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Counseling College Planning Guide

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Counseling College Planning Guide Counseling College Planning Guide 1 Dear Students and Parents: We are pleased to present you with our College Planning Guide. It is specific to Bishop O’Dowd with references to our Family Connection/Naviance account, and to the way we work with and advise our students. Providing a wealth of information, we hope this manual will guide you through the complex maze that is college admissions today. We work closely with our students and guide them through every step of the college process, including helping you and your student through the maze of financial aid. Please use this guide, and us, as your primary resources. While we acknowledge there are many other sources you might access to help you, we ask that you start here and stay in close contact with your counselor. While we feel our entire guide should be read closely and carefully, there are two sections to which we would like our Seniors to give special attention. The section titled “Important Deadlines” is critical to making the process run smoothly. Please meet them! Please also pay particular attention to the section titled, “Writing Your College Applications.” Included are our detailed instructions on the counselor and teacher recommendations. Your attention to these details will help make this process run smoothly both for yourself and for the counselors and teachers. From now until you graduate, we will be referring to this guide many times as we meet with you throughout the junior and senior years. Please become familiar with it – the information is thorough, and many of your questions can be easily answered in the guide. In fact, we will often refer you to the guide. You will find this to be an exciting and joyous time that may occasionally cause you anxiety and self-doubt. This is also a time for self-discovery, a time to deeply explore who you are. You can relieve much of the anxiety if you read all your materials carefully, observe deadlines, and organize yourself early. And take a deep breath! Work to the best of your abilities in all your classes and you should have no regrets. Enjoy these final months of high school by making the most of your time here. Wishing you well, Bishop O’Dowd Counseling Department 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page COLLEGE PLANNING FOR SOPHOMORE YEAR………………………………………………………...............3 COLLEGE PLANNING FOR JUNIOR YEAR .............................................................................................................4 COLLEGE PLANNING FOR SENIOR YEAR .............................................................................................................7 DATES TO REMEMBER ................................................................................................................................................9 GOOD ADVICE TO KEEP IN MIND .............................................................................................................................11 IMPORTANT DEADLINES ........................................................................................................................................12 TESTING PROGRAMS FOR COLLEGE ADMISSIONS .........................................................................................13 PSAT/NMSQT .........................................................................................................................................................13 ACT ..........................................................................................................................................................................13 COLLEGE BOARD EXAMINATIONS (SAT REASONING AND SAT SUBJECT TESTS) ....................................................14 REGISTRATION FOR COLLEGE BOARD EXAMINATIONS .............................................................................................14 SCORE REPORTS ........................................................................................................................................................15 REVIEW COURSES .....................................................................................................................................................16 GENERAL INFORMATION ON COLLEGES ...........................................................................................................17 THE UNIVERSITY VERSUS A LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE ..............................................................................................17 SPECIAL PROGRAMS .................................................................................................................................................18 COLLEGE CALENDAR SYSTEMS ................................................................................................................................18 GETTING READY TO APPLY FOR COLLEGE ......................................................................................................19 THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS AND OPTIONS ..................................................................................20 ADMISSIONS OPTIONS ...............................................................................................................................................20 Regular Admissions ............................................................................................................................................20 Early Decision .....................................................................................................................................................21 Early Action ........................................................................................................................................................22 Service Academies/ROTC ..................................................................................................................................22 Candidates’ Reply Date Agreement ....................................................................................................................23 Wait List ..............................................................................................................................................................23 THE COLLEGE ESSAY ..............................................................................................................................................24 WRITING YOUR COLLEGE APPLICATIONS ........................................................................................................26 COUNSELOR RECOMMENDATIONS .............................................................................................................................26 TEACHER RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................................................................................27 FINANCING COLLEGE: COSTS AND RESOURCES ............................................................................................29 COST OF ATTENDANCE (COA) .................................................................................................................................29 FINANCIAL AID RESOURCES .....................................................................................................................................30 COMMON MYTHS STUDENTS HAVE ABOUT COLLEGES ...............................................................................34 RESOURCES TO HELP YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS .....................................................................................35 SOME COLLEGE GUIDES AND OTHER HELPFUL BOOKS ON THE PROCESS ................................................................35 USEFUL WEBSITES ....................................................................................................................................................37 A FEW PARTING THOUGHTS (Some famous college graduates and their colleges)……………………………..40 2 COLLEGE PLANNING IN SOPHOMORE YEAR IN GENERAL: Ø Work hard in class. If you were not serious in your freshman year, this is your “wake- up” year. Though some have a rough freshman year, when colleges see lower grades on a transcript they look for upward trends in subsequent years. Ø Develop good study habits. It is not too late to develop good study habits. They will carry you through college and will contribute to success in your working life – develop these skills now when you have the support of your parents and your school. Don’t be afraid to ask for help – this is how students earn good grades and how you will be a success in a future career. SPECIFICALLY: Ø Take classes that not only interest you, but that also challenge you. At the same time, seek a healthy balance. Ø Take the PSAT. This is a practice SAT that you will take in mid-October on O’Dowd’s testing day. Ø Consult with your counselor to determine if there are any SAT subject tests you should take in June. Pay attention to registration deadlines for the June test. Ø On your visit to the Counseling Resource Center you will complete the personality profile called “Do What You Are” as well as the career assessment called “Career Interest Profiler.” Continue to work on your resume. SUMMER: Ø Review this College Planning Handbook! Ø You have many options. Find something meaningful or restorative – volunteer work, paid work, travel, enrichment classes, or simply developing a passion. Read – it will help you earn better scores on your SAT or ACT! Ask your English teacher or counselor for recommendations, or read something that connects you to a passion or interest (Sports Illustrated does have good writing). Ø Visit a college or two. Begin to learn
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