New Hampshire Next 2018 edition

new hampshire

2017-18 complimentary

Your guide to life after high school What are my career options?

NH jobs outlook

How to pay for college

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Workforce training

A specialty publication of Parenting New Hampshire

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nh next 2017-2018

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welcome!

new hampshire

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER:

Sharron McCarthy, x5117 smccarthy@mcleancommunications.com EDITOR:

Dear Students,

I

n this fast-paced world, it can be hard to keep up. The only constant is change, and nowhere is that more true than with jobs and careers.

You could be studying now for a career that doesn’t even exist yet. App developer, social media manager, cloud engineer, digital marketing specialist – these jobs were not around a decade ago. Jobs may also disappear over the next 10 to 20 years or demand for certain jobs may decrease sharply.

The goal of this publication is to provide a guide to high school students about what steps to take to be successful in their life after graduation – no matter how uncertain the future may seem.

Whether you are headed to college, are undecided, or are going to work right out of high school, you’ll find information in the 2017-2018 edition of NH Next: Your Guide to Life After High School that applies to you.

Read about starting on a career path, even if you aren’t sure what you want to do yet, and what skills you’ll need to succeed in any industry.

Also, learn more about workforce training programs developed by businesses and colleges in New Hampshire where you can get paid as you learn.

You’ll also want to know what industries will have the most jobs in the coming years. There is expected to be tremendous growth in health (nursing, home health aides), service (housekeeping, cook) and construction-related industries.

Check out what our experts have to say about the jobs outlook specific to the Granite State.

If you are going to a college or university, learn more about the application process and how to get financial aid. If you aren’t sure you want to go, or you are not ready to make the financial commitment to college yet, or just want to take a break before you continue school to travel or volunteer, you also have options.

Remember that you don’t have to figure out all of this on your own. Talk to your school’s guidance counselor about your high school’s programs and what opportunities are available to you. Teachers and parents are also there to help you with your decision-making process and support you as you work toward doing something that you will love.

Melanie Hitchcock Editor, NH Next: Your Guide to Life After High School

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NH Next is published each fall by McLean Communications 150 Dow Street, Manchester, NH 03101 (603) 624-1442, fax (603) 624-1310 nhnext.com Please forward any inquiries or correspondence to 150 Dow St., Manchester, NH 03101. For editorial information, please call (603) 624-1442, x5157. To find out how to advertise in the 2017-2018 edition of NH Next, or on the NH Next website, nhnext.com, call (603) 624-1442, x5154. ©2017 McLean Communications, LLc All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is not allowed.

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contents 4 Welcome!

8 Pave the way for your career 12 Jump at the job opportunities 14 Partnering for success 16 On-the-job training 18 I’m not ready for college — what do I do?

20 The college application process 22 Financial aid Q&A 26 Creative options to reduce college costs 28 Postsecondary education options in NH and college application timeline 30 Resources

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Start early, be proactive and think beyond your classes when considering your options

By Rob Levey

Y

our high school career is rapidly coming to a close, so “What’s next?”

For some of you, what’s next could mean a two- or four-year college or university, but all of you will need to answer the question, “What am I going to do?”

According to Richard Paiva, career development counselor at Milford High School & Applied Technology Center, career planning has as much – or more – to do with the development of “soft skills” as technical ones.

“Soft skills are career readiness skills – communication, working in teams, and other related skills,” he said.

“You could be a great chemist, but if you can’t be part of a community or work in a team, you won’t be of value to anybody.”

Will Arvelo, president of Great Bay Community College, agrees and said that these soft skills are in high demand across numerous industries.

“Generally, businesses and industry are interested in hiring individuals that will be able to work in groups and have good communication, problem-solving and analytic skills,” he said.

In working with students to explore their career op-

tions, Paiva said his job is less on helping them find the right fit than it is on assisting them to develop the ability to manage themselves.

“Can they construct their careers as time goes on?” he said.

He said this emphasis is necessary, as no one today is entirely sure what career options will exist 10 to 15 years from now.

“There will be jobs in things we never even heard of,” he said. “If you think about it, a social media manager did not exist 20 years ago. What we want is for kids to embrace change because that ‘right fit’ will change a lot.”

“By the age of 38, research shows that the average adult has had 10 to 12 jobs,” he said. “People tend to stay at jobs for two to four years.”

Doug Cullen, past-president, Vermont/New Hampshire Career Development Association, and current manager of career services at Pinkerton Academy in Derry, said his advice to students is to think beyond the classes they are taking.

“Think about your interests that you have and how your classes might relate to them,” he said. “Think about what you like in your life and what subjects you might enjoy. Focus on that and your skills.”

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Pathways

As you begin to explore your options, you may hear the term “Guided Pathways,” which is often used at community colleges in New Hampshire. Within Guided Pathway Systems, Beth Doiron, director of College Access and DoE Programs and Initiatives at the Community College System of NH, students are provided with fewer choices when they enroll in a particular program.

Because of this, “They’re less apt to go off track,” she said.

“Many times what happens is a student comes into a particular major and then doesn’t pick the right courses, so that when they’re two years down the road, they’re still only halfway to a degree.”

“

There will be jobs in things we never even heard of.

If you think about it, a social media manager did not exist 20 years ago.

What we want is for kids to embrace change.”

”

— Will Arvelo, president of Great Bay Community College

Doiron said Guided Pathways is part of a larger statewide initiative,”65 by 25,” which seeks to ensure that 65 percent of adults 25 and older in New Hampshire will have some form of post-secondary education by 2025. She said their work on guided pathways has resulted in opportunities for students that can save them money.

“We’ve worked really hard to package courses so that students can take some concurrent enrollment and dual-enrollment courses while they’re still in high school,” she said. “They come to college with a significant amount of credits under their belts.”

In building what many educators refer to as a career pathway, Donald Jalbert, director of Technical Studies at Milford High School & Applied Technology Center, said the key for students is to start early.

At Milford High School & Applied Technology Center he said they help students outline “a four-year high school plan of attack” that includes core academic requirements and electives.

“We figure out what options make sense for you if you’re going on to a two-year college, a four-year college, or into a career field,” he said. “We’re thinking about the student in a whole different way – whether their future lies in heading off to a career or to college, here’s what we can do to get him or her ready for that path.”

At Green Bay Community College, Arvelo said advisors also sit down with students and discuss their short- and long-term goals.

“Do they want to go to work immediately upon graduation, or do they want to transfer to colleges such as UNH, SNHU, or Granite State?” he said. “We help students think about what is important to them and what they want to do for work and life. This allows us to have conversations about programmatic options and how these tie to jobs and industry needs.”

If Arvelo had one bit of advice to share with students as they evaluate possible careers, he said he would keep it simple.

“Be proactive. Learn about the different industries and career options available in New Hampshire and what it takes to get hired and be successful in those jobs,” he said.

Rob Levey is CEO of Exponential Squared, a marketing and organizational development company focused on helping small to medium businesses achieve their business goals and promote wellness in the workplace. With an emphasis on working with nonprofits that serve youth, Rob merges his business development experience with much of his freelance writing.

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Jump

at the job o

Experts weigh in on th e looking for workers in N

By Rob Levey

Y

our parents may have said, “You need to get a job,” more than once. Well, you do need to eventually get a job, right? But where will the opportunities be? We asked some local experts that exact question to see what they think.

Dr. Ross Gittell, Chancellor of the Community College System of NH (CCSNH)

There are opportunities for young people across diverse industries, according to Dr. Ross Gittell.

“Cybersecurity is huge, and also computer systems, database management, programming, apps, things related to client-customer relationships,” he said.

He said these opportunities are not just at name-brand tech companies, but at places like Liberty Mutual and Fidelity, “some of the largest employers in the country.”

“They have a lot of information technology professionals, so they’re working with databases, data systems, computer programming and writing code,” he said. “Some of it is large systems and server-related, some of it is enterprise and business related, and some of it is mobile and app related…There are exciting opportunities both within companies and across companies.”

Gittell said there are also opportunities for graduates in fields like HVAC and plumbing in which there is a substantial core of near retirement-age workers that will soon need to be replaced.

“If you look at building systems technology — it used to be called air conditioning and heating and ventilation systems — a lot of those systems are pretty sophisticated and require a lot of knowledge and skills,” he said.

In the healthcare industry, a range of professionals, from nurses to medical assistants and radiologists, will be needed in the future.

“There’s a lot of cross-industry potential for individuals, and those are jobs that are growing not just in New Hampshire, but across the country,” he added.

Donald Jalbert, Director of Technical Studies at Milford High School & Applied Technology Center

“Painting with a broad brush, you’re looking at the healthcare field — that’s something that always comes up as an area with growing demand. Follow that, I suppose, with anything in the 12 |

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computer sciences, which is something they say will be a concern for some time to come.

“I also look at some of the data points around this whole question of infrastructure in the country, and the number of civil engineers and construction workers with more heavy construction than residentialcarpentry, but those folks would probably come up favorably in a search.”

“You can also add in anything in the advanced manufacturing sector.

If I had to pick four, those would probably be the four sectors.”

Beth Doiron, Director of College Access and DoE Programs and Initiatives at CCSNH

“Advanced manufacturing is just blowing up right now. There’s such a need for machine operators, machine tools, tool and dye makers.”

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According to Gittell, New Hampshire is perhaps best positioned to address the workforce needs in information technology.

“New Hampshire is part of the Boston-Cambridge metropolitan area, which is one of the two biggest tech hubs in the country and arguably one of the top ones in the world,” he said. “We’re always going to have a strong, technology-based economy as well as opportunities for our students in New Hampshire.”

He said New Hampshire boasts a strong hospitality and service industry with the added benefit of no sales tax.

“Even those jobs have become much more technical,” he said. “There are really a pretty diverse set of occupational pathways available if students get the appropriate education and workforce training.”

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Industries with the brightest job outlook Manufacturing • High turnover caused by retirement; 30%+ of current workforce is over age 55 • Strong hourly wage • Top needs: CNC machinists, machinery mechanics, first line supervisors Health Care • Growth projections of 10-15% over the next five years • Good wage rates at the top but they drop quickly • Top needs: Registered nurses, Licensed Nursing Assistants, Medical Assistants Technology • Growth rates approaching 12% over the next five years • High hourly wage in the range of $37 • Top needs: Developers, Systems Analysts, User-Support Specialists Hospitality • 70% of jobs are in food services/drinking establishments • Younger workforce; 36% below age 25 • High turnover due to low wages and seasonal work Data and analysis from the NH Sector Partnerships Initiatives nh next 2017-2018

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Partnering for success

Community colleges are working with NH employers to develop skill-specific programs

By Rob Levey

W

ith employers across the Granite State struggling to meet their hiring needs, community colleges have become an increasingly important resource.

Workforce Training at CCSNH

Partnering with businesses throughout the state, each of the seven colleges in the Community College System of New Hampshire offers Workforce Training Solutions programs to train and retain employees. These programs are skill-specific and designed in close partnership with businesses in industry.

Some of the employers in the state with whom New Hampshire’s community colleges work include Sig Sauer, General Electric, NH Ball Bearings, Sturm Ruger, Titeflex Aerospace, Associated Grocers, Granite State Manufacturing, Lonza Biologics and the Portsmouth Navy Shipyard.

Medical Assistant Program

One example of this collaboration is the Medical Assistant Program at Great Bay Community College, which Exeter Hospital’s primary and specialty care affiliate Core Physicians and Wentworth-Douglass Hospital helped to design.

Upon successful completion of the 12-week program, students are eligible to sit for the National Healthcareer Association

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(NHA) Certified Clinical Medical Assistant national examination.

“The employers came to us and said, ‘We need to build a curriculum,’” said Will Arvelo, GBCC president. “This is a real partnership that meets a real need.”

As an incentive for those who secure employment through Core Physicians, 60 percent of tuition is paid and students receive base pay and benefits during the program. Students then make a two-year employment commitment.

According to Chris Callahan, vice president of Human Resources at Exeter Health Resources (Exeter Hospital, Core Physicians and Rockingham Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice), the program addresses two needs.

“We really had a severe shortage of medical assistants and we saw that the normal educational path available for medical assistants was a twoyear Associate’s program,” he said. “I just couldn’t wait that long.”

Citing that Navy corpsmen are trained in six months, Callahan proposed to educators at GBCC that a similar educational training model could work for a medical assistant program.

“I suggested we take their two-year Associate’s program and put it into 12 weeks of full-time, Monday-to-Friday training,” he said. “We needed to jump start the candidate pool.”

The program has been quite successful, according to Callahan, who said they created their own market and a pool of available talent that did not previously exist.

“Forty-five folks have been through the program in the last three years, and we have a very high retention rate,” he said.

Referring not to just their program, but all such similar opportunities at the state’s community colleges, Callahan said another advantage for students ­— besides the training and the job — is the cost savings.

“Once you get into a hospital, and most in the state offer tuition reimbursement, you can go to school and work and get paid at the same time,” he said. “It’s a very cost-effective way for students to gain entry into the medical field. It’s an incredible financial deal…Think about those student loan payments — those checks can be big.”

Community Colleges

NH’s

Seven colleges across the state offer dozens of associate degree and certificate programs that make for one great college experience.

Whether you want to continue on to a four-year college to complete a bachelor’s degree or enter a wide range of interesting fields, NH’s community colleges will help you find your path.

Littleton Academic Center

Lebanon Academic Center

Berlin

North Conway Academic Center

Laconia

W ork R eady NH Another related workforce initiative at CCSNH is WorkReadyNH, which provides assessment, instruction and credentialing in key skill areas that have been identified by employers as essential to workplace success.

According to Beth Doiron, Director of College Access and DoE Programs and Initiatives at CCSNH, the program is free to participants.

“It’s designed to work with participants who are unemployed or underemployed,” she said. “The program is made up of 60 hours of soft-skills instruction.”

Upon completing the program, participants earn a certificate of completion from the community college, as well as a national Work Readiness Credential, which is separated into four levels of proficiency.

In speaking about WorkReadyNH and other related workforce training opportunities, Doiron said NH’s community colleges represent an increasingly smart investment for students.

“It can be a program where you get some short-term skills training or a program where you get a two-year degree to take to a four-year college, or it can be a two-year degree and you go right to work,” she said.

“Whatever it might be, we have all of those options, especially the kind of specialized technical skills training many four-year schools may not offer – and these are jobs that can pay $50,000 a year to start.”

Rob Levey is a freelance writer based in New Hampshire.

Claremont Concord

Manchester

Rochester Academic Center

Portsmouth

Keene Academic Center

Nashua

find out more at

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training

On-the-job

Internships and apprenticeships will help you get ahead

By Rob Levey

16 | www.nhnext.com

T

Many secondary and post-secondary schools across the state now offer such opportunities.

“We can always help students with what they want to do, but the reality is the jobs they will get do not even exist today,” said Paiva. “In order to get them to this future, we need to concentrate on the most important things – reliability, communication, dependability, collaboration…Those are the universal skills kids will need to be successful in the workplace and life.

Milford High School

MY TURN

At Milford High School & Applied Technology Center, Donald Jalbert, Director of Technical Studies, said they have two groups each semester of about 20 to 25 students who are able to pursue internships.

“Some of them are connected to programs here at the Applied Technology Center, although sometimes not,” he said. “A kid doesn’t necessarily have to have completed one of our programs to access an internship.”

Citing the popularity of these internships, he said they do expect to see some evidence of a foundation in course work that would lead up to the internship.

“We don’t want someone coming out of the chute and saying, ‘I want to be a rocket scientist’ without having taken a physics course first,” he said.

Richard Paiva, career development counselor at Milford High School & Applied Technology Center, manages their internship opportunities, which he said number about 50 per year. He said these internships are offered in fields that range from mechanical engineering, law enforcement and marketing to diagnostic imaging, graphic design and exercise science.

“We will work with any business that wants to work with kids,” he said.

Internships are not primarily focused on helping students develop technical skills, according to Paiva.

“Eighty percent of kids get to do internships that are exploratory and the other 20 percent practice technical skills,” he said.

“Internships are more about practicing career readiness skills. Can you meet deadlines?

When your mentor gives you a project and you are done, can you figure out the next thing you can do?”

He said the emphasis behind their internship opportunities and advising philosophy in general is to help prepare students for success in life.

Since 1984, MY TURN has helped more than 25,000 young people, age 14 to 24, to further their education and obtain jobs through academic and employment training programs, including internships, some of which are paid.

One of MY TURN’S most successful and visible internships is at Hitchiner Manufacturing in Milford. In the program, students spend half the day in the classroom and the rest of the day at Hitchiner’s manufacturing facility.

According to Executive Director Allison Joseph, the partnership has been a success.

“Out of the 20 kids who have been through the program, 17 received job offers with Hitchiner,” she said. “It’s been a great partnership.”

She said the internship with Hitchiner is representative of MY TURN’S emphasis on helping students, particularly those underserved, develop “the critically needed soft skills training” many entry-level employees currently lack.

“We subsidize students’ wages for up to 150 hours, too,” she said. “We cover worker’s compensation, insurance – we support businesses to ensure a successful placement.”

She said students who have completed their internships earn on average between $5 and $15 more per hour.

“They also retain their jobs at a higher rate than their peers,” she said. “The combination of work-based learning opportunities — like internships — coupled with technical training is the most effective way of propelling a young person into a livable wage career path.”

MY TURN serves nearly 500 youth annually across New Hampshire. For more information, go to www.my-turn.org.

hose new to the workforce will have a distinct advantage if they have gained experience through an internship or apprenticeship.

ApprenticeshipUSA Last November, the Community College System of New Hampshire was awarded

a $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to enhance apprenticeship opportunities within information technology, healthcare and manufacturing sectors.

“We’re working with both high schools and our Community College System of NH colleges to develop short-term training programs,” said Beth Doiron, Director of College Access and DoE Programs and Initiatives at CCSNH. “All apprenticeship programs are different in length, typically six months to a year. However, all will combine classroom instruction with on-the-job training.”

Noting that these apprenticeships can be for academic credit or non-credit, Doiron said all students who complete a program will obtain a nationally recognized credential.

“Hopefully, students who participate in non-credit apprenticeship programs will then matriculate into a credit-bearing program to earn an academic credit bearing certificate or associate’s degree,” she said. “Our goal is to give students the skills they need to quickly obtain a high-need, high-skill job to meet both their and the employer’s economic need that can be the start of a career pathway for them.”

Currently, CCSNH is developing a medical assistant apprenticeship program at a few hospitals throughout the state. At Manchester Community College, a medical assistant apprenticeship program is being developed so students can participate in a short-term, year-long non-credit apprenticeship program.

Students can then move into a medical assistant program at MCC where they can earn their associate’s degree.

“We’re meeting the employer’s immediate needs and then encouraging students to go get that two-year degree if they’re interested,” she said.

Doiron said they are developing similar opportunities in the advanced manufacturing sector.

“There are several apprenticeships that are on the brink of just starting with various companies — mostly in the Lakes Region and River Valley Community College areas,” she said.

To learn more about CCSNH, go to www. ccsnh.edu.

Rob Levey is a freelance writer based in New Hampshire.

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I’m not ready for college —

Whether you are hesitant or don’t want to pursue post-secondary education, you have options

By Andrea Bushee

W For more information Military service: www.military.com Habitat for Humanity: www.habitat.org AmeriCorps: www.nationalservice.gov/ programs/americorps Volunteer New Hampshire: www.volunteernh.org USA Gap Year Fairs: www.usagapyearfairs.org

hile many students will go to college straight out of high school, others students are not interested in going to college, aren’t sure yet what they want to do for a career, or just aren’t ready for the commitment.

Heidi Wyman, transition consultant at the Strafford Learning Center in Somersworth, said getting real-life experience the year after high school can be valuable.

“Many students are so focused on completing high school then going to college, and they are not quite sure why they are going to college,” she said.

Last fall, 69.7 percent of those who graduated high school in 2016 were enrolled in colleges or universities, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

That path is not for everyone though. Some high school graduates would prefer alternatives such as military service, volunteer work, or taking a gap year to work or travel.

Military service

If students are interested in the military, Wyman said they need to ask themselves about their willingness to take orders and 18 |

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whether they crave structure.

If the military seems like a good match, “you can get some amazing education and training,” Thompson said. “You have to be able to physically pull your weight and it’s a lot of hard work.”

There is a test to get into the military called the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), which Wyman said is the equivalent to the SATs, but for the military.

Bill Hughen, Counseling Director at Alvirne High School, said Alvirne has a former Marine on their staff who explains more about what being in the military entails. Hughen often finds students have a romanticized idea of what it is like. They try to give students a better understanding of the roles of leadership, characterbuilding and citizenship that are involved.

Work and apprenticeships

Hughen likes to focus on students being

—

what do I do?

productive members of society after high school, no matter what path they take There are many options other than college, including certification and training programs like bartending or massage therapy, or trade apprenticeships, Hughen said. Others have experience gained in high school that enables them to enter the workforce right away — such as culinary art skills, licensed nurse assistant certification or technical skills.

Volunteer

Instead of working, Hughen said, others may go on a mission with their church or volunteer for an organization like Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit housing organization.

This enables students to travel and have new experiences while helping others.

AmeriCorps offers another opportunity for people 18 years and older to travel to other communities and help others. Volunteering can be done across the country or closer to home.

Many volunteer opportunities in the

state can be found through Volunteer New Hampshire, an organization that works with AmeriCorps. Organizations throughout the Granite State need volunteers to help children, seniors, animals, the environment and more.

Many people volunteer, while working at the same time to save money for college.

Take a gap year

A gap year — the year-long break taken between high school and college — can be used to gain experience through volunteering, working, traveling or through an established gap year program.

Some gap year programs enable young adults to take a few classes or experience another culture and are fully customized for the student’s needs. Hughen gave an example of a gap year program that offered a cultural experience in Spain and cost about $24,000.

Maureen O’Dea, Director of Counseling in the Londonderry School District, said there are many ways to fill a gap year. Hiking the

Appalachian Trail, for example, would teach someone a lot about themselves and nature.

“I think those experiences are just as valuable as the experiences people pay for,” she said.

She has seen students fill gap years with passions they may not have time for after college, like water skiing or junior hockey. Of Londonderry’s 2016 graduating class, 90.3 percent of students were accepted to college, said O’Dea. Of the remaining 9.7 percent, some went to work, entered career programs like barber school, became apprentices, joined the military, or took time off before college.

“My goal would be to have every student come out with a success story,” she said.

But even if high school students leave and are still questioning in which direction they want to head, they can always come back to the school for help, she said.

Andrea Bushee is a freelance writer and mom to three kids in Pembroke.

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The

college

application process T

he college application process is like a scavenger hunt. There are treasures out there — or so you’ve been told — and you need to find them. You collect SAT scores, notable accomplishments, teacher recommendations and the like, checking them off your list as you go along.

But, wait! That’s not quite right… Let me start again.

The college application process is like a roller coaster. There are ups and downs and terrifying momentum. There are people all around you going through the same thing, and yet your experience is all your own.

There are times when you think, “I can’t wait to get off this thing.” And other times when you marvel that you are actually doing it.

No, that’s not it, either. OK, I think I’ve got it this time.

The college application process is like a corn maze — with all sorts of twisty, confusing paths. Some lead to where you want to go; others end abruptly. While you are busy navigating the maze, the sun is setting on your senior year. This adds a sense of urgency to find the right path and avoid wandering aimlessly in the dark.

But, senior year is fun, right?

It’s true, you are at the apex of your high school career and others look up to you. But, there’s just so much to do. My advice to you — whether you feel like you are on a scavenger hunt, riding a roller coaster or navigating a corn maze — is to pace yourself. If graduation is the finish line and college is the trophy, you need to plan your race so you don’t burn out in the first mile. And there, I’ve done it: I’ve added yet another metaphor to this essay. Senior year makes you think (and write) that way!

The key is to start early. Go look at colleges any chance you can, beginning in the fall of your junior year, if possible. If you do start early, think: blue sky. Don’t limit your choices right off the bat. Do you want 20 |

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(From someone who’s been there)

By Raleigh McElvery

a big school or a small one? Rural or urban? Don’t just ask yourself; go look at one of each.

Do you prefer near or far? Perhaps you can’t drive across country to look at colleges, but you can figure out how far away from home you want to be. Will the comfort of being able to come home frequently make a difference in how that first year goes? Or are you ready to leave home and never look back? Travel is expensive so you’ll need to factor that into your college costs.

They say that you get a “feeling” when you visit the right college. I scoffed at this until it happened to me. There were some colleges that looked good on paper (or online), but felt wrong when I arrived on campus. Some felt unfriendly, others too competitive. I knew when I saw stressed expressions on students’ faces that I was at a school that wouldn’t work for me. On the other hand, when all I saw were party posters on the bulletin boards, I knew I was on a campus that wasn’t right for me as well.

Once you’ve seen a few schools, you’ll begin to know what to look for. When you visit them, be sure to take the college tour and listen to the admissions office’s presentation. Most importantly, have a meal in the cafeteria! That’s the only way to tell how good the food is. Visit a dorm room and ask about everything that is important to you. Are the dorms co-ed? Will you be crammed into a triple that should really be a double? Do most students graduate in four years? Does financial aid carry over from year to year?

When you’ve narrowed your choices, see how likely it is that you’ll

be accepted. No sense applying to a school you can’t get in to, unless you know it will be a “reach” and can accept the possibility of rejection.

The most useful rule of thumb that I learned was to apply to roughly six schools: two that you know you can get into (because your grades and test scores are above those colleges’ averages), two that you can probably get into (because you are right in the middle on test scores), and two that you hope to get into (because your qualifications are on the low end of their acceptance standards).

Choose your six or more schools based on the programs they offer, and don’t be sucked in by the Ivy League (or mini-Ivy) label. After all, even the best school won’t be good for you if you can’t succeed there, or if they don’t teach what you want to learn.

But what if you don’t know what you want to learn? Pick a school with lots of options. That way, if you enter college undecided about your future plans, you won’t have to transfer once you figure it out.

Remember, there will be opportunities to try things at a larger school that a smaller school might not offer.

And what about those pesky tests? Even schools that say you don’t need them are likely to look at them if you score well. So take your first round of tests in the winter or spring of your junior year. If you do poorly, consider a test-prep program. They can be pricey, but often raise your test scores considerably. Consider that cost as an investment in your future.

Finish up your testing in the fall or early winter of your senior year.

You’ll be busy with applications by then, so be sure to have a round or two of scores under your belt before you get too far into your senior year.

This brings us to the application itself. The Common App (www.commonapp.org) is an online college application that most schools use. It is up and running in August, just before the start of your senior year.

At that point, you can go online and take a look at the things required by most colleges. Many colleges have a “supplement” to fill out, along with the Common App. These often contain additional essay questions.

And of course there is the most important essay of all: the college essay.

A good idea is to tackle this in the summer before your senior year.

Why? Because no matter how busy your summer seems, it won’t be as full as senior year. Don’t second-guess yourself; college admissions officers read thousands of these essays each year, so write from experience. It’s more important to share a real piece of yourself than to attempt to portray yourself as something you are not. The goal is to show who you are and why the college of your dreams should admit you.

Lastly, to find your way through the college corn maze, make yourself a map. It’s easy to be confused by the multitude of deadlines and requirements for each college. Make a list — or better, a chart — of who-needs-what-when. The application process then becomes a checklist instead of a crazy mishmash of too much to do.

Finally: breathe! You’ll find your way through the maze, I promise.

When you do, you’ll look back and say, “Whew! I did it!”

Raleigh McElvery made it through the maze and successfully applied to and attended Bowdoin College and MIT, where she received her undergraduate and graduate degrees. nh next 2017-2018

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Financial Aid

Stop by our next Open House and learn more about the affordable degree and certificate programs MCC has to offer!

+ Q A

Degree Opportunities Art and Design • Fine Arts • Graphic Design • Interior Design Automotive Technology • Audi Education Partnership • Chrysler MCAP Pathway • Ford MLR Pathway • Global Pathway • NEW Subaru Pathway Business • Accounting • Business Communications • Business Studies • Facilities Management • Management • Marketing Computer Science • Computer Science • Computer Science & Innovation • Cybersecurity Investigations Construction Technologies • Electrical Technology • HVAC • Technical Studies • Welding Technology

Education • Early Childhood • Teacher Education Healthcare and Wellness • Exercise Science • Health Information Management • Health Science • Medical Assistant • Nursing Liberal Arts • Behavioral Science • English • Liberal Arts • Social Science STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) • Advanced Manufacturing Technology • Life Science • Mathematics

Apply that night and your $20 application fee will be waived!

1066 Front Street, Manchester, NH (603) 206-8100 | www.mccnh.edu 22 |

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T

he total cost for attending college includes tuition, fees, room and board, as well as an allowance for personal expenses, such as travel, laundry and the occasional pizza. Most college catalogs and websites include the “cost of attendance,” but also check out publications specifically from the college’s financial aid office. You can also access a net price calculator on the colleges’ financial aid websites to get a better idea of how much college will cost your family after accounting for financial aid.

Scholarship

+A

Ninety percent of all outside scholarships come from community organizations. There are many great resources and websites available to help you find these local opportunities. HERE ARE some of the more popular resources available to help you find free money.

The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation (www.nhcf.org) distributes more than $5 million in grant aid and loans annually to New Hampshire students. This is the largest source of independent student aid in New Hampshire. There are more than 300 separate funds established by individuals, families, organizations and businesses, all to support higher education. While most of the scholarships and loans are awarded to students entering college, already in college or to students pursuing a graduate degree, the Foundation continually looks for new ways to deliver scholarship services to less traditional types of adult students returning to school or exploring training opportunities.

Dollars for Scholars (www.scholarshipamerica.org) is a national network of 1,000 community-based, volunteer-driven scholarship foundations in cities, towns

Q: What is a net price calculator and how can it help me?

To make it easier for prospective students to figure out how much it will actually cost them to go to college (sticker price versus their actual cost) Congress passed a higher education law that, among other things, requires all colleges to offer a net price calculator on their websites. It allows prospective students to get detailed estimates of their out-of-pocket costs as well as their eligibility for financial aid long before they file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Q: Why should I apply for financial aid?

There can be federal and institutional money to help you and your family meet some of the costs of postsecondary education.

Aid can be based on several criteria including family income, student academics or program of study. Even if you think you might not qualify, you should still apply; many students and their families don’t apply and miss their chance at receiving aid.

Before filing the FAFSA, many parents want to know how colleges will assess their financial situation. Go to www.studentaid.ed.gov/ sa/fafsa/estimate to get an early calculation on your Expected Family

opportunities in your backyard

and neighborhoods throughout the United States. Founded in 1958, Dollars for Scholars is the largest-standing Scholarship America Program. Dollars for Scholars Chapters awards millions of dollars in scholarships each year to thousands of students.

Lakes Region Scholarship Foundation (www.lrscholarship.org) has awarded more than $5.9 million in scholarships to more than 4,900 recipients since 1956.

Consider a parent’s (or relative’s) workplace. Look at local awards from civic organizations. Search for awards from private trusts. Many local organizations provide scholarships to the local high schools and libraries.

The School Counseling Office at your high school will post many local scholarship opportunities.

National websites also offer some local opportunities. Check with National Search Databases such as www.fastweb.com and www.collegeboard.org.

Courtesy of the Center for College Planning at The NHHEAF Network Organizations

Contribution. The EFC is the amount of money the FAFSA determines that the student and his/her family can contribute toward the cost of one year of college.

Essentially, the EFC represents the minimum you will have to pay based on your family’s needs.

Q: How do I apply for financial aid?

To be considered eligible for financial aid (including need-based federal aid, grants, loans and work-study) students and their families must fill out the FAFSA. Colleges and universities use this application to determine how much aid students are eligible to receive. The FAFSA can be completed starting Oct. 1 of the year before you intend to enroll in school and must include your parents’ federal tax return information from the previous year.

If you have concerns about getting parental support through the process, contact the Center for College Planning. Our college counselors have experience working with unaccompanied youth, foster youth and youth in care. Contact the counselors from the Center for College Planning at 1.888.7.GRADUATE, ext. 119 for help.

Some colleges also require supplemental forms, such as the CSS Profile Form. Check with each school for details. To continue to qualify for aid, you must submit a FAFSA form each year by the schools deadline. The FAFSA can be filled out and submitted electronically at www.fafsa.gov. nh next 2017-2018

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Q: When do I apply for financial aid?

Each college may have a different deadline for filing financial aid applications. Most deadlines for regular admissions range from Feb. 1 to March 15. However, some early admission or early decision deadlines could be as early as Nov. 1. Check with each school to be sure you know the school’s filing dates.

Missing a posted deadline could mean a significant reduction in the amount of aid received.

Q: What types of aid are available?

TThere are two types of financial aid: gift aid and self-help aid.

Gift aid is money that does not need to be paid back and is comprised of grants and scholarships. Grants are usually need-based, which means eligibility is based on your family’s ability to pay for college as determined by the federal government and the college.

Scholarships are usually merit-based, which means eligibility is based on your talent (academic, artistic or athletic) or possibly community service. Some scholarships are also offered through your high school guidance office through a local scholarship program.

Self-help aid includes student loans and work study. The federal loan programs, the Perkins and Stafford Loans, are flexible with students and have excellent repayment terms. Most students do not need to pay back their loans until they graduate.

Work study is considered a form of financial aid.

College students can earn money at an on-campus job. Most jobs average about 10 to 15 hours a week and earnings are most commonly used to cover personal expenses.

Q: What is an award letter?

An award letter is the official notification from a college or university’s financial aid office that outlines the aid awarded to an individual student.

An award letter may include federal grants, college grants, scholarships, student loans, student employment/work study and parent loans.

It is important to understand the award packages will differ from school to school based on the different resources at each campus and your family’s level of need at each campus. A family’s level of need at a local community college may be different than at a four-year private college. However, don’t assume a higher cost institution is out of reach for you. Often, private institutions have large endowments to support scholarships. In some cases, a private college may actually cost less than a public college.

Q: Where can I turn for outside money to help pay for college?

There are plenty of opportunities for outside scholarships. In fact, students have a greater chance for scholarships offered at the local level.

Start at your school counseling office.

Browse bulletin boards and scholarship 24 |

www.nhnext.com

Maximize your search 1. Start looking early! While searching for additional scholarships takes time and energy, it is well worth it if it helps reduce tuition costs. The more time you dedicate to your scholarship searches, the more options you will have.

2. Organize scholarship materials. Each scholarship may have a separate application deadline and specific criteria.

Many scholarships require one or more of the following: • Parent and student financial information • Personal statement or essay • Letters of recommendation • Proof of eligibility (credentials) • High school transcript • Standardized test scores 3. Follow instructions and proofread. Complete the application accurately and fully. Include all required materials.

Make sure your applications and essays are legible and free of grammatical or spelling errors. Do not forget to sign and date the application.

4. Make copies of everything. If your application is lost, this will make it much easier to resend your application.

5. Apply early! Keep a calendar of application deadlines.

Consider using certified mail or return receipt. While many deadlines may not be until spring of senior year, others will be earlier.

Courtesy of the Center for College Planning at The NHHEAF Network Organizations

file cabinets in your school counseling office for many of the local opportunities. Your school may post scholarships online. Utilize scholarship search engines that highlight grants and scholarships for New Hampshire students. Visit NH Charitable Foundation (www.nhcf. org) for New Hampshire-based scholarships. After exhausting all local avenues, broaden your search to the national level at www.fastweb. com. And lastly, inquire at your parent’s place of employment, local library and your college’s financial aid office for other opportunities.

Q:

Where can I go for free help applying for financial aid?

Contact the Center for College Planning at The NHHEAF Network Organizations to schedule an appointment with one of our college counselors at 1.888.7.GRADUATE, ext. 119 or collegeplanning@nhheaf.org. Free workshops are offered at high schools around the state.

To find a date or time we will be in your community check out our events calendar at www.nhheaf.org/index.asp#calendar.

From the Center for College Planning at The NHHEAF Network Organizations.

Advertisement

Healthcare Transition Teach your child how to transition from pediatric to adult provider

ife is full of transitions — between grades, between jobs, between houses — but rarely do we think of healthcare transitions.

Healthcare transitions can include the transition from a pediatric healthcare provider to adult provider or leaving the hospital and going to a rehabilitation facility or home.

Parents teach their children about responsibility, such as learning to manage money, and life skills like cooking, doing laundry, driving, etc. But, teaching their teen about managing healthcare is too often overlooked.

How do we demonstrate the necessary steps for youth to acquire this new responsibility? What steps need to be completed to have the physical or sick visit?

Here are the main steps to consider: Step 1: make sure your youth knows the healthcare provider’s name and phone number to be able to make an appointment. the phone trees at many offices can be confusing so knowing the healthcare provider’s name can help ensure getting routed to the right staff.

Step 2: make sure your youth carries their insurance card and knows what it is for. When they are asked at check-in to provide

their insurance card, this will help speed up the intake process and make your youth feel confident in being able to provide information at check-in.

Step 3: talk about knowing why your youth is there for the office visit. if they didn’t arrange the visit, do they know why they are expected to show up? talking through your youth’s symptoms prior to the visit can also help them feel more comfortable providing information about their symptoms.

Step 4: discuss and possibly write down any chronic conditions and health history. Can they talk with the provider about how their conditions affect them? do they need any adaptive devices/ equipment or do they need any supports in school or in the home to complete daily self-care?

Step 5: talk about the medications that your youth is taking and why. it is also important to know if there are any medication allergies and what might happen if they are exposed to that medication. Also, they should know how to obtain refills at the pharmacy.

Prior to changing to an adult healthcare provider — at around age 12 to 14 — is a good time to work on these skills. it is easy enough to have your teen carry their insurance card in a wallet. Or

at minimum they can carry a copy of the card if you are concerned about it being lost.

Have your teen lead the checkin process at the next visit. You can certainly be there as back-up, but letting them lead is good practice. the healthcare provider will typically start wanting to have some one-on-one time with your teen and this is an opportunity for your teen to work on communication confidence. make sure part of the visit is dedicated to discussing medication. ensuring that your teen understands their medication is important to feeling better and continued good health.

Lisa Plotnik, MD is a practitioner in the Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Department at Children's Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Manchester. For more information visit CHaDkids.org.

Lebanon | Concord | Manchester/Bedford | Nashua Keene | Dover | Exeter | Bennington, VT www.CHaDkids.org nh next 2017-2018

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Your gu id to life af e high sc ter hool NEW HAMPS

26 |

Get college credit early

look for deals on textbooks

Many high schools offer advanced placement (AP) courses that allow students who test at a certain level to earn college credit. In addition, check to see if colleges in your area offer concurrent enrollment, which means you would be taking college courses for high school and college credit at the same time and for little or no extra money.

You have options when it comes to textbooks.

Check out your college bookstore’s selection of used textbooks first. Usually they are in very good condition and sold at a discount. Try using the internet to find great deals. Check out these sites for great deals and bargain books: www. eFollett.com, www.bigwords.com, www.amazon.com, www.half.com. You can also rent, yes rent, textbooks for a huge savings. Take a look on www.chegg.com to get more information.

Begin your college career at a local two-year community college, a cheaper alternative that will offer you many of the same experiences of a four-year university. After taking core courses, you can transfer to a four-year school and save a lot of cash while still moving toward your undergraduate degree. Check out the Community College System of NH (www.ccsnh.edu) for information on the Dual Admissions and NH Transfer programs that make transferring easier.

Attending college at a public college or university in New Hampshire is a smart financial choice for many students and families. The average cost of tuition and fees at a four-year public university in New England is $24,120 per year, while a private university will cost you $56,330 per year (tuition, fees, and room and board according to College Board in 2016-17). That means you can attend roughly five semesters at a public university for the same cost of one year at a private school.

Utilize your savings

HIRE

A specialty Parenting publication of New Ham pshire

www.nhnext.com

Higher education incentives

Borrowing to pay for tuition can be a little nerve wracking for families, but you should know there are some benefits associated with paying college costs. Families and students should go to www.irs.gov to find out about the American Opportunity and Lifetime Learning Credit, Tuition and Fees Deduction, and Student Loan Interest Deduction.

Stay local, go public

parentingnh.com for

hamp

supplies and class materials. You may also need money during your first week of school to pay for parking passes, phone and cable setup. If you are able to save a considerable amount of money, you can either use this for spending money throughout the semester, or use it to help pay a portion of the tuition costs.

Go for 2 First

or go to

new

o you think it’s too late to start saving for college?

It’s not. Even if you are in high school and haven’t started saving, there are still things you can do to make college more affordable.

As your high school career winds down, make a concerted effort to save as much as possible from your part-time or summer employment.

These savings can be used to purchase books,

Tips for parents Borrowing from retirement plans While many parents consider borrowing from retirement as an option for managing college costs, it is important to remember that while your student’s education is very important to their future, your retirement plan is your future. You can borrow for college; you can’t borrow for retirement. Carefully weigh the pros and cons to balance future financial well-being with current obligations.

Home equity loans or lines of credit For homeowners, home equity loans or lines of credit may be a viable option for managing college costs. With lower

college costs

duce

Outside scholarships

Search within your school counseling office or website for local scholarships. Also contact the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation at 1-800-4646641 or go to www.nhcf.org for additional scholarship opportunities. For national searches, consider www.fastweb.com.

Loan forgiveness

There are opportunities for those who qualify to have their federal loans canceled or forgiven.

Loan forgiveness programs exist for a number of professionals including teachers, those that serve in the U.S. Armed Forces, medical professionals or those who work in the nonprofit sector. Take a look at the financial aid section of www. nhheaf.org for more information.

From the Center for College Planning at The NHHEAF Network Organizations.

mortgage rates, families may have the ability to utilize a home equity loan or a home equity line of credit to their advantage. These rates may be fixed for the life of the loan or they may be variable. A line of credit is available to help when needed in years two, three and four as well.

With a line of credit, families only pay interest on the portion they use.

A line of credit acts as a checking account, as borrowers have the ability to write checks when they need it to pay bills. There also may be tax advantages with this option. Typically, the interest paid on the loan is tax-deductible. Keep in mind, how-

ever, this option poses your home as collateral.

Work with the holder of your existing mortgage to discuss the benefits.

For more information about alternative funding options for education, go to www.nhheaf.org

nh next 2017-2018

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Postsecondary education options in

Courtesy Photo / Paul College Of Business And Economics at UNH

Antioch University of New England www.antiochne.edu Highest degree obtainable: Ph. D

Franklin Pierce University www.franklinpierce.edu Highest degree obtainable: Ph. D

Lakes Region Community College www.lrcc.edu Highest degree obtainable: Associate’s

Colby-Sawyer College www.colby-sawyer.edu Highest degree obtainable: Master’s

Granite State College www.granite.edu Highest degree obtainable: Master’s

Manchester Community College www.mccnh.edu Highest degree obtainable: Associate’s

Continental Academie of Hair Design www.continentalacademie.com Highest degree obtainable: Certificate

Great Bay Community College www.greatbay.edu Highest degree obtainable: Associate’s

Dartmouth College www.dartmouth.edu Highest degree obtainable: Ph. D and M.D.

Keene Beauty Academy www.keenebeautyacademy.edu Highest degree obtainable: Certificate

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences www.mcphs.edu/campuses/manchester/ Highest degree obtainable: Master’s and PharmD

Empire Beauty School www.empirebeautyschools.com Highest degree obtainable: Certificate

Keene State College www.keene.edu Highest degree obtainable: Master’s

Michael’s School of Hair Design https://paulmitchell.edu/bedford/ Highest degree obtainable: Certificate Nashua Community College www.nashuacc.edu Highest degree obtainable: Associate’s

College timeline Getting ready for college takes a lot of preparation. Use this college planning timeline to help you get started on the process.

Spring — January through May

Junior year Fall — August through December

TEST

• Take the PSAT in October to practice taking entrance exams and to establish eligibility for some scholarships.

• Attend sessions with college representatives who visit your high school. Visit local college fairs.

• Develop a list of possible schools. Your counseling office and school library may have materials to help you. Visit the websites of the schools on your list.

• Talk with admissions representatives to determine if there are any institutional scholarships for which you could apply.

• Research private sources of financial aid and scholarships, and review applications. Request financial aid bulletins or emails from all potential schools. Estimate the costs for each school and begin identifying ways to meet them.

TEST

28 |

www.nhnext.com TEST

• Take the SAT/ACT for the first time. Check with college(s) about what test they prefer. Begin narrowing your choices for post-secondary schools.

TEST • Schedule campus visits. Consider an overnight trip that would allow you to get a feel for what life is like on that TEST particular campus.

• Check with your counselor, libraries and community organizations for possible scholarship sources. Gather applications and review online applications as soon as possible. Keep records of anyone you speak with concerning grants or TEST scholarships.

• Start developing portfolios, audition tapes, writing TEST samples, or other evidence of talents required for college admission and/or for scholarships.

• Contact college coaches at your target schools if you plan to play sports in college. Give them a schedule of your athletic events for the upcoming year. Register with the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse. Develop a resume of TEST your sports accomplishments including a highlight tape and relevant articles about your successes.

TEST

Summer • Practice writing online applications, filling out rough drafts without submitting them.

• Review applications, especially the essays. Ask others to proof the essay for any grammar, content or punctuation errors.

• Read all college mail and send reply cards back to schools of interest.

• Apply for those scholarships whose deadlines are in the fall. You may be too busy once school starts.

New Hampshire New England College www.nec.edu Highest degree obtainable: Ph. D

River Valley Community College www.rivervalley.edu Highest degree obtainable: Associate’s

Thomas More College of Liberal Arts www.thomasmorecollege.edu Highest degree obtainable: Bachelor’s

New England School of Hair Design www.neschoolofhairdesign.com Highest degree obtainable: Certificate

Rivier University www.rivier.edu Highest degree obtainable: Ed.D

University of New Hampshire www.unh.edu Highest degree obtainable: Ph. D

NH Institute of Art www.nhia.edu Highest degree obtainable: Master’s

St. Joseph School of Nursing www.sjson.edu Highest degree obtainable: Associate’s

NHTI – Concord’s Community College www.nhti.edu Highest degree obtainable: Associate’s

Saint Anselm College www.anselm.edu Highest degree obtainable: Bachelor’s

University of New Hampshire Manchester http://manchester.unh.edu Highest degree obtainable: Master’s

NH Institute for Therapeutic Arts www.nhita.com Highest degree obtainable: Certificate

Seacoast Career Schools www.seacoastcareerschools.edu Highest degree obtainable: Certificate

Northeast Catholic College www.northeastcatholic.edu Highest degree obtainable: Bachelor’s

Southern New Hampshire University www.snhu.edu Highest degree obtainable: Ph. D

Paul Mitchell, The School- Portsmouth https://paulmitchell.edu/portsmouth/ Highest degree obtainable: Certificate

Springfield College Manchester http://springfield.edu/school-of-professionaland-continuing-studies/springfield-collegemanchester Highest degree obtainable: Master’s

Plymouth State University www.plymouth.edu Highest degree obtainable: Master’s

University of New Hampshire School of Law www.law.unh.edu Highest degree obtainable: JD Upper Valley Teacher Institute www.uvei.edu Highest degree obtainable: Certificate White Mountains Community College www.wmcc.edu Highest degree obtainable: Associate’s

Senior year Fall — August through December

TEST

• Continue to meet high school graduation and college admission requirements.

• Organize and record relevant dates on a calendar.

• Register for Advanced Placement (AP) tests, if needed.

TEST • Print copies of your admissions and financial aid forms.

PracTEST tice filling them out before submitting the final one.

• Meet TESTwith visiting admissions representatives from the schools that interest you.

• Visit schools you are considering and schedule admissions interviews if required.

• Take or retake the ACT or SAT. • Make the final preparation of your portfolios, audition tapes, writing samples, or other evidence of talent required for admission and/or for scholarships. Finalize your high school resume.

• Identify at least two sources for recommendation letters: a teacher, an extracurricular advisor, a counselor, a principal or an employer. Hand out recommendation forms at least one TEST month before they are due. Follow up on their progress.

• Submit college admissions applications.

• Keep records of everything you submit.

• Contact coaches from the schools you are considering and include a resume of your accomplishments if seeking athletic scholarships.

TEST

Spring — January through May • Apply for financial aid by submitting your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon after Jan. 1 as possible.

• Call the school of your choice and confirm they have received your admissions materials, including letters of recommendation and housing applications.

• Ask your high school to send a copy of your TEST transcript to the schools where you have applied.

Make sure your first semester senior year grades are include.

• Make any needed corrections to your Student Aid Report (SAR) as soon as it is available.

• Submit additional financial aid forms and documentation required by the school of your choice.

• Review your financial aid award notification with your parents and make sure you understand the terms and conditions for each type of aid.

• Notify school(s) by the proper deadline as to whether you are accepting or declining admission.

• Notify the financial aid office of any outside scholarships or grants you have accepted.

• Be aware of due dates for tuition, fees, room and board, and other expenses. Find out how your financial aid will be disbursed and whether you can defer payments until the funds are available.

• RespondTESTimmediately to all correspondence regarding school, scholarships and financial aid.

• Participate in summer orientation programs for incoming freshman after graduation.

• Meet all class registration deadlines.

Courtesy of eCampusTours.com, a college planning website featuring 360-degree virtual tours of more than 1,300 campuses nationwide. Sponsored by Edsouth. Copyright 2014. All rights reserved.

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resources Beaven & Associates (please see ad on page 13) 3 Dundee Park, Suite 202A Andover, MA 01810 (978) 475-5487 www.beavenandassociates.com American Red Cross (please see ad on page 26) 2 Maitland Street Concord, NH 03301 (603) 225-6697 x215 www.redcross.org/Take-aClass/CNA Community College System of N.H. (please see ad on page 15) 26 College Drive Concord, NH 03301 (603) 230-3500 www.ccsnh.edu Dartmouth-Hitchcock (please see ads on pages 5 and 31) www.dartmouth-hitchcock.org

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www.nhnext.com

Health and Happiness with Social Marketing (please see ad on page 10) Goffstown, NH 03045 (603) 660-0456 (603) 497-5549 email: 809campbell@comcast.net Huntington Learning Center (please see ad on page 5) 2 Cellu Drive, Suite 101 Nashua, NH 03063 (603) 595-1770 www.huntingtonhelps.com/ center/nashua

Manchester Community College (please see ad on page 22) 1066 Front Street Manchester, NH 03102 (603) 206-8000 www.mccnh.edu Members First Credit Union (please see ad on page 3) 44 Bridge Street Manchester, NH 03101 (603) 622-8781 www.membersfirstnh.org

Lawrence Memorial/ Regis College (please see ad on page 7) 170 Governors Avenue Medford, MA 02155 (781) 306-6600 www.lmregis.org

Middlesex Community College (please see ad on page 11) Toll free 1-800-818-3434 Bedford Campus: 591 Springs Road Bedford, MA 01730 Lowell Campus: 33 Kearney Square Lowell, MA 01852 www.middlesex.mass.edu

LNA Health Careers (please see ad on page 13) 22 Concord Street, 3rd Floor Manchester, NH 03101 (603) 647-2174 www.lnahealthcareers.com

New England College (please see ad on back cover) 98 Bridge Street Henniker, NH 03242 (603) 428-2223 www.nec.edu

NHHEAF Network Organizations (please see ad on page 6) 4 Barrell Court PO Box 877 Concord, NH 03302 (800) 525-2577 www.nhheaf.org Sterling College (please see ad on page 11) 16 Sterling Dr P.O. Box 72 Craftsbury Common, VT 05827 (802) 586-7711 www.sterlingcollege.edu The School of Fashion Design (please see ad on page 13) 136 Newbury Street Boston, MA 02116 (617) 536-9343 www.sfdboston.org University of New Hampshire at Manchester (please see ad on page 2) 88 Commercial Street Manchester, NH 03101 (603) 641-4101 www.manchester.unh.edu

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