Potsdam High School Counseling

Course Catalog

Explore the academic opportunities available at Potsdam High School through our online Course Catalog, which provides details on the diverse range of courses offered across various departments, assisting students and parents with academic planning and understanding the curriculum.

View the High School Course Catalog.

Graduation Requirements

New York State has introduced new options in recent years for students to meet graduation requirements. The Regents exams that have traditionally been used to satisfy the testing requirements for a Regents and Advanced Regents Diploma still remain. The state has also designated additional “pathways” for students to satisfy diploma requirements, generally through some variation in required exams. 

Parents who have questions about graduation requirements are encouraged to contact their child’s counselor.

Learn more about Graduation Requirements & Pathways to a Diploma.

Preparing for College

College Research Center

Our College Research Center provides students with access to resources and tools necessary for exploring potential colleges, understanding admission requirements, and identifying financial aid opportunities to support their post-secondary education goals.

BigFuture College Search

BigFuture College Search is a free online tool from the College Board that helps students find colleges that are a good fit for them. Students can explore colleges based on location, size, majors, and other important criteria.

Visit the BigFuture College Search website.

CollegeBoard

CollegeBoard is a non-profit organization that connects students to college success and opportunity. It is best known for administering standardized tests such as the SAT and AP Exams, and for providing resources for college planning and financial aid.

Visit the CollegeBoard website.

FAFSA

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) determines eligibility for federal student financial aid programs, such as Pell Grants, federal student loans and federal work-study. 

Learn more about FAFSA “Dos and Don’ts” before you fill out a FAFSA application. 

Visit the FAFSA website.

Scholarships.com

Scholarships.com is a leading online resource for students seeking scholarships to help finance their college education. The website provides a free database of millions of scholarships, grants, and financial aid opportunities.

Visit Scholarships.com.

College Admission Testing

Standardized tests are a common component of the college application process. The following examinations assess academic readiness and are used by many institutions as part of their evaluation of prospective students:

American College Testing (ACT)

The ACT is a standardized achievement examination for college admissions in the United States produced by ACT, Inc. It was first administered in Fall 1959 by Everett Franklin Lindquist as a competitor to the College Board’s Scholastic Aptitude Test, now the SAT Reasoning Test. Some students who perform poorly on the SAT find that they perform better on the ACT and vice versa. 

The ACT test has historically consisted of four tests: English, Math, Reading, and Science reasoning. In February 2005, an optional writing test was added to the ACT, mirroring changes to the SAT that took place later in March of the same year.

Learn more about the ACT.

All four-year colleges and universities in the U.S. accept the ACT but different institutions place different emphases on standardized tests such as the ACT, compared to other factors of evaluation such as class rank, G.P.A., and extracurricular activities.

PSAT

The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is a standardized test for high school students in the United States. The PSAT is owned, published, and developed by the College Board, a non-profit organization in the United States, and is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS).

Learn more about the PSAT.

SAT

The SAT Reasoning Test (formerly Scholastic Aptitude Test and Scholastic Assessment Test) is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States. The SAT is owned, published, and developed by the College Board, a non-profit organization in the United States, and was once developed, published, and scored by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). ETS now administers the exam.

Learn more about the SAT.

Applying to College

The college application process involves submitting required forms and information to prospective institutions. This typically includes completing standardized applications, providing academic records, and meeting specific institutional or program requirements.

The Common Application

The Common Application is the recommended form for 299 selective colleges and universities for admission to their undergraduate programs. Many of these institutions use the form exclusively. All give equal consideration to the Common Application and the college’s own form. 

Access The Common Application.

SUNY Application

Apply to multiple SUNY campuses and submit any additional required documents all in one place. While there is no official deadline for applying as a regular decision applicant to SUNY, it is encouraged to submit your application as soon as possible. When campuses or particular academic programs are full for a certain semester, no further applications will be accepted. The sooner an applicant applies, the less likely he/she will be closed out of a program at a particular campus.

Access the SUNY Application.

NCAA Eligibility Center

Registration is necessary to play Division I and Division II college sports. Students who plan on playing for an intercollegiate sports team at these levels are required to register with the NCAA Clearing House.

Learn more about registering with the NCAA Clearinghouse.

Resources

• National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics