The Counseling Center assists about 2,000 students and parents each school year with course selection, career interest inventories, counseling center newsletters, computer-assisted career and college counseling, college admissions & post-high school planning, advisement, job search information, financial aid and scholarship information. Counseling Center services include the following: personal counseling for a wide range of issues facing teens, vocational counseling, group counseling, career counseling, college counseling, and academic counseling.

counseling center News

PTSA Accepting Applications For 2012 Student Involvement Scholarships

Posted on february 7, 2012

The Colonie Central High School PTSA is accepting applications for Student Involvement Scholarships for 2012 graduating seniors. The PTSA awards 10 scholarships valued at $250. For more information and an application click here (pdf).

Obama Wants Lower College Costs, Higher Dropout Age

Posted on January 25, 2012

President Obama gave college affordability a prominent place in his domestic agenda during his annual State of the Union address, calling directly on universities to hold down costs in order to make higher education more accessible to the middle class. He outlined a set of proposals that include threatening universities with a loss of federal money if they are unable to tamp down tuition. full story

Sign Up Today For An Upcoming FAFSA Workshop

Posted on January 20, 2012

CCHS seniors and their parents are invited to an FAFSA financial aid workshop at 6:30 p.m. on February 8 or March 7 in Room 162. Financial aid advisors will assist in completing the FAFSA online. Please RSVP with this form (pdf) by February 6 to the Counseling Center.

You must register with the Counseling Center; limited spots are available. Please bring: 2011 federal and state tax returns and W2s (can bring 2010 if have not filed for 2011 yet), social security numbers and dates of birth for student and parents, current checking, savings and investment value (stocks, bonds, certificates of deposit, mutual funds, real estate other than the home lived in) amounts, other income information (social security, disability, child support, workers comp), and any court documents regarding student's custody.

Online Behavior Jeopardizing College Plans, Education Week Says

Posted on December 20, 2011

Stellar transcripts aside, students now have to worry about an increasing number of colleges peering at their social-networking pages online—and potentially denying their applications because of what they find there. full story

CEO Says Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Are Ticket to Good Jobs And to America’s Prosperity

Posted on December 14, 2011

Over the past decade, STEM job openings grew three times faster than non-STEM jobs. STEM workers are expected to earn, on average, 26 percent more than their non-STEM counterparts. Even among workers with a high school diploma or less, those with STEM proficiency will earn, on average, 36 percent more than those without it. Last year, when the unemployment rate reached 10 percent, STEM unemployment remained at 5.3 percent. full story

The Rising Importance of a Science Degree

Posted on October 21, 2011

According to New York Times article, if you’re trying to figure out what to study in college, a new report suggests you would do well choosing a major in science, technology, engineering or math. full story

President Urges College Students to Graduate in Back-To-School Speech

Posted on September 29, 2011

President Barack Obama delivered his third annual back-to-school speech to high school students Wednesday, but college students may also want to take notes from his message. "Just getting into college isn't enough," Obama said in his speech at Banneker High School. "You need to graduate." full story

View College Rankings With a Grain of Salt, Experts Say

Posted on September 15, 2011

CCHS Parents: If you're using the U.S. News & World Report annual College Guide as you and your student consider colleges to apply to, experts say throw it out, according to a Times Union article published today. full story

Counselors can be contacted by clicking on their names below to send an email or by calling the Counseling Center at 459-1220 and dialing the appropriate extension number.

Helping Teens and Parents Plan a Student's Career

South Colonie provides this list of web sites and resources to help teens and parents plan a student's career. There are also library databases available online to research more information. For help with career planning, click here.

Your Senior Sources

Congratulations! Welcome to your senior year. You and your parents are likely to have many questions and concerns as you move towards completing your high school career. It is extremely important for seniors and parents to work with their counselor during this time of year. Please do not hesitate to call the Counseling Center to make an appointment if you have any questions or concerns.

IF IT'S JANUARY IT'S TIME TO START THE FINANCIAL AID PROCESS

Follow the timeline below to ensure your financial aid application goes smoothly:

JANUARY

• To qualify for the most aid possible, submit your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) as early as you can after January 1

FEBRUARY

• If you completed and sent your FAFSA in on January 1 or shortly after, you should receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) indicating your eligibility for aid and your family's expected contribution

• Make any corrections to your SAR, including updates based on your family's federal 1040 tax forms

• Sign, date, and return the SAR to the address designated

MARCH

• Receive a corrected SAR if needed

• Make sure a copy of the corrected SAR reaches the financial aid office at each college you're applying to