Welcome Back
RAHWAY HIGH SCHOOL!!
It's time for another exciting year!!
High school is a time full of many challenges, pressures, and opportunities!
Freshman - welcome aboard! I do hope that these next four years will bring you much excitement, opportunity, and fullfillment. Please, take advantage of all the opportunties you will be afforded, including our wonderful staff to AP Courses. It's never too early to become a "Vagelos Scholar!" Focus on your school work and study hard! Ask for help if you need it, buddy up with a friend for tutoring.
This year, freshmen, sophomores and juniors will be taking the PSAT on October 12th. All sophomores should be thinking about what they might like to do in the future. Do you want to go to college? Have a job? Join the military? Start exploring your options. Use www.collegeboard.com to help. Please come to the guidance office to take an interest inventory to see what direction you may want to start looking.
All juniors will be taking the HPSA in March. It's time to get serious about your future. What do you want to do once you graduate - do you want to start working right away? Go to College? Join the armed forces? If you choose to go to college, you want to start thinking about taking trips to see different campuses, think about what size school you would like, whether you prefer urban, suburban, or rural, and what you would like to major in. It is a year of choice and exploration!
Begin to research different colleges and majors that are of interest to you - websites like collegebaord.com and princetonreview.com
will be VERY helpful. Utilize them to their fullest, that is what they are there for!
Seniors - application time!!! It is your responsibility to know what you need to do for graduation! Please stay on target and stay focused!
Stay on top of your studies and keep those grades up! All applications must be submitted in a timely fashion. Make an appointment with me AT LEAST 15 SCHOOL DAYS before the application is due (remember to take into account holidays). You are responsible for getting recommendations from your teachers.
SAT TEST DATES
October 1 register by September 9
November 5 register by October 7
December 3 register by November 8
January 28 register by December 30
March 10 register by February 10
May 5 register by April 6
June 2 register by May 8
Are you confused about whether you should take the SAT or ACT?
An admissions counselor at Boston College says, "Many schools do not have a preference. The SAT assesses a student's potential to learn by testing math and verbal skills, and the ACT shows what a student has already learned in a variety of subjects. Schools take a student's day-to-day performance into account as well as his or her exam scores. Since most schools have no preference between the two tests, I'd suggest that the student take whatever test he or she is more comfortable with. Take a couple of practice tests and decide which one is right for you."
Another admissions counselor at Northwestern University said that "either test is completely acceptable, since both reflect aptitude. At Northwestern, 93% take the SAT, 57% take the ACT, and lots of students take both."
Questions for College Visits
(from the American School Counselor Association)
1. What is the typical class size for freshman? Upperclassmen?
Asking about student:teacher ratio wont' really give you the information that you want because it will vary from year to year. Ask about how large the specific freshmen classes are to get the best idea of what your child will experience. At large universities, many 101 level courses have lecture sections of 100 students or more and small discussion groups where students become better known to those who will grade them. At larger schools, many of the discussion groups are taught by teaching assistants. If the school makes use of graduate or undergraduate students as teaching
assistants, find out in what capacity and how often they serve. All schools say their professors are accessible to the students. See if this means just scheduled office hours or home phone numbers and coffee get-togethers.
2. Does the school provide tutors?
Inquire about the academic support facilities that the school provides, such as a writing center where a student can have a paper looked over before it is submitted. Is there a learning assistance service that provides workshops on study skills and time mangement. Within the specific college that your child is applying to as a major, there may be tutoring for technical courses which support that major. Is there a fee for such additional help?
3. Is housing guarenteed for all four years?
At large state universities be sure to inquire about early deadlines to secure freshman housing. Priority housing goes to incoming freshmen who return their contracts on time and to returning students who have had campus housing the previous semester. Transfer students and freshmen who turn in their forms late are likely to receive waiting list status for housing.
4. If the dorms are co-ed, is it by wing, floor, or every other room?
If your student is living in traditional freshman housing, it is usually by wing. If the floor is co-ed, what about the bathrooms? There is usually one bathroom per wing, one designated for females, the other for males. Yes, some small schools allow the students in a dorm to vote for co-ed bathrooms.
5. Are there fraternities and sororities?
6. How does he/she feel walking around the campus at night? What about the surrounding neighborhood in all four directions?
7. What is the quality of faculty advising?
8. How is the student turnout and spirit at sporting events?
9. Is the student body diverse or does one type dominate?
10. What happens on the campus on the weekends? Does it empty out or is there plenty to do?
11. Can freshmen have cars and are cars really necessary?
12. What outstanding professors or courses might the tour guide recommend regardless of the student's major?
FAQ for Financial Aid
1. Are a student's chances of being admitted to a college reduced if the student applies for financial aid?
Generally not. Nearly all colleges have a policy of "need-blilnd: admissions, which means that a student's financial need is taken into account in the admission decision. There are a few selective colleges, however, that do consider the ability to pay before deciding whether or not to admit a student. Please read all literature.
2. I will be receiving a scholarship from my local high school. How will this scholarship be treated in my financial aid award
Federal student aid regulaions specify that all forms of aid must be included within the definition of need, and need based recipients cannot receive more than the cost of education. This means that all monies you receive for financial aid, whether grant aid or outside scholarships, must be combined and cannot equal more than the total cost of the education.
3. How does the financial aid system work in cases of divorce or seperation? How are step-parents treated?
In the case of divorce or seperation, the application should be completed by the parent with whom the student lived with for the majority of the past twelve months. If the custodial parent has remarried, the step-parent must fill out the application along with the biological parent. This can be discussed with the financial aid office in your school.
4. I know we are supposed to apply for financial aid as soon as possible after January 1st. What if I don't have my W-2's yet and my tax return isn't done?
Typically the first financial aide application deadlines are in early February. There are many more that are later than February so more than likely your information will be complete. If not, use your best estimate.
5. Is there enough aid available to make it worthwhile for me to consider colleges that are more expensive than I can afford?
More than $60 billion is awarded to undergraduates every single year and more than half of all students enrolled in school qualify for some sort of aid.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO VISIT COLLEGES OVER THE SUMMER?
Visit www.college-visits.com for more information.
Important Financial Aid Information for JUNIORS:
WWW.HESAA.ORG
PLEASE CHECK OUT THIS WEBSITE - IT IS VERY IMPORTANT!!
For students who will be filing for financial aid next year, www.HESAA.org has alot of useful, important information that you NEED to be aware of. Please register on www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov. It is a website only for juniors in which you can get your PIN (you need this number in order to complete the FAFSA online) and a snapshot of future contributions. This website will give you an estimate of your EFC (Expected Family Contribution) and also let you know if you could be PELL eligible (a grant based on need for students who are interested in attending college). It will also let you know if you are eligible for other forms of financial aid. As you become a senior, all your information will be saved in this program and you will be able to fill out your FAFSA.
FYI - it can take SIX to EIGHT WEEKS for your paper version of the FAFSA to be processed as opposed to TWO TO THREE WEEKS for online applications! FILE ONLINE!
Do you suffer from Test Anxiety?
If you get sweaty palms, can't concentrate, get nauseous, etc. while thinking about OR taking an exam, you probably suffer from test anxiety.
Don't focus on those symptoms!! Here are some strategies to deal with it:
1. Turn off the negative self-talk
2. Avoid the "doom mongers" - those who say the test is hard or will be hard.
3. Get some exercise in the few days before the exam. Get alot of sleep and decrease caffeine - fatigue increases anxiety
4. Stay relaxed, taking slow, deep breaths - if you blank on an exam - breathing exercises will help, they won't waste time! You will be more productive when you are calm!
TEST TAKING STRATEGIES:
DETER (www.how-to-study.com)
D = Directions
Read the test directions carefully
As teacher to explain anything you don't understand
You achieve a good score by following directions
E = Examine
Examine entire test to see how much you have to do
Break it down into manageable parts
T = Time
Once you examine the test, decide how much time will be spent on each part
If different points for items, spend the most amount of time on things that count the most
Watch for essays - allot yourself time
E = Easiest
Answer the easiest items first
R = Review
If you have planned your time correctly, you will have time to review your answers
Be sure to review the test directions also
STUDY HABITS:
You should be able to answer YES to all of these questions.....
1. Is my study place available to me whenever I need it?
2. Is my study place free from interruptions?
3. Is my study place free from distractions?
4. Does my study place contain all the materials I need?
5. Does my study space contain a large enough desk or table?
6. Does my study space have a comfortable chair?
7. Does my study place have enough light?
8. Does my study place have a comfortable temperature?
Graduation Requirements:
REQUIRED COURSES YEARS CREDITS
1. English 4 20 credits
2. American History 2 10 credits
3. World Cultures 1 5 credits
4. Mathematics 3 15 credits
5. Science 3 15 credits
6. Phys. Ed/Health 4 20 credits
(1 year/per year of enrollment)
7. Visual and Performing Arts 1 5 credits
8. World Language* 1 5 credits
9. Career education and consumer, family and
life skills or vocational technical education
1 5 credits
10. Additional 20 elective credits to fulfill
State and District requirements
11. Successful achievement of the HSPA Standards
*At least two years of a world language is recommended, especially for students who are college bound.
***REMEMBER*** State law REQUIRES you to take ONE year of each:
Visual/Performing Art - ROTC (based on core curriculum content standards) Intro to Dance, Dance I, Dance II, Madrigals, Indroduction to Piano, Piano II, Concert Band, Marching Band, Mixed Chorus, Theater Arts I, Advanced Theater, all Broadcasting Courses, Art I, Art II, Art Major, Commercial Art
Career Education and Consumer, Family, and Life Skills - Accounting I and II, Computer Applications I and II, Marketing I and II, Introducation to Education I and II, Peer ELadershiop. Graphic Arts 1-3, Technology 1-4, Technical Drawing 1-3, Silk Screen Printing, Family and Consumer Science, Foods and Nutrition I and II, Child Development I and II, Independent Living, Vo-Tech 10-1, ROTC
HELPFUL WEBSITES
FIND A SUMMER PROGRAM
http://collegeboard.com (Type "summer school program" in the top search field to get information about whether summer programs are right for
you.)
http://mysummercamps.com (Choose your summer program based on location, type, subject, duration, etc.)
GENERAL COLLEGE INFORMATION, SEARCHES, ETC.:
http://collegeboard.com (Click on "College Matchmaker" to customize your college search.)
http://collegeNET.com (Click on College Search to customize your search, view forums, scholarships)
http://princetonreview.com (Career interest inventory is available.)
http://petersons.com (Click on "high school student" under the college tab - customize your
college search.)
http://campusdirt.com (Inside information on colleges - student quotes, college comparisons.)
http://fastweb.com (Search for a scholarship.)
http://www.knowhow2go.org/ (Financial Aid - scroll to "Comparing Aid Packages")
http://overview.com/colleges (The basics of college admission, very teen friendly)
My contact information is
Nicole Gleason
Rahway High School
1012 Madison Avenue
Rahway, NJ 07065
(732) 396-1000 ext. 2903
E-mail:
ngleason@rahway.net
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