CCRS Guidance Department

Amy Racine, Counselor
Sue Laurin, Guidance Secretary
Lori Miller, School Psychologist

COLLEGE APPLICATIONS!

APPLY NOW, DON’T WAIT!!!! Many seniors have already submitted college applications and a few are already receiving decisions. If you have not submitted any applications yet, PLEASE try and submit them by January 1st. If you are feeling overwhelmed by your application progress please contact Mrs. Racine to help you get on the right track. Please have all necessary paperwork into Mrs. Racine by Monday, December 21st, so she has time to complete letters of recommendations before Christmas vacation. Please remember if you are applying to SUNY schools that you may apply to six (6) SUNY schools on one application. The cost is $40.00 PER school. If you are applying to Clinton Community College please use their separate FREE application, do not apply through SUNY! We can also print some private school applications. If you need help with this, please see the guidance office.

Here are a few important points to remember when you fill out your applications:

If you are completing applications by hand, make sure it is in PEN and BE NEAT. Also, USE ONLY 1 COLOR INK. (Black or Blue)

Make sure to notify your counselor when an application has been submitted online or mailed. A transcript of your grades and your testing record is required as part of your application. In addition, the SUNY applications have a section that must be filled out by your counselor.

Be sure to check the college catalogs or online for deadlines. If in doubt of your deadline, APPLY EARLY.

Remember each college application requires a fee. The cost varies from college to college. In some cases these fees can be waived. See your counselor to inquire about fee waivers.

Often colleges require supplemental application pieces beyond the standard application. They are required for acceptance and students must meet indicated deadlines. It is the students’ responsibility to obtain application supplements. See your counselor with any questions or concerns about the application process.

CEEB code for Chazy Central Rural School is 331-340, all applications will ask you for this.

REMEMBER, Mrs. Racine is here to help with your college process, please stop by and make an appointment with Mrs. Laurin in the guidance office.

FAFSA

The Free Application for Financial Aid (FAFSA) needs to be completed online. The earliest FAFSA can be submitted is January 1, 2010. Please check your college catalog to see what financial forms need to be filed. New York State residents should apply for the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) as well. An additional form, the Profile, is now required by some private colleges. Check with Mrs. Racine. It may be helpful to print off the FAFSA web worksheet and fill it out before filling the form out on the computer. Also, if you find that you are having difficulty filling out the FAFSA, our two local colleges, Clinton Community College and Plattsburgh State University financial aid offices are more than willing to help you complete the form.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Each student received a scholarship packet at the beginning of the year. Please stop by the guidance office weekly to pick up applications and look at deadlines.

SELECTIVE SERVICE

Federal law requires that every young man register with the Selective Service within a month of his 18th birthday. If he doesn’t, he won’t be eligible for many benefits, such as federal student aid, job training, and most federal employment. Go to your local post office for more information concerning the Selective Service. You may also register online at www.sss.gov.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Make sure the schedule you now have assures your successful graduation in June 2010. Are all requirement completed? Are all required courses and Regents Exams completed? I have been meeting with you individually over the past four years and have discussed all of the above. However, this is YOUR responsibility. If you have any questions and/or concerns about ANY of the above please see Mrs. Racine AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. You can also find the graduation requirements for you class in the student handbook.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATIONS

Please make sure you have at least 3 letters of recommendation for your college applications. Mrs. Racine would be happy to write one for you, please allow her up to two weeks to complete. When asking a teacher, coach, or employer for a letter of recommendation please ask them if they need any information, let them know where you are applying and what major you are intending to study. Please allow them two weeks to complete it and let them know the date you need them to return their letter to the guidance office.

COLLEGE REPRESENTATIVES

Please keep an eye on the bulletin board outside the guidance office for upcoming visits from local college representatives. If you are interested in speaking with a representative, please see Mrs. Racine or Mrs. Laurin for a pre-signed pass.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATIONS

Please make sure you have at least 3 letters of recommendation for your college applications. Mrs. Racine will be happy to write one for you if you ask, please allow her up to two weeks to complete. When asking a teacher, coach, or employer for a letter of recommendation, please ask them if they need any information, let them know where you are applying and what major you are intending to pursue. Please allow them two weeks to complete it and let them know the date you need them to return their letter to the guidance office.

COMING SOON TO A GUIDANCE OFFICE NEAR YOU

• Course request for grades 7-11
• 3-8 testing
• January Regents
• CV-TEC presentation for Sophmores (Date N/A)
• College Panel for seniors – January 8

Attention Juniors & Seniors

Dates and important information:
College Entrance Exams:
CCRS CEEB Code: 331-340

ACT Cost:
$32.00 – (No Writing)
$47.00 – (Plus Writing)
Register online at www.act.org

Test Date	Registration Deadline	(Late Fee Required)
September 12, 2009*	August 7, 2009	August 8 - 21, 2009
October 24, 2009	September 18, 2009	September 19 - October 2, 2009
December 12, 2009	November 6, 2009	November 7 - 20, 2009
February 6, 2010**	January 5, 2010	January 6 - 15, 2010
April 10, 2010	March 5, 2010	March 6 - 19, 2010
June 12, 2010	May 7, 2010	May 8 - 21, 2010

* The September 2009 test date is offered only within the 50 United States and D.C.
** No test centers are scheduled in New York for the February test date.

SAT Cost:
$45.00
$20.00 (Subject Tests)
Register online at www.collegeboard.com

Test Date	Test	Regular Registration Deadline (Postmark/submit by)
October 10, 2009	SAT & Subject Tests	September 9, 2009
November 7, 2009	SAT & Subject Tests	Octover 1, 2009
December 5, 2009	SAT & Subject Tests	October 30, 2009
January 23, 2010	SAT & Subject Tests	December 15, 2009
March 13, 2010	SAT Only	February 4, 2010
May 1, 2010	SAT & Subject Tests	March 25, 2010
June 5, 2010	SAT & Subject Tests	April 29, 2010

FEE WAIVERS: We have a very limited number of ACT and SAT fee waivers. These will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis. If you have used a fee waiver before, you are not eligible for a second one. There are strict financial guidelines for the use of these waivers, see Mrs. Racine.

ACT/SAT IDENTIFICATION: Along with your admission ticket, be sure to bring proper photo identification to the test center on the morning of the test. If you are not sure you have the proper ID, please see Mrs. Racine.

Make sure you attend the College Fair Night at Plattsburgh State University field house. We will post the date when it becomes available.