FROM MYRA ROSS, THE ARHS COLLEGE ADVISOR
For best college preparation, all students are advised to take coursework seriously, to do assignments carefully and on time, and to meet with teachers as soon as they begin to feel uncertain of course content and expectations. The rigor of a students program and academic performance are the most important factors in college admission. This is particularly true for juniors and seniors. Senior year is not a time to lighten academics.
All ARHS students are invited to attend the 2011 Hampshire County College Fair at the Williston Northampton School in Easthampton on Tuesday, September 27 from 6:00-8:30 p.m. at the Athletic Center. Representatives from approximately 150 colleges will be there.
Juniors and seniors are reminded that there is a free SAT/PSAT preparation program in the Colleges section of Naviance. They all received an access code entitling them to use it. Students can see a Guidance secretary after August 25 for access help.
On the first day of school, seniors will receive a large handbook about the college admissions process. Seniors and parents/guardians should read it carefully. Note the listings of special admissions events and deadlines on the back cover.
By now, seniors should be actively thinking about what they will do after high school. Decisions do not need to be made until almost the end of the school year, but good decisions usually emerge from good research including pre-application campus visits. Students should own this process, but parents can be of important support and assistance.
Seniors can schedule a fall post-secondary planning meeting with me (preferably with parents/guardians). First they must complete our online Senior Questionnaire for College Conference, accessible after August 29 under "About Me" in Naviance (www.connection.naviance.com/amherst). Guidance counselors will use information from the questionnaire to write recommendations which are required by most colleges and many scholarship donors. Parents/guardians may wish to complete the optional Naviance Parent Questionnaire for College Conference as well.
The September 10 ACT (www.actstudent.org) will be at E. Longmeadow and Monson High Schools and at Brattleboro HS in VT. Register by Aug. 12, (Aug 26 with late fee).
Register online for the Oct. 1 SAT or the Oct. 22 ACT ASAP. Students on free/reduced lunch can get fee waivers from Guidance after Aug. 25. Registration deadlines with fee waivers are Sept. 9, (21 with fee waiver) for the SAT and Sept. 16 for the ACT (Sept. 30 with late fee).
Representatives from approximately 100 colleges will visit ARHS this fall. Parents and students are welcome. The list will be posted in the Guidance Office, in Naviance and on the ARHS website as it evolves. Seniors should mark colleges of interest under Colleges/"Colleges I Am Thinking About" in Naviance. They will then receive Reminders of impending visits. Three class Absences due to proven attendance will not count toward the ARHS attendance policy.
UMass will hold an open house for seniors on October 16, 9:30 a.m. It’s worthwhile to attend.
Juniors are advised to take the PSAT at ARHS on Saturday, October 15. It is a shorter, practice version of the SAT, which most juniors will take sometime next spring. It is also the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship competition, for which only juniors are eligible. The College Board provides free access to online SAT preparation and career/college search information to students who take the test. Students sign up with a Guidance secretary. The cost will be approximately $24, waived for juniors on free/reduced lunch,
I will meet with juniors in classroom settings in January and with families beginning in late February. Every junior should meet with me in the spring. College questions that come up before then should be directed to guidance counselors who will consult with me if there is a need. In the meantime juniors can begin to use the search and other research features of Naviance.
The best college preparation for younger high school students is to develop a strong academic work ethic resulting in broader knowledge and skills. We encourage them to read for pleasure and to find meaningful activities in and out of school. This includes service activities, artistic, musical, theatrical, entrepreneurial, athletic or academic pursuits, paid or volunteer work, or anything that helps them grow in creativity, responsibility, leadership, knowledge or self respect.
Sophomores may take the PSAT on October 15 if they wish. They cannot qualify for National Merit Scholarships, and the College Board does not give fee waivers to sophomores. Interested students should sign up in Guidance. The cost will be approximately $24.
Students in honors biology or honors chemistry should consider taking the SAT Subject tests next spring if they are earning a final grade of B+ or better. Chemistry students must cover some units on their own. Our U.S. History course does not align well with the SAT Subject test. All other subject tests are best taken in grades 11 and 12.
There are several free test-preparation opportunities:
Naviance has free SAT test preparation. Go to colleges and look for it on the left side. It provides audio and visuals and is broken up into short modules.
Kaplan offers free On Demand Prep Courses online. Go to www.kaplanatschool.com/amherst Use the codes:
SAT: SATKAS430
ACT: ACTKAS430
There are several fee-based test preparation opportunities that might interest you if you want further support. I am providing information, not endorsements of any of these programs. I have arranged it so that all of them will offer free options for students on free or reduced price lunch.
Brian Leaf (www.brianleaf.com/workshops) will offer full-day classes at the Courtyard Marriott, 423 Russell St, Hadley, ($125) for each date, $225 for both SAT sessions).
If you would like one of the free slots Brian is offering, please e-mail me (rossm@arps.org). I will get in touch with Brian. If you decide not to use your free slot, please let me know ASAP
ACT: Saturday, August 27 for Sept. 10 ACT
SAT Reading and Writing: Saturday, September 17 for October 1 SAT
SAT Math: Saturday, September 24 for October 1 SAT.
We will be partnering with both Princeton Review and Kaplan to offer evening SAT and ACT classes at ARHS early this fall. Students will be prepared for the October 1 SAT or the October 22 ACT. It will not be possible to take both. The cost for a course will be $499. In exchange for the school space, both companies will be offering slots free to students on free or reduced price lunch. See a Guidance secretary after August 25 for more information.
The Princeton Review (SAT)
Amherst Regional High School - Course: 008100013
Tuesday and Thursday evenings (Sept. 6-Sept. 29, approx 5:30-8:30)
Kaplan (ACT)
Amherst Regional High School - Course: ACBS11706
Tuesday and Thursday evenings (Sept. 13-Oct. 20, approximately 5:30-8:30)