Information for Parents and Students

The selection of specific subjects each school year should be based upon an understanding of one’s own interests, abilities, limitations, and future plans. An important function of our guidance program is to assist pupils in planning wisely for the future by helping them to realize their potential and choose courses which will aid them in reaching their life goals. Students may arrange for personal interviews with their counselors and are encouraged to participate in the programs offered by the Guidance Department throughout the year.

Parents wishing to discuss academic progress, selection of courses, and other matters related to school performance are urged to consult with the counselor assigned to the student.

Appointments may be arranged by contacting the Guidance Dept. Office at 781-344-4000, extension 251.

Some Guidelines for Course Choices:
As you choose your courses for next year keep in mind the following points:

1. Graduation Requirements

2. Trade and Vocational Skills and Knowledge. Certain occupations utilize basic knowledge in specific areas.

Just as examples:

a. Many occupations that do not require a college education, especially in the health field, demand a knowledge of Biology and Chemistry.

b. For most of you, whatever you do, keyboarding and computer skills will be essential.

3. College Entrance Requirements

a. Colleges generally look for a student who has established a good high school record in rigorous, college-prep subjects.

b. Highly competitive colleges do not always spell out requirements, but suggest: four years of English, four years of college-prep Math, 3 years of Science (at least two with laboratories), 3 years of Social Studies, 3 or 4 years of one world language and as many courses as you can take to broaden your experience in Art, Music, Drama, and Science and Technology. Knowledge of computers/word processing will prove necessary to college students
.
c. Entrance requirements and suggestions vary as do the academic expectations of colleges. With a program such as that outlined above you would be ready for any college. If you have any idea at all of attending college you should have at least a year of Algebra, a year of Geometry and a laboratory science.

d. Certain courses are a must for entrance to some programs. For example, entrance to a nursing program requires Chemistry; entrance to engineering school requires Trigonometry and Pre-Calculus plus Physics.

4. STATE COLLEGE AND UMASS MINIMUM ADMISSION STANDARDS
The new admission standards for UMass and the State Colleges emphasize a strong academic high school background so that you enter college ready to learn. These standards are minimums; each campus may choose to consider additional factors in its admissions decisions. Further, the standards do not apply to the state's Community Colleges, which may admit any one with a high school diploma.

Minimum Admissions Standards Do not Preclude Higher Institutional Standards

This policy frames minimum standards for admission to Massachusetts state colleges and UMass. Institutions are free to set higher standards and/or to impose additional requirements. Meeting minimum standards for admissibility does not guarantee admission for any applicant, since a wide range of factors is considered in admissions decisions. The final decision on accepting a student who meets minimum standards rests with the individual campus.

Freshman Applicants
If you plan to enter UMass or a State College as a freshman, you will need to:
1) take and pass 16 college preparatory high school courses,
2) earn a cumulative minimum grade point average in your college preparatory courses, and -
3) take the SAT I or ACT test.

Academic Course Requirement
Sixteen college preparatory courses (each course is equivalent to a year-long high school class) are required:
• English 4 courses
• Mathematics 3 courses (Algebra I & II and Geom- etry or Trigonometry, or comparable coursework)
• Sciences 3 courses (including 2 courses with laboratory work)
• Social Sciences 2 courses (including 1 course of U.S. History)
• Foreign Languages 2 courses (in a single language)
• Electives 2 courses (from the above subjects or from the Arts & Humanities or Computer Sciences)

Minimum Grade Point Average in Required Courses
The grades you earn in college preparatory courses will be averaged into a grade point average (GPA). In calculating your GPA, you will receive extra credit for honors or Advanced Placement courses.
Your grades will be converted to a 4.0 scale, where "A"=4.0, "B"=3.0, "C"=2.0, and "D"=1.0. On this scale, a 3.0 GPA is equal to a "B" average.

If you are applying to UMass or a State College within three years of your high school graduation, you should take the SAT I (or ACT test) and have your scores sent to the college of your choice. No minimum test scores must be earned, unless your GPA falls below the minimum required. If it does, you still may be eligible for admission based on your SAT I (or ACT) scores.

5. Electives

a. These are subjects that you choose after you have taken care of your requirements and mandatory courses. For most students electives will be in Art, Music, Natural and Applied Science, and Drama. For other students, electives will be in Foreign Languages, Social Studies, Business subjects, Science, Math, English. In other words the entire Program of Studies is open to you for elective courses provided you first take the courses you need.

b. Consider your abilities, interests and goals.

c. Keep in mind the necessity of acquiring some tangible basic skills. When you graduate you will not only have to do such things as read, write, handle arithmetic, and type, but you will have to recognize problems and organize methods for their solution. You will be called upon to take a stand on issues and to defend your point of view. Intangible skills such as these are gained from courses in Social Studies.

d. Also use electives to broaden your preparation for your present career interest. For example, computer programming is a good elective for anyone interested in Math and Science.
e. Many students have entered a career field because of a so-called “elective” subject. As an example, some former students have had their occupational goal influenced by the high school courses in Journalism, Psychology, Music, Art and Accounting I, just to name a few.

6. General Information

A student must receive a passing grade in twenty-two (22) credits to be ranked as a sophomore, forty-four (44) credits to be ranked as a junior and sixty-six (66) credits to be ranked as a senior. The homeroom assignment of students is determined alphabetically by class at the beginning of each school year. All students must take a minimum of 42 class hours.

In summary, determine your needs, discuss your choice with your parents, teachers, counselors and friends, make sure of requirements and proper sequence of course, then explore your interests through a considered choice of “electives.”