Dear Junior Families,
A lot of progress has been made in the Pathways college planning course. Some activities included completing a personality assessment to learn what traits students have and fields they might study in college, taking a career interest profiler, and reviewing the many resources available to create a solid list of colleges to explore. Students also began the early stage of developing a resume to collect their information for college applications and/or use for summer work/internship opportunities. I am impressed with each student in the class of 2025! You are a collection of unique and talented young scholars and you are a joy to spend time with!
In my first one-on-one student meeting we covered all of the components of a complete college application in detail. We discussed all the angles of each of these factors from GPA, course rigor, standardized tests, the college essay, teacher/counselor recommendations, and extracurricular activities. We also discussed possible fields of study and where students are open to attending college. In our second one-on-one meeting we reviewed how to conduct a deeper dive into college research, utilizing our Scoir platform, navigating a college’s website, and reviewing a college’s admissions information online. This will be a long journey and I will be with the students through each step of the way.
Juniors should continue to work on the following areas:
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Make plans for the summer. It is time for the family to begin this conversation.
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Remember that students should take their first SAT and/or ACT second semester of Junior year. Students can also take these tests in the fall of their Senior year, so if you want to improve your spring scores, plan to register for a test in the early fall.
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Put a plan together for test prep. Test prep should start a minimum of six weeks prior to the scheduled test date (note: there is no "best way" to prepare for standardized tests. It is an individual choice). Options include in person classes, online courses, test books, and Khan Academy.
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Begin to conduct college research (see below).
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Make an individual meeting with Mr. Partlow for March. Our March meeting can cover course selections for next year and continue to work on building a college list.
ADMISSION MATTERS
Important Opportunity: Monterey CASE Studies and College Fair, Saturday, April 13th, at Stevenson School, 1:30-4:30pm.
York is partnering with Stevenson School and Santa Catalina School to host a college fair and case studies event at Stevenson School. More information will follow about registration, but we hope to see all students and their parents on April 13th. Please save the date!
The day will begin with case studies, where small groups of students and groups of parents meet with admissions representatives from across the country to discuss three fictional applicants, weigh their strengths and then deliver an admissions decision. This is a behind the scenes peek into the college application process with professional college admissions reps! Don’t miss it!
The day concludes with a college fair for students to meet the admissions representatives and learn more about their colleges.
To see a list of participating colleges click here.
College Tours
Many colleges offer campus admission tours. The college tour is a relatively new phenomenon and there was a time when most students applied to colleges having never visited the campus before. Covid forced colleges to become creative during campus closures and their online virtual events are very helpful. They have online tours and virtual panel discussions with students and professors. Often, many students wait until they have been accepted and choose to visit their top two or three colleges on their list. This could be as late as the spring of 2025 when many colleges offer “accepted student” open houses. For on campus tours, consider our March break, early or late summer, or next October break when colleges are in session. Or wait until after they have been accepted!
What to do instead of, or in addition to a college tour? Attend a college fair, virtual or in person!
NACAC College Fairs:
Helpful Resources for Researching Colleges
In The News!
Education Week reports Dartmouth College this month “announced that it would reactivate its standardized testing requirement for undergraduate admission,” and less than two weeks later, “Yale University followed suit, announcing an end to its four-year, test-optional policy for incoming undergraduate applicants, but with a twist: It will expand the tests to fulfill the requirement beyond the SAT and ACT to include Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams.” The two highly selective colleges’ turnaround “raises the question of whether this marks the beginning of a trend to reverse the test-optional movement, which ramped up exponentially during the pandemic.” EdWeek details “the history of test-optional policies, what Dartmouth and Yale administrators and other higher education experts say led these two elite schools to revert to requiring standardized test scores, and how high schools can support near-future college applicants as they prepare to navigate the complex world of higher education admissions.” To read more click here.
I am happy to meet with parents at any time during the college admissions process. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or email me to set up a meeting. |