Summit Educational Group Information - Webinars, Practice Tests, etc.

 

College Admissions Testing: Your Road Map to the SAT & ACT Thur, Dec 17   7pm - 8pm   REGISTER Join us in this informational webinar to learn all about today's college testing landscape. We'll talk about the differences between the SAT and ACT, how and when to prepare, as well as how the results play into decisions by admissions and financial aid officers.

FREE PRACTICE TESTS Offered Every Weekend

Each and every weekend, we are administering free proctored practice SAT, ACT, SSAT, and ISEE, all with options for extended time accommodations. After the practice test, students receive a detailed Score Report and a complimentary consultation to guide them through the analysis, identify strengths, and areas for improvement, and provide advice on your testing plan.

SEE THE SCHEDULE

AN ALTERNATIVE PATH TO QUALIFYING FOR NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP

Many schools had to cancel plans to administer the PSAT/NMSQT this fall and, although College Board has added a national testing date in January, it looks unlikely that all schools will be able to offer it even then. High school juniors who are interested in qualifying for the 2022 National Merit competition have another path. One that's been in existence for some time, although we expect that more students than usual will take advantage of it this year. The College Board's solution: take the SAT (sometime before June), request that your scores are sent to NMSC, and submit the alternate entry form.

**The Guidance Department is sharing resources that we believe may be helpful to families as they navigate the college process during this uncertain time. We do not endorse any specific group or organization in regards to test prep and/or college counseling.

Juniper Young Writers Online Winter Workshops

 

The Juniper Young Writers Online Winter Workshop (December 28-31) will give you the time and expert guidance necessary to end 2020 on a creative streak and set some writing goals for 2021. You will gain insight to the creative writing process, with opportunities to learn from an extraordinary group of dedicated instructors, and peers who share your love of writing. Guided write-alongs and Writing Labs will provide you with feedback and space to share your work. Instructors will also offer their ever-popular Writer’s Life sessions, where they’ll share their own work and writing tips. Finally, we'll wrap up and roll into the new year with a celebratory Participant Reading.  The application deadline is November 30

Apply Now

Seniors - Regular Decision Deadlines

 Dear Seniors:

A friendly reminder regarding regular decision applications: Guidance Counselors will be sending transcripts and letters of recommendation AFTER first quarter grades are finalized in early December.  Colleges are expecting to see these grades on your transcript for regular decision consideration. 

Please contact your guidance counselor if you have questions.

Columbia University Academic Year Immersion Program

Columbia University's Academic Year Immersion Program's upcoming spring semester.

As with our fall 2020 courses, the spring 2021 semester is designed as 10-week remote instruction held on Saturdays and Sundays in the morning and afternoon. Taught by our Columbia instructors in real-time, courses cover disciplines from the arts to finance to physical and social sciences to technology. A rich array of co-curricular activities is offered daily before morning classes and during the break between morning and afternoon classes. We’re very pleased that many students currently taking the Program have told us that they plan to continue in the spring. They’ve shared that their peer-to-peer experiences have been particularly engaging and that they are learning from each other as well as their instructors.

The Academic Year Immersion Program runs January 16–March 21, 2021. Applications are due by December 14, 2020.

1. The deadline to apply for the spring semester is December 14.  Students can access the application and admissions requirements here.
2. Interested students can visit our website here to RSVP for information sessions.
3. Students can have their application fee waived by using this code: HSIM220.
4. Apply early! Course registration is available on a rolling basis, and courses may fill before the application deadline. Students can register for 1-4 courses on weekends.
5. The program cost is $1,500 per course, plus an $86 activities and technology fee.

UMASS Winter Pre-College Programs

 Winter Pre-College Programs for High School Students

December 2020 | January 2021

Please share this opportunity with your students!

New this winter, UMass Amherst is offering online pre-college programs in several popular topics. Pre-college programs allow high school students to experience college-level academics and explore potential majors. Our programs feature synchronous instruction and hands-on projects, scheduled during after-school hours.

• Sport Leadership Academy
• Kinesiology: Pathway to the Medical Professions
• Intro to Research in Psychology
• Intro to Programming with Video Games
• Winter Design Academy
• Digital Drawing & Watercolors in Architecture and Landscape Architecture

Programs run from 1 week to 4 weeks in length, depending on the topic. All programs are taught by UMass faculty and graduate students, using best practices for online course delivery designed to maximize opportunities for engagement and interaction. 

Applications
High school students in grades 9 - 12 are welcome to apply. Admissions are rolling now through December.

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Winter Session Undergraduate Courses for High School Seniors

December 7, 2020 - January 16, 2021

High school seniors are invited to earn college credit by enrolling in regularly scheduled online undergraduate courses alongside UMass Amherst students. Courses are available in a variety of subjects, taught by UMass faculty and graduate students.

Undergraduate courses at UMass are offered asynchronously, so students can view lectures and complete assignments when it's convenient for them. Students will also take a 1-credit college success seminar that meets live weekly through Zoom.

Registration deadline is December 1st.

ASVAB - January 8, 2021

For students interested in taking the ASVAB Assessment, please contact Mr. Doherty, (Guidance) BDoherty@westfordk12.us   

The ASVAB will take place January 8, 2021 (7:30 AM) at Westford Academy.

Here is a quick description of ASVAB:

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is a multiple-aptitude battery that measures developed abilities and helps predict future academic and occupational success in the military. It is administered annually to more than one million military applicants, high school, and post-secondary students.

MIT Society of Engineers (SWE) College Admission Seminar - This Saturday November 21

 MIT Society of Engineers (SWE) is planning to hold a College Admission Seminar Series on Saturday November 21st (11am-1pm, with a 30 minute break for lunch).

All students should sign up by Friday, November 20th  HERE!

MIT Society of Women Engineers (SWE) is hosting two seminars for high school students (one already done!). There will be a raffle at the end to give out prizes.

Seminar 2: College Advice and Support

Date: November 21st

Time: 11am-1pm

The College Advice and Support Seminar will focus on providing information about the college process for all interested high school students. Join us for a presentation, Q&A with current MIT students, and individualized college advice.

11am-11:30am - Presentation from MIT SWE about college process.

11:30am-12pm - Lunch break! Informal Q&A with current MIT students.

12pm-1pm - Breakout rooms for high school juniors and seniors for more personal advice about choosing where to apply, and choosing a college, and individualized essay advice.

Next Episode - College Guidance Network: “Navigating the New Normal of Optional Testing”

 

College Guidance Network’s experts have answers on this week’s episode, “Navigating the New Normal of Optional Testing.”    On this episode your students and their families will learn: What “test optional” and other testing jargon really means How an application without test scores will be considered How testing fits into the entire application process Please share this Zoom link with your students for practical tips and live Q&A on Wednesday, November 18 at 7 p.m. EST: Counselors Diane Scott from Academy of the Pacific Rim, a public charter school in Boston, and Kate Ramsdell from Noble & Greenough School in Dedham, Massachusetts. Admissions experts Peter Wilson, Deputy Dean and Director of Admissions at the University of Chicago, and moderator Leigh Weisenburger, Dean of Admission and Financial Aid, Bates College.  Know other counselors and educators who would love to share this information with their school community? Be sure to share the episode information with your peers!

ADD TO YOUR GOOGLE CALENDAR

MA State Universities Virtual Fair - November 19

The MA State Universities are excited to invite you to our Virtual College Fair and College Panel. 

During this two night event, there will be an opportunity to meet with, hear from, and ask questions of all nine Massachusetts State Universities. 

This event is an open style college fair, where visitors can move at their own pace, in and out of virtual rooms to meet with admission reps from each campus. 

We are excited to have you join us and ask that you encourage your students and their families to attend both events as well. For more information or to register click the links below.

Registration for College Fair  

MCPHS Virtual Fall Open House!

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS)’ upcoming Virtual Fall Open House!

Save the date for our November Fall Open House, held Nov. 17, 18, and 19 from 6 pm to 7 pm EST, to learn about MCPHS, ranked the #1 most transformative college in the U.S.

In one hour of content spread across three days, students will:

• Learn about our academic programs and pathways in the healthcare field
• Discover scholarship and financial aid opportunities
• Interact with current MCPHS students and alumni to hear what their experience has been like
• Live chat with MCPHS counselors to get their questions answered right away
• ...And more!

REGISTER

Final Date for NEACAC Virtual College Fair - Sunday November 15

Student & Counselor Registration Now Open!

Student and Counselor registration for NEACAC’s Virtual Fall College Fairs is now open! 

Partnering with GoToCollegeFairs, NEACAC is excited about this unique opportunity for students to explore virtual “booths”, chat with admission representatives, watch presentations, and much more! More than 250 Institutions will be exhibiting at the College Fairs. 

We invite you to share this opportunity with students and their families. Registration is required, but is FREE! In order to register, please visit our website and follow the steps to register and gain access to the fair. 

Admission Representatives will be available LIVE one more time this fall:

Sunday, November 15, 2020 (1-3:00 pm)

In addition to these dates, the website will remain a valuable resource to you as booths will remain available through December 31, 2020. We encourage counselors and students to come back and visit throughout the fall for new information and presentations! 

Next Episode of College Guidance Network: First-Generation Students: Practical Tips for College Admissions

 

Attending college is a life-changing opportunity. The process of finding and applying to college can be complex and confusing—especially for high schoolers who are the first in their family to do so. Add a pandemic to the mix, and the level of uncertainty increases significantly.  You students and families will hear from our panel of experts, all first-generation students themselves, for a candid discussion filled with practical tips and inspiring personal stories. Plus, get answers to questions related to financial aid, choosing a major, and fighting imposter syndrome.  First-Generation Students: Practical Tips for College Admissions Wednesday, November 11 at 7:00 PM ET Our panelists for this episode are;  Chuck Hughes, President and Founder, Road to College; Karen Stroud Felton, Director of Student Success and Pre-College Programs, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Business, Carmen Veloria, Community Relations Advisor for American Student Assistance. Lee Coffin, Dean of Admissions, Dartmouth College will moderate the conversation. Please share this information with your students and their families so that they can join us on Zoom for the private broadcast. All episodes include live Q&A with the experts. Know other counselors and educators who would love to share this information with their school community? Be sure to share the episode information with your peers!

REGISTER

Class of 2021 Application Updates

Seniors - 

Congratulations on making it to November 6! A few reminders as the college process continues: 

1. Please move your colleges from "Applying" to "Applied" once you have submitted your application in Scoir. 

2. If you receive emails from the colleges that you are missing any documents, please check Scoir prior to emailing your counselor. You will be able to see what school records have been sent and when. Colleges can take up to 2-3 weeks to match all of the documents in their system. 

3. Many, if not all, colleges will provide you with a username and password for their online portal within a few days of you submitting your application. Please make sure to login periodically to confirm receipt of your documents and check the status of your application.