Post-Secondary Planning Information
Students are assigned to the same counselor for all four years of high school. Although college counseling does not formally begin until the spring semester of junior year, we are spending time getting to know the students through 1:1 meetings and seminar classes beginning the first week of their 9th Grade year.
Through individual meetings and guidance seminar classes, the counselors work with students to develop post-secondary plans that match their academic achievements, personal strengths and preferences, and career aspirations. During numerous meetings in the spring of junior year and fall of senior year, students are advised and supported throughout the post-secondary planning process.
Below you will find an overview of the College Process, information about the Massachusetts State System and GAP Year & Alternatives opportunities.
College Process
The post secondary planning process is an 18 month journey beginning in January of the junior year and continuing through Spring of senior year. School Counselors work with students and families throughout this process to support each student's individualized plans. Through seminars, individual meetings, parent evening presentations, and resources available on this website and in print in each house office, the WHS guidance department provides comprehensive support. Although we emphasize that this is a student centered process we recognize that families play an integral role. Overview timelines of the post secondary planning process, standardized testing process, application process and WHS School Profile are attached at the bottom of this page.
WHS adheres to the CEPP outlined by NACAC (National Association of College Admissions Counseling: Section II: B: #1:page 6 ) in facilitating the application process. We ensure that school documents, and counselor & teacher recommendations will be available for submission on October 15th. Colleges are prohibited from providing or implying an advantage for getting these materials in before the October 15th deadline.
Students may request a copy of their transcript at any time.
Transcripts
Separate from the college admissions application process facilitated through Naviance*, individual copies of transcripts can not be released to colleges/coaches without written consent from the student. Further, parents can not request a copy of their student's transcript be sent to them via email. They may, however, pick one up at the school or request it be mailed to their home address. Students can also access an unofficial copy via their Powerschool portal.
*The School Counseling Department is pleased to announce its two year transition from the web-based post-secondary planning tool Naviance to Scoir. Please read more about this exciting platform.
Junior Year Resources
Click below to view the responsibilities of the junior in the college application process:
BigFuture-College-Planning-Calendar-Juniors
Click below to view the family action plan to begin the post secondary process
parent-action-plan-11th-grade.
Senior Year Resources
Click below to view the responsibilities of the senior in the college application process:
BigFuture-College-Planning-Calendar-Seniors
Senior Year, Boston Students Resources
Free tuition for those who qualify
Support for Students with Learning Differences
Curry PAL program presentation
College Support Program Summary
Applications
Common Application: www.commonapp.org
SUNY Application:
https://www.suny.edu/attend/apply-to-suny/
University of California Application:
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/how-to-apply/index.html
Colleges that students can self-report Standardized Test scores:
https://princetonreview.blog/2017/11/03/can-you-self-report-sat-and-act-scores/
College Search:
The Art of College College Counselor David Wu's made virtual walk/drive/flyover tours of 105 colleges with a 360° camera and campus
Schools That Do Not Require SATs/ACTs:
http://fairtest.org/university/optional
Schools that allow self-reporting of standardized test scores
www.compassprep.com/self-reporting-test-scores/
Colleges That Change Lives:
College Week Live:
http://www.collegeweeklive.com/
eCampus Tours:
Campus Tours:
Planning College Tours
http://www.nebhe.org/index.php
New England Board of Higher Education:
www.ldrfa.org/us-colleges-with-learning-disability-programs/
Supports for students with LD/Autism
College Board:
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search
College View:
http://www.collegeview.com/index.jsp
Peterson's:
College Net:
http://www.collegenet.com/elect/app/app
NCAA Eligibility Center for Athletes:
http://web3.ncaa.org/ECWR2/NCAA_EMS/NCAA_EMS.html#
Historically Black College Search:
http://www.edonline.com/cq/hbcu/c_state.htm
Brain Track:
College Navigator:
http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
Next Step:
http://www.nextstepmagazine.com
Study Abroad:
A to Z: Two-year colleges:
http://www.a2zcolleges.com/two_year/twoyearindex.html
http://www.mass.edu/system/campusdirectory.asp
MA Public Higher Ed. System Map:
http://www.mass.edu/system/documents/MassPublicHigherEdMap2016.pdf
Majoring In Music: majoringinmusic
Majoring in Dance: NDEO
Massachusetts State System
MASSACHUSETTS STATE COLLEGES AND UMASS MINIMUM ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS:
The admissions standards for the state colleges and emphasize a strong academic high school background so that students enter college ready to learn. These standards represent minimum requirements; meeting them does not guarantee admission, since campus officials consider a wide range of factors in admissions decisions. Students shall have fulfilled all requirements for the high school diploma or its equivalent upon enrollment. It is important to note that admissions standards for the state’s community colleges differ.
Freshman Applicants
The admissions standards for freshmen applicants have two main parts:
1. 16 required academic courses.
2. a minimum required grade point average (GPA) earned in college preparatory courses completed at the time of application.
Applicants must also submit an SAT or ACT score.
Academic Course Requirement
Sixteen college preparatory courses distributed as follows are required. (A course is equivalent to one full school year of study. Courses count toward the distribution only if passed.)
• English 4 courses
• Mathematics 4 courses (Algebra I & II and Geometry or Trigonometry, or comparable coursework)
• Sciences 3 courses (including 2 courses with laboratory work)
• Social Sciences 2 courses (including 1 course in U.S. History)
• Foreign Languages 2 courses (in a single language)
• Electives 2 courses (from the above subjects or from the Arts & Humanities or Computer Sciences)
Minimum Required Grade Point Average (GPA)
The GPA must be achieved based on all college preparatory courses completed at the time of application and should be weighted for accelerated (Honors or Advanced Placement) courses. The required minimum weighted high school GPA is 3.0 for the four-year public campuses.
SAT Scores
Applicants who meet the GPA requirement do not have to use the sliding scale for admission, but still must submit SAT or ACT test scores for consideration if they are applying to a state college or UMass within three years of high school graduation.
Sliding Scale (used when GPA is lower than the minimum required GPA)
If an applicant’s GPA falls below the required minimum, a sliding scale will apply.
This scale should be used only when an applicant’s GPA falls below the required 3.0 minimum for admission to the state colleges or UMass.
Scores on the new writing section of the SAT will not affect the sliding scale for freshman applicants to the Massachusetts state colleges and to the University of Massachusetts at this time. The sliding scale, used in making admissions decisions for students with high school grade point averages falling below the required minimum, will continue to be based upon the combined critical reading (verbal) and math sections of the SAT.
Sliding Scale for Freshman Applicants to a UMass school
Weighted High School GPA Combined SAT-I V&M Must Equal or Exceed
(ACT Equivalent in Italics)
2.51-2.99 950 (20)
2.41-2.50 990 (21)
2.31-2.40 1030 (22)
2.21-2.30 1070 (23)
2.11-2.20 1110 (24)
2.00-2.10 1150 (25)
NO APPLICANT WITH A HIGH SCHOOL GPA BELOW 2.00 MAY BE ADMITTED TO A STATE COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY CAMPUS.
Sliding Scale for Freshman Applicants to a State College
Weighted High School GPA Combined SAT-I V&M Must Equal or Exceed
(ACT Equivalent in Italics)
2.51-2.99 920 (19)
2.41-2.50 960 (20)
2.31-2.40 1000 (21)
2.21-2.30 1040 (22)
2.11-2.20 1080 (23)
2.00-2.10 1120 (24)
Source: Admissions Standards for the Massachusetts State Colleges and University, Guide for High School Guidance Counselors, MA Board of High
California State System
Summary of the California State System
Gap Year/Alternatives
Alternatives to College… Exploring your Options
Have you ever thought that starting college right after high school might not be the best option for you? Maybe you’re a little stressed or confused about what career path you would like to follow or what college is the best fit for you. Don’t forget you have other options: it is perfectly acceptable and often beneficial to take a year off between high school and college to explore other prospects. Discovering other opportunities allows you to grow, mature, and experience something new that will expand your perspective and make your future formal education a more meaningful and purpose-driven endeavor. Since this is a big decision, a plan should be devised in order to receive the most out of this experience.
Research, research, research!! There are many different programs that offer employment, traveling, military, or volunteer placements and it is important that you receive all the information possible. Speaking to individuals who have actually been through the program is a great idea!
Decide how much time you have in between your formal education and high school. You might have 15 months or 3 months. Instead of committing to one program, time might allow you to explore a few different ones.
Next, figure out who will be financing your time off. Will you be working? Does the program have a fee? Are there stipends or scholarships offered? Will your parents be helping?
Finally, be aware of where you would like to spend your time and in what conditions you want to live in. Do you want to be close to home? Do you want to travel to a foreign country or to a different part of the USA? The living situations differ greatly between programs. Some programs are adventure based and spend weeks “roughing it” and others place you with a host family.
Tips for Parents
Remember that college immediately after high school does not guarantee success. The worst reason for your student to go directly to college is because it is expected. As it stands, fewer than 6 in 10 students entering 4-year colleges graduate within six years. Heading off to school without knowing why is not going to improve the odds.
Be open to and support your student’s ideas for alternatives to college. In fact, going to college with the maturity gained from doing something else first can be beneficial for some students.
Stress the importance of planning ahead. Depending on the interest, a gap-year program may also require an application.
It’s important that your student work hard throughout senior year, not letting grades drop at the end since the transcript the college receives for the deferred applicant will be for the complete year. They will want to see consistent effort.
If your student decides to study or volunteer abroad in a developing country, make sure they fully understand the living situation. Culture shock can be very difficult and to get the best experience out of their year off, they should feel safe, healthy and secure.
***If you are deferring from a college to take a GAP year please note that some colleges are requiring a deposit for doing so. This is in addition to the deposit you make by May 1st to secure your enrollment at the given institution. Like the May 1st deposit this GAP year deposit would be non-refundable should you change your mind and go elsewhere after your GAP year***
Informational Websites
These Websites are designed to give you information regarding summer programs, interim programs, volunteer opportunities, non-profit jobs, internships and other unique programs.
Guide to Gap Years
American Gap Association: https://americangap.org/
The Center for Interim Programs, LLC.: http://www.interimprograms.com/
Connect to many different programs through this website.
LEAPNOW, Transforming Education: http://www.leapnow.com/
Guides students to interesting and challenging activities and experiences.
Where are you headed?: http://www.timeoutassociates.com/
Database that contains connections to thousands of different GAP year opportunities.
Taking Off: http://www.takingoff.net/
Taking Off is a personalized program that will help students develop a plan for their time off.
The Year Out Group: http://www.yearoutgroup.org/
Informative website which allows students to understand the year off and search for many
different programs.
Serve Your World: http://serveyourworld.com/
An online database of volunteer organizations.
Student Conservation Association: http://www.thesca.org/
Provides housing, food, and other expenses for volunteers who work from 3-12 months on rural
and urban restoration projects.
Americorps: http://americorps.org/
A federally operated program combining a service project, with a stipend that may be used for
college.
Dynamy: http://www.dynamy.org
A year that combines an internship, independent living, individual advising and an Outward
Bound experience into an exploration of your skills, ambitions and the world around you.
City Year: http://cityyear.org
Gives a student the opportunity to serve as a tutor or mentor in schools, running after school
programs and developing youth leadership programs. Stipends and other benefits are provided.
EauPair: http://eaupair.com/
Helps Americans link up as au pairs in countries all over the world.
Global Crossroad: http://www.globalcrossroad.com/index.php
Volunteer, internship and job opportunities in India, Nepal, China, Sri Lanka, Thailand,
Mongolia, Ghana, Costa Rica, Equador, Kenya and Tibet.
Global Service Corp: http://globalservicecorps.org/
Provides international volunteers worldwide to live and work abroad on projects in developing
countries.
Habitat for Humanity: http://www.habitat.org/
A volunteer organization that builds decent, affordable housing for poor families.
I-to-I Volunteer Abroad: http://www.i-to-i.com
Arranges volunteer work, and teach abroad programs for students.
Summer Spanish Immersion: (Summer only, but worth mentioning!)
http://www.highschoolspanish.org/
The Samaritans: http://www.samaritans.org//
A telephone Befriending Service which hires volunteers that desire an interim experience.
United Nations Volunteers: http://onlinevolunteering.org/
UN organization that supports human development globally by promoting volunteerism and by
mobilizing volunteers.
Volunteer Abroad: http://www.volunteerabroad.com/listingsp3.cfm/listing/3441
Lists job, eco/adventure, volunteer, internships, and other GAP year opportunities.
Where There Be Dragons: http://wheretherebedragons.com/
Learning opportunities through off-the-beaten path expeditions to China, Thailand, Vietnam,
Laos, Cambodia, Tibet, India, Mongolia, Mexico, Guatemala, and Peru. Trips can be rugged
wilderness explorations.
Alzar School - a semester school for 10th and 11th graders based on Patagonia, Chile and Cascade, Idaho that focuses on leadership development through engaging academics, cultural exchange and outdoor adventure. Here's a link to our website and digital viewbook!
Alzar Gap - three unique gap programs for high school graduates in the American West and Patagonia Chile. Here's a link to our website and digital viewbook!
World of Work & Internships
Other Programs
Up With People: http://upwithpeople.org/
This program is a combination of leadership/study abroad/service program that includes
entertaining opportunities in music.
Global Quest: http://www.gquest.org/
Offers academic expeditions in developing countries.
Council on International Education Exchange: http://www.ciee.org/
Offers a wide variety of programs for pre-university students.
InterExchange: http://www.interexchange.org/
Matches students with internships, jobs, and study abroad programs.
Adventure/Outdoor Programs
Earthwatch: http://www.earthwatch.org/site/pp.asp?c=dsJSK6PFJnH&b=386443
Volunteering your time to a scientific field research or conservation project in many different
countries.
National Outdoor Leadership School: http://www.nols.edu/
NOLS teachers outdoor and leadership skills in 10 day to semester long expeditions in different
wilderness regions.
Outward Bound: http://outwardbound.org/
Conducts adventure based programs in a number of places around the USA and abroad.
Sea Education Association: www.sea.edu
SEA is an Educational experience that challenges students intellectually and physically by
combining a sailing adventure of a lifetime with the study of the deep ocean.
World Challenge
http://www.world-challenge-expeditions.com/
Go Abbey Road
Go Putney
Cogita Education: www.cogitaeducation.com
A highly experienced staff, all educators from Harvard, offers an interdisciplinary program to the Galapagos Islands
College Internship Program http://www.collegeinternshipprogram.com/index.html
"Preparing students with Asperger's and LD for success since 1984"
Nature
Slide Ranch: http://www.slideranch.org/index.html
This ranch offers the opportunity to teach agriculture and environmental education.
Environmental Careers Organization: www.eco.org
The Environmental Careers Organization has developed professionals for the environmental field
through paid environmental internships at government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and
companies across the United States.
Arts
Arena Stage: www.arena-stage.org
Theater related internships, includes everything from costume design to casting.
The Kennedy Center: www.kennedy-center.org/internships
Internships offered to those interested in art education and the performing arts.
Metropolitan Museum of Art: http://www.metmuseum.org/education/er_internship.asp
Offers internship positions to students interested in careers in art.
Other
Library of Congress: http://www.loc.gov/index.html
Different programs, workshops and internships available to high school graduates.
For more information see your guidance counselor!