Over the next several months, the MHS Guidance Department will share with you monthly guides to help you navigate the future planning process. Our goal is to provide the junior class with a snapshot of what to expect and what to focus on during the next few months. There are endless opportunities for life beyond high school and we hope to open the lines of communication with students and families to assist in the planning process and to help you prepare, organize, and follow the steps necessary to work towards your dreams.

As students are preparing to select senior year courses, finding the right balance is key. Consider the subject matter, the level of difficulty of the courses, and your interest level in the courses.

Colleges are looking to see that students have a solid academic foundation and that they are challenging themselves appropriately. If a college deems a student to be a good fit for their school and they make an offer of admission, they expect the student to complete the year with the same courses and at the same academic level as when they were admitted. Therefore, it is essential to be thoughtful about course selection now.

As students are kicking off the college search and wondering how to create that elusive list of schools which might be a good match, Naviance is one of many great tools to utilize.

Through a student’s Naviance account, you can conduct a college search, compare a group of schools, locate colleges on a map to help in planning your college visits, and see the average acceptance data for Medfield students, among many other things.

Helpful Tip:

If you’re not exactly sure what you are looking for in a college, start exploring your options while keeping the search criteria broad. Check out local schools with different characteristics: large, small, urban, suburban, and with a range in admission criteria. Visit schools while students are still in session (generally through early May) so that you get a sense of the student body. Look around, talk to students, attend an event on campus, and visit admission offices. Based on your likes and dislikes, start to create a broader list of schools that have some of the characteristics of those colleges that you enjoyed.

It’s time to start planning your spring testing schedule. We recommend that all students, regardless of future plans, take at least one SAT and one ACT with writing during junior year. Few colleges may require students to take up to three SAT Subject Tests. Occasionally, the ACT will be accepted in place of SAT Subject Tests.

The SAT is a measure of the critical thinking skills that research shows matter most for college readiness. The ACT is based on what students learn in high school and provides personalized information about their strengths for education and career planning.

As you consider when to test, keep in mind other responsibilities you have during the spring: athletic schedule, music trip, family vacations, etc. There are a number of opportunities to test, but by registering early, you will have the best chance of testing in the location closest to home.

To see a list of dates and registration deadlines and to register, visit www.collegeboard.org for the SAT and www.actstudent.org for the ACT.

Please see your guidance counselor for individual questions about how to plan your testing schedule.