School Counselors recognize that each student, regardless of background, possesses unique interests, abilities and goals, which will lead to future opportunities.
What will you do after graduating from Littleton High School? Whatever you want to do and wherever you want to go, LHS Staff will help you get there. Explore the following sections which cover a variety of post-secondary options.
Career Exploration - Start here!
Career Exploration Steps: Follow these tips to find career paths worth exploring.
Big Future Career Search: Explore over 900 careers. Find out what they pay, if they’re hiring, what the work is like, and the education and skills you need to succeed.
16 Personalities - Personality Test: Only 10 minutes to get a “freakishly accurate” description of who you are and why you do things the way you do - with career insights!
Are you made for the trades?: Top 10 Personality Traits for a Successful Technician
Explore The Trades (HVAC, Plumbing, Electricity): Working for a residential plumbing, heating, cooling or electrical service company provides many career opportunities and has great benefits!
WhatForWork - Job Explorer: Explore careers that might interest you based on 7 job conditions that may be important to you: Physicality, Human Interaction, Schedule Control, Every Day Is Different, Team Work, Can Work Remotely, and Travel.
Periodic Table of STEM Occupations: The periodic table of chemical elements, created by Dmitry Mendeleev in 1869, is one of the most important achievements in modern science. To celebrate this achievement, the Bureau of Labor and Statistics created their own periodic table of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) occupations.
I Build NH: Today’s construction industry is high-tech, rapidly evolving, drives the economy, and allows other industries to flourish. Explore local options and connect with local employers who are currently hiring.
The Art Career Project: The Art Career Project's goal is to help you go from having an idea about what you want to do, to actually taking the steps towards becoming a successful artist. Explore their site, read the career profiles, and learn about the skills you need to acquire, the education you’ll need (or want), and how to set yourself up for long-term success.
Build Your Future: Those who dare to enter the construction industry build the world. Find out why construction may be the path to success you’ve been looking for.
Career Girls: A comprehensive video-based career exploration and readiness tool for girls. Career Girls has the largest online collection of career guidance videos focusing exclusively on diverse and accomplished women — over half of whom are in STEM fields.
EngineerGirl: The EngineerGirl website is designed to bring national attention to the exciting opportunities that engineering represents for girls and women.
Trades, Technical Careers, & Employment
NH Trade Schools by Skilled Trade Areas
Construction, Manufacturing, and Transportation
Advanced Trade School: Gas, HVAC, Plumbing, Welding
Commercial Driving School: CDL A, B, & Refresher
Granite State Trade School: Oil, Gas, Plumbing, HVAC, Electrical
Heavy Construction Academy: Front End Loader, Skid Steer, Backhoe, Off Road Dump Truck, Vibratory Compact Roller, Bulldozer, Motor Grader, Excavator
Northern New England Welding Institute: Structural and Pipe Welding
The NH School of Mechanical Trades: HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical
Beauty and Massage Therapy
American Academy of Health & Beauty: Esthetics, Spa Nails, Massage Therapy
Empire Beauty School: Cosmetology, Esthetics, Barbering
North Eastern Insitute of Whole Health: Massage Therapy
Paul Mitchell School of Portsmouth: Cosmetology, Esthetics, Barbering, Nails, Makeup
Business and Real Estate
NH Real Estate School: Real Estate
Healthcare
LNA Health Careers: LNA, EKG, PHL, BLS
Hospitality
Boston Bartenders School: Mixology, Bar Management
NH Community Colleges Offering Trade/Technical Programs
Employment in New Hampshire
NH Job Search Portal: Search for entry-level and other positions throughout the state.
NH Job Fairs (Virtual & In-Person): Listing of job fair opportunities throughout the state.
WorkReadyNH: A practical, tuition-FREE professional development program that builds the skills that help employees succeed, and that NH employers highly desire
Apprenticeships: An industry-driven, high-quality career pathway where employers can develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience, classroom instruction, and a portable, nationally-recognized credential.
ApprenticeshipNH: New Hampshire is consistently recognized as a great place to live and work. Our advanced manufacturing, healthcare, construction & infrastructure, hospitality, business & finance, automotive tech and IT companies are looking for help to hire trained workers.
ApprenticeshipUSA: When you're ready, you're ready. Why wait years to gain skills and unleash your potential when you can start now? Become an apprentice to get started in the career you're planning for, today.
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Apprenticeship Program: The Apprentice Program at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard consists of a four-year full academic program that features academic and trade theory training combined with on-the-job learning under the guidance of qualified trade journeymen and women.
United Brotherhood of Carpenters: Do you want to develop great skills, work hard on every job, and, as a result, earn fair pay and respect? Do you have the drive and the can-do attitude to become a true construction professional? Then consider applying to become a member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters. (Ms. Thomas' partner is in this union! She's happy to give you some inside knowledge!)
Job Corps: Job Corps is the largest nationwide residential career training program in the country and has been operating for more than 50 years. The program helps eligible young people ages 16 through 24 complete their high school education, trains them for meaningful careers, and assists them with obtaining employment. At Job Corps, students have access to room and board while they learn skills in specific training areas for up to three years. In addition to helping students complete their education, obtain career technical skills and gain employment, Job Corps also provides transitional support services, such as help finding employment, housing, child care, and transportation. Job Corps graduates either enter the workforce or an apprenticeship, go on to higher education, or join the military.
Bring Back the Trades Scholarship: Bring Back the Trades Inc. awards monthly scholarships during the school calendar year to students from across the United States who are attending post-secondary education in the Skilled Trades. Monthly scholarships of $1,000 are awarded each month and sent directly to the secondary school the award recipient is attending. LHS graduates in the trades are encouraged to apply once enrolled in a trades program.
Military
Joining the military is unlike any other option because there are benefits you won't find anywhere else. Students considering military enlistment as a career opportunity (full-time or reserves) are encouraged to check out the following links and connect with their School Counselor. Military recruiters would love to come to our school and speak with students - you just need to let us know!
Each November Littleton High School offers the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery). The ASVAB is a well-respected aptitude test developed by the Department of Defense. It measures a young adult’s strengths and potential for success in military training. There is no obligation to join the military by taking this exam. This exam can offer some great career insights. Please reach out to your School Counselor if you'd like to take the ASVAB.
The Air Force is part of the Department of Defense (DOD). It’s responsible for aerial military operations, defending U.S. air bases, and building landing strips. Its service members are airmen. The reserve components are Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve.
The Army is part of the DOD and is the largest of the military branches. It handles significant ground combat missions, especially operations that are ongoing. Army Special Forces are called Green Berets for their headgear. The Army's members are its soldiers. The reserve components are the Army Reserve and Army National Guard.
The Coast Guard is part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It provides national security and search and rescue for America's waterways, seas, and coast. It's responsible for stopping drug smugglers and others breaking maritime law. It enforces marine environmental protection laws. Service members are Coast Guardsmen and are nicknamed Coasties. The reserve component is the Coast Guard Reserve.
The Marine Corps is part of the DOD. It provides land combat, sea-based, and air-ground operations support for the other branches during a mission. This branch also guards U.S. embassies around the world and the classified documents in those buildings. Marine Corps Special Operations Command (MARSOC) members are known as Raiders. All service members are called Marines. The reserve component is the Marine Corps Reserve.
The Navy is part of the DOD. It protects waterways (sea and ocean) outside of the Coast Guard’s jurisdiction. Navy warships provide the runways for aircraft to land and take off when at sea. Navy SEALs (sea, air, and land) are the special operations force for this branch. All service members are known as sailors. The reserve component is Navy Reserve.
The Space Force is a new branch, created in December 2019 from the former Air Force Space Command. The Space Force falls within the Department of the Air Force. It organizes, trains, and equips space forces to protect U.S. and allied interests in space and provide space capabilities to the joint force.
College & University
Building Your College List: Students should start their college exploration process by researching schools and deciding on the ones that they'd ultimately like to apply to. Refer to the following links for this step in the process.
Community College System of New Hampshire: NH's 2-Year Community Colleges should not be overlooked!
The New Hampshire Dual Admission Program: The Community College System of New Hampshire and the University System of New Hampshire have successfully developed an educational pathway that allows students to enroll in one of New Hampshire’s seven community colleges and be admitted into one of the state’s four four-year colleges at the same time.
Encourage App: Download on the App Store
Connect with the College Admissions Reps that come to Littleton High School
When to Apply: Each school has its own unique deadlines and admissions rounds. The following information comes from the NHHEAF Network.
I Am College Bound "I Applied" Event: October 31, 2022 at Littleton High School. I Am College Bound’s signature event is I Applied, an in-school application campaign in which college access professionals volunteer to support students submit at least one application. On this day, students can apply to NH Colleges & Universities for free. Students and families should prepare aspects of their college applications ahead of time.
Regular Decision has a standard deadline. As long as you meet that deadline, you will be considered for admission. Regular Decision deadlines range from January to April. Most students apply in the winter and are informed in the early spring if they have been admitted or not.
Rolling Admission gives students the flexibility to apply to a particular college or academic program throughout the year. Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-serve basis and are accepted until the class has been filled. Each school may have priority deadlines for their applications or for particular programs. Be sure to contact the admissions office at each individual school for more information.
Early Decision admission is for students who are confident they want to attend one particular college. Students apply early (usually between November 1st and 15th) and are notified by late December or early January of admission decisions. However, if a student is accepted Early Decision, they are OBLIGATED TO ATTEND that institution. Students will have to rescind applications to other colleges if they are admitted Early Decision.
Early Action allows students to apply in early to mid-November and receive notice in the early winter of their admission status. However, unlike Early Decision, Early Action is not binding, so students are free to apply Early Action without an obligation to attend that college if they are admitted. Because Early Action is not obligatory, students are able to apply Early Action admission to more than one college. Some colleges have begun offering a new admissions option called Single-Choice Early Action. This plan works the same way as other early action plans, but with single-choice, candidates may not apply early to any other school. However, students can still apply to other schools regular decision and are not required to give their final answer of acceptance until the regular decision deadlines.
How important are deadlines? Meeting deadlines is critical. Keep an organized and accurate list of “dates to remember.” It may be helpful to keep a “college only” calendar. This may include all admission and financial aid deadlines, as well as required application components and SAT/ACT test dates.
Applying to Colleges
School Specific Applications: Colleges often have a way to apply to their school on their own website (or they use other platforms such as those listed below). Each school has its own admissions deadlines and it is the responsibility of the student to meet those deadlines.
The Common Application: More than three hundred colleges participate in the “Common Application.” Students create an account online and list the schools on their college list that accept the Common Application. They then fill out one common application form online, upload their essay(s), and submit application fee payments by using a credit card to all of their Common App schools that they’ve selected. Some schools require supplements within the Common Application, and they are all accessible and submitted within the school-specific questions of the application. Fee waivers for application fees are available to those who qualify.
The Coalition Application: The Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success is another application supported by several colleges and universities that subscribe to a common goal of providing greater access. The Coalition App is not easier than the Common Application (and most schools that accept the Coalition App will also accept the Common App). For most students, time is best spent concentrating on the Common App. However, some schools will only take the Coalition App.
The Common Black College Application: Students currently can instantly apply to 67 different Historically Black Colleges & Universities, paying one $20 application fee. Unlike the similarly named Common App, which is used by hundreds of colleges, the CBCA is exclusive to HBCUs. It also offers users a more stripped-down application process.
College Essays: The college essay is one of the only parts of a college application where a student's voice can shine through.
Letters of Recommendation: Most colleges will require one to three letters of recommendation as part of the application. It is important to submit exactly what the college requires. For example, if they ask specifically for a letter of recommendation from your school counselor, make sure that is what you send them. A strong letter of recommendation is important to show how professionals close to you view your character and credentials. Their observations and referrals are highly respected by college admissions counselors.
For the 2022-2023 school year, recommenders will write your letter of recommendation and then share it with the School Counseling department. We will send it out to schools.
School Counselor Recommendation - Student Brag Sheet: Fill this out and give it back to Ms. Thomas at least two weeks before you need your Letter of Recommendation sent to schools. Physical copies are in the High School Counseling Office.
Transcript
Until otherwise informed, please request copies of your transcript by contacting Mrs. Narrow at wnarrow@littletonschools.org.
Test Scores
Sending SAT Scores: If a student chooses to send their SAT scores to colleges, learn how to here.
Sending ACT Scores: If a student chose to take the ACT on their own and would like to send their scores to colleges, learn how to here.
Money for College
Financial Aid
FAFSA: Use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form to apply for financial aid for college or graduate school.
The New Hampshire Higher Education Assistance Foundation Network: Applying to college involves so much more than just sending in an application. Learn how to strategically choose colleges to apply to, what the application components entail and the ways families are paying for college.
College Affordability and Transparency Center: Start here to find information about how much it costs students to attend different colleges, how fast those costs are going up, and why costs are going up.
FinAid: Information on financial aid for college and tips on how to help ease the burden of college expenses.
New England Board of Higher Education Tuition Break: Provides significant tuition savings to residents of the six New England states when they enroll at out-of-state public colleges and universities within New England and pursue approved programs.
Littleton High School Scholarships: Littleton Scholarship Applications will be available to Seniors on February 24, 2023 and are due back April 14, 2023.
Scholarship Search Engines (there's more too!)
Fastweb: Fastweb is a free scholarship search platform that connects students to scholarships and financial aid tools
New Hampshire Charitable Foundation: The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation is the largest provider of publicly available scholarships in New Hampshire, awarding more than $7 million to more than 1,600 promising students each year
Big Future Scholarships Search: Matches students to over $4 billion scholarship dollars yearly
Going Merry: Scholarship search platform
Chegg: Scholarship search platform
Niche: Scholarship and college search platform
Scholarships You Should Know About
Hagan Scholarship Foundation: A nationwide need-based merit scholarship, designed to provide recipients with the opportunity to graduate college debt-free.
New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association Foundation Scholarships: Awards scholarships to New Hampshire students looking to further their culinary and hospitality education at a post-secondary level. These scholarships are designed to assist students who demonstrate an interest in and commitment to the restaurant/foodservice and hospitality industry.
T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood New Hampshire Scholarship Program: Provides comprehensive scholarships to enable early educators to take coursework leading to credentials and degrees by making it possible for them to afford both the time and expense of going to school.
The Women’s Transportation Seminar 2023 Undergraduate Scholarship: Now available for current and past NH high school students, as well as college students currently studying in the state. Motivated students and young women pursuing undergraduate studies in transportation-related fields, such as engineering, science, technology and math are encouraged to apply. Up to two undergraduate scholarships in the amount of $2,500 or more will be awarded. For more details email clarks@wseinc.com.
Other Helpful Links
NHHEAF Admissions Insider: Physical copies are available in the High School Counseling Office
Littleton High School's CEEB Code: 300340
Resources for Subgroups of Students
College Fly In and Diversity Programs: Many institutions would like to enroll more students from first-generation, lower-income, or minoritized racial and ethnic backgrounds, so they will host additional events focused on culture and diversity to increase representation from underrepresented student groups. These weekend or multi-day programs, often known as ‘fly-in programs,’ let students experience campus more intimately, so they can get to know the students and faculty who bring the college to life.
First Generation Students: Students who are the first in their families to attend college
ScholarMatcher: ScholarMatcher is a free college search tool designed to assist prospective college students from households earning less than $50,000 per year with their college search.
Female Students
Women's College Coalition: Learn the benefits of attending a women's college and find programs that interest you
Black Students
The Hundred-Seven: Explore Historically Black Colleges and Universities
The College Equity Index: Thinking it would be great if parents, students, educational consultants, and high school counselors had an easy way to evaluate colleges for Black students both objectively and relative to one another, the easy-to-understand College Equity Index was created.
Hispanic & Latinx Students
Asian American and Pacific Islander Students
Differently-Abled Students
LGBTQIA+ Students
Campus Pride: Building Future Leaders & Safer, More LGBTQ-Friendly Colleges and Universities Since 2001
Want to Play College Sports?
For students who are interested in playing sports, it's important to start this process early. Refer to the National Collegiate Athletic Association for information, and connect with Ms. Thomas and Mr. Ingalls early on in high school to make sure you're on the right track.
Alternative Pathways
Gap Year: A Gap Year is typically a year-long break before college/university during which students engage in various educational and developmental activities, such as travel or some type of regular work. There are hundreds of Gap Year programs locally, nationally, and internationally that graduates can apply to if they're looking to have their Gap Year structured.
Visit https://www.gapyearassociation.org/ for a directory of some Gap Year options. This is not an exhaustive list, so connect with Ms. Thomas to explore others!
The NHHEAF Network gathered a list of vetted Gap Year Programs worth exploring here: https://www.nhheaf.org/alternative-paths.asp.
Verto Education: Spend Your First Year of College Abroad. All Verto experiences combine classroom education from world-class Academic Providers with expeditions, hands-on projects, and cultural immersion that bring your learning to life. Spend your year abroad immersing in one Verto location or choose 2 locations to explore!
Semester At Sea: With the world as its classroom and more than 55 years of experience, Semester at Sea integrates multiple-country study, interdisciplinary coursework, and hands-on field experience for meaningful engagement in the global community. Over a 100-day voyage on a shipboard campus, students are offered a wide variety of coursework from 20 – 25 fields of study that are integrated with relevant field classes in up to a dozen countries, allowing for an experiential, comparative education that is truly global.
AmeriCorps: AmeriCorps sends people power and funding to communities across the country. Disaster response, opioid crisis, education – these are just a few of the causes where AmeriCorps members have stepped up to strengthen their community. Benefits for AmeriCorps members include a living allowance, and education award to pay for college or trade school expenses, or to repay qualified student loans, loan deferment and interest forbearance on qualified student loans, while in service, professional development, alumni network, and more.
City Year: City Year AmeriCorps members play a critical role in helping students connect with their school community and engage in their learning.
Peace Corps: Peace Corps Volunteers work at the grassroots level to create change that lasts long after their service. As a Volunteer, you can make an investment in our world—one handshake, one project, one friendship at a time—that leads to new possibilities in service and when you return home.