Junior Counseling Corner
Brighton High School Counseling Office
June 17, 2021
Juniors,
This is our last newsletter for the school year. The next time we reach out, you will officially be SENIORS!
- Be sure to get your resume and junior survey done- we will be writing letters THIS SUMMER!
- Sign up for the SAT and/or ACT if you need to take it- summer and fall dates are listed below.
- Sign up for the college essay writing course if interested- spots are filling up fast!
The Counseling Office will be open Monday through Friday, 8am- 3pm, throughout the summer. Not all counselors will be working every day. You are able to see when your counselor will be in and can schedule a meeting using their Calendly link:
calendly.com/keri_crowley
calendly.com/kevin_donohue
calendly.com/travis_figueroa
calendly.com/hollyjuliano
calendly.com/courtney_stern
calendly.com/jennie_viggiani
calendly.com/julie_bianchi
Although counselors work amended hours over the summer, we are still here to help! Please reach out if you need anything at all. We hope you all have a wonderful summer break!
Best,
BHS Counseling Office
(585) 242-5000 x4526
Help us help you!
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, we 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.
- Send out a Pink Sheet request to 3 teachers, club advisors, coaches etc.
Since we don't follow you around day to day, we find it helpful to get feedback from the other adults you spend time with. In order to do this, we utilize PINK SHEETS. Here is what we need from you:
- Think of 3 adults who know you best. Teachers, club advisors, coaches, etc.
- Ask them to fill out a PINK SHEET on your behalf by sending them this link via email: https://forms.office.com/r/ScRFk2UXTM
- THATS IT! Teachers have been filling these out for years so they know what to do.
Parent brag sheet:
SENIOR YEAR IS COMING!
We will be covering a lot of content and application process in our senior seminars. We also want to be sure we can customize everything to your journey.
Here are a few additional things we want to put on our radar for the fall. These events are created to HELP YOU get prepared for life after high school.
College & Career Office Hours
Each Monday and Wednesday, two of your BHS Counselors will be available 3:00-4:30 in the Career Center. We will be here to:
- Help with applications
- Answer college & career questions
- Work in Naviance
- Read and edit essays
- Help with college & career searches
- Find and apply for scholarships
- Help to sign up for college visits (at BHS and on campus)
- Interview prep
- WHATEVER YOU NEED!!
Mrs. Stern will continue to support seniors individually during the school day as well!
Instant Decision Days
Select colleges will be at BHS on Monday afternoons, 12:00-3:30. An admissions counselor will review your materials (application, letters of rec, transcript) and could provide an admissions decision and estimate of your scholarship package that day! (some colleges may require a few additional days to process materials). This is a great opportunity to speak with the rep, share your story and become more than a piece of paper.
Here are a few of the colleges that have participated in the past:
- Alfred University
- SUNY Brockport
- Canisius College
- Finger Lakes Community College
- Keuka College
- Monroe Community College
- Roberts Wesleyan University
- St. Bonaventure University
- St. John Fisher College
If you have ANY questions about these opportunities, please see your counselor or Mrs. Stern. We will be sure to give you more information and dates for these events in Senior Seminar!
FREE Virtual Pharmacy Exploration program from PITT!
Who: University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy PIER Program:
What: PIER stands for Pharmacy Innovation Experience and Research. We aim to expose our students to the wide range of opportunities that come with a PharmD (Doctorates in Pharmacy) Degree. In doing so, we bring in expert faculty members from PittPharmacy to talk about their journeys throughout the field. We also emphasize the role of a pharmacist in research, and the innovative fields one can pursue through the many doors opened with a PharmD. We have weekly webinars followed by activities that will engage the students and encourage teamwork. There will be patient cases that the students will work through outside of the webinar sessions, and will receive help and guidance from their mentors, who are all current PittPharmacy students. Throughout our program we also foster professional development by implementing resume workshops and tips on how to have a successful interview.
When: The program is 5 weeks long, with a webinar occurring every Friday from 12:00pm–2:00pm (Eastern Time). The first session is July 9th, and our last being August 6th, 2021.
Where: Due to the global pandemic, this summer's PIER program will be virtual. Our online setting will allow for many students across the country to tune in and experience the PIER program!
Why: When people think of a pharmacist, they tend to imagine someone filling medications in a CVS or Rite Aid. While those are very important roles that are filled by pharmacists, there is so much more one can do with a PharmD degree. I personally did not know about the hundreds of unique jobs filled by pharmacists until I started pharmacy school. The goal of our program is to expand students views and allow them to start thinking NOW about the many different fields one can pursue in pharmacy.
Deadline: The deadline date to apply to the PIER Program is June 18, 2021 and there is no cost to participate in PIER!
Application and information is on their website: : https://pages.pharmacy.pitt.edu/pier/
Thank you for your time and assistance and please feel free to contact Suzanne Monnino – smm198@pitt.edu with any questions or concerns.
1:1 College & Career Appointments- THIS SPRING AND SUMMER!
Mrs. Stern is available to support you throughout the summer in your post-secondary planning!
Please use my Calendly link to schedule an appointment.
Students- if meeting INDIVIDUALLY, choose the option of "20 Minute Meeting". Let me know if we will be meeting in-person or via Zoom.
Families- if you are looking to meet TOGETHER, choose the option of "30 Minute Junior Family Meeting". All family meetings will be held via Zoom.
https://calendly.com/courtney_stern
- Please come 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).
- If you don't know where to start, no worries! I'm here to help you with that.
- 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!!
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out. I hope to see you all soon!
Junior Timeline
As we are getting close to the end of the school year, we want to remind you that WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU in making your decisions, planning for the fall, and life beyond BHS. With our new Calendly accounts and the ease of scheduling appointments at your convenience, we hope to see some of you this month and over the summer to continue that support.
Spring 2021
- Begin compiling a list of potential post secondary options. Feel free to schedule an appointment with your counselor for support.
- Have honest family conversations about your options- consider locations, financial impact, academic reach/match/safety, etc.
- VISIT (virtually for now) & RESEARCH each of your options.
- If thinking of college, sign up to take the SAT and/or ACT in May/June.
- Talk with family, friends, counselors and teachers- they have a wealth of experiences to tap into.
- When opportunities open back up…schedule guided tours to make the most of your college/program visit. Getting a feel for the environment is an essential piece of the puzzle.
- Don’t be afraid to call admissions or job offices with any questions.
- Find alumni in the area- they are often willing to engage in conversations with you about their thoughts and experiences.
- Use social networking to your advantage (appropriately). Check out what students are doing on campus.
- Make plans for your summer- do you want/have a job? Internship? Camps? College programs? Career exploration?
- NCAA Eligibility? Make sure you double check with your counselor to ensure your senior year classes are NCAA approved if you are planning to play a D I or II sport in college and complete
- HELP US HELP YOU- complete your resume & Junior Survey in Naviance
Summer 2021
- Continue to research your options, visit campuses/places of employment and speak with recruiters.
- Write your college essay- Brighton Continuing Ed. offers a class to help you get this done in one week!
- Possibly retake ACT (July) or SAT (August)
- Start Common App - it doesn't take long to enter your demographic info, and that's most of the application!
- Attend College and Career Office Hours- Mrs. Stern will host hours over the summer.
- Narrow down your options- we will quickly jump into the application/planning process in the fall.
- HAVE FUN!! This is your last summer as a HS student. Make sure to leave time for friends, family, etc!
As you move forward with your post-secondary plans this summer, it is important to know that our office is NOT equipped to submit applications/transcripts over the summer. Although the Common App opens August 1st, BHS does not:
- We recognize that colleges are pushing you to submit applications earlier…remember, they are a business!
- PLEASE hold off on submitting applications until SENIOR seminar is over- we have a successful process that has been used for many years to ensure that everything is sent correctly and on time
- You will NOT be at a disadvantage
- Transcripts are not finalized until early September
- BHS School Profile needs to be completed- some data does not come from state until September/October
- We want time for senior schedules to be settled (so you aren't sending incorrect senior year classes)
- Teacher letters of recommendation need to be requested CORRECTLY through Naviance- taught in seminar
So, for the summer, this means:
- You are welcome to get a head start on your common app- enter in all of your demographic information, resume, start/finish your essay.
- Continue to search colleges, programs, jobs and look up their requirements- do they require supplemental essays?
We want to help you package your applications correctly, so PLEASE be patient. We will walk you through the BHS process in Senior Seminar and ensure that everything is sent correctly and on time. Please reach out to us with any questions you may have!
“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!
SAT & 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 and many schools are extending their test-optional policies for next year already. But, 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)
Summer/Fall Test Dates:
- August 28
- October 2
- November 6
- December
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)
Fall Test Dates:
- September 11
- October 23
- December 11
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.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
FREE Online Proctored SAT & ACT Exams
Our friends at Chariot Learning will be running free online practice tests! All the details will be on their calendar: https://chariotlearning.com/events/
FREE SUMMER TESTS AND SEMINARS
As ever, we are hosting a full season of free proctored practice tests and informational seminars. We've administered over 600 free tests through the last 12 socially-distanced months and are ready to run 600 more this summer if you help spread the word. All of the dates below will be remote, but we will likely add some in-person dates at select locations:
SAT (10am-2pm EST)
6/30
7/14
7/24
8/4
8/15
8/21
ACT (10am-2pm EST)
7/7
7/21
8/18
Parent SAT/ACT Q&A (Our classic parent informational session - 6:30-7:30pm EST)
6/16
7/7
7/14
8/11
Brighton Continuing Ed- SAT & ACT Prep courses starting now!
Registered to take the SAT exam this spring? Want to feel as confident as possible before you sit down to take the exam? Need a quick refresher before you take the exam a second time? This class will help you become comfortable with the exam's format and style and provide tips for achieving your most successful outcome. You will practice the three sections of the exam; Reading, Writing & Language, and Math. The optional essay will also be addressed. Take a full practice exam over the course of this four-day class.
Ms. Mary Jo Jepson, a retired BHS teacher who has led PSAT, SAT, and ACT Exam Prep classes in-person at Brighton High School for more than 20 years, will teach this class remotely using ZOOM.
Class Fee: $99; students purchase their own SAT Study Guide
Financial assistance is available; see Ms. Jane Ingle in the BHS Counseling Center for info. Questions? Contact Brighton Community Education at mona_zamiarski@bcsd.orgor 585-242-5200, Ext. 5595
For more information and to sign up, visit brightonschools.revtrak.net
Common Application
If you are thinking about attending a four year college, we encourage you to use the Common Application to apply- one application for over 900 colleges across the US.
Here's what you need to know about the Common Application: https://www.commonapp.org/
There are 7 main sections of the Common Application. The information you share in these sections will be sent to all colleges you apply to using this application.
Much of the Common Application is information you already have! Other than the last two sections, it really shouldn't take much time at all to complete the majority of the application. The main sections are:
1- Profile- your name, address, phone number, etc.
2- Family- colleges want to know more about who you live with, what your parents do for a living, their education level and any siblings you may have.
3- Education- you will share where you have gone/currently attend HS, your GPA (as of the end of Junior year) and a list of your senior year courses so colleges can learn more about you as a student.
4- Testing- did you take the SAT and/or ACT? If you are opting to self-report your scores, you will do that here.
5- Activities- here you will list up to 10 of your most important extracurricular activities. College reps want to get a sense of who you are outside of the classroom, what is most important to you/your values, and what you will bring to the campus life.
6- Writing- you will write an essay, up to 650 words, based on one of the seven essay prompts given. This is your chance to bring your application to life and share more about who you really are at your core. A list of the essay prompts can be found here: https://www.commonapp.org/apply/essay-prompts
7- Courses & Grades (optional for most schools)- if required, you will need to self-report your transcript. Otherwise, we will send an official copy of your transcript to each school.
Common App has a great "First Year Application Guide" that can help you prepare and organize the information you will need to complete the application. If you wanted to start your Common App now, you can create an account to start entering the information you already have. It never hurts to get a head start! https://www.commonapp.org/apply/first-time-students
The biggest piece/most time consuming of all is the personal essay. It can be really difficult to reflect on yourself and try to condense who you are into 650 words. We are definitely here to help you! All BHS counselors can review your essays or help you brainstorm what to write. Brighton Community Education also offers an essay writing course over the summer- see details below.
In addition to the main sections of the common application, many schools have a supplemental section that you will have to complete. A college may want to know more about what you plan to study there, see if you have any family who are alumni or ask that you write an additional essay...or three...specific to that school.
If you decide not to use the Common Application, many school specific applications are very similar in the information they are asking of you. Again, we are here to help you navigate all of the parts and pieces of any applications you may need to complete.
See your counselor or Mrs. Stern for help getting started!
Brighton Continuing Education- Writing Your College Application Essay
Multiple one week sessions offered; classes meet Monday – Friday
Morning Session: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM OR Afternoon Session: 12:30 - 3:30 PM
Class Fee: $99
This summer enrichment class is designed to help students write the college essay, generate ideas for short answer questions and provide an overview of how to address the entire college application. Students will read and critique model essays, be provided with written feedback on work, have one to one conference time with the instructor and complete at least one full essay in five days.
BHS English teachers will deliver instruction using Zoom and Schoology. There will also be in-person classes at BHS. Listen, learn, write, conference, edit and complete at least one full essay in five days, all before the start of your senior year.
SIGN UP HERE: https://brightonschools.revtrak.net/
Questions? Contact the Brighton Community Education at ce@bcsd.org or 242-5000 x5595.
**Financial assistance is available. Contact the Counseling Office for more information.**
Geneseo HEROS Mentorship Program
Hello! Our names are Claire Bressette and Jasmine Haug, and we are the current Community Outreach and Network Coordinators for the Geneseo Higher Education Resource Opportunities in Schools (HEROS) program. HEROS is a mentorship program centered around helping high school students navigate their post-high school paths. We believe that the aspirations of students should not be limited due to lack of information, finance or other resources; therefore, the HEROS program is dedicated to providing help to any student who desires or can benefit from our assistance.
Students from SUNY Geneseo will serve as mentors for these high school students and assist them in searching and applying to colleges, researching scholarship opportunities and finding a path that ultimately suits their interests. In addition to providing these resources, our mentors will serve as a positive role model building a supportive and trusting relationship with their mentee and providing valuable firsthand insight into the college experience. It should be noted our mentorship sessions will be held virtually through Zoom.
We are reaching out today in hopes that we can extend our help to the students of Brighton High School. As current college students, we can attest to the stress and challenges that arise when planning for life after high school, and want to provide the mentorship we wish we had.
For more information, please view the attached flyer which overviews our program, the guidelines for mentorship sessions and mentor expectations. Also attached below is the enrollment form for students. For any other questions, please visit our website at geneseo.edu/volunteer_center/heros.
We hope you consider working with us in our mission to help students work towards their post-high school goals, and look forward to hearing from you!
Sincerely,
Claire Bressette and Jasmine Haug
Enrollment form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfN_UMEZk1cMGvJChU920auzbaNqS9u8AF7lWGrmcmwu9vpug/viewform?usp=sf_link
Financial Aid Basics
The cost of attendance is an extremely important part of the college choice process for many families. Financial aid can be a confusing part of the process. We recommend that you direct specific questions about the financial aid process to the college’s financial aid office, but here is a brief overview to help you in your start.
*Please join us for Financial Aid night at BHS in October
College is an expensive investment…
We encourage you to have honest conversations with yourfamily about the cost of college and what is realistic for your family to afford. Consider categorizing your schools by FINANCIAL reach, match and safety. Here are some websites that can help with this process:
- www.finaid.org -This award-winning site has grown into the most comprehensive source of student financial aid information, advice and tools -- on or off the web.
- Net Price Calculator (found on websites of each college)- after entering some information about your family income, it will provide an estimate of what the cost of attendance for that specific college would be for your family.
- NY Times Student Loan Calculator -The New York Times has created a student loan calculator to offer a guide to the borrowing picture at various institutions — and what it takes after graduation to repay the loans.
- BHS Counseling Website- Scholarship and Financial Aid Page has more information and websites to help you!
Financial Aid Applications
FAFSA
Students who would like to apply for federal forms of financial aid must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, referred to as the FAFSA. Aid from the federal government can take the form of grants that don’t need to be paid back, and loans that need to be repaid according to the terms of the loan. The FAFSA must be completed for federal loans, including Federal Parent Plus loans.
The application is online, and requires parent information. Students and parents apply for individual Federal Student Aid IDs (FSA ID) at https://fsaid.ed.gov. This can be done at any time prior to beginning the FAFSA. Starting on October 1st of senior year, families can complete the FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov using their completed tax return from 2 years prior. Families will hear this referred to as the prior-prior tax year. For example, a student planning to enter college in September 2022 will use tax information from 2020 to complete the FAFSA.
Keep in mind that although the FAFSA opens on October 1, each school has different financial aid deadlines.
After the FAFSA is completed and signed using your FSA ID, the family will receive an Estimated Family Contribution amount. This is the amount that the federal government determines a family can afford to contribute to the student’s college education, and is the number that all colleges will use when determining how much federal aid will be awarded to a student. Students should carefully compare the financial aid packages for each school to which they are accepted before making a final decision. Depending on a family’s financial situation, a school that has a more expensive price tag can be more affordable once factoring in financial aid and scholarships.
NYS TAP
New York State has its own financial aid application called NYS TAP (Tuition Assistance Program), which can be used for education in NYS-based colleges. The website is https://www.tapweb.org. Families can complete the TAP application immediately after filing their FAFSA. A link is provided to bring students directly to the TAP application from the FAFSA, and much of the information from the FAFSA will be pre-populated into the TAP application if families choose to complete the TAP application from this link.
NYS EXCELSIOR SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
The Excelsior Scholarship provides tuition awards to eligible students attending New York State's public colleges and universities (SUNY and CUNY). This scholarship, in combination with other student financial aid programs, allows students to attend a SUNY college tuition-free. For more information and a link to the application: http://www.hesc.ny.gov/excelsior/
CSS PROFILE
Some colleges, primarily private colleges, ask for additional financial information to determine school-based aid through the CSS/Profile application. The CSS Profile is an online application that collects information used by nearly 400 colleges and scholarship programs to award non-federal aid. A college’s financial aid page should let you know if this is part of their financial aid process, so be sure to check every website! The application and information on the application can be found at: https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org/
Types of Financial Aid
GRANTS
Grants are funds given to a student from the federal or state government or an institution that does not have to be repaid. This money is typically sent directly to the college or university. The most well-known grant program is the federal Pell Grant, which is given to freshmen who demonstrate financial need as determined by the FAFSA. College institutions also award grants to students who demonstrate financial need.
LOANS
Loans are defined as money the student and/or parent is eligible to borrow for educational expenses. The money must be repaid with interest. Most financial aid packages and financial aid award letters from colleges/universities will offer families substantial loans. There are three types of loans:
- Subsidized Loans: The federal government will pay the interest on this student signed (no-cosign required) loan while the student is enrolled in school. Repayment usually begins within 6 months of graduation or leaving school and is usually available at the lowest interest rate of any loan.
- Unsubsidized Loans: The student is responsible for all accrued interest. Usually repayment does not begin until 6 months after graduation or leaving school.
- PLUS Loans: Allows parents to borrow in their names for the education of their dependents. Unlike loans made in the student’s names, repayment begins immediately upon the receipt of the loans.
WORK STUDY
A work study is when a student is employed part-time on campus with the earnings to be used for educational expenses. Students have to select that they want to be considered for Work Study upon FAFSA completion. Normally, work is limited to 10-12 hours/week.
Financial aid award letters from colleges are usually a combination of grant, loans, scholarships and/or work study. **Even if you are offered work study in your financial aid package, you will need to work with the college to obtain a job**
Remember, financial aid is to be used in addition to what the family and student are able to provide per FAFSA. Rarely does financial aid cover the entire cost of undergraduate education.
Visit the Scholarship & Financial Aid page on the BHS Counseling Website for more information.
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
Greetings from SUNY Upstate Medical University!
SUNY Upstate has worked to create ways for our prospective students to engage with us virtually!
If you have additional requests or ideas for us to "visit" you or your students virtually, please let us know at admiss@upstate.edu. We are committed to ensuring our prospective students are able to connect with us.
For Medical School Advisement Sessions, please visit: https://engage.upstate.edu/portal/com-info
Medical School Virtual Advisement Sessions
A General Information Sessions for those interested in applying to medical school.
Tuesday, April 20 at 4:00 PM
Tuesday, May 4 at 11:00 AM
Thursday, May 20 at 4:00 PM
Tuesday, June 1 at 11:00 AM
Tuesday, July 6 at 11:00 AM
Tuesday, August 3 at 11:00 AM
SUNY Upstate offers Early Assurance programs to medical school for high school seniors, college freshmen and college sophomores. Visit the website for details.
To see a complete list of our Virtual events, please click here: https://engage.upstate.edu/portal/virtual-events.
Our Open House webpage is available 24 hours a day for students and their families to learn about the bachelor’s and graduate degree programs we offer in the healthcare field at Upstate.
The Commission on Independent Colleges & University in New York- College Access Fair
On November 19, 2020 Fair, CICU hosted a College Access Fair. Check out this page for a wealth of resources and links to the recordings of all the workshops that took place during the Fair. You'll find contact information (emails and/or websites) for all the colleges and universities at the Fair and contact information (emails and/or websites) for the college advisement and youth support organizations.
Check here for resources for students, parents, and school counselors: https://cicu.org/CAF2020Event
Get to know the Rochester Area Colleges!
Each college within RAC has put together a video discussing information about their respective school including current visit opportunities, application and scholarship information, and any other pertinent information.
All of the videos can be found by following the link here: http://www.rochesterareacolleges.org/members.
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!
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 (https://www.bcsd.org/Page/2086) 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
_________________________________________________________________
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.
_________________________________________________________________
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
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