Welcome to the HPTS High School webpage! Please select a link or scroll to Counselor's Corner for weekly updates!
Use the CommonApp to apply to schools! You can connect the Common App right to Xello!
Use Parchment (or Xello) to send transcripts!
Use the Scholarship Hub to find scholarships that you might be interested in applying to along with the corresponding due dates!
Freshman & Sophomore Year: You can start to think about what schools you might like to attend, what programs you might be interested in, or employers you might like to work for! This is a great time to explore options with no pressure to make a decision!
Junior Year: During your junior year, you will do a lot of planning! Your junior year is a great time to talk to school, military, or workforce recruiters. It is also a fantastic time to begin getting information ready for college applications and scholarships. There are some scholarships available starting junior year, so keep an eye out for these in our scholarship hub! You will also take your SAT, ACT WorkKeys, and M-Step your junior year. These scores can be helpful in applying to schools and scholarships.
Senior Year
Summer: Before school starts is a great time to get organized--spend some time exploring your Xello careers and pathways. Consider which college applications you will be filling out, and what documents you will need for those. Ask now for letters of recommendation--don't wait on asking for letters!!!
September: Continue to organize and plan for college/program applications--you can start the application process and consider which scholarships you'll be applying for!
October: Apply to colleges/programs and complete applications for larger scholarships.
November: Review options, consider any SAT retakes/National Scholarships you will be applying for.
December: Continue to check the Scholarship Hub for updated scholarship information.
January: Financial Aid letters from colleges begin to come out--keep an eye out for these in your email. If you have questions, contact the institution's financial aid office.
February: Local scholarships open! Keep an eye on the hub for the latest information.
March/April: Be aware of local scholarship due dates and keep an eye on the email address that you provided to any colleges! This is when you will start to hear from institutions regarding your plans moving forward!
May 1: Most colleges want your decision of "yes, attending" or "no" by this date. Many want money down to confirm enrollment.
I hope that you all stayed safe and warm during yesterday's snow day! Whew--have we gotten the SNOW! We are one week away from our Winter Break, so I'll keep our announcements brief!
December: Year in Review
For the month of December, I'll be sending out a "year in review" of highlights and things to look forward to in 2025.
February and March are a great time to start preparing for the next round of PSAT/SAT testing, which will take place in April! Students can access support from websites like Khan Academy to begin preparing.
This is also the time of year that scholarships are being released and/or have due dates. Many scholarships will be due in early March, prior to the school's Spring Break. If you are looking to apply for scholarships, being aware of the March due date is critical in your planning.
College Applications:
REMINDER that you can either apply using Xello/Common App or directly on the school's website. If you are only applying to a couple of schools, it may be quicker for you to apply directly on the school's website. If you need help, please see me!
In JANUARY/FEBRUARY it is commonplace to start hearing back from larger institutions regarding college admissions. Colleges you might here from in January/February might include the University of Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota...you get the idea!
Oftentimes, this is when students start to feel the pressure of making a decision on where to attend school. Rest assured that you have lots of support in making this decision, and you ARE NOT!!! the only person experiencing that feeling! Please come see me with questions or if you simply need a place to vent/get support. I'm here for whatever it is you might need!
Michigan Community College Guarantee
Did you hear about the initiative to provide free/reduced community college to Michigan residents? Michigan high school graduates have the opportunity to attend community college for free or a reduced rate depending on location. In order to access this, you must fill out the FAFSA! Please see the attached flyer from GCC for more information!
SENIOR/FAFSA NIGHT
Unfortunately our FAFSA night was postponed due to the crazy winter weather we had this week. Darn snow!!
We will be rescheduling this for a date after winter break. Please keep an eye out for a date--to come soon!!
FAFSA NOTE
The FAFSA is OPEN! The FAFSA is ALWAYS free, and is quick to fill out. You will create an FSA ID (this will take between 24-72 hours to "verify") and once that has been completed the FAFSA is quick to complete. I will be hosting a future FAFSA night, date/time TBD.
Self Care Practice of the Week:
Boundaries are an important part of life that can heavily influence our mental well being. Healthy boundaries look different for everybody! See Miss B for more info about setting healthy boundaries and how to maintain them!
Scholarship Hub:
Link to the SCHOLARSHIP HUB
Questions:
Contact Miss B at ebertucci@hpts.us
Stop in to see Miss B in her office, which is located in the back of the high school main office!