DRHS Guidance Department

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Guidance Director:  Deanna Hartel
Secretary: Sharon Mountain 

Phone: 924-5537

Click here for the PDF version of the 2009-10 DRHS Course Selection Book.

Here's a link for information on colleges:  www.college.gov.

SAT Prep

For Juniors who are preparing for the SAT's, here is information on an SAT Prep web site that is free for all Maine Juniors. 

Information on the site in Adobe PDF format.

A flyer on the program.

Link to the PrepMe web site.

Just contact the guidance department for your username and password.

Click here to access the Choices Explorer program to explore career choices.

Looking ahead:

Check back later!

Mitchell Institute

The Mitchell Institute is again offering this year their Senator George J. Mitchell Institute Scholarship. This program is dedicated to Maine students who attend Maine schools. The institute will be granting an award to a graduating senior from EVERY public high school in Maine! We are encouraging all of our Seniors who plan to enter college in the fall in either a two-year or four-year degree program to apply for the Mitchell Scholarship. The applications will be available on January 1st, 2008. You can download the application from their web site www.mitchellinstitute.org after Jan. 1st. If you have any problems obtaining an application, or if you have any questions, feel free to call the Mitchell Institute toll free at 1-888-220-7209.

Search over 600,000 scholarships and over 4,000 colleges! WWW.fastweb.com

Important for Seniors and Parents! Please don't forget to sign up for the next SAT test that will be offered.

The US Department of Education provided more than $60 billion in student financial aid last year. But you won't see a penny of that unless you fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Find out how to simplify the process with FAFSA on the Web.

Web vs. Paper

In terms of content, the paper and online forms are essentially the same. But for accuracy and speed, FAFSA on the Web offers distinct advantages:

You can receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) in less than a week if you provide an email address, or two to three weeks if you don't. File a paper FAFSA and you'll wait up to five weeks.

FAFSA on the Web's automatic "edit check" finds errors on your application then prompts you to fix mistakes.

There are fewer questions on the online application.

Know they got it. Once you complete FAFSA on the Web, you'll get a confirmation number that proves you successfully submitted the application.

All of this is available at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The site also offers information to help you answer other questions you may have.

Apply for a PIN

Once you've completed the online form, you can print it, sign it, drop it in the mail, and wait two to three weeks for your SAR.

Apply for an electronic PIN to speed up the process. A PIN allows you to sign your FAFSA electronically and check your application's status online. You'll receive your SAR via email in less than a week. Anyone with a valid Social Security Number who is a US citizen (or eligible non-citizen) can apply for a PIN at www.pin.ed.gov.

FAFSA Made Faster

FAFSA on the Web also offers features that are only available online:

Sample worksheet: Completing the worksheet insures you're organized when you start the online application. The order of questions on the paper FAFSA differs from the Web version. So use the worksheet, not a paper FAFSA, as a guide.

Save a copy: Can't finish your FAFSA in one sitting? No problem. Save what you've already completed and come back. Take care to remember your password, if you forget it you'll be forced to start over since the Department of Education doesn't keep a record of passwords.

Electronic signature page: You can sign the FAFSA electronically using your PIN number.

Make corrections: Once you receive your SAR, you may need to make corrections. FAFSA on the Web enables you to make corrections online.

Check your status: Using your PIN, you can check whether your FAFSA was received, completed, is in process of being completed, or is in rejected status.

Renewal FAFSA on the Web

If you filled out the FAFSA last year, you may be eligible to fill out a shorter version known as the Renewal FAFSA on the Web. The Renewal FAFSA on the Web has fewer questions to answer and is available at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Other Tips

As with the paper FAFSA, if you file your FAFSA online you'll want to complete it as soon after January 1st as possible. Many colleges give priority to students who submit their FAFSA applications early, especially if funds are scarce; don't miss out on possible aid because you procrastinated.

You can call the Department of Education Help Desk toll-free at: 800-4-FED-AID (800-433-3243) if you have questions about the FAFSA on the Web or your PIN. Remember that FAFSA on the Web, applying for a PIN and using the 800 number are free services.

No matter if you're a returning college student filling out the Renewal form or a high school senior filling out the FAFSA for the first time, print out a copy for your records. A paper copy can come in handy if you need to reference anything later.

How to Choose a College:

The junior and senior years of high school require a decision from you that will probably be one of the most important of your lifetime: choosing a form of higher education, and more specifically a college. To the extend that the college choice shapes other choices - lifestyle, values, occupations, place of residence - it may actually be the most important decision of your life.

Roommates 101

We've all heard stories about roommates, good and bad and the majority of them were about how awful roommates were and how it was impossible to get along. It doesn't require that the two of you become best friends, or even friends at all. You just need to practice common courtesy. Here are a few helpful tips and guidelines:

1. The first thing you and your roommate should do is to sit down and write a living contract together. List rules for the room that the both of you agree to follow. For example, quiet hours, telephone calls, borrowing each other's things, having friends sleep over, etc. Writing the contract together ensures that both of you understand what is agreed upon. Also, when one of you breaks one of the rules, there is written proof that the contract was violated, as opposed to the two of you arguing day in and day out about what the rules were in the first place.

2. After the contract is written, try your best to follow it. When you break one of the rules, apologize and acknowledge that you broke a rule. Don't pretend it didn't happen or hope that your roommate didn't notice. They probably did, and they will get upset with you if you pretend it didn't happen. When your roommate breaks a rule, be forgiving, especially if you've broken a few. Don't hold grudges and keep tabs of when your roommate broke the rules and bring it up every time the two of you have a fight.

3. Be considerate. If you spilled something, clean it up. Wash the dishes after you use them. Don't take things without permission. If you see your roommate studying, even if it isn't quiet hours, turn down the volume. Being considerate is contagious and your roommate will do the same for you.

4. Communicate with your roommate. If something is bothering you, don't expect your roommate to figure it out. Just tell him or her what it is and try to work something out. It is so easy to just stop speaking to each other when something goes wrong, but it won't get resolved that way. Communication is the key!

We know that there are some bad roommates out there and these guidelines won't help everyone. For those people, we recommend that you talk to your Resident Advisor as soon as possible and tell him/her your situation. Your RA's are paid to help you, so don't hesitate to go to them for support. They will let you know if it is possible to change rooms and/or roommates and what the proper procedure is.

Roommates are really nothing to be afraid of. They are people just like you. Chances are, even if you and your roommate are extremely different, you can still end up being friends. They are going to be a big part of your school experience, so make an effort to get along. And who knows? Maybe you will get lucky and you and your roommate will have a best friend for life-bridesmaid/ best man at your wedding-name your children after each other kind of relationship.

"Not-So-Obvious" College questions:

Asking about these potential issues early could mean not dealing with them later in the year.

Are there any tutoring services available?

How easy is it to switch majors?

How will your AP/previous college credits transfer over?

How much are the books and other materials going to cost? Are there used items available?

What is the average increase in tuition and other costs from year to year?

Can you get a refund if you have to drop out?

What are the opportunities for employment on or near campus?

What is the policy on dorm room wear and tear? What damage are you reponsible for?

What kind of food is served in the cafeteria?

What is the school's methol of matching roommates? What if you want to switch?

What kind of health facilities and services does the college offer? Where is the nearest hospital? Do they have emergency 24-hour care?

Plan Your College Visits

Key West. Myrtle Beach. Yosemite National Park. A college admissions office. Maybe that last one isn't a top vacation destination but it's worth a visit.

Just as you wouldn't waste precious vacation minutes sitting in a hotel room figuring out what attractions are in the area, some planning before you head for campus will help you maximize your visit.

Pick Up the Phone

Schedule an appointment, even for a group tour. Generally, campus tours are coordinated out of the admissions office. When you call, be prepared with multiple dates and times in case your first choice is booked. Ask about available options outside of the typical tour. For instance, can you take a tour individually versus in a group? Is it possible to sit in on classes or stay overnight? Can you meet with professors or coaches? Depending on where you are in your college search, you might visit the financial aid office.

During the summer, admissions offices may keep shorter hours than in the fall; make sure that the office will be open when you arrive. Advance planning should allow you to successfully view multiple colleges in a few days. Whatever you do, avoid showing up at a school unannounced and expect to be given a tour.

Use the Internet

Knowing that you want to visit a college is one thing, but knowing why you want to visit that college is something else. Think about your preferences and do some research to narrow down your reasons for selecting a school.

"Students should think about size, location, major," says Lisa Garcia-Hanson, director of admissions at Central Washington University. "The first place we would direct a student is to our Web site. They can check out pages based on different majors and academic departments."

Many colleges also list campus organizations and clubs on their site. Go to the alumni page and see if there are any resources you can use to contact former (or current) students to ask them about their experiences. "Central Washington has a page with news and headlines on current issues going on around campus," Garcia-Hanson says. "The college paper is online, as well as an online calendar listing school events." Does the campus flavor revealed in these types of resources fit your personality?

Know Your Destination

Don't rely solely on the college's Web site and brochures. Other resources like travel books, the city's newspaper or the local chamber of commerce can give you a sense of the town the school is in.

During your research, pay attention to the culture, history and current events impacting the college and the area surrounding it. Dig deeper than whether it's an urban or rural environment. Consider the school's past and present. Is it built on a military tradition? Is it a politically active campus? How diverse is the student body? Uncover items of interest you want to research more while you're in town.

Ignorance Isn't Bliss

If a student hasn't done his or her homework beforehand, "it's obvious," says Matt Mergen, associate dean of admissions at Drew University. "At best, it's disappointing when a student doesn't really seem to know anything about the college at all. We want to get a sense of who a student is, their aspirations and motivations, and it's surprising when students haven't even bothered to open the brochure."

Not being familiar with the college can be especially damaging in an interview. You don't want an interviewer to start a dialogue with you about what you like or don't like about the college and have nothing to say. "If you peruse the Web site and the department sites, you'll be better armed in conversation," Mergen says.

Educate yourself ahead of time and you can ask more intelligent questions. You'll also be able to focus on the issues and concerns most important to you when you set foot on campus.

Dexter Regional High School held its annual "Financial Aid Night" on Tuesday, November 6th 2007 which began at 6:00 pm. The speaker was Anne Reed from The Finance Authority of Maine (FAME). The topics covered included information on filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), as well as information about student loans, grants, work study and scholarship programs. All students that will be graduating from Dexter Regional High School, as well as their parents or guardians were encouraged to attend this very valuable and informational evening! Any questions about financial aid-- please contact DeAnna Hartel, DRHS Guidance Director at 924-5537 x 241 or email at dhartel@SAD46.org

Searching for Scholarships? Start your scholarship search at FAME'S web site, www.famemaine.com. This search allows you to look for Maine-based scholarships that match your selected criteria. For a larger selection of nationwide scholarships, visit the following web sites for more free scholarship searches:

www.mapping-your-future.org

www.fastaid.com

www.fastweb.com

www.collegeboard.com

www.scholarships.com

www.theoldschool.org

The New SAT

SAT. Those letters alone produce anxiety. Now the College Board is about to implement a new version. Before your stress levels reach unhealthy heights, take a breath and find out exactly what's changing.

Some Perspective

The SAT has evolved since its introduction in 1926, with the most recent round of changes coming in 1994. The College Board pursued the upcoming changes so that the test would better reflect the material being taught in high schools. The changes will also help college admissions officials make better decisions and reinforce the importance of writing skills.

Updates to the math and verbal sections, plus a new writing component will alter the SAT experience. But much of the new material is drawn from the College Board's SAT II writing and math tests, which many students were required to take anyway.

Who's Affected?

These changes primarily affect the class of 2006 (high school students entering their junior year in the fall of 2004). They will encounter a new PSAT in the fall of 2004 and the new SAT in March of 2005.

One unique dilemma facing the class of 2006 is whether or not to take the old SAT before it goes away. Some students feel they're likely to get a higher score on the old version, and some colleges have indicated that they'll accept scores from both the old and new test during the transition. However, some colleges (most notably the University of California) will only accept scores from the new SAT from the class of 2006.

What's New

Writing

The new SAT will include a 60-minute writing section designed to test student's knowledge of grammar, usage and word choice. Students will answer multiple choice questions for 35 minutes. These questions will ask students to recognize errors and recommend the improvements to sentences and paragraphs. During the remaining 25 minutes students will write an essay.

See examples:

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/newsat/writing.html

Verbal

The name of the verbal section will change to the critical reading section and analogies will be eliminated.

Short reading and comprehension passages will be added during the 70 minute section. The long passages and sentence-completion questions remain on the test.

See examples:

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/newsat/reading.html

Math

The math segment remains 70 minutes long and quantitative comparison questions will be dropped. The topics covered in this section will be expanded to cover exponential growth, absolute value and functional notation.

See examples:

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/newsat/math.html

Scoring

For each of the three sections students can receive a score between 200 and 800. Each essay will be scored by two readers, trained high school and college teachers, who will assign a score from 1 to 6. Essays will be rated based on the overall impression they leave. This means students can still receive a good score even with some spelling and grammatical errors.

How to Prepare

The College Board is preparing to make a number of materials, from free guides to online courses, available in the fall of 2004.

In the meantime, the same exercises that prepared students for the old SAT can help students get ready for the new SAT. Students should continue to read regularly and challenge themselves in math courses. The revised PSAT, which will be administered in the fall of 2004, will also give the class of 2006 a sense of what to expect on the new SAT.