Junior Parent Night
2/05/2015
Brett Levine, Director of Guidance
Sarah Mazak, Counselor
Nancy O’Brien, Counselor
Tonight’s Program
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60-75 minutes
PPT on Web site
Information rather than advice
Financial Aid not covered
Scholarships Covered at Sr. Parent night
Informal Q/ A up front at the end.
Milestone Dates
• Winter of Jr Year-Jr. 11th Grade Parent Night
• Winter of Jr Year-Jr Conference-Individual College
planning conference
• Spring Jr. Year: Junior Group Guidance: Teacher Recs
• Summer bet 11-12 grade- Mailing from Guidance
(nuts and bolts), Register on Commonapp.org
• Fall of Sr. Year-Sr. Parent-Application Processing info
• Fall of Sr. Year-Sr. Group Guidance
• Fall of Sr. Year-Sr.Conference-Individual Conference
Non-College Options
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Handled individually
Year off resources
Ranges from military to gap year
Advise to apply then defer
(GPA Binder)
Where the class of 2015 is applying:
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William Paterson U, U of Richmond (16)
U of Rhode Island, U of Vermont (17)
Loyola (19)
Montclair State , Scranton (20)
Northeastern (21)
Villanova (22)
Rutgers (24)
Fordham (26)
Most popular schools from class of 2014
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Lehigh, Scranton, Villanova (4)
Montclair State (6)
Delaware, Rutgers (7)
CCM (22)
But there is more…class of 2014
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Selective: Brown, Yale
Liberal Arts: Hobart WS, Amherst, Gettysburg
Big 10: Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan
Outside the box: Rice, Thomas College (Maine), Landmark
Service Academies: USNA, USMA
Virginia is for Dodgers (U of Mary Washington, William &
Mary, University of RIchmond, George Mason University,
James Madison, VPI)
The State of College
Admissions: (
From the 2013 State of College Admissions, State of 2014 delayed)
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• Colleges accept nearly 2/3 of applicants.
• At colleges with early decisions policies the gap in
acceptance rates edges up.
• Grades, HS curriculum, and test scores top factors.
• Average yield rate is 36.9%
• Private colleges (and smaller colleges) assigned
greater importance to subjective factors.
• More selective, more emphasis on SAT subject
scores.
Source: NACAC
How we stay informed
Counselors attend conferences, college tours
and local receptions to stay current and to
network with college representatives.
Upcoming Guidance Events
• Free Practice SAT, Tuesday, February 17
• College Admissions for first timers: Wednesday,
February 18, 5pm
• Understanding Family Connections, Monday, March 16
5pm.
• Topics in Selective College Admission, Monday, April
13, 7pm.
• Parent Information Session-College Process for LD
Students, April 22, 6:30pm.
Stay tuned for emails about upcoming college fairs.
Scheduling update for next year
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Done at the Jr Conference
Course rec day on Friday, February 6
5 core classes
Don’t forget 4th year of science is possible (Ecology, Astronomy, Forensics, Env
Science)
New tech elective: Engineering Design
Financial Literacy Requirement (summer school)
Humanities and (PS or CW or SF)
Curriculum guide on web site.
Resolve changes before end of the year. (IMPORTANT)
Summer assignments
Process
• A series of actions or steps taken in order to
achieve a particular end…..
• 8-9 month PROCESS of getting it done.
Preparing for the Jr. Conference
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Parent and student survey
Remind your child
Discuss courses ahead of time
Discuss the big questions ahead of time
The college search: Where do I start?
• Start by asking yourself, “What are the most
important criteria?”
• Variety of resources: Family Connections-web based
service designed specifically for students and parents
to help make decisions about colleges and careers,
college books like Fiske Guide to College, school’s
websites, MHS alum(huge resource available to us),
etc.
• Open Houses
• Use spring break to visit. Set up apt online.
• Start narrowing things down for the Fall
7 Components of the College
Application Process
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Application
Test scores
Essay
Transcript
Recommendations
HS Profile
• Supplemental Information
The Application
• On-line preferred by colleges
• Common app, school based app (Bucknell vs.
Rutgers)
• Create an account on common app over the
summer (after August 1, 2015)
• You send the application
Transcript
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Final Grades
Reporting rank is optional
The most important piece of the package
Answers the most important questions
Will have sr year schedule(currently enrolled
classes)
• We send mid-year transcript
• We send (electronically)
Standardized Testing
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SAT v ACT
When to take them
SAT subject exams
Score choice
Register on your own (collegeboard.com or act.org)
3rd greatest factor in admissions decisions.
Test optional
You send
The Essay
• Common app has generic essays for example
Recount an incident or time when you experienced
failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did
you learn?
• The essay matters at all schools that require an
essay.
• Common sense editing, language
• Our English teachers are great with editing
• 5th greatest factor in admission decisions.
• You send along with application, standardized test
and supplemental information
High School Profile
• 4-page standard high school document
• Tells about Madison HS and about Madison
• Gives colleges a snap- shot of test scores,
course offerings and college matriculations.
Helps them compare apples to apples
• Take a look on-line (Guidance, Profile on Left)
• We send (electronically)
Counselor Recommendation
• Counselor letter of recommendation.
• Answers the question, “Why you want this person as
a member of the campus community?”
• Can explain gaps in performance (sickness, injury,
etc.)
• Content should be discussed during the Jr./Sr.
Conference
• Sent in with secondary school report form
• We send (electronically)
Teacher Recommendation
• Answers the question, “What has this student
contributed in my class?”
• Most colleges want 1 but sometimes 2 or
NONE
• Ask teachers, follow up w/ e-mail (nuts and
bolts outlined in summer letter and sr.
conference)
• Student should give teachers a short
bio/resume
• We send (electronically)*
– *In most cases
Supplemental Info
• Portfolio (Art Students and Performing Arts
Audition)
• Additional letters of recommendations
(Church group, work experience,
volunteerism)
• Eligibility Center (NCAA.ORG) contact Mr.
Levine for more info
• Student is responsible for sending all of the
above.
Counselor Role
• Encourage students to find the right postsecondary match
• Provide emotional AND practical support
during the college process (keeping in mind
the academic component)
• Keep you informed & maintain open
communication
(parents/teachers/students/college admission
representatives)
• IT TAKES A VILLAGE
Parent Role
• Fill out Parent Brag Sheet and try to attend Jr
Conference
• TAKE YOUR CHILD ON COLLEGE VISITS AND OPEN
HOUSE TOURS
• Have an open and honest dialogue with your child
about college (finances, location, public vs. private,
etc.)
• Assist your child throughout the process
• Fill out appropriate financial aid forms
• Keep in contact with us about issues of concern
• “WATCH THEM FLY!”
What we need in order to do our part:
• 10 School days
• FERPA Release on Common app-then match
to FC
• Transcript request form
• Reviewed in detail at Sr. Parent Night
Family Connections
• Family Connections is our web based college
application program. If students need their
password or log in they should see someone
in guidance.
Public Service Announcement
• All male students, when they reach the age of
18, must register for the United States
Selective Service. Information about this can
be obtained by speaking to Mr. Levine or by
visiting https://www.sss.gov
• Girl’s Career/ Girl’s State/ Boys State
• Sign up for email
You know your children are growing up when
they stop asking you where they came from
and refuse to tell you where they’re going.
-P.J. O’Rourke