College Counseling Corner
March 2024
Your bi-weekly college & career newsletter from HHS
March 2024
This edition will provide useful information for juniors and seniors! Read below for everything you need to know!
Juniors: Take the SAT at HHS
Have you heard about the SAT? This is a test required by some colleges and scholarship programs. We recommend that all students take the SAT at least one time (many take it twice). HHS will offer the test to juniors on Saturday, May 4th in the morning. Students MUST register online at www.collegeboard.org. Email ANY school counselor to obtain a FEE WAIVER code prior to registering.
**The SAT is now digital. HHS will provide chromebooks to students testing at HHS. If you sign-up to test at a different school, you MUST bring your own device.**
Want help registering?
Gear Up will be offering SAT registration help on Thursday, April 4th and Friday, April 5th from 1-2pm in the cafeteria. See a school counselor for a pass prior to the events!
SENIORS: FAFSA & Financial Aid
Going to college next year? Wondering how to get financial aid? Here is what you need to know...
- Have you completed a FAFSA yet? If no, complete a FAFSA now at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
- Need help completing a FAFSA? Make an appointment with our local educational opportunity center! They have appointments available all times of day and even on weekends, in person or via zoom!
- Completed your FAFSA already? Log in OFTEN to check if your FAFSA has processed
- Need to make corrections to your FAFSA or add more colleges? After your FAFSA processes, you will be able to do this (right now FAFSA is reporting that corrections will be available in a few weeks. Keep logging in and checking)
- Save your FSS! When you log into FAFSA, take a look at your FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS): this is often requested by scholarships!
- When will I hear back from colleges?
- Colleges are JUST beginning to receive some FAFSA's from the government. As they receive them, they will send financial aid packages to students. This is taking longer than expected for ALL colleges and ALL students.
- Students are typically expected to decide on one colleges and make a deposit by May 1st (some colleges have extended this deadline to June 1st this year). You should not choose a college without knowing how much money they are giving you!
- If May 1st is approaching and you do not yet have a financial aid package, call the Admissions Office at the college and ask for an extension on your deposit!
SENIORS: Free College?!?!?!?!
Have you heard????? Students who are eligible for a Pell grant will not need to pay tuition and fees at ANY Massachusetts public college or university! Tuition and fees will be completely covered by grant funds. This is a new initiative called Mass Grant Expansion. Read about it here!
In order to receive this benefit:
- Complete a FAFSA before May 1st
- Apply to a Massachusetts public college or university (this includes community colleges) and be accepted
- See if you are Pell-grant eligible (this is based on your family income. Once you complete a FAFSA, it will tell you if you are eligible for a Pell grant)
Not Pell-grant eligible? Middle income families (up to $100,000 annual income) will receive a large reduction in out of pocket costs at MA public colleges & universities as well with the Mass Grant Expansion program!
So Many Scholarships!!!
HHS keeps a robust list of scholarships, most them local. To highlight a few:
1. Community Foundation of Western MA (apply to over 100 local scholarships with just one application): https://communityfoundation.org/students/scholarships/). Due April 7th
2. Interested in writing or journalism? Daisey Mathias Scholarship is due April 5th! JUST for HHS students!
3. Holyoke Rotary Club, Due April 5th
4. St. Patrick's Day Parade Cardinal Cushing Scholarship, due April 11th
5. Nicholas Grass Scholarships (athletes), due April 22nd. JUST for HHS students
6. Ardazan Dennis Jr. Memorial Scholarship (volleyball players), due April 24th. JUST HHS students
7. Jono Robert Scholarship (baseball/softball players), due April 26th, JUST HHS students
8. Holyoke Credit Union Scholarship (if you are a member), due April 26th
See these scholarships and SO many more on our Scholarship List!
Other News
Other college & career things to know at HHS:
11th grade:
-College trips will happen the week of April 8th for students who returned a permission slip. There are a few spaces left on the Westfield State trip. See Ms. Rigali for more information
-Counselors will be going into junior English classes and be providing assemblies for college/career planning right after April vacation. Time to start your college & career planning journey!
-Junior College Planning Night for parents/students. Date and Time TBD! Be on the lookout!
12th Grade:
-May 1st is National College Decision Day! Make sure you are checking your email, following-up with colleges and completing FAFSA so that you are ready to make a decision!
-Holyoke Community College is coming to HHS on April 2nd and May 2nd to register seniors who applied, were accepted and have taken their placement test! See Ms. Rigali for your appointment slot!
-Interested in HCC? Make sure you take all of these steps:
- Apply: hcc.edu/apply
- Schedule a placement test at HCC during April vacation: https://www.hcc.edu/admission/course-placement
- See Ms. Rigali for an appointment slot on May 2nd (or meet with an advisor at HCC)
PAST EDITIONS BELOW..............
January 2024: The Financial Aid & Scholarship Edition
Financial Aid!
If you are a senior or the parent of a senior, we know that you have been hearing a lot about FAFSA and Financial Aid. Here is what you need to know:
1. All college-bound seniors must complete a 2024-2025 FAFSA application online at this website
2. Due the this year's FAFSA changes, the website is not always working. Be patient and keep trying!
3. This year's FAFSA is different. If you have done one in the past, it will not be the same. Be prepared
4. The student and at least one parent should make thier username and password NOW to be ready to complete FAFSA!
5. Colleges have adjusted financial aid deadlines, as they realize the FAFSA website is experiencing issues.
HHS is offering help!
January 24th, 6pm
HHS Cafeteria
Get help with: FSA ID, FAFSA, CSS/Profile. Volunteers available to help in English and Spanish
More complicated situations:
- Seniors should be checking here to see if any of thier colleges that they are applying to require a CSS/Profile and a Non-custodial CSS/Profile as well. This is a more detailed financial aid application
- Many scholarship applications will ask for your FAFSA Summary Report. You must complete FAFSA before submitting this.
- Undocumented parents can now make an FSA ID on the FAFSA website
What should seniors be doing now?
Seniors who are applying to college should be finishing up their applications! Application due dates can be found on the "Admissions" section of each college website and the vary a great deal. We recommend wrapping-up college applications by the end of the 1st semester, so that students can begin to focus on applying for financial aid and scholarships and completing the college enrollment process.
Here the Westfield State Admissions website as an example of what to expect.
Many college application deadlines are in January or early February. Students should make sure to send all materials by the deadline!
Scholarships!
HHS posts many national, regional and local scholarship! Heavy Scholarship Season is from February-April. Many scholarship applications require:
- Resume
- Letter of Recommendation
- Transcript
- Essays
- Financial Information (often from FAFSA or CSS/Profile)
Here is the HHS Scholarship List!
It can also be found in the School Counseling Google Classroom and on the College Counseling Website.
PAST EDITIONS
Week 3 of school is a wrap!
My name is Anna Rigali and I am the college & career counselor at HHS North Campus. Over the course of the year, I will be sharing important information and events that are relevant to students and families in all grades. I will share this information via email, text, and you can also visit our college counseling website here: https://www.hps.holyoke.ma.us/o/hps/page/college-counseling. Most things you see in this newsletter are for all HHS campuses! I look forward to working with you all!
Email: arigali@hps.holyoke.ma.us
Did you know that HHS Dean has a college & career counselor too?
Savana Hennessey can be reach at shennessey@hps.holyoke.ma.us.
Upcoming parent/guardian Info Session: Applying to College!
Parents, do you want to know about the process of applying to college or for financial aid? Do you want to know how to help your child in this process? Attend next week's zoom session with me!
- Parent/guardian session (students welcome too) (North & Dean)
- Thursday, Sep. 28th, 6:30pm via Zoom
Please use this form to sign-up
Senior Assemblies: Sign-Up NOW!
The counseling department at HHS North will offer a series of MANDATORY planning asseblies for seniors. Seniors can choose the assembly or assemblies that best match thier future plans!
- College/University (9/27 @ 9:15): For any student thinking about applying to 4 year colleges. We will discuss setting up applications and letters of recommendation and more!
- Community College (10/6 @ 9am): For any student considering community college after high school. HCC and STCC will be present at this event to share information and answer questions
- Workforce (11/2 @ 10am): For any student considering going directly to work or to a job training program after high school. Counselors, the Work-Based Learning Team, and a panel of people representing different fields will be present (building trades, cosmetology, auto mechanic, entreprenuership, etc)
- Military (11/30 @ 12:30pm): For any student considering any kind of military service after high school. A panel of recruiters will be present to talk about thier respective branches.
SAT offered at HHS on October 7th
Grade 12 students planning to apply to 4 year colleges should take the SAT. Some colleges require this test--it is good to be prepared!
- This test happens on Saturdays mornings.
- HHS offers the test ONE time in the fall: October 7th
- Students must register at www.collegeboard.org (sign in or create account)
- If you need help, ask a counselor or Gear Up
- FINAL deadline (you cannot register after this): Sep. 26th
- Most students will have a fee waiver saved in their account. If you do not, email a school counselor for a fee waiver code
- Students at ANY HHS campus can register for this test
College Reps Visit HHS this fall!
Representatives from colleges visit HHS North throughout the fall from September 18th-November 15th. HHS students in ALL grades many sign-up to visit with the reps. There are 2 ways to sign-up:
1. Use this form to sign-up for the sessions that you are interested in (this form is also available in the School Counseling Google Classroom)
2. Stop by the counseling office in person and ask for a pass for a particular visit.
You can view the calendar of reps that are visiting HERE, in the School Counseling Google Classroom, and in person in the counseling office. Click the arrows at the top to move to other months!
HHS Dean: visit the school counseling office to sign-up for visits!
PSAT offered at HHS on October 24/25
HHS will offer the PSAT to all interested grade 10 & 11 students
- This is a test to prepare students for the SAT
- This test will be FREE for grade 11 students; cost will be $5 for grade 10 students
- Sign-up sheets will be handed out on Sep. 25th and 26th in English classes. Return to the counseling office by Sep. 29th.
College Fair Field Trips!!!!
Grade 12: AIC College Fair
October 31st
Permission slips to be handed out this week in English classes. Must be returned by Sep. 27th. Return on time to save your spot; first come, first serve.
This is a large college fair. Trip will be from 9am until approximately 11am.
All slips are availabe in the counseling office and should be returned to the counseling office
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Grade 11: Gear Up Bright Futures Fair
October 11th
Permission slips were due last week -- this trip is now full and we are no longer accepting permission slips
Trip includes: inpirational speaker, college fair, lunch at Subway
Coming Up...
Check upcoming editions for Financial Aid Nights, more college rep visits, SAT and ACT prep, and more!