Guidance Blog

Summer Opportunity :Center for Environmental Civics

Please see the attached information from the Center for Environmental Civics Summer Academies in Environmental Leadership:

Our Center is again holding summer academies for training area high school students how to become more effective and engaged citizen and environmental activists. We are having two week-long sessions: one at Amherst College July 2-8 and the other at Smith College July 22-28. The cost is $275, but we have a sliding scale for those in need. The training consists of having the students research pending legislation having to do with an environmental issue of their choosing. We teach them how to research the bills, contact relevant legislators and their staff, write and speak effectively for their issue, publish op-eds, lobby local area elected officials (who come to the sessions to be lobbied and give feedback). We also go over the history of environmental governance, the environmental movement, and other forms of citizen engagement. We're planning on injecting even more "fun" into the week including some music and more theatrical activity (all designed to reinforce their message, of course!). We've previously worked with the Five College Sustainability group and conducted workshops with them.

Attached is an outreach email we sent to area teachers as well as a pdf poster announcing the academies. A link to a video of last year's workshop at Amherst College is in the email. Registration materials and further details can be found at www.centerforenvironmentalcivics.org. If you know of any students or their parents who might be interested, please pass the info along. We only need ten students for each workshop.

This past semester, Paul Newlin and I co-taught a course through University Without Walls entitled The Dynamics of Citizen Advocacy in which we had students organize a campaign around whatever issue they felt passionately about. The course included sections on the environmental movement but also civil rights, women's rights, gender issues, and the labor movement. It was a great learning experience for us because most of the students chose to focus on issues other than the environment.

Junior Volunteer at Cooley Dickinson Hospital Info

Take advantage of the volunteer opportunities at Cooley Dickinson Hospital! Volunteers are an important part of the hospital operation, assisting in many areas. Volunteering is a great way to get first-hand experience in a hospital. If you are interested in volunteering for 8 weeks, collect a Volunteer Application and Parent Permission form from Mrs. Pescitelli.

Application deadline is 5pm, Friday, May 3, 2013. Interviews are scheduled on a first come, first serve basis. There is a mandatory five hour Orientation session that will be held on Friday, June, 28, 2013 from 12:30pm-5:00pm. More information is available on the packets in Mrs. Pescitelli's office.

Financial Aid Resources and Web Addresse

THREE OF THE MOST COMMONLY USED FORMS FOR FINANCIAL AID are:

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE

College's own financial aid application

The FAFSA is a form used by the U.S Department of Education and is required by all colleges for federal and Massachusetts state aid. It is free and must be completed each year. The online application is recommended over completing a paper copy.

The CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE is the financial aid application service of the College Board and is required by some colleges to determine institutional aid. There is a cost associated with this form and the online application is required.

Useful Websites

1. www.fafsa.gov - FAFSA on the web address

2. www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov - website that provides early estimate of eligibility for student aid

3. www.pin.ed.gov - Federal pin number registration

4. www.studentaid.ed.gov - FAFSA and eligibility information

5. www.collegeboard.com - CSS Profile form and great resource

6. http://communityfoundation.org - Community Foundation of Western Mass. Scholarships

7. www.fastweb.com - Scholarships!

8. www.practicalmoneyskills.com - Financial literacy website

Adapted from Longmeadow High School and Hopkins Academy Guidance Office

Upcoming SAT and ACT Dates and Prep Info

Upcoming SAT Dates

Test Date	Test	Regular Registration	Late Deadline to Register
May 4, 2013	SAT & Subject Tests	April 5, 2013	April 19, 2013
June 1, 2013	SAT & Subject Tests	May 2, 2013	May 17, 2013

Fee: $50 Late Fee: $77

*Every student who is planning on attending college after high school should plan on taking the SAT in the Spring of your Junior year. Some college require SAT Subject tests; it will be your responsibility to research your school to find out if they are required. If they are required by your prospective colleges, you should take them in the Spring along with taking the SAT reasoning in the Spring.*

Upcoming ACT Dates

Test Date	Regular Registration	Late Deadline to Register
April 13, 2013	March 8, 2013	March 9 – 22, 2013
June 8, 2013	May 3, 2013	May 4 – 17, 2013

Fee: $35 (No Writing); $50.50 (With Writing)

*The American College Testing Program (ACT) offers college admission tests called the AC assessment and ACT assessment plus Writing. Web registration and explanations of the tests are available at www.act.org. Some colleges will accept the ACT as an alternative to SAT Reasoning and Subject Test, but it is wise to check in advance with colleges you are considering. The ACT includes a composite score and sub-scores in English, math, reading, science, and writing (if you chose the ACT plus Writing)*

SAT and ACT Preparatory Options

1. Collegeboard.org (Log-in to My College Quick Start and free practice tests)

2. Princeton Review: www.princetonreview.com

3. SAT/ACT prep. books (check on-line sites like Amazon for better deals then buying them in a local store)

4. Kaplan Test Prep: http://www.kaptest.com/College/SAT/index.html

5. Sylvan Learning Center: http://tutoring.sylvanlearning.com/

These organizations are not listed in any specific order. Preparatory programs are very expensive so I always recommend to use the free practice examples through college board as a starting point and if after taking the SAT or ACT with writing for the first time you need more assistance it is important to look into every prep. program to find the best one for you. Most programs may offer a one-on-one tutor, a classroom setting, and even an online option. Please make sure to research each one and to think about the best way that you learn.

Adapted from Hopkins Academy Guidance Office