1. College Information Night for Juniors Thursday, December 8, 2016
Welcome
College Information Night for Juniors
Thursday, December 8, 2016

2. Agenda
College Information Night for Juniors Thursday, December 8, :30 PM– 8:15 PM 6:30pm-7pm Welcome and Opening Prayer - Shea Center Sonia Ryan, Director of College Counseling 7pm-8pm Guest Speaker: College Admission - Shea Center Eric Abrams, Director of Diversity Initiatives at University of California, Berkeley Haas School of Business 8pm-8:15pm Question & Answers - Shea Center Students and parents will have the opportunity to ask Ms. Ryan and Mr. Abrams clarification questions from their presentations.

3. What we do at Saint Mary’s
Host events like tonight and Coffee with the College Counselors each trimester.
Meeting with Ms. Ryan.
Planned A Block and Lasallian Day curriculum for juniors on essay writing, college searches, application preparation and completion, building the college list and Family Connection.
Host college representative visits in the fall of senior year.
Support student applications, public and private, through the process
Case Studies Program- Tuesday, April 25, 2016

4. Role of Students
Take charge of the process Be aware of dates and deadlines: last minute = poor outcomes Don’t assume someone else will do it for you READ the directions Don’t forget to use your family connection

5. Role of Parents Support, don’t manage the process
Be aware of dates, deadlines; let student do the work
Remind as appropriate
Communicate openly with student about financial considerations
Ask questions

6. Get Information
Books Internet College fairs College publications Representative visits to school Regional information events Campus visits Saint Mary’s web site Parent Newsletter

7. Begin to keep track of information
- that you check regularly -log-on or username -password -pin -“secret question”

8. Apply to a variety of Schools
6 to 10 schools is enough – do your research! Reach/“dream school” Target Safety Know yourself! If you do, you will resist the temptation to over-apply All should be schools that would be a good fit personally, socially, and academically

9. Golden Rule of College Applications
Never apply to a college whose offer of admission you would not happily accept.

10. And…The Family Connection!
Start at the Saint Mary’s home page:
Click on student life, then college counseling, go to link to the Family Connection
-or-
• Students create their own log in
• Parents may access The Family Connection as guests

12. Colleges are looking for students who are ready for college work
● Good grades in a strong curriculum through senior year
● Standardized test results*
● A life outside of the classroom
● Leadership
● Not necessarily “well-rounded”
*Remember some colleges are “test optional.”

13. The Tests – take them in junior year
Redesigned SAT Reasoning Test or
ACT
some students take both; the highest score is used by colleges
SAT Subject Tests
(required by highly selective schools)
PSAT 2016 RESULT VIA TO ALL STUDENTS ON DECEMBER 12.

14. Advice from seniors to juniors
Apply to fewer colleges
Apply to more schools
Do things earlier – not wait until the last minute; put in more effort
Manage my time better/make a schedule for my time
Research colleges better; include private schools
Take tests earlier/not have to take them in fall at all
Spend more time on essay
If only I knew what I know now!