Juniors & families,

Thanks for reading our WEEKLY Junior Newsletter! We hope to include a lot of what you need to know in order to plan for life after high school.

Stay in touch and we'll see you soon!

Best,

BHS Counseling Office

(585) 242-5000 x4526

https://www.bcsd.org/domain/122

We covered quite a bit in our 5 sessions together. Copies of all Junior Seminar packets can be found here on our BHS Counseling website: https://www.bcsd.org/site/default.aspx?PageID=2065

All students are encouraged to schedule a 1:1 meeting with their counselor to discuss their future goals. Junior Seminar covers a lot of general information, so we want to be sure we can personalize it to your journey. We hope to see you this spring or over the summer! You can schedule an appointment using our Booking links: https://www.bcsd.org/domain/122

No matter where your journey may be taking you after HS, we have some tips and timelines to keep you on the right track this spring.

Spring

• HELP US HELP YOU- complete your resume & Junior Reflection in Naviance. We need these to write your letters of recommendation!

• Begin compiling a list of potential post secondary options. Feel free to schedule an appointment with your counselor for support.
• Have honest family conversations about your options- consider locations, financial impact, academic reach/match/safety, etc.
• VISIT & RESEARCH each of your options.
• If thinking of college, sign up to take the SAT and/or ACT in May/June.
• Talk with family, friends, counselors and teachers- they have a wealth of experiences to tap into.
• Schedule guided tours to make the most of your college/program visit. Getting a feel for the environment is an essential piece of the puzzle.
• Don’t be afraid to call admissions or job offices with any questions.
• Find alumni in the area- they are often willing to engage in conversations with you about their thoughts and experiences.
• Use social networking to your advantage (appropriately). Check out what students are doing on campus.
• Make plans for your summer- do you want/have a job? Internship? Camps? College programs? Career exploration?
• NCAA Eligibility? Make sure you double check with your counselor to ensure your senior year classes are NCAA approved if you are planning to play a D I or II sport in college and complete

Summer

• Continue to research your options, visit campuses/places of employment and speak with recruiters.
• Write your college essay- Brighton Continuing Ed. offers a class to help you get this done in one week!
• Possibly retake ACT (July) or SAT (August)
• Continue your work on the Common App - it doesn't take long to enter your demographic info, and that's most of the application!
• Attend Senior Summer Bootcamp- Mrs. Stern will host hours over the summer.
• Narrow down your options- we will quickly jump into the application/planning process in the fall.
• HAVE FUN!! This is your last summer as a HS student. Make sure to leave time for friends, family, etc!

Both BHS and our friends in the community are offering opportunities to help you be best prepared for senior year.

College & Career Bootcamp with Mrs. Stern!

Join BHS College & Career Counselor this summer for one or more of these great, FREE, sessions! See poster for details.

BCSD Continuing Education

• College Essay Writing
• SAT/ACT prep

Sign up today!

Camp College Prep

Camp College Prep combines SAT/ACT preparation, one-on-one college counseling, college essay writing, and the creation of a personal timetable to help high school students better understand and better prepare for the highly competitive college admissions process.

$325/per session

Further information can be found at www.campcollegeprep.com

Camp Tiger summer camp caters to enthusiastic, hands-on learners in 3rd through 12th grade with programs centered on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, otherwise known as STEAM.

Camp Tiger is Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., with optional morning care (7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.), and evening care (3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.). We offer weeklong programs during a four-week period. Each week's programs align with what RIT does best -- inspiring the innovators and makers of tomorrow. Camp Tiger costs include project-based instruction, family-style lunch at an RIT dining hall, supervised social interaction, and T-shirts to wear at camp. Scholarships and free camps are available.

Serving more than 700 students annually, we are proud to be the largest and oldest summer camp program at RIT.

Cardinal Nurse Camp helps high school students learn more about a career in the nursing field. Campers will meet faculty, alumni, and current Fisher students to hear about their experiences. Through simulation, virtual reality opportunities, and a hospital tour and shadow experience at RGH, campers will get a glimpse of all the possibilities a career in nursing can offer.

Campers will receive a free backpack, refillable water bottle, photo ID badge, and camp t-shirt. Snacks and lunch will be provided daily.

Details and Registration

• Dates: July 8-12, 2024
• Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Location: Wegmans School of Nursing and Rochester General Hospital
• Cost: $450 (includes lunch) *Students who receive free or reduced lunch can register for free. Contact ssmyth@sjf.edu for more information.
• Registration: Register online by May 15, 2024
  • Register and make payment through QuikPAY (email verification required)
  • You will be prompted to enter a valid email address to receive a one-time security code via email. Follow the instructions for the verification process.
  • Once verified, you can complete your payment and registration.
  • You can pay by credit card, debit card, or eCheck.

Contact Stephanie Smyth at (585) 899-3834 or ssmyth@sjf.edu with any questions.

https://www.sjf.edu/schools/school-of-nursing/news-and-events/cardinal-nurse-camp/

We'll continue to post college and career exploration opportunities in our 9-12 Monthly Newsletter, as well as job/internship opportunities in our Job Board. Reach out to Mrs. Stern with any questions!

Newsletters past and present can be found here: https://www.bcsd.org/Page/2072

Job Board: https://www.smore.com/67rat

If you are a high-achieving, low-income high school student, you are in the right place. We believe that attending a top college can be affordable and we are committed to helping you attain the college education you deserve.

We have partnerships with the country’s best colleges, all of which are actively seeking successful students that have experienced long-term financial hardship. All of our programs are designed to connect you with top educational, professional, scholarship, and life opportunities.

Learn more about the National College Match

Student Resource Center

Get started on your college application process with these resources developed specifically for QuestBridge applicants. Learn more >>

If you think you are a right fit, SEE YOUR COUNSELOR! We can talk more about the match process and how it works!

If you are thinking about attending a four year college, we encourage you to use the Common Application to apply- one application for over 900 colleges across the US.

Here's what you need to know about the Common Application:

There are 7 main sections of the Common Application. The information you share in these sections will be sent to all colleges you apply to using this application.

Much of the Common Application is information you already have! Other than the last two sections, it really shouldn't take much time at all to complete the majority of the application. The main sections are:

1- Profile- your name, address, phone number, etc.

2- Family- colleges want to know more about who you live with, what your parents do for a living, their education level and any siblings you may have.

3- Education- you will share where you have gone/currently attend HS, your GPA (as of the end of Junior year) and a list of your senior year courses so colleges can learn more about you as a student.

4- Testing- did you take the SAT and/or ACT? If you are opting to self-report your scores, you will do that here.

5- Activities- here you will list up to 10 of your most important extracurricular activities. College reps want to get a sense of who you are outside of the classroom, what is most important to you/your values, and what you will bring to the campus life.

6- Writing- you will write an essay, up to 650 words, based on one of the seven essay prompts given. This is your chance to bring your application to life and share more about who you really are at your core. A list of the essay prompts can be found here: https://www.commonapp.org/apply/essay-prompts

7- Courses & Grades (optional for most schools)- if required, you will need to self-report your transcript. Otherwise, we will send an official copy of your transcript to each school.

Common App has a great "First Year Application Guide" that can help you prepare and organize the information you will need to complete the application. If you wanted to start your Common App now, you can create an account to start entering the information you already have. It never hurts to get a head start! https://www.commonapp.org/apply/first-time-students

The biggest piece/most time consuming of all is the personal essay. It can be really difficult to reflect on yourself and try to condense who you are into 650 words. We are definitely here to help you! All BHS counselors can review your essays or help you brainstorm what to write. Brighton Community Education also offers an essay writing course over the summer- see details below.

In addition to the main sections of the common application, many schools have a supplemental section that you will have to complete. A college may want to know more about what you plan to study there, see if you have any family who are alumni or ask that you write an additional essay...or three...specific to that school.

If you decide not to use the Common Application, many school specific applications are very similar in the information they are asking of you. Again, we are here to help you navigate all of the parts and pieces of any applications you may need to complete.

See your counselor or Mrs. Stern for help getting started!

•Think of 2 teachers who know you best (typically from junior year)

•Fill out the BHS LETTER OF REC REQUEST FORM (grab some in the counseling office)

•Talk to your teacher in person ASAP and give them the request form

•You will follow up with the teachers in the fall with a request through Naviance

Let us know if you have any questions!

Counselors will write a letter of recommendation for each of their students. While teacher letters of rec will focus on your academic progress and capabilities; counselor letters are much more holistic. We talk about you in the community, your strengths of character, your passions, hobbies, future goals, etc. In order to paint the best picture, we need your help!

• Please give a Pink Sheet to 3 adults in your life. These could be teachers, club advisors, coaches, employers, etc. Anyone who can speak to a different side of you!
• Once you've provided a Pink Sheet (or the electronic link) to that adult, you are done! They will complete the evaluation and return it to us via paper or electronic submission.

Pink Sheets can be found in the Counseling Office OR you can share the electronic link:

https://forms.office.com/r/ScRFk2UXTM

Parents- we need your help too! You know your kids best, and we truly value your thoughts and insight on your children. Please take a few minutes to share something about your child to be used as part of our letter of recommendation. We would greatly appreciate your feedback by July 1st so we may start writing our letters this summer.

https://forms.office.com/r/ZGweeuiGpr

Thanks to all who joined us for our Junior Family Night. It was so nice to see an full auditorium!

In case you missed it, the packet of information shared is posted on our BHS Counseling Website. Please reach out to your child's counselor with any questions.

https://www.bcsd.org/Page/2072

Many colleges are swinging back to requiring SAT or ACT exams. Even if a school is test optional, it's a good idea to take one or both exams to have them if needed.

Check out our SAT/ACT page on the BHS Counseling Website for more info on the exams and prep opportunities.

Email: courtney_stern@bcsd.org
Website: https://www.bcsd.org/Page/2063
Location: 1150 South Winton Road, Rochester, NY, USA
Phone: (585) 242-5000