Chittenango High School
CLASS OF 2014
A guidebook to your future...
College and Career Planning
Chittenango Counseling Center
CHITTENANGO CENTRAL SCHOOL
Michael A. Schiedo, Superintendent
District Offices @ 1732 Fyler Road
Chittenango, New York 13037
Telephone (315) 687-2902, Fax (315) 687-2901
Chittenango Senior High School
150 Genesee Street
Chittenango, NY 13037
Counseling Center (315) 687-2911
Counseling fax # (315) 687-2919
Mr. Derek Sajnog, Principal
Ms. Monica Hamilton, Guidance Counselor
Mr. Sean Hayden, Guidance Counselor
Mrs. Melissa Weigelt, Guidance Counselor
Mrs. Lisa Murray, ADA-PEP Counselor
Dear Member of the Class of 2014
College planning, choosing careers and making decisions about your future can
sometimes seem overwhelming. During the remaining weeks of your junior year, you
should think about your goals and needs for the future and begin the process of
post-high school decision-making. Hopefully, the information in this booklet will be
helpful in assisting you with this process.
No matter if you plan to seek employment, enter the military or further your
education, you are encouraged to use the information in this booklet, and to discuss its
contents with your parents, counselor, and friends.
Feel free to talk with your counselor about your plans for your future. We're here to
help you, and look forward to working with you on your post-high school plans. Good
luck!!
Sincerely,
Ms. Hamilton
Mrs. Weigelt
Mr. Hayden
Military Training
Branches of the military offer training in almost 1500 different jobs. Many are very similar
as those in civilian life. The training varies a great deal in length of time and may include
classroom study, on-the-job training or both.
The military offers many educational and occupational opportunities for both men and
women. If you think you might be interested in enlisting in a branch of the Armed
Services, be sure to investigate all of the options before making a commitment.
If you are interested in gaining more information about military careers, contact the local
recruiting office:
Syracuse Area
U.S. Air Force
U.S. Army
U.S. Marines
U.S. Navy
Army National Guard
Air National Guard
Coast Guard
455-2804
455-6669
455-2933
455-1684
463-7242
233-2158
437-6135
Oneida Area
363-1064
363-3238
338-9107
Apprenticeship Training
Apprenticeship is a structured system for learning a skilled trade by training on the job
through practical experience and taking required trade-related courses in a classroom
setting. It is a hands-on way to start your career. Training time varies from one to six
years. You work alongside career veterans and get paid while you learn. Trades range
from construction crafts to information technology to healthcare. Pay scales start around
40 percent of the journey worker rate, with periodic raises until training is completed.
See www.labor.ny.gov/apprenticeship/appindex.shtm for a list of apprenticeable
occupations. See your counselor for local resources for information regarding
apprenticeship opportunities.
PREPARING FOR COLLEGE
As you plan for both the coming year and the future, be aware of the following events and
dates. Although announcements are made in school, and juniors and seniors meet with
their counselors to discuss these events, it is important for juniors and their parents to
make an action plan and take responsibility for carrying it out.
Timeline For Future Planning
Junior Year
Sept-Dec
Take the PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National
Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) in October and discuss the
results with your counselor.
Visit the Career Center. Become familiar with resources that
are available to assist you with career planning.
Jan-Feb
Meet with your School Counselor to plan your academic
program for your senior year, and receive valuable information regarding
future planning.
Get set up on the Naviance system with your counselor.
March-June
Begin to gather supporting data for your college or job
applications (seek recommendations, prepare a resume, begin to
write your personal statement).
Attend National College Fair in Syracuse (information regarding
this event will be mailed to you in March/April).
Discuss college/career options with your family.
Gather data from various schools. Visit colleges or vocational
sites during Spring.
Take the SAT I and ACT. Discuss which SAT II tests (if any) to
take in June.
Summer
Visit Colleges.
Review application process and instructions for your colleges.
Senior Year
September
Register to take SAT/ACT if necessary.
Meet with your counselor to finalize academic requirements for
graduation.
Review college and career information in the Career Center.
Listen to daily announcements for information regarding schedule
of college reps’ visits to CHS, scholarships, employment, etc.
Finish seeking recommendations from teachers, coaches, activity
advisors, or employers.
Meet with your counselor if you are applying for Early Decision.
Oct-Dec
Meet with your counselor.
Complete applications (Early Decision deadlines are as early as
November). Most may be completed online. If you apply online,
please notify your counselor so that he/she may send your
supplemental information. If you use a paper application,
please bring the application to your counselor. All applications
will be mailed from the Counseling office.
Take any required tests (SAT I, ACT and SAT II) if necessary.
Attend Financial Aid Night presentation.
Jan-Feb
If you intend to apply for financial aid, file the FAFSA as soon as
possible after January 1. Some colleges may also request
additional forms such as the PROFILE.
Request that midyear grades be sent to the colleges that require
them.
Mar-May
Notify colleges if you are declining admission, and send
housing/tuition deposits to the school you will attend.
Inform your counselor of your future plans.
TESTS FOR COLLEGE ADMISSION
If you plan to attend college, you may need to take at least one of the standardized tests
required for admission to most colleges and universities. It is your responsibility to know
which test(s) are required by the college(s) of your choice, to meet registration deadlines
and to request that score reports be sent to the appropriate schools or colleges.
Application forms are available in the Counseling office or online.
American College Test (ACT): The ACT is a multiple-choice test measuring
achievement in the following subject areas- English usage, Mathematics, Reading,
and Science Reasoning, and an optional writing section.
SAT Reasoning Test (SAT I)
The SAT Reasoning Test is a measure of the critical thinking skills you’ll need for
academic success in college. The SAT assesses how well you analyze and solve
problems-skills you learned in school that you’ll need in college.
The SAT reasoning test has three parts: critical reading, mathematics, and writing.
Each section of the SAT is scored on a scale of 200-800, and the writing section
will contain two subscores. The SAT is typically taken by high school juniors and
seniors.
SAT II: Subject Test: Each SAT II: Subject Test is a one-hour multiple-choice
test made up of questions that measure knowledge in one subject area and the
ability to apply that knowledge. You can take one, two, or three SAT II: Subject
Tests on any test date. Some Colleges (especially private schools) require
specific SAT II: Subject Tests for admission. Most colleges do not require the
SAT II. Check with colleges’ application instructions for more information.
How to Register for the ACT, SAT I, and SAT II: Subject Tests
The SAT registration information may be found at www.collegeboard.com. The
ACT registration information may be found at www.ACTstudent.org.
Complete the application; answer all questions carefully and do not omit any
information.
Complete the application and registration fee before the registration deadline.
Several days before the test you will receive from the testing agency a ticket for
admission to the test.
Review the sample questions; familiarize yourself with the directions and format of
the test. Get a good night’s sleep prior to the test, and arrive early at the test
center.
Some colleges require official scores from the ACT, SAT I and SAT II be sent
directly to them from either CEEB for SATs or from American College Testing for
ACTs. If you have an idea of possible choices of colleges at the time you register
for either of these tests, you should request that your scores be sent to those
schools. This avoids an extra charge later if the colleges do require official scores
directly from the testing agency.
CHITTENANGO HIGH SCHOOL’S CEEB CODE IS: 331-370
2013-2014 TEST DATES
SAT Program
Registration
Deadline
Test Dates
Test(s)
03/09/13
05/04/13
06/01/13
SAT only
02/08/13
SAT & Subject Tests 04/05/13
SAT & Subject Tests 05/02/13
Late
Registration
Deadlines
02/22/13
04/19/13
05/17/13
***SAT Test Dates for Fall will be announced this Spring
*************************************************************************************
ACT Program
Test Dates
Test(s)
Registration
Deadline
04/13/13
06/08/13***
ACT
ACT
03/08/13
05/03/13
Late
Registration
Deadlines
03/22/13
05/17/13
***April 13th and June 8th , 2013 test will be held at the Chittenango High School
****Anticipated ACT Test Dates: (To Be Announced March 2013)
09/21/13
10/26/13
12/14/13
FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN SEARCHING FOR A COLLEGE
Here are some factors to consider when searching for a college.
Financial Aid:
The amount of assistance made available to you through the college.
Cost:
The payment to the college which includes Room, Board, Tuition, and Fees.
For those students living at home, include the cost of all meals and snacks,
transportation (if by car compute cost of car over 4-years, insurance, gas, oil
changes, tune-ups, antifreeze, and average yearly repair bill). Medical care,
clothing, books and personal expenses tend not to significantly vary from
college to college. They, therefore, need not be computed for these
purposes.
Curriculum:
Courses the college offers, as well as the major that you are interested in
studying.
Location:
The distance from your home to the college.
Environment:
The physical setting, the surrounding community, the living conditions, and
the quality of the buildings, the services available, the degree of concern for
the individual and the ability to feel OK on campus.
Size:
The number of students on campus. The number of dormitory students. The
number of students who leave the campus on weekends. The number of
full-time undergraduates. The number of commuting students. The number
of students in the classes.
Ratio:
The number of students per instructor. NOTE: Does the ratio include
non-teaching administrative personnel, part-time faculty? This figure can be
misleading.
Extracurricular:
Does the college offer the activities in which you are interested, or might
become interested? Included is all intramural and varsity sports.
Selectivity:
The level of competition. Am I lucky to be admitted and as a result am I
one of the weaker students in the college? Or am I above the average
student where my chances of getting above-average grades are enhanced?
Survival:
The chances of graduating four years later. For those who have a goal of
graduate school, can I gain a high enough grade at this college for me to be
accepted to a graduate school?
POSSIBLE QUESTIONS TO ASK COLLEGE REPRESENTATIVES
1. How many people graduated in your major field last year? Of those, what percentage
obtained jobs in their field? How many of those jobs were secured by the college
placement office? With what companies were those jobs?
2. For transfer students - How many students in your two-year major transferred to four-year
colleges? What colleges? Were all of their credits accepted at the four-year schools?
3. How do you apply for financial aid? What forms are required (FAFSA, PROFILE, TAP, etc.)
When should all forms be submitted? Are there particular scholarships you could apply for?
4. For preprofessional students (premed, pre-vet, prelaw, etc.) - how many people applied to
professional schools in your field last year? Of those, how many were accepted? At what
schools were they accepted?
5. Do they give Advanced Placement or CLEP credit?
6. Do they exempt students from courses where they may have already attained proficiency such as Calculus, AP English, etc.?
7. For students entering fields requiring licensing or certification - what courses, tests, or other
preparation are necessary to obtain a certificate?
8. What kinds of computers does the college own? Are terminals easily accessible to students,
or is there a wait for computer time?
9. How many students in my major applied to grad school last year? How many were
admitted? To which colleges were they admitted?
10. Are the courses for which I am scheduled in my senior year, the ones you would suggest, or
are there others you would recommend?
11. Will I actually be accepted into my major as a first-year student, or will I have to qualify for
acceptance in my junior year?
12. Do they have the extracurricular activities and sports which are important to you?
13. How large are the classes?
14. What kind of help is available if I am having trouble with my subjects?
15. Are there opportunities for internships in my field or for studying abroad? If field work is
required, is the placement secured by the college, or will it be my responsibility?
16. What advising and counseling services are available?
17. What percentage of the student body lives on campus? What percentage remains on
campus over the weekends?
COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS
The application process should be approached in a systematic manner in order to place the odds in
your favor for admissions decisions. Allowing enough time to organize yourself as you move through
the basic steps is critical. Details cannot be overlooked and personal responsibilities must be assumed.
You, the applicant, are accountable in this process for meeting deadlines and submitting required data.
Your counselor will work with you, but cannot accept the responsibility for you.
Chittenango High School uses Naviance, an online program that will assist you with college planning
and will be an excellent tool to streamline the application process and help you communicate with your
counselor. The website is www.naviance.com. You will receive more information and an ID and
password at your junior meeting.
Completing Application Forms
Most colleges encourage students to apply online. If you fill out an online
application, please notify your counselor so that supporting materials
can be sent.
It is your responsibility to know college deadlines. Above all, APPLY EARLY!! When
completing the applications, be sure to answer all questions completely, accurately and legibly.
If you fill out a paper application, return the completed application and application fee (check or
money order) to your counselor. Your completed application will be mailed to the college
admissions office along with appropriate supplemental documents, such as secondary-school
reports, counselor’s and/or teachers recommendations, transcripts and a list of your activities
while in high school.
Return your application to your counselor - at least two weeks before the deadline date, and at
least two weeks prior to a vacation. If you are applying for fall admissions, applications should
be completed before the Thanksgiving vacation.
There are several different types of applications. Students are encouraged to use the common
application. For students that are applying to SUNY colleges ONLY, the SUNY application is
recommended.
Please note: Even if you use the common application, you must view application instructions for
each individual college. This information may be found on each college’s website.
DO NOT MAIL APPLICATIONS IN YOURSELF!!
WRITING THE COLLEGE APPLICATION ESSAY(S)
Many colleges require students to write one or more essays as part of the application. Do not underrate
the importance of this task. You can place yourself at a definite advantage by attending to the quality of
the written work. The Admissions Committee looks for insight into the applicant as the essays are
reviewed. Don’t try to impress - be genuine - put forth your best writing skills.
RECOMMENDATIONS
COUNSELOR RECOMMENDATION. Many colleges require an evaluation from your high school
counselor. To allow ample time for processing, the specific forms should be given to your counselor
AT LEAST TWO WEEKS before the application deadline.
TEACHER RECOMMENDATIONS.
Most colleges will also require one or more teacher
recommendations to assist the Admissions Committee in evaluating your academic potential. In asking
teachers for recommendation, students should consider the following points:
...Think carefully about who can give the best representation of you as a student.
...It is not necessarily important to choose the teacher with whom you received the highest
grade.
...Give teachers sufficient time to write recommendations. Many prefer to write them during the
summer, so it may be wise to request recommendations in the Spring of your Junior year.
...Provide teachers with specific recommendation forms if they are included with the application.
...Teacher Recommendation forms are available in the Counseling Center.
FINANCIAL AID APPLICATIONS REQUIRED
Every student who qualifies for federal aid must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
or FAFSA. The FAFSA must be completed after January 1st, and sent before the earliest college
deadline (usually February or March), even if you have to estimate your income. FAFSA forms should
be filled out online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
If you or your family has unusual circumstances (such as loss of employment) that might affect your
need for student financial aid, submit the FAFSA and consult with the financial aid office at the college
you plan to attend.
Along with the FAFSA, some colleges want students to complete the College Scholarship Service’s
financial aid application, the Financial Aid PROFILE - as early as September of your Senior Year.
Profile applications need to be filled out online: The online Profile registration guide is available at:
(http://www.collegeboard.org)
Register as soon as you’ve decided which colleges you are applying to (as early as September 15th).
NOTE: If you are applying to colleges (public or private) located in New York State and are eligible for
state aid, you must also fill out the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) application and return it to
Higher Education Service Corporation (HESC), Albany, NY. The TAP application will be sent to you
after you fill out the FAFSA and have indicated on that you are a New York State resident and are
applying to a college in New York State.
INTERNET RESOURCES FOR COLLEGE SEARCH AND PLANNING
www.collegeboard.com - This site allows you to apply to colleges, get information on the SAT and
register for SAT, also financial aid and you can register for PROFILE.
www.petersons.com - This site allows you to explore colleges and universities, also has information
on careers and a job search, graduate programs, study abroad, summer camps and career help
articles.
www.gocollege.com - information on colleges, scholarships, academics, etc.
www.collegeview.com - This site included virtual tours of college campuses and information for
students and parents.
www.rwm.org/rwm - This site provides information about vocational schools which includes business,
trade and technical colleges.
www.commonapp.org - This site allows you to apply electronically to any colleges or universities who
accept the common application for admission.
www.naviance.com- Use this site to keep track of the application process and communicate with
your counselor.
INTERNET RESOURCES FOR CAREERS
www.careerbuilder.com - This site helps you find a job, tells you about working life and communities.
www.careerzone.ny.gov- This site provides a great deal of information about a variety of careers.
www.myfuture.com - Many sources of information on building a resume, ROTC programs, armed
forces, career interest finder and more.
www.careercrusing.com – To log in – use username: Nangobears & password: goBears1. Career
assessments & college information may be found on this site.
INTERNET SOURCES FOR FINANCIAL AID
www.finaid.org - This site gives information on college loans, scholarships and financial aid in general.
It is an excellent place to begin.
www.fastweb.com - This site has a database of over 400,000 scholarships.
www.collegexpress.com - Access this site to learn about financial aid, search for scholarships,
download the FAFSA and more!
www.studentaid.ed.gov
www.nysfaaa.org
www.collegenet.com
www.hesc.com