College & Career Curriculum/Timeline
College & Career Readiness Activities and Timeline:
The School Counseling Department meets with all students in all grades throughout the year in large and small group settings (via assemblies and classroom lessons) AND individually in order to foster and develop their workplace readiness skills. Our goal is to create a supportive environment that cultivates a commitment to lifelong learning and best prepares our students for their post-secondary goals.
freshman year
Students are counseled on transcripts (what they are, the ramifications of doing poorly, what colleges see, how to choose a rigorous course-load based on your post-secondary goals, etc.). Counselor's begin to advise students on their academic planning and help to map out their four year plan. Students attend an all grade level presentation on credit tracking and are given a worksheet to fill out.
sophomore year
More academic planning and advising is done and students begin the post-secondary research process. Counselor's help students develop a concrete plan for their post-secondary goals based on their potential career choice.
All sophomores are given the opportunity to take the PSAT/NMSQT's during the school day. This is a practice test for the SAT's that they will take in the spring of their junior year, and then again their senior year if they are college bound. Results are translated and disseminated in January during an assembly put on by Guidance.
Sophomores also participate in our College Fair in in the Spring, and in our Career Fair and are given a classroom lesson on how to prepare.
Students who are interested in either dual enrollment or an early enrollment program should be planning this in the winter of their sophomore or junior year. An informative presentation is done by a representative from QCC's ACE (Attend College Early) Program in March. Parents are also invited and encouraged to attend. This program is available to rising juniors who are eligible to attend during their junior AND senior year.
junior year
Students will continue to be guided on how to explore different careers of interest and creating a post-secondary plan with their counselor. Juniors are encouraged to start visiting colleges throughout the year and attend open houses. Each student is able to receive 3 excused absences for college visits per year.
All juniors are given the opportunity to take the PSAT/NMSQT's during the school day in October. This is a practice test for the SAT's that they will take in the spring of their junior year, and then again their senior year if they are college bound. Results are translated and disseminated in January. Juniors are eligible to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship based on these scores. It is recommended that juniors partake in an SAT prep course so that they are well prepared for the SAT's in the spring.
Juniors also participate in our College Fair and our Career Fair and are given a classroom lesson on how to prepare. In addition, parents/caregivers of juniors (as well as the students) are encouraged to attend the College Financing Seminar presented by MEFA representatives.
Juniors attend the College Admissions for High School Juniors presentation in the Spring presented by MEFA.
The ASVAB is available for all juniors to take. The ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) is a multiple-aptitude battery that measures developed abilities and helps predict future academic and occupational success. It is administered annually to more than one million military applicants, high school, and post-secondary students. Essentially, this program provides tools to help students learn more about career exploration and planning, in both the civilian and military worlds of work. In addition, as part of the ASVAB Career Exploration Program, an hour interpretation session is done with students in March in order to help them decipher and apply their results in a meaningful way. You can find out more about the ASVAB Career Exploration Program here: http://official-asvab.com/.
Juniors also given the Junior College Planning Toolkit.pdf
Students who are interested in either dual enrollment or an early enrollment program should be planning this in the winter of their junior year. An informative presentation is done by a representative from QCC's ACE (Attend College Early) Program in March. Parents are also invited and encouraged to attend.
senior year
Post-secondary planning is continued. Counselors will present the post secondary planning lesson as well as the Senior Handbook to seniors through classroom lessons and a 12th grade assembly. They also meet individually with seniors throughout the fall/winter to assist them with the application process or whatever steps are needed for their post-graduation plans.
Counselors will also host a College Fair, as well as a College Financing Seminar presented by MEFA representatives. In addition, counselors are always available to meet with both students and families for academic and social/emotional related reasons or help aid in the transitional period.
The Counseling Department also hosts a Quinsigamond Community College Decision Day where students are able to sit down with a QCC admissions officer and get accepted on the spot. This is offered in March.
For students interested in potentially pursuing a career with the Armed Services, the ASVAB is offered for students to take.