Student Artwork

College Process

Class of 2024 School Profile 

2022-2023 Suggested College Application Process Timeline

College & Career Counselors

We are excited for you to get to know our College & Career Counselors – Kayla Schutte, Ellayna Dietz and Maddie Short. Students will still see their School Counselors for their postsecondary planning and our College & Career Counselors will be here to provide additional follow-up and support for students.

Information for 11th Grade Students and Families

Naviance

All students at SHS have a Naviance account and should be using it by following the Student Naviance Sign In Instructions.

College List

Most students have between 8-10 schools on their list. Others may have more or fewer - talk to your counselor about what is right for you. College lists must include the following:

Reach Schools

Schools where the admissions criteria is slightly above your credentials OR any school with a very low acceptance rate, regardless of your credentials.

Target/Match Schools

Schools where the admissions criteria seems very similar to your credentials. You have a 50/50 chance of being accepted.

Safety/Likely Schools

Schools where your credentials appear to be above the admissions criteria for a school.

Financial Safety Schools

Schools that will likely be affordable for you and your family. Often these are state schools.

College Entrance Testing

Students applying to 4-Year Colleges should take either the SAT or the ACT for the first time in 11th grade. See our PSAT/SAT/ACT page for more information.

College Visits

Students are encouraged to visit as many colleges as possible! It is the best way to determine if that college is for you. In 11th and 12th grade, students can do two Post Secondary Visits that will count as an excused absence. They must fill out the Post Secondary Visit Form.

Recommendations

Teacher Recommendations: Students applying to 4-Year Colleges will likely need two teacher recommendations. Students applying to 2-Year Colleges or other programs may need teacher recommendations as well. Students should always check the requirements at each school/program. Recommendations should be from teachers of a student’s core academic subjects in their 11th or 12th grade years, however, exceptions can be made to this guideline. Discuss your teacher recommendation choices with your counselor.

To request a teacher recommendation

  • Ask their teacher(s) in person (and provide any additional information they request).
  • Fill out the Teacher Recommendation Brag Sheet on Naviance.
  • Request the teacher on Naviance under your “colleges” page.

Counselor Recommendations. Students applying to 4-Year Colleges (and some other programs) will likely need a counselor recommendation. Students must:

  • Fill out the Counselor Brag Sheet on Naviance.
  • Ask their counselor in person (and provide any additional information they request).
  • Complete the Counselor Recommendation Google Form.

Financial Aid

SHS believes that students should choose an affordable postsecondary path. We partner with an organization called uAspire to help students complete the financial aid application process. See our Financial Aid page for more information.

Families Together Somerville

The Families Together Somerville program is a family-to-family mentoring program that pairs first generation college-going juniors’ families with another Somerville family that has direct experience with the college application process. Parents and guardians with familiarity with the college application process will serve as guides and mentors to selected juniors and their families as they work through the college application process. The process for the 2022-2023 school year will open late fall 2022.