1. Junior Parent College Information Seminar

2. Agenda Welcome/Junior Year Perspective Guidance Seminar 11
Application Options
Standardized Testing
Resources
Counselor Statement
Timeline
Questions and discussion

3. Junior Year A year of exploration and self-evaluation.
“The most important year” can raise a lot of stress for your child.
Enjoy your child’s junior year. Parents can set the tone and reduce stress.
Don’t compare your student to siblings or peers.
Don’t make colleges the only topic of conversation!
Not a prize to be won, but a match to be made.

4. Guidance Seminar Roles and responsibilities
The college search process/finding a match
Overview of the Common Application
Standardized tests
College visits and interviewing
Essays
Resume/activity list
Letters of recommendation
Mock admissions committee

5. Understanding the Academic Profile
Transcript
Courses and levels
Looking ahead to senior year
GPA

6. Transcript

7. GPA Chart
This histogram represents the most recent distribution of weighted academic grade point averages which includes all 2.5 and 5.0 courses taken through the end of junior year. The individual student’s GPA is printed on the transcript. Only courses taken at Weston High School factor into the GPA.
Profile for Class of 2015 at the end of grade 11.
Number in Class: Number included in Chart: 169

8. Application Options/Considerations
Early Decision (ED)
Early Decision 2
Early Action (EA)
Early Action Single Choice/Restricted EA
Regular Decision
Rolling
* It is important to check college websites for accuracy on application options because there are often changes from year to year.

9. Standardized Testing
Test Dates Registration Deadlines SAT December 6, 2014 November 6, 2014 January 24, 2015 December 29, 2014 March 14, 2015 February 13, 2015 May 2, 2015 April 6, 2015 June 6, 2015 May 8, 2015 ACT December 13, 2014 November 7, 2014 February 7, 2015 January 9, 2015 April 18, 2015 March 13, 2015 June 14, 2015 May 8, 2015

10. Standardized Testing Security
Registration
Photo (head and shoulders only) must be submitted with registration
Photo will appear on admission ticket and school’s copy of score report
High School code is required ( )
Day of Test
Need to arrive with photo admission ticket and photo ID
Four point check of ID and admission ticket (College Board)
No switching is allowed between SAT and Subject Tests
Note that test center may refuse entry if photo is not recognizable or ID requirements are not met
Standby/Waitlist Testing
Students will not be able to show up and register for day-of standby testing; online requests for waitlist must be made (open up to 5 days before the test)
Changes to test center will not be permitted on the day of the test

11. Resources Princeton Review College Board / ACT / Common App / FairTest
College website  very important! Every college’s requirements are different.
Fiske Guide, Book of Majors and other books available in the guidance office, including those on arts schools, LD programs.
And of course, Naviance! To register for a parent account, contact Kira Wong at or Julia St. Jean at

12. Naviance: Log-in

13. Naviance: College Search

14. Naviance: My Colleges

15. Naviance: Graph

16. Counselor Statement
Based on the counselor’s personal relationship with the student, as well as:
Introspective Survey
Resume/Activity list (important to be current!)
Parent Brag Sheet
Peer Feedback Form
Discuss concerns with counselor
Letter is holistic

17. Timeline School Vacations  College visits
March-June  Standardized Testing (SAT & ACT)
June  Initial/ working list of prospective colleges
Summer  College visits, begin application essay, and open Common Application account
September  Guidance Seminar 12; update list of prospective colleges
Fall Senior Year  Standardized Testing (SAT & ACT), begin submitting early and rolling applications

18. Thank you… Keep lines of communication open Have fun with the search!
With your student
With the counselor
With teachers
Have fun with the search!