College Counseling Handbook for the Class of 2020
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GERMANTOWN ACADEMY’S COLLEGE COUNSELING HANDBOOK FOR THE CLASS OF 2020 1 -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 – JONATHAN NA [email protected] 267-405-7384 COLLEGE COUNSELOR – DANIEL ST. JEAN [email protected] 267-405-7507 COLLEGE COUNSELOR – DR. PETER DREWNIANY [email protected] 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 STUDENT WEBSITE- https://student.naviance.com/germantownacad Students and parents have unique accounts to access this site. If you need your password reset, see Mrs. Allenson. -GERMANTOWN ACADEMY’S CEEB CODE- 393321 2 -TABLE OF CONTENTS- COLLEGE COUNSELING CALENDAR OF EVENTS 4 OPTIMAL COLLEGE VISIT DAYS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR 4 GA’S COLLEGE COUNSELING PHILOSOPHY 5 THE ROLE OF YOUR COLLEGE COUNSELOR IN YOUR SENIOR YEAR 5 CLASS OF 2020 “TO DO” LIST FOR APPLYING TO COLLEGE 7 CREATING A STRONG COLLEGE APPLICATION LIST 9 ASSESSING CHANCES FOR ADMISSION 10 WAYS TO APPLY 12 COLLEGES WITH ED PLANS 12 COLLEGES WITH EA PLANS 16 EARLY ACTION DEADLINES FOR UK SCHOOLS 24 THE EARLY DECISION ADVANTAGE 25 COLLEGE APPLICATION FORMS 30 COALITION APPLICATION SCHOOLS 30 CHEAT SHEET FOR THE COMMON APPLICATION 34 DEADLINE GRID FOR COMMON APPLICATION SCHOOLS 39 SUPPLEMENTAL COLLEGE ESSAYS AND PORTFOLIOS 39 THE PROCESS OF APPLYING TO COLLEGE 49 WHEN TO APPLY 49 REQUESTING TRANSCRIPTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM GA 50 WHAT COLLEGE COUNSELING SENDS TO COLLEGES 52 REQUESTING TEST SCORES FROM THE TESTING AGENCY 52 HOW TO HAVE YOUR APPLICATIONS AND ESSAYS REVIEWED 52 HOW TO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS 53 WHAT TO DO AFTER YOU APPLY TO COLLEGE 53 PREPARING FOR INTERVIEWS 54 FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIPS 58 NET PRICE CALCULATOR 59 FASFA AND CSS PROFILE 60 SOURCES FOR SCHOLARSHIPS 62 APPENDICES 65 APPENDIX A - ADMISSION AND FINANCIAL AID TERMS AND DEFINITIONS 65 APPENDIX B - STANDARDIZED TESTING RESOURCES 67 APPENDIX C - ADVICE FOR PROSPECTIVE COLLEGE ATHLETES 80 APPENDIX D - TOP HONORS PROGRAMS 84 APPENDIX E – SELECTIVE COLLEGE ADMISSION RATE CHANGES 85 APPENDIX F - GAP YEAR OPTIONS 86 3 -2019 – 2020 COLLEGE COUNSELING CALENDAR OF EVENTS- -Coffee with College Counseling - Events Open to all Upper School Parents- Wednesday, November 13, 8:30 am Wednesday, April 29th, 8:30 am Wednesday, February 12, 6:30 pm All Coffees are held in the Parents’ Room -College Counseling Senior and Senior Parent Events- Senior Parents College Counseling Meeting September 12, 7:00 pm Honickman Auditorium Financial Aid Information Night (11th and 12th) November 19, 7:00 pm Abington Friends School Alumni College Panel January 9 Honickman Auditorium At Lunch for Students At 7:00 pm for Parents Senior Parent Celebration May 7, 5:30 pm Roberts Family Library -Meetings with College Representatives Visiting GA- The dates and times for college representative visits are posted in Naviance Student. Students should sign up for the meetings they wish to attend. If a student has a class conflict, the student should seek the permission of the teacher to attend or pop into the beginning of the meeting to complete an inquiry card. All meetings with college representatives take place in the Upper School Conference Room, located within the College Counseling suite. SAT/Subject Test Dates for 2019– 2020 (Register at www.collegeboard.org) Test Date* Registration Deadline Late Registration Deadline (+ $29.00) August 24, 2019 (Held at GA) July 26, 2019 August 13, 2019 October 5, 2019 (Held at GA) September 6, 2019 September 24, 2019 November 2, 2019 October 3, 2019 October 22, 2019 December 7, 2019 November 8, 2019 November 26, 2019 *Both the SAT and Subject Test are offered on all dates listed above. Students can register for either the SAT or Subject Test(s) on a given date. SAT Fee = $49.50. With Essay = $64.50; Subject Tests Fee = $26.00 basic fee + $22.00 for each test. Fee waivers are available from College Counseling for eligible students. ACT Test Dates for 2019 – 2020 (Register at www.act.org) - TI-Nspire CAC is prohibited by ACT Test Date Registration Deadline Late Registration Deadline (Not administered at GA) September 14, 2019 August 16, 2019 August 30, 2019 October 26, 2019 September 20, 2019 October 4, 2019 December 14, 2019 November 8, 2019 November 22, 2019 ACT Fee = $46.00. ACT Plus Writing = $62.50 AP Exams for 2020 (Register through GA) May 4, 2020 – May 15, 2020 Fee Per AP Exam = $94.00 Optimal College Visits Days during the 2019-2020 School Year (GA’s Upper School does not have classes on these days) . Friday, September 27, Faculty In-Service . Monday, September 30 & Wednesday, September 9 (for those not observing Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur) . Friday, October 25 (Comment Writing Day for Faculty) . Friday, November 22 (Parent-Teacher Conferences) Mock ACT (by Compass Test Prep) held at GA at 9:00 am . Monday, December 2 (Monday after Thanksgiving; in-service day for faculty) 4 -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 is 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 help seniors with the following tasks: Refining your college list to ensure it is balanced with likelies, possibles, and reaches. 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 and 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. 5 Serving as your advocate by writing a compelling letter of recommendation. Reviewing your teachers’ letters of recommendation to ensure all pieces of your supporting credentials work together to present your best self. 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).