GERMANTOWN ACADEMY’S COLLEGE COUNSELING HANDBOOK FOR THE CLASS OF 2019 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 2019 “TO DO” LIST FOR APPLYING TO COLLEGE 6 CREATING A STRONG COLLEGE APPLICATION LIST 8 ASSESSING CHANCES FOR ADMISSION 9 WAYS TO APPLY 11 COLLEGES WITH ED PLANS 12 COLLEGES WITH EA PLANS 18 THE EARLY DECISION ADVANTAGE 29 COLLEGE APPLICATION FORMS 31 CHEAT SHEET FOR THE COMMON APPLICATION 32 SUPPLEMENTAL COLLEGE ESSAYS AND PORTFOLIOS 39 THE PROCESS OF APPLYING TO COLLEGE 46 WHEN TO APPLY 46 REQUESTING TRANSCRIPTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM GA 47 WHAT COLLEGE COUNSELING SENDS TO COLLEGES 47 REQUESTING TEST SCORES FROM THE TESTING AGENCY 48 HOW TO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS 49 WHAT TO DO AFTER YOU APPLY TO COLLEGE 50 PREPARING FOR ALUMNI INTERVIEWS 51 FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIPS 52 NET PRICE CALCULATOR 53 CSS PROFILE 54 OUTSIDE SCHOLARSHIPS 57 APPENDICES APPENDIX A - ADMISSION AND FINANCIAL AID TERMS AND DEFINITIONS 73 APPENDIX B - STANDARDIZED TESTING RESOURCES 75 APPENDIX C - ADVICE FOR PROSPECTIVE COLLEGE ATHLETES 83 APPENDIX D - TOP HONORS PROGRAMS 88 APPENDIX E - COLLEGES I’M APPLYING TO SPREADSHEET 90 3 -2018 – 2019 COLLEGE COUNSELING CALENDAR OF EVENTS- -Coffee with College Counseling - Events Open to all Upper School Parents- Tuesday, October 16, 2018, 8:30 am Wednesday, December 12th, 6:30 pm Wednesday, February 13th, 2019, 8:30 am All Coffees are held in the Parents’ Room -College Counseling Senior and Senior Parent Events- Senior College Seminar Once a rotation for 3 rotations Senior Parents College Counseling Meeting September 5, 7:00 pm Honickman Auditorium Financial Aid Information Night (11th and 12th) To Be Announced Senior Parent Celebration May 9, 5:30 pm Korman Family Pavilion Alumni College Panel Prior to College Fair May 22, 4:30 pm Honickman Auditorium SAT/Subject Test Dates for 2018 – 2019 (Register at www.collegeboard.org) Test Date* Registration Deadline Late Registration Deadline (+ $29.00) August 25, 2018 (Held at GA) July 27, 2018 August 15, 2018 October 6, 2018 (Held at GA) September 7, 2018 September 26, 2018 November 3, 2018 October 5, 2018 October 24, 2018 December 1, 2018 November 2, 2018 November 20, 2018 *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 = $47.50. 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 2018 – 2019 (Register at www.act.org) - TI-Nspire CAC is prohibited by ACT Test Date Registration Deadline Late Registration Deadline (Not administered at GA) September 8, 2018 August 10, 2018 August 26, 2018 October 27, 2018 September 28, 2018 October 14, 2018 December 8, 2018 November 2, 2018 November 19, 2018 ACT Fee = $46.00. ACT Plus Writing = $62.50 AP Exams for 2019 (Register at school in April) May 6, 2019 – May 17, 2019 Fee Per AP Exam = $94.00 Optimal College Visits Days during the 2018-2019 School Year (GA’s Upper School does not have classes on these days) § Monday, September 10 & Wednesday, September 19 (for those not observing Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur) § Friday, October 5 – Monday, October (Columbus Day) Extremely popular campus visit days; make reservations well in advance § Friday, October 26 (Comment Writing Day for Faculty) § Friday, November 16 (Parent-Teacher Conferences) Mock ACT (by Compass Test Prep) held at GA at 9:00 am § Monday, November 26 (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 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 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. 5 • 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. • 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). • 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.