HRHS Senior Newsletter
December 2021
516 College Applications Submitted So Far!
Great work to those of you who submitted your college applications! When you hear from your colleges, please email me to share the good news!
If you are still unsure about your plans for after high school, let's meet! I can help you to find a job, apply to college, plan a gap year, join the military, etc.
-Ms. Scully
Community College Process
Decision Days
Don't forget that Decision Days are coming up. You must complete an application before attending (except for students applying to GCC).
Students who have attended the Community College Workshop have signed up for Decision Days. You will get an email the night before your appointment letting you know the time.
If you did not attend a community college workshop or meet with Ms. Scully but you would like to apply to one of the community colleges, please contact Ms. Scully ASAP.
Decision Day Times:
- HCC Decision Day- Monday 12/6/21
- STCC Decision Day- Wednesday 12/8/21
- GCC Decision Day- Thursday 12/9/21
Community College and Four-Year College Bound Students
FAFSA
You must fill out the FAFSA in order to be eligible for student loans. If your family meets certain financial qualifications, you may also qualify for grants that you do not need to pay back.
Click here to visit the official FAFSA website and begin your application.
Attention Male Seniors
Federal law requires that men, who are at least 18 years old, but not yet 26 years old, must be registered with Selective Service. Selective Service registration allows the United States Government to maintain a list of names of men who may be called into military service in case of a national emergency requiring rapid expansion of the U.S. Armed Forces. By registering all young men, the Selective Service can ensure that any future draft will be fair and equitable. To register online, go to www.sss.gov.
Failure to register could cost you federal financial aid.
Four-Year College Process
Important update: Transcripts, Letters of Recommendation and College Deadlines
Information for students who have not applied yet:
Students are responsible for submitting their applications via Common App or directly to the college by each college's deadline. You DO NOT need to wait until your letters of recommendation have been uploaded before you apply. Ms. Scully will submit your letters of recommendation and transcripts on or before the deadline listed in Naviance. Don't forget to use the College Application Checklist to make sure you don't miss an important step.
Important Note: If you are submitting applications before the college deadline designated on Naviance, you must notify Ms. Scully. Otherwise, she will not send your transcript and letters of recommendation until the deadline on Naviance.
For students who already submitted applications:
Transcripts with updated quarter one grades were sent to all colleges with deadlines on or before 11/15.CSS Profile
Click here to see if your college requires a CSS Profile.
Click here to start your CSS Profile application.
College-Specific Financial Aid Applications & Deadlines
Many colleges have their own application process for merit scholarships. Visit each college website to check for financial aid deadlines and to see if any applications, besides the FAFSA, are required.
Financial Aid Packages
Steps to Complete Before and After Applying to College
Steps for after you apply:
The following must be completed after submitting your application:
Check to make sure that all of your supporting materials have been received by the admissions office. Many admissions offices will send an email with a login for you to check the status of your application. Create an account for each school and check that your transcripts, test scores, letters of recommendation and financial aid forms have all been received. If you did not receive an email or a postcard, within two weeks, stating that your application has been received, call the college to ask about your status.
Check if there are any school-specific scholarship applications you can fill out.
Begin to search for and apply for local and national scholarships.
The following must be completed after you are admitted to colleges.
Compare financial aid packages.
Attend Accepted Students Days.
Send a deposit to the school of your choice by May 1st.
Sign and return your Financial Aid Award Letter.
Scholarship Information
Requests for copies of transcripts and letters of recommendation for scholarships
The form includes:
1. A list of what documents you need (ie transcripts, which specific letter(s)).
2. The name and address of the scholarship organization
3. The deadline for the application
Students must requests these documents at least 10 days before the scholarship due date! If the scholarship materials need to be mailed to an organization, please bring in a stamped, addressed envelope with the transcript form.
Searching for Scholarships
Local Scholarship Listings
This is the third year that we are using Going Merry to manage and advertise local scholarships that are awarded to HRHS students. Many local scholarships won't be due until the spring but students are welcome to create their account to get a head start on scholarship applications. Students will apply to scholarships directly through this website.
Going Merry also allows students to search for scholarships that are offered throughout the state and country. Many of these applications are open now.
Naviance Scholarship List
Students should also check out the scholarship listings on Naviance. This scholarship list includes a number of scholarships that are available to students from our general area but are not limited to HRHS students. Naviance provides information on how to access the application for each scholarship.
To access this scholarship list, log on to your Naviance account and click on the "Colleges" tab. Click on "Scholarships and Money" at the bottom of the menu. This will open the following helpful options:
- Scholarship Match and Scholarship List - These links produce the same list of all of the scholarships that are advertised to our counseling office. Many are local scholarships and some are state/national scholarships.
- National Scholarship Search - This will take you to the Sallie Mae Foundation's national scholarship database. You can use this tool to search for thousands of scholarships nationwide.
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 held virtually between January 31st and February 4th 2022.
If you are interested, you must register to take the exam. The deadline to register is Friday, December 17th.
Click here for more information and to register for the exam.
My name is Caitlyn Butler. I am coordinating the award applications for the Northampton St. Patricks Association this year. I was hoping that you could help us promote these award opportunities to your seniors. There are two awards (descriptions and selection criteria below). Both have firm deadlines of December 31, 2022 and applications can be submitted online through the provided links.
The William F. O’Connor Shanachie Award is given annually to one high school senior from Northampton High School, Smith Vocational High School, or Hampshire Regional High School. Students who apply for this award must meet the following criteria:
• Be a graduating senior of one of the following high schools: Northampton High School, Smith Vocational High School, Hampshire Regional High School;
• Has worked to his/her full potential during his/her high school years by making the best use of the abilities that he/she possesses;
• Displays a good sense of humor and a knack for storytelling.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE: https://forms.gle/DLGyMtbHNFpNYtrY6
Applicants must by apply using this online form by 12/31/22. The application must be accompanied by an essay and two letters of recommendations. The essay should be a short funny story about anything you would like. Creativity does go a long way. Your essay should be at least one page in length and should be in .docx or .pdf format.
This award carries with it a $1,000 award as a check in hand to the student. The winner will be presented the award at an event in February and the winner is invited to march as a part of the Northampton delegation in the annual Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
The James M. Diggins Award is given annually to one high school senior from Northampton High School, Smith Vocational High School, or Hampshire Regional High School or who is a resident of Northampton and attends a local High School.
Students who apply for this award must meet the following criteria:
-Be a graduating senior of one of the following high schools: Northampton High School, Smith Vocational High School, Hampshire Regional or who is a resident of Northampton and attends a local High School.
-Be committed to continuing their education at a college, trade or technical school.
-Has worked to his/her potential during their high school years by making the best use of
the abilities that he/she possesses.
-Demonstrate volunteerism with their family, friends and community.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE: https://forms.gle/VGoQbM7WANnAP38e8
Applicants must apply using this online form and must be completed it in full, by 12/31/22 including an essay and two letters of recommendations. The essay should be about how you (as the student) have overcome an obstacle in your academic or personal life. Your essay should be at least one page in length and should be in .docx or .pdf format.
This award carries with it a $500 award as a check in hand to the student. The winner will be presented the award at an event in February and the winner is invited to march as a part of the Northampton delegation in the annual Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Please email the Northampton St. Patrick's Association if you have questions or comments regarding this application: irishofnorthampton@gmail.com.
Thank you for your help!
Caitlyn
Caitlyn Butler
Previous Newsletters
Career Spotlight
Love to be outdoors? Check this out!
Do you get bored thinking about life in an office all day long, staring at your computer? Does working on the water, or maybe in the woods sound much more exciting? Maybe a job outdoors is right for you!
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that nearly half of all jobs required outdoor work in 2016-- some of these jobs might even surprise you. Outdoor job categories include: Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting; Construction; Leisure and hospitality; Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction; Transportation and warehousing; and Utilities. These jobs have varying levels of educational requirements. Some jobs will require a high school diploma, while other jobs might require a college degree.
One of the most in-demand sectors that will continue to rise is Leisure and Hospitality. According to the BLS, the 2014-2024 decade projection for this sector is higher than any other outdoor job sector at the time. This would mean working on golf courses, nature parks, and recreational camps. If you would like to learn more about this, you can click here to read more on the BLS website.