Senior Newsletter
November 2019
This newsletter is packed with information for ALL seniors no matter what your plans are for after high school. Please read through to hear about job opportunities for after high school, military information and information on the two and four-year college application processes.
There are also MANY scholarships listed in this newsletter!
Heading to work?
Opportunities for hands on work
The following opportunities are great for students who want to head to the workforce after graduation and those who prefer hands-on work. Do you who wish you attended Smith Vocational? If so, keep reading!
Interested in a manufacturing career?
GCC has trainings for students interested in manufacturing careers including welding and machine operating . Our local area currently has numerous job openings in this field. Starting pay in this field is between $15-20 per hour. Funding is available for these training programs.
Cabinet Building Training:
The New England School of Architectural Woodworking in Easthampton trains students to build custom kitchen and bathroom cabinets. There is the potential to team up with a local company who will pay for this training in exchange for a commitment to work with the company after the training is complete.
Jobs in the Pavement Industry
Palmer Paving Corporation, a local employer, is seeking to hire hard workers to join their team after graduation. Jobs in the paving industry can lead to union membership with lots of great benefits and high pay.
Please see Ms. Scully for more information about these opportunities.
Military Information
Reminder:
Military Panel - November 14th (advisory and period 5)
ASVAB - November 22nd (7:45-9:30)
Please sign up in the counseling office if you wish to participate in either of these opportunities.
2-Year and 4-Year College Information
Need help filing out the FAFSA?
- Berkshire Community College, Pittsfield - Nov 3rd at 1:00
- West Springfield High School - Nov 18th at 6:00
To register, visit the FASFA Day website.
HCC also has Financial Aid Labs to help families fill out Financial Aid Applications.
Labs are scheduled for Nov 22nd and Dec 5th
Click here to learn more about these labs.
Financial Aid Workshops at HRHS
When:
Thursday, Dec. 5th – Advisory and Period 6
Wednesday, Dec. 11th - Advisory and Period 2
Who should attend: Any student going to a two or four-year college. We will review the financial aid application process, discuss loans, and learn how to read and understand financial aid packages. Please sign up in the counseling office if you would like to attend.
Two-Year College Applicants
Two-Year College Workshops
When: Tuesday Nov. 19th during advisory and period 2
Thursday, Nov 21st during advisory and period 7
Who should attend: Many students have been automatically signed up for this workshop based on your answers to the Senior Questionnaire in September. If you are signed up, you should have received an email telling you which workshop to attend. If you did not get an email and you would like to attend a workshop you can sign up in the Counseling Office or email Ms. Scully.
Any student applying to a four-year college who would like HCC, GCC or STCC to be a back up should sign up for a the 2-year workshop.
What will be covered: the application process, placement testing, field trips to HCC, GCC and STCC, and transferring to four-year colleges.
Decision Days for HCC, STCC & GCC
In December, admissions representatives from HCC, GCC and STCC will come to HRHS for Decision Days. During Decision Days, students will formally be accepted into the colleges. Prior to the Decisions Days, students must complete their applications.
Students should come to the Counseling Office to sign up for a time slot.
- STCC - December 2nd
- HCC - December 3rd
- GCC - December 5th
Campus Tours at HCC, GCC and STCC
HCC offers Welcome Wednesdays every Wednesday at 11 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. in KC 205, these information sessions offer prospective students the opportunity to meet with an admissions counselor, learn about the admissions, financial aid, and transfer process, and take a personalized tour of the HCC campus. It's also a wonderful opportunity meet current HCC students and faculty, ask questions, and discover what makes HCC the community's college.
Greenfield Community College
GCC offers campus tours at the following times. Click here to register for a tour.
- Tuesday November 5 – 4:00pm
- Tuesday November 12 – 4:00pm
- Tuesday November 26 – 4:00pm
- Tuesday December 3 – 4:00pm
- Tuesday December 10 – 4:00pm
Springfield Technical Community College
STCC accepts walk-ins for tours every Wednesday at 10am and 3pm. No sign-up is required. Tours start at the Admissions Office on the first floor of Building 19.
Four-Year College Applicants
Naviance College Lists
Please make sure that your college lists and application deadlines are updated on Naviance. Also, delete colleges that you are not apply to. If these lists are not accurate, your transcripts and letters of recommendation will not be sent to schools on time.
Here is how to update the list:
1. Add all colleges to "Colleges I'm Applying To" list.
2. Click the "edit" button next to each college.
3. Click "App Type"
4. From drop down menu, select which type of application you will be using (Early Action, Regular Decision, etc)
See Ms. Scully with any questions.
Sending SAT and ACT Scores
Reminder: Students must request to have their SAT and ACT scores sent to colleges directly from the testing agency (College Board or ACT). The Counseling Office cannot send out test scores.
How to Send Scores
SAT Scores
1. Log into your College Board account.
2. Click on "My SAT"
3. Click "Send Scores" and follow the prompts to select the colleges you want to send your scores to.
ACT Scores
The ACT requires you to select colleges to send your scores to at the time you register for the test. If you need to send your scores to a college that was not on your list at the time you took the ACT, click here for instructions on how to update your request.
SAT & ACT Test Dates
Test Date: Dec. 7
Registration Deadline: Nov. 8
College will receive scores by 12/30
There is one more opportunity to take the ACT.
Test Date: Dec. 14
Registration Deadline: Nov. 8
Colleges will receive scores between 12/26-2/8
Counselor Letters of Recommendation - Important Deadlines
Most four-year colleges require a counselor letter of recommendation. Please check to see if you need a letter from a counselor. Below are the deadlines to turn in the required Brag Sheet which is needed to request a letter. If you miss these deadlines, Ms. Pietrzak and Ms. Scully may not be able to write the letter.
For November 15th college deadlines - Brag Sheet deadline was 10/18
For December 1st college deadlines - Brag Sheet deadline was 11/1
For December 15th college deadlines - Brag Sheet deadline is 11/15
For January 1st college deadline - Brag Sheet deadline is 12/2College Application Checklist
Don't forget to use the College Application Checklist to make sure you don't miss a step in the application process.
Common Application Help
- There is a Common Application help sheet located in the guidance office. The help sheet includes information about the counseling office that is needed to complete the application as well as tips for filling out each section.
- The Help tab on the Common App website is the best place to go if you need assistance with a technical issue.
- Ms. Scully is available to review your application before you hit submit. She can also help you trouble shoot problems as they come up.
College Representatives Visiting HRHS
If interested in meeting with one of the representatives, students should sign up in the Counseling office or on Naviance and ask their teacher for permission to miss class.
Here is the schedule of visits for November.
Merrimack - Nov 5th at 1:30
Western New England - Nov 6th at 7:45
Springfield College - Nov 6 at 10:00
University of Southern Maine - Nov 7th at 1:30
STCC - Nov 13th at 10:00
Plymouth State - Nov 14th at 12:30
Landmark College - Dec 9th at 12:30
Scholarship Information
Community Foundation of Western Mass
Click here for more information.
The application will become available on January 1, 2020 and remain open until March 31, 2020.
Massachusetts AFL-CIO Scholarships
The Massachusetts AFL-CIO will be awarding over one million dollars in scholarships to graduating seniors from Massachusetts. There are two scholarship programs open to students with union affiliation and one open to all students.
In order to qualify for a scholarship, students must take a labor history exam consisting of 30 multiple-choice questions and an essay. The exam will be given at HRHS on Monday, February 10th. An on-line study guide will be available on Monday, December 2nd.
If you are interested, you must register to take the exam. The deadline is Friday, December 20th.
Click here for more information and to register for the exam.
Big Y Scholarship
Big Y offers $250,000 worth of scholarships to Massachusetts residents.
Click here to apply.
Barbara J. Sinnot - Student of Integrity Scholarship
The Student of Integrity Scholarship awards $1000 to four graduating seniors from Massachusetts. The scholarship is based on a number of factors including an essay answer to a question posed on:
- The importance of character
- Always doing the right thing
- How you encourage others to do the right thing
Click here for more information and to apply.
Application deadline: January 31, 2020
The Henry David Thoreau Foundation Scholarship
This is a scholarship (worth up to $20,000) to foster future environmental leaders. Applicants should be interested in environmental studies.
Click here for more information.
Application deadline: Feb 1, 2020
The Massachusetts Junior Chamber International Senate Scholarship
This is a $1000 scholarship awarded to two Massachusetts seniors.
Application Criteria
To apply for the Henry David Thoreau Scholarship you must:
- reside in Massachusetts and be in your final year at a Massachusetts high school.
- plan to enroll in college the year that the Thoreau scholarship is awarded.
- demonstrate strong academic qualifications and a commitment to an environmental field.
Click here to apply
Application deadline: January 24, 2020
Abbott & Fenner Scholarship Program
Abbott and Fenner Business Consultants will be awarding a $1000 scholarship. To apply, students must submit a 500 to 1000 word essay on the following prompt:
"Describe your educational career and life goals. Explain your plan for achieving these goals. Include your degree/major, why you selected it, and how this degree/major will help you achieve your goals."
Click here for information on how to submit your essay.
Application deadline: June 1, 2020
Stephen Phillips Memorial Scholarship
Click here for more information.
Application deadline: May 1, 2020
American Legion Oratorical Committee Scholarship
On-Line Resources
LendEDU Scholarship Guide
Fastweb Scholarship Database
Link: https://www.fastweb.com
College Confidential
College Week Live
MEFA
Link: https://www.mefa.org
Career Spotlight
Like Psychology?
Here are ten growing careers that require a background in Psychology…
1. Career or Vocational Counselor
Average Salary: $46,000
Help individuals make career decisions and utilize tools including personality assessments, interest inventories and other evaluation measures. They help clients work on building skills, practicing interviews, improving resumes and locating job openings.
2. School Psychologist
Average salary: $59,440
School psychologists work in educational settings to help children deal with emotional, academic and social problems. Thanks to increased interest in the mental health of children and federal education legislation, school psychology has rapidly become one of the fastest growing fields.
3. Counselor
Average Salary: $47,530
Counselors help a people with a wide variety of problems, including marriage, family, emotional, educational and substance abuse issues. Nearly half of all counselors work in health care or social welfare settings, while another 11-percent work for state and local governments.
Average salary: $71,100
Genetics counselors help provide information about genetic disorders to couples and families. Genetics counselors often work with a team of medical professionals, including doctors, nurses and geneticists to offer support, guidance and assistance to families who have a family member with a genetic disorder or who may be at risk of passing down an inherited disorder to their offspring.
5. Forensic Psychologist
Average Salary: $59,440
Forensic psychologists apply psychology to the fields of criminal investigation and law. Forensic psychologists often work with other experts to resolve child custody disputes, scrutinize insurance claims, perform child custody evaluations and investigate suspected child abuse.
6. Engineering Psychologist
Average Salary: $79,818
Engineering psychologists use psychology to investigate how people interact with machines and other technology. These professionals use their understanding of the human mind and behavior to help design and improve technology, consumer products, work settings and living environments. For example, an engineering psychologist might work as part of a team to redesign a product to make it more efficient and easier to use in a work situation.
7. Clinical Psychologist
Average Salary: $81,100
Clinical psychologists assess, diagnose and treat clients suffering from psychological disorders. These professionals typically work in hospital settings, mental health clinics or private practices.
Average Salary: $45,000 to $80,000
Sports psychologists focus on the psychological aspects of sports and athletics, including topics such as motivation, performance and injury. The two major areas within sports psychology are centered on helping improve athletic performance or using sports to improve mental and physical health.
9. Industrial-Organizational Psychologist
Average Salary: $97,820
Industrial-organizational psychologists focus on workplace behavior, often using psychological principles to increase worker productivity and select employees that are best suited for particular jobs.
10. Special Education Teacher
Average Salary: $47,650
While slightly outside of a traditional psychology career, the field of special education offers a great deal of opportunity for those who enjoy helping children. Special education teachers work with students with a variety of disabilities.