The HHS Counseling Newsletter

Our specialists are available to talk with you about yourself and others you care about.

The Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) is visiting Harriton during lunch and learn in the auditorium and set 8 (as a college visit in the LGI) on Nov. 12. Click on the link below for more information, and sign up in Naviance if interested! Additionally, there are hard copy brochures from CIEE in front of Dr Bell's office in Student Services.

CIRKLED IN NO SWEAT SCHOLARSHIP

Amount Awarded: $2,500

Deadline: December 31, 2026

Application Procedure: Go here to apply: https://www.cirkledin.com/scholarships/

Description: Cirkled In’s quarterly scholarship awards $2,500 and features a simple, no-essay application process. There are no minimum GPA or income requirements, making it accessible to a wide range of students.

💰 $2,500 awarded every quarter

📅 Deadline: Dec 31, 2026

✅ Free to Apply - No essay, no GPA requirement, no income restrictions

🎓 Open to all high school students (grades 9-12)

Post-Secondary Planning Process for Junior Families (Virtual)

Wednesday, November 18

7:00 PM

More details can be found HERE.

Belmont Hills Library System is holding an in-person Financial Aid Information Session on Tuesday, December 1 with a Montgomery County PHEAA representative. Registration information can be found here: https://lmls.libcal.com/event/17505679

College Admissions Roundtable (Virtual)

Tuesday, December 8

7:00 PM

Post-Secondary Planning; College & Career Readiness for 10th Grade Families (Virtual)

Monday, January 11

7:00 - 8:30 PM

**All virtual workshops will be recorded. Please allow 2 weeks for the recording to be captioned and posted to our School Counseling Programming webpage.

LOWER MERION SCHOLARSHIP FUND (Application opens on November 2nd)

Amount Awarded: The amount varies based on need

Deadline: February 19, 2027

Application Procedure: Application available sometime by mid-November. For more information go to: https://lmtsf.org/

Description: To be eligible, a student must graduate from Harriton High School or Lower Merion High School; must have resided in the Township and attended a Lower Merion School District high school for at least four years; and must be attending an accredited college, university, or trade or vocational school on a full-time basis. Applications are accepted between November and February.

What you need to know about requesting first marking period or mid-year grade reports:

First Quarter Grades

• First Quarter grades are snapshots of grades from the portal, and will be taken on Monday, November 9th. Grades are only sent to colleges by student request. We do not send any grades automatically.
• Some colleges require first marking period grades (ED schools typically look for them) and it is the student's responsibility to determine whether they are needed by checking the admission requirements on the respective college admission websites.
• To request first marking period grades, complete the First Quarter Grade Request Form, and turn it in to the Student Services Office. The reports will be sent to college admissions offices as they are received, and after November 9th.
• You may submit a request form after Nov. 9thto be sent at a later date, but it will still be taken from the November 9th snapshot. No additional snapshots will be taken.
• The First Quarter Grade Request Form is below.

Mid-Year Grades

• Mid-year grades are a more standard requirement for Regular Decision college admission plans and are handled at the end of the semester in mid-January.
• Reports will be available by request in early February.
• These grades must be requested in the same manner as the first marking period snapshot. More information will be sent in January.

Early Action, Early Decision, and Priority application deadlines are important and mandatory for your Common App and sometimes the SRAR (Self Reported Academic Record - if required) They must be sent by the posted deadline which is most commonly November 1st. In addition, Nov. 15 and Dec. 1 are also common early deadlines. Be sure to check the list of Application Requirements listed on each college's Undergraduate Admissions websites to confirm the correct application deadline.

If you choose to send SAT or ACT test scores, you should go to your SAT and ACT web account and click "Send my test scores" and follow the instructions. You may also self-report your test scores on the Common Application. Again, check the respective admissions requirements for your colleges to see if they require "official test score reports". We do not send your test scores.

Applying to multiple colleges can be expensive. Many schools will waive your application fee if you simply ask! Be sure to check out the "How to Apply" page of each college before submitting your application fee or email your admissions representative and request a waiver. Some schools will offer Free Application Weeks and waive the fee for all students during specific times. For example: Penn State Abington waives the fees for students that register and attend an admissions visit! More information can be found HERE

SALLIE MAE SCHOLARSHIP

Amount Awarded: $2,000

Deadline: November 30, 2026

Application Procedure: Go here to apply: https://www.sallie.com/scholarships/no-essay?utm_source=studentscholarships&utm_medium=affiliatepc&utm_campaign=la_acq_swp_u_u_u_u_u

Description: To be eligible for the scholarship a student must:

A) Be currently enrolled as a high school junior or senior.

B) Enroll in a college or university in the United States within one year of graduating from high school.

On Thursday, Nov. 5, Juniors will review a postsecondary planning presentation created by the Counseling Department during their advisory. See your school counselor if you have any questions!

Below is a comprehensive checklist created by Central Montco Technical High School (CMTHS) in Plymouth Meeting. Harriton students can potentially start at CMTHS beginning in their 10th grade year. If you are interested, please contact your school counselor or Dr. Bell. For more information on their programming options, visit their website: https://www.cmths.org/programs.