusing on college and career readiness for pursuit of careers in the field of education (teaching, mental health, administration, and athletics). Students will have the opportunity to engage in dialogue with educators, college admissions and financial aid professionals, coaches, support staff, and college students about careers in education. There will also be a college fair where students will be able to connect and ask questions of representatives from many different colleges.
You may view additional information at www.monroe.edu/careersineducation or follow us on Twitter @careersineduk1.
REGISTER HERE BY FEBRUARY 26th:
Wednesday, Mar 17, 2021, 09:00 AM
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How to make the most out of your visits
Whether you are able to visit programs in person or virtually, here are some tips on how to make the most out of your time:
- Take notes and pictures. It's hard to remember everything so take note of what you enjoyed and did not like about your visit. If schools are not allowing in person visits at this time, take the opportunity to drive around campus if it's nearby or some schools are even offering self-guided tours.
- Visit a class, if possible. This is a great way for you to get a sense of what it would be like to be a student. You may be able to sit in on a virtual class- just ask!
- Visit the student union. This is the heart of the campus, so if you are able to get in there, do it!
- Pick up a school news paper. This will give you a great sense of what is going on outside of the classroom and the vibe of the campus.
- Talk with a current student. Social media makes this pretty easy! We can also try to connect you with recent Brighton graduates who may be attending a program of interest.
- Set up an interview or group information session. Most colleges and trades programs all have opportunities to talk with an admissions rep., even if via Zoom. They can answer questions about the school and you can get a personalized idea of what life would be like there.
- Ask about fly In Opportunities- visit campus FOR FREE! If eligible, some colleges will PAY for you to visit their campus.
- Virtual Tours are a great option at this time. So many schools and programs are updating their opportunities for you to visit online, so check them out! Utilize our virtual reality headsets if they have that capability- you can "be on campus" while staying right in the counseling office!
Virtual College Experiences
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
- Come use our NEW Virtual reality headsets!!
- 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
SUNY Geneseo College Webinars
We will be hosting 4 nights of webinars in February exclusively for Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors! We hope you will encourage your students to attend.
Tuesday, February 16th at 6pm: Hello Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors: Let's Get To Work!
Wednesday, February 17th at 6pm: Application Dos and Don'ts
Thursday, February 18th at 6pm: Resume Writing: Creating A Living Document
Friday, February 19th at 5:30pm: The College Essay: Where To Begin...and How To Get Where You Want To Be!
Students may attend any/all sessions. The webinars will be led by Geneseo admissions counselors, and students will have the opportunity to ask questions as well.
To register, please have them visit this page to sign up: https://www.geneseo.edu/admissions/webinar-series
If you have any questions, please let me know!
Thank you,
Rachel Pasternak
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Admissions Counselor
Mental Health Liaison for Admissions
SUNY Geneseo
200 Doty Hall
1 College Circle
Geneseo, NY 14454
585.245.5571| geneseo.edu/admissions
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rpgeneseo/
NACAC Virtual College Fairs
Encourage your students to register for free at virtualcollegefairs.org.
At each virtual fair, students attend college presentations, learn about their options, ask questions, and demonstrate interest... all without leaving home.
Here is a short how-to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kbym4J6Ptvw
Spring 2021 Schedule
Students may attend as many fairs as they wish! Click to see a list of colleges that will share information about their programs, majors, financial aid, and more on each fair date. Additional colleges will be added throughout the spring.
- February 28
- March 7- STEM
- March 16- Performing & Visual Arts
- March 21
- April 10- Western US
- April 20- Southeastern US
- May 2
2021 HBCU Festival- Save the Date for February 20, 2021
Alfred Street Baptist Church is hosting the 19th Annual Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Festival on Saturday, February 20, 2021. In response to COVID-19 concerns, this Festival will be VIRTUAL. Registration has not yet opened; we will be sending another email with instructions and details for registration.
All high school students who are considering/planning to attend an HBCU college or university should plan to attend. It is never too soon to prepare for college. We will have a host of seminars, admissions directors and recruiters, and exhibitors to assist with your preparation.
On January 25, 2020, close to 10,000 people attended the 18th Annual HBCU College Festival, making this the largest HBCU College Festival in the nation. We welcomed over 70 HBCUs to recruit and approximately two-thirds offered on-site interviews and immediate acceptance to college.
During our 2020 Festival, many of our colleges and universities conducted on-site interviews resulting in over 1,700 offers for admission on the spot. In addition, approximately $5.4 million in scholarships and waived application fees were offered to those accepted. We also had band and chorus directors who conducted auditions. With your help we are hoping to increase the number of high school students, parents and guardians in virtual attendance on February 20, 2021.
Festival Benefits:
* HBCU virtual Drumline competition!
* Over 70 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
* On-site Interviews and Admissions by some schools
* Band and Chorus auditions by some schools
* Application Fee Waiver by some schools
* Seminars for students, parents and guardians (sign up when you register)
We look forward to you, your students, and their parents and/or guardians attending the virtual 19th Annual HBCU College Festival on February 20, 2021. If you have questions, please email: hbcufestival@alfredstreet.org
College Rep Visits to BHS
STAY TUNED! Just a few visits as of today, but we have opened up the ability for colleges to "visit" us starting after February break. We are hoping to host as many opportunities as possible!
Niagara University
- Mon February 22, 2021 2:02 PM
Bay Path University
- Wed February 24, 2021 2:02 PM
Pace University
- Thu March 4, 2021 1:13 PM
Check out Naviance & the College Visits page on the BHS Counseling Website for a complete list of ALL visits this season.
In order to "attend", please follow the steps below:
- Sign up for as many visits as you'd like through Naviance (Log in using Class Link- formerly CLEVER)
- The URL link to the virtual meeting will be available in Naviance 15 minutes prior to the start of the visit.
- If you are at home or in school at the time of the visit, you can be excused from class to attend the rep visit. Please let your teacher know ahead of time.
- If you are in school at the time of the visit, you may go to room 262 to join the visit. Please bring in headphones to listen so you don't disturb other students.
Geneseo HEROS Program- College & Career Mentoring
Are you...
A high school student who needs help planning for life after high school? Confused about how to apply for college? Someone who wants help exploring a possible career or educational opportunities? Someone who wants to work with and learn from college students? If you said yes to any of these, then the HEROS Program is for you!
The HEROS program has the vision of helping high school students figure out their answer to a difficult but important question, which is: What will I do after high school?
Pairing SUNY Geneseo college student mentors with high school students from all over New York State, mentors and students work together to formulate and execute their plans for life after high school, whatever they may be. We believe that your education is the job of a lifetime, and wish to encourage and support students seeking to pursue any form of higher education, whether it be through a trade school, 2-year college program, 4-year college program, or beyond. We also believe that college is not just for students with straight A’s or for students who can easily afford it. Our mentors will work with any student to help them problem-solve and develop a plan to achieve their personal educational goals, and we welcome any students who may be facing challenges or indecision surrounding their plans after high school.
At this time, we are aware of the health and safety concerns surrounding face-to-face interactions due to the possible spread of COVID-19. Due to this, the HEROS team has decided to shift to virtual mentorship sessions for the duration of the Fall 2020 semester. In these sessions, mentors and mentees will meet bi-weekly through online communication via the video-chatting app Zoom, which will allow them to correspond and interact in the safest way possible at this challenging time. During these sessions, mentors and mentees will work together to discuss goals, discover aspirations, and explore options for life after high school. In a session, mentors and mentees may research potential careers or college programs, research specific schools or career programs that they intend to apply to, work on college or program applications, research financial aid and scholarships, and more.
WANT TO JOIN OUR PROGRAM?
Please show your interest by filling out our Google Form, and we will be in contact with you! For more information or specific questions, you can reach us at:
Our Website: geneseo.edu/volunteer_center/heros
Email: heros@geneseo.edu
Thank you!
Best,
Anna & Jose
Anna Lynch & Jose Romero
Co-Coordinators of HEROS Program
Office: MacVittie College Union 353A
QuestBridge- College Prep Scholars
The 2021 College Prep Scholars Program application will open in early February. The deadline will be March 24, 2021. Visit www.questbridge.org for more information!
Applying to college can seem daunting, and the prospect of paying for it can seem even more overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be. The College Prep Scholars Program equips high-achieving high school juniors from low-income backgrounds with the knowledge, confidence, and resources to apply to top colleges.
Why apply as a junior? Being a College Prep Scholar is a notable distinction that shows our 45 college partners that you are a competitive candidate for admission. In addition, your application will automatically carry over for the National College Match when you’re a senior, giving you a head start on applying for a full four-year scholarship to our college partners. College Prep Scholars are historically five times more likely than other applicants to receive full four-year scholarships through the National College Match.
Awards for College Prep Scholars may include:
- A full scholarship to a college summer program hosted by Yale, Emory, UChicago, and more.
- Quest for Excellence Awards, such as $1,000 for a new laptop or other resources to help the student enhance their college application.
- Exclusive access to a QuestBridge National College Admissions Conference — an invite-only, online event featuring workshops and a college fair with our college partners.
- Personalized college essay feedback.
- Campus visits to QuestBridge college partners.
- Specialized guidance and resources for the college application process.
- Peer-to-peer support in an online community.
SAT vs. ACT
Standardized exams have traditionally been a part of the college application. This year, due to COVID, many schools allowed students the option of submitting test scores or not. We aren't 100% sure what next year's admissions process/testing policies will look like, so it's safe to say it's a good idea to get an exam or two under your belt if you are thinking of applying to a four-year college. Below is some brief information about the two exams and the website to check out to get more information/sign up for the exams.
SAT
Collegeboard.org
- Designed to measure academic aptitude in verbal and numerical reasoning.
- Test Content: Reading, Math and Writing.
- Cost $49.50 (w/o writing)
ACT
Actstudent.org
- Designed to measure academic achievement.
- Test Content: English, Math, Reading and Science Reasoning.
- Cost $55.00 (w/o writing)
- Cost $70.00 (with writing)
Visit www.fairtest.org for a list of colleges that do not require standardized tests. Check in with your counselor about a Fee Waiver , if needed, to help cover the costs of the exams.
Prepare for the March SAT!
Brighton Community Education is offered a 4 session VIRTUAL SAT prep course!
- two sections meet during the February break
- two sections meet on Mondays & Thursdays in March
- two sections meet on Tuesdays & Fridays in March
For more information and to sign up, visit brightonschools.revtrak.net or contact Mona Zamiarski at mona_zamiarski@bcsd.org or 242-5200 x5595
FREE Proctored SAT exams over February Break
While the break next week might not be as festive or far-ranging as typical school vacations, I'm sure you're still looking forward to it. We are too, but for different reasons. Since fewer students than usual will be traveling, more will be in position to take advantage of our free online practice tests and special programs throughout the week:
Proctored Online Practice SAT - 2/16, 9am-noon (FREE)
Proctored Online Practice ACT - 2/18, 9am-noon (FREE)
Proctored Online Practice SAT - 2/20, 9am-noon (FREE)
We're also offering a full 2-hour online group review of the SAT students take on 2/16 on Wednesday, 2/17 for just $40. Plus, we're running a variety of special seminars at discounted Winter Break rates, including sessions on Advanced SAT Math, SAT Historical Documents, SAT & ACT Punctuation, and many more.
Sign up for any of these opportunities here: https://chariotlearning.com/events/
Questions? Contact Mike Bergin:
Michael Bergin
President, Chariot Learning
2425 Clover St., Suite B, Rochester, NY 14618
585-466-4022
SAT & ACT- IMPORTANT Updates
As of today, all upcoming SAT & ACT exams are on track to happen at BHS
Students must bring a copy of the Health Screening Form (attached to Dr. Hall's email) with them or they will not be allowed into the test. Temperatures will be taken and students MUST WEAR a MASK for the entire test.
If you have any questions moving forward, please contact Kristin Haughey at 242-5000 ext. 4537 or Kristin_haughey@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
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STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES (504s & IEPS)
SAT- your test mods were applied for prior to the PSAT. These will apply to all future SAT & AP Exams
ACT- you MUST REGISTER FOR AN ACT EXAM before we can apply for your test mods. Be sure to sign up early, indicate you will be requesting accommodations, and let your counselor know ASAP so we can get them processed before the test date. This typically takes 6-8 weeks.
Remember- both College Board and ACT are private companies. They have the right to approve or deny any test modifications you may have. If you have any questions, please reach out to your counselor or College Board/ACT for more information.
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UPDATES FROM SAT- no more subject tests or essay portion
SAT Subject Tests:
As part of our ongoing effort to simplify our work and reduce our demands on students, we have decided to stop administering SAT Subject Tests in the United States (including all US Territories) as well as sovereign nations covered under the Compact of Free Association with the United States (Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Palau), effective immediately. SAT Subject Tests will stop being administered internationally after the June 2021 test administration.
We will automatically convert your SAT Subject Test capacity to SAT capacity for May 2021 and June 2021 (if offered), with no action required on your end. If you would like to make any additional adjustments to your capacity, please contact TAS directly at 866-502-6384 or +1-212-520-8570, or by email at tas@ets.org.
Students who are registered for Subject Tests in May 2021 or June 2021 in the United States or other states and sovereign nations listed above will have their registrations canceled and refunded automatically.
SAT with Essay:
We will be discontinuing the Essay portion of the SAT after the June 2021 test administration (both within the United States and internationally). No action is required on your part, as students can still take the SAT with Essay through the June 2021 test administration if offered.
Students who are registered for the SAT with Essay in Spring 2021 can cancel the Essay portion at any time, free of charge.
For more information on these updates, please visit https://allaccess.collegeboard.org/update-simplifying-our-work-and-reducing-demands-students
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FREE Online Proctored SAT & ACT Exams
Our friends at Chariot Learning will be running free online practice tests every Saturday until we can go back to in-person testing. All the details will be on their calendar: https://chariotlearning.com/events/
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