“Making choices about what college or university you want to attend, writing essays and filling out applications can be very overwhelming,” says Dean of College Counseling, Kori Shlachter. To help juniors and seniors be better prepared, there are two meetings held just after the start of the school year.
College Counseling Movie Night
By watching the documentary “In 500 Words or Less”, students and parents follow four students during their senior year and how they and their families go about the entire process.
“While race, geography and socio-economic status affected how they got here, their stories converge as they all juggle acceptance, rejection, decision-making and letting go,” Point Made Films. (Image from “In 500 Words or Less” trailer.)
“We talk about the film immediately after,” says Shlachter. “Students can see parts of themselves in one or more of the four featured kids in the film. Our parents gain insight about their needed involvement and how they can best support their son or daughter as they apply to colleges.” The movie night is highly recommended to seniors but is also extremely helpful for juniors as well.
Senior Class Prepares for Graduation and College
A student’s senior year is an especially busy one with the added decisions and tasks to be made and completed for college. Each year a special meeting is held for the senior class to help parents and seniors get prepared for this exciting transition from high school to university.
“Seniors have many obligations during their final year that they need to stay on top of,” says Secondary Principal, Kip Cummings. “Their parents need to be informed and involved as well so that critical deadlines are met. We bring in our whole team…the Dean of College Counseling, Diploma Programme (DP) Coordinator, Student Activities Director, and a representative from Jostens…to provide information to our graduating class and their families.”
Using Naviance students can search for, compare, and keep track of colleges as well as manage other tasks during their senior year.
During the senior year IB classes have assessments or exams that happen as early as the end of the first semester. “Seniors need to confirm fairly early which courses they plan to sit for exams,” explains DP Coordinator, Jenna Gatti. “Seniors will have already decided the year before as juniors whether they are going for the full IB Diploma or IB course certificates. Some of the required IB final papers are actual due in December and oral exams happen early in the spring.” This year some seniors will also take Advanced Placement (AP) exams before the school year is over.
Both IB and AP exam scores can mean college credit. That’s just one of the topics that Shlachter covered at this year’s meeting. “Our seniors are refining their lists of colleges to apply to and one of the factors to take into consideration is the possible college credit that can be earned by scoring well on these exams. At this annual overview meeting, we discuss using Naviance, securing teacher recommendations, requesting transcripts, and sending test scores. I also share tips for parents on ways they can help.” Additional meetings about college applications and the admissions process, applying for financial aid, and even writing college essays are held throughout senior year.
Preparations for Commencement begin nearly a year in advance for each graduating class. (Photo from 2015 Commencement ceremony)
“Seniors have their school photo taken during the summer. So, when the school year begins, we are already into the planning of graduation and Commencement day,” says Nydia Santiago-Cordero, Student Activities Director for the Secondary Division (grades 6-12). “At this senior parent and student meeting we let them know that there will be rehearsals and what to expect. The parents planning Project Grad come as well to speak to the rest of the parents. It’s not unusual to see some parents tear up a little once the Jostens representative starts to speak. They remember their own high school graduation and the reality of their child graduating next year starts to sink in when we pass out information about ordering announcements, caps and gowns!”
