St. Joe’s Sophomore Parent Night
January 11, 2017
Key Notes
SJCI Counseling Department working with sophomores
· PSAT results review and presentation in History classes February 1st & 2nd, 2017. Your son should show you his results. There is a personal access code for the collegeboard.org website so students can practice for the PSAT next fall, and utilize other tools for SAT prep for their junior year
· Scheduling for next year will be late winter, early spring 2017
· A career inventory and college search project will be administered by the counseling department in English classes March 2nd & 3rd, 2017. You should discuss and look this over with your son(s).
· Students have been advised to start discussing the college process with you this summer in general terms:
§ Will I stay home or go away?
§ How far away if I go?
§ What do I want to major in?
§ How will I pay for college?
· The Counseling Department has a Schoology page as well just like our teaching counterparts where we post documents and announcements regularly, so please take advantage of this. Visit (www.schoology.com): access code is MJRVT-6WQ48; create a student account so you can see everything your son sees.
· The Counseling Department also manages a page on the website called “Enrichment Program Opportunities.” We post all types of programs and opportunities both for during the year and summer where your son’s can gain experience in different fields and or take college courses and receive college credits. We highly encourage you to take a look at this; visit www.sjci.com, go to Academics, Counseling, and to the right will see the tab labeled Enrichment Opportunity Programs.
Guest Speaker: Dr. Dean Reinhart, Associate Director of Admissions at Buffalo State
· 4,500 colleges & universities / plenty of choices so have an open mind
· It’s ok to have a “reach” school, and don’t ever shy away from applying
· However also have a strong diverse list and be realistic
· Physically visit multiple campuses, that’s the best way to get a true feeling of spending 4 years there
· Call and setup an appointment, don’t just show up
· Talk to actual students on the campus
· Be mindful that it’s a business, pay close attention to marketing, verbiage, and look beyond the glitz and glamour
· Pay attention to extracurriculars, what is there to do when I’m not in class
· It’s important your son is the first active participant in contacting admission counselors
· Moving forward utilize the counseling staff at St. Joe’s, ask questions
5 Questions to Ask Student Tour Guides on Campus Visits
Campus visits can be a great source of information on campus life, community and admissions
The campus visit is an integral part of your decision on which college to attend. It allows you to tour the campus, see where you may be living, and interact with students who attend your potential school. Take advantage of the information you can gather from students and tour guides. Remember, they are a great source for gathering information and it’s their job to answer your questions!
1. Ask about campus life
While much of your time will be spent in class, you will also have the chance to be involved in campus activities, so you want to make sure that there are opportunities for you to partake in. If you know you are interested in sports, which is a great way to meet new people and stay active, ask about opportunities for club sports on campus. If you know you want to go into politics, see if there are political student organizations. Or maybe you’re interested in meeting people through a Greek system and want to check out the fraternity and sorority scene on campus. All of these questions will help you get a good idea of how you can see yourself getting involved on campus.
2. Ask about your tour guide’s personal experience with the school
Don’t be afraid to ask your tour guide for his or her personal story in choosing this school. Ask why your guide picked it and what his or her favorite parts of the school are. What does your tour guide wish he or she had known before coming to this school? Remember that these tour guides are students, and they were in your shoes once. They are living the experience that you soon may be living, so where better to go for answers than the direct source? You can also ask tougher questions; for example, what he or she would change about the campus if given the opportunity. College isn’t always a walk in the park, so it’s nice to know the downsides from a student perspective.
3. Ask about the town your school is in
Even if your campus has everything you could ever want, it’s still nice to know more about the surrounding city. Consider that later in your major you may want to find an internship or job, and it would be nice to know if that is something that is a possibility. It’s also nice to get off campus once and awhile, so knowing some of the interesting spots around town can only help — whether they be restaurants, boutiques, concert venues, museums, or anything else.
4. Ask about your intended major
While your tour guide may not be an expert on your particular major, he or she might have friends or acquaintances that are, andtheymay be able to shed some light on the courses and professors. You can ask general questions about your desired track, such as the required courses or the first-year course load. They may be able to answer questions about general class size, and if classes are mainly lecture based or hands-on. While you’re at it, ask your tour guide about the school’s required Gen Eds. They will likely be able to tell you what types of classes all students are required to take, as well as share some insider advice for succeeding in them.
5. Ask about admissions
If you haven’t been admitted into the school already, now is a great time to ask questions about the admissions process. Your campus tour guide will likely be well versed and trained in these questions, so consider him or her the expert. Are there a lot of financial aid packages available? What is the application process like? What is the acceptance rate? While they won’t be able to help you with your specific application, they should be able to provide important details. Plus, the information you find out may give you some insight into ideas you can cover in your statement of why you want to attend the school.
10 things to help you select a college
Having problems deciding which college to attend? Make sure the school you choose meets your expectations in these areas
How to select a college: to begin with, make a list of potential colleges. The big list should include every college that you might be willing to attend. Once you have a list, narrow it down by taking the time to consider all of the following.
Choosing a college can truly be a daunting task—especially with so many choices.
When choosing how to select a college, there are a few things you can consider to make the process go smoothly and reduce your stress.
1. Location
Does the location of the school matter to you? If so, consider whether or not each college on your list fits your needs.
2. Degree programs
Obviously, degree programs matter. In this case, you don’t just want to look at undergraduate degrees. If you did decide to further your education with a master’s or a doctorate, does the school provide programs to suit?
3. Campus resources
What resources does the school offer that will help you on your road to secondary education? Do they have research opportunities in their science programs, for example?
4. Academic rankings
How does the college rate when compared to similar institutions? Although rankings aren’t everything, there is usually a reason that the highest ranked schools are so well regarded.
5. Costs
Consider the costs involved in attending each institution. Tuition isn’t the only factor; you should also factor in the cost of food, housing, and any other activities in which you plan to be involved.
6. Class sizes
A college with smaller class sizes may be more difficult to get into, and they may have higher tuition costs. But they also might give you a more personalized educational curriculum.
7. Housing options
What options do you have for housing in the area? Does the college offer on-campus housing? If not, does the rental market in the area fit with your budget?
8. Faculty
Along with the school itself, you should also look at the faculty.
9. The student body
Does your personality mesh well with the college’s other students?
10. Admissions counselors
Talk to the admissions counselors at the schools you’re considering to get a feel for the school’s offerings and if you’ll be a good fit.
Taking the time to consider all of these elements when figuring out how to select a college will make the selection process easier. More than that, it will help you choose a school that is right for you, and in turn help you get the most from your college years.