Comet Connection
CHS School Counseling
October 2019
Greetings Comets, and welcome to the 2019-2020 school year! My name is Ms. Lauren Weston, and I am excited to return for my second year as the College Counselor at Catonsville High School. This year, I will be at CHS on Thursdays, Fridays, and every other Wednesday.
My job is to assist students and their families with their post-high school journey. This year, I will be sending out a monthly newsletter with timely information regarding things like, upcoming important events, deadlines, college visits, etc. as well as spotlighting some majors and careers!
Also new this year is the CHS School Counseling Schoology page which will house resources for students and parents. To join, enter this group code in Schoology: 7DVXZ-XXDD9
As always, please see me with any questions or concerns regarding the College/Career process. I look forward to working with you this year!
Ms. Weston
Monthly Spotlight
Each month, this section will feature a spotlight College Major, Trade, and Military Branch followed by links with more information for each. This section is intended for all students to encourage exploration of different postsecondary options, and is embedded with links to external sites and resources.
COLLEGE MAJOR: PSYCHOLOGY The science of behavior and mind. Psychology is a multi-faceted discipline and includes many sub-fields of study. If you enjoy helping individuals or families going through problems, listening to them, interviewing/testing, analyzing and collecting data, being social and creative, researching human and animal behavior, then psychology is a career path for you! | TRADE: HVAC Careers in trades, such as Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) are in high demand! Gaining a certificate in a trade would not take nearly as long and as expensive as a traditional four year college. | MILITARY: ARMY Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage. Soldiers learn these values during Basic Combat Training. The U.S. Army offers a young person the opportunity to immediately train and work in an in-demand career field while earning a competitive salary and fringe benefits, including healthcare and money for college. |
COLLEGE MAJOR: PSYCHOLOGY
The science of behavior and mind. Psychology is a multi-faceted discipline and includes many sub-fields of study. If you enjoy helping individuals or families going through problems, listening to them, interviewing/testing, analyzing and collecting data, being social and creative, researching human and animal behavior, then psychology is a career path for you!
TRADE: HVAC
Careers in trades, such as Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) are in high demand! Gaining a certificate in a trade would not take nearly as long and as expensive as a traditional four year college.
MILITARY: ARMY
Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage. Soldiers learn these values during Basic Combat Training. The U.S. Army offers a young person the opportunity to immediately train and work in an in-demand career field while earning a competitive salary and fringe benefits, including healthcare and money for college.
October College Visits
We have over 60 colleges visiting Catonsville this Fall! This is an awesome opportunity to meet with college admissions counselors, learn more about colleges, and ask any questions you may have. Interested students should sign up on Naviance. Please contact your counselor if you need help.

Important Information for Seniors
- At this time, a School Counselor has visited each senior english class to go over the college process. The PowerPoint that was used in these lessons is uploaded on Schoology. Please use this as a reference as you complete the tasks required for college applications.
- Counselors will be meeting individually with students. If you would like to meet with your counselor before they call you, be sure to make an appointment in the School Counseling office.
- Make a list of the application, testing, and financial aid requirements for each college you are interested in. Be sure to update your "Colleges I'm Applying To" page each time you make changes to your list of schools.
- Transcipts: Be sure to complete the Catonsville High School Records Release form and return it to the School Counseling office ASAP. Reminder that no transcripts can be sent until we have a COMPLETED form on file!
- Letters of recommendation: Decide who to ask, and reach out to them early so they have time to write good letters. Make sure your Brag Sheet is completed in Naviance.
- Application essays: Look over essays you have already written for inspiration. Share your ideas with parents, teachers, or other trusted adults, so they can help you craft the strongest essays possible.
- Sign up for visits in school with college representatives on Naviance. (see below)
Financial Aid
If you missed the CHS Financial Aid Night, Nasim Keshavarz from CCBC was kind enough to share her powerpoint with us!
Baltimore National College Fair
Monday, Oct. 21st, 6:30pm
1 West Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD
Free and open to the public, National College Fairs allow students to interact with admission representatives from a wide range of postsecondary institutions.
Kenwood High School College Fair
Tuesday, Oct. 22nd, 6pm
501 Stemmers Run Road
Essex, MD
Kenwood High School will be holding its annual College Fair featuring over 50 colleges, universities, trade schools, and military organizations. This fair is open to all interested students.
HBCU College and Career Fair
Thursday, Nov. 7th, 8:30am-2:30pm
3800 Washington Avenue
Baltimore, MD
The BCPS-HBCU fair is attended by over 1,000 students who are interested in continuing their education at a historically black college or university. Students interested in attending this event should sign up in the School Counseling office. We will be taking a bus of students to Millford Mill. Spots are limited and will be on a first come, first served basis.
ASVAB
Tuesday, Nov. 26th, 8am
421 Bloomsbury Avenue
Catonsville, MD
ASVAB stands for the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, which is a multiple-choice test that helps you identify which Army jobs (Military Occupational Specialties) would be best for you. Students interested in taking the ASVAB should speak to their School Counselor.