CCO Junior Parent Coffee February 2016
NOTES FEBRUARY PARENT COFFEE
Self-Reflection for Starting College Research Before you even begin your college research, you need to do some self-reflection. We ve asked you to do a bit of this on the questionnaire in Naviance - but now we want you to connect the dots. How do your strengths, talents, interests, and needs translate into building a college list? What are your preferences and what are your non-negotiables? Keep in mind that this journey requires continued self-reflection - and that this means your answers to some of these questions - and therefore your list - will change as your search progresses. As you get started with your college search, think about these larger ideas... Learning Environment and Your Learning Style What type of learner are you and what do you / don t you like about the learning environment at MKA? What aspects of the learning experience at MKA would you like to find also in your college experience? Think about how you learn best: collaboratively, experientially, in a more traditional lecture-style classroom or in a seminar-style classroom Do you enjoy close relationships with your teachers? Do you have any learning needs or will you require special accommodations of any sort to ensure that you will be successful in college? Your Academic/Career Goals and Interests Are you looking for a broad-based liberal arts education or a more specialized program of study (examples: art school/program, music conservatory/program, engineering program, business school/program). Do you have a sense of the career you d like ultimately to pursue - and a sense, therefore, of the degree(s) you will need to pursue in college and at the graduate level? Will your career goals require graduate school and how might you best prepare for that next step as an undergraduate? If you don t have a career in mind yet (this is true for most students at this stage, by the way), what majors are of interest to you? And what other subjects are you curious to learn more about? Your Extracurricular Interests Which of your extracurricular interests do you want to pursue in college? Are there interests you d like to have the opportunity to pursue - even if some of these are interests you have not yet had the chance to explore while in high school? How important to you are college-level athletics (as a participant? as a spectator?)... Performing/Fine Arts Greek life Community Service School publications, etc.? And then about how you would answer these more detailed questions Which geographic areas will I consider? (Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, West, South, outside the US) Do I prefer a city, a suburb or a rural location? A big/small college town? Which size college appeals to me? [Small (up to 3,000 students)... Medium (3,000-7,000 students)... Large (7,000-15,000 students)... Really large (15,000+ students)] Do I prefer a single sex or a coed college? Am I looking for a school with/without a religious affiliation? Is diversity important to me? What kind of diversity? Do I prefer a public or a private college or university? What kind of campus 'vibe' appeals to you (conservative, liberal, rah-rah, etc.)? Is the cost of college of great concern to my family? What can we afford and should I seek out schools where I might qualify for need-based aid and/or merit scholarships? What are my academic qualifications (grades, course rigor, standardized test scores) and at which schools will I be a competitive applicant?
Planning College Visits Where to Start: Initial College Visits Visit the colleges and universities in your own backyard to begin your research. See schools of varying sizes and admission selectivity that are located in different environments. These visits will help you determine and ultimately be confident with your college preferences, even if the schools don't end up on your final college list. They will also focus your future college visits when more travel and resources might be required. As you visit these schools, ask yourself: Can I see myself at a school of this size? Will I be able to meet my educational goals in classes of this size? What type of student am I? Does this type of school offer me the resources I need to be successful and engaged? Would this type of school's admission office honor the academic and personal choices I have made in high school? Am I comfortable and do I feel safe in this rural/ suburban/urban environment? An example of a Focused College Search on regional schools with programs in International Business could include some of the following: Carnegie Mellon University; Drexel University; Dickinson College; Moravian College; University of Pennsylvania; St. Joseph's University Focused College Visits As you become more certain of your college criteria, you can focus your college visits on those schools that best fit your preferences (for example, small or mid-sized liberal arts colleges vs. large universities, urban vs. suburban environments, regional vs. national or international, etc). As you do so, remember: Continue to visit schools of varying admission selectivity categories and be open to the opportunities available at each. These visits are important at every stage of the college process. Make your own impressions of colleges based upon your own experiences, not those of your friends or blog contributors online. What might be a good fit for you might be different for others. Take advantage of your time and visit more than one school on a college visit trip. There may be a school on the way to your destination or nearby that could end up being a gem! An example of a Focused College Search on small or medium liberal arts schools in suburban NY could include: Colgate University; Hamilton College; Hobart and William Smith Colleges; Skidmore College; Union College; Vassar College MKA An example of a Focused College Search on small to mid-sized schools approximately an hour or two from home could include: Albright College; Lafayette College; Lehigh University; Moravian College; Muhlenberg College An example of an Initial College Search could include local visits to: a large university such as Rutgers; an urban university such as NYU, Columbia, Barnard, or Fordham; a smaller, liberal arts college such as Drew University, or Sarah Lawrence College.
THE CAMPUS VISIT Why visit college campuses? A campus visit helps you, as a student, to learn more and put into perspective what you have already heard about a college or university. Visiting a campus allows you to get beyond the glossy brochures and get a sense of the reality of the place so that you can answer fundamental questions like, Can I see myself attending this college or university? Is this a potential match for me? Do I feel at home here? When to visit college campuses? Most students will begin to visit college campuses during junior year and will continue throughout senior year. If the opportunity presents itself, it is perfectly fine to visit college campuses in a very informal way as a sophomore or freshman. While visiting relatives or on family vacation, you may want to take a look at a college or university located nearby. Drive around or walk through campus, stop by the admissions office, maybe take a campus tour, sit in on an information session, and perhaps, have a snack at one of the school!s dining facilities. This is not the time to schedule an interview with an admissions counselor, as you will have plenty of time to do so as a junior and senior. During these early high school years, focus on exploring different types of institutions and gathering general information about colleges. You may even want to compare colleges by visiting a larger, urban research university and a smaller, suburban liberal arts college to determine which might best suit your needs and interests. How to schedule your trip? Choose a time that is convenient for you and your family. If at all possible, try to visit schools when classes are in session, but not during exam period. Take note that college academic calendars may differ from MKA. Contact admissions offices at least two to four weeks prior to your planned visit to schedule a campus tour and/or group information session. Check college websites to obtain the telephone numbers and directions of those colleges in which you have interest. Be sure to ask how often campus tours and information sessions are offered. Try not to visit more than 2 colleges in one day; each campus visit can take 2-3 hours. Give yourself plenty of time to fully explore a university and to catch your breath after each campus visit.
What questions should I ask? How large are classes? What is the advising system like? Do you meet with your professors often? What do faculty expect of students? Can you describe the culture of this campus-social, academic, political? What are current student issues on campus? In what ways are students exposed to other cultures and diverse perspectives? What are some popular clubs and organizations on campus? What do students do for fun? What happens on weekends? What types of support services (academic and non-academic) are available? Can you describe your campus meal plan? Is housing guaranteed all four years? Is there ample space in residence halls? What do students like most about this college? Like least? Things to note on your college visit? Diversity of student population Check out the appearance of campus Is the campus clean? Any new building projects? Do students appear happy or stressed? Are people polite while you walk around campus? What do the dorms look like? Are bathrooms single-sex or co-ed? Is there faculty-student interaction? Are professors talking with students in the student union, hallways, etc.? Where are the dining-hall facilities? Is the meal plan flexible? Are there a variety of food options offered? Take a drive around the surrounding community. How far are restaurants, shops, mall, etc? After a campus tour or information sessions, what else should I do while on campus? Pick up informational brochures and a course catalogue while on campus. Don!t forget to complete inquiry cards so that admission offices have a record of your visit. Be sure to get a business card from admission counselors so you will have a future contact should you have questions about admissions or financial aid. Stroll around campus on your own and try to meet up with current students and chat with them for a few minutes. Hang out where students tend to congregate such as the student union and just people watch. Look at student bulletin boards and read the student newspaper to get a better feel for student life and campus-wide issues. How do I keep track of what I ve learned about each college? You might want to take a camera along to photograph colleges as you see them. Once you begin to visit more than a few colleges, they all begin to look the same. It is also a good idea to jot down your thoughts after each visit so that you can record your first impressions. Remember, not all of you will be able to travel to every college in which you are interested but you should try to make it a point to visit some colleges. Watch for fliers on our bulletin boards or invitations in the mail to off-campus receptions and information sessions at local hotels or other independent schools in the area.
Spring Checklist Managing your college search and application process requires organization and planning. Use this checklist to help keep you on track. Complete all questions on the Junior Student Questionnaire thoughtfully and carefully. Both student and parent forms must be returned to the CCO before scheduling a first appointment with your college counselor. The deadline is Monday, February 8. Parents, be sure to hand in your questionnaire on time as well. Your responses are essential in helping us get to know your child. Parents, please do the same! Register with Naviance using the code provided by the CCO. This database is a wonderful resource to research colleges and review scattergrams. These graphs visually depict the admission history at many colleges where MKA students have applied. Schedule a meeting with your college counselor to discuss the application process, testing timeline, your college list, and summer plans. You should meet with your counselor at least twice during the semester. Counselors typically meet first with students and then encourage parents to make an appointment. Create an email account with an appropriate address that you will check regularly in your correspondence with the CCO and college admission counselors. Once you get your personal Naviance code, begin to familiarize yourself with this helpful database. Parents, help your son or daughter design his or her junior summer. Popular options include internships, course work, employment, volunteer service, and some R & R. Speak to other parents and conduct your own online research to learn more about available programs. Register for the SAT Reasoning and/or Subject Tests online at www.collegeboard.org and/or for the ACT at www.actstudent.org. SAT Testing Dates Registration Deadline March 5 (Reasoning Only) February 5 May 7 April 8 June 4 May 5 ACT Testing Dates Registration Deadline February 6 January 8 April 9 March 4 June 11 May 6 Parents, please be aware of testing dates and registration deadlines. Establish a standardized testing calendar in consultation with your child, CCO counselor and faculty members. It is the student's responsibility to register online for the SAT/ACT.
Begin researching colleges utilizing Naviance, college guide books, and online resources such as College Board. You can also take virtual tours and learn more about individual colleges by visiting their websites. An important first step in starting your research is to do some self-reflection. Ask yourself: - What are your strengths and weaknesses? - What are your goals and interests? - Are you interested in specific programs or majors? - Do you want a large, medium or small school? - What type of college experience are you seeking? Visit a variety of college campuses throughout the spring and summer. March break is a great time to get started! If you are not sure where to begin, try visiting a larger university in an urban area and compare it to a smaller college in a suburban setting. See colleges of different sizes, different locations, and different levels of academic difficulty. Be sure to sign in at the Admissions Office and take notes during campus visits. Parents, it is important to get out there and visit colleges. Look at your family calendar and plan ahead. Try to contact admission offices two weeks in advance to schedule a campus tour and/or information session. Attend the PAMKA/CCO Mock Interview Day, if your schedule permits, on Saturday, May 14. If you plan to pursue athletics at the collegiate level: a. schedule an appointment with Mr. Raper, CCO Athletic Liaison, b. inform your college counselor, c. register with the NCAA Clearinghouse if being recruited for Division I or II programs at www.eligibilitycenter.org, d. create an athletic resume and begin videotaping your games and e. communicate by email with college coaches. If you plan to pursue arts at the next level, see Mr. Cuneo, CCO Arts Liaison, to discuss your portfolio/creative materials or how to best prepare for an audition. Do your best in your academic classes and continue your meaningful involvement in extracurricular activities that interest you. After consulting with your college counselor, ask two teachers to write college recommendation letters on your behalf. Confirm their intention to do so and submit the CCO Teacher Recommendation Contract by Wednesday, May 25. Co-create a college research list with your counselor before you leave for summer vacation. Be sure you have a balanced list that includes an appropriate number of likely, target, and reach schools.
MKA College Counseling Office Upcoming Important Dates in 2016 February Ø Thursday, February 4 - CCO Junior Parent Coffee: Upper School Dining Hall at 8:00 am Ø Friday, February 5 - Registration deadline for March 5 SAT Ø Saturday, February 6 - ACT Ø Tuesday, February 23 - CCO Freshman College Info Evening: Upper School Dining Hall at 7:00 pm (Parents and Students) March Ø Tuesday, March 1 - CCO/PAMKA Parent-to-Parent Workshop: Upper School at 7:00 pm Ø Friday, March 4 - Registration deadline for April 9 ACT Ø Saturday, March 5 - SAT (*First administration of the new SAT) Ø Tuesday, March 8 - College Athletic Recruiting Evening: Upper School at 7:00 pm (Parents and Students) April Ø Tuesday, April 5 CCO Senior-to-Junior Student Panel at 2:25 pm Ø Friday, April 8 Registration deadline for May 7 SAT Ø Saturday, April 9 ACT (*DC Trip returns late afternoon on April 8) Ø Thursday, April 21 - CCO Sophomore College Info Evening: Upper School at 7:00 pm (Parents and Students) May Ø Thursday, May 5 Registration deadline for June 4 SAT Ø Friday, May 6 - Registration deadline for June 11 ACT Ø Saturday, May 7 SAT (*Falls within AP Exam Testing; May 2 - May 13) Ø Saturday, May 14 PAMKA/CCO Junior Mock-Interview Workshop: Upper School at 9:00 am (*Cougar Pride Day) Ø Tuesday, May 24 Junior Class CCO Event at 9:20 am June Ø Saturday, June 4 SAT (*Final exams are June 6-9) Ø Saturday, June 11 - ACT (*Commencement weekend) * Please note that MKA event dates, times and locations are subject to change