Attention Juniors! UMASS Lowell is offering a Junior Preview Day on Saturday, April 24 at 10 a.m.  During Junior Preview Day, students have the chance to participate in live chats with faculty and current students, discover programs of study, chat with admissions representatives and get tips about applying, and learn more about financial aid options. You can register at: https://www.uml.edu/admissions/visit/junior-preview-day.aspx

Additional Scholarship Opportunities

Attention all seniors! 📣

Please take a look at the below scholarship opportunities: 

1️⃣ Elevated Boston, a real estate agency in Boston, has launched a scholarship for students planning on attending a college or university in Massachusetts in the fall of 2021. The Elevated Boston Leadership scholarship is open to incoming freshmen, transfer students, current university students, and graduate students, and will offer two students a $2500 scholarship for their coming school year. You can find more details and qualifications about the scholarship here. 

2️⃣ Bold.org, a student scholarship platform, is offering a $3,300 mental health scholarship opportunity with Westford Academy students. In partnership with the Mental Health Movement, one of the leading voices breaking the mental health stigma for young people, Bold.org is awarding $3,300 in scholarship funding to high school students who have battled with mental health, or who have had a loved one battle with mental health. All GPAs and planned future fields of study will be considered for the Mental Health Movement Scholarship. For more information on this award and how to apply, please click here.

Build Your College List Webinar - Save the Date!

The next live episode from College Guidance Network will air this Wednesday, February 24 from 8-9 PM EST. This episode will cover tips on finding the best schools you can get into and afford.

During this virtual event you will learn about:

• How to feel more comfortable making a list of schools in 3 categories: Reach, Target, Likely
• The varied landscape of institutions to get more comfortable with the array of choices and ultimately refine and personalize your college list
• How to minimize mistakes and maximize student success by addressing common myths in college list-making
• Two students’ personal stories: 1 from a liberal arts college and 1 from a STEM institute

REGISTER HERE

Event Details:

Topic: Build Your College List: Tips on Finding the Best Schools You Can Get Into and Afford

Speakers: Lauren Sefton, Senior Associate Director of Admission, Rhodes College; Dr. Kristin R. Tichenor, Vice President for Enrollment, Wentworth Institute of Technology; Anthony E. Jones, Associate Provost & Assistant Vice-President of Enrollment Management, Howard University; Mike Drish, Director of First-Year Admissions, UMass Amherst; Darryl Tiggle, School Counselor, Baltimore Friends School

Date: Wednesday, February 24th, 2021

Time: 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM EST

Location: Zoom

 

Reminder: 2021 Trustee Awards and Community Scholarships

 Reminder to all graduating seniors:

The Westford Academy Trustee and Community Scholarship and Award application process for graduating seniors is underway.  The firm deadline for submitting all applications is March 8th at 2:00 pm. No extensions or exceptions. For a complete listing and instructions on how to apply, please go to the WA website, under Guidance, and click on the Trustee Awards & Senior Scholarship Listing link located here. 

We hope everyone has a great February break!

Tips on Finding the Best Schools 
You Can Get Into and Afford

College Guidance Network is hosting a live webinar on February 24th that will cover tips on finding the best schools you can get into and afford. During this event, students and parents will learn about:

The College Guidance Network is hosting a live webinar on February 24th, from 8-9 PM, that will cover tips on finding the best schools you can get into and afford. During this event, students and parents will learn about:

• How to feel more comfortable making a list of schools in 3 categories: Reach, Target, Likely
• The varied landscape of institutions to get more comfortable with the array of choices and ultimately refine and personalize your college list
• How to minimize mistakes and maximize student success by addressing common myths in college list-making
• Two students’ personal stories: 1 from a liberal arts college and 1 from a STEM institute

REGISTER HERE

Event Details:

Topic: Build Your College List: Tips on Finding the Best Schools You Can Get Into and Afford

Speakers: Lauren Sefton, Senior Associate Director of Admission, Rhodes College; Dr. Kristin R. Tichenor, Vice President for Enrollment, Wentworth Institute of Technology; Anthony E. Jones, Associate Provost & Assistant Vice-President of Enrollment Management, Howard University; Mike Drish, Director of First-Year Admissions, UMass Amherst; Darryl Tiggle, School Counselor, Baltimore Friends School

Date: Wednesday, February 24th, 2021

Time: 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM EST

Location: Zoom 

Spring College Fairs

2021 NEACAC Spring College Fairs will be Virtual 

NEACAC is excited to continue their partnership with GoToCollegeFairs. Working with GoToCollegeFairs, NEACAC is able to simulate a college fair as Institutions build virtual booths, where they can offer (PDF) materials, answer live questions with video chat, and much more! 

Please save the dates below:

Tuesday, February 23rd from 6-7:30 pm EST

Sunday, March 14th from 1-3:00 pm EST
Wednesday, April 14th from 7-8:30 pm EST
Sunday, May 16th from 1-3:00 pm EST

Student Registration will open on February 17, 2021.

More information coming soon!

 Hi Juniors! Holy Cross is offering junior advisory seminars during February break. Topics range from Myths about Standardized testing to Making the Most of Virtual Visits. Here's the website to learn more and sign up: https://admissions.holycross.edu/register/?id=fd8aa6ae-24d4-4cf8-9fc5-4059ab6fc29a 

Students in grades 9 - 11 - Interested in emergency preparedness?

Jed Fiato here from FEMA Region. I hope that you are doing fantastic! I want to share with you an amazing opportunity to join the National Youth Preparedness Council, as the application window is currently open for potential new members to apply and join our team. 

Do you know a teen who has a passion for preparedness? FEMA is accepting applications for its 2021 Youth Preparedness Council (YPC). Since 2012, FEMA has brought youth from across the Nation together to serve on the YPC. Each year, teens apply to the YPC for an opportunity to join FEMA in encouraging emergency preparedness. 

YPC members are selected for two-year terms. Applicants should be between 8th grade and 11th grade. As part of the YPC, members can build leadership skills and represent their schools and communities. They also share their perspectives, feedback, and opinions with FEMA. The YPC gives youth the chance to meet peers from across the country and work on projects with the fellow members, such as preparedness fairs for their communities, building emergency preparedness newsletters, and training programs for school aged kids. 

A virtual summit in July gives members a chance to meet each other and hear from FEMA experts. If applicants are unsuccessful in their bid for National YPC this year, they can join the Region 1 New England YPC. In Region 1, we have built a robust YPC program with members representing communities across New England. We have members working on building emergency response data applications, facilitating disaster recovery scenarios, instructing school aged kids on preparedness and readiness, and creating readiness and recovery graphic novels for school aged kids. 

This year we are very excited about a new YPC Leadership Program that we are offering to our members. The Leadership Program will consist of a series of trainings and workshops that highlight professional development skills and relevant emergency preparedness and disaster recovery issues. Right now is a great opportunity for potential candidates to apply for the Youth Preparedness Council. 

So if you know anyone that you think would be a great addition to our team, please share with them the application information below and have them reach out to Jed Fiato (jedidiah.fiato@associates.fema.dhs.gov ) or Arlene Magoon (Arlene.Magoon@fema.dhs.gov ). It’s for interested youth in grades 8-11; many benefits to them and our communities. Additionally, it may count towards community service hours their schools may have. 

The application period is open to teens in grades 8-11 until March 7, 2021. Learn more on Ready Kids and apply here! Please see the important links below for more information: 

 

Important Links: 

FEMA Youth Preparedness Council Application Form: https://go.usa.gov/xAmJh 

FAQ: https://go.usa.gov/xAmS4 

Application Instructions: https://go.usa.gov/xAmSW 

Member Roles and Responsibilities: https://go.usa.gov/xAmSX 2021 Apply to YPC Flyer.pdf

College Admissions Bootcamp

 Admissions Bootcamp

Have a question regarding the college admissions and application process? NEARR is offering a free College Admissions and Application Bootcamp! Please take a look at the below webinars: 

March 15: Common College Search Myths Busted

March 23: Building A College List (Outside of New England)

March 31: Tips for Writing the College Essay

April 8: Ask Admissions Anything

April 13: Application Case Studies 



Registration will open in mid-February for these FREE events. Additional information and registration can be found here: https://click.regionalreps.org/admissionsbootcampe8d47

“Starting the Conversation: College and Your Mental Health” Webinar Monday,March 8, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. The webinar’s panel of college administrators and a recent college graduate who experienced mental health challenges in college encourage transition age families to start conversations about mental health before students leave home. It is prudent to understand privacy laws, what can be communicated by college administrations, and that colleges differ in supports. Students, parents/guardians welcome. Presented by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Central Middlesex. Co-sponsored by theActon-Boxborough United Way and the Mystic Valley Behavioral Health Coalition. Attendees must register in advance for this webinar at namicentralmiddlesex.org. Attendance limited. Questions may be submitted in advance to nami.cmsx@gmail.com.