
BCHS Counseling Center
Counseling Center News
Driver Education registration deadline is Monday, Dec. 14
Driver Education for spring 2021 will look a little different than it had in the past. Information and registration can be found here. The deadline to register is Monday, Dec. 14.
Finish the FAFSA with help from the experts
The BCHS Counseling Office has partnered with two state agencies to provide our families with free online professional assistance completing the 2021-2022 college financial aid forms. Financial aid administrators from local colleges will help you and your college-bound senior complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) application. You may attend any of the 2021-2022 FAFSA completion events. All events are online and require an appointment. Learn more here.
Virtual Calming Space makes its (quiet) debut
If you are feeling stressed or out of sorts, anxious or worried, we want you to reach out to your counselor. But if you just need a break to collect your thoughts or rest your mind, you may want to visit our new Virtual Calming Space.
News update from the Counseling Center
There is a new bell schedule beginning in 2020-21.
2020-21 Counseling Center Newsletters
- December 2020 newsletter
- November 2020 newsletter
- October 2020 newsletter
- September 18, 2020 newsletter
- September 1, 2020 newsletter
Also, please be aware of these important dates and events that are coming up:
- Fall Virtual College Fairs
- CASDA Virtual College Fairs (Sept. 15-Nov. 20, 2020)
- NACAC Virtual College Fairs (Sept 13., Oct. 12, Oct. 18 and Nov. 8)
- Senior Parent Financial Aid Night – October 14, 2020, Virtual
- HVCC Instant Admissions Day – November 19, 2020, Virtual
- PSAT – Winter Months (date TBA)
- AP Exams – May 3-14, 2021
Naviance
Visit Naviance to view the Counseling Center newsletters and other important documents (in the document library folder.)
Counseling Center Presentations:
None at this time.

What can your school counselor help you with?
College Admission Representative Appointments:
If you are a college admission representative and you’d like to set up an appointment with our high school, please use Counselor Community to schedule an appointment.
Visit http://counselorcommunity.com/ and use your account to get on our calendar.
Important: When filling out “Client Name” please add your College/University name in the “First Name” field, followed by your first name. Thank you!
Spring 2020 Driver Education –
Pre-Register January 2-14
Pre-registration for Fall 2019 Driver Education will take place Thursday, January 2 through Tuesday, January 14 in the Athletic Office.
- Registration will take place Thursday, January 16 at 3:00 p.m. in the BCHS Cafeteria (All pre-registered students must attend).
- Classes are scheduled to begin February 4, 2020 through June 15, 2020.
Click here for full Driver’s Education information, Spring 2020 [PDF]
Please note: if you are unable to access the PDF, contact the BCHS Counseling Center at 518-439-4921, ext. 22950.
Scholarships and Financial Aid Information
These links to resources are provided to help families through the process of figuring out how to pay for college. In many situations, this requires a combination of financial aid and scholarships.
Student Loan Calculator: The New York Times has created a student loan calculator to offer a guide to the borrowing picture at various institutions — and what it takes after graduation to repay the loans. Use the calculator.
Financial Aid
- Department of Education Student Guide for Financial Aid
- FAFSA on the Web (FAFSA forms to download and complete online)
- Funding your Education
- eStudentLoan
- New York State Attorney General’s Office (Loan Information)
- National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA)
- Higher Education Services Corp. (HESC)
- Sallie Mae
- FAFSA4Caster
- Financial Aid presentation by Mary Lawyer from Siena College
Scholarship Websites
- Absolutely Scholarships
- Fastweb
- College Board (Database of scholarship sources, profile registration and application, calculators, worksheets, etc.)
- FinAid (Information on scholarships, financial aid, calculators, loan calculators, etc.)
NYS Scholarship for Academic Excellence Selection Criteria
Students are chosen based on a weighting system of six Regents Exam Scores: English Language Arts (weight of three), Algebra II (weight of three), Global Studies & Geography (weight of one), United States History & Government (weight of one), and (2) Sciences (weight of one each).
New York State Excelsior Scholarship
New York’s tuition-free degree program makes college possible for hundreds of thousands of students across the state by helping to alleviate the crushing burden of student debt. The program begins immediately for students whose families make less than $100,000 annually in 2017. The proposed scholarship will extend to those families making $110,000 in 2018 and $125,000 annually by 2019. Applications for the scholarship for 2017 is open until Friday, July 21. For more information on requirements click here.
New York State Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) Incentive Program:
New York State has launched a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Incentive Program, which will encourage the best and brightest high school students to pursue high-demand, high-tech careers and build their future in New York. The program provides a full SUNY or CUNY tuition scholarship to the top 10% of students in every New York high school if they major in a STEM field and work in a STEM job in New York State for five years after graduation. Read more about this program.
Career Exploration Links and Resources
The following links to resources for career exploration will take you away from the BCHS Counseling Center site.
- Sample Resume [PDF] & Worksheet for Resume [PDF]
- Capital Region Career and Technical Center
- Exploring Occupations
- Hudson Valley Community College Center for Careers and Employment
- New York Mentor
- Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Career Zone
- Career Key
- My Majors
Military Information
700 Delaware Avenue Delmar, NY 12054
Phone: (518) 439-4921 ext. 22950
Fax: (518) 478-0783
BCHS CEEB Code: 331-595
Records Requests
To request copies of a student transcript, please complete and mail this form [PDF].
Naviance Naviance keeps track of recent BCHS college applications, student statistics, and admissions decisions. Students and parents now have access to a wide range of college admissions and career search information. Sign into Naviance here!
Mark Your Calendar
- Freshman Orientation
Monday, Aug. 31 - New Student Orientation Grades 10-12
Monday, Aug. 31 - Sophomore Meet & Greet
Week of Sept. 8-11 - Senior College Planning Meeting
Week of Sept. 8-11 - Fall Virtual College Fairs
- CASDA Virtual College Fairs (Sept. 15-Nov. 20, 2020)
- NACAC Virtual College Fairs (Sept 13., Oct. 12, Oct. 18 and Nov. 8)
- Senior Parent Financial Aid Night
Oct. 14, 2020 (virtual) - HVCC Instant Admissions Day
November 19, 2020 (virtual) - PSAT
Winter months (Date TBA) - Jump Start the College Search
- AP Exams
May 3-14, 2021
March 24, 2021
Counseling Center Links
- K-12 BCSD Counseling Plan
- Driver’s Education, Spring 2021
- Curriculum Handbook [PDF]
- Important Dates [PDF]
- Past Presentations
- BCHS Profile [PDF]
- BCHS School Counseling Plan [PDF]
- Virtual Calming Space
**Please note: if you have trouble accessing these files, please contact the Counseling Center.
Testing Information
- Testing Schedule
- SAT Registration
- ACT Registration
- SAT/ACT Score Concordances
- College Board Test Accommodation Request Form
Bridge to College
This mentoring program helps first-generation college applicants navigate the process.
Archived News
- News from the Counseling Center – February 2020
- News from the Counseling Center – January 2020
- News from the Counseling Center – November 2019
- News from the Counseling Center – October 2019
- Bethlehem Central Community Foundation (BCCF) scholarships
The Bethlehem Central Community Foundation has 10 scholarship opportunities available to students. All BCCF scholarship information can be found here. - Counseling Center restructuring at the HS
During the 2017-18 school year, the district recognized a need for additional student assistance in the Counseling Center. To meet that need, the counseling center’s caseload was restructured. View the letter that was emailed to parents on Tuesday, July 10, 2017 here.