College and Career Center

Welcome to the College and Career Center

Here you will find documents related to career planning and the college application process. The School Counselors are always available to meet with students and families to help with the post-secondary planning process.

Post-Secondary Planning Worksheet  

College Application Checklist

Junior Meeting to-do list

Teacher Letter of Recommendation Request Form

Career Links
Name Description Web Address
Degrees for the Greater Good Linking College Degrees to Nonprofit Careers https://www.affordablecollegesonline.org/college-resource-center/volunteering-nonprofit-degrees/
Occupational Outlook Handbook Detailed information on a large database of careers www.bls.gov/oco/
Salary Salary information by career www.salary.com
Kingdomality Your career if you lived in medieval times www.cmi-lmi.com/kingdom.html
Humanmetrics Take a free Myers-Briggs personality assessment www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes1.htm

Medical Careers Information

www.vthealthcareers.org (Details on almost all the Health Careers)

www.edheads.org (An online educational resource that provides free Science and Math games and activities that promote critical thinking. Choose from Simple Machines, Virtual Knee Surgery or Stem Cell Heart Repair, among many others).

If you are interested Job Shadowing at Fletcher Allen Hospital, you can contact Joan Miesen at joan.miesen@vtmednet.org. You’ll want to tell her who you are, your age, what you are interested in and why, etc.

There are hundreds of ways to make a living in the military. Find a career field that interests you.

General Information

ASVAB Practice Tests Military Colleges and Academies Contact a Recruiter
  • Armed Services Career Center
    1944 Williston Rd
    South Burlington, VT 05403
  • Army Guard
    255 Lafountain Street
    Winooski, VT 05404
    (802) 233-4441

Transcript Request

College Links
Name Description Web Address
Cluster Effect Applying to colleges https://www.collegeconfidential.com/
dean/000037/
College Affordability Guide Learn more, pay less https://www.collegeaffordabilityguide.org/
schools/vermont/
College Board The college process https://www.collegeboard.com/student/apply/
the-application/index.html
College Confidential College topics https://www.collegeconfidential.com/
College Pathways Resources A very comprehensive list of post-secondary planning resources https://www.vsac.org/
Concord Special Education Parent Advisory Committee Colleges with support services https://concordspedpac.org/Colleges-LD.html
Peterson's Planner College planning https://www.petersons.com/
Princeton Review College planning https://www.princetonreview.com

Champlain College Champlain College's home page https://www.champlain.edu/
Saint Michael's College St. Michael's home page https://www.smcvt.edu/
University of Vermont (UVM) UVM's home page https://www.uvm.edu/
Vermont State Colleges VSC's home page https://www.vsc.edu/

Counselors' Favorite Sites
Name Description Web Address
Cluster Effect College planning https://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/
archives/000037.htm
College Board The college process https://www.collegeboard.com/student/apply/
the-application/index.html
College Confidential College planning https://www.collegeconfidential.com/
Common Data Set Collaborative college planning https://www.commondataset.org/
Degrees for the Greater Good Linking College Degrees to Nonprofit Careers https://www.affordablecollegesonline.org/college-resource-center/volunteering-nonprofit-degrees/
eCampusTours The college process https://www.ecampustours.com/collegeplanning/
collegevisittips.aspx
Myers-Briggs Test Personality test https://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp
Peterson's Planner College planning https://www.petersons.com/
Princeton Review College ratings https://www.princetonreview.com/college/default.asp
VT Guidance Central Career development https://access.bridges.com/
What Can I Do With a Major In... Job, internship, and industry information links https://uncw.edu/career/WhatCanIDoWithaMajorIn.html
Documents and Forms
College Application Checklist
Teacher Recommendation Request
Transcript Release Permission

Senior Timeline
September
  • Remember to give at least 4 week's notice for any letters of recommendation as well as for your transcript to be sent.
  • Register for October or November SAT and SAT Subject exams, if needed (check SAT dates).
  • Make sure to have your scores sent directly from College Board and ACT to your colleges. This could take up to 4-6 weeks so the sooner the better to meet deadlines.
  • Meet with your guidance counselor to discuss the colleges to which you're thinking of applying.
  • Request letters of recommendation, especially if you are applying early.
  • Continue to visit campuses and interview with college admissions representatives.
  • Create an account with The Common Application if the colleges you've selected use it. Begin to fill out, if not fully complete, the Common Application.
  • Remember to link your Naviance Family Connection account with the Common Application.
  • Create a chart of deadlines. Pay particular attention to early decision, early action, and preferred application deadlines.
  • Work on your college essays.
  • Try to assume a leadership position in an extracurricular activity.
  • Work to strengthen your academic record.
October
  • Take the SAT, SAT Subject exams, and/or ACT as appropriate.
  • Continue to research schools to narrow your list to roughly 6 - 8 schools. Your list should consist of reach, good fit, and safety schools.
  • Take advantage of college fairs and virtual tours.
  • Complete your applications if you are applying early decision or early action.
  • Research financial aid and scholarships. Do your parents' places of employment offer college scholarships for employee children?
  • Get your college essay in shape. Get feedback on your writing from a guidance counselor and a teacher.
  • Keep track of all application components and deadlines: applications, test scores, letters of recommendation, and financial aid materials. An incomplete application will ruin your chances for admission.
November
  • Register for the December SAT or ACT if appropriate.
  • Take the November SAT if appropriate.
  • Don't let your grades slide. It's easy to be distracted from school work when working on applications. Senior slump can be disastrous for your admissions chances.
  • Make sure you've submitted all components of your applications if you are applying to colleges with November deadlines for early decision or preferred application.
  • Put the final touches on your application essays, and get feedback on your essays from counselors and/or teachers.
  • Continue to research scholarships.
December - January
  • Complete your applications for regular admissions.
  • Make sure you've had your test scores sent to all colleges that require them.
  • Confirm that your letters of recommendation have been sent.
  • Submit the FAFSA (Free Application for Financial Aid).
  • If you are accepted to a school through early decision, be sure to follow directions carefully. Submit required forms, and notify the other schools to which you applied of your decision.
  • Continue to focus on your grades and extracurricular involvement.
  • Have midyear grades sent to colleges, if requested by the college.
  • Continue to keep track of all deadlines and application components.
  • Continue to research scholarships. Apply for scholarships well in advance of deadlines.
February - March
  • If you submitted the FAFSA, you should receive the Student Aid Report (SAR). Carefully look it over for accuracy. Errors can cost you thousands of dollars.
  • Contact colleges that didn't send you a confirmation receipt for your application.
  • Don't put off applying to schools with rolling admissions or late deadlines -- the available spaces can fill up.
  • Talk to your school about registering for AP exams.
  • Keep your grades high. Colleges can revoke offers of admission if your grades take a nosedive senior year.
  • Some acceptance letters may arrive. Compare financial aid offers and visit campus before making a decision.
  • Don't panic; many, many decisions are not mailed out until April.
  • Continue applying for appropriate scholarships.
April
  • Keep track of all acceptances, rejections, and waitlists.
  • If waitlisted, learn more about waitlists and move ahead with other plans. You can always change your plans if you get off a waitlist.
  • Keep your grades up.
  • If you have ruled out any colleges that accepted you, notify them. This is a courtesy to other applicants, and it will help the colleges manage their waitlists and extend the correct number of acceptance letters.
  • Go to accepted student open houses if offered.
  • A couple circumstances may warrant an appeal of a college rejection.
May - June
  • Avoid senioritis! An acceptance letter doesn't mean you can stop working.
  • Most schools have a deposit deadline of May 1st. Don't be late! If needed, you may be able to request an extension.
  • Prepare for and take any appropriate AP exams. Most colleges offer course credit for high AP scores; this gives you more academic options when you get to college.
  • Have your final transcripts sent to colleges.
  • Send thank you letters to everyone who helped you in the application process. Let your mentors and recommenders know the results of your college search.
  • Keep on top of procuring student loans. Notify your college if you receive any scholarships.
  • Graduate. Congratulations!
Source: https://collegeapps.about.com/od/admissionstimeline/tp/12th-grade-timeline.htm
Resources and Reminders

Make sure to check out the new and improved "Counseling Page" on the CHS website for more resources and updates.

Don't forget to regularly check the PLP Board for job, volunteer, and leadership opportunities.

**Disclaimer: These opportunities are not necessarily endorsed by the school, but are available in the community.

Various Support Available

Counselors are available daily for academic, career, personal, and/or social counseling. Stop by the CHS Guidance Office or email your counselor directly to make an appointment.