| guidancenewsletterlatewinter.pdf | |
| File Size: | 164 kb |
| File Type: | |
COLLEGE/GUIDANCE INFORMATION
Guidance News Fall 2007 - A Publication of the Guidance Department at Portland High School
TEST REGISTRATION
SAT Test Date Registration Date
12/1/07 10-30-07
1/26/08 12-26-07
3/1/07 1-29-08
5/3/08 4-1-08
6/7/08 5-6-08
ACT
2/9/08 1-4-08
Tips and Reminders -Students need to maintain strong grades all four years of high school, as they will affect college admissions decisions. Students are encouraged to take a strong course load while maintaining a balance between school and extracurricular activities.
-College visits are an important part of the application process. Students are encouraged to schedule visits while colleges are in session whenever possible. Many small, competitive colleges also require interviews which can be scheduled during a visit.
-Information interviews and job shadowing are a great way to explore career possibilities. Students who are undecided about college majors and programs may want to contact community or family members who hold positions in careers of interest.
-When researching colleges, students are encouraged to look beyond New England to create more options.
-Parents of students with learning disabilities should be aware of eligibility forms for extended time on testing. College support services vary in quality. Families should explore individual programs offered and talk with counselors about resources.
GUIDANCE STAFF:
Guidance Counselors:
Mark MacLean (Director)
Sue Mullen, Doug Drew,
Theresa LaPlante,
Stephanie Doyle (Gear-Up Advisor)
College Night for Parents and Seniors Juniors, seniors, and their parents are encouraged to attend the College Information Night during Parent Conference Night on Thursday November 15th, starting at 6:30pm in the Auditorium. Admissions representatives from local colleges and universities will be here to talk about the application process. We will have speakers from four-year private colleges and universities, as well as two year and community college programs. Tips will be shared about how to fill out college applications, including the Common Application as well as how to write essays and to navigate the admissions process stress-free. Come with your questions; this is a great opportunity to learn from the college representatives how to be successful.
College Representative Visits Beginning in September, admissions counselors from numerous colleges and universities will be visiting Portland High School to meet with interested students, provide information, and answer questions. A list of the college visitors is posted on the board outside of the Guidance Office and the visits take place in the conference room. All students attending one of these visits must sign up in the notebook in the Guidance Office and have a pass. Passes are available from homeroom teachers, and in the Guidance Office and must be signed by teachers ahead of time to be given permission to miss class.
Seniors are strongly encouraged to meet with representatives from colleges to which they are interested in applying. These representatives will be the same ones who read and decide on your application, so remember to make a good first impression!
SAT and ACT Testing The SAT I and II are administered on a monthly basis between October and January. Seniors are urged to watch for registration deadlines and test dates. Check out collegeboard.com or visit the Guidance Office for more information. The ACT is popular in the South and Midwest and offers an alternative to the SAT. Check out act.org or visit the Guidance Office for more information. Visit the Guidance Office for SAT registration booklets and practice tests as well as information about SAT tutors and prep courses.
The PSAT will be given on October 17th to all Sophomores and Juniors at PHS.
Counselors Visit Senior Classrooms Senior year is an important time in a student’s life. It is all about endings and beginnings, about joint family decisions and assertion of individual independence. Counselors will have a great deal of contact with their seniors. During the last week of September, counselors visit senior classrooms to provide information about the college application process. Topics discussed included graduation credit requirements, registering for and taking the SAT and ACT and sending scores, the college application process and timeline, financial aid and scholarships, and the NCAA Clearinghouse for recruited athletes. Individual appointments for all seniors to meet with their counselor are made in the weeks following the classroom visits. Please use this time to review your transcript with your advisor, and start working on a plan for life after Portland High School.
GEAR-UP at PHS PHS welcomes Stephanie Doyle to the Guidance Team as the new Gear-Up Coordinator. If you are a Gear-Up Student, please come visit her at the Guidance Office. Gear-Up is a program created to support a group of students through high school towards creating a career and college plan, and is funded through special grants.
Developing a College List Step 1: Consider what characteristics you are looking for in a college (location, size, programs of study, campus setting). Step 2: For the colleges that have the characteristics you want by doing research (online, using college brochures and view books, talking to family members and your counselor). Step 3: Come up with a list of six to eight schools which fall into three categories:
Likely: Schools where required GPA and SAT scores are less than yours.
Possible: Schools where required GPA and SAT scores are right around yours.
Reach: Schools where required GPA and SAT scores are just beyond yours.
*It is important to note that even if you have outstanding credentials, you may not be offered admission by all the colleges to which you apply. The most competitive schools deny far more students than they accept.
Scholarships Scholarships are excellent source of aid to help students pay for college. Unlike student loans, scholarships do not need to be repaid. A current list of available scholarships is located in the Guidance Lobby, as well as in many of the senior English classrooms. Also, check out fastweb.com to search over 600,000 scholarships. Be sure to make note of the criteria for the scholarship and the application deadlines.
The Impact of Early Decision on Financial Aid Early decision is a big gamble for a high-need or moderate-need family. By admitting that a school is your first choice, you commit to the school before you know what kind of aid package you will receive or could receive from other colleges. You lose control of the process. The school will have little incentive to improve the aid package since the student is already committed to attending. Feel free to speak more to your Guidance Counselor, or call the Financial Aid Office at your school to discuss what Early Decision might mean for you. Early Action may also be a good alternative if offered through the school of your choice since it is not as binding and restrictive as Early Decision.
What if I am Not Going to College?
There are lots of great options for life after PHS. Please visit with your Guidance Counselor to learn about what options are available for you. Technical programs, or volunteer experiences (Peace Corps, Americorps, etc) are also great alternatives. Job-shadowing, informational interviews or volunteering for local businesses or organizations may also help to open your eyes to careers that you might like to pursue. The Guidance Office is here to support all students in preparing for graduation, and for discussing all of your future options.
Guidance Secretaries: Elizabeth Bryant, Timi Carter Phone: 874-8255