STAFF

Fred Itterly, College & Career Counselor fitterly61@comcast.net

Susan Durkee, Asst Principal sfdurkee@fourriverscharter.org

Leslie Taylor, Administrative Coordinator ltaylor@fourriverscharter.org

Telephone: 413-775-4577

CALENDAR

August 31 (Monday) Seniors call for appointments with Mr. Itterly 3:00-6:00 pm

September 1 (Tuesday) Seniors call for appointments with Mr. Itterly 3:00-6:00 pm

September 17 (Thursday) College Admissions Presentation for Parents 7:00-8:30 pm Fred Itterly and the College Advising Team

September 20 (Sunday) College Fair, Western New England College 4 – 6 pm


COLLEGE FAIRS

College Fairs are abundant in the Pioneer Valley throughout the Fall. Seniors may benefit from the convenience of contacting large numbers of college representatives gathered in one location. Fairs are particularly useful for Juniors who are seeking general information about a lot of colleges.

Scheduled fairs locally are:

Western New England College Sunday, September 20 th 4-6 pm

Northfield Mount Hermon Sunday, October 4 th 3-5 pm

Hampshire County/Belchertown HS Thursday, October 8 th 7-9 pm


PLANNING AND ORGANIZING TOOLS

Planning Calendar for Seniors  

Seven Tips for Surviving the College Admissions Process

Academic Planning by Grade Level

 

CONNECTEDU

Juniors and seniors can open an account at www.connectedu.net. Students can use this resource to explore colleges and track application materials. Contact Mr. Itterly if you need help getting online with this program.

THE ONE-STOP WEBSITE – www.mefacounselor.org

Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority provides trusted content information and external websites for college planning and financing college. Links for college searching, test registration, etc.

STANDARDIZED TESTING

Seniors are reminded that the dates for registering for the SAT and ACT tests are fast approaching.

SAT Dates and Deadlines

SAT Dates and Deadlines

October 10 th Late registration 9/23

Sign up by September 9 th Late registration 9/23
November 7 th Sign up by October 1st Late registration 10/15
December 5 th Sign up by October 30 th Late registration 11/12

 

ACT Dates and Deadlines

October 24 th

Sign up by September 18 th Late registration 10/2
December 12 th Sign up by November 6 th Late registration 11/20

Students find that on line registration is most convenient.

SAT registration and preparation materials are at www.collegeboard.com

ACT registration and preparation materials are at www.act.org

ACT

Juniors should take the ACT with Writing once in the spring time. We strongly urge students to take both the SAT and ACT because of the differences in the style of the exams. You may perform better on one or another of the tests.

ACT registration packet are available in the college counseling area of the library. In addition, there will be information about preparing for the ACT also available.

 

SAT

Juniors should take the SAT Reasoning once in the spring time. Subject test should be taken at the conclusion of coursework, for instance U.S. History. Check with the colleges you are considering for their SAT subject test requirements.

Helpful Hints:

  • Be aware of any conflicts, such as soccer tournaments, when planning your testing date.
  • Remember to practice ahead of time for standardized tests. Getting accustomed to concise writing, using your calculator wisely, and reading a variety of passages in a timed situation is an uncommon academic experience.

STUDENTS WITH ACCOMODATIONS

Students who receive accommodations at Four Rivers need to fill out accommodation requests for the SAT through CollegeBoard.com and the ACT through ACT.org. These organizations have different criteria for granting accommodations for college admissions standardized testing than a public school has. Paperwork needs to be filed within a strict timeframe to be fully processed. Please contact Mr. Stenson, if you have any questions.

FREE WAIVERS

Students who have qualified for free or reduced lunch for the current school year are eligible for standardized testing fee waivers. Please see Ms. Taylor two weeks in advance of the registration deadline for the appropriate paperwork and codes. Additionally, students who qualify for free and reduced lunch will be provided waivers for college application fees. (Please do not wait until the last minute to request information)!

SCHOLARSHIPS

The largest database of scholarships is at www.fastweb.org. Seniors, continue to check the black bin in the College Counseling Resource Center in the Farmhouse library. New scholarships are arriving all the time.

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