Next Steps
A Guide to Post-Secondary Planning
May/June 2018
The end of the school year is upon us! While you enjoy your summer vacation, take some time to plan for the year ahead. This month's guide will give you some things to consider before you start your senior year.
Thinking Ahead...
Junior year is winding down and while summer vacation and hitting the beach is sure to be on your mind, it’s important to make sure you are also planning ahead for senior year and beyond. Here are some things to be thinking about:
- Have you connected with one of your teachers to ask if they will be willing to write a letter of recommendation for you?
- Continue to refine your list of schools and/or explore other post-secondary options.
- Visit colleges, take tours, and set up interviews.
- Prepare your college essays & supplemental essays.
- Complete the Counselor Recommendation Form on Naviance so that your guidance counselor can write your letter of recommendation.
- Make a résumé of your accomplishments, activities & work experience. Naviance has a resume building tool that might help you.
If you have questions about where you are in the process or what you can expect moving forward, touch base with your guidance counselor!
Letters of Recommendation
Counselors visited the Chemistry classrooms this spring to discuss letters of recommendation. By now, you should have asked at least one teacher to write you a letter of recommendation. However, there's still time before the end of the year if you have not yet completed this step! Below are some things to think about in regards to recommendations.
Who to ask and what to consider:
Most importantly, you want to give the colleges what they ask for. If a college is looking for recommendations from a teacher in a particular discipline or if a college limits the number of recommendations they will accept, it is essential to follow their directions. Beyond that, think about a teacher who understands you as a learner. Think of classes where you have had to manage time and struggle with adversity. Think of a teacher you may have had more than once throughout high school. Do you know any of your teachers in another role? Have any of your teachers been both your classroom teacher and a faculty advisor, coach, or club advisor for you?
Who NOT to ask:
Parents and relatives.
How many teachers to ask:
Many colleges are now limiting the number of recommendations they will accept from students. We request that each student ask ONE teacher for a letter of recommendation, unless you are applying to a college that specifically requests two teacher letters of recommendation.
When to ask:
Juniors are encouraged to speak to a teacher in the spring of junior year, even if your college list is still a work in progress. A large volume of teachers will write letters over the summer. Some teachers might ask you to approach them in the fall. Please respect the timeline for every teacher.
If you are unsure of who to ask, have a conversation with your guidance counselor about your options.
Comments from College Admissions
Jeff Gallant, an admissions representative from Boston College, visited with MHS faculty during Digital Learning Day to talk about what he looks for in a teacher's letter of recommendation:
- Information about the student that cannot be found elsewhere in the application.
- A focus on teacher interactions from “bell to bell." Is the student a catalyst for discussion? Does the student display “intellectual hunger?” Does the student seem more interested in learning than grades?
- Academic growth throughout the school year.
- Reading about a student who loves learning, takes risks, displays classroom leadership (quiet or vocal, in groups or individually), works hard, accepts criticism -- these characteristics often make a more compelling candidate.
A Note on Confidentiality:
Teachers write letters with the understanding that their letters are confidential. Trust that when a teacher agrees to write a letter, the goal is to present you in a positive light. Please trust the process of confidentiality.
Write, edit, and re-write
Feedback from high school seniors indicates that students who work on their college essays before the start of senior year experience less stress than those who do not. Be one of the less stressed and write this summer! The Common Application essay questions can be found on their website (or in the April page of this guide). School specific essay questions will be found on the school’s application posted on their website.
Don’t be afraid to seek out the advice of your parents and use the Writing Center, your guidance counselor, or your English teacher as sounding boards when you come back to school in the fall.
Good luck and write away!
The Nuts & Bolts of the Application Process
In the fall, the guidance staff will begin walking you through the logistics of the application process including important deadlines and details. As a reminder, your application will be submitted through several avenues.
We will help you through the process and will share all pertinent details with you in the fall.
More to Think About...
Still looking for something to do this summer?
The Job Board in Guidance currently has information about multiple job opportunities.
If you can’t find a job, make good use of your time! Volunteer, work on your college essay, and polish up that portfolio.
Also, be sure to check out Teen Life Boston at www.teenlife.com.
Registration is free and students will learn about opportunities for summer programs and volunteering, among other useful resources.
College-Bound Student-Athlete?
If you are planning to participate in college level athletics and you haven’t yet registered with the NCAA Eligibility Clearinghouse, you must do so!
Log on to http://eligibilitycenter.org to register and access tools and information for the college-bound student-athlete
2018-19 SAT/ACT Test Dates
SAT or SAT Subject Tests
August 25—Register by July 27
October 6—Register by Sept. 7
November 3—Register by Oct. 5
December 1—Register by Nov. 2
Register early to secure nearby testing locations! (MHS is a test site for the October SAT.)
ACT
July 14—Register by June 15
Sept. 8—Register by Aug.10
October 27—Register by Sept. 28
December 8—Register by Nov. 2
