Christian Herter Scholarship Winner

Congratulations to junior, Jovan Sematimba, who has won a Christian Herter Memorial Scholarship. A state-funded scholarship, Herter scholarships are given to 25 Massachusetts high school sophomores or juniors each year who have overcome significant obstacles, demonstrate high financial need, and who are committed to attending a four-year college or university.  The awards, which are renewable, may total as high as $18,000 per year.

The extensive application process included an essay and an interview, and the applicant pool was narrowed from over 400 initial applicants to 61 finalists, then 25 winners. In addition to maintaining a high GPA, Jovan is on both the varsity track and cross-country teams and is also an award-winning artist.  He was born in Uganda, came to the U.S. in the sixth grade and to BHS in the ninth grade. He is considering studying engineering in college. Congratulations, Jovan!

2015 Boston Area National College Fair

The National Association for College Admission Counseling is pleased to invite students to the 2015 Boston Area National College Fair, which will be held at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. This year the BHS Guidance Department recommends students attend on Thursday, April 9th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Click here for a list of schools attending

The evening session is a great time for families to attend, and we encourage you to suggest it to the parents of your students in particular if you will not be attending the fair. 

Standardized Testing Breakfast

The BHS Guidance Department cordially invites parents of underclassmen (grades 9, 10 and 11) to join us for the next Guidance Breakfast. The topic will be about "Standardized Testing".  Our hope to provide parents with a better understanding of standardized tests such as the SAT, ACT and PSAT.  The breakfast will be held in the BHS Guidance College and Career Center at 8:30am on Thursday April 9^th, 2015. Please RSVP by calling 781-270-1780. We look forward to seeing you.

The AHS SPRING COLLEGE FAIR

The AHS SPRING COLLEGE FAIR!!- Monday, April 6th, 6:30-8:00 p.m. in the Toz (Red) Gym - Each year, approximately 130 colleges from across the country take part in the AHS Spring College Fair.  Many of the college representatives who attend the fair are the same as those who make the admissions decisions for our geographic area.  This is a great opportunity to meet the representatives face-to-face, to ask questions about a particular college major, and to inquire about general admissions requirements.  While the College Fair is open to all students and their parents, junior year students are strongly encouraged to attend! Please see the ‘Guide to Making the Most of Your College Fair Experience’, located at the end of this post.

Below, you will find the list of colleges that have signed up thus far, and more registrations are coming in every day.  We will update the list periodically.

COLLEGES

ANNA MARIA COLLEGE

ANTIOCH COLLEGE

ASSUMPTION COLLEGE

BARD COLLEGE

BARD COLLEGE AT SIMON'S ROCK

BARNARD COLLEGE

BAY PATH COLLEGE

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN INSTITUTE OF TECH

BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY

BRIDGEWATER STATE UNIVERSITY

BRYANT UNIVERSITY

BURLINGTON COLLEGE

CARLETON COLLEGE

CLARKSON UNIVERSITY

COLBY-SAWYER COLLEGE

COLUMBIA COLLEGE - CHICAGO

DANIEL WEBSTER COLLEGE

DEAN COLLEGE

DICKINSON COLLEGE

EASTERN CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY

EASTERN NAZARENE COLLEGE

ELMS COLLEGE

EMMANUEL COLLEGE

EMERSON COLLEGE

ENDICOTT COLLEGE

FISHER COLLEGE

FLAGLER COLLEGE

FRAMINGHAM STATE UNIVERSITY

FRANKLIN & MARSHALL COLLEGE

GETTYSBURG COLLEGE

GRINNEL COLLEGE

HAMILTON COLLEGE

HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE

HAVERFORD COLLEGE

HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY

HOBART& WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES

HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY

HUSSON COLLEGE

IONA COLLEGE

ITHACA COLLEGE

JOHNSON & WALES UNIVERSITY

JOHNSON STATE COLLEGE

KEENE STATE COLLEGE

LANDMARK COLLEGE

LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY

LEMOYNE COLLEGE

LESLEY UNIVERSITY

LYNDON STATE COLLEGE

MANHATTAN COLLEGE

MARIST COLLEGE

MASSACHUSETTS COLLEGE OF ART & DESIGN

MASSACHUSETTS COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS

MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME ACADEMY

MERRIMACK COLLEGE

MIDDLESEX COMMUNITY COLLEGE

MITCHELL COLLEGE

MOUNT HOLYOKE COLLEGE

MOUNT IDA COLLEGE

NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE

NEW ENGLAND SCHOOL OF PHOTOGRAPHY

NEWBURY COLLEGE

NICHOLS COLLEGE

NORWICH UNIVERSITY

NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY

OHIO WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY

PACE UNIVERSITY

PAUL SMITH'S COLLEGE

PINE MANOR COLLEGE

PLYMOUTH STATE UNIVERSITY

QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY

RENSSELAER POLYTECHNICAL INSTITUTE

RICE UNIVERSITY

RIVIER UNIVERSITY

ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY

SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY

RUTGERS

SAINT ANSELM COLLEGE

SAINT BONAVENTURE UNIVERSITY

SAINT JOHN'S UNIVERSITY

SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY - MADRID SPAIN

SAINT MICHAEL'S COLLEGE

SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY

SALVE REGINA UNIVERSITY

SAVANNAH COLLEGE OF ART

SCHOOL OF FASHION DESIGN

SIMMONS COLLEGE

SKIDMORE COLLEGE

SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE UNIVERSITY

SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE

STONEHILL COLLEGE

SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY

TRINITY COLLEGE - DUBLIN

UNION COLLEGE

UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY (SUNY)

UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA

UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE

UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS

UNIVERSITY OF IOWA

UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST

UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS BOSTON

UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS DARTMOUTH

UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL

UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL

UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND

UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER

UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO

UNIVERSITY OF SAINT JOSEPH

UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MAINE

UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA

UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT

UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE

URSINUS COLLEGE

US NAVY ROTC PROGRAMS

VALPARAISO UNIVERSITY

VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY

WALSH UNIVERSITY

WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS

WENTWORTH INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY

WESTERN NEW ENGLAND UNIVERSITY

WESTFIELD STATE UNIVERSITY

WHEATON COLLEGE

WILLIAMS COLLEGE

WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE

WORCESTER STATE UNIVERSITY

SEE GUIDE FOR ‘MAKING THE MOST OF THE COLLEGE FAIR’ BELOW!

Arlington High School College Fair

Henry Toczlyowski Gymnasium

Monday, April 6, 2015   6:30pm – 8:00pm

WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT?

The College Fair program is a FREE opportunity for you and your family to meet with the representatives from colleges and universities throughout the country without actually leaving your home state. There won’t be enough time to visit with every college and university at the fair, so we have listed some suggestions on how to use your time most effectively.

BEFORE THE FAIR…

Before the fair, it’s a good idea to do a little preparation.

1. Answer the following questions to help you determine what kind of school would best suit you ( it's best to create a list BEFORE arriving):
• Do you want to attend a two or four year institution? Co-ed or single-sex?
• What size school do you want to attend?
• What programs of study are you considering?
• How far from home do you want to go?
• Do you wish to participate in any specific extracurricular activities or athletics?
• Do you want to attend a school in an urban, suburban, or rural environment?
• Do you require any special services (i.e., tutoring, note taker, readers, interpreters)?
2. Discuss your college plans with your guidance counselor, family, teachers, and friends.
3. Research your colleges of interest on the Internet and on naviance.  
4. Check dates and registration deadlines for college entrance examinations.
5. Create labels or profile cards with your name, address, email, and phone number, name of high school, year of graduation and your area of interest .  This will help avoid time spent on filling out Information Cards on College Fair night.
6. Bring a pen or pencil and a notebook to jot down notes about the conversations with individual college representatives, and pick up the cards of college representatives for future reference.  It is helpful to have a specific name when requesting information or and interview.

AT THE FAIR…

1. Pick up a bag and fair directory.
2. Visit with colleges and universities you feel meet your criteria.
3. Talk with a representative at the Resource Table if you have any questions or need help with your college search.

QUESTIONS TO ASK COLLEGE REPRESENTATIVES

·      How can I arrange a campus visit? Are there any special visitation days on your  campus?

·       What are the application deadlines for admission and financial aid?

·      How do you assign faculty advisors to students, especially those who are undecided about their major?

·        What percentage of the students are commuter students?

·        When must I choose a major?

·        What types of extracurricular activities are there on campus?

·        How accessible are the professors outside of class?

·        How are roommates selected?

·       How safe is your school? Where can I obtain statistics about crimes on your campus?

·      What additional academic services do you offer to students (tutoring, career counseling, study skills workshops)?

·        What types of internship/co-op experiences are available?

QUESTIONS TO ASK COLLEGE REPRESENTATIVES REGARDING DISABILITIES AND ACCOMMODATIONS

·        Are there specialized programs available?  What are they?

·        Are there special admissions procedures?  What are they?

·        Which standardized tests are required?

·        What types of documentation are needed to request accommodations?

·        Should testing and/or IEP be sent with application?

·      What types of accommodations (note-takers, tape recorders in class,   etc.) are allowed?

·       Are there extra fees for learning disability related services?  How much and what for?

Still have questions? Please feel free to speak with your guidance counselor about any college-related questions.

Early College Planning Night at BHS March 26th at 6:30

On Thursday March 26th at 6:30 PM the Burlington High School Guidance Department will sponsor an Early College Planning seminar for parents in grades K through 8. A representative from the Massachusetts Educational Financial Authority, also called MEFA,  will discuss saving for college, specific ways to do so and how that relates to financial aid. We look forward to seeing you there.

MEFA Paying the College Bill Seminar

Parents and students are invited to attend a free seminar on paying the college bill, which will be held on Monday, March 30th, at 7:00pm in the Lowe Auditorium at Arlington High School. This seminar is offered through MEFA, the Commonwealth’s authority on planning, saving, and paying for college. An experienced MEFA representative will provide an overview of the college payment process, including the details of financial aid award letters, using payment plans, different financing options, and how to minimize debt. Before the seminar, be sure to visit MEFA’s website — mefa.org — to download a copy of the seminar presentation and explore other tools and resources to assist you in the college planning process. Also, bring your award letters with you for questions after the seminar. 

Peace Scholarship

Is there a deserving senior (class of 2015) you would like to nominate?

Peace Scholarships for one thousand dollars ($1,000) are available for students who are graduating this year.  If you know of a senior who has contributed to promoting peace or understanding in our school, community or wider area you can nominate them for this scholarship.  Numerous local congregations initiated this scholarship program several years ago as a means to promote peaceful, non-violent relationships in the schools and beyond.  Outstanding efforts have been recognized each year, some for students who have been in such programs as multicultural clubs and student mentoring, and some for students who have acted in less formal settings to resolve conflicts or build cooperation. Any adult or student who works with any high school senior in any capacity in school or community may submit a nomination. The nominee is not required to be a member of any church or religious organization.  A representative committee will select students to interview from those who are nominated.  Awardees will be announced at the annual Scholarship Awards Night.  Click here for a nomination form.  Please submit any nominations to the Guidance Office by April 3, 2015

Breakfast for Senior Parents

The BHS Guidance Department cordially invites parents to join us for the next Guidance Breakfast 
This breakfast is designed for the parents of seniors and will briefly cover the scholarship application process, but will also serve as more of a question and answer session. The breakfast will be held in the BHS Guidance College and Career Center at 8:30AM on Wednesday March 11, 2015.   Please RSVP by calling 781-270-1780. We look forward to seeing you.

Guidance Department on location in the lower library

Class of 2016, 2017 and 2018,
If you'd like to step out of the cold and get some course selection help, please feel free to visit the Guidance Department on location in the lower library on March 5th, 6th, 9th and 10th (during the school day). We would be more than happy to help you choose courses during this record setting winter. As a reminder you can only attend during a study hall.

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Grade 9 and 10 Academic Planning Night on Wednesday March 2nd at 6:30

The Burlington High School Guidance Department will host our newly developed Freshmen and Sophomore Academic Planning Night on Wednesday March 2nd at 6:30 in the Burlington High School auditorium. The topics covered will be important aspects of academic and post secondary planning, specifically geared for grades 9 and 10. We encourage parents and students to attend this event. If you cannot make the event it will be televised on BCAT.