NEBHE Tuition Break Program

What is the NEBHE Tuition Break Program?
NEBHE's Tuition Break program, the New England Regional Student Program (RSP), enables thousands of New England residents to enroll at out-of-state New England public colleges and universities at a discount. Students are eligible for the RSP Tuition Break when they enroll in an approved major that is not offered by the public colleges and universities in their home-state.

For more information on the program, go to www.nebhe.org/tuitionbreak

2013 Women in Engineering Day at Northeastern University

Northeastern University's Women in Engineering Day will be held on Friday, October 25th, 2013.  The program is a great way for female students who are interested in engineering to learn more about Northeastern's engineering program and to meet some of the students.

If you are interested, you must RSVP before October 18th by emailing: r.reisberg@neu.edu.  Parents are also welcome but space is limited so please reserve a spot early. 

Upcoming College Information Sessions

George Washington University (Washington, D.C.)
Andover, MA on November 13
Greater Boston on October 28
For more information and to register, go to http://gwapplication.gwu.edu

Northeastern University
Open Houses
Saturday, October 26th
Saturday, November 9th
RSVP at northeastern.edu/admissions/visitcampus

PSAT Reminder

This is a reminder that we are currently registering students for the PSAT. The PSAT is given at Melrose High School on Saturday, October 19, 2013 from 7:30 a.m. to 12 noon. All sophomores and juniors are expected to take the exam. Sign up is completed in the high school guidance office, and students can drop off cash or check (made out to MHS Guidance) in the amount of $30 for the exam fee. The deadline for registration is October 16th. If you have any questions, please give us a call at 781-979-2210.

30th Reading Cooperative College Fair

Reading High School will be hosting the 30th annual Cooperative College Fair again this year.  It will held on Tuesday, October 22nd from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Shriner's Auditorium in Wilmington.  Historically there have been over 150 college admissions representatives attending, so it is a great chance for students and parents to gather information about many local and national colleges and universities.  A list of colleges attending will be in a future blog.

BC Splash!

Boston College's Splash program offers high school students a window into the college experience with a full-day of free classes created and taught by BC students. Courses range from "Revolutionary Theory and the Arab Spring" to "Political Science of Harry Potter" and "Introduction to College Math." Students will have the freedom to schedule whichever courses interest them most. We believe that by allowing college students to share their passion for learning, they can encourage your students to find a lifelong enthusiasm for knowledge. All are welcome at BC Splash.  

For more information and dates, go to https://bcsplash.learningu.org/more_info/index.html.

 

College Visits at MHS

The MHS guidance department will begin hosting college admissions representatives at the school this week.  The visits are a great way for juniors and seniors to receive first hand information from the admissions officers, and to ask questions about the college.  The visits will correspond to the lunch blocks at school, and students will be asked to sign up in advanced in the guidance office if they would like to attend the session(s).  The following schools will be visiting soon:

Thursday, September 19
Northeastern University
Keene State College
Johnson and Wales University

Tuesday, September 24
Salem State University

All juniors and seniors have been emailed this information by the guidance office.  There will be many more colleges and universities visiting this fall, please stay tuned to the blog for more details.

Scholarship Opportunities

Wendy's High School Heisman
Every year, the Wendy’s High School Heisman Program and The Heisman Memorial Trophy team up to recognize our nation’s most esteemed high school Seniors. The culmination of this process takes place in December in conjunction with the National Heisman Memorial Trophy presentation during Heisman Weekend in New York City. It’s here where Wendy’s selects its National High School Heisman Winners during a broadcast on ESPN networks. This partnership ensures that high school winners enjoy the prestige of national recognition for their tremendous achievements.

The Wendy’s High School Heisman Program is looking for all types of high-achieving seniors from more than 29,000 public and private high schools within the U.S. The scholarship considers young men and women who participate in a wide range of sports and school and community activities. If you’re one of the 1.4 million high school athletes across the country that excels in the classroom, on the field, and within your school and community, apply now. For more information, go to www.wendysheisman.com.

Roanoke College (Va.) Scholars Program
The Roanoke College Scholars Program was designed to recognize and reward students of superior academic and leadership ability.  Selection of semi-finalists will be based on the scholarship application and academic record. Final recipients will be determined primarily on the performance during the on-campus competition which includes a writing session and personal interview. Academic records will also be given some consideration. Applicants for the Scholars Program must submit the admissions application and be accepted to the College prior to the competition.

For more information, or to apply, go to www.roanoke.edu/scholars

Upcoming Open Houses and Information Sessions

UMass-Lowell
Open House at UMass-Lowell Campus
October 27, 2013
Register online at www.uml.edu/visit2013

Yale University
Information Session
Boston Public Library
700 Boylston Street
Boston, MA
Sunday, October 6th, 2013
3:00 p.m.
To register, visit www.apps.admissions.yale.edu/events

University of Maine at Farmington
Open House
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Saturday, November 9, 2013
To register, visit www.umf.maine.edu/visit

Parent Workshop: The Secret Life of a Massachusetts Teen

The Melrose High School PTO is hosting a FREE parent workshop on The Secret Life of a Massachusetts Teen.  The event will be held Tuesday, September 24, 2013 at 7:00 pm at the MVMMS Auditorium, 360 Lynn Fells Parkway, Melrose. 

The workshop will be moderated by Mr. Jon Mattleman, a mental health counselor and trainer with 30 years of experience working with youth, parents, and families.  Mr. Mattleman is the founder of Youth/Family Resources, a consulting firm focused on overcoming personal barriers and building healthy relationships.  His dynamic presentations and workshops give participants tools they can implement immediately, strategies that work with children and youth and constructive approaches to communication and collaborative problem solving.

We encourage all Melrose parents to attend.

Exploring Educational Excellence Event

EEE is a collaboration among five elite colleges - University of Chicago, Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, and Rice University - who host joint information sessions around the country about applying to highly selective colleges and universities.  Representatives from all five schools will discuss the unique features of their respective campuses, including academics, student life, extracurricular engagement, financial aid, and much more.

They will be in the Boston area on Sunday, September 29th, 2013.  To RSVP, go to www.exploringeducationalexcellence.org.

Suffolk University Open Houses

Suffolk University is hosting their 2013 Open Houses on October 6th and October 26th.  Please go to www.suffok.edu/visit for more information.

Important Test Dates 2013-2014

The SAT and ACT have both announced their test dates for the 2013-2014 school year.  Please click on the link below for a complete list of dates and registration deadlines.  To register for the SAT or ACT, you go to the testing agency website and register online.  For SAT, go to www.collegeboard.org and for ACT, go to www.act.org.

The testing dates are listed on this link:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yd97VTpkAVkKI_TfzMEzbl19Cd3puzaOURlLrbg5jOA/edit?usp=sharing

PSAT Registration Information

The PSAT will be given at Melrose High School on Saturday, October 19th at 8:00 a.m.  The MHS guidance department is encouraging ALL sophomores and juniors to take the PSAT exam this year.  Students may register for the exam by bringing a check or cash to Mrs. Seelley in the Guidance Office.  The cost of the exam is $30, and checks are to be made payable to MHS Guidance.  The PSAT provides a great opportunity for students to become familiar with the format and questions seen on the actual SAT exam, and for juniors the PSAT is also used for National Merit Scholarship eligibility.  If you have further questions, please contact us in guidance at 781-979-2210.

NEACAC College Fair October 20th

The New England Association for College Admission Counseling will be holding their annual college fair at Northern Essex Community College in Haverhill, MA  on Sunday, October 20th, 2013 from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.  Entrance is free and no advance registration is required.  Over 150 colleges and universities will be in attendance. 

NACAC Performing Arts and Visual College Fair

The National Association of College Admission Counseling is pleased to announce its 2013 Performing Arts and Visual Arts College Fair to be held Tuesday, September 24th from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. in the Fuller Building on the campus of Boston University.  Registration is free, but you should register online prior to attending at www.gotomypvafair.com.

Attendees of this event will learn about educational opportunities, admission and financial aid, portfolio days, audition and entrance requirements, and much more.

College Information Sessions

Dartmouth College
Sunday, September 08, 2013
4:30 PM
Marriott Boston Newton         
2345 Commonwealth Avenue
Newton, MA

For more information and to RSVP, please go to www.dartmouth.edu/admissions/nearyou

Washington University in St. Louis
Sunday, September 29, 2013
7:00 p.m.
Marriott Boston Newton         
2345 Commonwealth Avenue
Newton, MA

No reservation is needed for this information session.

President's Education Award Winners Announced!

At Senior Awards Night this past Monday evening, the MHS Guidance Department announced the President's Education Award winners from the Class of 2013.  The award honors those students from around the country that have met strict criteria as reflected in their grade point averages, standardized test scores, and teacher recommendations.  The award is meant to recognize outstanding educational achievement among the young leaders in our nation's schools.

The President's Education Award recipients from the MHS Class of 2013 are:

Timothy Cobau
Brittany D'Innocenzo
Ashley D'Orlando
Raquel Doucette
Alexandra Foley
Gabrielle Fox
Emily Heath
Jessica Horne
Amy Howland
Natalie Kendall
Sarah McDonald
Casey McVicar
David Mendelssohn
Amelia Ragon
Betty Ann Richardson
Sarah Ried
Adeen Sandhal
Zeke Vainer
Alyssa Waaramaa
Jamie Zajac

Congratulations to our students!

SAT/PSAT Prep Courses Offered at North Shore C.C.

North Shore C.C. is offering prep courses for the SAT Math and Verbal sections, as well as the PSAT.  The dates run from July9 - July 25 and again from Aug 6 - Aug 22 at their Lynn and Beverly campuses.  The cost for each course is $119.  For more information, go to http://community.northshore.edu/ktc/ or call 978-236-1200.

MHS Book Award Winners Announced!

Congratulations to the 2013 MHS Book Award Recipients!  The recipients were announced this morning at a breakfast held in their honor at Melrose High School.  The book awards are a way of recognizing outstanding juniors in the areas of academic achievement and community service.  The book awards are sponsored by local area colleges, universities, and alumni associations.  We are grateful to the colleges and universities for providing us with the awards. 

The 2013 MHS recipients from the Class of 2014 are:

Boston University - Lilah Drafts-Johnson
Brown University - Caroline Kerwin
Dartmouth College - Monika O'Shea
Harvard University - Jonathan Hori
Mt. Holyoke College - Risa Baba
Rennselaer Medal -  Mira Williams
Bausch and Lomb Science - Finn O'Brien
George Eastman Young Leaders - Alyssa Abbott
Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony - Annalisa Debari
Xerox Award for Innovation - Rachel Abramson
Regis College - Anna Kleis
Saint Anselm College - Lisa Yannaco
St. Michael's College - Zoe Cross
Stonehill College - Katarina Frazier
Wellesley College - Karissa Volcy
Williams College - Charlotte Hoff
Yale University - Emma Morrison

Congratulations to all the book award recipients!

2012 ROI Rankings: College Education Value Compared

With all of the expense and time required to attend college, does earning a degree pay off long-term? Yes, depending on which school you choose. PayScale has ranked more than 850 U.S. colleges (for both in and out-of-state tuition when applicable) by their college tuition ROI - what you pay to attend versus what you get back in lifetime earnings.

To see the rankings, go to this link:  http://www.payscale.com/college-education-value-2012

NBC News Story on Canadian Colleges

The link below highlights a story about why American students are flocking to Canadian colleges:

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/24/17882085-americans-head-north-for-affordable-college-degrees?lite

Colleges That Change Lives Information Session

Each Colleges That Change Lives program begins with an enlightening 30-minute panel presentation on completing a college search today. We promise to not bore you with a session about how to apply for college, what to expect during a campus visit, and so forth.

 

Instead, we will share with you the latest research on specific campus characteristics and learning components that lead to the most successful college experience. We will challenge you to view popular college rankings as just one measure of quality among many. Above all, we will encourage you to make the college search process a well-informed journey that leads to the best possible outcome: finding the best college fit.

 

Immediately after the panel presentation, the college fair begins and lasts for approximately 1.5 hours. Students and families will be able to collect information from and speak directly with admission representatives from the colleges and universities that inspired the book Colleges That Change Lives. The CTCL events are free to the public, and pre-registration is not required.

 

CTCL will be at the Westin Copley Place in Boston, MA on Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at 7:00 p.m.  For more information, go to www.CTCL.org.

Colleges on Tour

Parents and students are invited to an evening information program with the admission representatives from:

• Dartmouth College
• Northwestern University
• Princeton University
• University of California, Berkeley
• Vanderbilt University

Date:  Sunday, May 19 from 7-9 p.m. at the Boston Marriott Burlington.  You must register in advance at www.coasttocoasttour.com.

Boston Globe article on Boston College applications

Boston College saw a 26.6% decrease in the number of applications after adding a supplemental essay.  Here is link for full article from Boston Globe:

http://bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/03/02/applications-rise-harvard-mit-and-but-celebrates-its-decline/ELfFN52MDFTmXSRiDQfZwK/story.html

Guiding Good Choices Parent Workshop

The Melrose Substance Abuse Coalition is sponsoring a parent workshop in the Guiding Good Choices series, for parents of children ages 9-14.  The program is a research based workshop series proven to strengthen family bonds, foster better communication skills and decrease the chances of risky behavior by our children.  The workshops are offered in the mornings and evenings in March.  Space is limited, for more information or to register email Melissa at mripley@cityofmelrose.org, or call Melissa at 781-979-4130.

NEACAC College Fairs

The New England Association for College Admissions Counseling is offering several college fairs this spring.  The following dates/locations may be of interest to MHS students:

Merrimack College
Facility TBD, North Andover, MA
Monday, May 13, 2013: 7:00pm-9:00pm

Assumption College
Plourde Recreation Center, Worcester, MA
Tuesday, May 14, 2013: 9:00am-11:00am & 7:00pm-9:00pm

Stonehill College
Roche Dining Commons, Easton, MA
Wednesday, May 15, 2013: 7:00pm-9:00pm

For more information, go to www.neacac.org.   

Teen Life 2013 Guide to Summer Programs

Teen Life publishes a Guide to Summer Programs each year.  We encourage all students to stay active over the summer, and to consider programs that fit their interests or goals.  Some programs are more academic in nature, while some are more enrichment programs.  The 2013 Guide can be found at http://www.teenlife-digital.com/tlpublications/summer2013tl#pg3.

Young Scholars Program at Northeastern University

Northeastern University’s Center for STEM Education is running the Young Scholars Program again this summer! Rising juniors and seniors can apply to be research assistants in a university science or engineering laboratory, and work alongside graduate students, professors and undergraduates doing original research in a number of fields.  

Please also visit the website for more information:

http://neuysp.weebly.com/

Colleges That Change Lives on Tour

You are invited to attend the Colleges That Change Lives on Tour on Wed., May 22nd at 7:00 pm at the Westin Copley Place Hotel in Boston.  Each Colleges That Change Lives program begins with an enlightening 30-minute panel presentation on completing a college search today. We promise to not bore you with a session about how to apply for college, what to expect during a campus visit, and so forth.

Immediately after the panel presentation, the college fair begins and lasts for approximately 1.5 hours. Students and families will be able to collect information from and speak directly with admission representatives from the colleges and universities that inspired the book Colleges That Change Lives.

The CTCL events are free to the public, and pre-registration is not required

Financial Aid Assistance

The American Student Assistance^® (ASA) College Planning team helps young people and adults from all backgrounds plan for college and identify sources of financial aid through school-based programs and located in libraries and community agencies. Many of our programs, backed by a wide range of supporting partners, focus on improving college preparation, enrollment, and success for students traditionally underrepresented in higher education.

For more information on their services, go to www.asa.org/plan.

More Scholarships

Buick Achievers Scholarship Program
The Buick Achievers Scholarship Program wants to reward students who have succeeded both inside and outside of the classroom—and who may not be able to attend college without financial assistance. The Buick Achievers Scholarship Program is offering:

• Up to $25,000 per year for 100 first-time freshman or existing college students, renewable up to four years and one additional year for those entering a qualified five-year engineering program.
• $2,000 one-time awards for an additional 1,000 students.

For more information on guidelines, or to apply, go to www.buickachievers.com.

The Rebekah Assembly of Massachusetts Memorial Scholarship
The Rebekah Assembly of Massachusetts is offering a scholarship in the amount of $500.00 to qualified seniors who plan to further their education by attending a four-year or two-year college program.  The deadline is March, 15, 2013 and the application can be obtained in the guidance office.

Results of MHS Guidance Parent Survey 2012

The results of our MHS Guidance Parent Survey 2012 are in, and now available.  Below are the links for the summary of answers:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AmbTX6povT4zdF9wRmkxV3JPOWRURmtUeGJqdERPMFE
and here is the link for the executive summary:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/19r_BpoGV2i6eGPNyEWO4U1wmgViCrX5w-IzqJ27Cjfk/edit

Salem State University Alumni Association Scholarship

The Salem State University Alumni Association is offering five $1700 scholarships to prospective students that are related to a Salem State University alumnus. These scholarships are renewable for a period of up to four years. Funding for these scholarships is made possible through the efforts of the Alumni Association.

 

To apply, go to http://www.salemstate.edu/alumni/23141.php. 

SAT Prep at North Shore CC

North Shore Community College is offering SAT Prep Courses at their Danvers campus beginning January 26th.  The cost is $119.  To register, go to http://community.northshore.edu/ktc/ or call 978-236-1200.

Teen Life Guide to Overnight Summer Program

Teen Life has published a guide for summer programs, and the website lists more than 3,000 overnight summer programs—in the U.S. and abroad—for students in grades 7-12. This guide contains dozens of interesting opportunities in a wide variety of categories. Most of these programs focus on a primary interest, such as arts, foreign languages, travel, sports or academics, and can last from a few days to almost the entire summer. They are offered at schools, on college campuses, or by specialized organizations. Students can feed their passion or discover new interests (and make lifelong friends) along the way.

 

To view the guide, go to http://www.teenlife-digital.com/tlpublications/summer2013tl#pg3.

NEBHE 2013 Guide to New England Colleges and Universities

The 2013 Guide, produced by NEBHE in association with Boston magazine, lists key data for each college, such as admissions application deadlines and acceptance rates; faculty-student ratio; enrollment totals and breakdowns for part-time, commuting, female, international and minority students; cost of attendance; and degrees offered. NEBHE gathered the information for the listings through a 2012 online survey of the colleges and universities.

To view guide, go to www.nebhe.org/guide.

Parent Workshop Offered on Teen Relationships

The MHS PTO, together with the Melrose Alliance Against Violence, invites you to an informative workshop geared to parents of middle and high school students. It's free and open to the community with no registration required. For more information please contact Ellen Shore (mhsPTOpres@melrose.mec.edu)

"They Don't Call it "Dating" Anymore: A Parent's Guide to Healthy and Unhealthy Teen Relationships

Monday, January 14, 2013 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Melrose High School Resource Center
360 Lynn Fells Parkway, Melrose, MA

Adolescence is an intense time of physical, intellectual, emotional and social development for children. As parents, it is a prime time to think about how to guide children towards healthy dating relationships and avoid unsafe or unhealthy relationships. This training will help parents of middle and high school students better understand the dynamics of an abusive relationship, promote healthy relationships, and intervene if their child is in danger.

Specific topics addressed include:
• So what do they call it?!
• Defining healthy relationships and defining abuse
• Why teenagers are especially vulnerable to violence in relationships
• Early warning signs or “red flags” for concern
• Restraining and harassment protection orders
• Tools and strategies for parents in promoting healthy relationships
• School and community resources for help