College Information Night for Juniors & Parents

1. College Information Night for Juniors & Parents The Bush School January 13, 2016

2. This is NOT the point of tonight:

3. THIS is the point of tonight:

4. Tonight we will not: • Get bogged down in details • Get too far ahead of ourselves And, we will definitelynot: • Get overwhelmed by the college search process when it has only just begun.

5. Tonight, we will: • Talk about each of our roles throughout this process • Talk about upcoming meetings • Provide a timeline • Discuss basic elements of the college application • Talk about campus visits and colleges coming to Bush • Discuss Naviance • Ask questions!

7. OUR ROLES THROUGHOUT THE COLLEGE SEARCH PROCESS STUDENTS: • Always, always, always: BE YOURSELF. • Lead the process: • Be responsible • Be organized • Be excited • Keep an open mind. • Use common sense and observe ethical guidelines. • Be sensitive to your community and peers.

8. STUDENTS (continued): • Know your interests, abilities, passions, goals, personality, and learning style. • Know that there are hundreds of colleges out there and take your time in building a thoughtful list of options. • Take advantage of the opportunities that surround you (Case Studies Program this April, college rep visits to Bush, Bush alums…). • In the end, choose the school that feels like the best fit!

9. PARENTS/GUARDIANS: • Be a sounding board and help your student with important decisions. • Remember it’s important for your student to be in the driver’s seat. • Communicate and ask questions. • Be calm. • Help to organize the logistics behind campus visits and interviews. • Plan ahead for financial aid and scholarships. • Celebrate and be proud!

10. THE COLLEGE COUNSELING OFFICE (Alice & Melissa): • Know the student and know the family. • Know the colleges. • Help you to think outside of the box and explore options you might not have thought of on your own. • Be accessible. • Write (awesome) counselor letters of recommendation. • Organize the process: • Keep students focused and aware of deadlines • Make sure colleges understand The Bush School curriculum and spirit • Prompt submission of all counselor & teacher materials

11. MANDATORY FIRST STUDENT MEETINGS • Students must first complete the ‘Junior College Counseling Survey’ on Naviance BEFORE our first meeting. • Students must contact Melissa or Alice to schedule the first meeting, which lasts about 30-45 minutes. • Melissa’s counselees: Agostini – Kemal • Alice’s counselees: Kubota – Wood • The deadline for all student meetings to take place: Thursday, February 11, 2016. • During first meetings, an initial exploratory college list will be provided for each student. Student homework = research 5 of the schools on your list and add on 5 new schools before the Family Meeting.

12. FAMILY MEETINGS(Student, Parents, Melissa/Alice) • Family Meetings take place only AFTER the ‘Parent Survey’ on Naviance is completedand the student has met with us individually (and completed his/her homework ). • Parents initiate contact with Melissa or Alice to set up the first meeting. • The deadline for all family meetings to take place: Friday, March 25, 2016. • Family meetings last approx. 45 minutes. • Typical meeting times: Lunch (12:40-1:30pm), Conference (3:15-4pm), Senate (Tues: 3-4pm), free blocks and free AMPs.

14. JUNIOR YEAR TIMELINE • Wednesday, January 20: An Evening with a College Dean event from 7:00-8:30pm in the Community Room, featuring Jessica Marinaccio, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at Columbia University (Optional). • Monday, February 8: Preview of the Common Application and discussion of Activities Section during Junior Class Meeting. • Monday, February 8: Learning Differences College Counseling Chat for Parents, 12:30-1:30pm in the Community Room(Optional). • Thursday, February 11: Deadline for all student meetings to take place. • Thursday, February 11: Gap Year Fair from 6:00-9:00pm at the Northwest School at 1415 Summit Avenue (Optional). • February 13 –February 21: Consider visiting colleges during Mid-Winter Break. Let us know during student and family meetings if you need advice!

15. JUNIOR YEAR TIMELINE, continued • Tuesday, March 22: College Essay Workshop during Junior Class Meeting. • Friday, March 25: Deadline for all family meetings to take place. • April 2 –April 10: Consider visiting colleges during Spring Break. • Wednesday, April 20: Students and parents attend the SAAS/Bush School Case Studies Program for Juniors and Parentsin the Community Room from 6:30-8:30pm (Mandatory). • Saturday, April 23: Students & parents attend the Seattle PNACAC College Fair from 12 – 3pm at the Seattle University Connolly Center (Optional). • Monday, April 25:College Counseling Chat for Parents from 8-9am in the Community Room (Optional).

16. JUNIOR YEAR TIMELINE, continued • Wednesday, April 27: Senior Speak panel (students only) during lunch in the Community Room. • Friday, May 6: Deadline to choose 2 academic teachers to write letters of recommendation. • Monday, May 16: College Counseling Chat for Parents from 7-8pm in the Community Room (Optional). • Tuesday, May 17: Interview Workshop during Junior Class Meeting. • Wednesday, May 18: Senior Parent Panel for Junior Parents from 7 - 8:30pm in the Community Room. • Tuesday, June 7 and Wednesday, June 8: Senior Projects Presentationsfrom 1 - 4pm in Wissner classrooms. Juniors and parents are invited to get a sneak peek into Senior Projects for next year! • Friday, June 17: Last day the College Counseling office is open before summer.

17. JUNIORYEAR TIMELINE, continued • Over the Summer… • Plan college visits! Be sure to call ahead/or book online in advance: summer is a very busy time for colleges. • August 1: Students create Common Application account at1 www.commonapp.org. • August: Writing the College Essay summer workshop at Bush. (Likely first two weeks of August, more details TBD.) • Wednesday, August 24 & Thursday, August 25: Senior Sessions in Wissner Classrooms from 1:00-3:00pm that focus on Naviance and the Common Application – you only need to come to one! Make-up session will be available in early September. • Thursday, August 25: Senior Application ‘Drop-in Hours’ in Gracemont from 10:00am-12:30pm.

19. STANDARDIZED TESTING • Always the student’s responsibility to stay on top of test registration dates and to register for exams. • Always the student’s responsibility to send test results to your schools next fall – College Counseling never sends test scores to colleges (with the exception of AP). • Register early! Late registration results in extra fees, having to take tests at locations far from your house, and at the worst, test centers reaching maximum capacity. • With the exception of the PSAT and AP exams, no standardized tests take place at The Bush School. • Subject Tests: Only required by some schools – most juniors who take them do so in June. You can take 3 ST/test day but not on the same day as the SAT. We counsel students individually on whether or not to take these exams. • Bush School CEEB Code needed to register: 481085 • Please see Melissa & Alice for info on fee waivers!

20. ACT/SAT TEST DATES AND DEADLINES

22. THE COLLEGE APPLICATION • Common Application (http://www.commonapp.org/) • Coalition Application for UW (http://www.coalitionforcollegeaccess.org/) • UCAS for UK (https://www.ucas.com/) • College-specific applications (e.g. Georgetown, Elon, Evergreen)

23. BASIC ELEMENTS OF THE APPLICATION • Transcript & Course Selection • Extracurricular Activities • Essay and Supplements • Letters of Recommendation • Standardized Testing • Demonstrated Interest (College visits, Bush Visits, Interviews)

24. 2015/2016 COMMON APPLICATIONESSAY QUESTIONS (Choose 1) • Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. • The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? • Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again? • Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma-anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution. • Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family. (250 word minimum, 650 word maximum)

26. RESEARCHING COLLEGES Use a variety of sources and be wary of rankings, as the variety of methodologies used may not match your values. Below are some resources our students have found useful: Online Resources: • Niche.com • Unigo.com • CollegeXpress.com • Collegeboard.com • College-specific websites Guidebooks: • The Fiske Guide to Colleges • Colleges That Change Lives • The Insider’s Guide to Colleges • Peterson’s Guide to Four-Year Colleges

27. COLLEGES VISITING BUSH • You get to learn what is unique about the school and gain a sense of its “vibe”. • You get the chance to ask questions in a small group setting. • Traveling upstairs to the 3rd floor of Gracemont is a cheap and easy way to do college research. Plus, we have candy. • The admissions rep (who is going to read your application) gets to know you better. • The admissions rep (who is going to read your application) gets to know Bush better. • You demonstrate interest.

28. VISITING COLLEGES: WHAT TO DO? • Information Sessions • Campus Tours • Overnight Visit in a dorm with a current student (next fall) • Class Visits • Open House programs/Special Events • Interviews (summer & next fall/winter) • Make the most of your visit – talk to as many people as you can and explore the surrounding neighborhood! Remember to plan ahead: Check college admissions websites for registration information at least two weeks in advance of your visit.

29. Strike up casual conversations with multiple students on campus, not just the tour guides, but not only one random student, either. • If you’re interested in any particular majors, visit the department. You never know what professor or student might be willing to answer questions. • Realize that visits during the academic year will give differentinformation than when class is not in session. • Take photos and keep notes—they run together after a while!

30. SO YOU CAN’T VISIT COLLEGES…NO BIG DEAL!Other ways to learn about a school and demonstrate interest • Come to the visits at Bush. • Attend local admissions events/presentations in the spring and fall. • Attend spring PNACAC and fall NACAC college fairs. • Talk to Bush alums—see Melissa and Alice for contact info. • Interview with local alums (availability/process varies from college to college).

31. NAVIANCE/FAMILY CONNECTION Naviance/Family Connection website: https://connection.naviance.com/bush You can also link to Naviance from the Junior/Senior Portal on The Bush School College Counseling website: https://www.bush.edu/CollegeCounseling.