The junior year guidance curriculum is devoted to post-secondary planning. The Junior Seminars take place January through March. Students utilize Naviance, an online database instrumental in researching colleges. Additional seminar topics include standardized testing, college essay writing, financial aid and scholarships. Juniors meet individually with their counselors throughout the spring to develop a well-balanced list of colleges.
Resources for Visiting Colleges:
Applying to College
Standardized Testing
- Registering for the ACT & SAT
- SAT & ACT Prep Programs
- ACT
- College Board
- Colleges That Are Test Optional - over 1700 colleges are test optional, this is likely to increase
- Colleges That Accept Self-Reported Test Scores
Financial Aid & Paying for College
- FAFSA, Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, on the Federal Student Aid website.
- EFC Calculator, Estimated Family Contribution, or EFC, determines what a family is expected to contribute to their child's college costs.
- MEFA, Massachusetts Educational Finance Authority's website offers valuable tools and resources to plan for paying for college.
Free Scholarship Searches
Scholarships/Scholarship Applications
- John & Abigail Adams Scholarship for Massachusetts State Colleges
- Stanley Z. Koplik Certificate of Mastery Tuition Waiver Program for Massachusetts State Colleges
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COVID-19 College Admission Resources:
Virtual College Visits and ToursRecent Articles & Resources
The Current State of College Admissions Testing - Presentation by Adam Ingersoll, Compass Ed. 8/5/2020___________________________________________________________________________Helpful Forms & Resources:
College Planning Night (1/26/2022)
College Planning Timeline Junior Year
Colleges with ASD Support Programs
Colleges with Comprehensive Academic Support Programs
College Admissions Selector (Abridged Barron's Guide List of Colleges)
Guidance Parent Talk 10/21/22 via Zoom
College Spotlight
WHS guidance counselors receive invitations for campus visitation programs, which is a great way to learn more about the college, network with admission representatives and advocate on behalf of our students. We will feature these "hidden gems" on our Guidance Instagram Account.
Junior Seminars
January
- Topic: Introduction to College Search Process
February
- Topic: Naviance & Common Application
March
- Topic: Paying for College, Scholarships, Financial Aid
Internship, Community Service & Gap Year Opportunities
Internships provide an excellent opportunity for students to explore potential career interests. WHS partners with The Education Collaborative, TEC, to offer internships during the school year and the summer.
Community service and volunteer opportunities are available in Westwood and the Greater Boston Area.
- List of community service and volunteer programs in Westwood area.
- Teen Life Volunteer Programs in Greater Boston area.
A Gap Year offers students one year between high school and college to explore internships, volunteer opportunities or travel.
PSAT - October 14th @ Westwood High School
PSAT score reports will be released in early December. Counselors will met with juniors at that time to review results.
220 Nahatan Street
Westwood, MA 02090
Phone:781-326-7500
Fax:781-326-8154
200 Nahatan Street
Westwood, MA 02090
Phone:781-326-7500 ext.3301
Fax:781-461-8561
850 High Street
Westwood, MA 02090
Phone:781-326-7500 ext.2336
Fax:781-326-2709
250 Downey Street
Westwood, MA 02090
Phone:781-326-7500 ext.8386
Fax:781-329-7642
80 Martha Jones Road
Westwood, MA 02090
Phone:781-326-7500 ext.6321
Fax:781-255-9277
72 Deerfield Avenue
Westwood, MA 02090
Phone:781-326-7500 ext.8504
Fax:781-320-0189
790 Gay Street
Westwood, MA 02090
Phone:781-326-7500 ext.8424
Fax:781-326-2702
549 Pond Street
Westwood, MA 02090
Phone:781-326-7500 ext.7100
Fax:781-769-8046
200 Nahatan Street
Westwood, MA 02090
Phone:781-326-7500 ext.5113
Fax:781-461-9782