• English: On a computer/laptop, click "Translate" in the black box. On a mobile phone/tablet click the Accessibility Icon at the bottom of your phone screen and then click 'translate'.
• Español: Desde una computadora o portátil (laptop), haga clic en "Translate" en el cuadro negro. Desde un teléfono celular o tableta, haga clic en el icono “Accessibility” en la parte inferior de la pantalla y luego haga clic en “Translate”.
• Português: Em um computador/laptop, clique "Translate" na caixa preta. Em um celular/tablet, clique no ícone de 'Accessibility' na parte de baixo da tela e então clique 'Translate'.

Hello students and families! My name is Rachel Erikson, and I am the College & Career Counselor at Framingham High School. Some of you may already know me, but being that many of you are new to thinking about life after high school (or even FHS) I wanted to introduce myself and the College & Career Center, which is located in K002.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns. I look forward to getting to know you better throughout the school year!

-Mrs. Erikson

The College & Career Center (K002) will operate as a drop-in space (no appointment necessary!) for seniors to use during study/priv periods. Come with friends, questions, and an open mind for exploring your future. I look forward to working with you this year!

Every fall there are ~75 colleges that come to Framingham High School to meet with students; these visits are an important and valuable piece of the college application process.
To attend visits, you must register and notify your teachers ahead of time.

College visits will occur between 1-3x per day (at 10:15am, 11:15am, and 12:15pm) beginning September 23rd to mid-November - at this time, visits are being continuously added. College visits are a great way to get to know a college better, have some face time with the person who will be reading your application, and show demonstrated interest (many schools track this with applications).

To attend visits, register ahead of time on Naviance:

1. Log-in to Naviance
2. Click 'Colleges' on the top of the page
3. Select 'College Visits' under Research Colleges
4. Explore and register!

• Monday (11/11): NO SCHOOL - Thank You, Veterans 😊
• Tuesday (11/12): Fisher College (10:15am); Salem State Univ (11:15am)
• Wednesday (11/13): Long Island Univ (10:15am); Saint Anselm College (11:15am)
• Thursday (11/14): Assumption University (10:15am); Emmanuel College (11:15am)
• Friday (11/15): Gordon College (10:15am)

Ms. Erikson has created Canvas pages to help you explore information and resources related

to the college search + application process and answer commonly asked questions. Check

them out below:

• The College Search
  
• The College Application Process
• Mass Bay / community college
• Standardized Testing
• Military
• Alternative Pathways --> e.g. gap years; trade/apprenticeship programs; internships

The COLLEGE APPLICATION is the backbone of all of the information a college/university needs to know about you to assess if you'd be a good fit for their school. The majority of schools use the Common Application as their application portal. Some schools have an application portal built into their website, and other schools use an application portal called the Coalition App (similar to the Common App; see schools that use the Coalition App here). Creating an account on any of these portals is free, but most colleges/universities have a cost associated with applying. All applications are created and submitted online.

For step-by-step directions about applying to college and FAQs, please visit Ms. Erikson's 'The College Application' Canvas page.

Seniors applying to four-year colleges will most likely need one to two teacher letters of recommendation. However, they will need to find out the exact number required by checking the "application requirements" on the websites of the colleges to which they are applying. To request a teacher letter of recommendation, please follow the steps listed on the Teacher Recommendation Letter Guide. You should always plan to give your teachers a minimum of 15 school days notice prior to your first application deadline.

The Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR/SSAR) allows applicants to record and submit courses, grades, and test scores as part of your college application to participating colleges and universities. Students will list courses and grades that have been completed, or will be attempted (e.g., senior year courses in-progress), for high school credit.

Be sure to look at Ms. Erikson's 'Standardized Testing' Canvas page for detailed information on the following:

• SAT + ACT registration instructions
• SAT + ACT study resources
• Fee waiver information
• Testing accommodations
• TOEFL registration

Do you have free/reduced lunch and/or receive any financial assistance? If so, you qualify for a SAT fee waiver! A fee waiver covers the cost of up to two SAT tests and three SAT Subject Tests. It will also cover submitting college applications through the Common Application. If you need an SAT or ACT fee waiver please contact school counselor.

TEST OPTIONAL SCHOOLS: Test optional means that a school does not require SAT or ACT scores as a part of your application. Over 1,000 colleges and universities are test optional. Find a complete list at www.fairtest.org!

THE TOEFL EXAM: The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is a standardized test that measures English language ability for non-native speakers who plan to enroll in an English speaking college. The test evaluates listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills in relationship to academic tasks. Test costs range between $150-$225. Unfortunately, no financial aid is offered for the TOEFL test. Fee-based and free prep materials can be found on the TOEFL website, on Canvas, or in the College & Career Center (K007). To register and see test dates/locations visit www.toefl.org.

All job, internship, and other opportunities - as well as resume and cover letter building resources - can be found within your School Links account [https://app.schoolinks.com/login/k12]. If you need assistance with your School Links account, please see Ms. Erikson (K002).

1) Take a form from your house/academy or access work permits online using the QR code below

2) Your employer should fill out the "Promise of Employment" Section

3) On page two, you can skip the "Physician’s Certificate of Health" section if you are older than 15. If not, your doctor must fill it out.

4) Your parents/guardians need to fill out/sign #4

5) You sign #5

6) When all that is filled out, please hand it in to the MAIN OFFICE [please include your hair and eye color]

• English: https://www.mass.gov/doc/youth-employment-permit-application/download
• Español: https://www.mass.gov/doc/youth-employment-permit-application-spanishespanol/download
• Português: https://www.mass.gov/doc/youth-employment-permit-portuguese/download

There are a number of opportunities and events for students interested in the military or ROTC. There are representatives from all of the branches available to meet with interested students. If you are interested in setting up a one-on-one meeting with a recruiter, please email Ms. Erikson.

• Additionally, the ASVAB exam will be offered at Framingham HS two times this school year - once on Thursday, November 21st 2024 and again on Tuesday, April 8th 2025. If you are a student interested in taking the ASVAB, please register below or email Ms. Erikson. For information about the ASVAB, please click here.

Scholarships—finding free money for college on Wednesday, November 13th at 7pm ET

We hear the same things you do from students about scholarships: “I’m not a straight-A student or a star athlete, so what’s the point?” Students need to know there are scholarships out there for everyone. That there are tips to help students secure more free money and fantastic resources to find scholarships that fit. Register for our free webinar and join us as we discuss:

• The best places to find scholarships
• Key tips on applying for scholarships
• How to create a winning scholarship essay
• Tools and resources to help students find more scholarships

Space is limited, so please register early to guarantee your spot!

FAFSA ID Workshop: With the FAFSA’s delayed launch to December 1st this year, you’ll want to be ready as soon as the application opens! And that means taking the time now to create your FAFSA username and password, called the FSA ID. Both the student and parent(s) will need one. Join this workshop where you will be paired with an expert who will provide one-on-one help creating your FSA ID. Then you’ll be ready to go when the FAFSA opens in December! REGISTER ONLINE!

FAFSA Festival Days: Do you need assistance completing the FAFSA, the form required to apply for college financial aid? Join MEFA for a virtual FAFSA Festival on December 10th 4:00 PM-6:00 PM. You can log in anytime and you will be paired with an expert who can answer your FAFSA questions and help you complete the online application. Before you join us, we encourage you to start filling out the FAFSA at fafsa.gov. If you’re an undocumented student not eligible for federal financial aid, we will also be able to assist you with the MASFA, the MA state financial aid form for undocumented students.

• Tues, Dec 10th 4:00–6:00 p.m.
• Mon, Dec 16th 4:00–6:00 p.m.
• Wed, Jan 15th 4:00–6:00 p.m.
• Tues, Feb 11th 4:00–6:00 p.m.

Interested in learning more about Gap Years? Find out why more students are taking a Gap Year between high school and college, and during their college years. Many young adults want to increase college readiness by trying out new interests, finding internships, traveling, and engaging in other experiences that increase confidence, independence, and maturity. Katherine Stievater, founder of Belmont, MA-based Gap Year Solutions is holding a Gap Year information session covering why students choose to take a Gap Year, and how to plan transformational and purposeful Gap time on any budget. This program is especially geared toward high school juniors and seniors and their parents.

The webinar will take place at 6:30 PM ET on Tuesday, November 19, 2024. You will receive a link with access instructions prior to the webinar. Here is the link to the registration form for the webinar: https://forms.gle/NWZ5UHBgwLwJsw2A9

Unlocking Private Scholarships: Maximize Your Chances for College Funding

Date: November 20, 2024 | Time: 7pm EST | Register Here!

We’re excited to invite you to a free webinar designed to help your student unlock private scholarships and maximize college funding. What We’ll Cover:

• How to obtain college scholarships
• The who, what, when, where, and how of securing private scholarships
• How to get scholarships even if you don’t qualify for financial aid
• Where to look—and where NOT to look—for scholarships

Completing the FAFSA®: Finding Free Money for College

Wednesday, November 20th at 7:30pm ET | 6:30pm CT | 5:30pm MT | 4:30pm PT

Scholarships can be a huge help to college-bound students and their families, but many don’t know where to find them, or how to apply. During this session, hosted in Spanish, students and families will learn key tips on applying for scholarships, how to create a winning scholarship essay, and more. We’ll also share helpful tips and information to help you complete your FAFSA® and find the money you need to pay for college.
Space is limited, so please register early to guarantee your spot - Register now!
This sounds great, but the timing just doesn’t work for me - We know this is a hectic time of year! If you're interested but can't make it, go ahead and register—you’ll get a recording to watch whenever you're ready.

Understanding Athletic Recruiting -Thursday, November 21st at 5 pm (PT) / 8 pm (ET) | Learn more and register here!

• Are your students thinking about pursuing sports in college? Athletic recruiting is one of the most confusing processes for students and their families because it involves a tricky intersection of parent expectations, student aspirations, coach idiosyncrasies, and conflicting league policies.
• In this webinar, we speak with two long-time experts to discuss the latest trends in athletic recruiting, including specialization, early commitments, the rise of club sports, the accelerated timeline, and the impact of the pandemic on recruiting from both the coaches’ and students’ perspectives.

Demystifying the College Financial Aid & Scholarship Process

• Date: Wednesday, December 11th, 2024
• Time: 8:00 PM EST
• Location: Zoom

Perry Kalmus, Co-Founder of AKALA will take you through a live action experience step-by-step of the FAFSA, CSS Profile, Net Price Calculator, and Scholarship Resources. This presentation will help make the overwhelming nature of college financing a little less stressful for parents and students.

You can register here for the Financial Aid & Scholarship Process webinar.

BlueView Autism Services (95 Lincoln ST, Framingham, MA 01701) is looking for after-school student volunteers for their front desks. Choose 1 or 2 days MON-FRI 3-5 hours on Saturdays:

• MON-FRI 3-6 PM [after-school positions available]
• SAT 9AM-2PM

Apply online: https://www.blueviewautismservices.com/

Our Mission: A Place To Turn provides healthy food choices, diapers, and personal care items to MetroWest residents. We are committed to addressing hunger by serving with dignity, equity, and empathy.

What We Do: We provide fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, dairy, eggs, groceries and personal care items to MetroWest families in need.

What will I do as an Ambassador?

• Act as a liaison between the pantry and your high school
• Organize food drives at your school, with groups or teams or in the community
• Volunteer at the pantry:
• Help make sure the pantry shelves are stocked and ready for service
• Help sort and bag produce for families
• Help get diaper bags ready for families
• If you have an interest in one area of our work, let us know!

Why Should I Become an Ambassador?

• Learn about food insecurity and be part of the solution locally
• Develop leadership skills
• Earn community service hours

Questions or to Apply: Please contact: Christian Espana at christian@aplacetoturn-natick.org or call at (508) 655-8868.

Youth in Philanthropy, or YIP! YIP is an experiential leadership development program for high school students in MetroWest. It empowers and educates local youth to become our community’s next generation of philanthropists – those who give their time, talent, and treasure for the common good. Visit our website for more information. We have a great history of Framingham students participating in YIP over our 27 years of programming, and we wanted to continue this tradition.

In the Spring of 2025, the Community Foundation for MetroWest will be hosting two YIP programs: one in Framingham and one in Wellesley. Any students living and learning in MetroWest are welcome in in the Framingham program, which we imagine makes the most sense due to the distance, and if spots in that program fill up there may be the possibility for students to participate in the Wellesley program as well. The Natick program meets on Wednesdays from 7-8:30 at the MetroWest YMCA at 280 Old Connecticut Path, Framingham, and kicks off on January 22nd. The application for the program can be found here!

Mrs. Erikson, College & Career Counselor

College & Career Center, Room K002

Monday - Friday | 7:15am-2:15pm

Should a parent/guardian wish to meet with me, I am available by appointment only. Appointments can be made by calling/emailing the phone number and email below.

Rachel Erikson (She/Her/Hers)

+1 (508)782-7688 | rerikson@framingham.k12.ma.us

115 A Street Framingham, MA 01701

Website: https://fhs.framingham.k12.ma.us/
Location: 115 A Street, Framingham, MA, USA
Phone: (508) 620-4963
Facebook: facebook.com/framinghamhighschool
Twitter: @FHSFlyers