College and Career
At Somerville High School, the college and career planning process supports students as they explore postsecondary options, prepare for life after graduation, and make informed decisions about their future. Whether pursuing a two-year college, four-year university, technical program, military service, or the workforce, students have access to resources and guidance to help them navigate their individual pathways.
Somerville High School is committed to ensuring that every student—regardless of background or income—has access to affordable and meaningful postsecondary opportunities. Students are encouraged to meet regularly with their counselors, attend workshops, and take advantage of available resources throughout the college process.
Get Started
Every student can expect to meet with their school counselor individually every year to discuss college and career plans, in addition to academic and personal/social topics. In their junior year, students will be assigned to a College & Career Counselor/Advisor who will work with them on their future planning process.
Schedule an appointment with your College and Career Counselor – https://calendly.com/shscollegecareer
Information for 11th Grade Students and Families
Naviance is a comprehensive, web-based College, Career, and Life Readiness (CCLR) platform used by K-12 schools to help students plan for their futures. It offers tools for career exploration, self-discovery assessments, college research, and application management (including transcript submission), connecting student interests to postsecondary goals. 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 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:
1. Ask their teacher(s) in person (and provide any additional information they request).
2. Fill out the Teacher Recommendation Brag Sheet on Naviance.
3. 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:
1. Fill out the Counselor Brag Sheet on Naviance.
2. Ask their counselor in person (and provide any additional information they request).
3. Complete the Counselor Recommendation Google Form.
College Entry Exams
Any student who is considering applying to a four-year college or university should take the SAT and/or ACT during their junior year. Along with the PSAT, both SAT and ACT are standardized tests used in the college admissions process.
Note that some of these exams require a fee. Somerville High School provides fee waivers for the SAT and ACT for students who qualify for free or reduced lunch. Students can use two SAT fee waivers, two SAT Subject Test fee waivers, and two ACT fee waivers. See school counselors for a fee waiver or with questions.
PSAT (Preliminary SAT)
A practice version of the SAT, usually taken in 10th or 11th grade. It helps students prepare for the SAT and can qualify high scorers for recognition programs like the National Merit Scholarship.
Each year, Somerville Public Schools provides the PSAT exam free of charge to students. The primary purpose of the PSAT is to practice taking the SAT, an exam that is part of the college application process. For more information about the PSAT, see the College Board website.
Complete this form by September 19th to register for the PSAT. Any 10th or 11th grader who plans to take the October 2025 PSAT, must fill out this form.
The primary date for the SHS Fall PSAT administration is Saturday October 18th at 8:30am. Students will be dismissed at or before 12:00pm.
If students are unable to take the exam on that Saturday, a backup weekday date will be offered on October 22nd.
Students may also be assigned to test on another date based on their College Board accommodations.
How to Understand Your PSAT Scores
SAT
A widely used college entrance exam that measures skills in reading, writing, and math. Many colleges use SAT scores as part of their admissions process. Visit sat.collegeboard.org to learn more.
Prep Courses for SAT
SHS provides two different test prep classes outside of school. The first is Let’s Get Ready, a free program provided by Tufts University. SHS also provides a Lentz & Lentz SAT Prep course to juniors at a significant discount. See your counselor for more information on these two options.
Finally, College Board has partnered with Khan Academy – a website that provides free educational support in a variety of subjects. Students can use Khan Academy to get a personalized, interactive study program for free!
Let’s Get Ready begins with the College Access Program, a FREE 9-week program. Let’s Get Ready stays with you after this core program, supporting your transition to college and helping you navigate college life through to graduation! Sign up now!
ACT
Another college entrance exam similar to the SAT. It includes English, math, reading, science, and an optional writing section. Colleges typically accept either the SAT or ACT.
Dates:
AP Exams are national, standardized exams that are designed by College Board that correspond with AP Courses students are enrolled in. Normally, College Board charges families $99 for each AP exam a student takes, but Somerville Public Schools is helping to pay and reduce this cost with a sliding scale. Taking the AP exam is an expectation of being enrolled in an AP class at Somerville High School.
To pay for your AP Exam(s), visit the City Hall Systems website, enter the student’s LASID (111#) and any part of the student’s name (first, last or both).
College Prep Events
College and Career Readiness at Somerville High School aims to prepare all students for postsecondary success. The goal is for all students to understand the multiple paths they have after high school, allow students to identify the path that is best for them, and prepare students to take the necessary steps to be successful in that path. The curriculum is delivered in a variety of ways.
The College & Career Team organizes a variety of events in our college & career readiness curriculum in-person and remotely. This will include the following events and programs.
Somerville High School College Fair
High school juniors and seniors are encouraged to meet reps from over 50 colleges and universities at the SHS cafeteria. Anyone in the community is welcome to attend this event focused on students who are starting their post-graduation planning.
Date: Thursday, October 8, 2026
Time: 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Location: SHS Cafeteria
Click here to see a list of Colleges and Universities scheduled to attend
The First Generation Mentoring is a program which pairs first generation college-going juniors with a mentor to help them with the post secondary planning process. Students will attend monthly group workshops and connect individually through in-person meetings, phone calls, texts, or virtual meetings throughout their junior and senior years.
The College & Career team is planning a variety of free workshops for students and families in grades 7 through 12. Click here for the College & Career Day Schedule for 2025 in: English | Spanish | Portuguese | Haitian Creole | Arabic.
If students are unable to take the exam on that Saturday, a backup weekday date will be offered on October 22nd.
Students may also be assigned to test on another date based on their College Board accommodations.
How to Understand Your PSAT Scores
SAT
A widely used college entrance exam that measures skills in reading, writing, and math. Many colleges use SAT scores as part of their admissions process. Visit sat.collegeboard.org to learn more.
Throughout the school year representatives from colleges/universities, the military and other organizations will come for a lunch visit. They will be set up at a table in the cafeteria during all 3 lunches. Students do not need to schedule a time to visit. They can visit the representative anytime during their lunch period.
Pay for College: Financial Assistance
This section provides an overview of the financial aid opportunities and resources available to help make college and postsecondary education more affordable. Students and families can explore a variety of options, including federal and state financial aid, scholarships, and school-based supports. Throughout the college process, SHS offers guidance and partnerships to help families understand costs, complete applications, compare financial aid offers, and make informed decisions about how to pay for college.
uAspire Information:
SHS partners with an organization called uAspire, which is a nonprofit dedicated to helping students find affordable ways to and through higher education. Though any student or family is welcome to contact uAspire, their primary mission is to work with students and families who are first generation to college, low income, and students of color.
Two to three days a week, there is a uAspire College Affordability Advisor at the high school to work with seniors and their families on all aspects of the financial aid process. The Advisor helps students brainstorm affordable college options, complete financial aid applications, send follow up documentation to schools, compare financial aid packages to make a good financial decision, complete college enrollment steps (regarding financial aid), answer general financial aid questions, and more!
Somerville High School is committed to helping students and families of all backgrounds and income levels find affordable ways to higher education!
For more information, talk to your counselor or visit these websites:
