1. Junior Parent College Information Seminar November 2016

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
Consider all options – Gap Year, PG year, Community College
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 application types (Common App, Coalition, Institution)
Standardized tests
College visits and interviewing
Essays
Resume/activity list
Letters of recommendation
Mock admissions committee

5. Transcript
Courses and levels
Looking ahead to senior year
GPA

6. 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.

7. 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 *

8. Standardized Testing
Test Dates Registration Deadlines SAT December 3, 2016 November 3, 2016 January 21, 2017 December 21, 2016 March 11, 2017 February 10, 2017 May 6, 2017 April 7, 2017 June 3, 2017 May 9, 2017 ACT December 10, 2016 November 4, 2016 February 11, 2017 January 13, 2017 April 8, 2017 March 3, 2017 June 10, 2017 May 5, 2017

9. Resources College Board / ACT / Common App / FairTest, etc.
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.
Financial aid – MEFA.org & net price calculators, link from Common App
And of course, Naviance! To register for a parent account, contact Geoff Baltera at or Tricia Donahue at

10. Naviance: Log-in

11. Naviance: College Search

12. Naviance: My Colleges

13. Naviance: Graph (Likely)

14. Naviance: Graph (Target)

15. Naviance: Graph (Reach)

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
Counselors will be working on drafts over the summer, so it is imperative these items are completed by the end of the 4th quarter
Discuss concerns with counselor
Letter is holistic

17. Suggested Timeline School Vacations  College visits
December – PSAT Scores will be available
March-June  Standardized Testing (SAT & ACT)
June  Initial/ working list of prospective colleges
Summer  College visits, begin application essay, open Common Application account, and great time to research scholarships
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