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

2. Meet Your Counseling Team
Mr. Todd Dyer, Director of School Counseling –
Mr. Andrew Ellrod, School Counselor –
Mrs. Lissa Irvine, School Counselor –
Mrs. Laura Sullivan, School Counselor –
Ms. Heather Toyen, School Counselor –
Ms. King, School Counseling Secretary –

3. 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!

4. 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

5. 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

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

7. College Research Resources
AHS Counseling Website:
College websites
Naviance/Family Connection:
College Board Big Future:
Collegedata:
Fairtest:

8. 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

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

10. 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.

11. 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
Local Scholarships:
Avon Dollars for Scholars
Other community scholarships
Check Naviance for other scholarships

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

13. Feedback http://bit.do/CKNfeedbacksurvey
Please take a minute to fill out our survey to share your thoughts on the presentation: