Germantown Academy's College Counseling Handbook for the Class
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GERMANTOWN ACADEMY’S COLLEGE COUNSELING HANDBOOK FOR THE CLASS OF 2018 -COLLEGE COUNSELING TEAM DIRECTORY- DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE COUNSELING – KAREN A. MASON [email protected] 267-405-7268 ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE COUNSELING - SUSAN MERRILL [email protected] 267-405-7266 ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE COUNSELING – KENDRA GRINNAGE [email protected] 267-405-7384 COLLEGE COUNSELOR – DANIEL ST. JEAN [email protected] 267-405-7507 COLLEGE COUNSELING OFFICE ASSISTANT – VIRGINIA (GINNY) ALLENSON [email protected] 267-405-7254 -LOCATION OF COLLEGE COUNSELING OFFICE – The College Counseling Office is located on the first floor of the Upper School Building (340 Morris Road, Fort Washington, PA 19034) adjacent to the Head of Upper School’s Office. Phone and Fax Number - 267.405.7254 -HOW TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH YOUR COLLEGE COUNSELOR- Email or stop by to see Mrs. Allenson, the College Counseling Office Assistant, to schedule with all counselors except Mr. St. Jean (contact him directly). If emailing, please indicate when you have frees during the school day or if you are available after school. Email: [email protected]. If stopping by, bring your planbook. -COLLEGE COUNSELING WEBSITE- http://www.germantownacademy.net/academics/college-counseling/index.aspx Consult the website for the most up-to-date information about college counseling events and links to helpful websites for the college search and application processes. -GA’S NAVIANCE FAMILY CONNECTION WEBSITE- http://connection.naviance.com/germantownacad • If you need your password reset, see Mrs. Allenson. -GERMANTOWN ACADEMY’S CEEB CODE- 393321 1 -TABLE OF CONTENTS- COLLEGE COUNSELING CALENDAR OF EVENTS 3 OPTIMAL COLLEGE VISIT DAYS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR 3 GA’S COLLEGE COUNSELING PHILOSOPHY 4 THE ROLE OF YOUR COLLEGE COUNSELOR IN YOUR SENIOR YEAR 4 CLASS OF 2018 “TO DO” LIST FOR APPLYING TO COLLEGE 5 SENIOR RETREAT TASKS 8 CREATING A STRONG COLLEGE APPLICATION LIST 11 ASSESSING CHANCES FOR ADMISSION 13 WAYS TO APPLY 14 COLLEGE APPLICATION FORMS 15 CHEAT SHEET FOR THE COMMON APPLICATION 17 THE PROCESS OF APPLYING TO COLLEGE 21 WHEN TO APPLY 22 REQUESTING TRANSCRIPTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM GA 22 WHAT COLLEGE COUNSELING SENDS TO COLLEGES 25 REQUESTING TEST SCORES FROM THE TESTING AGENCY 25 HOW TO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS 27 WHAT TO DO AFTER YOU APPLY TO COLLEGE 28 FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIPS 30 NET PRICE CALCULATOR 31 CSS PROFILE 32 OUTSIDE SCHOLARSHIPS 35 APPENDICES APPENDIX A – SAT – ACT CONCORDANCE (COMPARE YOUR SCORES) 58 APPENDIX B – SCHOOLS REQUIRING/RECOMMENDING SUBJECT TESTS 59 APPENDIX C- STANDARDIZED TESTING OPTIONAL COLLEGES 65 APPENDIX D– COLLEGES OFFERING EARLY ACTION PLANS 68 APPENDIX E– COLLEGES OFFERING EARLY DECISION PLANS 77 APPENDIX F – ADMISSION AND FINANCIAL AID TERMS AND DEFINITIONS 83 APPENDIX G – ADVICE FOR PROSPECTIVE COLLEGE ATHLETES 86 APPENDIX H – ATHLETIC RECRUITMENT TIMETABLES & DEADLINES 88 APPENDIX I - COMMON APPLICATION DEADLINES AND REQUIREMENTS CHART 92 2 -2017 – 2018 COLLEGE COUNSELING CALENDAR OF EVENTS- -Coffee with College Counseling - Events Open to all Upper School Parents- Thursday, October 5, 2017, 8:30 am Thursday, December 7th, 6:30 pm Thursday, February 8th, 8:30 am Thursday, April 19th, 8:30 am All Coffees Held in the MCR -College Counseling Senior and Senior Parent Events- Senior Retreat September 5 See Senior Letter Senior Parents College Counseling Meeting September 7, 7:00 pm Honickman Auditorium Financial Aid Information Night (11th and 12th) November 16, 7:00 pm Honickman Auditorium Presentation by Christopher Gruber, Vice President and Dean of Admission, Davidson College Alumni College Panel for GA Students January 4, 1:30 pm Honickman Auditorium Alumni College Panel for Parents January 4, 7:00 pm Honickman Auditorium Senior Parent Celebration May 9, 5:30 pm Korman Family Pavilion SAT/Subject Test Dates for 2017 – 2018 (Register at www.collegeboard.com) Test Date* Registration Deadline Late Registration Deadline (+ $29.00) August 26, 2017 (NEW) July 28, 2017 August 15, 2017 October 7, 2017 September 8, 2017 September 27, 2017 November 4, 2017 October 5, 2017 October 25, 2017 December 2, 2017 November 2, 2017 November 21, 2017 *Both the SAT and Subject Test are offered on all dates except March 10th. Students can register for either the SAT or Subject Test(s) on a given date. SAT Fee = $46.00. With Essay = $60.00; Subject Tests Fee = $26.00 basic fee + $21.00 for each test. Fee waivers are available from College Counseling for eligible students. ACT Test Dates for 2017 – 2018 (Register at www.act.org) - TI-Nspire CAC is prohibited by ACT Test Date Registration Deadline Late Registration Period (Not administered at GA) ($58.50 for ACT Plus Writing) (Additional $27.50) September 9, 2017 August 4, 2017 August 18, 2017 October 28, 2017 September 22, 2017 October 6, 2017 December 9, 2017 November 3, 2017 November 17, 2017 AP Exams for 2018 (Register at school in April) May 7, 2018 – May 18, 2018 Each AP Exam Fee is $94.00 Optimal College Visits Days during the 2017-2018 School Year (GA’s Upper School does not have classes on these days) § Friday, October 6, 2017 – Monday, October 9, 2017 (Columbus Day) Extremely popular campus visit days; make reservations well in advance § Friday, October 27, 2017 (Comment Writing Day for Faculty) § Friday, November 17, 2017 (Parent-Teacher Conferences) Mock ACT (by Kaplan Test Prep) held at GA at 9:00 am § Monday, November 30, 2015 (Monday after Thanksgiving; in-service day for faculty) 3 -GA’S COLLEGE COUNSELING PHILOSOPHY- As an independent college preparatory school, Germantown Academy celebrates the learning process in all dimensions of campus life from the “Harkness” classroom to the state-of- the-art lab and from the turf lacrosse field to the performing arts stage. The belief that educating the “whole” student best prepares for college and for life informs each student’s daily experience at GA. Each academic challenge, intellectual risk, new extracurricular undertaking, or commitment to lead stretches students and develops rich layers to their personalities. When students have made the most of their time at GA, they can then in turn present their “best selves” to colleges. Finding the “right” college no longer becomes the culmination of the high school experience if it is a part of the journey through high school itself. And, it should be a dimension of that educational journey. It is not a finale, an end. The college search stretches students to reflect on themselves (to identify colleges that may be good matches and to write essays that capture their essence) to test their newly developing decision-making skills (to decide on where to visit, where to apply, and eventually where to attend), to navigate the research tools of the college search process, and to ultimately envision a new milieu where they will be able to continue to grow academically, socially, and personally. Too often today, both students and parents focus only on the end, college as the destination, but at GA we challenge students to view the college search as an educational voyage inward that will eventually lead them to a campus community where they can continue that journey. Suddenly, the college search no longer becomes about “the name,” “the bumper sticker,” or the “sweatshirt,” but about a process that will lead students to a place that will nurture who they are and who they want to become. The College Counseling team wants to help you find that college – the one that will accelerate your growth, help you discover new passions, and equip you with the skills and knowledge to navigate an ever-changing world. To us, it’s not about the list; it’s about you! THE ROLE OF YOUR COLLEGE COUNSELOR IN YOUR SENIOR YEAR As a sophomore and junior, you may have met with your college counselor a couple of times. You got to know each other a bit, your counselor suggested colleges to explore, standardized tests to take, and courses to complete your schedule. This year that relationship should grow exponentially because your college counselor is the professional who can help you determine where and how to apply to college and ensure that your applications reflect your best self. GA’s College Counseling team wants you to take full advantage of all of the services our office offers. We are here for you and your parents! Counselors and seniors must work together on all of the following tasks: • Assuring that your counselor knows you well so that s/he can advocate for you by crafting a compelling letter of recommendation. • Refining your college list to ensure it is balanced with likelies, possibles, and reaches. 4 • Determining how you will apply and strategizing about the best use of an Early Decision, when appropriate. • Helping you to include financial likelies if cost is a concern, guiding you on which colleges award merit aid and which need-based. • Answering questions as you complete applications. • Reviewing essays and applications (see process for having an essay reviewed). • Showing you how to request transcripts, send your standardized test scores, submit your applications, etc. • Re-evaluating your college list after the early round. • Helping you decide which college to attend in the spring (if you are not committed to a college previously). • Advising student athletes on how to interpret conversations with coaches and register with the Initial Eligibility Center. • Assisting performing and visual artists with uploading portfolios and navigating through audition and portfolio review processes. • Helping you understand and compare financial aid packages. • Meeting with you, and your parents too, as often as needed. • Answering your parents’ questions and communicating with your parents. We are all in this together. If we could ask one thing of both students and parents, that would be, if you have a question, ask it.