1. Junior Parent College Information Seminar November 2017

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. Other Paths College immediately after high school is not for everyone.
Gap Year/Semester
Dynamy
City Year
Internships/Travel/Service
Post-Grad Year
Resources
TeenLife.com, americangap.org, usagapyearfairs.org
boardingschoolreview.com
Consultants such as Center for Interim Programs
Often done concurrently with college applications

9. Standardized Testing
Test Dates Registration Deadlines SAT December 2, 2017 November 2, 2017 March 10, 2018 February 9, 2018 May 5, 2018 April 6, 2018 June 2, 2018 May 3, 2018 August 25, 2018 July 24, 2018 ACT December 9, 2017 November 3, 2017 February 10, 2018 January 12, 2018 April 14, 2018 March 9, 2018 June 9, 2018 May 4, 2018

10. 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 Katherine Miele at or Alison Sumski at

11. Naviance: Log-in

12. Naviance: College Search

13. Naviance: My Colleges

14. Naviance: Graph (Likely)

15. Naviance: Graph (Target)

16. Naviance: Graph (Reach)

17. 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 starting in the spring, so it is imperative these items are completed by the end of the 3rd quarter
Discuss concerns with counselor
Letter is holistic

18. 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

19. 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