College Representatives to Visit
Several college representatives will be conducting virtual visits to MHS this fall to talk to students about their respective institutions and distribute informational materials. The list with necessary log in information can be found in the Class of 2021 Google Counseling Classroom. Seniors interested in attending one of these sessions MUST sign up on the online sign up form also located in the Classroom prior to the scheduled visit and obtain permission to attend from the teacher in whose class the visit is scheduled to take place.
Currently the following visits have been scheduled:
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth ................9/17/2020 ..............10:00
Sarah Lawrence College ............................................9/17/2020 ..............12:00
University of New England .....................................9/17/2020 ..............1:00
University of Chicago ...............................................9/18/2020 ..............8:00
Dean College ..............................................................9/21/2020 ..............12:00
University of Massachusetts Boston ........................9/21/2020 ..............1:00
Lasell University .........................................................9/22/2020 ..............1:00
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute .................................9/22/2020 ..............12:00
Bridgewater State University ....................................9/23/2020 ..............11:00
Bay Path University ....................................................9/23/2020 ..............1:00
Bryant University ........................................................9/24/2020 ..............9:00
University of Tennessee-Knoxville ..........................9/28/2020 ..............12:00
Worcester State University ........................................9/30/2020 ..............9:00
Westfield State University ..........................................9/30/2020 ..............10:00
Framingham State University ....................................10/1/2020 ..............10:00
College of Our Lady of the Elms ..........................10/1/2020 ..............11:00
Virginia Polytechnic Institute .....................................10/21/2020 ............1:00
University of Hartford .............................................10/5/2020 .............. 9:00
Western New England University ............................10/6/2020 ..............11:00
Saint Joseph’s College of Maine ..............................10/7/2020 ..............9:00
American International College ................................10/7/2020 ..............11:00
Salem State University ...............................................10/8/2020 ..............8:00
Suffolk University ......................................................10/13/2020 ............10:00
Keene State College ...................................................10/14/2020 ............9:00
Providence College ....................................................10/14/2020 ............11:00
University of Massachusetts Lowell ........................10/15/2020 ............10:00
Elizabethtown College ..............................................10/15/2020 ............11:00
University of Saint Joseph ........................................10/16/2020 ............10:00
Russell Sage College...................................................10/16/2020 ............12:00
Niagara University .....................................................10/21/2020 ............11:00
Watch this space for a list of additional colleges and the dates of the visits.
College Applications in COVID times
Applying to college in the 2020-21 school year will certainly be different than ever before, but despite the challenges, the MHS counseling staff are here to help you every step along the way.
The counseling staff will create a combined Junior College Prep Night and Senior College Night video program that will be posted in the Class of 2021 Google Counseling Classroom and on our website on Monday, September 21. Students and families can view the video at any time since we
were not able to provide these programs in our usual in-person setting. Seniors and their family members are encouraged to watch this video to help provide important information regarding the college search and application process. Topics such as conducting the college search, the
transcript, securing recommendations, writing the essay and financial aid will be discussed.
Over the next few weeks we will continue to provide timely and helpful resources to assist seniors in their college search and application process. In SAP on Friday, Sept. 18 seniors will complete a
survey indicating their current plans for after graduation.
Senior Admission Timeline
Over the summer, you hopefully have been visiting colleges and doing research into possible schools to attend in September 2021. The following is a suggested timeline for the remainder of the college search process:
September - November
Identify schools that match your desire for a specific location, major, activity, etc.
Visit the campus before applying to ensure that you will feel comfortable in that environment.
Identify people to write letters of recommendation
Begin to formulate essay ideas.
October - late January
Complete applications (paper or electronic).
Bring to counselor to review before submitting with official transcript.
October - early February
Complete financial aid form(s).
Counselors will meet with seniors in groups and individually in
September and October to discuss this timeline and issues surrounding their college search process.
Test Registration Info
SAT registration information is now available in the Counseling Office. SAT’s will be given on the following dates:
Aug. 29 Sept. 26
Oct. 3 Nov. 7
Dec. 5 March 13
May 8 June 5
ACT registration information is now available in the Counseling Office. ACT’s will be given on:
September 19 October 10
October 17 October 24
December 12 February 6
April 17 June 12 July 17
Study guides with test-taking hints for both tests are also available in our office. Remember, MHS is not a site for the SAT or the ACT administrations. They must be taken at another local high school.
For more information (including on-line registration) about SAT’s, contact www.collegeboard.org and for ACT’s contact www.act.org. There is a great debate over which test to take and if indeed the ACT is easier. The ACT consists of four sections - English, reading, math and science. ACT questions are more closely aligned to the high school curriculum rather than one’s aptitude which is measured by the SAT. Therefore some students find that it is easier because the questions deal with material that is more familiar to them. The bottom line is that students will have to decide which test(s) to take. A practice test might help determine which test would be best.
Fee Waivers Are Now Available
A limited number of fee waivers for the SAT Critical Reasoning, SAT Subject Tests and ACT are available for students who demonstrate financial need. Please stop by the Counseling Office and
speak to your counselor if you think you might be eligible. Eligibility guidelines generally follow those used for free and reduced lunch. By using a fee waiver for the standardized testing, you may also be eligible to waive application fees at participating colleges. Fee waivers can result in
considerable savings, so you are urged to consider this option. Please give sufficient time prior
to the registration deadline to process your request.
Common Application Makes Life Easier
Want to apply to many colleges and not have to fill out numerous applications? Then the Common
Application is for you. There are over 800 colleges and universities that are members of the Common Application, many of which use it exclusively. Member institutions pledge to give equal weight to students regardless of whether they submit the Common Application or an institutional form. In many cases, institutions will also require students to complete a supplement to the Common Application which include more detailed information and essays. Information regarding the Common App can be found at www.commonapp.org or in the Counseling Office.