Guidance

Students have the opportunity to request an individual appointment with their counselor to discuss course selection and schedule changes. Students are able to request an appointment with their counselor by messaging/emailing their counselor. Counselors are also available to answer parents’ questions concerning their child’s schedule.

A course selection guide is printed each year. The course selection guide can be viewed by clicking here.

Counselors meet with students on a regular basis to monitor their academic progress. They also assist students with information (careers, college, technical training) so that they can achieve their future goals.

COLLEGE RESOURCES

Counselors are available to assist students with their college search. It is never too early for students to schedule an appointment with their counselor  to discuss their future career goals. By junior year (11th grade), students should be researching and if possible, visiting various technical schools, colleges or work places.

The Internet is an excellent source of college information. Visit the Links tab for more information.

Keep in mind that family, friends, and neighbors can also be a valuable resource in the college search process.

CAREER RESOURCES

Counselors can help students learn about and choose careers that would be fulfilling to them. When choosing a career, first and foremost, you must ask yourself two questions: “Will I really enjoy that kind of work?” and “Do I think that I have some ability to do that career?” Additional considerations include: working hours; day work/night work; weekend work; indoor versus outdoor work; seasonal work; salary; health insurance; pension/retirement benefits; work primarily with things, people or ideas; opportunity to be creative; ability to become a leader; etc. As you can see there is much to consider when choosing a career.

Students can also receive printed copies of information on several careers from their counselors.

What To Do If You Plan To Apply To Colleges, Technical Schools, and Trade Unions

It’s been said that timing in life is everything and that certainly is true about applying to colleges and trade unions. Though it all starts before your senior year concerning your grades, attendance, and overall preparedness, senior year is the time to act on making a successful transition from high school to work or further education. For those of you who have a plan of action and for those who are starting to think about a plan, here are some guidelines.

Guidelines for Applying To a Four-Year College

Basically, there are four steps to follow in applying to four-year colleges. Decide which colleges are for you. Find out what is required for application. Send in the required materials (by mail and/or on-line) before or by the deadline date. Fill out the FAFSA form to be eligible for financial aid.

• Decide which colleges are for you. Do college searches on www.collegeboard.com under the My Colleges tab. Go straight to the college’s website. Take a virtual tour of the college. Better yet go there and visit in person. Talk to your teachers, counselors, coaches, employers, pastors, family members, neighbors, and friends. They can help you in making decisions.
• Find out what is required for application. College application requirements usually include: test results; the college application; a personal essay; transcript; and recommendation letters. Here’s some info on each of them. Take the SAT or ACT tests in your junior year or early in your senior year. You can take it more than once. College applications can be done on-line or on paper. Remember that there is a fee to apply to colleges. Ask your counselor about the fee if you are on free or reduced lunch. Many colleges require you to write an essay on a specific topic or about yourself. Prepare now to write this essay. Remember to include your skills, good things about your personality, and positive accomplishments. Think of two or three people (not a family member) who you would like to ask for a letter of recommendation. Give your references enough time to write the letter and some information about your accomplishments (use Recommendation Request Form-Guidance Office). A transcript is a record of all your courses and grades. Colleges look to see if you are keeping up your grades and taking challenging courses.
• Send applications in by the deadline date. If you are applying on-line, you need to make the deadline date. However, even when you are applying on-line certain parts of your application packet; for example, the transcript needs to be mailed by your counselor. Important! Give your counselor plenty of time before the deadline to mail your college application materials.
• Fill out the FAFSA form to be eligible for financial aid. FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Financial Aid starts with this form. You need to complete the FAFSA for both the two year and four year colleges. It is done on-line.  This year, the FAFSA is filled out after October, 2016. Earlier is always better. Go on www.fafsa.ed.gov/ for more info.

Guidelines for Applying To a Two-Year College

There are four basic steps to follow when applying to two-year colleges. Fill out the application either on-line or on paper. Take the required test at a two year college. Fill out the FAFSA form in order to be eligible for financial aid. When accepted and have your test results, register for classes. The test given at most two year colleges in the area is the Accuplacer, copyrighted by the Collegeboard. It covers math, reading, and writing. Check it out on the internet. At Gloucester County College’s website, you can click on Testing & Tutoring and then Placement Test, and see sample questions for the Accuplacer and Compass Test. Remember also to ask your counselor to send your high school transcript. Some programs, such as Nursing, have additional requirements. The GCC staff comes over to GCIT and helps students with the admissions process. It makes applying easier. The Guidance Office will let you know about “GCC on-site admissions.” Sign up if you’re interested.

What To Do If You Plan To Apply To Colleges, Technical Schools, and Trade Unions

Guidelines for Applying To a Trade Union

Talk to your teacher first. Your trade/career teacher will be able to provide you with the best information and guidance. Attend field trips to the unions to learn more about how to apply for membership, apprenticeships, and employment opportunities. Talk to your school-to-careers coordinator, school counselor, employer, family, friends, neighbors, and people in the career field that you are interested in. Your County Apprentice Coordinator, at (856) 468-1445 Ext. 2516 is another good person to contact. Check out the Labor Union’s website. Each union’s requirements are different. However, here are some possible application requirements for unions. You will have to fill out an application. There are deadlines! Some unions only give you a few weeks to fill out an application during a certain time of the calendar year. If you miss that time period, you may have to wait a whole year to apply. Other possible requirements include: a minimum age requirement, usually 18 or older; a valid driver’s license and birth certificate; a high school diploma or equivalent; a passing grade in one year of high school algebra (electrical); a high school transcript ( a record of all your courses and grades); and testing. You may have to take the NJATC (National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee) aptitude test battery, which covers math and reading. Prepare now for this test while you are in high school. Your career, math, and English teachers can help you. Also maintain good attendance. Union representatives like to see good attendance. A union apprenticeship is an excellent opportunity to gain valuable work experience and earn college credits.

The GCIT guidance department has created videos and PowerPoints to assist students and parents navigate through some of the tough issues with career and college planning.  Click on the links below to learn some valuable information!

2023-2024 Financial Aid Presentation

Apply to College

College Visits

Developing Your College List

Letter of Recommendation Request Form

NAACP Presentation

Plan for College

Rowan College of South Jersey - Collegiate High School

SAT and ACT

Scholarship Search

Personalized Scholarship Search

Counseling services offered through the Guidance Office include but are not limited to career exploration, college/career planning, class selection & schedule, attendance concerns, problem-solving and personal issues, etc.

Counselors work closely with the Child Study Team case managers for classified students.

Counselors will make referrals to School Based Youth Services for personal counseling as needed; however, students may access School Based Youth Services directly without a referral.

INTERVENTION & REFERRAL SERVICES

Intervention & Referral Services (I&RS) is an interdisciplinary team of professionals within the school environment who come together throughout the school year to formulate coordinated services and team delivery systems to address the full range of student learning, behavior, social, and health problems in the general education program as well as for students determined to be in need of special education programs and services. According to N.J.A.C 6A:16-8.1.,8.2 the goal of the committee is to see measurable student improvement in the identified targeted areas. Staff members refer students to the I&RS Committee through the building principal, who then advises the parents of the referral. The I&RS Committee develops an Action Plan containing goals, interventions, and a timeline for the plan's duration.

The I & RS committee follows a multidisciplinary approach with a well-articulated system of supportive activities and services for staff who have identified student difficulties and those who will be involved in the amelioration of the identified educational concerns.

Financial Aid Night Recap Video

FAFSA
Applicants must follow the college’s guidelines for financial aid and scholarships. Parents and students should apply for financial aid by submitting the FAFSA in January of the senior year and in January for each year after while attending college. FAFSA applications can be revised once income taxes have been determined. Parents and students must first obtain a PIN which will allow them to sign the FAFSA electronically.

NJ STARS
NJ STARS is a new scholarship program exclusively for New Jersey residents that covers the cost of tuition and approved fees at New Jersey's 19 community colleges.

Students who graduate in the top 15 percent of their high school class are eligible. Ask your high school guidance counselor for details. NJ STARS covers up to five semesters of tuition and approved fees at the student's local community college.

The New Jersey Class Loan

The State of New Jersey provides loans to colleges and universities both in-state and out- of-state; however, not all colleges are eligible. The New Jersey Class Loan is a fixed rate loan that may be taken in the student’s name with a co-signer or in another borrower’s name. Details are available on the NJ Higher Education Student Assistance Authority’s website.

NCAA Clearinghouse Online

From the NCAA Clearinghouse website, prospective student-athletes are able to access information needed to understand the Division I and Division II eligibility requirements, register with the Clearinghouse and access individual Clearinghouse records.

Financial Aid Easy Planner 

courtesy HESAA 
Paying for your college education is no small undertaking. There are many questions to consider: what it will cost, how much can you save, how much can you and your family afford to pay, how much to borrow, and what scholarships are available to you. Not sure where to start? Try this.

Pay for College 

courtesy HESAA
Understand all of your options when it comes to paying for college. We can help you get the latest information about college costs, scholarships, financial aid applications, education loans, and college financing.

Financial Aid Myths

courtesy HESAA 
Literally billions of dollars in financial aid is available to those who need help paying for college. Yet lots of misinformation clouds the facts about what type of aid is available and who is eligible. Here are some myths dispelled for students confronting the process of securing financial aid.

College Financing Calculators 
courtesy HESAA 
Use our calculators to figure out how to pay for college.

Apply for a Loan 
courtesy HESAA 
Education Loans Offered Through the College Board: Federal Stafford Loans, Federal PLUS Loans, and the College Board Connect Loan™

Helpful Financial Aid Websites:

www.fastweb.com

www.finaid.org

https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

www.mapping-your-future.org

Free Elective Option Permission Form

Letter of Recommendation Request Form

Transcript Request Form

Parents/Guardians and Graduating Seniors:

Congratulations and welcome to the final countdown to Graduation 2026!  Graduation is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, June 17, 2026. We will be ordering graduating student caps, gowns, tassels, and diplomas soon.  In order for us to prepare our order we will need the following for :

1. All seniors are required to pay a graduation fee of $50.00 prior to February 7, 2026. This fee covers the cost for cap and gowns and diplomas. Fees are to be paid online only. 
2. Diploma name confirmation and cap/gown sizing must be completed online by February 7, 2026. Please note, you need to submit EXACTLY how you want your name printed on your diploma. This form can only be submitted once. There will be an extra fee if you need to order a new diploma. You can access this form on your PowerSchool account. This can only be accessed on an internet browser, not the app. Please see below on where to find the form. 

Keep in mind that if your child has other financial obligations (such as financial fees, cafeteria balances, book returns, and other requirements as determined by the administration), these must be met prior to graduation.  Also final transcripts and diplomas WILL NOT be released until all obligations are met (see District Policy 5460.1).

NJ STARS is a scholarship program exclusively for New Jersey residents that covers the cost of tuition and approved fees at New Jersey's 19 community colleges.

Students who graduate in the top 15 percent of their high school class may be eligible.

Students must complete a rigorous series of high school courses as a first step toward eligibility, as determined by the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education in consultation with the New Jersey Commissioner of Education.

Students must take at least 12 college credits per semester and will be allowed to take up to 18 credits each semester if they are able to handle the course load and wish to accelerate their graduation.

Students will be permitted to use summer sessions as part of their five semesters of eligibility.

Students will be permitted to take fewer than 12 credits in their final semester if they need fewer than 12 credits to graduate.

Students have five (5) semesters of eligibility for NJ STARS.

Students majoring in areas that require an additional 6th semester (for example: nursing and engineering) will pay for the additional semester, but be able to retain their eligibility for NJ STARS II status.

Students will have to take a college placement test selected by the New Jersey Council of County Colleges when they receive their conditional eligibility letter from the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. Community colleges will administer the test and may create partnerships with districts to have on-site testing as well.

Students who do not achieve the required placement test scores will be notified by the college that they are currently in need of remediation prior to pursuing college coursework through the NJ STARS program. Students will be able to take appropriate courses while still in high school to improve their skills, or they can attend remedial courses at the community college while enrolled in high school.

Students who graduate from high school and still need remediation will be given up to one year at their own cost or using other non-STARS funds to gain the skills they need to be college ready. They will not be considered NJ STARS scholars until they meet the requirement, but they will still have five semesters of eligibility upon meeting the requirements during that year.

Students who have earned college credits during high school will be able to submit those credits for consideration to the community college, and upon meeting the established criteria should have those credits applied to their degree. Those students who have earned an associate degree with a 3.25 grade point average or better while enrolled in high school will be eligible to apply directly to a senior New Jersey public college or university for inclusion in NJ STARS II.

Dependent students of military families assigned to a military base and whose parents have established New Jersey as their state of residence will be eligible for NJ STARS as long as all other conditions are met.

Students must earn a 3.25 cumulative grade point average upon graduation from community college to be eligible for NJ STARS II.

Students who meet the top 15 percent requirement must first apply for all other federal and state financial aid available to them by filing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually within New Jersey's deadline. If a student receives financial aid, NJ STARS will cover the remaining cost of tuition and fees. If a student is not eligible for financial aid, NJ STARS will cover the entire cost.

NJ STARS students must be enrolled in an associate degree program at a New Jersey community college.

NJ STARS students must maintain continuous full-time enrollment at a New Jersey community college.

NJ STARS students must have a 3.0 or better grade point average moving from freshmen to sophomore years to be eligible for scholarship renewal for the second year.

For more information about NJ STARS and other state-sponsored scholarships and financial aid programs, visit the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority.

On Saturday, October 18, 2025, GCIT will administer the PSAT/NMSQT®, a test that showcases the classroom skills and knowledge that are essential for college and career readiness and success. Registration closes on Friday, August 22nd.

PSAT REGISTRATION & PAYMENT

SAT

www.collegeboard.org

The College Board website includes online registration for the SAT, college planning tools, and the The Official SAT Question of the Day™

The SAT and SAT Subject Tests are a suite of tools designed to assess your academic readiness for college. These exams provide a path to opportunities, financial support and scholarships, in a way that's fair to all students. The SAT and SAT Subject Tests keep pace with what colleges are looking for today, measuring the skills required for success in the 21st century.

SAT Test Dates

SAT Online Registration

ACT Testing

www.actstudent.org

The ACT is accepted at many colleges. The ACT is comprised of four assessments: English, Math, Reading, Science, and Writing.

ACT Test Dates

ACT Online Registration

In some cases, it may benefit a student to take both the SAT and the ACT.

TheCollegeDream-AGuideforParents.pdf

HowDoYouGetIntoCollegeBrochure.pdf

Community

Located in the southern end of New Jersey, Gloucester County is one of the fastest growing counties in the state and is described as having the right mix of elements that make for a prosperous and productive community. It is a place of pristine farms, preserved historical sites, and towns that offer diverse recreational and entertainment choices to enjoy. Gloucester County’s proximity to Philadelphia, Jersey Shore, and Delaware puts it in a perfect spot for residents to experience and discover other great destinations in the Northeast.

School District

GCIT is a full-time comprehensive high school offering students college-preparation and/or entry into the labor market following successful completion of Academy or Career-Technical Education Programs.  Designated a Star School and Best Practice Award winner by the New Jersey Department of Education.  Other distinctions include Tech Prep Grant Winner and the Aldo Papone Award for the Academy of Finance & Business Management.  GCIT is affiliated with the National Academy Foundation.

Download the full profile below.

School Profile 2025-2026

Transcripts for GCIT students can be obtained by faxing a request to (856) 468-3571.

All transcripts may be obtained in the following ways:

1. The completed form can be emailed to one of the following:
   lpotrzuski@gcecnj.org (for GCIT High School students) or
   dmcintyre@gcecnj.org (for GCIT Post-Secondary or Adult High School students)
2. Fax a request to 856-468-3571
3. Mail the Transcript Request Form to the Guidance Secretary at GCIT, 1360 Tanyard Road, Sewell, New Jersey 08080. Please allow 14 business days to process your request.

Transcript Request Form