Senior Counseling Corner

Seniors,

We've started our first cycle of seminar! If you were not in attendance, BE SURE TO BE THERE NEXT WEEK! Bring your charged laptop as we'll be working in SchooLinks and Common App.

STUDENTS: Remember, this post-secondary journey is a process all about YOU! We are here to help you find the right fit when it comes to your choices for after high school. Here is a great article I came across : https://hscw-counselorscorner.blogspot.com/2021/09/friends-dont-let-friends-us-news.html

Best,

BHS Counseling Office

(585) 242-5000 x4526

Your go-to spot for everything you need this fall to apply - including all Seminar powerpoints. Be sure to bookmark the page so you can refer to it as needed.

We will overview Senior Seminar and the application process for families. This is a great night to attend together so everyone is on the same page!

Wednesday 9/23 at 6:30 in the auditorium

During Seminar 2, we are going over the official letter of rec request process and how to link Common App to Naviance.

- Make sure you can log into your Common App account (Get in over the weekend!)

- BRING YOUR LAPTOPS!

It's not too late to help! We would love to hear about your children through your eyes. If you have not done so already, please take a few minutes to complete the parent brag sheet. As counselors, we love to include your thoughts!

PLEASE COMPLETE BY OCTOBER 1

Parent brag sheet:

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=ZLm1_AgyPkeLzTMrIV6bE1FNnWpNYnRGluEgXgoFHwJUQzgzUVE2MVJDRU5PS1ZHMlpCQlk3STkxQS4u

1. Finalize your list of potential post secondary options
2. VISIT & RESEARCH your options in person or virtually
3. Sign up to take or retake the SAT and/or ACT (BCSD prep courses available this fall!)
4. Create your Common App account if you are thinking of applying to 4 year colleges and complete the application.
5. Write your application essay (register for BCSD essay writing course this fall if needed). Here is a great article to get you going: https://collegeadmissionsstrategies.com/topics-you-should-seriously-consider-avoiding-in-your-essays/
6. Register with NCAA if planning to play DI or DII sport
7. Touch base with your counselor or Mrs. Stern for help!

We will be reviewing these steps in more detail during seminar!

BHS Counselors will be available for SENIORS only to help support you with your post-secondary planning. We will be covering a lot in seminar, but we want to make sure you are well supported in this process. We are here to help!!

No sign up needed- just drop in to office hours whenever you are free. Stay for 5 minutes or stay for hours. This is a great opportunity to ask questions, work on applications with support or just a quiet place to work on your plans.

Please see the poster below for more info and times.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to your counselor. We hope to see you all soon!

Reps will be visiting in-person and virtually. Colleges have already begun to snag spots at BHS, so check SchooLinks regularly for our schedule.

• It is encouraged to SIGN UP for the visit in SchooLinks so you get an email reminder.
• If a rep is in person, they will be in room 257 (the conference room across from the Counseling Office)
• If they are virtual, you will be able to access a link to their link via SchooLinks. You may come to the Counseling Office and we can help find you a quiet space to attend if needed.
• In person or virtual, you will need teacher permission to attend if the visit takes place during a class. Grab a pass from the counseling office.

You are welcome to sign up for as many visits as you'd like! We encourage you to sit in on the ones you know, as well as some that you've never heard of before. There are so many INCREDIBLE institutions all over the country with phenomenal opportunities. You just don't know about them yet!

Be sure to check out SchooLinks & the College Visits page on the BHS Counseling Website for a complete list of ALL visits this season. Check often- we get new visits scheduled every day!

**Great way to explore Historically Black Colleges & universities. Seniors- we will provide transcripts for INSTANT DECISION OPPORTUNITIES!!

WILL ACCEPT PERMISSION FORMS THROUGH TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 22!!

Field trip permission form below. Great opportunity to learn more about all of the careers available in this incredible field!

Permission forms due SEPTEMBER 23rd!!

Students interested in a career in Nursing, Physical, or Allied Health? Your students can experience what it is like to learn at SUNY Niagara during a Sanborn Campus Shadow Day. We are offering Shadow Days for the following programs:

Students will spend time in a classroom-based learning environment, connect with current students, faculty, and staff, and explore the programs and resources that can help them prepare for their future.

You can view other visit opportunities for students on our Visit Us website. Questions? Contact us at 716-614-6200.

Sincerely,

SUNY Niagara Admissions

The Academy offers Business programming for high school students at both the Rochester Golisano Institute and Buffalo Golisano Institute Campuses.

An overview of programming is below. More information, including registration, can be found on our website: The Academy - Golisano Institute for Business.

• Foundations in Business Session

  Note: Foundations in Business Workshops are offered at both Buffalo and Rochester Campuses, starting immediately.

• Audience is schools and school groups

• 3.5 hour session, including lunch and snack at Golisano Institute

• Schools provide their own transportation

• 25 students per group (it's what space permits)

• $300 per group

• No fee for Title I schools

• As we're launching the program now, the fee will be waived for any groups scheduled to attend Foundations in Business sessions before January 1st, 2027, regardless of Title I status.

  
  

• The Academy Master Classes

  Note: For Quarter 1, Academy Master Classes will only be offered at our Rochester Campus. In future quarters, we will expand Master Classes to both Buffalo and Rochester.

• Audience is individual students and families

• Once per week for 6 weeks, 3:15 - 4:30.

• For our Quarter 1, the course is on Tuesdays

• Fall Course offering will be "The Sales Edge"

• There will be additional topics in future quarters

• The registration link for this course is open and live on The Academy website -please feel free to share and promote with your students

If you have any questions at all, please reach out! Beyond Foundations in Business Sessions and Master Classes, there is a lot of opportunity for more.

Many, many thanks,

Ted Eckert

Ted Eckert | Executive Director, The Academy at Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship

(716) 274 -1275 Office

(716) 713 - 9458 Cell

Rochester: 150 Sawgrass Drive, Rochester, NY 14620

Buffalo: 125 Washington St, Buffalo, NY 14203

teckert@golisanoinstitute.org

​​​​NACAC Virtual College Fairs are a great opportunity to connect with colleges and universities from the comfort of your own home. Have a quick video chat with a representative, drop-in on a virtual presentation, send a question through the chat — make a connection your way.

Sunday, October 19, 2025 1:00 PM - 6:00 PMNACAC Virtual College Fair October

Sunday, November 9, 2025 1:00 PM - 6:00 PMNACAC Virtual College Fair November

If you feel you are a Questbridge candidate, please see the information below. Be sure to touch base with your counselor ASAP as the deadline is September 30th!!

https://www.questbridge.org/

Although you may not be able to physically get on campus, there are great opportunities to take a virtual trip! Check out these resources:

• Individual college websites
• SchooLinks (many of the colleges have videos and interactive information posted there)
• www.campusreel.org - over 15,000 real videos, tours and experiences from 300+ college campuses, created by current students

This fall we will be offering Instant Decision days with 17 phenomenal institutions!

Students will have the chance to meet with an admissions representative and receive instant feedback on their application- most students will be informed of their admissions decision that day!

We will provide much more detail in Senior Seminar, but below are the general instructions. This is SUCH a great opportunity to learn more about what the college has to offer you and get some early feedback. Save the dates if you are interested!

If interested, please follow the instructions below:

1. Use the link on the poster to sign up for your 15 min admissions appointment with any of the institutions you are interested in.
2. Submit your college application at least 1 week prior to the instant decision date, but no worries if you can't!
3. An admissions counselor will review your materials and could provide an admissions decision and estimate of your scholarship package that night! (some colleges may require a few additional days to process materials)
4. Please note- Geneseo, URochester & RIT are an ADMISSIONS INTERVIEW ONLY. This will be used as part of your application to be reviewed later. No decision will be made that this time. If interested in Geneseo, URochester and/or RIT, we highly recommend taking advantage of this.

Links to sign up on BHS Counseling- Junior/Senior Information Page:

https://bhs.bcsd.org/46752_3

A few recommendations:

• Show up a few minutes early- you don’t want to be late!
• Wear appropriate attire- no need to dress up, but please look presentable. This is YOUR opportunity to show them who you are other than a name on a piece of paper!
• Come prepared with questions about the school- we are happy to help you with this.

If you have any questions about these opportunities, please contact Mrs. Stern!

Here's what this means for you:

-You may apply up to 5 SUNY schools for FREE!

-Registrar deadline for SUNY ONLY is October 23 (to meet November 1 deadline)

All other schools are still due October 13th.

-The free application applies to COMMON APP too.

Any questions, just ask! Stop in Senior Office Hours or see your Counselor.

Check out the Registrar deadlines- based on the college/job/scholarship deadlines, the dates below are when your application is DUE TO THE REGISTRARS OFFICE.

BHS Standardized Exams being offered this fall. Remember, BHS DOES NOT send any standardized test scores to colleges. You are responsible for sending any test scores directly from College Board or ACT to the institutions that need them.

*September and October exam dates will allow you to get your scores back in time to send to colleges if needed, for regular decision.

If you have questions specific to BHS testing procedures, please reach out to Deirdre Carter: deirdre_carter@bcsd.org. As things are changing so often, please refer to the testing sites for updated information:

ACT- www.actstudent.org

SAT- www.collegeboard.org

Email: courtney_stern@bcsd.org
Website: https://bhs.bcsd.org/46697_3
Location: 1150 South Winton Road, Rochester, NY, USA
Phone: (585) 242-5000