College Counseling Junior Parent Workshop, 2018 Martha Allen, Director of College Counseling mallen@stevensonschool.org
WHO WE ARE Martha Allen, Director of College Counseling mallen@stevensonschool.org Karen Hiles, English, College Counselor khiles@stevensonschool.org Amy Jacobs, History, College Counselor ajacobs@stevensonschool.org Jon Kemmerer, History, College Counselor jkemmerer@stevensonschool.org Ron Provost, Science, College Counselor rprovost@stevensonschool.org John Senuta, Math, College Counselor jsenuta@stevensonschool.org Frank Stephenson, Residential Life Program, College Counselor fstephenson@stevensonschool.org
PHILOSOPHY The college preparation process should be student-driven (with perhaps some timely nudging from adults) College admission is not a bumper sticker, a gold medal, or otherwise a prize to be won--it is a fit to be made There is no such thing as a best college The definition of happiness will differ student to student, and happiness can also be found at many different colleges and universities
Our Goals for Your Child: To help your child reach his/her long-term educational goals To understand the college investigation, selection and application process To help reduce the stress associated with the application process To research, create and contact the schools on the long list, then narrow it down to the short list for applications To help each find their best fit college
What We Will Do: Provide information, support and guidance with the college investigation, selection and application process Serve as advocates for every student to the college to which they apply Advise students about course selection Help students manage time and meet deadlines Assist with financial aid and scholarship applications as needed
What We Won t Do: Tell you where your child should go to college or in what s/he should major Fill out applications Make any recommendations about specific for-fee services, such as test prep courses, private college placement or financial aid services
RESPONSIBILITIES STUDENTS: Schedule and attend meetings with college counselors, and seek out as needed otherwise Read and respond to emails from their counselor Listen to advice of counselors (even if they don t ultimately follow it) Know and adhere to deadlines--for college center, college/universities, standardized testing Request all necessary documentation from college counselors and standardized testing agencies Spend as much time thinking about likely schools as you do reach schools Keep counselor (and Naviance!) up to date on college lists and final college choice Take ownership
RESPONSIBILITIES PARENTS: Schedule meetings with college counselors as needed (phone call, email or in person) Read newsletters, become familiar with Naviance and Stevenson s College Counseling Guide Be open to new suggestions, even unknown colleges, helping your children understand that there is more than one college that will fit Be as understanding, encouraging and supportive as possible (both with your child and with us!)
TIMELINE (what you did then ) 9th and 10th grade: Worked to develop study skills Developed academic and extracurricular interests that will shape your search Made friends and started to learn more about yourself through these relationships Took the practice PSAT (October, 10th grade)
TIMELINE (11th) Continue to challenge themselves in thier four-year academic plan Southern California College Tour (October) and Northeast College Tour (February) to learn about types of schools Took the PSAT (October) Attend College Workshops (beginning after break) about Using Naviance, Thinking about College Search, Organizing for Applications, Considering Colleges for You, Panels with Seniors and Faculty ( If I knew then ) and Writing the College Essay College counselors assigned and begin working one-on-one Potential Div I athletes begin to work with coaches on your plan, register with NCAA Clearinghuse Began an SAT or ACT testing sequence (leading to 3 max!)
TIMELINE (summer before 12) Use Naviance to continue to search for colleges (reach, 50/50, likely) Official visits to schools that you find, continuing to add and remove schools from the list, making note of specific things to write about in Supplemental Essays Test prep for fall testing Start to gather supplementary or supporting materials you may need for applications (art portfolio, performance recording, creative writing samples) Potential Div III athletes produce an athletic resume, reach out to potential coaches on college campuses Start thinking about potential personal essays (maybe even begin to craft them) Parents: complete and submit the Parent Response Survey (re: your views of the process and your child)
TIMELINE (what is ahead, 12th) Students continue to meet with counselor Finalize college lists, organizing yourself and your calendar to note important deadlines Continue to work on applications Finaize testing schedule with your counselor, register for last testing opportunities If applying for financial aid, begin to work on that important paperwork in October Keep up to date on college representative visits via Naviance
What is Naviance Family Connection? Web based college and career platform Keeper of Stevenson admissions history Allows students (and families) to share plans Complete surveys Compare colleges Links to third-party resources Track deadlines Scattergrams!! Show Stevenson college visitor schedules
Navigating Naviance http://connection.naviance.com.rlstevenson
Naviance Family Connection Home Page 1. Manage my account to reset your Family Connection password at any time 2. This navigation bar, displaying your colleges, careers, and about me and always appears at the top of each page 3. Click colleges I m thinking about to quickly view your prospective application lists or colleges I m applying to for your active application list (the latter won t be used until senior year)
1. Strengths assessments and personality surveys can be found under the about me tab Assessments 2. The junior college questionnaire is required of all students and should be completed prior to the first meeting with your college counselor [parents have a questionnaire to complete on their Family Connection page, too] 3. Use these surveys to discover your learning style, reveal your academic and personality strengths, and ultimately get to know yourself better. They will help your counselor get to know you too!
Senior year: from the colleges tab... 1. Test scores will been loaded into your account here and allows the scattergram feature to show you. 2. Colleges I m thinking about to store all of the schools that you research during the first few months of your college search process. 3. In the fall, you can begin to add schools to the colleges I m applying to page. 4. Add or view the status of your teacher letters of recommendation 5. View details about upcoming college visits to Stevenson and register to attend 6. Use these links to research, compare, and see which colleges are a good match for you
Colleges I m Thinking About... 1. Add as many schools as you like here 2. View statistical comparison of student to school admissions statistics 3. Type of application accepted 4. Student, counselor and parents can add schools 5. Deadline information 6. Helpful links
Compare Me
Scattergrams
Colleges I m applying to... Students update type of application (Regular Decision, Early Decision, Early Action ), type of application (most will be Common Application) and Have you applied? Counselor gives expected difficulty assessment. Office Status tracks submission of school documents
Questions? Concerns? THANK YOU! Martha Allen mallen@stevensonschool.org