New Jersey School Counselor Association Scholarship

The candidate must be a New Jersey resident, a 2014 graduate of a New Jersey high school and have been accepted/plan to enroll in a post secondary institution. Must show proof of acceptance if selected for the scholarship.

The candidate must write a 300-500 word essay describing how a school counselor has influenced his/her life in a positive way. You can give specific examples about your counselor such as helping you make an important decision, providing support in a critical time, assisting in developing self-understand and self-acceptance, etc.  

Any questions on this application process should be directed to Sheila Brewer, NJSCA Scholarship Chair, at (609) 893-8141 extension 2047 or sbrewer@pemb.org.

Submit by March 14, 2014

Click here to access the application 

NJPSA Student Leadership Scholarship

The New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association (NJPSA) is providing 25 student leadership scholarships of $2,000 each. They will will be awarded to graduating seniors for their demonstrated leadership in school activities.

Eligibility is limited to graduating high school seniors who have demonstrated leadership for participation in co-curricular activities other than athletics. BTHS is able to nominate one student in the class of 2014 for this opportunity. 

To apply, submit the following to Mr. Brown's mailbox by Friday, February 14:

• A one page essay on the topic "The Importance of Student Involvement in School Activities." 
• A resume indicating the leadership positions you've held and your contributions to BTHS while in these positions.

FAFSA Guide

Jodi Okun from College Financial Aid Advisors provides a line by line walkthrough on how to complete the 2014-2014 FAFSA.

FAFSA Information

Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step toward getting federal aid for college, career school, or graduate school.  More than $150 billion in grants, loans, and work-study funds are available each year, but you have to complete the FAFSA to see if you can get any of that money.

Click here to read a letter from the MCVSD Career Academy Counselors with information regarding the FAFSA 

FAFSA Assistance From HESAA: As a state authority, The Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA), offers a number of services and counseling opportunities for students and families seeking assistance filing a FAFSA. All of HESAA's services are FREE. Call their Customer Care line at 800-792-8670 if you need assistance from a trained financial aid counselor. Their website, www.HESAA.org, is replete with useful and accessible information.

Additional Resources on the FAFSA are available on the BTHS Guidance Website in the "Financial Aid" section. 

Dealing With College Rejection

Advice For Dealing With College Rejection

Acknowledge your feelings of disappointment. Rejection in any form hurts. Don’t try to sweep your reaction under the rug. Instead, talk with your parents, friends, counselor, teacher and other trustworthy adults about how you’re dealing with it.

Don’t personalize the decision. You should be well aware of the inherent variability of college admissions and how factors outside of your control significantly impact who gets in and who doesn't. College admissions decisions are not personal, and admissions officers frequently discuss how tough their jobs are and how guilty they feel in turning away high caliber applicants. In fact, surveys of admissions officers at selective colleges across the country have shown that roughly 2 out of every 3 applicants are capable of succeeding academically at their school. But unfortunately, the demand of prospective students far outweighs the need of colleges, and simply put, it comes down to a numbers game - some will win and some will lose. You don’t need an acceptance from any particular college to validate your high school career.

See past the immediacy of the rejection. Your college destination does not determine the course of your future. Who you are and what you do is much more important than where you go. Comprehensive research done by many top college admission professionals has shown that there is very little connection between the school you go to and success later in life.  

Change Direction - Look Forward & Focus On The Future. After the feelings of sadness subside, focus on your plans going forward. What colleges are next on your list and which of these are the best fit for you? You created a strategic college list of Reach, Target & Safety schools for a reason - to position yourself for a favorable destination next year. Celebrate your current acceptances and anticipate more to come very soon. Your hard work will pay off!