The American School in London Resource Guide
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The American School in London Resource Guide A publication of the academic advising and college counseling office Table of Contents 2016–2017 Resource Guide Office information and contacts ....................................................................................... 2 Overview of the college counseling schedule .................................................................. 4 Dates for standardized testing .......................................................................................... 7 Researching U.S. colleges and universities...................................................................... 8 Tools for the college search ........................................................................................... 13 Campus tours, information sessions and interviews ...................................................... 17 Summer .......................................................................................................................... 24 Standardized testing ....................................................................................................... 26 The application ............................................................................................................... 35 The essay ........................................................................................................................ 41 College decisions ........................................................................................................... 49 Financing college ........................................................................................................... 52 Athletic recruitment ....................................................................................................... 55 Visual and performing arts supplements ........................................................................ 58 Applying to Canadian universities ................................................................................. 60 Applying to universities in the U.K. .............................................................................. 61 Applying to other university systems ............................................................................. 67 Glossary ......................................................................................................................... 69 © The American School in London, 2016–17 1 Office information and contacts The American School in London Office of Academic Advising and College Counseling 1 Waverley Place London NW8 0NP Main Phone Number: +44 (0) 207 449 1200 Main Fax Number: +44 (0) 207 449 1351 CEEB Code: 724412 College Board Test Center Code: 57180 ACT Test Center Code: 874550 Director of Academic Advising and College Counseling Patty Strohm +44 (0) 207 449 1247 [email protected] College Counselors Ivan Hauck +44 (0) 207 449 1245 [email protected] Nicole Thompson +44 (0) 207 449 1246 [email protected] Testing Coordinator Luchano Bogdanov +44 (0) 207 449 2946 [email protected] Registrar Esther Cole +44 (0) 207 449 1348 [email protected] Administrative Assistant Sue Fox +44 (0) 207 449 1248 [email protected] 2 ACT 319-337-1270 www.actstudent.org ACT Service for Students with Disabilities 319-337-1510 www.act.org/aap/disab/ AP 888-225-5427 http://apstudent.collegeboard.org College Board Service for Students with Disabilities 609-771-7137 www.collegeboard.org/ssd/student/index.html PSAT 866-433-7728 www.collegeboard.org SAT 866-756-7346 www.collegeboard.org UCAS 0371-468-0468 www.ucas.com 3 Overview of the college counseling schedule For Grades 9 and 10 The focus of Grades 9 and 10 is on learning—academic and extracurricular exploration—rather than on college admissions. Too much emphasis on college during the first two years of high school distracts students from the most important tasks at hand: challenging themselves in their classes, developing their study habits, exploring their interests, finding new ones, and enjoying their high school years. The emphasis for students in Grades 9 and 10 should be on Taking solid academic courses at the appropriate level and doing their best in each class. Keep in mind that grades from these years are factored into a student’s cumulative grade-point average (GPA). Engaging fully in extracurricular activities, sports, and community service and taking on leadership roles. Trying out new activities and exploring new interests. Trying new things is a great adventure, and will help students learn about themselves and to grow and develop in important ways. Becoming comfortable interacting with their teachers, learning to be a positive self-advocate, and forming positive friendships with their peers. Reading—whether novels, poetry, plays, non-fiction or newspapers—students should be reading outside of school. This is probably the single best possible preparation for the demands of school, college and standardized tests. The Grades 9 and 10 advisors—with support from the grade-level deans—monitor student progress and assist students in making appropriate course selections. Through group presentations and individual meetings, grade-level deans and advisors will inform students and parents of the preparatory requirements for enrolling in advanced courses in the junior and senior years. When appropriate, sophomores may take SAT Subject Tests in certain areas, for example in math or a world language. Questions about readiness to take these tests should be directed to teachers in the appropriate subject area. All sophomores will have the opportunity to take the PSAT purely for practice in February 2017. The results— along with suggestions on ways to improve performance—will be discussed at both class and parent meetings. For Grade 11 Junior year is pivotal for many reasons. The most important is what happens in the classroom. In Grade 11, learning becomes more abstract and complex. Students start analyzing literature for deeper meaning, reading primary source documents in their history classes, grappling with more abstract scientific principles, writing analytical essays and lab reports, and performing complex mathematical equations. Outside of the classroom, many will be playing varsity sports, while others will be performing in plays or concerts. All juniors have opportunities to stretch themselves with a variety of leadership roles in the ASL community. 4 At the same time, students begin to plan more seriously for their college applications, and the formal college process begins in the second semester. Below are some highlights of what will be happening. Juniors take the PSAT in October. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation will use junior scores to determine which students will become Commended Scholars, Semi-Finalists, and Finalists in the National Merit Competition (only open to US citizens and permanent residents). Students are notified of their status in the fall of senior year. PSAT scores are useful in pointing out areas of relative academic strength and weakness. Juniors and their parents can learn more about individual colleges by attending the USA College Day, held in the fall and sponsored by the Fulbright Commission. This university and college fair, held on Friday and Saturday, 23 and 24 September, attracts more than 180 colleges and educational providers from across the United States. In October, college counselors hold an evening meeting for juniors and their parents, introducing the college process. Students are assigned to a particular college counselor at the start of the second semester. Individual student and family college counseling meetings begin during second semester of the student’s junior year. College counselors will discuss and then carefully review each junior’s course selections for senior year. During winter, February and spring breaks, many juniors begin visiting colleges, and more visit during the summer. Standardized testing includes the SAT in May or June; the ACT in April or June; AP exams in May; and SAT Subject Tests in May or June. Juniors will discuss their testing timetable with their counselors beginning in January. By the end of junior year, every student will have identified and researched colleges of interest to them; taken some relevant standardized tests; and worked with their college counselor to get a sense of how to develop a balanced list of schools, which will be finalized in the fall. For Grade 12 The college search is most involved during the senior year. The college counselors are committed to assisting students and parents throughout the process, helping to create a healthy home-school partnership. The college counselors work exclusively with the senior class during the fall, so that students have their counselors undivided attention as they complete all elements of their applications. In the fall, seniors and parents will meet with the college counselors to finalize their college lists and to develop a plan of action for their applications. This is when students decide about any early application plans and determine whether any further testing may be needed. Teachers and college counselors complete all recommendations in the fall. More than 100 college admissions representatives visit ASL each school year. See the section on College Representatives at ASL for more information. 5 In April, students receive their final admissions decisions and will choose where to enroll by the 1 May deposit deadline. In June, we honor the seniors at graduation. 6 Dates for standardized testing PSAT Grade 11: