College Fair Opportunities

 Register at: https://virtualcollegefairs.org/events

Class of 2021 - Scholarship Opportunities

Below you will find a list of 15 Scholarship Programs that will give out more than 615 Individual Scholarship Awards during the 2021 school year. 

To see the Scholarship Newsletter in a PDF, visit the following link:

*Newsletter is available for PDF Download here: https://studentscholarships.org/newsletter.php

Webinar: Do’s and Don’ts as You Chart Your Path to College

 

College Guidance Network is hosting a live webinar on January 27th that will cover the do’s and don’ts as you chart your path to college. During this event, students and parents will: Identify priorities in and out of the classroom Listen to real students who recently went through the experience Hear from nationally recognized experts and experienced admissions officers who can offer insights on essential topics Foreshadow and demystify the (four) key parts of the application process Separate fact from fiction in the (twelve) most common beliefs surrounding college admissions Please share this information with your students and their families so that they can join us on Zoom for the episode. All episodes include live Q&A with the experts. REGISTER Event Details: Topic: Do’s and Don’ts as You Chart Your Path to College Speakers: Candice Mackey, College Counselor, LACES Magnet School in LA Unified; Heather Ayres, Former Director of Admission at Wellesley College; Sabrina Manville, Co-founder of Edmit Date: Wednesday January 27th, 2021 Time: 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM EST Location: Zoom

Register at: https://www.collegeguidancenetwork.com/ef

Framingham State University Application Completion Days

The FSU Admissions Team will be hosting a series of virtual application workshops during the months of January and February to assist in completing both the Common Application and the FSU online application.  

Students can register using the link below to schedule a virtual meeting with one of our counselors. Once registered, they will be emailed the link to join their session closer to the start of the event.   

REGISTRATION LINK 

UMass Summer Pre-College Applications Open

 Summer Pre-College 2021

 

Good news! Applications are now open for Summer Pre-College at UMass Amherst! We've partnered with University faculty from many campus departments to offer you a wide variety of options this summer. Topics range from sport management and business to engineering, animal science, architecture and much more. Visit our website for the full list of program offerings.

New for Summer 2021:

• Creative Coding & Data Visualization
• Isenberg Business Ethics Academy
• Equine Science Intensive: Horse Pregnancy & Foaling
• Programming for Aspiring Scientists: Python with Applications to Physics
• Research Intensives in Psychology - Labs include the Deater-Deckard Lab and Mandalaywala Lab

All programs will be fully online and taught by UMass Amherst faculty and graduate students, combining live video instruction, independent project / group work, and check-ins with faculty and TA’s. Each course includes a minimum of 8 hours/week of live instruction plus offline assignments. Students will earn college credits and will be able to request an official UMass transcript. 

Please visit our website and check out the full list of programs, as well as the application. Admissions are rolling!

TCNJ Virtual Tour

 

To help you get to know us, we’ve mapped out 16 hot spots on campus. Have fun exploring the places where we love to live and learn.

EXPERIENCE THE TOUR

UMass Dartmouth Virtual Preview Day - January 30

 

Virtual Preview Day on Saturday, January 30 at 11am. UMassD students will share their experiences.

Register Here

An up-to-date list of virtual events is available at umassd.edu/visit/virtual.

BU Winter Visit Days

 We will be hosting special virtual Winter Visit Days for your sophomores and juniors and their families to learn more about Boston University. These events will include a student panel, a live guided tour, and in-depth information sessions, covering everything from student life to study abroad opportunities to what makes an application competitive for admission.

Monday, February 15
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Saturday, February 20
12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time

To register for a Winter Visit Day, students may visit our website.

We will also be hosting events for BU's schools and colleges during the week of February 15 for an inside look at the academic programs that interest your students. Students may continue to check our website for the most up-to-date information regarding these events.

Class of 2022/2023/2024 - Summer Opportunities

Carnegie Mellon's Pre-College Programs in the fine arts are six-week residential experiences that provide high school students with the opportunity to develop their skills in a conservatory or studio setting. For years, Carnegie Mellon has been recognized for the quality of education that is provided within our College of Fine Arts. Through the Pre-College program, high school students have access to this instruction and mentorship from full-time faculty members.

Our summer Pre-College program options in the fine arts include the following:

• Architecture, provides students architectural experience within the studio, supported by integrated coursework in analog drawing, digital media, seminars and workshops.
• Art, where students will hone their craft through challenging courses, critique, workshops, and portfolio development.
• Design, for students who would like to receive a foundation of Design skills through studio learning, lectures, and critiques.
• Drama, for students who would like to build their audition repertoire and portfolio with acclaimed faculty.
• Music, where students participate in a conservatory-style curriculum and experience life within a research university.

Students may apply for the program here.

Penn Summer High School Programs welcome bright and ambitious high school students who want to experience Ivy League academics with leading faculty and stand out on college applications. With program options available for 2-, 3- or 6-week programs, high school students from around the world can experience summer with Penn. Penn Summer Prep: Experience university level-academics in the 2-week, non-credit program Penn Summer Academies: Dive deep into academic study for 3 intensive weeks in one of the non-credit academies Pre-College Program: Take 6-week for-credit summer courses alongside Penn undergraduates Applications are now open, and the deadline for 2021 applications is May 1.  www.upenn.edu/summer Denison University in Granville, Ohio, for the acclaimed Reynolds Young Writers Workshop. The workshop is an eight-day residential program that incorporates small creative writing workshops, group sessions with Denison creative writing faculty and notable visiting writers, and much more. Only 48 students get the chance to come to the Hill to participate each June. That means students experience small, intimate writing workshops and one-on-one interactions with people who have made writing their career. It's a great way to connect with a close-knit community of writing teachers, mentors, and peers from around the world.Now Accepting Applications! The program runs from June 20-27, 2021. Financial assistance is available to families who qualify, and information about the program is online at reynolds.denison.edu. Applications must be submitted no later than Sunday, March 7, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. This is your students' chance to work with award-winning authors whose work has appeared in publications like The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and SB Nation; who have published books; who care deeply about storytelling; and who love to teach. University of Miami Summer Scholars Program enables students to discover their academic passion while preparing for college success. Students in the 2021 Summer Scholars Program will explore possible career paths, learn from renowned UM faculty, and connect with other high-achieving high school students in one of the following options delivered in a synchronous, remote format: The three-week option will run from July 4, 2021, to July 23, 2021, and provide high school sophomores and juniors the chance to earn six college credits The two-week option will run from July 4, 2021, to July 16, 2021, and provide high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors a noncredit, immersive experience START APPLICATION Receive a $25 application fee waiver* When students enter the “GUIDANCE” waiver code on page five of the application by the Priority Application Deadline of February 1, 2021, they can: Reduce the cost of the application fee by $25 Secure priority in their preferred academic specialty Receive their acceptance status earlier  Edge, the University of Delaware's summer college program. The Edge summer college program is a five-week, credit-bearing college experience held July 11 – Aug. 14, 2021. Edge is designed for high school students moving into their junior and senior years. Students in Edge will have the opportunity to attend college courses taught by University of Delaware faculty, participate in on- and off-campus curricular and co-curricular activities, and live in a UD residence hall.   Please note that while we are planning to host the program on UD’s campus this summer, we are monitoring public health conditions and will follow the guidance of the CDC, health officials, and the leadership of the University. Should our plans need to change, we will be sure to send updates promptly.    Previous Edge students have described their experience in glowing terms: “I had such a wonderful time in and out of the classroom and I learned so much about college and college life and even more about myself. I met people from all walks of life and I had such a unique and special experience that I will hold with me for the rest of my life.” —rising H.S. senior   “The five weeks I spent completing the Edge program were definitely ones I will never forget. Among learning how to be on my own, I learned time management and life skills.” —rising H.S. senior More information about this program, and the link to apply, can be found at www.udel.edu/edge.

NACAC Virtual College Fair - Sunday January 31

 The first NACAC Virtual College Fair of the year is Sunday, January 31 from 1-7 p.m. ET!

Encourage your students to register for free at virtualcollegefairs.org.

More than 100,000 students and families signed up for NACAC virtual fairs this past fall. Students give them an enthusiastic "thumbs up" because it's so easy to drop in on live Zoom sessions offered by hundreds of colleges on a single day.

NACAC has begun promoting the fairs on Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram. But your recommendation has the greatest impact! A Counselor's Resource page is available with downloadable flyers, social media graphics, and more.

Information from CollegeBoard - Discontinuation of Subject Tests and Optional Essay

 

Happy New Year! We hope you had a relaxing holiday season.

As students and colleges adapt to new realities and changes in the college admissions process, the College Board is making sure our programs adapt with them. The pandemic accelerated a process already underway at the College Board to simplify our work and reduce demands on students. As part of this process, we're making substantial investments in the SAT® Suite of Assessments and in tools to help colleges connect with students. We are providing three updates today and will continue to consult with our members on this ongoing work.

1. We're discontinuing SAT Subject Tests.

The expanded reach of AP® and its widespread availability for low-income students and students of color mean the SAT Subject Tests™ are no longer necessary for students to show what they know. AP provides students rich and varied opportunities to showcase their knowledge and skills through college-level coursework. Courses like AP Computer Science Principles and AP Capstone™ provide the type of hands-on learning experiences and practical, real-world work that colleges want to see from students. We'll no longer offer the SAT Subject Tests in the U.S. Students in the U.S. will automatically have their registrations canceled and receive a refund. Because SAT Subject Tests are used internationally for a wider variety of purposes, we'll provide two more administrations in May and June of 2021 for students in international locations. We've contacted our member colleges, and they'll decide whether and how to consider SAT Subject Test scores from students who have them. Students should check colleges' websites for the most up-to-date information on their application policies.

2. We're discontinuing the optional SAT Essay.

This decision recognizes that there are other ways for students to demonstrate their mastery of essay writing. At the same time, writing remains essential to college readiness, and the SAT will continue to measure writing and editing skills. The tasks on the SAT Reading and Writing and Language tests are among the most effective and predictive parts of the SAT. Students can still take the SAT with Essay through the June 2021 SAT administration. After June 2021, we'll continue to provide the essay only in states where it's required for SAT School Day administrations for accountability purposes. Students who are registered for the SAT with Essay this spring can cancel the Essay portion at any time, free of charge.

3. We're exploring a more flexible SAT—a streamlined, digitally delivered exam that meets the evolving needs of students and higher education.

The pandemic has highlighted the importance of being innovative and adaptive to what lies ahead. We're committed to making the SAT a more flexible tool, and we're making substantial investments to do so. We are consulting with our members in K–12 and higher education and will have more to share about that work later this spring. There's still a clear demand from students to take the SAT as a way to show their strengths to colleges. Most immediately, we're working to provide as many opportunities as possible for students in the class of 2022 to take the SAT this year by:

• Allocating seats that would've gone to students taking SAT Subject Tests to those who want to take the SAT. • Being prepared to expand capacity for existing administrations and add administrations in the fall if the pandemic continues to impact testing this spring.

Through it all, we'll continue to prioritize the health and safety of students and staff; all safety requirements that were in place last fall will remain in place at least through the spring 2021 administrations.

FAFSA Day - Earn a scholarship by attending a FAFSA Day event

Happy new year! We’re writing to send you one very important reminder:

SUBMIT YOUR FAFSA FOR COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID AT FAFSA.GOV

Your FAFSA will allow colleges to determine if you’re eligible to receive FREE money for college next year. And you don’t want to miss that!

And as an added bonus, FAFSA Day MA is offering a $1,000 college scholarships to a high school senior who attends a FAFSA Day event and completes the attendee survey.

These free, virtual FAFSA Day events will help you and your family complete your FAFSA. Register by clicking on an event below.

 Sunday, February 7th @ 2:00 p.m. en Español: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_aAeyBKVjTRq5XxDLHHmaHg

 Thursday, February 11th @ 7:00 p.m. in English: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TCXlWO_1RaOJ3u_5mqqsSw

Even if you can’t attend a FAFSA Day event, be sure to submit your FAFSA at fafsa.gov.

If you have any questions, please reach out to your counselor.

Register now for a free webinar: You’ve been Accepted to College, Now What?

Register now for a free webinar: You’ve been Accepted to College, Now What?

Wednesday, January 27 | 2pm ET Register Now     Thursday, January 28 | 8pm ET Register Now

Congratulations on your accomplishments! Please join a discussion to learn about the next steps in your college journey. This webinar will help you understand critical points with making your college decision.

• Additional research about campus and community options • Factors for choosing a college • How to complete the financial aid process • Comparing financial aid offers • What to do if you need more money • Finding scholarships • Your to do list once you make your college decision

Space is limited, so please register early!

Plus, check out the Paying for College Resource for more ways to help pay for college, including helpful guides, free tools, and a video series.

Free SAT Workshop on Jan 20th

 

Cotter Simplified Test Prep

Free SAT Workshop on Jan 20th Click here for Details & Registration Please forward this along to your students if you think it will be helpful... How helpful could a free 60-minute SAT math class possibly be?….Very helpful! And this is why… There are 3 types of SAT math problems that students tend to find most challenging: advanced algebra, problems with data tables, and word problems. These 3 types of problems also account for nearly half the problems on the math sections of the SAT! In this 60-minute SAT math class, we will be focusing on 3 simple strategies, each designed to tackle one of these 3 most difficult, and most common, types of SAT math questions.

**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.

Seniors - Cap and Gown order!

 Seniors – Class of 2021

It is time to order your CAP & GOWN for graduation! Please click on the link below to watch a brief informational video AND to place your order.  Your cap and gown are custom made for YOU.  It is very important that you order your cap and gown now and ON TIME! By ordering now, we can be sure that your cap and gown is delivered (to Westford Academy) in plenty of time for graduation. Please place your order by JANUARY 22^nd!  LATE FEES will be applied after the deadline.

 

Sincerely,

 

Jostens

To order your cap and gown, click on the link below and then click on the box that reads: "ORDER your CAP & GOWN by Clicking Here!"

Then click on "GRADUATION"

And then choose which graduation package you prefer.  The "MINI" package for $36.00 includes just the cap, gown, stole, and tassel which is all you need for graduation.  The other packages include additional items that you may wish to purchase.

https://www.westfordk12.us/wa/principals-corner/links/cap-gown-order-class-2021

Any questions, please click on the "Contact me via email" box.

Superposition’s EmpowHERment Conference - This Saturday 1/16

Interested in Free Prizes, Inspiring Speakers & Women Empowerment? Register for Superposition’s EmpowHERment Conference!

On January 16th, Superposition is hosting our first virtual EmpowHERment Conference to empower women of diverse backgrounds to become societal leaders through workshops, panels, and scholarships! Our conference is open to individuals of all ages & gender identities. Register today at http://bit.ly/sp_ec20!

About Us

Superposition is an international non-profit bridging the gender gap in STEM. We started off in 2016 as the Bay Area’s largest all-women and non-binary hackathon, partnering with VSCO and Uber, and have since expanded worldwide to 49 chapters, workshops, mentorship programs, and more. Find out how to start your own chapter at http://bit.ly/sp_chapterinfo! 

Schedule

• (10 AM PT) Opening Keynote: 

Speaker: Nita Singh Kaushal (Founder of Miss CEO, Stanford Lecturer)

• (10:30 - 11:15 AM) Women in STEAM Panel

Panelists: Grace Ling ✨(Founder of Design Buddies, 13K Members), Christine Jung (President of Blue Clarity), Jo Varshney (CEO of VeriSIM)

• (11:20 AM - 12:05 PM) Launching a Business Workshop

Presenter: Jade Darmawangsa (CEO of X8 Media, 500K Followers on YouTube & social media)

• (12:45 - 1:30 PM) Maximizing Your Career Workshop

Presenter: Stephanie Nuesi (Founder/CEO of Max Up career coaching, spoken at 100+ events)

• (1:35 - 2:20 PM) Leading a Successful Nonprofit Workshop

Presenter: Stephanie Hu (Founder of Dear Asian Youth, 130 Chapters & 55K Followers)

• (2:25 - 3 PM) Youth Activist Panel