OFFICE HOURS: Monday - Friday from 7:30 AM - 3:15 PM

Emails/inquiries received after school hours will be answered the next business day

Click to email the Counseling Office

Please complete the Transcript Request form and be sure to include your full name (include maiden name), date of birth, year of graduation, your current phone number, and the institution (with email, fax number or address to use) that you want your transcript to be sent to.

You can email the form using the link above to Lisa Hilts at lhilts@camdencsd.org, fax it to (315) 245-4173 or bring it into the Counseling Office!

You may also need to utilize the following options to request transcripts from colleges we associate with for dual-credit courses. 

MVCC Transcript Request Page

Syracuse University Transcript Request Page

• Course Description Guide

College-level coursework taught at a high school is often referred to as dual-credit

Dual-credit means that the course applies to both the student's high school transcript as well as the student's college transcript.

The document below lists the CHS courses that are college-level as well as what college grants the credit.                                                   

College Transcript Links

It is your responsibility to use the links below to request your college transcript.

Click to access Syracuse University Transcript Request

Click to access MVCC Transcript Request

Click to access SUNY ESF Transcript Request

Click to access AP Score Request

Mental Health and Emergency Resources

Factors to Consider....

College or University
A college is an undergraduate institution, often with a small student-faculty ratio,where faculty members teach all courses. A university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees; courses may be taught by graduate assistants rather than faculty members, but the institution may offer a wider range of courses.

Two- or four-year
A two-year institution usually grants an associate’s degree; a four-year institution grants a bachelor’s degree. Technical and business schools offer specialized areas of certification.

Public or private
Public institutions vary in size and offer reduced tuition for in-state residents. Private institutions may offer smaller classes with more attention from faculty members depending on the size of the institution.

Cost Tuition, fees, room and board and personal expenses (including transportation)
Think about Financial Aid, Scholarships, loans, jobs, educational opportunity programs, and work-study opportunities.
What percentage of students receive financial aid, and what percentage of student needs are met?

Courses
What courses are available in your area(s) of interest? You can find courses by browsing the course catalog from the school or online. Does the curriculum match up with your interests? If you know what you want to major in, pay special attention to the department offerings. Review the strength of program and look for any accreditation the program may have.

Ranking
The US News and World Report ranking of colleges and universities is only a rough measure, but it has some useful information. Read the details about the colleges you are interested in, including academic reputation, average SAT scores, and percentage of applicants accepted.

Size
Small (under 2000 undergraduates), medium (2000-15,000), or large (over 15,000). Colleges tend to be smaller than universities.

Location
In-state or out-of-state. If located away from home, how far away? Consider transportation: how accessible is the school by car, bus, train, and plane.

Setting
Rural, small town, urban, suburban.

Population
Find out the geographic distribution of the student body. Are students mainly from New York State residents? Is the Northeast heavily represented? Are all 50 states represented? Are there international students?

Student ratio
Is the college single-sex or coed? What is the ratio of males to females?

Faculty ratio
What are the average class sizes? Are courses taught by professors or graduate assistants? How much individual help is available?

Facilities
Tour residence halls, the library, science laboratories, language labs, computer center, and recreational facilities.

Tech support
How much technical support does the school offer? Does it support your preferred platform? Does the school require you purchase a laptop computer?

Affiliation
Non-denominational or church-related? Military academy?

Grading policy
Does the school include pass-fail options and/or traditional grades? Is independent study an option at upper levels?

Competition
Does the school fit your wish for a competitive or non-competitive atmosphere? Is there a great deal of pressure to achieve?

Admissions
Most admissions offices consider rigor of program, overall GPA, extracurricular activities, test scores, recommendations, and essays. Ask what is most important to the school. How selective is it? (i.e., what percentage of applicants are accepted?)

Further Study
What percentage of graduates attend graduate and/or professional schools? (This is especially important for students planning to enter a field requiring more than four years of college).

Job Placement
Are graduates working? How many? Where? Salaries? How much help will you receive from the college placement office?

ROTC
Is this available on campus or at a nearby college? Which branches of the service are represented?

Travel
Is study abroad available? If so, is it limited to language majors only, or all interested students?

Activities
What activities are offered? Music, athletics (interscholastic and intramural), drama, literary, fraternities, sororities?

Other Services
Counseling, provisions for handicapped students, tutoring?

Calendar
Traditional semesters, trimesters, quarters, January terms?

Miscellaneous
Are there early admissions, early decision, or honors programs? Can you accelerate and graduate in less than two or four years?
Will college courses taken at Camden be accepted?

See the LINKS below - the College Board College Matchmaker will assist you to find the colleges that meets your needs.

Links Related to College Selection

SUNY Colleges - Information and Application
SUNY Online Programs
Western New York College Search
Collegeboard Matchmaker - Big Future
Peterson's College Search
Collegeview Search
Princeton Review College Search
US News and World Report - College Rankings
What Should I Major In?     
What can I do with this major?
Directory of College Theatre Programs

Most colleges offer different opportunities for perspective students to explore their campus.

~An OPEN HOUSE provides students & parents with generalized information typically presented to a group of individuals. Topics covered: admission process, housing, financial aid, and more. A tour of the campus is also included.

~A PERSONAL MEETING provides students & parents with more specific information generated by interacting directly with an admissions counselor. Students may be able to meet with professors in their major. A tour of the campus is also included.

~If traveling to your campus is a hardship, most campuses have virtual tours on their website that will allow you to at least gather some information about the look of the campus.....but this will not give you the "feel" of the campus which is a key component to making your final decision.

THE CAMPUS VISIT

One of the most important parts of your college research is the campus visit. Visiting the colleges on your list will give you a firsthand impression of the students, faculty, staff, facilities, and programs. On a visit you can learn what the admission office is looking for in its applicants, gain a feeling for the academic and social atmosphere, see the study/living/recreation facilities, talk with students, and get a sense of the surrounding community.

WHEN TO VISIT

~Admission offices are open all year, but visiting when classes are in session is best. If you visit in the summer, you can certainly learn about admission and get a general tour of the campus, but it might be hard to get a good sense of the atmosphere of the college.

~The best time to visit? Spring Break of your junior year can be ideal. Even if you are not certain where you might eventually apply, if you can visit one large, one medium size, and one small school, you will be better prepared to make final decisions about where to apply.

~Once you have narrowed your list in the fall of the senior year, you may want to make return overnight visits to schools to which you will be applying. On these visits, plan to go to classes and interact with students on campus.

~If at all possible, try to visit colleges before you apply. You may discover the school is not at all what you had thought it would be based on the online research you had done. However, attending accepted students visit programs at the colleges you have visited previously can help you narrow down your choices.

~SPECIAL VISITATION DAYS: Some colleges will offer spring programs for juniors and fall programs for seniors. Check online or contact the admission office since you may need to make a reservation.

HOW TO PLAN A VISIT

~A good campus visit takes two-four hours, including time to get a sense of the surrounding town or area. Don’t try to visit more than two schools in one day.

~Figure out an itinerary: where you want to travel, how you will travel, how far one school is from another.

~Call the admission office at least two weeks ahead of time to schedule your visit. Admission offices have set times for tours and information.

~Think of all the things you want to do when you visit and ask what the admission office can help you with: talking with an admission officer, taking a tour, attending a class, meeting with a professor in an area that interests you, eating a meal on campus, talking with a coach or advisor of an extracurricular activity that interests you, etc.

~Research each college before you go visit so you’ll have specific questions to ask.

~Contact students you might know at the school before you plan to visit.

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU VISIT

~Focus on people, place and programs in your visit.

~Talk to as many people as you can: students, dining hall workers, tour guides, faculty, etc.

~Look at a campus newspaper and check out campus bulletin boards.

~Wander through snack bars and student centers and observe how students interact with each other.

Links Related to College Visitation

Virtual Campus Tours
CollegeWeek Live - World's Largest Online College Fair
College Tour Tips

In the past, many colleges required the SAT or ACT as part of their admissions process. Due to recent events many colleges are altering their admissions process and are no longer requiring the SAT or ACT as part of their admission process. Please check your college's website to learn more about their particular admissions process.

Camden High School offers the following options for college-bound students:
 

FOR JUNIORS

FREE PSAT - a great opportunity to practice for the SAT. The score report is an excellent way to prep for the SAT.

Offered in early October. Students will be made aware of details in class and a parent square will be sent to parents as details are confirmed.
 

FREE SAT prep during the spring semester (typically prior to the May SAT date) . Dates and times will be announced and posted on this page as they come available. 

Mohawk Valley Community College also provides SAT and ACT prep courses. See the LINK below for details.

Khan Academy now partners with CollegeBoard to provide FREE SAT preparation online. See link below.

Links Related to College Admissions Tests

Khan Academy - FREE SAT Prep Site

SAT Registration

ACT Registration

ACT Writing - What Colleges Have Decided about the Writing Test

SAT Prep at MVCC

PSAT info

The first critical decision.......which online application do I use.

Once you have determined the college (s) that you will be applying to, it is important to discuss with your counselor the best way to apply based on your unique list of colleges.

Remember COMMUNICATION is the key to a smooth process. Colleges will not finalize an application if supporting documentation is missing.

Please remember to ALWAYS tell the Counseling Office when you do an online application.
 

Online College Application Links

Common Application
Common Application Essay Prompts
SUNY Information & Application
Herkimer County Community College Application
Mohawk Valley Community College Application
Onondaga Community College Application

FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION

Need Based $
-2 Step process
-Based on family income
 
FAFSA Application (file October 1-April 15) – use Federal Income Tax Return
Student & parent must sign up for an FSA ID (link is on FAFSA website)
Pell Grant is Federal $
Click to access the FAFSA Website 
TAP is NYS $ (only for NYS school) – use New York State Income Tax Return
Click to access NYS TAP Program 

Merit Based $ / Scholarship $

Family

-What organizations have you and your family belonged to?
-Do you have a family member who is a veteran, a union member, etc.?
 

Local Community – Class Night Roster handed out first week of 2nd Semester

-Coordinated through the Counseling Office
-Awarded at Class Night
 

College

-Coordinated through individual colleges
-Educate yourself regarding their process for awarding $
-CSS Profile application may be required for some private colleges
 Click to access the CSS Profile
 

New York State Government Tuition-Free Scholarships
Excelsior Scholarship
-student must attend a SUNY College
-family  must meet specific income guidelines
Click to access the details of the Excelsior Scholarship Program

New York State Government STEM Incentive Scholarships
-student must attend a SUNY College
-student must meet specific GPA guidelines
Click to access the details of the NYS STEM Incentive Program

National Search – Miscellaneous Scholarships

-Locate $ through a variety of sources
Click to access Fastweb
 

Loans

 -Government loans
-Private loans
 
Click to access HESC How to Pay for College

9th Grade Career Powerpoint for the Class of 2023

Choices360 Account Setup Powerpoint

Choices360 Login  Choose a career, choose a college major, etc

New York Career Zone  FREE Interest Inventory plus more....

Career One Stop

O*Net Occupational Information

Occupational Outlook Handbook

New York Department of Labor Youth Services

Health Careers Website

Explore Engineering Careers

Cornell Women in Engineering Program

Guidance Direct is a website where you can search occupations, colleges and scholarships. You can also take an interest inventory and learn how to write a resume.

The counselors use this program in some of the classrooms activities.

To gain student access you must do the following:

Go to Guidance Direct

Click on Career Connections Student Login

Enter the following information then click Login:

School ID: 4758777 School Password: g92U!C7gXL

If you are a New User:

Click on Create New Account

Fill in account information and Click Login

If you are an Existing User:

Enter your User Name and Password, and click Login

ASVAB

(ARMED SERVICES VOCATIONAL APTITUDE BATTERY)

This assessment is required for all branches of the military

Students can take the ASVAB at CHS as well as go to the various Recruiting Centers

ASVAB Facts Sheet 

Information is the key to making sound decisions

Click the links below to explore your options before meeting with a recruiter

Explore military options
Explore ROTC options
Air Force ROTC
Air National Guard
Army National Guard
Army ROTC
Naval ROTC
US Air Force
US Army
US Coast Guard
US Marines
US Navy

ASVAB
Learn more about the ASVAB
General ASVAB Information
ASVAB Prep Website #1
ASVAB Prep Website #2

Gap years have been in practice in Europe for many years. In the United States graduates interested in taking a Gap Year has grown significantly in the last few years.

As with any post-graduate plan it is important to do your research before deciding which option is the best for you.

The following links are designed to assistant students and their families in making the all important decision of whether a Gap Year is right for you.

Gap Year Association - What is a Gap Year?
Planning for your Gap Year
Gap Year Programs in the USA