May Updates From the AHS Counseling Department

 April showers bring... May flowers! We are so excited to have gotten to May, and realize we are a short way away from the end of the school year.  This is especially true for seniors.  Seniors, work hard until the end, but then start celebrating your accomplishments!  It has been an extraordinary thirteen years, counting Kindergarten.  We are so proud of you, your hard work, your perseverance, and your accomplishments.  

Here are some updates from the AHS Counseling Department.  As always, we hope this is helpful!


🎕 Seniors, local scholarship folks are reporting that they haven't gotten many scholarship applicants.  What are you waiting for?  The money is out there!  You can find all local scholarship applications on your Naviance account (Colleges - Scholarships and Money - Scholarship Search).  If you have any difficulty finding them, see your counselor or Mr. McGann.  We're happy to help!

🎕 Sophomores and juniors, the National College Fair is coming to Boston on Tuesday, May 2nd and Wednesday, May 3rd.  This is the second-best way to do college research (going for an on-campus college visit is always the best).  For more information, including what colleges are going to be there, visit https://www.nacacfairs.org/attend/national-college-fairs/boston-fall-national-college-fair/

🎕 AP Testing runs from May 1st through May 12th for those students registered to take an AP exam.  Make sure you check your AP schedule by visiting your myap.collegeboard.com account and review the e-mail Mr. McGann sent you with test locations.  Arrive early to your test, bring at least one pen, one #2 pencil with an eraser, a calculator if you get to use one, and a positive attitude.  You will do great!

🎕 We've heard from so many students who did college tours over April break.  That's great!  Remember that you get two excused absences junior year and two senior year for college visits (that's how important we consider them).  You can also do tours over the summer (just keep in mind that the campus can be a little quieter since most college students are home).

🎕On Saturday, May 20th there is a Career & Leadership Summit for Young Women happening at the Dell campus in Hopkinton.  This is geared for women who are potentially interested in the tech industry! For more information and to register visit http://bit.ly/NGSBoston.

🎕 Sophomore seminars are in full swing and the kids are doing great work.  The focus is on career exploration, and we are having the students do career interest assessment, create resumes for themselves, and towards the end of the seminars we will give them a sneak peak on the college admissions process.  Want to see our presentations?  Take a look! https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/18eM1gFct3k6B0ydjrNIgHS0_oMQmlYC3nR9TyDV9Ufs/edit?usp=sharing

🎕 A reminder to parents that you can get your own access to your child's Naviance account so you can see the work they are doing in seminars and on their own.  Contact your child's counselor or Ms. Jessica Blank (jblank@ashland.k12.ma.us) and we can provide you access!

🎕 Seniors, Koplik scholarship applications are due by 3:00pm on Monday, May 1st (today!). The Koplik scholarship is for reduced tuition for in-state public colleges only.  Additionally, if you were an Adams Scholar you don't need to apply for the Koplik (it's the same tuition reduction, only Koplik has additional requirements).  If you are attending an in-state public college and did not receive the Adams scholarship, consider applying to the Koplik if you meet the criteria! If any senior needs an extension on this deadline, see Mr. McGann this week.

🎕 For sophomores and juniors, here are Mr. McGann's favorite books on the college admissions process:

Book: "Who Gets In and Why" by Jeffrey Selingo

Book: "Where You'll Go is Not Who You'll Be" by Frank Bruni

Book: "The K&W Guide to Colleges For Students With Learning Differences"

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