Counseling Center at Rensselaer High School

School Guidance Counselors

Stephen Rees: srees@rcsd.k12.ny.us

Who are we?

The guidance staff are trained professionals who work with students, teachers, the school principals and parents to help the children at Rensselaer Middle High School have a positive and successful school experience. Our school counselors are available to assist students who are having difficulty at school or home.

What services do we provide?

The school guidance counselors assist with course selection, computer-assisted career and college counseling, college admissions & post-high school planning, advisement, job search information, financial aid and scholarship information.

Counseling services include the following: personal counseling for a wide range of issues facing children and teens, vocational counseling, group counseling, career counseling, college counseling, and academic counseling.

What is needed to register a student for school?

Students must be registered by a parent or guardian. Parents/Guardians will need to provide residency documentation, birth certificate, social security card and record of immunizations to register their child. Questions can be addressed to Tracy Foust, registrar at (518) 465-6440.

PSAT Information

The PSAT will be offered to students each fall in the middle of October. Students who are interested in taking the PSAT must register in the Guidance Office and pay a $13 test fee. Fee waivers are available to students who receive free or reduced lunch. Follow the link below for additional PSAT information.

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat/about.html

College Testing Information

Students applying to college should take the SAT or the ACT no later than December of their senior year. In addition, competitive colleges may require SAT Subject Exams. Students should refer to the admissions policy at their college of interest to determine admission requirements. Students may apply for either exam online. Paper applications are available in the Guidance Office. Fee waivers for students who receive free or reduced lunch are available from the student's counselor.

ACT Test information and registration

http://www.actstudent.org/

Article: Growing Better Test Takers

http://www.makingitcount.com/educators/tools/hs_growing-better-test-takers.asp

College Search Information

Finding the right college can be a challenging (but rewarding!) experience. Students may use one of the on-line college searches to help narrow their choice of school. Please see either counselor with questions about the college search and application process.

College MatchMaker (College Board.com)

http://collegesearch.collegeboard.com/search/adv_typeofschool.jsp

Peterson's College Planner

http://petersons.com/college_home.asp?path=ug.home

My College Guide

http://mycollegeguide.org/

http://www.admissions.com

Military Information

Military ROTC programs

http://www.military.com/Education/Content?ESRC=ggl_rotc.kw&file=ROTC.htm

Today's Military - enlistment information

http://www.todaysmilitary.com/app/tm/

Paying for College

There are many options available to students to help fund post secondary education including financial aid, scholarships and loans. The links below will provide additional information. Students should also check the scholarship listing frequently to watch for scholarship deadlines.

FinAid.org - Info on Student Aid, Scholarships and Loans

http://www.finaid.org/

FastWeb.com - the most complete source for scholarships

http://fastweb.com/

FAFSA.org - Financial Aid Application

http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

Career Resources

Career Zone - Dream Big, Plan Now, Move Forward
Career Zone has two sections - one that allows the user to explore careers and another that lists jobs for the job seeker.
http://www.nycareerzone.org

America's Career Info Net
The information on this site contains all one need to know to begin a career from resume writing tips to career information to military options to how to apply for financial aid.
http://www.acinet.org/acinet/

Up to date Guidance News....

Financial Aid Night has been set for Wednesday, February 3, 2010 at 7:00 PM. Mary Lawyer, Director of Financial Aid at Siena College will review the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and be available to answer questions about the Financial Aid application process.

Rensselaer High School Scholarships

There are many scholarships available to students graduating from Rensselaer High School. For a complete list of scholarships, please contact your Guidance Counselor. Mr. Rees and Ms. Schultz will direct you to our scholarship applications and share the up-to-date list. Also, watch your mailboxes at home for scholarships with upcoming deadlines!

Upcoming Scholarship Deadlines

Hudson Valley Community College Scholarships for Incoming Students

HVCC offers over 100 scholarships for incoming students. Scholarship opportunities are listed on https://www.hvcc.edu/scholarships/ or are available in a paper format in the Guidance Office. The application is due to HVCC by March 8, 2010.

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Scholarship

Delta Sigma Theta was founded at Howard University in Washington, D.C. on January 13, 1913. A group of dedicated women wanted to promote community service and high educational and cultural standards. Applicants must be students who are a minority, have a 75% or better average, need financial assistance and plan on attending a post-secondary school. The application deadline is March 12, 2010. The application is located in the guidance office.

First New York Federal Credit Union

First New York Federal Credit Union offers three $1000 scholarships for graduating seniors who are members of the FNYFCU.  Recipients must plan on attending a two or four year college and by an active volunteer in the community.  Applications are available in the Guidance Office.  The application deadline is March 12, 2010.

Price Chopper’s Golub Foundation

Price Chopper and its parent company, Golub Corporation, believe in and practice good corporate citizenship. To that end, each organization has established scholarships designed to bring educational opportunities to deserving students. Price Chopper's Golub Foundation has established 10 scholarships, ranging in value from $2,000 to $8,000.  In addition, Price Chopper offers scholarships for its part time associates. For additional details, visit http://www2.pricechopper.com/scholarships/ online. Applications are due by March 15, 2010

NYSUT RC 10 Scholarship Program

The scholarship award is in the amount of $500. Applicants must attend a four-year college or a two-year transfer program, live in Rensselaer County and plan on going into education. The application deadline is March 13, 2010. The application is available in the guidance office.

The Junior League of Albany Rockwell Scholarship Award

The $1000 scholarship is available to a female student who is currently involved with organizations and/or activities that serve the same focus areas as the Junior League of Albany. The scholarship application is due by April 1, 2010. The application is available in the guidance office.

The Cristin Ann Bambino Memorial Scholarship

This $3000 scholarship will be awarded to a college bound special education student.  The application, available in the guidance office or downloaded from www.nysir.org, contains an essay requirement.  The application deadline is April 2, 2010.

The Paul Jensen Memorial Scholarship

These $3000 and $2000 scholarships will be awarded to two students who have excelled in design during his or her high school career. The application, available in the guidance office downloaded from www.nysir.org, contains an essay requirement.  The application deadline is April 2, 2010.

New York State Association of Agricultural Fairs Scholarship

The New York State Association of Agricultural Fairs offers 6 $1000 scholarships to students pursuing higher education in a field related to agricultural, fair management or the outdoor amusement business. Applications must be downloaded from www.nyfairs.org to be completed by the student and then submitted to a local member fair for endorsement. The applications deadline is April 9, 2010.

The Amy Bindelglass Memorial

The Amy Bindelglass Memorial Scholarship is a $500 award giving to an individual who writes the most convincing persuasive essay on the topic of organ donation. The essay must be postmarked by April 15, 2010.  Additional information is available in the guidance office.

Gary A. Johnson Memorial Scholarship

This $1000 scholarship will be used to help the selected candidate purchase textbooks upon matriculating in a 2 or 4 year college. The scholarship is available to students of African ancestry who maintain a 3.0 GPA, serve in a leadership position in school, act as a positive role model and exhibit qualities of good citizenship. Please note a personal interview is required. Application due by April 15, 2010.

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship was established in 1973 to promote the memory of the life and work of Dr. King, and to preserve the legacy of the non-violent human rights movement as it was expressed in his life and teachings.  The application form, essay and demonstration of financial need (FAFSA form) are due by March 31, 2010 – Capital Area Council of Churches or April 15, 2010 for Troy Area United Ministries (you may apply to either or both).  Addition information and the application are available in the guidance office.

National Association of Women in Construction Scholarship

The Capital District Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction is offering a $500 scholarship to a female student planning to pursue a career in a construction related field of study (includes engineering). The completed application is due by April 16, 2010. The scholarship application is available in the guidance office.

American Society of Civil Engineers Scholarship

Each year the Mohawk-Hudson Section offers a scholarship to a graduating senior seeking to continue their education with the goal and desire to become a practicing civil engineer.  This year they are offering a 4-year, $1,000 per year scholarship. The scholarship is open to graduating seniors who intend to enroll in an educational institution majoring in a curriculum leading to a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering (BSCE). Applications with essay and GPA transcript are due April 23, 2010. The application is available in the guidance office or can be downloaded from http://www.ascemohawkhudson.org/ .

CEO Head Start Scholarship

To further support students have attended Head Start, CEO is offering a $1000 scholarship to a deserving student who attended CEO Head Start for at least one year and plans on attending higher education. Students will need to complete an application which includes one paragraph explaining the impact Head Start had on his/her life. The application is available in the guidance office. The due date is April 23, 2010.

Greenbush Garden Club Scholarship

The purpose of this award ($500) is to encourage the study of biology, ecology, environmental conservation, forestry, floriculture, horticulture or any other field related to garden club interests. The application is available in the guidance office and must be submitted by April 30, 2010.

Polsinello Foundation Vocational Scholarship Award

This scholarship will be awarded to a senior who will be attending vocational school. Scholarship, citizenship, personality, perseverance, resourcefulness, patriotism, general worthiness and need will be the criteria by which the application will be judged. The application is available in the guidance office and must be returned by May 1, 2010.

Rensselaer High School Alumni Association Award

This $500 award will be given to one boy and one girl from the senior class.  The award will be given to the chosen students who complete the entire application and essay and submit it to the Rensselaer High School Guidance Department for review by May 1st.    The award will be given to one deserving boy and girl who has demonstrated community service to the school and to the City of Rensselaer.  The chosen recipients must be going on to some form of post-secondary education.

The Nelson C. Wilkinson – J. Donald Leahey Scholarship

This $1000 scholarship (payable over two years) honors Nelson C. Wilkinson and J. Donald Leahey, two remarkable individuals who gave a great deal to the community of Rensselaer. To be eligible, a student must have lettered in at least one varsity sport, have demonstrated a high level of citizenship, character, volunteerism and sportsmanship and be enrolled in a 2 or 4 year college, university or trade program for the following school year. The application is available in the Guidance office. The deadline to apply is May 13, 2010.