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Guidance / College Services |
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Freshman through Senior year
For All Students -
- Counselors conduct registration sessions in late winter for incoming freshmen, and present advising sessions for returning freshmen, sophomores, and juniors prior to the official registration process. Counselors work with students in groups or individually as needed. Explanation of Honors and Advanced Placement classes and how they effect college planning.
- Counselors are available throughout the year for personal counseling issues as needed.
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New Initiatives for 2004-05 |
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- A separate Guidance and College Counseling Newsletter will be sent with parent mailings providing updates on issues that students and parents need to know about.
- Counselors will meet with freshman in groups and individually to introduce freshman to the Bridges software program for career exploration.
- Introduce sophomores to Family Connection software explaining features and benefits of program and begin to facilitate registration of sophomores onto program.
- Introduce juniors to Family Connection software explaining features and benefits of program and begin to facilitate registration of students onto program.
- College Counseling hosts "Coffee with the College Counselors", a series held in the morning presenting various college-related topics designed for parents of junior and senior parents.
- The possibility of introducing a "parent brag sheet" so parents can write about their son/daughter to provide more information for the college counselor.
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Freshman -
- Counselors meet with students in groups and conduct a GPA calculation exercise so students understand the importance of starting off strong in their academics and so that they realize what a cumulative GPA is and how it can impact your college options. Personal grade goals are set at this session to be reviewed later.
- Counselors meet with students in groups and individually within first month of school to assess how the student is acclimating to the high school environment.
- Counselors meet with students at the end of the first grade report to compare actual grades earned with grade goals set earlier. A four-year plan is developed and new grade goals are set.
Sophomores -
- College Counselors participate in the mandatory Sophomore parent night and present ideas on how to maximize the College Planning Guide resource booklet handed to sophomores that evening.
- Counselors continue to meet with students in groups and individually using the Bridges software on career exploration, possible majors, and searching colleges.
- Guidance works with the English department to facilitate a writing assignment focusing on researching a career.
- Testing coordinator visits with sophomores explaining pre-college standardized testing such as the pre-ACT (PLAN), and the PSAT.
- Counselors visit sophomore EMMAUS classes to present topics such as:
- "developing time management skills"
- "proper study skills"
- "exploring colleges" (attending college fairs)
- setting sophomore grade goals
- family connection
- Counselors visit classrooms in the Spring to educate sophomores on "Career Day", where our students have the opportunity to hear from Marian alumni from all different professional backgrounds discuss their respective careers
- Sophomore Parents invited to the College Counseling Seminar - "Applying to highly selective colleges".
- Emphasize participation in summer college programs.
Juniors -
- A Junior Parent letter is sent by the college counselors highlighting "dates to remember", testing information, and expectations for their son/daughter's junior year.
- College Counselors conduct orientation to the Benish College Room covering the following topics:
- researching colleges, careers, and majors
- the process juniors must take to visit with college representatives
- utilizing the resources such reading view books on colleges, checking out cd-roms, videos, and summer programs hosted by colleges
- Presentation given by testing coordinator to all juniors on the upcoming standardized ACT and SAT exams including registration procedures and information on test prep opportunities.
- College Counselors continuously update juniors on college visitors to Marian, open houses, and scholarships through various methods of communication including:
- through the website and new for 2004-05, posted on Family Connection
- through the public address announcements daily
- through posters announcing which colleges are visiting outside cafeteria
- Counselors meet individually with each junior and discuss their college and career options.
- College Counselors distribute "College Corner" monthly to EMMAUS classes and English classes. Teachers read the helpful hints and tips provided to students.
- College Counselors present exercise in preparing for college in junior English classes...written information is gathered on the following topics:
- discussion of written teacher recommendations
- students fill out teacher evaluation handout
- students fill out college planning worksheet
- Seminar offered during the school day to students interested in applying to highly selective colleges.
- Seminar offered during the school day to students who do not meet the admission requirements of colleges they are interested in to discuss tips and strategies to assist them in the application process.
- Junior Parents invited to the College Counseling Seminars, "Applying to highly selective colleges" or "What to do if you do not meet the admission requirements for a college" hosted by College Counseling.
- Junior Parents invited to "Financial Aid Night", hosted by College Counseling.
- College Counselors offer individualized Spring and Summer guidance appointments to review college plans with student and their family. Information gathered in #6 is discussed.
- Junior parents are invited to "Junior Parent Night", which focuses on orientating parents on the college selection process and is invaluable for families with their first child attending college.
- College Club - for students who are interested in applying to highly selective colleges. Concentration on those colleges and essays for their applications is the focus.
- Emphasize participation in summer college programs.
Seniors -
- College Counseling sends a letter addressed to Parents highlighting "dates to remember", expectations for their son/daughter, and other college-related issues.
- College Counselors conduct college application process and expectations to seniors in Benish College Room.
- College Counselors process all college applications.
- College Counselors work individually with students who request help with their college applications.
- College Counselors work individually with students who request help with their college essay(s).
- Emphasis is placed on student's looking for scholarships early senior year.
- Senior Parents are invited to "Senior Parent Night", which focuses on the college application process and expectations we place upon the seniors.
- Senior Parents are invited to the Financial Aid Night in December.
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