Chelmsford High School Code and CEEB No: 220575
Senior Parents’ Night
Wednesday September 25, 2013
Class of 2014 Post-Secondary Planning Guide
Options After High School






College
Work
Technical Schools
Trades/ Apprentice Programs
Military
Volunteer/ Service Programs
Let’s focus on your future!
GUIDANCE STAFF
Department Head of Guidance
Mr. Wright
Secretary for Student Services
Ms. Emanouil
Career Center Facilitator
Ms. Acheson
COUNSELORS
Emerson House
Ms. O’Neal
(A-K)
Ms. Boudreau (L-Z)
Hawthorne House
Ms. Leary (A-K)
Ms. Lima (L-Z)
Whittier House
Ms. Rodman (A-K)
Mr. Fanning (L-Z)
Table of Contents
College Prep Calendar – Senior Timeline
1–3
Upcoming Area College Fairs in the Area
4
Factors to Consider When Comparing Colleges
5
College Visit Form
6
Top Ten Things Colleges Want in Applicants
7
College Application/Information Day
8
Sample Resume
9
The College Application Process
10
College Application Responsibilities
11
Early Decision & Early Action
12
Freshman Admissions Standards For The Massachusetts State Universities
13 – 14
SAT and ACT Test Dates
15
Financial Aid Forms
16
Other Cost Saving Programs
17
Tech Prep Articulation Agreements
18 – 19
Naviance
20 – 21
Teri College Access Center
22
Useful Websites for College, Financial Aid and Scholarships
23 – 25
Transcript Release Form (Sample)
26
Chelmsford High School
Senior Timeline
2013-2014
September:
 Work on college essay; make sure to have it reviewed by at least one
qualified adult
 Update and complete resume
 Notify your guidance counselor if you are considering Early Action,
Early Decision or an Armed Service Academy
 Check in with the teachers who are writing your letters of
recommendation; if you have not yet asked teachers, do it now
 Meet with College Representatives who visit CHS through the fall;
check schedule at Career Center or on Naviance
 Continue to visit colleges
 Attend local college fairs – see list on Guidance website
 12th – 18th – Senior Guidance Meetings (Plus Block)
 21st – ACT offered at area high schools (register by August 23th)*
 25th – Senior Parent College Planning Night
October:
 2nd – Mid-term reports issued
 3rd – Open House Night
 5th – SAT/SAT Subject Tests given at CHS and other area high
schools (register by September 6th)*
 9th – College Application Information Day
 26th – ACT offered at area high schools (register by September
27th)*
 29th – Financial Aid Night
 Attend local college fairs – see list on Guidance website
 Check application deadlines for all colleges to which you are applying
– Remember, knowing all the deadlines is your responsibility
November:
 If applying early, make sure CSS Profile is filed if required – check
each school’s website for filing dates
 1st – Early Action/Decision deadline
 2nd – SAT/SAT Subject Tests offered at CHS and other area high
schools (register by October 3rd)*
1
 6th – College Interview Seminar
 6th – Term 1 grades close
 15th - Early Action/Decision deadline
December:
 6th – Deadline for transcript requests for application submission prior
to December vacation.
 7th – SAT/SAT Subject Tests given at CHS and other high schools
(register by November 1st)*
 11th – Term 2 mid-term reports issued
 14th – ACT given at area high schools (register by November 8th)*
January:
 Complete and mail FAFSA forms – make sure you know and adhere
to your colleges’ financial aid deadlines.
 3rd – Reverse College Day
 6th – Scholarship Information (PAC)
 28th–31st – Mid-term Exams
 Continue to search on-line for scholarships that match your interests
and skills.
 Visit guidance and Naviance for further scholarship information.
February:
 3rd – Semester 2 Begins
 Mid-year transcripts sent to colleges with 7th semester GPA
March:
 12th - Term 3 mid-term reports issued
 Continue to research and apply for scholarships
 Notify counselor of communications from colleges
April:
 11th – Term 3 grades close
 Notify counselor of communications from colleges
 Revisit schools you are considering
 Send deposit in to final choice school- due May 1st
 Inform your counselor about your college choice.
 Notify schools you will not be attending so they may admit students
from their waiting list
 If you are on a wait list, inform the college whether you would like to
remain on the list.
2
May:
 5th – 16th - AP Exams
 7th – Senior Mid-Terms reports issued
 15th – Mock Accident
 22nd – Academic Awards Night
 23rd – Last Day for Seniors
 27th – 30th – Senior Finals
 29th – Activities Awards Night
 30th – Senior grades close
June:
 2nd – Senior Barbecue
 3rd – Senior Breakfast
 4th – Senior Prom
 6th – Senior Banquet
 7th – Graduation 6 p.m.
 8th – Graduation Rain Date 2 p.m.
Final Reminders:
 Keep your grades up! Colleges will receive a copy of your final
grades.
 Write thank-you notes to everyone who wrote letters of
recommendations for you.
*Note: The SAT/ACT registration dates listed are for the regular
deadlines. You can register late for the SAT/ACTs, but you will
pay more and the testing site you desire may be filled. See
www.collegeboard.org or www.actstudent.org for the late
registration dates and additional details.
3
Upcoming College Fairs in the Area
www.neacac.org/cf_fall.cfm

Monday, September 23, 2013
University of ME
Orono, ME
Field house
7:00 – 9:00 pm

Thursday, September 26, 2013
Univ. of New Hampshire
Durham, NH
Lundholm Gym
7:00 – 9:00 pm

Friday, September 27, 2013
Univ. of New Hampshire
9:00 – 11:00 am

Sunday, September 29, 2013
Univ. of Southern ME
Gorham, ME
Costello Sports Complex
1:00 – 3:00 pm

Monday, September 30, 2013
Southern NH University
Manchester, NH
7:00 - 9:00 pm

Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Southern NH University
Manchester, NH
9:00 - 11:00 am

Thursday, October 17, 2013
Lowell High School
Lowell, MA
6:30 – 8:30 pm

Sunday, October 20, 2013
Northern Essex CC
Haverhill, MA
Sports & Fitness Center
2:00 - 4:00 pm
4
Factors to Consider When Comparing
Colleges
 College Comparison Worksheet Forms are available in your guidance
counselor’s office.
LOCATION
 distance from home
 climate
 urban, rural suburban
SIZE


TYPE




FINANCIAL AID
 deadlines
 req. forms (FAFSA, CSS Profile)
 % receiving aid
 merit based scholarships available?
HOUSING
 is housing available?
 types and sizes of dorms
 food plan
 internet access and speed of
connection
enrollment
physical size of campus
OF SCHOOL
2- or 4-year, technical, etc.
public, private
religious affiliation
coed, male, female
FACILITIES
 academic
 recreational
 campus safety/ security
ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS
 deadlines and fees
 req. tests (SAT, ACT, SAT Subject
Tests)
 average test scores, GPA, rank
 special requirements (interview, etc.)
 notification (rolling vs. regular)
ACTIVITIES
 clubs, organizations
 Greek life (sororities/ fraternities)
 athletics, intramurals
ACADEMICS
 is your major offered
 special programs
 accreditation
 student-faculty ratio
 typical class size
CAMPUS VISITS
 interviews available
 special programs
SUPPORT SERVICES
 learning center
 math, writing labs
 freshman retention programs
COST
 tuition, room & board
 total estimated cost
5
GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT
COLLEGE VISIT FORM
Permission for juniors or seniors to visit post-secondary institutions
(Two-year and four-year colleges and career and technical programs)
Student: _________________________________ House: ________________
HR:________
College to be visited: ___________________________________________________________
Date: _____________________
Time: _____________________
The following must satisfy your Guidance Counselor:
1. Notice (written) of appointment.
2. Teachers of all subjects must approve by signing below.
3. Students are still expected to complete their daily homework assignments.
 Teachers please initial
A Block _______
B Block _______
Plus Block _______
C Block _______
D Block _______
E Block _______
F Block _______
G Block _______
 All make-up work must be passed in no later than three days beyond the visit.
____________________________________
Parental signature
________________________________
Counselor signature (Last person to sign)
College visits are encouraged. However, if at all possible, please schedule when school is not in session. Almost all
colleges have weekend and evening orientation sessions. The student should bring back a stamped note from the
college upon returning the next day.
In addition to the parental signature, parents must approve of the means of transportation that students use on
the given day.
Due to the importance of attendance, students will be limited to three visits per semester.
Upon completion of this form, return it to the Attendance Office. Only then will your absence be excused.
6
The Top Ten Things Colleges Want in Applicants
1.
A high school curriculum that challenges the student.
Students should demonstrate a willingness to challenge themselves with a rigorous program of
studies. Academically successful students should include several Honors or Advanced
Placement courses.
2.
Grades that represent strong effort and an upward trend.
Grades should show an upward trend over the year. However, slightly lower grades in a
rigorous program are preferred to all A’s in less challenging coursework.

3.
These top two characteristics have remained unchanged in the rankings for five years.
A well-written essay that provides insight into the student’s unique
personality, values and goals.
The application essay should be thoughtful and highly personal. It should demonstrate careful
and well-constructed writing.
4.
Passionate involvement in a few activities, demonstrating leadership and
initiative.
Depth, not breadth, of experience is most important.
5.
Solid scores on standardized tests (SAT or ACT).
These should be consistent with high school performance. Although still considered
important, test scores are secondary to a student’s academic record.
6.
Special talents or experiences that contribute to a well-rounded student
body.
Anything that makes the student unique adds to the diversity of the campus.
7.
Letters of recommendation from teachers and guidance counselor that give
evidence of integrity, special skills and positive character traits.
Students should request recommendations from teachers who respect their work in an
academic discipline.
8.
Demonstrated enthusiasm, often exhibited in an interview, towards
attending the college.
Colleges want to know if they offer admittance that the student will choose to go there.
9.
Out-of-school experiences, including work and community service, which
illustrate responsibility, dedication and development of areas of interest.
Work or other meaningful use of free time can demonstrate maturity.
10. Supplemental recommendations by adults who have had significant direct
contact with the student.
Letters from coaches or supervisors in long-term work or volunteer activities are valuable;
however, recommendations from casual acquaintances or family friends, even if they are well
known, are rarely given much weight.

Results from a survey by the Independent Educational Consultants Association.
7
THE CHS GUIDANCE AND ENGLISH DEPARTMENTS PRESENT
COLLEGE APPLICATION/INFORMATION DAY
SENIORS…
SENIORS…
SENIORS…
ARE COLLEGE APPLICATIONS HAUNTING YOUR DREAMS?
Help Is Available!
 Attend CHS’ Annual College Application/Information Day
 Hear college admissions officers share practical advice about the
application process
 Have your questions answered by admissions officers
DATE: Wednesday, October 9, 2013
PLACE: Career Center
Presenters may include Admissions Officers from these
schools and others:
MA College Pharmacy & HS
SNHU
Emmanuel College
Fitchburg State University
Lesley University
Merrimack College
Quinnipiac University
Saint Anselm College
Stonehill College
Suffolk University
University of Mass-Lowell
Worcester State University
Plymouth State
SUNY Albany
If your English class or Writing for College class is not meeting on this day please
pick up a College Application/Information Day Application Field Trip form in the
Career Center or from your House Office.
8
Sample Resume
Mary Jones
35 Salem Street
Chelmsford, MA 01824
978-251-5111
E-mail address (make sure it is appropriate!!!)
OBJECTIVE:
To pursue a comprehensive Liberal Arts Education with a Pre-law
Concentration.
EDUCATION:
Chelmsford High School – Class of 2014
200 Richardson Road
Chelmsford, MA 01863
ACADEMIC HONORS:
National Honor Society 11, 12
Examples include but are not limited to: Honor Roll, Deans List, National
Merit Scholarship Program, National Honor Society, French Honor Society,
Latin Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Tri–M Honor Society
EXTRACURRICULAR
ACTIVITIES:
Class Representative 9, 10, 11, 12
Chelmsford Youth Basketball League 9, 10, 11, 12
Varsity Volleyball 10, 11, 12
Future Teachers Club 11, 12

President 12
Senior Olympics 11, 12
Blood Drive 10, 12
LiveSmart 9, 10
Ski Club 9, 10
Freshman Softball 9
COMMUNITY SERVICE:
Saint Coletta’s Church Youth Program 9, 10, 11, 12
Chelmsford Public Library Book Drive 11, 12
Recreational Town League Basketball Coach 11, 12
Habit for Humanity 9, 10, 11
Palm Manor Nursing Home / Volunteer 10, 11
Emerson Hospital / Volunteer 10, 11
Camp Paul 9, 10
Can and Bottle Drive / Music Program 9, 10
SPECIALIZED SKILLS:
Guitar (self taught), Computer Graphics, Conversational Spanish, Competitive
Dance
EMPLOYMENT:
Market Basket, Cashier
August 2011 – Present (12 hours per week)
CVS, Customer Service Representative
January 2010 – August 2011 (12 hours per week)
HOBBIES & INTERESTS: Community service, photography, collecting stamps, creative writing, playing
guitar
A RESUME IS INTENDED TO PROMOTE YOUR STRENGTHS. YOU SHOULD ELIMINATE ANY
CATEGORY ABOVE IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY INFORMATION TO RECORD IN THAT CATEGORY
9
SENIORS AND SENIORS’ PARENTS
THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS
If necessary, your Guidance Counselor will write a personalized recommendation
for your college application; however, there is a procedure that needs to be
followed to ensure that timelines are met.
In order for your Counselor to write your recommendation in a timely fashion,
request an appointment at least 4 weeks before your first application is due.
Your Counselor will schedule a Senior Guidance Meeting with you. It is from this
Senior Meeting that the recommendation will be written. Please bring a copy of
your resume and any questions about the college application process to your
individual Senior Meeting.
SENIOR MEETING/TRANSCRIPT REQUEST
1.
Complete student recommendation questionnaire on Naviance.
2.
Request an appointment with your counselor 4 weeks prior to your first
application deadline.
3.
Bring completed or rough draft of your resume to the meeting.
4.
Ensure transcript release form has been signed by parent if under 18 years.
5.
On Naviance select request transcript for each college he/she is applying.
(see page 19 of this packet for transcript directions on Naviance)
6.
If postage is required (this is rare) bring a 9 x 12 envelope with 3 stamps
and addressed to each college you’re applying to at least 10 school days
before the transcript needs to be sent, otherwise, more commonly your
transcript will be sent electronically through Naviance.
***Guidance counselors will write their recommendation letters after the “Senior
Meeting” is held.
10
COLLEGE APPLICATION RESPONSIBILITIES
This sheet has been developed in an effort to outline the college application process and ensure that all
parties involved understand what is required in order to meet the deadline of each application. This also
applies to scholarships.
Student/ Parent Responsibilities
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Determine and be aware of deadlines!
Make an appointment with your Counselor at least 4 weeks before your first application is due.
Return signed Transcript Release Form if not already turned in to your guidance counselor.
Refer to page 23 for additional transcript instructions.
Personally request teacher recommendations when required and officially request the
teacher recommendation through Naviance.
Write essay(s) when required.
If you are an athlete, register online at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net.
Research scholarships. (Available on Naviance and CHS’ Guidance Web-site.)
Pick up and process necessary Financial Aid Forms (The FAFSA becomes available in December
and must be done for all schools offering federal aid. The FAFSA is available on-line at
www.fafsa.ed.gov. The CSS Profile is available early in the fall and is required by many private
colleges as well as for the Town of Chelmsford Scholarship. The CSS Profile is available on-line
at www.collegeboard.org).
Fill out other Financial Aid Forms required by each college.
Prepare a Resume.
Send test scores directly to college through appropriate testing company (College Board for SAT
Reasoning Tests and SAT Subject Tests and ACT for ACT’s).
Counselor Responsibilities
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
The Counselor will send out transcripts as requested by the student in Naviance.
The Counselor will complete secondary school reports and letters of recommendations
requested.
The Counselor will mail the student’s transcript, including senior classes, the CHS School Profile,
and the school report and guidance recommendation when necessary.
The Counselor will send Mid-Year Reports to all schools where initial transcripts have already
been sent.
The Counselor will complete scholarship forms, when necessary.
A final transcript indicating the student has graduated will be sent when grades become
available at the end of the school year. IMPORTANT: you must update Naviance with your
final decision.
A final transcript will also be sent to the NCAA indicating final grades, if necessary.
11
Early Decision & Early Action
What Are They and Are They Right for You? Have you noticed a new buzz word in your school hallways or
counselor’s office? “I’m applying early decision.” “Will I be notified early?” Has all this early talk gotten you
prematurely anxious about applying to colleges?
The Early Bird Gets the Worm
This cliché is the basic concept behind early decision and early action plans. Your “worm” is knowing in December
whether or not you’ve been accepted at your first choice college. Then, hopefully, you can enjoy the rest of your
senior year without stressing about getting into college. The “worm” for the colleges that offer these plans is
locking in students early in the process who really want to go to the school.
Early Decision vs. Early Action
Early decision plans allow you to apply early (usually in November) and get an admission decision from the college
well in advance of the usual notification date. But there is a catch. Early decision plans are “binding,” meaning if
you apply as an early decision candidate, you agree to attend the college if it accepts you and offers an adequate
financial aid package. Although you can apply to only one college for early decision, you may apply to other
colleges under regular admission. If you’re accepted by your first-choice college early, you must withdraw all
other applications. Usually, colleges insist on a nonrefundable deposit well in advance of May 1.
Early action plans are similar to early decision plans in that you can learn early in the admission cycle whether a
college has accepted you. But unlike early decision, early action plans are not binding, meaning you do NOT have
to commit to a college to which you’ve applied for early action. Under these plans, you may apply to multiple
colleges and compare offers of admission and financial aid. Usually, you can let the college know of your decision
in the late spring or when you’ve decided.
Should I Apply Under One of These Plans?
You should apply under an early decision only if you are very, very sure of the college you want to attend. These
plans make a lot of sense if one college is your clear preference and if your profile closely matches that of the
students at that college.
Do not apply under an early decision if you plan to weigh offers and financial aid packages from several colleges
later in the spring. Also, you shouldn’t apply early if it is to your advantage to have more of your senior year work
to show a college. If you plan to woo an admission office with your excellent grades this year, you may want to
wait until after the semester ends to apply to colleges.
Do Your Research
Before applying to an early action and early decision plan, research all your options to decide which college is the
right one for you. Does the college have everything you want in a school? You can use different college search
programs to find schools that match your preferences.
A Last Word of Advice
Get advice from your high school counselor and other trusted advisers before applying to a college as an early
decision applicant. In the fall, it may seem appealing to get the college decision over with, but as your senior year
progresses, you may find your academic and other goals changing. On the other hand, you may be very confident
that you will thrive at a certain college. If so, you’re the type of student for which early decision was created.
12
FRESHMAN ADMISSIONS STANDARDS FOR THE
MASSACHUSETTS STATE UNIVERSITIES
MINIMUM ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS:
The admissions standards for the state universities emphasize strong academic preparation while in
high school. These standards represent minimum requirements; meeting them does not guarantee
admission, since state university officials consider a wide range of factors in admissions decisions. It is
important to note that admissions standards for the state community colleges differ from those
presented below. Community colleges may admit any high school graduate or GED recipient.
The admissions standards for freshmen applicants have several components:




fulfillment of all requirements for the high school diploma or its equivalent;
submission of an SAT or ACT score;
16 required academic courses; and
minimum required grade point average (GPA) earned in college preparatory courses completed
at the time of application.
Academic Course Requirement:
Sixteen college preparatory courses distributed as follows are required. (A course is equivalent to one
full school year of study. Courses count toward the distribution only if passed.)


English
Mathematics




Sciences
Social Sciences
Foreign Languages
Electives
4 courses
3 courses (Algebra I & II and Geometry or Trigonometry, or comparable
coursework)
3 courses (including 2 courses with laboratory work)
2 courses (including 1 course in U.S. History)
2 courses (in a single language)
2 courses (from the above subjects or from the Arts & Humanities or
Computer Sciences)
Minimum Required Grade Point Average (GPA):
The GPA must be achieved based on all college preparatory courses completed at the time of
application and should be weighted for accelerated (Honors or Advanced Placement) courses. The GPA
will be recalculated by the college. The required minimum weighted high school GPA is 3.0 for the fouryear public campuses.
SAT Scores:
Applicants who meet the GPA requirement do not have to use the sliding scale for admission, but still
must submit SAT or ACT test scores for consideration if they are applying to a state university within
three years of high school graduation.
Sliding Scale (used when the recalculated GPA is lower than the minimum required 3.0 GPA):
If an applicant’s GPA falls below the required minimum, a sliding scale will apply. This scale should be
used only when an applicant’s recalculated GPA falls below the required 3.0 minimum for admission to
the state universities
Scores on the new writing section of the SAT will not affect the sliding scale for freshman applicants to
the Massachusetts state universities at this time. The sliding scale, used in making admissions decisions
for students with high school grade point averages falling below the required minimum, will continue to
be based upon the combined critical reading (verbal) and math sections of the SAT.
13
Sliding Scale for Freshman Applicants to a State University
Weighted High
School GPA
Combined SAT-I CR&M
Must Equal or Exceed
(ACT Equivalent in Italics)
2.51-2.99
920
(19)
2.41-2.50
960
(20)
2.31-2.40
1000
(21)
2.21-2.30
1040
(22)
2.11-2.20
1080
(23)
2.00-2.10
1120
(24)
NO APPLICANT WITH A RECALCULATED HIGH SCHOOL GPA BELOW 2.0 MAY BE ADMITTED TO A
STATE UNIVERSITY OR UMASS.
14
SAT and ACT Test Dates
All registration materials are available in the Career Center and in the
house offices. Registration can also be done on-line. Websites for
registration are listed below.
SAT
www.collegeboard.org
Test Date
Oct. 5, 2013
Nov. 2, 2013
Dec. 7, 2013
Jan. 25, 2014
*Mar. 8, 2014
May 3, 2014
June 7, 2014
Registration Deadline
Sept. 6, 2013
Oct. 3, 2013
Nov. 8, 2013
Dec. 27, 201
Feb. 7, 2014
April 4, 2014
May 9, 2014
Late Deadline
Sept. 20, 2013
Oct. 18, 2013
Nov. 25, 2013
Jan. 10, 2014
Feb. 21, 2014
April 18, 2014
May 23, 2014
*The March test is not given at CHS, but is given at other local high schools (Andover &
Dracut). Also, only the SAT Reasoning Test is offered on this test date.
ACT**
www.actstudent.org
Test Date
Sept. 21, 2013
Oct. 26, 2013
Dec. 14, 2013
Feb. 8, 2014
Apr. 12, 2014
June 14, 2014
Registration Deadline
Aug. 23, 2013
Sept. 27, 2013
Nov. 8, 2013
Jan. 10, 2014
Mar. 7, 2014
May 9, 2014
Late Deadline
Aug. 24-Sept 6, 2013
Sept. 28-Oct 11, 2013
Nov. 9-22, 2013
Jan. 11-24, 2014
Mar. 8-21, 2014
May 10-23, 2014
** CHS is not an ACT test center. Check the registration bulletin or ACT website to see
where the test is given.
15
Financial Aid Forms
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)- Required by all schools which
offer Federally funded student aid, which is essentially ALL colleges and universities. The
form becomes available late November or December from the Career Center or from the
Main Office. January 1 is when the form may first be filed. There is no cost associated
with completing this form. The form is available on-line at www.fafsa.ed.gov. On-line is
the quickest, easiest way to complete the FAFSA. It requires the student and one parent
to apply for a PIN number which allows for the form to be signed electronically. You may
apply for a PIN now at www.pin.ed.gov. Please be aware of sites with similar addresses as
there have been known sites which look like the official FAFSA site, but are not. These
sites usually try to charge a fee. Be careful.
CSS Profile (College Scholarship Service)- Required by many private colleges and
certain scholarship committees, including the Town of Chelmsford Scholarship. The CSS
Profile asks for more detailed financial information. This form has costs associated with it.
These costs include a basic processing fee as well as an additional fee for each
college/scholarship that you list on the application. The form may ONLY be completed online at www.collegeboard.org.
General Scholarship Applications
Scholarships can be viewed and downloaded through Naviance. Local scholarship
applications will also be available to be downloaded from the CHS Guidance page on the
Chelmsford Public School’s website www.chelmsford.k12.ma.us.
Most scholarships require the student’s high school transcript. Students must remember to
fill out the “orange” Transcript Request Form at least ten days in advance so that the
necessary transcript copies can be prepared.
For Additional Scholarship Information go on-line to www.fastweb.com. This site will ask
you to register and answer several questions. Once this is done, the site will respond with
a list of scholarships that should fit your criteria.
Never pay money to apply for a scholarship!
Financial Aid Night
CHS will sponsor a Financial Aid Night for parents on October 29, 2013.
16
Other Cost Saving Programs
New England Regional Student Program (NERSP)
This is a program which allows student from Massachusetts to attend another New
England State College or University at a reduced tuition rate as long as the same
major or program is not offered at a Massachusetts university. Further information
on this program is available at www.nebhe.org/tuitionbreak.
Community Colleges
In Massachusetts, we are very fortunate to have a strong Community College
system, which accepts ALL high school graduates who have earned a diploma. No
SAT’s or ACT’s required. Certain programs within a Community College may be
selective, such as nursing or dental hygiene. Often, there is a smaller personalized
feel to a Community College. Additionally, there is a tremendous cost savings
when you attend a Community College as the tuition and fees are generally much
lower than the State Universities.
There are two specific Community College programs that additionally may benefit
students:
1. Joint Admissions Program- This is an agreement between the Community
Colleges and the four-year public Universities or State Universities stating that if a
student maintains at least a 2.5 GPA at the Community College over the first two
years, he or she would automatically be accepted at any of the four-year public
Universities or State Universities. Some students choose this path as a cost saving
route. His or her degree would be no different than a student who attended the
four-year school throughout college.
2. The Tuition Advantage Program (TAP)- This is an adjunct to the Joint
Admissions Program that grants a student one-third off tuition at the public
Universities or State Universities if the student maintains at least a 3.0 GPA at the
Community College. This potentially could be a very valuable program.
17
Tech Prep Articulation Agreements
Chelmsford High School presently has articulation agreements with Anna Maria
College, Middlesex Community College, Northern Essex Community College,
Johnson and Wales University, New Hampshire Community Technical College
(Nashua and Manchester), and Mount Wachusett Community College. These
agreements allow students at Chelmsford High School to receive college credit
from the above academic institutions.
If you have taken any of the following courses and plan on attending Middlesex
Community College, check with your guidance counselor for possible college
credit.




Childhood Education 1 and 2
Industrial Technology/ Industrial Design
Computer Graphics 1
Financial Planning
If you have taken any of the following courses and plan on attending Northern
Essex Community College, check with your guidance counselor for possible
college credit.

Industrial Technology/ Industrial Design
If you have taken the following courses and plan on attending Johnson and
Wales University, check with your guidance counselor for possible college credit.



Marketing
Management
Accounting
If you have taken the following courses and plan on attending New Hampshire
Community Technical College (Manchester, N.H.) check with your guidance
counselor for possible college credit.


Architectural Drawing 1 and 2
Construction Technology 1 and 2
If you have taken the following courses and plan on attending New Hampshire
Community Technical College (Nashua) check with your guidance counselor
for possible college credit.

Early Childhood Education 1 and 2 (pending renewal)
18
If you have taken the following courses and plan on attending Mount Wachusett
Community College, check with your guidance counselor for possible college
credit.



Architectural Drawing 1 and 2
Industrial Technology/Industrial Design
Construction Technology 1 and 2
If you have taken any of the below courses and plan on attending Anna Maria
College check with your guidance counselor for possible college credit.

Legal Rights and Responsibilities
If you have taken any of the following courses and plan on attending the New
England Institute of Technology (Warwick, RI), check with your guidance
counselor for possible college credit.


Construction Technology 1
Construction Technology 2
For all of the above requirements, students must meet the college entrance
requirements and be a matriculated student with the college and receive grades of
80 percent (B) or better in the course(s) in order to be assigned credit and/ or
Advanced Placement.

Tech-prep agreements for 2013-14 are currently under revision and we are
hopeful all will stay intact.
19
Naviance
Naviance is a web-based resource that supports career and post-secondary
planning.
What Does It Do?

Allows students to:
Create a post-secondary plan
Complete career, personality, and learning style assessments
Explore careers and majors
Search and compare colleges
Request transcripts

Produces scattergrams of CHS acceptances…denials….waitlists

Displays and allows registration for CHS career, military and college visits

Research and download scholarship applications
How Does It Help?



Enhances on-line communication among counselors, students, and parents.
Maintains records on GPA and SAT scores for current students.
Allows for GPA and SAT comparisons with recent Chelmsford High graduates.
 Provides analysis of your chances of admission at colleges where prior graduates have
applied.
How Is it Accessed?
To access Family Connection, you will need a personal registration code, which you should
have already received from your counselor. You can use that code to register for your own
Family Connection account.
Step 1:
Log on to http://connection.naviance.com/chelmsfordhs
Link is also available on the CHS guidance web-page.
Step 2:
Put in your registration code. (Registration codes were distributed by your
guidance counselor.)
Step 3:
Enter your email account.
20
How Can I Request a Transcript on NAVIANCE?
In order to request transcripts for the colleges the student is applying for, the student must log
into the student’s Naviance account to select these colleges.
 After logging into the Family Connection Naviance account, click on the top left tab
labeled “colleges.” Select the link titled “colleges I’m applying to.”
 Scroll to the bottom of the page. Click the link that says “ + add to this list.”
 Use the drop-down menu under “Type” to indicate how the student wishes to apply to the
college.
 Check the box to request a transcript for the college ONLY when the student is certain
that he/she is applying to the college.
 Click the “look up” link to select the college. Colleges of interest can be searched by
name, alphabet, state, or country.
 Once the desired colleges have been selected, click the “Add Colleges” button.
*NOTE: Transcripts will ONLY be sent to the selected colleges after the student’s
Guidance Counselor receives:
 A signed Transcript Release Form (must be signed by a parent if student is
under 18).
 An addressed 9”x12” envelope with three stamps for each college the student
is applying to. (if not electronic through Naviance)
 The student has requested the schools they would like to be sent through
Naviance
How Can I Sign Up for a College Visit?
Chelmsford High School is very fortunate to have numerous college representatives visit the
school each year. These visits are a great opportunity for students to learn more about
different colleges and programs that interest them. Students can sign up for these in-school
college visits on Naviance.
 After logging into the Family Connection Naviance account, click on the top left tab
labeled “colleges.”
 On the right side of the page, click on the link titled “view all upcoming college visits.”
 To participate in a college visit, click the “sign up” link next to the name of the college.
 Once the student has signed up for a visit, the webpage will say, “Confirmation. You are
now signed up for this visit. You may remove your name from the list at any time by
clicking the ‘Remove’ button below.”
 The student must print this page, and bring it with him/her to the Career
Center on the day of the visit. It will be the student’s pass into this college
visit.
21
TERI COLLEGE ACCESS CENTER
All Services are free and no appointment is necessary.
Location:
The main Teri College Access Center is at
The Boston Public Library
700 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02116
Telephone: 617-536-0200, Extension 4701
Toll-free Information Hotline: 1-877-332-4348
Hours:
Monday – Thursday
9 am – 9 pm
Friday and Saturday 9 am – 5 pm
Sunday (10/1 to 5/31) 1 pm – 5 pm
Website:
www.tericollegeplanning.org
 Information on colleges and universities, vocational/technical schools,
financial aid and careers.
 Counseling on school selection and paying for educational costs.
 Assistance with completing admission and financial aid applications.
 Multi-lingual staff.
 Telephone information hotline.
 Computerized college, career and scholarship search systems.
 Internet access to college planning information, electronic admissions,
and financial aid applications.
 Web site with links to college and scholarship search databases.
22
Useful Web Sites for College, Financial Aid, and Scholarships
Please be advised that due to the fast paced world of technology, web sites change
constantly. Some of these web sites may be updated daily while others may have
become obsolete or defunct in the time it took to prepare this packet. Chelmsford
High School Guidance Department does not endorse any particular web site. While we
do believe that there is a lot of useful information to be found on the web and that the
Internet can be helpful tool, we encourage surfers to be Internet savvy; always check
your resources and know from where your information is coming.
COLLEGE OPTIONS
www.collegeboard.org – College Board home page; college, testing, financial aid info.
www.petersons.com – Peterson’s education center, wide range of info and services
www.collegenet.com – college and financial search options
www.collegeview.com – college search options, financial aid and career info.
www.review.com/college/rankings - Princeton Review’s site of 331 Best College
www.mycollegeguide.org – college search options; articles and info about the process
www.careersandcolleges.com – college search options; financial aid and admission info
www.embark.com – college, career, financial aid options; online applications
www.gocollege.com – database containing free college and scholarship search options
www.ed.gov/pubs/Prepare - U.S Dept. of Education site for college information
nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator – Federal Government college search.
23
FINANCIAL AID & SCHOLARSHIPS
www.finaid.org – comprehensive, hundreds of links
www.fafsa.ed.gov – file the FAFSA electronically
www.collegeboard.org/student/pay/scholarships-and-aid/8374.html - electronic version of
the CSS profile
www.fastap.org – database with search options for scholarship info
www.fastweb.com – financial aid and scholarship info
www.educaid.com – financial aid info for parents and students
www.gocollege.com – database with free scholarship search options
www.yahoo.com/education/financialaid - online scholarship search
www.teri.org – private, nonprofit organization for financing and loan info
www.nelliemae.com – non-profit corporation providing college loans and information
www.salliemae.com – the home page for the Student Loan Marketing organization
www.collegenet.com/march25 - free scholarship database sponsored by College Net
TESTING PREPARATION & OTHER VALUABLE COLLEGE WEBSITES
www.collegeboard.org – College Board’s home page, links to SAT registration.
www.act.org – information and registration for the ACT.
www.gocollege.com – free ACT and SAT practice tests.
www.powerprep.com/collguid/collbd.htm - strategies for various tests.
fairtest.prg/optinit.htm – The National Center for Fair and Open Testing compiled a list of schools
where the SAT/ACT is optional.
www.commonapp.org – access the common application accepted at over 200 private schools.
www.uncf.org – web site for the United Negro College Fund.
www.eskimo.com/~jlubin/disabled.html - resources for the learning disabled.
www.co-op.edu – information on colleges with cooperative education programs.
www.ncaa.org – info regarding eligibility for college bound athletes. Students planning to play Div.
I & II sports can register for the NCAA Clearinghouse at this site.
24
CAREER EDUCATION & OUTLOOK
www.bls.gov – provides general information and links in connection to the US National Labor
Market.
www.blswgov/ocohome.htmpage - information provided by the Occupational Outlook and
Handbook on labor statistics and labor predictions for future employment
www.dol.gov – this site is comprehensive, covering all aspects of labor, including links to the 2000
Census, employment issues for special populations, employment legislation, small business
information, and labor statistics, including a report called Future Work.
www.doleta.gov – sub area of the DOL connected to Employment Training and Administration,
which also has labor market information, including links to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
www.census.gov – this site contains data from all Bureaus’ data collection efforts.
www.lib.umich.edu/libhome/Documents.center/stats.html - this University of Michigan
Library provides a catalog of websites of statistical information from numerous agencies. The listing is
organized by major topic; demographic, economic, income, labor market, etc.
25
Chelmsford High School
200 Richardson Road North Chelmsford, MA 01863
Phone: 978.251.5111 Fax: 978.251.5117
http://www.chelmsford.k12.ma.us/chs
Chelmsford High School Transcript Release Form
I give permission to the CHS Guidance Department to release all necessary transcripts that I
request for college, scholarship, and summer programs in printed or electronic form.
Student Name: ______________________________________________
Student Signature: ___________________________________________
Parent Signature: ____________________________________________
(Parent Must Sign if Student is Under 18)
Counselor’s Name: ___________________________________________
Please Note:

CHS does not include testing scores (SAT, ACT, AP) on the high school transcripts. It is
imperative that the student send his/her individual scores directly to the colleges through
the College Board or the ACT Company. CHS CEEB Code is 220575.

Once the release form has been turned in, students will then need to officially request
transcripts for colleges via Naviance.

After a student has officially requested a transcript to be sent to a college through
Naviance, he/she will then need to follow up with his/her guidance counselor with
addressed envelopes with three stamps for each transcript that must be mailed (only if
electronic submission is not available as indicated on Naviance.)

Students must allow 10 school days from the date received by your counselor for the
sending of transcripts.
26