College & Career Planning
College & Career Planning
Senior Scoop
Tips, tricks, and reminders for a successful Senior year!
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Senior Parent Night: _______ 6pm @ SHS Performing Arts Center. This presentation by the SHS School Counseling Department will provide information to Seniors and their parents/guardians about post-secondary options, the college search and application process, and a preview of financial aid.
SHS College & Career Fair: ______ 6pm @ SHS in the Davis Gym. Students and their parents/guardians will be able to talk with 50+ representatives from colleges, universities, military, trades, and other post-secondary options.
Financial Aid Night: _____ 6pm @ SHS Performing Arts Center. This presentation by the NH Higher Education Assistance Foundation (NHHEAF) will feature infomation about the different types of financial aid available for college, filling our the FAFSA, and understanding the costs of college.
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Beginning with the Class of 2027, SHS will be using Xello, in place of Naviance, for career and college exploration, college applications, letters of recommendation, transcripts, etc. Students can log in to Xello using Single Sign-On when they are logged in to their SHS Google Account.
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First Semester Grade Reports: An updated copy of your transcript, which includes Semester 1 grades, GPA, and Class Rank, will be submitted to each of the colleges you have indicated you are applying to Naviance. Please do not make an additional transcript request for these colleges.
“Senioritis”: As the last semester begins, and the application process nears the end, you may think it’s finally time to sit back and relax. However, as many admissions counselors would agree, it’s just as important now as over the past three and a half years to maintain the quality of your grades and not take the easy way out for the remainder of your senior year. Many students have had their admissions revoked because they have not maintained a strong course load and have not earned quality grades in the remaining months of their senior year. Don’t let all your hard work and efforts go to waste! Maintain your grades and work hard during the short period of time you have left at Salem High School.
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Not sure what to do after graduation? You have so many options! We encourage you to meet with your School Counselor frequently to discuss your options. Whether you deide to go into a trade, directly to the workforce, join the military, or go to college, we are here to help you every step of the way. Keep an open mind and don’t hesitate to ask for help!
Junior Jumpstart
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6 Ways to Reduce Your Stress
- Get some exercise: Walk or run for 20 minutes daily.
- Sleep is good: The American Psychological Association states that “teens who sleep less than 8 hours on a school night are most likely to report experiencing systems of stress.” Even a 20-minute power nap could rejuvinate you.
- Listen to music: Use your favorite tracks to relax, calm down, and stay grounded.
- Stay organized: Keep an assignment notebook, Google Doc/Sheet, and use sticky notes as reminders.
- Seek help: Lean on parents, friends, teachers, and counselors for support. They are all here for the same reason- to help you out!
- Try not to overdue it: Junior year is all about balance. Trying to balance academics, extracurricular activities, and having a little bit of a social life is more difficult than people think. You may want to avoid overextending in any one of these domains. Find your balance.
SAT Prep
All Juniors will take the SAT at Salem High School in April. A great way to start to prepare for the SAT’s is to link your College Board account up to Kahn Academy. All current Juniors at SHS should have a College Board account already. Kahn Academy is a free online resource with instructional videos and practice tests geared towards improving your SAT scores. Please go to Kahn Academy and register today!
St. Paul’s Advanced Studies Program
The St. Paul’s Advanced Studies Program is a stimulating and challenging educational experience for those who attend. The 5-½ week summer program stresses academic and personal growth, as students learn to live together and share in the school community. Class work is supplemented by athletics, weekend social activities and musical organizations. If you are looking for an academic challenge this summer, this is the place to go. To find out more about St. Paul’s ASP you may speak with Mr. Foulds in the school counseling office or go to: ASP Summer
Get Involved
Junior year is a great time to get involved with after-school clubs and activities. After-school participation is a great way to meet new friends, develop new skills, and looks great on a college application. Go to this list to see all of the clubs that SHS has to offer: SHS Clubhub.
Xello
Don’t forget to access your Xello account! Xello allows you to:
- Get involved in the planning process
- Research colleges
- Schedule College Rep visits
- Search for scholarships
- Research careers
- Create plans for the future
If you have difficulty accessing your Xello account, please reach out to your School Counselor.
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Scheduling considerations for next year’s classes:
- Review your transcript to ensure you are on track for graduation.
- Missing credits? Consider Summer school, VLACS, or Continuing Ed.
- A strong Senior year is vital! Colleges and employers will look at all 4 years of grades.
- It takes a villiage: Talk to teachers, paretns, and your counselor regarding course recommendations for next year.
- Students must enter their course requests into Infinite Campus.
- Career Internships are offered to Juniors and Seniors who meet the requirements. Application required.
ASVAB: The Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery Career Exploration Program
- Administered at SHS in March- this test takes 2 blocks to complete, and is free of charge. Sign up in the School Counseling office ASAP or email Ms. Tuttle at jessica.tuttle@sau57.org
- Most students try to make decisions about colleges or careers before they have really spent time thinking about their own interests, values, talents, and abilities. Many factors are important in determining which occupations will bring you success and fulfillment. When making career plans, it’s helpful to have a solid understanding of the things you do well, and your likes, dislikes, goals, and lifestyle preferences.
- Designed for all students, including those going to college or university, those going into immediate employment, or those seeking information about military options.
- You can choose how the results are shared- keep them private or allow recuriting services to see them for education on careers in the military.
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Helpful Information
SATs
- The entire Junior class participates in the School Day SAT in March/April. To access your scores, please log in to your College Board account. Curious what your score means? Check out this resource from College Board.
- If you are planning on retaking the SAT’s, sue your scores to get free personalized practice.
College Board & Khan Academy
- Khan Academy is a freat resource for SAT practice. Use the following link to get started: Official SAT® Practice
Identifying Plans for After High School
Whether you plan to attend a four-year college/university, take a gap year, enter the workforce or an armed service, it is important to begin developing a plan for post-graduation now.
- Begin with researching careers and/or trades.
- Develop a preliminary list of four-year colleges/universities, technical schools or community colleges during April break and summer vacation and visit the campuses, if possible.
- Create an activities list or resume.
- If the armed service is your interest, contact a local recruiter to learn more about your options.
- Request information from colleges/universities, potential employers or military recruiters.
College Search Tips
The hardest part of the college search is getting started! Using the tips below, you’ll be on your way to narrowing down your list of schools to which you may be applying.
- Get to know yourself: What are your interests? What school subjects do you enjoy the most?
- Look at yourself the way a college would: What courses have you taken? Review your grades and standardized test results. What are your special talents?
- Narrowing choices:
- Location: Close to home or far from home?
- Size: Would you like a school with thousands of students, or a smaller setting?
- Academics: What time of challenge are you looking for? What programs are available that suit your interest?
- Social/Recreation: What extracurricular interests do you participate in and are they available on campus?
- Athletics: Do you want a school that offers competitive sports, or one with less of a focus on athletics?
- Once you’ve explored your interests and things you like in a school, you are ready to begin your search. It is recommended to apply to 4-6 schools, and make sure to pay attention to the competitiveness of each school. Remember to compare your academic profile to the schools’, and categorize your selections into: Reach, Resonable, and Probable. Your School Counselor is a great resource to help you categorize your schools and get your college search underway!
College Visits
- Spring is a perfect time to visit a few potential schools. It is important to call or go online to check for tour dates and times.
- Smart questions to ask your tour guide:
- What did you do for fun last weekend?
- Do people stay on campus?
- Can first-year students have a car on campus? Do you need one?
- How much time do you spend on homework?
- How accessible are the professors outside of class?
- What types of activities are you involved in?
Applying to College
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- Stay organized with the following:
- College Application Checklist
- Post-Secondary Options- Class of 2026
- College Application Resource Guide- Class of 2026
- Refer to the Xello Knowledge Base for assistance and instructions on how to use Xello as a student, including detailed walkthroughs for requesting transcripts, letters of recommendation, and linking Xello to your Common App account.
- Helpful resources:
- Stay organized with the following:
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FAFSA- What is it?
The FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is a form used to apply for federal student aid and other types of financial aid. Colleges and the federal government use it to figure out how much you and your family can pay for college. The government uses it to determine your eligibility for grants, work-study programs, and loans. Colleges use the FAFSA to determine if you’re eligible for their own aid. And private scholarships are often awarded using the FAFSA. If you don’t file, you may not be eligible for school aid or federal aid. For more information visit Granite Edvance.
CSS Profile- What is it?
The CSS Profile is another online financial aid form. Roughly 240 colleges and scholarship programs require the CSS Profile in addition to the FAFSA. Here’s what you need to know:
- The CSS Profile helps colleges gather more information to help them award grants and scholarships.
- Unlike the FAFSA , the CSS Profile is not free. It costs $25 to register and send results to one school, and $16 for each additional school. If you meet certain criteria, your fees might be waived.
- See the schools that require the CSS Profile and register for it at CSS Profile
Need help filing the FAFSA?
Granite Edvance will be hosting virtual events to assist students and families with FAFSA Applications. Registration is required: Find an Event
File-A-FAFSA is offered at Granite Edvance! If you need to complete the FAFSA and would like help doing so, contact Granite Edvance for assistance.
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Are you interviewing with a college admissions counselor or alumni?
Check out the resources on College Board to help you prepare for your interview!
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Fall SAT Test Dates: Register at College Board
Fall ACT Test Dates: Register at ACT
After the SAT/ACT test:
Please remember to log into your College Board account to send your official score report to each of the colleges you plan to apply to. Plan to request your score report at least two weeks ahead of the application deadline to ensure it arrives to the Admissions office on time.
Helpful Documents
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