Bishop O’Connell High School
Counseling Department
BRIEFING ON THE COLLEGE PLACEMENT
PROCESS
JUNE 24, 2013
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PURPOSE OF BRIEFING
PURPOSE OF BRIEFING

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To present the college placement process enabling parents
and students to gain an understanding of the steps
necessary to successfully pursue entry into college or
university. This is a jump start effort commencing in June.
Provide counselee assignments
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BRIEFING OUTLINE
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Welcome
Counseling Team
Parent Expectations
College Placement Action Steps
Questions and Answers
Wrap up
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BRIEFING PROTOCOL
Presentation
 Question and Answer Session ( please
hold all questions until the Q & A session)
 Email dstabile@bishopoconnell.org if you
desire a copy of the PowerPoint Slides.

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Counseling Department
 DEAN
OF FACULTY AND DIRECTOR
OF COUNSELING
MRS. ERIN O’MALLEY
 DIRECTOR COLLEGE COUNSELING
MRS. KRISTINA HERBST
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College Counselors
counselee assignments
Mrs. Herbst: A through Bergeron
Mr. Giska: Berube through Ellis
Iacobucci through Obeid
Dr. Stabile: Falcon through Hylton
Olafsson through Zinzi
*A number of students have been reassigned to counselors outside the
alpha code due to family relationships or special circumstances
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DJO AND PARENT EXPECTAIONS
Prepared for undergraduate school
 Strong spiritual base and moral
compass —to make appropriate
choices, decisions, and always do
the right thing
 Succeed at the undergraduate and
graduate level
 Become independent

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COUNSELOR’S MISSION
Advocate
 Guide student and family through the
college placement process
 Provide complete range of
counseling services
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COLLEGE BOUND ACTION PLAN
CLASS OF 2014
18 ACTION STEPS TO SUCCESS
1.
2.
3.
4.
REGISTRATION VERIFICATION OF
NAVIANCE
IDENTIFICATION OF 5 TO 7
COLLEGES (August 15, 2013)
Transcript Request (Done through
Naviance, no charge)
Register for Common Application
(August 1-15, 2013)
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COLLEGE BOUND ACTION PLAN
(CONTINUED)
Complete Applications online
through Common Application or
web sites of those colleges not
participating with Naviance and hold
until reviewed. (Ongoing)
6. Complete College Essay
(August 30,2013)
5.
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COLLEGE BOUND ACTION
PLAN (CONTINUED)
Request Faculty Recommendation
Letters, and Provide Resume, and
Follow up email through Naviance.
( As soon as possible)
7. Early Decision, Early Action
Submissions (To be completed by
October 25, 2013)
7.
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COLLEGE BOUND ACTION
PLAN (CONTINUED)
SAT/ACT, if Necessary, September,
October, and November
10. Financial Aid Strategies (Ongoing)
--Merit
--Scholarships
--Grants
--Work Study
--Loans
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9.
COLLEGE BOUND ACTION
PLAN (CONTINUED)
11. Discussion
with Parents (May-Sept)
---Landscape
---Same Direction
12. ACADEMIES/ROTC/ART/MUSIC/
ATHLETES
Art-Digital Photos, Music Requires
Audition, Athletes Based on
Performance
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COLLEGE BOUND ACTION
PLAN (CONTINUED)
13. Self
Advocacy With Colleges and
Universities
14. First Semester Grades-GPA
Recomputed
15. Submission of Acceptance Letters,
Scholarships, and Honors.
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COLLEGE BOUND ACTION
PLAN (CONTINUED)
16. Academics
Awards Night
May 28, 2014
17. Close out Activities and Graduation
May 29, 2014 at the Basilica
18. Final Transcript Sent to Colleges
June 2014
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WHAT COLLEGES LOOK FOR
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Assemble a freshman class that meets the
requirements of its institution. Since most colleges
have more applicants than they have available space,
they establish certain criteria for selection. These
include, but are not limited to, academic record (GPA,
and strength of the program), test scores, activities,
letters of recommendation and interviews. Other
factors they consider are athletic ability, special
talents, legacy, and diversity.
No single factor will determine acceptance or
rejection.
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SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS
Colleges must make “reasonable accommodations” (PL 94-142)
 College support programs fall into 3 levels:
1.
Basic: extended time: note taking—minimum support by law
2.
Coordinated Services: Go beyond minimum support required
by law. One trained staffer making input on admission decisions
and offering study-skills classes, tutors, and other services.
3.
Structured or Proactive Programs: Require student to sign a
contract, and annual fees charges for $2,000 to 8,000 per year.
Modified coursework, trained staffers to monitor student progress.
Fewer than 100 schools fall in this category.
ACTION: Work with your O’Connell Counselor and Mrs. Newbold.
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STANDARIZED TESTS
SAT
 SUBJECT TESTS
 SCORE CHOICE
 ACT
 ADVANCED PLACEMENT
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TYPES OF COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
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Regular Admission
Rolling Admission
Early Decision
Early Action
Single Choice Early Action (Only One Private School)
Open Admissions (600 CC;100 4 YR Listed in College Board
College Handbook) Franklin Pierce, Granite State College,
Cambridge College, U Maine Augusta, Southern Vermont
College
Deferred Enrollment
Delayed/Provisional Admissions
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SERVICE ACADEMIES
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The United States maintains five service
academies:
United States Military Academy at West Point, New
York;
United States Naval Academy at Annapolis,
Maryland;
United States Air Force Academy at Colorado
Springs, Colorado;
United States Coast Guard Academy at New
London, Connecticut;
United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings
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Point, New York.
PRIVATE MILITARY INSTITUTES/ACADEMIES
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Maine Maritime Academy, Castine, ME
Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, VA
The Citadel, Charleston, SC
Norwich University Military Academy,
Northfield, VT
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Buzzards Bay, MA
.
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IN-STATE TUITION FOR NON-RESIDENT
MILITARY DEPENDENTS STATIONED IN
MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA
WWW.DANTES.DODED.MIL
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FINANCIAL AID SOURCES
TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID
---MERIT
---GRANTS
---SCHOLARSHIPS
---LOANS
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FEDERALLY –FUNDED PROGAMS
Federal Pell Grants
 Federal Supplemental Educational
Opportunity Grants
 Federal Work-Study
 Federal Perkins Loans
 Federal Stafford Loans
 Federal Loans to Undergraduate
Students
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STATE FUNDED PROGRAMS
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Virginia College Scholarship Assistance
Program (CSAP)
VA Scholars Program (Merit Based)
VA Tuition Assistance Program (TAG)
VA Transfer Grant Program (VTGP)
VA Work Study Program
Last Dollar
Paul Douglas Teacher Scholarship
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RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING
CORPS (ROTC) SCHOLARSHIP

Offered by Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force
 One- to four-year scholarships available
 Pays for tuition, books, fees and a monthly
allowance
 Obligation of service, some of which may be
active duty (4 Years Active/ 4 Reserve)
 Highly competitive
 Applications available from recruiters on line in
spring of junior year
 Interview required
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COOPERATIVE EDUCATION

Combines formal studies with an off-campus job
related to the major
 Emphasis placed on learning rather than work
(unlike college work-study)
 Offered at 2- and 4-year colleges
 Typically adds an additional year to the degree
program
 Money earned defrays college costs
 Can become a source of employment after
graduation
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APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE
FASTWEB.COM—BEGIN SEARCH
 CHECK DEADLINES
 O’CONNELL FIN. AID WORKSHOP
OCTOBER 2014
 COMPLETE FAFSA (Opens on
January 1, 2014)
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FINANCIAL AID CALENDAR
Apply Early. Apply Right.
There's no need to be intimidated by the prospect of
applying for financial aid.
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Summer Before Senior Year
Request college applications and financial aid information.
Organize all college materials into separate files by college.
You can use My College List on collegeboard.com to keep
track of deadlines and materials.
Keep a college calendar of all admissions and financial aid
deadlines.
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WHY VISIT COLLEGES
Seeing Beyond The Brochure
 Get Answers to Your Questions
 Assessing for a Good Fit
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CAMPUS VISITS
WHEN TO VISIT
How to Schedule Your Campus Visits
 During The Week
 The Best Seasons-Late Summer and
Early Fall
 After You Have Been Accepted
 When Not To Go –when campus is
deserted
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RECOMMENDED TIMELINES
June, July, August Activities 2013
Take advantage of summer break and visit
colleges on your child's list. Call ahead for
the campus tour schedule. Arrange to
meet with a financial aid representative.
Your child should (if necessary) schedule
an on-campus interview with the
admissions office.
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JUNE, JULY AUGUST ACTION ITEMS
END OF JUNIOR YEAR
Start the Common Application
www.commonapp.com
Self Advocacy Skills
 Organize, analyze and Apply
 Athletes –NCAA Eligibility Clearing
House: www.ncaaclearinghouse.net
 AP EXAM Results---July
 Register for fall SAT Tests
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Common Application
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WHAT IS THE COMMON APPLICATION?
The Common Application is a not-for-profit organization
that serves students and member institutions by providing
an admission application – online and in print – that
students may submit to any of our 346 members.
WHY USE IT?
Once completed online or in print, copies of the Application
for Undergraduate Admission can be sent to any number of
participating colleges. This allows you to spend less time
on the busywork of applying for admission, and more time
on what's really important: college research, visits, essay
writing, and senior year coursework.
Transcripts, letter of recommendation , school report form ,
and teacher evaluations sent hard copy by Bishop
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O’Connell.
NCAA ELIGIBILITY CENTER

Grade 11
– Register with the eligibility center.
– After your junior year, have your high school guidance
counselor send a copy of your transcript. If you have
attended any other high schools, make sure a transcript
is sent to the eligibility center from each high school.
– When taking the ACT or SAT, request test scores to be
sent to the eligibility center (the code is "9999").
– Begin your amateurism questionnaire.
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NCAA ELIGIBILITY CENTER

Grade 12
– When taking the ACT or SAT, request test scores to be
sent to the eligibility center (the code is "9999").
– Complete amateurism questionnaire and sign the final
authorization signature online on or after April 1 if you
are expecting to enroll in college in the fall semester. (If
you are expecting to enroll for spring semester, sign the
final authorization signature on or after October 1 of the
year prior to enrollment.)
– Have your high school guidance counselor send a final
transcript with proof of graduation to the eligibility
center.
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O’CONNELL ENGLISH DEPARTMENTCOLLEGE ESSAY UNIT OF STUDY
Unit on College Essay Writing Taught
in September/October
 Students Write Essays-Select From
Common Application or University
 One on One with Their English
Teacher to Finalize Essay
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COLLEGE ESSAY TIPS

So what advice can I give to a stressed essayist?
Remember the cardinal rule of writing an application essay:
Your reader should know you better after reading your
work. It’s important to keep in mind that you are the star of
your essay, so be sure to involve yourself in your topic.
Make sure your topic is one you are passionate about;
“What I Did on my Summer Vacation” isn’t going to cut it.
Be creative. And most of all, be yourself.
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COLLEGE ESSAY TIPS
(CONTINUED)
Here are some other application essay do’s and don’ts.
Do’s
• Begin writing early in the process to give yourself time to revise.
• Write, rewrite and polish your essay.
• Show your essay to people whose opinion you value, but don’t have
parents or teachers craft your essay for you.
• Check your grammar—clear out any fragments, run-on sentences,
comma splices, split infinitives, etc.
• Be careful with spell check and use word processing for future cut and
paste.
• Be specific and descriptive.
• Vary your sentence structure. Avoid repetition of compound sentences
filled with prepositional phrases. Use simple, short sentences to give
power to important points.
• Show us your weaknesses as well as your strengths—they make you
uniquely you.
• Incorporate humor (with good taste). Make us laugh, and your essay will
stand out.
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COLLEGE ESSAY TIPS
(CONTINUED)

Don’t
• Avoid being wordy, overblown or flowery.
• Stay away from colloquial, folksy or overly
informal words such as “very,” “a lot,” “cool,”
“awesome” and “nice.”
• Avoid clichés, such as “…as American as apple
pie.”
• Don’t leave us hanging. Make sure there are no
ideas introduced without being fully discussed.
• Avoid using the same words over (and over and
over) again.
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NAVIANCE “FAMILY
CONNECTION”
http//connection.naviance.com/bishopoconnell
Registration Code
Students Received Training
(Data is based on O’Connell Students)
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SEPTEMBER 2013

Parents schedule conference with your
counselor
 Students meet with counselor to review
your listing of colleges.
 ACT Offered
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OCTOBER 2013
SAT , Subject Tests, or ACT
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Letter of recommendation writers should be given
plenty of time to meet application deadlines and
should be provided with stamped and addressed
envelopes.
SAT, Subject Tests, and ACT govern this month.
Early decision or early action candidates should
be sure to get all forms in as soon as possible.
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NOVEMBER 2013
November 1st and 15th Early Decision/Early Action suspense
Dates
 --SAT and, Subject Tests given this month
 --Your child should submit early decision and early action
applications on time. (Oct 25 DJO suspense Date)
 --Encourage your child to wrap up college essays no later than 30
August. You can help proofread essays for mistakes, but
remember that writing the essay is your child's responsibility. It
should reflect her voice, not yours.
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DECEMBER 2013

Stress that admissions offers are
contingent upon final grades.
 Early decision and early action responses
arrive this month.
 SAT, Subject Tests and ACT given this
month.
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APRIL 2014
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Only ACT given this month.
Most admissions decisions and financial aid award letters arrive this
month. Read each letter carefully, and take note of all reply deadlines.
Carefully compare financial awards.
Report decisions to counselor and submit copies of all scholarship
awards to the Counseling Department---specifically to your counselor.
Your child should make a final decision, and mail the enrollment form and
deposit check to the school she has selected before May 1 (the reply
deadline for most schools).
Remind your child to notify in writing each of the schools she will not be
attending so perhaps her place can be freed up for another student.
If your child is on the waiting list, have her contact the admissions office
and communicate continued interest in the college. Your child should
update them on her spring semester grades and activities, and request
next steps. Discuss letter of appeal with your counselor.
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MAY 2014
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Only SAT and Subject Tests given this month.
If your child is taking AP Exams this month, make
sure the AP Grade Report will be sent to the finalchoice college.
Encourage your child to study hard for final
exams. Admissions offers are contingent on your
child's final grades.
Your child should be sure to thank teachers,
coaches, and anyone else who completed
evaluations, wrote letters of recommendation, or
otherwise helped with college applications.
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JUNE 2014

SAT, Subject Tests and ACT given this
month. (Not at Bishop O’Connell)
 O'Connell will send a copy of the final
transcript to your child's college choice.
 If your child plans on competing in
Division I or Division II college
sports, copy of the final transcript must be
sent to the NCAA Initial Eligibility
Clearinghouse.
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JULY/AUGUST 2014
Make college travel plans. Book early
for the best prices.
 Finalize your child's housing plans.
 Shop together for items your child
will need in college.
 Make sure your child signs up for
first-year orientation.
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Websites and Resources

Our College Counseling website!
www.bishopoconnell.org

College Corner

College Board (www.collegeboard.com)

College Guide Books
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THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME OUT
ON SATURDAY MORNING TEAMNG UP
AS WE MOVE OUR YOUNG MEN AND
WOMEN FORWARD TO ACHIEVE THEIR
DREAM . LET US CLOSE WITH A
PRAYER.
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