AECI Postsecondary Office

Hello and welcome to the Post-Secondary Office! My name is Ms. Lauren Quigley and I am the Post-Seconday Counselor here at AECI. I hold a Bachelor’s Degree from SUNY New Paltz in Sociology and Psychology and went on to earn my Master’s Degree in School Counseling from Long Island University’s Graduate School of Education. Before coming to AECI, I have worked as a Post-Secondary Counselor helping students to create their post-secondary plan at schools in Brooklyn, Queens, and The Bronx for almost 10 years and worked as the Associate Director of Admissions at a private college in Manhattan prior to my time in NYC schools.
My love of college counseling stems from my own college process. My high school didn’t have a post-secondary  counselor and students were left to figure out the system on their own. I always like to say that my post-secondary counselor was my father, who attended college for one semester, but did not complete his degree. We worked together writing my college essay and filling out applications without help from my high school. It wasn’t until I was working in a school as an intern during my graduate studies that I became familiar with the concept of college counseling. Through that experience working in a high school post-secondary office, I realized that a career in college counseling was the right choice for me. My goal is for no student to feel like they are on their own during such an important time of their lives.

At AECI, we start the conversation early. Starting in 9th grade, students will work to develop their resumes and study skills while also traveling to a variety of colleges in the tristate area. Here, we work as a team. Counselors, students and families are expected to contribute to the discussion of college access and enrollment. In junior and senior year, students will work with me very closely as we dissect the components of the college search, applications and decisions, piece by piece.

As the Post-Secondary Counselor here at AECI, my primary responsibility is to promote college awareness and to help you through your college process, from applications to financial aid and scholarships. I’m here to assist you through this exciting and sometimes challenging adventure. I look forward to helping you achieve all your post-secondary goals!

 

Ms. Lauren Quigley
Post-Secondary Counselor
Phone: (646) 400-5566 ext 5000
lquigley@aecicharterhs.org

At AECI, seniors are awarded $1,000 Academic and Core Values Scholarships. Funded by the AECI School Store and the AECI Board of Trustees, eligible applications must meet certain grade and performance requirements and submit teacher recommendations and essays. Winners are selected by a committee of teachers and counselors. Congratulations to our winners from the Class of 2022!

History – Keyla Castro
Math – Gabriel Montas
Design – Genesis Pinto
Phys Ed – Christopher Mejia
Science – Christopher Estrella
English – Jennifer Burgos
Respect – Michael Agyekum
Perseverance – Augustine Djan
Achievement – Jared Reese
Integrity – Jared Reese

College Representative Visits will begin on Tuesday October 4th.  All visits will be held at 12:50pm during 7th period lunch in the PSP Office.
Representatives from various colleges will be visiting to share information about their college/university.

This is a great opportunity to meet a representative from a school that you would like to apply to this fall and:
• Learn more about academic programs at the school
• Learn about what special programs they offer
• Spend one on one time with the person who reads your application

The following schools are visiting:

10/4/22 University at Buffalo
10/6/22 Marist College
10/7/22 Iowa State University
10/11/22 New York School of Interior Design
10/14/22 Princeton University
10/18/22 Manhattan College
10/19/22 St. Lawrence University
10/20/22 Manhattanville College
10/21/22 CUNY Hostos Community College
10/24/22 SUNY College at Geneseo
10/24/22 State University of New York (SUNY)
10/27/22 SUNY College at Brockport
10/28/22 SUNY College of Technology at Alfred
10/31/22 Southern California Institute of Architecture
11/8/22 Mount Saint Mary College
Although many colleges are closed to visitors right now, you can visit campus using the following websites:
It’s never too early to start thinking about colleges that you’re interested in! You can use the following websites to start the college search process and learn about colleges you’re interested in:

Fall Deadlines

CUNY Applications- October 21st
SUNY Applications- November 18th
All Applications- December 16th
FAFSA Opens- October 1st (Priority deadline November 30th)

9th Grade

9th grade is an important year in a student’s college-preparation journey.

Take challenging classes in core academic subjects. Most colleges require four years of English, at least three years of Social Studies (history, economics, and government), three years of Mathematics, and three years of Science, and many require two years of a Foreign Language. Many colleges prefer four years of Science and Math!

Round out your course load with classes in technology and the arts. Talk to the course programmer about your elective options!

Work with one of your parents to estimate your financial aid using FAFSA4caster and be sure to save for college.

Get involved in school- or community-based activities that interest you or let you explore career interests. 

Consider working, volunteering, and/or participating in academic enrichment programs, summer workshops, and camps with specialty focuses such as music, arts, or science. Remember—it’s quality (not quantity) that counts.

Start asking about our Syracuse University Project Advance (SUPA) courses, whether you are eligible, and how to enroll in them.

Start a list of your awards, honors, paid and volunteer work, and extracurricular activities. Update it throughout high school.

10th Grade

There’s a lot a 10th-grade student can do to stay on the right track toward college, and a lot a parent can do to help.

Take a look at these tips for thinking about the future, managing time, taking standardized tests, and more.

Continue challenging yourself academically! Colleges look at all of your grades from 9th grade to 11th grade so it’s important to focus on your academics throughout high school.

Take a practice Preliminary SAT (PSAT/NMSQT)  exam.

The PSAT is offered at AECI every October!

Plan to use your summer after 10th grade wisely: Work, volunteer, or take a summer course (away or at a local college).

Go to career information events or enroll in an enrichment program to get a more detailed look at career options.

Research majors that might be a good fit with your interests and goals based on your results from the U.S. Department of Labor’s career search.

11th Grade

It’s crucial to stay on top of college preparation during the 11th-grade year and the following summer.

Here’s what you should be doing—including looking into careers, searching for scholarships, and keeping the savings account on track.

 

Go to college fairs and college-preparation presentations by college representatives.

 

Visit college campuses, preferably when classes are in session. AECI college trips each year for the 11th grade!

 

Register for and take exams for college admission in the spring. The tests that many colleges require are the SAT, SAT Subject Tests, and the ACT.

 

All 11th graders will take their first SAT here at AECI during the spring of their junior year. Students will also register for their second SAT in June of their junior year.

 

Ask two teachers for a letter of recommendation. Ms Q will provide information on how to request letters of recommendation from your teachers. Don’t forget to bring them a copy of your resume!

 

Find scholarships for which you might want to apply. Some deadlines fall as early as the summer between 11th and 12th grades, so prepare now to submit applications soon.
Contact colleges to request information. Ask about financial aid, admission requirements, and deadlines.

 

12th Grade

12th grade is the time to apply for admission to college and then to apply for federal student aid by filling out the FAFSA.

 

Work hard all year—second-semester grades can affect scholarship eligibility.

 

Stay involved in after-school activities, and seek leadership roles if possible.

 

If you haven’t done so already, register for and take the standardized tests required for college admission. 

 

As soon as possible after October 1, complete and submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online, along with any other financial aid applications your school(s) of choice may require.

 

You should submit your FAFSA/ TAP/ and if needed CSS Profile by the earliest financial aid deadline of the schools to which you are applying, usually by early January.

 

Apply to the colleges you have chosen. Prepare your applications carefully. Follow the instructions, and PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO DEADLINES!

 

Complete any last scholarship applications.

 

Visit colleges that have accepted you. 

 

Review your college acceptances and compare the colleges’ financial aid offers.

 

Contact a school’s financial aid office if you have questions about the aid that school has offered you. They can tell you about deadlines, other aid for which you might wish to apply, and important paperwork you might need to submit.

 

When you decide which school you want to attend, notify that school of your commitment and submit any required financial deposit by May 1.