The Bush School
January 15, 2014
This is NOT the point of tonight:
THIS is the point of tonight:
Tonight we will not:
 Get bogged down in details
 Get too far ahead of ourselves
And, we will definitely not:
 Get nervous about the college search process
 Get stressed out about the college search process
 Get tired of the college search process when it has only
just begun
Tonight, we will:
 Talk about upcoming meetings
 Provide a timeline
 Talk about each of our roles throughout this process
 Discuss basic elements of the college application
 Talk about campus visits and colleges coming to Bush
 Naviance
 Ask questions!
Student Meetings
 Students should have completed the ‘Junior College
Counseling Survey’ already.
 Students must contact Melissa or Alice to schedule
the first meeting, which lasts about 30 minutes.
 All of Melissa’s students (Aglion – Haseley + Tevlin)
need to set up a meeting ASAP that will take place
before January 31.
 Alice’s students (Hilton – Wyatt + Corff) must meet by
February 14.
Family Meetings (student, parents, Melissa, Alice)
 After completing the ‘Parent Survey’ on Naviance, and
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after your student has met with us individually, parents
contact Melissa and Alice to set up the first Family
Meeting.
Melissa’s families must meet her by February 5.
Alice’s families must meet her by March 15.
Family meetings last approx. 45 minutes.
During these first meetings, we work together to identify
the things that will be important throughout your college
search. No magic college list will be provided – instead,
we’ll work together to create a balanced, thoughtful, and
exciting list that will evolve throughout this entire
process!
JUNIOR YEAR TIMELINE
 Monday, January 27: Why STEM? Event with Dean
of NYU Admissions from 7-8:30pm in the
Community Room.
 Saturdays, February 1 and February 8: Free
practice SAT/ACT from 8:30am-1:00pm in the
Community Room. Stay tuned for registration
information.
 Monday, February 17 – Friday, February 21: Consider
visiting colleges during Mid-Winter Break. Let us know
during student and family meetings if you need advice!
 Monday, April 7 – Friday, April 11: Consider visiting
colleges during Spring Break.
JUNIOR YEAR TIMELINE, continued
 Saturday, April 26: Students & parents attend the
Seattle PNACAC College Fair from 12 – 3pm at the
Seattle University Connolly Center (Optional).
 Friday, May 2: Deadline to choose 2 academic teachers
to write letters of recommendation.
 Friday, May 2: Senior Speak (Students only) Lunch in
the Community Room.
 Tuesday, May 13: Students and parents attend the
College Admissions Panel for Juniors and Parents
from 7 – 8:30pm in the Community Room
(Mandatory).
JUNIOR YEAR TIMELINE, continued
 Wednesday, May 28: Senior Parent Panel for Junior
Parents from 7 - 8:30pm in the Community Room.
 Tuesday, June 3 and Wednesday, June 4: Senior
Projects Presentations from 1 - 3:30pm in Wissner
classrooms. Juniors and parents are invited to get a
sneak peek into Senior Projects for next year!
 Friday, June 13: Last day in the College Counseling
office before summer.
JUNIOR YEAR TIMELINE, continued
 Over the Summer…
 Consider taking the Summer College Essay
Writing class at Bush: (dates to be determined,
typically late July to mid-August.)
 Plan college visits! Make sure to call ahead and/or
book online in advance: summer is a very busy time
for colleges.
 Students create Common Application account on
August 1: www.commonapp.org.
 Attend Senior Sessions that focus on Naviance and
the Common Application: August 18-19 and 21-22,
10:00-11:30am, room TBD.
2013/2014 SAT & SAT SUBJECT TESTS
TEST DATE
REGISTRATION NOTES
DEADLINE
Saturday,
January 25
December 27
Students studying abroad in the spring take
the SAT for the 1st time.
Saturday, March 8 February 7
Most juniors take the SAT for the 1st time.
Saturday, May 3
April 4
Juniors who did not take the SAT for the 1st
time in March, take the SAT for the 1st time.
Saturday, June 7
May 9
Some students take Subject Tests at end of a
yearlong course! SAT also available.
Saturday,
October 11
N/A
Seniors re-take the SAT (unless they have
chosen to re-take the ACT).
Saturday,
November 8
N/A
SAT and Subject Tests
Saturday,
December 6
N/A
Last chance to take SAT or Subject Tests for
Regular Decision.
SAT & SAT SUBJECT TEST INFORMATION
 Students cannot take the SAT and SAT Subject Tests on the
same test date – must choose one or the other!
 You can take up to 3 SAT Subject Tests on one test date
(most schools that require the submission of Subject Tests
ask to see 2).
 October and November test scores count in time for Early
Decision/Early Action at most schools.
 Students must create an account with the College Board to
register for the SAT and SAT Subject Tests:
www.collegeboard.com
 Fees:
 SAT = $51/test.
 SAT Subject Tests: $24.50 for 1 test + $13 for each additional
test (with the exception of language tests + listening =
additional $24).
2014 ACT DATES
TEST DATE
REGISTRATION
DEADLINE
NOTES
Saturday, February 8
January 10
Students can take the ACT for the 1st
time
Saturday, April 12
March 7
Most juniors take the ACT for the
first time
Saturday, June 14
May 9
Students who did not take the ACT
in April, take the ACT for the 1st time
Saturday, September 13
N/A
Seniors re-take the ACT (unless they
have chosen to re-take the SAT).
Saturday, October 25
N/A
Saturday, December 13
N/A
Last chance to take the ACT for
Regular Decision
ACT INFORMATION
 Always register for the ACT With Writing!!!
 September and October test scores will count in time for
students applying Early Decision/ Early Action.
 The ACT is not part of the College Board. Students
must create an account with ACT to register for the
exam: http://www.actstudent.org/index.html
 Fees:
 ACT with Writing = $52.50/test.
AP EXAMS
 Week 1: May 5 – 9, 2014 (AMP Week):
 Monday, May 5: Chemistry, Environmental Science
(am)/ Psychology (pm)
 Tuesday, May 6: Computer Science, Spanish Language
(am) / Art History (pm)
 Wednesday, May 7: Calc AB, Calc BC (am) / Chinese
Language & Culture (pm)
 Thursday, May 8: English Lit and Comp (am) /
Japanese Language & Culture, Latin (pm)
 Friday, May 9: English Language and Comp (am)/
Statistics (pm)
AP EXAMS
 Week 2: May 12 –16, 2014
 Monday, 5/12: Biology , Music Theory (am) / Physics
(pm)
 Tuesday, 5/13: US Government and Politics, (am) /
French Language &Culture, Human Geography (pm)
 Wednesday, 5/14: German Language & Culture, US
History (am) / European History (pm)
 Thursday, 5/15: Macroeconomics , World History (am)
/ Microeconomics, Italian Language & Culture (pm)
 Friday, 5/16: Comparative Government and Politics,
Spanish Literature (am)
AP LATE TESTING 2014
 May 21 –23, 2014
 Wednesday, 5/21 (am): German Language & Culture,
Macroeconomics, Music Theory, Statistics, U.S. Government
and Politics, U.S. History
 Wednesday, 5/21 (pm): Comparative Government & Politics,
English Language & Composition, Environmental Science,
French Language & Culture, Microeconomics, World History
 Thursday, 5/22 (am): Art History, Calculus AB, Calculus BC,
Computer Science A
 Thursday 5/22 (pm): Chemistry, Chinese Language &
Culture, European History, Human Geography, Spanish
Language & Culture
 Friday, 5/23 (am): English Literature & Composition, Italian
Language & Culture, Japanese Language & Culture, Physics B,
Psychology
 Friday 5/23 (pm): Biology, Latin, Physics C, Spanish
Literature & Culture, Physics C
AP TESTING INFORMATION
 All AP exams take place at The Bush School and are
completely optional.
 Students register for AP exams through Bush in late
February/early March.
 Late testing is only permitted due to unavoidable conflicts,
such as off-campus AMPs during AMP week.
 Fees:
 Each AP Test = $89.00/test.
 Extra fee for Late Testing = $45.00/test
NOTES ON STANDARDIZED TESTING
 It is always the student’s responsibility to stay on top
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of test registration dates and to register for exams.
Also student’s responsibility to send test results to your
schools next fall – College Counseling never sends test
scores to colleges.
Register early! Late registration results in extra fees,
having to take tests at locations far from your house, and at
the worst, test centers reaching maximum capacity.
With the exception of the PSAT and AP exams, no
standardized tests take place at The Bush School.
Bush School CEEB Code needed to register: 481085
Please see Melissa & Alice for info on fee waivers!
Enough about testing…
OUR ROLES THROUGHOUT THE COLLEGE
SEARCH PROCESS
STUDENTS:
 Always, always, always: BE YOURSELF.
 Lead the process:
 Be responsible
 Be organized
 Be excited
 Keep an open mind.
 Use common sense and observe ethical guidelines.
 Be sensitive to your community and peers.
STUDENTS CONTINUED…
 Know your interests, abilities, passions, goals,
personality, and learning style.
 Know that there are hundreds of colleges out there
and take your time in building a thoughtful list of
options.
 Take advantage of the opportunities that surround
you (Seattle Area Independent School College Fair –
next Fall, college rep visits to Bush, Bush alums…).
 In the end, choose the school that feels like the best fit!
Roles continued…
PARENTS:
 Be a sounding board and help your student with
important decisions
 Remember your student’s college search is not ‘our
college search’
 Communicate and ask questions
 Be calm
 Help to organize campus visits
 Plan ahead for financial aid and scholarships
 Celebrate and be proud!
THE COLLEGE COUNSELING OFFICE (Melissa & Alice):
 Know the student and know the family.
 Know the colleges.
 Help you to think outside of the box and explore
options you might not have thought of on your
own.
 Be accessible!
 Organize the process:
 Keep students focused and aware of deadlines
 Make sure colleges understand The Bush School
curriculum and spirit
 Prompt submission of all counselor & teacher materials
BASIC ELEMENTS OF THE APPLICATION
 Transcript & Course Selection:
 In almost all cases, the most important piece of the
college application.
 An upward trend is always a good thing
 Junior and Senior years are important!
 Colleges are looking at rigor of curriculum and grades
within the context of The Bush School curriculum
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School Profile: Goes out with all counselor packets in the fall
to explain our grading system and experience education
philosophy.
BASIC ELEMENTS OF THE APPLICATION, continued
Standardized Test Scores:
 Colleges treat the SAT and ACT equally – take both
exams junior year to see which one suits you best!
 Some schools don’t require any testing! Visit
www.fairtest.org for a list of test-optional colleges.
 Some, but not all, schools require SAT Subject Tests.
Note: Melissa & Alice will counsel students individually
about whether or not it makes sense to take Subject
Tests – often best to take them at the end of a yearlong
advanced course, ie: Advanced Chemistry. More schools
are giving students the option of taking the SAT and 2
Subjects Tests OR the ACT.
BASIC ELEMENTS OF THE APPLICATION, continued
 Letters of Recommendation:
 Most schools require 2 from academic teachers.
 Must come from teachers in 2 different subject areas
who have preferably taught you junior and/or senior
year (there may be exceptions to this rule).
 Teachers you choose should know you both in and
outside of the classroom (Do you have a teacher who
has also been your advisor or led you in an AMP?).
 Students must ask 2 teachers to write college letters of
recommendation by Friday, May 2, 2014. You will then
follow up with official forms provided by the College
Counseling Office during the fall of senior year after
creating your Final College List with Melissa & Alice.
BASIC ELEMENTS OF THE APPLICATION, continued
 Extracurricular Activities
 Quality over quantity!
 Colleges are looking to see what you might bring and/or
add to their campus community.
 Leadership and consistency are important.
 Think about Bush and non-Bush involvement.
 Should I do community service?
 Summers
 Jobs and family responsibilities count!
 Passions that do not lend themselves to leadership or
organized activities can also be important (e.g. selftaught foreign or computer languages)
BASIC ELEMENTS OF THE APPLICATION, continued
 The Essay:
 Be Personal: Different from a typical academic paper.
 Be Yourself: Authenticity is crucial. Would a friend or
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family member recognize it in a stack and say, Yes, this
is absolutely you?
Be Thoughtful: Not just what you did, but why.
Be Specific: Details make an essay vivid and
memorable.
Be Careful: Proofread! Does it flow? Did you spell the
name of the school correctly? Your name? Is it the
right school?
Be Creative and Have FUN: more often than not, the
best college essays don’t sound ‘college essay-y’
2012/2013 Common Application
Essay Questions (choose 1)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Some students have a background or story that is so central to their
identity that they believe their application would be incomplete
without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How
did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?
Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What
prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?
Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content.
What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to
you?
Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that
marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your
culture, community, or family.
BASIC ELEMENTS OF THE APPLICATION, continued
 Interviews:
 Not required at most schools but if available,
good to do.
 On-campus v. local alumni interviews
 Most interviews take place with alums and
admissions reps in Seattle during the fall/winter
of senior year.
 Interview Workshop in early October 2014.
Campus Visits & Visits to Bush
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Junior Year: Mid-Winter & Spring Break
Summer between Junior and Senior years
Senior Year: Thanksgiving Break, in-service days for local visits
On-Campus Opportunities:
 Information Sessions
 Campus Tours
 Overnight Visit in a dorm with a current student (next fall)
 Class Visits
 Open House programs
 Interviews (summer & next fall/winter)
 Make the most of your visit – talk to as many people as you
can and explore the surrounding neighborhood!
Campus Visits & Visits to Bush, continued
 Check admissions websites and register for information
sessions and campus tours in advance of your visits!
 Check in with Melissa and Alice about open house
programs and local events in the Seattle area
 College Visits to Bush:
 September through early December.
 College reps who visit Bush are the people who will first-
read your applications – important to make these
contacts!
 Over 130 visitors to Bush this year!
Campus Visits & Visits to Bush: What To Do
At Bush and on college campuses:
 Choose a variety of schools to visit—geography,
size, campus culture, acceptance rates. It helps to
narrow things down. And you might be surprised.
 Visit “reach” schools and great options for
“possible” and “likely” schools.
 Try to figure out what is truly unique about each
school. Ask students why they chose to attend,
why faculty/admissions reps chose to work there.
Campus Visits & Visits to Bush: What To Do
 Strike up casual conversations with multiple
students on campus, not just the tour guides, but
not only one random student, either.
 If you’re interested in any particular majors, visit
the department. You never know what professor or
student might be willing to answer questions.
 Realize that visits during the academic year will
give different information than when class is not in
session.
 Take photos and keep notes—they run together
after a while!
Campus Visits & Visits to Bush:
Why They Matter
 You get to learn what is unique about the
school
 You get a sense of the “vibe”
 The admissions rep gets to know you and
Bush better
 You demonstrate interest.
So you can’t visit campus…That’s okay too!
Other ways to learn about a school and
demonstrate interest
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Come to the visits at Bush
Go to the college fairs, especially the SAIS
Talk to Bush alums—see Melissa and Alice for contact info
The Fiske Guide…really!
College websites: However, don’t judge a school merely by
an outdated circa 2003 website!
 College guide websites—with a BIG caveat: Some
interesting information can be found here, especially about
a school’s culture and overlap schools. But a lot of rumor
mongering and panic are also traded. Read with a
CRITICAL eye and judge for yourself!
NAVIANCE/FAMILY CONNECTION
Naviance/Family Connection website:
https://connection.naviance.com/bush
You can also link to Naviance from the Junior/Senior
Portal on The Bush School College Counseling website:
https://www.bush.edu/CollegeCounseling.
 “Colleges I’m Thinking About” page (deadlines, early,
Common Application, etc.)
 College Match
 Graphs/Scattergrams
IMPORTANT CONTACTS
 Melissa Lanctot, Director of College Counseling
 melissa.lanctot@bush.edu
 P: 206.326.7758
 F: 206.838.8998
 Alice Huang, Associate Director of College Counseling
 alice.huang@bush.edu
 P: 206.838.8996
Bush College Counseling:
https://www.bush.edu/CollegeCounseling
CEEB Code: 481085