NEEDHAM HIGH SCHOOLjn k
609 Webster Street
Needham, Massachusetts 02494-1196
(781) 455-0800 x2144
http://nhs.needham.k12.ma.us/Guidance/Postsecondary
GUIDANCE COUNSELING CENTER
September, 2010
Dear Senior Parents,
On Wednesday, September 15, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in the Needham High School auditorium,
the guidance counselors will present an important program specifically geared to the information you
will need to help your son/daughter in the college/postsecondary planning and application process. We
will detail the process students must follow to submit their parts of the application online. In addition,
counselors will describe what students must do to have their school records sent electronically to
colleges and universities.
Also at that time, we will be hosting a panel of three college admissions representatives consisting of:
Michael Conklin from the University of Rochester, Kevin Kelly, Director of Admissions at
UMass/Amherst, and Peter Schilling from Roger Williams University. The panel will address
admissions issues at their kind of school: selective private university, large public university, and
medium-sized private college. Topics such as evaluating applicants, the impact of early
decision/action on admissions, financial aid and financial need, etc., will be addressed. There will be a
question and answer session following the presentations.
Beginning the week of September 20, the counselors will be available to meet with parents. Although
we are primarily occupied with meeting students before, during, and after school, some appointment
times are also available during these times to meet with parents. To schedule an appointment, please
call your son’s or daughter’s guidance counselor.
In addition to this letter we refer you to our website posted above for the full Senior Parent Newsletter
containing many important items for college admissions process. Reviewing it with your son or
daughter can be very productive. We look forward to seeing you on September 15. Please feel free to
contact us at 781-455-0800 with any questions or concerns you have about your son’s or daughter’s
postsecondary planning.
Sincerely,
Will Grannan
(A-Clemens)
Ext. 2149
Mary Jane Walker
(L-O’Connor)
Ext. 2553
Mike Higashi
(Clifford-F)
Ext. 2148
Tom Dorney
(O’Leary-Simpson)
Ext. 2502
Dana Plunkett
(G-K)
Ext. 2303
Shannon Mastropoalo
(Sisk- Z)
Ext. 2107
GROUP/INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS
During the first two weeks of school, the Guidance Counselors meet with seniors in groups. The initial
group sessions focus on these topics: •the steps to follow in applying to colleges, •testing deadlines,
•updating the information sheets and activity lists students originally filled out in the spring of junior
year, •reviewing the student/parent brag sheet to be filled out prior to first individual meeting
•examining their transcript of high school courses and grades and •reviewing the resources of the
Guidance Counseling Center. Most of the material covered in these group sessions becomes part of the
total application package sumitted to each college.
Once the group sessions end in September, the emphasis will switch to individual meetings with
students. In these individual sessions, the Guidance Counselors will help students •develop/refine a
varied list of prospective colleges, •advise students on essay topics, interview preparation, financial aid
information, testing, and countless other items. Moreover, many colleges require counselor statements
as part of the application. The individual interviews and the Student and Parent Information Sheets
(“The Brag Sheets”) enable the counselors to become more knowledgeable advocates for the students
in the application process.
GUIDANCE COUNSELING RESOURCES
For many years, Needham High School has kept a record of the decisions made by colleges to admit,
deny, or wait-list Needham applicants. On a college-by-college basis, students and parents can
examine the success experienced by previous Needham seniors in their application process at particular
schools using the Needham High School online college database (Naviance). The Naviance
database notes the accepted average GPA, highest SAT scores, and whether that particular student was
accepted, denied or wait-listed at that college. While pure statistics leave out important pieces of
information, the Naviance database, nevertheless, can establish general patterns that are helpful in
determining the likelihood of acceptance at a college. All students were given their Naviance access
codes last spring. If parents would like their own access codes, please contact your child’s counselor.
APPLICATIONS: ELECTRONIC OR PAPER
The college application process has changed dramatically. During the last five or six years institutions
have encouraged students to submit their parts (biographical info, extracurricular activities, personal
statement/essay) online. Students have responded enthusiastically.
ELECTRONIC APPLICATION
Beginning with the Class of 2011 Needham High School will submit its parts (transcript, senior
grades, GPA, high school profile, counselor recommendation, teacher recommendations) online.
Only in rare cases will envelopes and stamps be used to submit either the student’s parts of the
application or the high school parts.
In addition, the Common Application has expanded to include an ever-growing list of public as well as
private colleges and universities. Currently about 400 colleges and universities use the Common
Application. In school year 2009-10 four out of every five (80%)applications submitted by
Needham High School students were to Common Application schools. We encourage parents and
students to make use of this option. In fact, we can only submit our parts online to a Common
Application school if the student submits their parts online.
On the NHS Postsecondary Counseling website,
http://nhs.needham.k12.ma.us/Guidance/Postsecondary, you will find the section Applying to
College particularly helpful in this regard. It links you to various ways you can apply to colleges
including the Common Application website.
PAPER APPLICATION
If your son or daughter must file a paper application, they should send in their parts directly to the
college or university. In order for the school documents (transcript, senior grades, etc) to be sent, your
son or daughter must do the following:
1.
Address a 9 X 12 Manila envelope to the admissions office.
2.
Stick five first-class stamps on the envelope
3.
Give the return address as Records Office, Needham High School,
609 Webster St., Needham MA 024944.
4.
Bring the stamped, addressed envelope to your Guidance Counselor a minimum of
two weeks before the application deadline. In the case of January 1 deadlines those
envelopes must be handed in two weeks prior to December vacation, i.e., Monday,
December 13, 2010.
5.
For each college to which a student applies using a paper application, the student must
complete a Needham High School Record Request Form. This form is found in the
Counseling Center. It must be filled out and inserted in the envelope in which the transcript,
and other academic documents are sent.
6.
Leave the envelope unsealed. We still need to add the school documents to it.
7.
You are responsible for sending in your parts of the application on time, That includes the
check, SAT scores, and any other materials you wish to send to the college.
Your Guidance Counselor will make sure that all the academic documents are sent out on time. These
documents include:
1.
Your transcript, including any available senior grades
2.
Teacher recommendations you have requested
3.
The counselor recommendation placing your entire curriculum in the context of what
Needham High School offers
4.
An Academic Profile of Needham High School
5.
Your individual GPA plotted on a GPA Distribution Chart of the entire class
SUBMITTING SAT SCORES/STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Students are responsible for submitting their own SAT scores to any college requiring
them to do so. The school does not send SAT scores.
SAT scores may be submitted to colleges online by going to the Needham High School
postsecondary website (http://nhs.needham.k12.ma.us/Guidance/Postsecondary). Click on
Admissions Testing and then SAT.
Students who are currently on an Individual Education Plan (IEP), or a 504 Accommodation Plan, or
provide documentation from an appropriate licensed professional can qualify for extended time on the
PSAT, SAT and Subject Tests or AP exams. These students need to see their Guidance Counselor
many months in advance of the testing registration deadlines in order to insure that the College Board
has ample time to evaluate the eligibility application form. To obtain accommodations such as
extended time, students with disabilities must complete their portion of an eligibility form, which is
available through the high school. The high school then fills in its section of the eligibility form and
sends it in. The College Board reviews the eligibility form and, if all conditions are met, grants
extended time. In certain circumstances, extended time on the SAT and Subject Tests can be arranged
on dates other than the regular national Saturday test dates. Again, to insure that you register properly
and on time, see your Guidance Counselor as soon as possible. Online registration for extended time is
available with the code number that came with your approval letter from College Board.
Important Dates
We would like you to be aware of the following:
Test Dates for the SAT and/or Subject Tests
Test Date
October 9 2010*
November 6, 2010*
December 4, 2010*
January 22, 2011*
Regular Registration Deadline
September 10, 2010
October 8, 2010
November 5, 2010
December 23, 2010
*These test dates are not held at Needham High School and must be taken elsewhere.
Paper registration materials for the SAT and Subject Tests are available in the Guidance Counseling
Center, Room 503 Electronic registration for SAT can be done online through the Postsecondary
Counseling website http://nhs.needham.k12.ma.us/Guidance/Postsecondary Click on Admissions
Testing and then SAT.
Remember, every time a regular registration deadline is missed, it costs more money. The college
application process is costly enough without adding to it through failure to meet a test registration
deadline.
If you have any questions about special test administrations or additional services, see your Guidance
Counselor.
The Needham High School School /CEEB Code is registering for the SAT.
221-485. It must be used when
COLLEGE FAIRS
Approximately 200 colleges will be represented at the Waltham college fair.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010 (7:00 - 9:00 p.m.)
The Education Cooperative Higher Education Night
Waltham High School
Waltham, MA
If you are interested in dance, music, theater, art, etc. the college fair below will be especially helpful to
you.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010 (7:00-9:00 p.m.)
Performing and Visual Arts College Fair 2010
Boston Center for the Arts-Cyclorama
539 Tremont Street
Boston, MA
SENIOR PARENTS’ NIGHT
Wednesday, September 15 - 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. - Needham High School Auditorium
A panel of college admissions counselors will cover the in's and out's of the college admission
process.
SERVICE ACADEMIES
Seniors applying to the military academies (except the Coast Guard Academy) are reminded that
nomination in one of the categories authorized by law is essential.
COLLEGES VISITING NEEDHAM &/OR BOSTON
Each fall, hundreds of colleges visit Needham High and/or the Boston area. On the first school day of
each week the Senior Bulletin informs students and parents which colleges are visiting Needham High
School and which are holding evening sessions in local hotels. To access the Senior Bulletin online go
to the Postsecondary Counseling website (http://nhs.needham.k12.ma.us/Guidance/Postsecondary
/). Click on Weekly Senior Bulletin. If you are on the mailing list for a college, they will also directly
inform you of their visit to the local area.
APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID
There are two forms that are commonly used to determine eligibility for financial aid: FAFSA (Free
Application for Federal Student Aid) and the College Scholarship Service’s Profile. In addition, some
colleges will have their own institutional forms.
If you plan to apply for financial aid anywhere, you will definitely need to file the FAFSA, and
perhaps, the CSS Profile. Public colleges only require the FAFSA. However, a number of private
institutions will ask for the CSS Profile in addition to requiring the FAFSA. The timing of these two
financial aid forms is different:
FAFSA does not become available until sometime in November. It cannot be filed with the
financial aid processor until after January 1.
CSS Profile can be completed and returned much sooner than the FAFSA. It is available by
mid-September and can be returned to its processor immediately. Any school that requests the
CSS Profile will also want the FAFSA once it is available.
Both of these forms can be accessed electronically through the Postsecondary website
(http://nhs.needham.k12.ma.us/Guidance/Postsecondary) Click on Paying for Education.
TIPS ON THE ESSAY WRITING PROCESS
College applications ask largely for factual and statistical information. Courses, grades, test scores,
etc., paint a picture of an applicant that may not be that distinguishable from hundreds of other
similarly qualified candidates. The essay or personal statement can add the color, dimension, and
perspective that make candidates stand out from each other.
"When in doubt about an applicant, the admissions committee always takes a second look at the
personal statement and essay. It can tell things that no teacher or counselor can express so
convincingly about the character and inner light that shines in a person."
Former Admissions Director
Middlebury College
Your essay or personal statement needs to be about you. It needs to reveal who you are, what makes
you tick, how you see the world, and what has been important, significant or influential in your life and
why.
Normally this is best done through a sharply focused essay which might be a single incident; but as you
peel back the layers of the incident, it says a lot about you.
Brainstorm potential topics from your experience in school, extracurricular activities, work, summer
experiences, your family, travel, athletics, taking care of your pet, participating in competitive
horseback riding, volunteer work with those with special needs, etc.
Focus on a topic and proof of that topic. Get a good opening line. For example, one particularly short
high school senior opened her essay with the following sentence: "I will be the first child psychologist
able to see eye to eye with her clients." She then proceeded to develop the topic on being a short
person through several solid paragraphs forming the body of her essay and brought it to a crisp
conclusion. In the process she demonstrated a lot of self-knowledge, social awareness, the ability to
write, sensitivity and an ability to see the humorous side of things as well as seriousness of purpose.
Have other skilled writers check over your essay and rework it as necessary so that there are no typos
or grammatical errors. However, the topic is ultimately yourself, and you are the expert on that topic.
Remember in evaluating your written responses, "colleges look for evidence of your writing ability,
motivation, creativity, self-discipline, character, and your capacity for growth."
“Handbook for College Admissions”
Thomas C. Hayden