CLASS OF 2017

SCHOOL COUNSELING OFFICE COUNSELORS ASSIGNED ALPHABETICALLY LAST NAME  A-E: Mrs. Caitlin Hawkins  F-K: Mrs. Beth Shive  L-Rh: Ms. Sandra Gallagher  Ri-Z: Mrs. Christy Greener CLERICAL STAFF o Counseling Secretary: Mrs. Tracy Ali o Career Assistant: Mrs. Susie Groff

COLLEGE TIMELINE – SENIOR YEAR September Start applying! (college and scholarship apps) Start gathering information for Financial Aid Ask for letters of recommendation October Attend Financial Aid Night Send in FAFSA paperwork (or attend FAFSA Completion Night) Send in applications for Early Decision/Early Action November SATs NOT offered at Boyertown – Last administration for December deadlines Attend college fairs/open houses/visit schools December/January Ask an English teacher to proof your essays Complete application process

COLLEGE TIMELINE – CONTINUED March Continue to apply for scholarships Rank your schools April/May Expect to hear from most schools Review Financial Aid packages Send in deposit once decision is made June Graduation! Final transcripts sent

TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION PROCESS: There is always a portion of your application that must be completed by your school counselor  Sometimes just transcripts, sometimes includes a school profile or counselor recommendation  We process the school portion of the Common Application online  We do not process any other applications online Make sure your counselor has at least 10 school days to complete her portion before the application is due (this includes all scholarships) Make sure you provide stamped, addressed envelopes for your school counselor and the teachers sending your recommendation letters Make sure that your SAT or ACT results have been sent to the colleges you are applying to (does not apply to Community Colleges and most trade and art schools – ask your counselor for clarification) If your application requires a counselor recommendation, please be sure to update your resume and have your parents fill out the “Parent Brag Sheet” Make sure you sign and date all applications MAKE SURE YOU ARE AWARE OF ALL DEADLINES – SCHOOLS WILL NOT PROCESS YOUR APPLICATION IF IT IS RECEIVED AFTER THE DEADLINE HAS PASSED!

TIPS FOR ONLINE APPLICATIONS PROOFREAD everything before hitting send Print a copy for your records before hitting send Look for confirmation within 48 hours. If you do not receive a confirmation , make sure that the application was received. Do not wait until the last minute to submit your application Know the college’s policy for supplying supporting documents, such as letters of recommendation Be aware of deadlines

SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION Scholarships will be posted on the BASH Website (Resources/School Counseling/Scholarship Information) Additional scholarships can be found on websites such as:    Individual college websites Questions on Financial Aid and grants should go through individual college Financial Aid Offices

BASIC SCHOOL INFORMATION Boyertown Area Senior High 120 North Monroe Street Boyertown, PA Phone number: Fax number: CEEB or School Code:

FINANCIAL AID TIMELINE Talk to your parents about your budget Attend the BASH Financial Aid night – ask questions! Gather 2015 tax information Submit your FAFSA anytime after October 1st Review Financial Aid packages offered by schools

The “ school year” refers to the year that your student will begin their freshman year of college, NOT the year that the FAFSA is completed (during their senior year of High School)

Schools may be unaware at this point of how their admissions offices are handling this change. We still encourage you to submit as early as possible. Make sure that your 2015 tax information is readily available so that you can use this to complete the forms.

FSA ID – Create yours now!

New SAT Essay portion is optional – check collegeboard.org for list of schools that require the essay Schools may not combine scores from “old” test and scores from “new” test No longer a penalty for wrong answers – no reason to leave anything blank! Students are still encouraged to take both the SAT and the ACT

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS High School Began in 9 th Grade! 24 Credits  4 years of math, social studies, English, phys. ed.(except NJROTC)  3 years of science  2 years of wellness (grades 10 and 11)  electives Career Portfolio (non BCTC students) Senior Project (BCTC students) It is the STUDENT’S responsibility to make sure that all requirements are completed before graduation

SENIOR PROJECT (BCTC STUDENTS) Culminating project in content (“shop”) area Completion of several learning guides Presentation prior to spring/Easter break of senior year Work directly with your instructor to ensure timely completion of this project

CAREER PORTFOLIO (NON BCTC STUDENTS) Grade 9  Career Matchmaker  Resume Grade 10  Career Matchmaker  Business Visitation and Reflective Essay  Decision Making and Career Research Chart Grade 11  Job Shadow Grade 12  Early 2016 – Portfolio Completion Night (sign-up only, information will be sent home via Week in Review and available on the website)

Job Shadow Students will not have the opportunity to take advantage of SR privileges if the Job Shadow is not completed by May 27 th of this year Arrange and secure an experience – students may not job shadow a parent/guardian or a BASH employee Get excused from school with an Educational Trip Form Complete all Job Shadow forms necessary. Upload the Job Shadow Reflection sheet to the portfolio and turn in the Sponsor Evaluation form to the advisor All information regarding the portfolio may be accessed via the BASH website

Career Portfolio Presentation Sample Outline Remember: Your presentation should be between 8 and 10 minutes 9 th Grade and 10 th Grade Components Review, discuss, and explain all necessary components:  Resume must be current  Career Matchmaker Activity  Business Visit Reflective Essay  Career search chart completed during Health Discuss the relationship between the components and how the results of one may or may not have influenced your decisions with class choice, future job shadow, part time work, etc. 11 th Grade Component – The Job Shadow Experience Discuss and Explain your job shadow experience and its connection to the earlier components of your portfolio *Please feel free to include any other activities completed either through Career Cruising or in other areas. Personal Reflection Your own personal reflections, what you have learned about yourself, and your personal growth should be evident throughout the presentation This should include, but is not limited to:  How your career paths have changed or stated the same through the process and why.  What you discovered as strengths/needs about yourself throughout the career portfolio process.  How the portfolio process influenced your choices in the course/elective selection process for classes at BASH and/or part time job employment. Visual Aid The use of technology is expected for the visual aid. Suggestions: PowerPoint, Prezi, Google Docs, Corel, etc. If you choose to imbed a video in your presentation, be sure the video does not monopolize the presentation. A video should add or enhance the presentation, not take the place of the presentation. *You must bring a removable drive with your portfolio on it to the presentation As always, if you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Cassidy, Mrs. Shive, or Mrs. Mason.

Tech Tips Students should be establishing a professional looking address (i.e. instead of Students should be cognizant of what is posted on social media sites – once it’s on the internet, it’s out there forever! Students should be using correct grammar and good etiquette when sending s Students should be checking their on a regular (daily) basis and responding promptly Students should follow up with s that are sent – remember that “thank you” goes a long way!

Remind.com Receive important information about your child’s graduating class Information may include:  Scholarship updates  Seminar reminders  Unique opportunities Text with the message If you have trouble with 81010, try Standard text messaging rates apply

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