Your mid-year seventh semester transcripts have been submitted to your colleges a couple weeks ago. If a non-Common App college defers you and requests 7th semester grades, please make your request using this link and contact your counselor.
Update your admission status at colleges and notify your counselor. Good luck on all your college apps and decisions.
Good Scholarship Opportunity: Students submit one application to be considered for any scholarship for which they are eligible for through the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan. Students can learn more and register to apply at CFSEM.org/scholarships.
Check out the David Barnes Scholarship program https://faithhopelife.com/scholarship/. The scholarship will provide $2,500 of financial assistance for college tuition. Scholarship is eligible for renewal for three years, assuming good academic standing, continued community involvement, and a service commitment to the Foundation.
If you need financial assistance in paying for your student's college expenses, you will need to complete the FAFSA at FAFSA.ed.gov.
The financial aid office directors and staff at the colleges are usually a good resource for tips and assistance in completing the FAFSA. Here is a recent article and short video on the FAFSA which you may find helpful. Please contact your student's counselor if you have questions about the college app process.
Juniors
Take time to meet with your collegiate counselor soon if you need a letter of recommendation, and you probably will. If you have not started your college search, now is the time. You should consider adding some colleges to your Naviance "Colleges I'm Thinking About" list. Add as many colleges as you can (20-30) initially and then start eliminating some of them as you continue your research and on-campus visits. Many colleges have begun easing restrictions and opening for on-campus visits as the epidemic begins to subside, but check their website for latest visitation information. Winter Break is a perfect opportunity to visit your favorite colleges. Plan ahead to get a spot.
A list of 5-10 colleges to apply to is suggested and appropriate. Your collegiate counselor is a good resource, so make a point to meet with them so they get to know you and your needs.
Take the ACT or SAT as it becomes available. Plan ahead because test dates and locations may be filling up quickly due to limitations. If you plan on taking the February or April test, you should register now. For tutoring resources, click here.
Underclassmen - Most colleges offer some sort of summer pre-college programs. Consider a summer program at your favorite school for passion and academic enrichment if your option is doing nothing over the summer.
Try and keep routines as normal as possible. Kids gain security from the predictability of routine, including attending school.
Limit exposure to television and the news.
Be honest with kids and share with them as much information as they are developmentally able to handle.
Listen to kids’ fears and concerns.
Reassure kids that the world is a good place to be, but that there are people who do bad things.
Parents and adults need to first deal with and assess their own responses to crisis and stress.
Rebuild and reaffirm attachments and relationships.
APA Resources for Coping with Mass Shootings, Understanding Gun Violence
Constant news reports about the shootings in communities around the world can cause stress and anxiety for people, leaving them with questions about the causes of and solutions to gun violence.
APA offers resources to help those who are suffering distress:
●Colleges and college reps are all going through the same pandemic and are going to be giving students some leeway when it comes to ACT/SAT availability and reporting. That means that your current and last mid-year grades, your senior year course schedule, and your application essay will play even a greater role in their decision to admit you. Motivation may be at a premium now, but when you study, pretend like they are watching you, so finish out the year strong.
●If you have not taken the ACT/SAT yet or think you may not have adequate opportunities to take the exam, just take it when you can. A growing list of colleges are going "Test Optional" for this coming year. There will probably be a greater emphasis on holistic review (they look at everything, not just your transcript) of candidates.
●The pandemic has challenged many colleges financially and they may be offering fewer scholarship opportunities when you apply. So, continue to do well academically and make yourself as competitive as possible for those scholarships that remain.
More notes:
* Sign up on Naviance for any college rep visits.
Go to www.actstudent.org to sign up for ACT and to see a schedule of upcoming dates (our CEEB code is 233-040).
* Juniors and their parents: Opportunities for admission are often directly related to student academic performance and proper early preparation. Your counselor can be a good resource for you. Take a look at the "Junior to do list" for general guidelines. Helpful links and information regarding college and ACT preparation have been posted on Naviance. Students will be receiving additional information during their individual interviews with their counselor.
Juniors and Sophomores... Many universities offer some sort of pre-college summer camps, providing students with an opportunity to explore various career fields and develop leadership skills. Consider doing a summer camp, job shadowing, internship, or part time job in the career field of your interest. This experience may make you more desirable to college admission representatives. Check out this link for additional info
Demonstrate that you are inventive, curious, inquisitive, imaginative, intuitive, insightful, creative, up to the challenge, mature, responsible, and generally a good match. Students who strive to stand out will capitalize on this opportunity to learn or enhance a new skill or passion, do a research project, learn a new language, or just do something that adds a layer to their personality and exemplifies who they are. During these challenging times, motivation can be difficult, but very possible. Also, try www.corsava.com for some fun college search and self-discovery.
Demonstrate that you are inventive, curious, inquisitive, imaginative, intuitive, insightful, creative, up to the challenge, mature, responsible, and generally a good match. Students who strive to stand out will capitalize on this opportunity to learn or enhance a new skill or passion, do a research project, learn a new language, or just do something that adds a layer to their personality and exemplifies who they are. During these challenging times, motivation can be difficult, but very possible. Also, try www.corsava.com for some fun college search and self-discovery.
Developing good Christian persons, upright citizens and academic scholars, the Notre Dame Preparatory School Guidance and Counseling Department provides comprehensive, coordinated services including age-appropriate academic, personal, and career counseling while focusing on the individual student."
