WHS School Counseling News

January 19, 2022

This newsletter contains information about:

Junior Future Planning Night

Coffee with Counselors

Upcoming Registration Deadlines for SATs and ACTs

Koplik and Adams Awards - Last Chance for Seniors to Test

Scholarships and Special Opportunities

Event Information

Junior Future Planning Night

During this evening event, students and families will hear from admissions officers about the type of school they represent (public university, small private university, community college) and the application process at their type of school. Representatives from Assumption College, Mass Bay Community College, Regis College, Salem State University, and UMass Amherst will be present. This is a great opportunity to hear from the admissions representatives themselves about the ins and outs of college admission - everyone is welcome! This event will be held on Zoom.

When?

Thursday, Feb 3, 2022, 06:30 PM

Event Information

Coffee with Counselors

Our next virtual "Coffee with Counselors" will be held on Friday, February 11 at 8:15 AM on Zoom. For those curious about the college admissions process, this chat will help answer basic questions about college admissions and provide an overview of how the Guidance department supports students during this process. A more in-depth look will be provided during Junior Future Planning Night.

When?

Friday, Feb 11, 2022, 08:15 AM

Upcoming ACT and SAT Registration Deadlines

SAT

March 12th Test Date*: registration deadline is February 11th - *WHS is a testing site for this date ONLY
May 7th Test Date: registration deadline is April 8th
June 4th Test Date: registration deadline is May 5th

ACT

April 2nd Test Date: registration deadline is February 25th
June 11th Test Date: registration deadline is May 6th
July 16th Test Date: registration deadline is June 17th

Koplik and Adams Award Reminder

The ELA and Math MCAS Retests will be held in early March. Taking this test is a requirement for students who hope to qualify for the Adams or Koplik Awards. These awards offer a tuition credit at the public universities in Massachusetts. Any senior who has not taken the MCAS and would like to try to qualify for these awards will need to sign up with their school counselor by Wednesday, February 2 in order to take the test in March. Please see this link for additional information about the awards or contact your student's school counselor.

Grade-Level Reminders from Guidance

Grade 12 Students and Families

Remember to complete the FAFSA (and CSS Profile, if needed) in order to qualify for federal financial aid. Each financial aid office will have information about deadlines and additional materials required.
Submit community service hours to Mrs. Hoffman.
Research scholarships. The Watertown Scholarship booklet will be distributed to students in March, but there are many scholarship opportunities available to students now. We recommend visiting CollegeBoard, FastWeb, and Unigo. Additionally, students should speak with family members about any scholarships offered through employers and community organizations.

Grade 11 Students and Families

Register for the SAT or ACT. Watertown High School is a test site for the SATs on Saturday, March 12th.
Join us for Junior Future Planning Night on Thursday, February 3rd at 6:30 PM (on Zoom).
Schedule a junior meeting. 11th graders will participate in small group Guidance classes during the week of February 1. Following those classes, students will meet individually with their school counselor to discuss their post-secondary plans.

Grade 10 Students and Families

Explore summer opportunities (see resources below).
Look into community service opportunities.
Prepare for the ELA and Math MCAS. These tests will be administered on March 22nd and 23rd (ELA) and May 19th and 20th (Math).

Grade 9 Students and Families

Prepare for the Science MCAS. This test will be administered on June 7th and 8th.
Make a plan for community service hours.
Explore summer opportunities (see resources below).

Scholarships

Below are some of the scholarships we hear about in the Guidance office. A frequently updated list can be found here.

Henry David Thoreau Scholarship - Deadline is February 1st, 2022
TheDream.US National Scholarship - Deadline is February 28th, 2022
Stephen Phillips Memorial Scholarship - Deadline is April 4th, 2022 for early response, May 2nd, 2022 for regular deadline
Kids Chance of Massachusetts Scholarship - Deadline is April 15th, 2022
Horatio Alger Scholarship - Deadline is March 15th, 2022
Sons and Daughters of Italy in America Scholarship - Please see your counselor for more information. Deadline is January 31st, 2022

Special Opportunities for Students

We hear about many great opportunities for students throughout the year. Below are a few upcoming opportunities. A frequently updated list, including additional details about the programs below, can be found here.

Harvard University Secondary School Program: This program offers high school students the ability to get a true taste of college as they engage with fellow high school and college students while thriving in an academically rigorous environment and earn up to 8 credit hours while doing so! The program runs from June to August and students can join either an online on in person format. More information can be found here.

Dana Farber Harvard Cancer Center Programs - CURE Summer Only Program: The DF/HCC student training programs support highly motivated high school and college students interested in pursuing a career in science or scientific research. Through engagement in mentored summer research projects, participation in an advanced scientific curriculum, and professional skills training, students acquire scientific knowledge and technical skills as well as increase their understanding of how to conduct biomedical research in cancer research environments. They offer two student training programs serving underrepresented and disadvantaged youth. The CURE Summer Only program is a one-time summer experience for high school and undergraduate students in the Boston area. More information can be found on the programs website.

Stevens Institute of Technology School of Business High School Summer Research Program: A paid virtual summer research program for high school Juniors. In this six-week program, students will have the opportunity to work alongside a faculty member from the School of Business and assist them with research in their area of study such as entrepreneurship, marketing, management, economics, and finance. At the conclusion of the program students will complete both a written and oral presentation. The written report will include a literature review, and the oral presentation will include a 5-minute video of a PowerPoint presentation detailing their research findings. Students will receive a $500 stipend after completing the program. The programs website can help answer any questions you may have.

Boston University Pre-College Summer Programs: BU’s long-running Summer Term pre-college offerings include a choice of one-, two-, three-, and six-week programs that prepare you for success in college. With five exciting and challenging pre-college summer programs to choose from, you can earn college credit, discover a new subject area, perform cutting-edge research in University labs, or immerse yourself in hands-on learning. More information can be found on the BU website.