October is the busiest month...

Early congratulations are in order…
Those of us who have tasted the various cakes Tatum has brought to celebrate the unit circle in math or the end of the school year in Advisory know how talented she is. So does the Culinary Institute of America, as they recently offered her early admission. To learn more about Tatum’s catering business and amazing creations, visit Tatum’s Sweet Treats website.

More Visits from College Representatives!!!
October--and a sliver of early November--marks a busy time for visits!!!

Fri, 10/6:     

• University of Redlands

Mon, 10/9:   

• Drew University

Tues, 10/10:     

• Ohio Wesleyan University
• University of Florida
• University of South Florida

Wed, 10/11:    

• Lawrence Technological Institute

Thurs, 10/12:

• Knox College

Fri, 10/13:    

• Regent’s University, UK
• Renssaelar Polytechnic Institute
• Fairfield University

Mon, 10/16:     

• St. Lawrence University
• Illinois Wesleyan University
• University of Illinois

Tues, 10/17:    

• St. Edward’s University

Fri, 10/20:    

• Kalamazoo College

Mon, 10/23:    

• Oberlin College

Thurs, 10/02:    

• University of New Hampshire

For additions and changes to upcoming visits, please also check the College Representative Visit Calendar posted on the wall just outside the second floor elevator. Sign up for the visits that appeal to you! This will help me find the proper space to hold the meeting. Thank you.

The FAFSA is now live!!!
For families seeking financial support from colleges and universities, this free federal application is a crucial first step to applying for financial aid. Families are encouraged to submit FAFSA applications as early as they can, hopefully in tandem with college applications. The reason for this is that later in the application season (e.g. late winter/early spring) schools can run out of FAFSA money to distribute.
 
Other Financial Aid Considerations
CSS - Private schools often have a second financial aid application, the CSS Profile, which takes a deeper dive into families’ true expenses. All college and university  financial aid web pages will have links to these forms. Again, it is important to apply as early as possible, as coffers can also run low later in the year.

NOTE: All colleges and universities are required by federal law to have an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) calculator on its website. Often it is on the Financial Aid main page of a college’s site. Please note that the EFC calculator does NOT include merit scholarships, which can also go to support tuition expenses.

Please let me know if you have any questions. I am happy to assist.
 
College Night 2017
Thank you to all juniors and family members for attending the “official” launch of your formal college journeys! I hope you all enjoyed playing the Kahoot Quiz debunking many of the myths of college admissions, and that you all will come see me with questions as the year unfolds. I look forward to getting to know all of you even better during our fourth quarter college admissions mini-course, and to meeting with you individually later in spring.
 
Mock Admissions Event with the University of Chicago!
On September 13, Carol Lin Murphy, associate director of admissions at the University of Chicago, led us through an enlightening workshop on how decisions of admission are made. Seniors and juniors took on the role of admissions officers, deciding between two real applications who earned admission, who didn’t, and why. Students learned that not only do applicants to this highly selective school bring impeccable academic records, but they also display a rich and deep set of activities, eloquent and thoughtful essays, and often stand out through interviews and other personal connections they build with their best fit schools.

Standardized Testing

• SAT - the registration deadline for the NOVEMBER 4 SAT is coming up--on October 5, which is TOMORROW!!!
• ACT - the registration deadline for the DECEMBER 9 ACT is coming up--on November 3!

 
For Further Reading…
SENIORS (and parents), I urge you to read “It’s Not About the Application,” a recent blog post from the Georgia Tech admissions office. It offers a breath of fresh air and a reminder about how not to get too bogged down in emotion and myopia as you prepare to send your applications into the Void of the Currently Unknown.

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