Students are assigned to the same counselor for all four years of high school. Although college counseling does not formally begin until the spring semester of junior year, we are spending time getting to know the students through 1 on 1 meeting and guidance seminar classes beginning the first week of freshman year.
Through individual meetings and guidance seminar classes, the counselors work with students to find colleges and universities that match their academic achievements, personal strengths and preferences, and career aspirations. During numerous meetings in the spring of junior year and fall of senior year, students are advised and supported throughout the college search and application process.
The School Counseling Office:
- Official High School Transcript, which can include 1st term and 2nd term grades. Final grades are only sent to your selected college.
- School Profile
- Counselor Recommendation
- Secondary School Report
Teacher Recommender:
The Student:
- Fill out and send in your applications as well as supplements before the deadlines. Use an outside email, not your school email!
- Contact College Board or ACT to send your scores to each school you’ve applied to and TOEFL scores if necessary.
- Ask teachers for recommendations in person; let them know what schools you’ve applied to and the deadlines. Link them in Naviance.
- Fill out the College Questionnaire so your counselor can write a letter of recommendation for you. We request this be filled out at least two weeks before your first deadline.
- Make sure your schools are all listed in Naviance and Common App.
- If you add any schools after letters have been sent, let your Guidance Counselor and teacher know.
Use college search engines to explore potential schools. While OA provides Naviance as a valuable resource, students are encouraged to explore multiple platforms to ensure they’re considering all possible matches. Once you identify colleges of interest, consider scheduling a visit. Visit the admissions page on each college’s website to register for a campus tour.
NAVIANCE – Family Connection from Naviance is a Web-based service designed especially for OA students and parents. Family Connection is a comprehensive website that you and your child can use to help in making decisions about courses, colleges, and careers. Students create their list of Colleges I Am Thinking About and, later, Colleges I am Applying To. Teachers send letters of recommendation through Naviance, and Counselors send letters of recommendation, school profiles, and transcripts. Under the Colleges section is the Supermatch college search engine.
- There are many different search engines that students can use to explore colleges.
- College Guidance Network
- College Board Big Future
- Appily
- College Confidential
- Niche
- Unigo
- College Navigator
Specialty Searches and Information:
- Schools That Do Not Require SATs/ACTs
- College Scorecard from US Dept. of Ed.
- Historically Black College Search
- A to Z: Two-year colleges
- Undergraduate Admissions Standards for the Massachusetts State University System and the University of Massachusetts
- Information on Gap Years
- Early Decision vs. Regular Decision Acceptance Rates by College
- GPA Calculator for the University of Massachusetts System. You can figure out what your GPA will be for admissions.
Want to play sports in college? Register with the NCAA. Here is a great resource with lots of information on the process. NCAA Guide for College-Bound Student Athletes
COMMON APPLICATION – The Common Application is an undergraduate college admission application that applicants may use to apply to any of more than 700 member colleges and universities in 49 states and the District of Columbia, as well as in Canada, China, and many European countries.
Would you like to help the Guidance Counselor learn more about your student for their letter of recommendation? Fill out our Parent Brag Sheet and return to their Guidance Counselor.
Start your search here – College Search Handout for Students with Disabilities
College Search for Students with Learning Differences
Finding the right college is an important step for students with learning differences, and understanding the supports available can make the process smoother. Students and families should explore each school’s accessibility or disability services office, review the academic and housing accommodations offered, and learn what documentation is required. It is also helpful to visit campuses, talk with staff, and ask specific questions about how the school supports different learning needs. With the right information, students can identify colleges that will provide an environment where they can learn, grow, and thrive.
Students preparing for the college search should also think about their own learning style, strengths, and areas where support is helpful. Understanding these needs allows them to better evaluate whether a school’s programs and services will be a good fit. It can be useful to create a checklist of must-have supports such as tutoring, writing centers, specialized advising, or assistive technology. Taking time to reflect on what has worked well in high school can guide students toward colleges that offer the right combination of resources and opportunities for success.
Navigating the college process for student with learning differences
Think College College Search Database (Autism, Intellectual Disability)
STUDENTS -Select the Google Form for your School Counselor so they can write your letter of recommendation at least two weeks before your first deadline. Your counselor will be writing you a recommendation letter next year. The counselor LOR (letter of recommendation) is a great way to add extra information and context to your application. For example: a major life event that impacted your academic performance, when you “found” your motivation, major accomplishments that deserve more emphasis/context. Remember: The more you give to this survey, the more your counselor can give to their letter for you! Be detailed!
Ms. Carney – LOR Questionnaire
Mr. Fitzgerald – LOR Questionnaire
Ms. Mancuso – LOR Questionnaire
Parents – Fill out our Parent Brag Sheet.
| Spring Junior Year | Utilize Naviance and collegeboard.org to help you in your college search Create a list of schools in the College I Am Thinking About section of Naviance Visit Colleges (register by visiting the Admissions section of their website). Take Spring SAT (March, May, or June) or Spring ACT (April or June). Speak with one-to-two teachers before summer vacation about writing recommendations for college. |
Summer into Senior Year | Visit schools if possible. Update Naviance list. Complete College Questionnaire in Naviance for counselor recommendation. Attend August Common App workshop. Rough draft for college essay. |
September | Set up a college planning meeting with your guidance counselor, check your graduation requirements. Register for the October or November SAT if necessary and attend Financial Aid Night. |
October | Finalize a list of schools, and register and prepare for the October SAT if necessary. Complete FAFSA as early as possible. Complete the Common Application Rough draft essay ideas. Send your SAT or ACT scores to your schools. |
November | Narrow down the list of schools (students typically apply to approximately 8-10). Submit applications for Early Decision/Early Action Submit transcript requests as they correspond to application deadlines, 15 school days prior to deadlines. Ask for teacher recommendations early through Naviance |
December | If you add schools after submitting let counselor and teacher know to send to additional colleges. Relax and enjoy break. |
January | Apply for any regular decision deadlines. Inform your guidance counselor about your admission decisions. Check community scholarships that you may be eligible for and apply. |
February | Review all scholarships and awards available. |
March | Check to see that your transcripts have been received, if you have not made post high school plans, and set up a meeting with your counselor. Listen or check daily announcements for Scholarships. |
April | Check to see that your transcripts have been received, if you have not made post-high school plans, and set up a meeting with your counselor. Listen or check daily announcements for Scholarships. |
May | Commit to your chosen school by depositing and selecting housing. |
How to Complete Your Self-Reported Transcript (SSAR/STARS)
- Log in to your SSAR/STARS account using the email and password you created.
- Add Oliver Ames High School, making sure the school name matches what appears on your transcript.
- Enter all courses listed on your official high school transcript.
- Include completed courses with final grades.
- Mark current senior-year courses as “In Progress.”
- For Oliver Ames High School, select Letter Grades as the grading system.
- For Oliver Ames High School, select Final grades are provided as: Full year.
- Enter grades exactly as they appear on your transcript. Do not round, average, or recalculate grades.
- Be sure to select the correct number of credits for each course.
- Full year courses are 5 credits.
- Half year courses are 2.5 credits.
- Some PE classes are 1.25 credits.
- Review all entries carefully for accuracy.
- Save your information. You may return later to make changes if needed.
- Submit your self-reported transcript and link it to the colleges you are applying to.
You may request a copy of your transcript from the Guidance Office to use as a reference when completing your SSAR/STARS. Accuracy is important, as colleges will compare this information to your official transcript.
College Testing
Testing plans are discussed in School Counseling Seminars or with School Counselors; a typical testing pattern follows:
Sophomore Year – We are pleased to administer the PSAT to any sophomores who choose to take them on a Saturday in October. All sophomores will take the state-mandated MCAS in the spring of tenth grade.
Junior Year – The PSAT/NMSQT is administered to OAHS juniors who choose to take them on a Saturday in October. Scores returned in December can provide a study guide to assist students in their preparation for the SAT Reasoning Test in the spring. It is also the qualifying exam for the National Merit Scholarship Program.
The SAT is often taken in March, May, or June of the junior year. Many students will take the SAT twice. Students who plan to apply to college as early action or early decision candidates and their colleges require it are encouraged to have taken subject tests by the end of the junior year. Advanced Placement Exams are administered in May.
Senior Year – Seniors, if necessary, take the SAT Reasoning in August, October, or November, for the second time. Advanced Placement tests are administered in May. Students who wish to take the ACT in addition to or in lieu of the SAT Reasoning Tests, generally take it, in either their junior or senior year.
The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is a college entrance exam administered to thousands of students each year. The SAT was developed by the College Board, and testing areas include Critical Reading, Mathematics, and Writing. We encourage students to take the exam twice – towards the end of junior year or during the fall of senior year. If you are applying for ED or EA, try not to take it any later than October of your senior year so scores will be available before the deadline dates. Students will need to create a free username/password on the College Board website before registering for a test. If you had a username and password from the PSAT, be sure to use it rather than creating a new one. Test dates are imposed by the College Board. Please click the link for further information.
The ACT is another college entrance exam that students may take when looking to apply to college. The ACT covers areas: English, Mathematics, Reading, Science, and Writing. If a student is unsure whether they should take the SAT or ACT, please have them see their guidance counselor.
The PSAT is a practice version of the SAT and is offered to sophomores and juniors and is offered at their local high school Students who wish to take the PSAT to register through the Town of Easton website, NOT College Board. On the homepage, click on the ‘Pay Your Bills Online’ side tab. Next, select ‘Easton Public Schools’ and finally, ‘PSAT.’ This will register your student for the PSAT. Students must report to the high school by 7:30 am. The cost is $28.00.
To Pay for the PSAT
- Go to the Town of Easton’s website
- Select Pay My Bills (on the left side of the webpage)
- Click on the first line item, Easton Public Schools
- Select 2026 PSAT
- Fill in all required information, add the exam to your cart, and proceed to the checkout.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact the Guidance Office at (508) 230-3210 Ext. 45127
Resources
1. You will still have access to your AP Classroom, where previously locked open-response questions will now be made available.
2. Khan Academy provides free resources for many AP exams as well.
Testing Integrity
- The exam questions are designed and administered in ways that prevent cheating; College Board uses a range of digital security tools and techniques, including plagiarism detection software, to protect the integrity of the exams.
- Scoring at-home work for an AP Exam is not new to the AP Program. For years the AP Program has received and scored at-home student work as part of the exams for the AP Computer Science Principles and AP Capstone courses.
Payment
To Pay for Advanced Placement Exams
- Go to the Town of Easton website (www.easton.ma.us)
- Select Pay My Bills (on the left side of the webpage, scroll down)
- Click on the first line item, Easton Public Schools
- Select AP Exams
- The List of AP Exams will appear and you will click on the exam that your student will be taking and fill in all the required information and add that exam to your cart. When you have added one or all the exams being taken, you will proceed to the check out. Cost is $99 per exam.
- If your student is taking AP Economics, they will need to register for both the Macroeconomics and Microeconomics exams.
If you are on free/reduced lunch please see your guidance counselor regarding payment.
The Portal to pay for the exams is now open and will close on Friday, May 22, 2026.
Payment for all AP Tests needs to take place during the above mentioned time frame. Students taking an AP course are required to take the AP exam in May as outlined in the Student Handbook and the Program of Studies.
Please feel free to contact the Guidance Office at 508-230-3210 Ext. 45127 with any further questions.
TOEFL
Bilingual students whose first language was not English and whose command of English is not as strong as it might often take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). The TOEFL is taken in addition to the SATs. Speak to your counselor and/or head of the ELL program regarding the applicability of the TOEFL to your situation and to learn registration details. You must do this well in advance of the testing date. To register, please go online to www.toefl.org. The TOEFL is taken at a designated center on a computer.
Test Prep Information
The following information is available for SAT and ACT prep. Please check back periodically for updates:
College Board and Khan Academy have paired up to provide free SAT tutoring. If you have taken the PSAT, you will receive a code in the score report, which will create a customized tutorial based on your responses.
ACT online course $24.95
Bridgewater State University SAT Test Prep class.
Standardized Testing Accommodations
You may be eligible to apply for accommodations on standardized testing through College Board (PSATs, SATs, SAT Subject Tests and/or AP) or the ACT if you currently received accommodations through an IEP or 504 Plan in school. Consent forms for College Board and the ACT may be found on the OA School Counseling website under Forms as well as below.
If you would like to be considered for accommodations on the PSATs, SATs, SAT Subject Tests, and/or AP exams, please complete, sign, and return the College Board form to your School Counselor, a minimum of 4 weeks prior to your test date. Indicating your earliest test date on the form (e.g., May 2025) will help streamline the application process.
You may not need to take any of these exams. However, it is best to apply. The initial approval process can take up to seven weeks from the date of the application’s submission. Please note it takes up to two weeks for our office to complete the application. Submitting an application does not guarantee that the College Board will approve a student for accommodations.
Not all students with an IEP, 504 Plan, or another plan or professional evaluation are eligible for testing accommodations through the College Board. To be eligible, the student must:
- Have a disability that necessitates testing accommodations;
- Have documentation on file in school that supports the need for requested accommodations and meets the “Guidelines for Documentation”;
- Regularly receive the requested accommodations, due to the disability, for school-based tests.
In summary, to be eligible for testing accommodations, you must have the above documentation and actually be receiving the accommodations in school on a regular basis. Complete and up-to-date information on Student Services from the College Board
After the College Board reviews your request for accommodations, you will receive a notification from College Board (otherwise known as an “eligibility letter”) stating the results of the College Board’s review. If your request for accommodations is approved, please keep this eligibility letter in a safe place. It is essential to include a copy of this letter or your SSD number (found on the letter) with EACH subsequent SAT registration in the future. Please note that once you are approved for accommodations through College Board, there is no need to re-apply.
Please remember that it is your responsibility to register for each test within the prescribed deadlines, regardless of the status of the accommodations application.
If you wish to request accommodations for the ACT, please go to the parent consent form.
A detailed description of eligibility criteria, including guidelines for documentation, is on the ACT website. Please read through the eligibility requirements, guidelines for documentation, and instructions.
A key difference in requesting accommodations on the ACT is that the student must be registered for a specific exam date before a request for accommodations can be submitted. It is your responsibility to meet the imposed deadlines.