Junior College Planning Night

Ellen Linzey, Vice PrincipalLisa Barooshian, Director of Guidance

Monica Benson (A-Hansen)Ilene Rodman (Hayes-Mongeau)

Sarah Morrissey (Mouawad-Z)

College Counseling Mission● Our mission is to help each student identify, apply, and matriculate to

colleges that fit their interests, abilities, and goals. We value the relationship between students and counselors and strive to know all students well so that we can best advise them and help them reach their post-secondary goals.

● Sending children to college is a family decision, so we hope to communicate with parents during all aspects of the college application process.

● Additionally, we expect that students conduct themselves with integrity throughout the college application process. We require that students represent their achievements honestly to their counselors as well as on their college applications and in college interviews.

● With these cornerstones of integrity and personal care for each individual, the AMSA Counseling Department will do its best to make the college application process a self-affirming one that puts each student on the path to a productive and fulfilling future.

What Parents Should Remember During the College Process

● This is your son/daughter’s responsibility● He/she completes the applications● He/she contacts the schools with questions and make

appointments● Offer support and encouragement● Be mindful of the amount of pressure put on your

son/daughter● Set reasonable expectations

Top priorities of Junior Year

● School work and strong grades!! Most important year of your transcript!

● Participate in meaningful activities● Build relationships with teachers (preparing for letters

of recommendation)● Build relationship with counselor● Create a testing plan (ACT/SAT/SAT II)● Create a resume

Timeline: Junior Year Second Semester:

● Register for ACT, SAT, & possibly SAT II Subject Tests● Schedule a meeting with Mrs. Benson, Mrs. Rodman, or Mrs.

Morrissey (February-April)● Use Naviance to research colleges and begin to create college

list● Schedule college visits over school vacations ● Speak with two teachers about writing recommendation

letters for you and fill out Recommendation Request Form● College Admissions Representative Panel Q&A (June 1)● Have parents fill out Parent Brag Sheet (found on guidance

website)

Standardized Testing Info: SAT ACT

● www.collegeboard.org● Cost:

● $45 without essay● $57 with essay

● www.act.org● Cost:

● $42.50 without writing● $58.50 with writing

**Colleges accept both exams. We encourage students to take both exams and see which one they perform better on and then

focus on that exam.

SAT Registration Dates Test Date● March 11, 2017 ONLY SAT● May 6, 2017

Subjects Available● June 3, 2017

Subjects Available

Registration DeadlinesFebruary 10, 2017

April 7, 2017

May 9, 2017

SAT Prep CoursesAMSA’s SAT Course (Spring and Summer)Outside courses (year-round)

SAT II Subject TestsMay Subject Exams

● Math Level I● Math Level II● US History● Literature● Chemistry● Physics● French● Spanish● Biology E/M (Ecological or

Molecular)

June Subject Exams● All May exams plus…● World History● German● Italian● Modern Hebrew● Latin

ACT Registration Dates Test Date● April 8, 2017

● June 10, 2017

Registration DeadlinesMarch 3, 2017

May 5, 2017

Fall Dates TBD

Naviance● Naviance is an online college & career readiness tool● What do students use it for?

● Research schools● Keep track of schools they are applying to● Scholarship information● Sign up for college representative visits

● What do counselors use it for?● This is how we transmit all application documents to colleges● Communication with students & parents

● How do the students know how to use it?● College Search lesson – November 2016● Senior Seminar

● When should students be updating the information in Naviance?● Regularly

Visiting Colleges● See schedule of tours & information sessions on college website● Check-in with admissions to make sure they know you visited

(ask if the rep for your area is available to meet)● Try to visit when students will be on campus (ex. February &

April vacation)● Pay attention to how you feel on campus—are you comfortable,

uncomfortable, etc.?● Speak to current students● Try to schedule an overnight visit of the schools you really like● Be open-minded● Re-visit schools after acceptances have been received to help

make your decision● Students are allowed 2 excused absences their junior year and 4

excused absences their senior year

Teacher Letter of Recommendation

● Students may also request outside/supplemental letters of recommendation (for example: from a coach or employer), but it’s the student’s responsibility to coordinate the submission of those letters

● Students cannot read any letters of recommendation

● Students should ask 2 core academic teachers (preferably 1 Math/Science and 1 Humanities) by the end of spring semester in person

● Students must then complete a teacher recommendation request form and return the counselor slip to guidance

● Teacher letters will focus on student’s academic performance

Counselor Letter of Recommendation

● Students need to complete the Junior Year Guidance Questionnaire and Resume on Naviance

● Parents should complete Parent Brag Sheet● Counselors will focus on the student as a person, their

interests/activities, their strengths, and any extenuating circumstances in the student’s life

● At minimum, students should meet with their counselor once junior year and once senior year. We want to get to know them!

Senior Seminar is a Time to…● ask questions about senior year, college applications, or

college/career planning● research college information● complete the Common Application● write and edit your college essay● update Naviance● make sure you know all your schools’ requirements● discuss basic financial aid and how to begin the process● apply to scholarships● prepare for the transition from high school to

post-secondary life

Timeline: Senior YearSummer:

●Work on college essay!!!!!● Prepare for SAT/ACT/SAT II’s, if necessary● Work on your list of colleges & update in Naviance● Update your resume with all your activities, athletics,

academic accomplishments, community service, and work history

● Work/Community Service/Internships…do something!! Don’t just sit around!

Timeline: Senior YearFall● Meet early and regularly with your counselor● Make final list of colleges & update Naviance ● Register & re-take ACT/SAT/SAT II Subject tests, if

necessary● Determine all deadlines and under what application

type you will be applying (Early vs. Regular decision)● MAKE SURE YOUR COUNSELOR IS AWARE OF ALL

DEADLINES!!!● Have 3 people read your essay: English teacher,

guidance counselor, friend/family member● Finish applications in time for early deadlines

College Rep Visits● College reps come to AMSA

to talk about their school● We had about 60 visits this

year (Sept-Nov)● Look at Naviance for

complete list● Sign-up in Naviance● Bring questions and be

professional at these visits…these will be the admission reps reviewing your application

● Make a positive, lasting impression!!!

Application TypesEarly Decision

● Deadline (Oct-Dec)● Binding

● Your #1 school that you will commit to if

accepted● Have to withdraw other

applications upon acceptance

Early Action● Deadline (Oct-Dec)

● Non-Binding● Usually a target and a

safety school● Do not have to withdraw

other applications upon acceptance

Application TypesRestricted Early Action

● Deadlines (Nov)● Can usually apply only

to that school● May be able to apply to a

state school as well, but need to check with each

individual college

Regular Decision● Deadlines (Dec-April)

● Not Binding

Rolling Admissions● Not binding

● Reviewed as they receive application

● Open until class is full

Components of College Applications:

Student’s Responsibility to send:● Common App or School-Specific Application● College Essay & possibly Supplemental Essays● SAT/ACT Test Scores

Counselor’s Responsibility to send:● Transcripts (which include weighted GPA)● Teacher Recommendations (no more than 2)● Guidance Counselor Recommendation● School Profile to show AMSA’s rigorous curriculum● No Class Ranking

The Common Application● One Application for over 500 schools

****We recommend waiting until Senior Seminar to start the Common App****

Contents:● Applicant Demographics● Parent/Family Information● Academics/Honors● Extracurricular Activities● Personal Essay ● Individual College Supplements

www.commonapp.org

Interviewing● Strongly recommended/required for smaller and more

selective schools● Contact school for their specific protocols● On-Campus vs. Alumni Interviews● Mock interviews available at AMSA● Meet with your counselor before for helpful tips

How do I pay for college?● College is expensive, but

luckily financial aid can offset some of the costs

● MEFA Financial Aid Night will be in the Fall of 2017

● FAFSA & CSS Profile● Grants vs. Loans vs.

Scholarships● Need-based vs. Merit-based

aid● Net price Calculator

Making the Decision

● Compare acceptance letters and financial aid awards● Attend “Accepted Student Days” at top choice schools● Make the decision as a family● Notify your college & make your deposit by May 1st

● Relax and enjoy the rest of high school!

ResourcesAMSA Website:www.amsacs.org/guidance/college-career-planning/

Naviance:https://connection.naviance.com/auth/fclookup

SAT: http://sat.collegeboard.org/home

ACT: http://www.act.org/

MEFA: www.MEFA.org

Thank YouMonica Benson (Students A-Hansen)● m.benson@amsacs.org Ext. 3528 Ilene Rodman (Students Hayes-Mongeau)● i.rodman@amsacs.org Ext. 3523Sarah Morrissey (Students Mouawad-Z)● s.neithercut@amsacs.org Ext. 3529