Guidance Blog

Take advantage of the volunteer opportunities at Cooley Dickinson Hospital!  Volunteers are an important part of the hospital operation, assisting in many areas.  Volunteering is a great way to get first-hand experience in a hospital.  If you are interested in volunteering for 8 weeks, collect a Volunteer Application and Parent Permission form from Mrs. Pescitelli.  

Application deadline is 5pm, Friday, May 3, 2013. Interviews are scheduled on a first come, first serve basis.  There is a mandatory five hour Orientation session that will be held on Friday, June, 28, 2013 from 12:30pm-5:00pm. More information is available on the packets in Mrs. Pescitelli's office.

1. www.fafsa.gov - FAFSA on the web address

2. www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov - website that provides early estimate of eligibility for student aid

3. www.pin.ed.gov - Federal pin number registration

4. www.studentaid.ed.gov - FAFSA and eligibility information

5. www.collegeboard.com - CSS Profile form and great resource

6. http://communityfoundation.org - Community Foundation of Western Mass. Scholarships

7. www.fastweb.com - Scholarships!

8. www.practicalmoneyskills.com - Financial literacy website

Adapted from Longmeadow High School and Hopkins Academy Guidance Office

Upcoming SAT Dates

Fee: $50 Late Fee: $77

*Every student who is planning on attending college after high school should plan on taking the SAT in the Spring of your Junior year. Some college require SAT Subject tests; it will be your responsibility to research your school to find out if they are required. If they are required by your prospective colleges, you should take them in the Spring along with taking the SAT reasoning in the Spring.*

Upcoming ACT Dates

Fee: $35 (No Writing); $50.50 (With Writing)

*The American College Testing Program (ACT) offers college admission tests called the AC assessment and ACT assessment plus Writing. Web registration and explanations of the tests are available at www.act.org. Some colleges will accept the ACT as an alternative to SAT Reasoning and Subject Test, but it is wise to check in advance with colleges you are considering. The ACT includes a composite score and sub-scores in English, math, reading, science, and writing (if you chose the ACT plus Writing)*

SAT and ACT Preparatory Options

1. Collegeboard.org (Log-in to My College Quick Start and free practice tests)

2. Princeton Review: www.princetonreview.com

3. SAT/ACT prep. books (check on-line sites like Amazon for better deals then buying them in a local store)

4. Kaplan Test Prep: http://www.kaptest.com/College/SAT/index.html

5. Sylvan Learning Center: http://tutoring.sylvanlearning.com/ 

These organizations are not listed in any specific order. Preparatory programs are very expensive so I always recommend to use the free practice examples through college board as a starting point and if after taking the SAT or ACT with writing for the first time you need more assistance it is important to look into every prep. program to find the best one for you. Most programs may offer a one-on-one tutor, a classroom setting, and even an online option. Please make sure to research each one and to think about the best way that you learn.

Adapted from Hopkins Academy Guidance Office

Copies of all available scholarships are located in Mrs. Pescitelli's office and are updated regularly, please check often! If you need your transcript or a letter of recommendation, please let me know. This is a snap shot of the available scholarship, more information can be found on each individual scholarship application available in the guidance office.

Sojourner Truth Memorial Scholarship- $500 awarded to seniors who have been active in social justice efforts. Application Due April 22, 2013

Three County Fair Association- scholarships available to seniors entering an institution of higher learning this fall. Application Due April 20, 2013

AD CLUB of Western Mass- $1000 awarded to one or more deserving students from western Massachusetts who intend to pursue a career in advertising, communications, marketing, or graphic arts industries.  Application Due April 29, 2013

Hampshire Council of Governments-$500 scholarship awarded to students who have demonstrated civic and community involvement. Application Due April 30, 2013

Szawlowski Farm Agriculture Foundation 2013 Student Scholarship-$1000 scholarship given to one graduating seniors from a high school located in the MA growing region of the Connecticut River Valley.  The student must be continuing their education in the field of agriculture. He or she must have been accepted into a 2 or 4 year college, trade school or vocational program and intends to enroll in 2013. Application Due May 1, 2013

Stephen Phillips Memorial Scholarship Fund- offers renewable, 4-year scholarships to students with financial need who display academic excellence, a commitment to serving others in school, the community or at home, a strong work ethic, and leadership qualities. Application Due May 1, 2013