Kaplan Test Prep

Once again KAPLAN will be offering SAT and ACT test prep courses this winter/spring to BHS juniors. Information has been mailed this week to all juniors, but we wanted to post the schedule for students/parents that wanted to get an early jump on test prep registration. Registration must be completed as soon as possible. Burlington students only pay $275, which is a reduced price. To register please call 1-800-KAP-TEST .  The schedule of classes can be found here. 

KAPLAN test prep will also offer a FREE ACT/SAT Test at BHS on January 14th at 9AM. We recommended juniors take this diagnostic free test as it can help to determine if you should take the SAT or ACT. Click here for registration information. 

As a reminder all sophomores and juniors will have an assembly on January 23rd during period 8 to review how to interpret PSAT results AND the Guidance Department and Kaplan will host a PSAT results breakfast on January 25th fr any interested parent. 

Upcoming Financial Aid Events

                                          

Burlington High School will be hosting two upcoming financial aid events. We highly recommend Burlington High School senior parents attend (Class of 2017 ). Please be sure to check out the side bar on the Guidance Blog for links to more specific information in regard to financial aid and scholarship information. Below are descriptions of each event:

Event: Financial Aid 101- This event will be presented by College Funding Services.
Date: Thursday January 5, 2017
Location: Burlington High School
Description: This seminar covers the financial aid process in detail. A Financial  Advisor from College Funding Services will present beginning at 6:30 P.M. in the BHS auditorium.


Event: FAFSA DAY 2017- http://www.fafsaday.org/
Date: Sunday January 29, 2017 1:00 P.M.
Location: Burlington High School
Description: This is a non-profit volunteer driven effort across the state. Parents and students will receive:

• Free assistance completing the FAFSA

• Access to experienced financial aid administrators, and FAFSA experts, available to answer FAFSA questions.

• Guidance on the financial aid process and next steps after filing the FAFSA.

Parents MUST register at http://www.fafsaday.org/. Although computer labs are available, it is highly recommend that parents bring a laptop that day. Also if any parents are interested in volunteering as a Support Volunteer (registration tables, setup, cleanup, etc)  please feel free to register at http://www.fafsaday.org/volunteer.php

        

PSAT Score Release

Although PSAT scores are now available on Naviance, the Full PSAT Score report will be available on-line via collegeboard on Monday December 12th. It will be the responsibility of each student to access their free on-line college board account to view scores and the score report. The Guidance Department will mail home the test book before the December vacation week so students may review questions.

Included in the PSAT mailing will be information on Kaplan test prep. During period 8 on January 23rd the BHS Guidance Department will give an overview of how to interpret the PSAT scores, For parents, Kaplan test prep will host a Guidance breakfast on Thursday January 25th in the BHS Guidance Conference room. Please see below for helpful links:


CLICK HERE IF YOU NEED TO CREATE A COLLEGEBOARD ACCOUNT

CLICK HERE IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A COLLEGBOARD ACCOUNT

CLICK HERE FOR A SAMPLE SCORE REPORT, HELPFUL VIDEOS AND OTHER RESOURCES

GiveBackTime

GiveBackTime is a web-based volunteer hub where nonprofits and volunteers can collaborate, communicate, and celebrate volunteerism.  Students can find volunteer opportunities in their local communities related to their own specific interests.  Use our search interface to filter wonderful service opportunities today.


Jared Blake from GivebackTime will be at BHS during 1st and 2nd lunch on December 5th to work with students on setting up accounts and how to use the program. 

Club Z Tutoring

FREE Full length SAT or ACT practice test available online from Club Z Tutoring. The best way to familiarize yourself with the SAT or the ACT is to take a full length practice test. With this tool you can take the test at your convenience on your laptop or on your tablet and get immediate feedback on your estimated scores for each section. In addition, there is a video library that explains the answer to each question and an explanation of the concept being tested. It’s like having your personal SAT tutor in your back pocket. Don’t know whether the SAT or the ACT is the better test for you? Take both and compare! Go to www.zprepscorebooster.com for more information and to get your free practice test. Great SAT scores are just a click away.

Breakfast on Stress and Anxiety

The Guidance Department at Burlington High School will be hosting a Parent Breakfast on Wednesday 11/16, from 8:30-9:30 AM in the BHS Guidance College and Career Center. The purpose of this breakfast is to give parents of Burlington High School students the opportunity to have an open dialogue around stress and anxiety with Burlington High School staff members. Stress and Anxiety impacts all students in a variety of ways. The breakfast is aimed at providing insight into stress and anxiety in adolescents and effective coping strategies.  We look forward to seeing you! Please RSVP at by calling 781-270-1780.

Pre-ACT at BHS

The Pre-ACT, a practice test for the ACT, will be offered to any interested juniors on Saturday November 19, 2016 at Burlington High School. The ACT is a college entrance examination that is an alternative to the SAT and is growing in popularity among Burlington High School students. Most colleges require either the ACT or the SAT and do not show preference to one or the other. This Pre-ACT exam offers your son/daughter an opportunity to take a practice test prior to taking the American College Test (ACT) in their junior or senior year. Please visit www.actstudent.org for more detailed information.

Registration information for the Pre-ACT was mailed home to all parents/guardians of juniors the week of October 24th. In order to register for the Pre-ACT, your son/daughter must complete the form that was mailed home and submit the form with a $32.00 fee to the Guidance Secretary. (Additional forms can be picked up in the guidance suite.)

The regular registration period ends Monday, November 7th at the close of school.  If your son/daughter misses the registration period, he/she may check with the Guidance Secretary to see if there are available test booklets and space to accommodate a late registration.  There will be an additional charge of $5.00 ($37.00 total) after November 7th.   

On Saturday morning, November 19th your son/daughter should arrive to school by 7:45 a.m. and testing will begin promptly at 8:00 a.m. Room assignments will be publicized prior to testing.  Your son/daughter should bring two sharpened #2 pencils and an approved calculator.  

Air Force ROTC Program

"Major Todd Meyers with the Air Force ROTC Program and Detachment 345 will be visiting BHS on Wednesday, November 9th at 10:00 (period 6 that day).  He is based out of the University of Massachusetts-Lowell while supporting Merrimack College, Rivier University, Middlesex Community College (CC), Northern Essex CC, and formerly Daniel-Webster College.  He has offered to talk with any interested students about the Air Force.  The UMass – Lowell Detachment is fortunate to have Mr. Gregory Forti (Burlington HS Graduate) in his Second Year of the Program.  Since AFROTC is offered at more than 1,100+ colleges/universities nation-wide, he can explain the program and potentially put the prospective college student in contact with the host Detachment.  See below for further details about the AFROTC Program and scholarship opportunities.

Students interested in attending this information session should sign up in advance by putting their name on a sign-up sheet on the Guidance Counter. They will then receive a pass that will need to be signed by their period 6 teacher giving them permission to attend the presentation. 

 Background about the AFROTC Program:  AFROTC prepares young men/women to become an Air Force Officer while earning a college degree.  AFROTC offers a wide variety of scholarships (including tuition, most lab fees, annual textbook allowance and a monthly cash stipend up to $500) and our Cadets on scholarship don’t incur military obligation until their sophomore year.  We have three scholarship types:

College Topics for Senior Parents

The Guidance Department will host a breakfast called “College Topics for Senior Parents”. The purpose of this breakfast is so the counseling staff can give a very brief overview of important tasks associated with the college selection and application process. This event is geared for parents that missed the Senior College Planning Night on 10/6/16. Please join us for this informative event on October 26th at 8:30 AM in the BHS Guidance College and Career Center. Parent's MUST RSVP by calling 781-270-1780.

College Fair co-hosted by the BHS Guidance Department

On Wednesday October 26th from 6:30 -8:30 p.m., a college fair will be held at the Shriner's Auditorium in Wilmington, MA. The Burlington High School Guidance Department co-sponsors the event with many other Middlesex League High Schools. Usually over one-hundred colleges will attend. A college fair can be a very overwhelming experience for parents and students. The National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) has developed a very helpful tips. We also recommend bringing a pre-determined list of colleges. Make it a priority to visit the schools on your list, then time permitting check out some others. Please remember you are not obligated to stay the whole time, many students spend about an hour at the event.  Below is the most up to date list of colleges attending:

College

Albany College of Pharmacy

Albertus Magnus College

American International College

Anna Maria College

Assumption College

Bay Path College

Bay State College

Brandeis University

Bridgewater State University

Bryant University

Castleton State College

Catherine Hinds Institute

Champlain College

Clark University

Clarkson University

Colby-Sawyer College

College of Mount St. Vincent

Curry College

Daniel Webster College

Dean College

Elms College

Emerson College

Emmanuel College

Endicott College

Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising

Fisher College

Fitchburg State University

Framingham State University

Franklin Pierce University

Hamilton College

High Point University

Hofstra University

Husson University

Iona College

Johnson and Wales University

Johnson State College

Keene State College

Lasell College

Lesley University

Lyndon State College

Manhattan College

Marist College

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences

Massachusetts Maritime Academy

Merrimack College

Middlesex Community College

Mount Holyoke College

Mount Ida College

National Aviation Academy - New England

New England College

New England Hair Academy

New England School of Photography

Newbury College

Nichols College

North Shore Community College

Northern Essex Community College

Norwich University

Paul Smith's College

Pennsylvania State University

Personal Financial Management Plus

Pine Manor College

Plymouth State University

Providence College

Quinnipiac University

Reading Cooperative Bank

Reading Scholarship Foundation

Regis College

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Rivier College

Roanoke College

Roger Williams University

Rutgers University

Sacred Heart University

Saint Anselm College

Saint John's University

Saint Joseph's College - Maine

Salem State University

Salve Regina University

School of Fashion Design

Siena College

Simmons College

Southern New Hampshire University

Springfield College

Stonehill College

Stonybrook University

Suffolk University

SUNY - Cobleskill

SUNY-Genesco

Syracuse University

Temple University

Unity College

University at Albany

University at Buffalo

University of Delaware

University of Limerick

University of Maine-Farmington

University of Maine-Orono

University of Massachusetts - Boston

University of Massachusetts-Amherst

University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth

University of Massachusetts-Lowell

University of New England

University of New Hampshire

University of New Haven

University of Scranton

University of Southern Maine

University of Tampa

University of Vermont

Vermont Technical College

Wells College

Wentworth Institute of Technology

Western New England University

Westfield State College

Wheaton College

Worcester State University

United States Army Recruiting Station

United States Army National Guard

United States Marine Recruiting Office

United States Navy Recruiting Office

An Evening with Admissions Expert Mark Montgomery

Date: Monday October 17th

Time: 6:30PM– 8:00PM

Location: Burlington (MA) High School Auditorium

Join us for an entertaining, informative, and stress-reducing presentation by a national expert in higher education. This presentation is aimed at students in 8^th through 11^th grade.  Students are encouraged to attend with their parents.

Senior College Planning Night

Senior College Planning Night was well attended with roughly 125 parents. The BHS Guidance staff covered many aspects of the college planning and application process were covered. For parents that missed the event, BCAT will stream the event within the next few weeks. Informational packets were distributed to all that attended. If you would like to pick up a packet please feel free to stop by the Guidance Office.

Also for parents that missed this event we will hold our annual "College Topics for Parents of Seniors" breakfast on October 26th at 8:30 AM in the BHS Guidance College and Career Center. This informative event will cover the various topics relating to the college selection and application process for parents of Burlington High School seniors.

In terms of financial aid, two very important forms were mentioned last night. The FAFSA and the CSS profile. Both forms are now available. We encourage parents to investigate both applications ASAP. Please remember that the BHS Guidance Department will host a Financial Aid Night on Thursday October 13, 2016 at 6:30, Thursday January 5, 2017 at 6:30 and BHS will be a location this year for FAFSA Day on January 29th.

Financial Aid Night

The BHS Guidance Department strongly recommends that senior parents attend a presentation on Thursday, October 13th, 2016 beginning at 6:30 PM in the BHS Auditorium. MEFA will host and give an overview of the financial aid process, specifically in regard to completing the FAFSA. The FAFSA is an on-line form that must be completed for seniors to be eligible for state and federal loans and grants (https://fafsa.gov/). This form is NOW available. Below are specific details about FAFSA changes.

From the MEFA Web-Site

On Sept. 14, 2015, President Obama announced significant changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®) process that will impact millions of students. Starting with the 2017­–18 application cycle, the following changes will be put in place: 

• Students will be able to submit a FAFSA^® earlier.  Students will be able to file a 2017–18 FAFSA as early as Oct. 1, 2016, rather than beginning on Jan. 1, 2017. The earlier submission date will be a permanent change, enabling students to complete and submit a FAFSA as early as October 1 every year. (There is NO CHANGE to the 2016–17 schedule. The FAFSA became available January 1 as in previous years.)
• Students will use earlier income information. Beginning with the 2017–18 FAFSA, students will be required to report income information from an earlier tax year. For example, on the 2017–18 FAFSA, students (and parents, as appropriate) will report their 2015 income information, rather than their 2016 income information.  

The following table provides a summary of key dates as we transition to using the early FAFSA submission time-frame and earlier tax information. 

View Accessible Version

If you’d like more details about the upcoming changes, you may read the fact sheet called College Students and Parents: What You Need to Know About the 2017­–18 FAFSA^®.

We will continue to update this site as the 2017–18 FAFSA launch approaches.

Learn more about the FAFSA process.

Academy Night 2016

The New England Service Academy Information night will be at the Danversport Yacht Club on 11/2/2016. The event begins with dinner at 5:00.

School and service representatives attending:
Naval Academy
Military Academy
Air Force Academy
US Merchant Marine
US Coast Guard
Mass. National Guard
Mass. Maritime Academy
Maine Maritime Academy
SUNY Maritime Academy
Navy ROTC
Army ROTC
Air Force ROTC
Norwich University
The Citadel
Valley Forge Military Academy
Virginia Military Institute
US Marine Corps

Please click here for more information 

Performing and Visual Arts College Fair

The National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) is pleased to announce its 2016 Boston Performing and Visual Arts College Fair on Thursday, October 27th, 2016 from 7 p.m to 9 p.m. at Boston University – Fuller Building. This program is an important resource for the fine arts students interested in pursuing undergraduate degrees of study in the areas of:

Music
Theatre
Dance
Visual arts
Graphic design
Film production, and other related disciplines.

Students will have the opportunity to speak with representatives from colleges, universities, conservatories, festivals, and other educational institutions with specialized programs in the visual and performing arts. Attendees of these free events will learn about educational opportunities, admission and financial aid, portfolio days, auditions and entrance requirements, and much more.

A workshop on Navigating the Audition/Portfolio Process will be offered from 6:10 p.m to 6:50 p.m at the College of Fine Arts - Theatre Lab.

All participants are encouraged to register prior to attending this event. This will make navigating the fair and collecting information from multiple colleges and universities much easier. By registering, students can print a bar coded confirmation to be used on-site at the fair as an electronic ID. Register prior to attending these events HERE.

Senior College Planning Night

Senior Parents and Seniors are reminded that College Planning Night will be held on Thursday October 6, 2016 at 6:30 in the Burlington High School Auditorium. The evening will cover a variety of topics in regard to the college selection and application process. The entire guidance staff will be at this event and we look forward to seeing you.

If you cannot make the event, it will be televised on BCAT. The showtimes will be posted soon.

Freshman Parent Breakfast

The Burlington High School Guidance Department will be hosting a breakfast for all parents of freshman students on Wednesday September 28th in the BHS Guidance Conference Room from 8:30 to 9:30 am. The Guidance Department at BHS has recognized that it often takes a full year for students and parents to understand and access the numerous programs, resources, and committed staff we have at Burlington High School. Our goal is to expedite this process for you by discussing topics important for the transition to high school. Please join the Guidance Department for this informative and open dialogue. Parents must RSVP by calling 781-270-1780.

Big FAFSA® Changes for 2017–18

From the MEFA Web-Site

On Sept. 14, 2015, President Obama announced significant changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®) process that will impact millions of students. Starting with the 2017­–18 application cycle, the following changes will be put in place: 

• Students will be able to submit a FAFSA^® earlier.  Students will be able to file a 2017–18 FAFSA as early as Oct. 1, 2016, rather than beginning on Jan. 1, 2017. The earlier submission date will be a permanent change, enabling students to complete and submit a FAFSA as early as October 1 every year. (There is NO CHANGE to the 2016–17 schedule. The FAFSA became available January 1 as in previous years.)
• Students will use earlier income information. Beginning with the 2017–18 FAFSA, students will be required to report income information from an earlier tax year. For example, on the 2017–18 FAFSA, students (and parents, as appropriate) will report their 2015 income information, rather than their 2016 income information.  

The following table provides a summary of key dates as we transition to using the early FAFSA submission time-frame and earlier tax information. 

View Accessible Version

If you’d like more details about the upcoming changes, you may read the fact sheet called College Students and Parents: What You Need to Know About the 2017­–18 FAFSA^®.

We will continue to update this site as the 2017–18 FAFSA launch approaches.

Learn more about the FAFSA process.

Reminder that BHS will hold the following  Financial Aid Events:

Thursday October 13th, 2016 at 6:30.PM in the BHS auditorium. MEFA will host and give an overview of the process.

Thursday January 5th, 2017- Financial Aid 101 at 6:30P.M. - Hosted by College Funding Services.

Sunday January 29th, 2017- FAFSA Day at BHS. This event starts at 1:00PM.

BHS Guidance Events

The Guidance Department is happy to announce a full schedule of BHS Guidance Events for the 2016/2017 school year (links can be found on the right hand side of this blog). In addition to ALL the BHS Guidance Events, we have the schedule for the Guidance Parent Breakfast Series. Based on parental feedback the Guidance Department has identified a variety of topics to cover throughout the school year for any interested parent.