COLLEGE KNOWLEDGE NIGHT Avon High School Counseling Department December 5, 2018

Meet Your Counseling Team Mr. Todd Dyer, Director of School Counseling – tdyer@avon.k12.ct.us Mr. Andrew Ellrod, School Counselor – aellrod@avon.k12.ct.us Mrs. Lissa Irvine, School Counselor – lirvine@avon.k12.ct.us Mrs. Laura Sullivan, School Counselor – lsullivan@avon.k12.ct.us Ms. Heather Toyen, School Counselor – htoyen@avon.k12.ct.us Ms. King, School Counseling Secretary – jking@avon.k12.ct.us

Self-Assessment It’s time to reflect on who you are, what you value, and all that you have achieved. Let this reflective exercise be the start of an exciting future Important factors to consider: Do I understand my academic profile: Grades 9-11 academic performance, GPA, PSAT (SAT?) scores, specific areas of focus (electives in math/science vs. humanities or technology vs. art track) What have I enjoyed about high school: specific classes, activities, living in Avon, etc. AND what have I NOT enjoyed about high school? What environments will set me up for success? Small classes, large classes, access to resources, specific activities and opportunities (art, technology, music, leadership, athletics, etc) So much more about who you are and how to generate your college list can be discussed with your counselor. This assessment will help to generate ideas for your college essay as well!

Individualized Process The more we see you, the better we know you! Meeting with your counselor Students can make an appointment with Google calendar or by stopping in to see Ms. King Junior Planning Meetings Families are encouraged to attend Beginning on December 10 Contact Ms. King to schedule an appointment

The College Search: Learn About Schools/Use Your School Counseling Resources Visit as many schools as you can - a campus visit makes all of this discussion come alive. During school vacations, family vacations, weekends, etc. Avon Annual College Fair April 1, 2019 at 6:30PM College Rep Visits at AHS Approximately 170 schools visit throughout the year Posted in Naviance – add schools to your list to get notifications List of schools posted weekly in the office and announced daily Reps that visit are often the reps that read AHS applications

Building Your List of Schools: Finding The Right Fit Academic Social Financial Use Naviance Junior Planning Timeline Junior Questionnaire Gameplan Survey

College Research Resources AHS Counseling Website: https://www.avon.k12.ct.us/ahs-home/school-counseling College websites Naviance/Family Connection: https://student.naviance.com/avon College Board Big Future: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org Collegedata: https://www.collegedata.com Fairtest: https://www.fairtest.org

Where Do AHS Students Go? For the Class of 2018: 86% went to a 4 year school 9% went to a 2 year school 5% chose a gap year, the military, or the workforce For the Class of 2019: 75% have applied as of today 1154 Regular Decision Applications 373 Early Action Applications 38 Early Decision Applications 78 Priority Applications 48 Rolling Applications

Naviance: Family Connection College Research – Scattergrams Test Preparation Career and Personality Inventories Resume Builder Surveys: Junior Questionnaire Gameplan Survey Class Planner

Standardized Testing All juniors will take the CT School Day SAT on March 27, 2019 If you have completed Algebra II: Think about an early spring test (March SAT, April ACT) *Students enrolled in Honors or AP Biology and Honors Algebra II or Pre-Calculus may want to consider a subject test in math and/or biology in May or June If you have not completed Algebra II: Think about a late spring test (May or June SAT, June or July ACT) What if I don’t do well? Test optional/test flexible schools Concordance charts Fairtest.org Students are responsible for sending individual test scores to colleges. The School Counseling Office does NOT send score reports.

Financial Aid AHS School Counseling Department will host our annual Financial Aid Night in Fall 2019 Net Price Calculators Fafsa.ed.gov CSS Profile: Private Colleges www.fastweb.com Local Scholarships: Avon Dollars for Scholars www.avon.dollarsforscholars.org Other community scholarships Check Naviance for other scholarships

College Panel Maddie Brodeur, Northeastern University Brianne Ellis, Hobart & William Smith Colleges Jayson Hodge, University of Connecticut Peter Wilson, University of Chicago

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