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B U C K I N G H A M B R O W N E & N I C H O L S S C H O O L
COLLEGE COUNSELING WORKBOOK CLASS OF 2020
Buckingham Browne & Nichols School College Counseling Office 80 Gerrys Landing Road Cambridge, MA 02138
www.bbns.org/our-campuses/upper-school-campus/college-counseling (617) 800-2106 CEEB 220-475
BUCKINGHAM BROWNE AND NICHOLS SCHOOL COLLEGE COUNSELING OFFICE DIRECTORY
Amy Selinger Director of College Counseling [email protected] Fred Coyne Associate Director of College Counseling Grade 10 Dean [email protected] Lauren Watson Associate Director of College Counseling [email protected] Katie Gayman Associate Director of College Counseling Grade 12 Dean [email protected] Christina Myers College Office Manager [email protected]
College Office Phone: (617) 800-2106 College Office Website: http://www.bbns.org/our-campuses/upper-school-campus/college-counseling Naviance: https://id.naviance.com/ College Kickstart: https://www.college-kickstart.com/ CEEB and ACT Code: 220-475
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Office Directory Inside Cover Calendar, Testing Information, What to Expect, Communication i Preface – Tools for the College Process: How to use this Workbook ii Chapter 1 – Reflections of College Admissions: The BB&N College Process 1 Chapter 2 – Especially for Parents: Your Role in College Selection 5 Chapter 3 – Beginning the Search: Research, Record, Reevaluate 7 Chapter 4 – Testing for College Admission 16 Chapter 5 – College Visits: Campus Tours and Information Sessions 21 Chapter 6 – College Admissions Criteria 23 Chapter 7 – Junior / Senior Summer: Creating your College Application 28 Chapter 8 – Senior Fall: Final Lists, Senior Fall Checklist, and Deadlines 36 Supplement 1 – The Student-Athlete S1 Supplement 2 – The Musician’s Application S2 Supplement 3 – The Artist’s Application S3 Supplement 4 – Paying for College S4 Appendix
• College / University Visit Clusters • College Research and Visit Journal pages • College Application Timetable
BUCKINGHAM BROWNE & NICHOLS COLLEGE COUNSELING CALENDAR FOR THE CLASS OF 2020
Junior Year September/October
• Save your best graded papers, with teacher comments • Parents attend College Night at BB&N • Gather artwork for portfolio (if applicable) • Register for first ACT (Feb) and/or first SAT (March) • PSAT in Oct (school registers students, scores
received in December)
January • Students assigned a college counselor • Juniors complete questionnaire/resume on Naviance • Parents complete Parent Questionnaire found on College
Counseling page of BB&N website • Attend College Counseling Workshop for juniors &
parents (w/optional Fin Aid meeting)
February • First recommended ACT (student must register) • Individual student meetings with college counselor begin
and continue through spring. Junior questionnaire and resume must be completed before the first meeting.
• Optional Parent/family appointment may be scheduled by parent/guardian after first student meeting.
March
• Try to visit three or four colleges over spring break • First recommended SAT (student must register)
April
• Attend BISCCA College Fair • ACT (student must register)
May
• SAT/SAT Subject Tests (student must register) • AP exams and BB&N exams • Select and ask teacher(s) to write recommendations
June
• SAT/SAT Subject Tests (student must register) • ACT(student must register) • Great month to visit colleges • Summer Send-off: A Common App workshop, including
essay-writing hosted by College Office
July & August • Continue to write essays. • Visit colleges! Students are expected to do the majority of
their college visiting by the time they return to school • ACT & SAT offered (student must register)
Senior Year September
• ACT (student must register) • Forms/Questionnaire due • Parents attend College Night at BB&N • Meet with college representatives visiting BB&N • Full draft of Common App/essay needed for first meeting • Update counselor on college list • Pay attention to all deadlines & requirements
October
• ACT & SAT (student must register) • Visit or re-visit colleges during long weekends • Meet with college representatives visiting BB&N • Continue to work on applications and essays • Pay attention to testing, ED and EA deadlines • Balance college list • Wrap-up visits and schedule interviews, if offered
November
• SAT/SAT Subject Test (student must register) – SAT Sub Test, Language w/ listening only offered in NOV. (Be aware of test day requirements)
• Finalize balanced list • Pay attention to application deadlines and requirements
December
• SAT/SAT Subject Test (student must register) • ACT (student must register) • Pay attention to application deadlines and requirements • Some early application decisions received this month • Senior Work Week
January
• Check student portals to confirm have been filed • Some early application decisions received this month • File all financial aid forms
March
• Admissions decisions may be released in early March April
• Most admission decisions received by April 1 • Many opportunities to revisit campuses • Inform the College Counseling Office of your
results • Meet with your college counselor to discuss options • Notify those colleges that you are no longer considering
May
• May 1 – deadline to make your enrollment decision • Notify each college to which you were accepted/wait
listed of your enrollment plans • Write a thank-you note to your recommenders
June
• Graduation!
BB&N COLLEGE COUNSELING OFFICE RECOMMENDED TESTING PLAN
www.act.org January 2019 www.collegeboard.org
Freshman year • June: SAT Subject Test in science for SOME students. Students must self-register.
Sophomore year • October: PSAT—OPTIONAL — the school will register sophomores for this test. • June: SAT Subject Test in science for SOME students. Students must register.
Junior year • October: PSAT—OPTIONAL — the school will register juniors for this test. Results may qualify
students for National Merit Scholarship. • February: Take your first ACT. Student must self-register. • March: Take your first SAT. Student must self-register. • May/June: SAT test dates can be used to take SAT Subject Tests, if appropriate, or retake the SAT.
Your college counselor will help you decide. At most, 3 SAT Subject Tests will be needed. • April-July ACT dates can be used to (re)test.
Senior year • Aug-Dec: (Re)take the ACT, SAT, and SAT Subject Tests as needed.
Date Tests Offered February • ACT March • SAT only April • ACT
May • SAT • SAT Subject
June • SAT • SAT Subject
June/July • ACT August • SAT
September • SAT • ACT
October • SAT • SAT Subject
October • ACT
November • SAT • SAT Subject
December • SAT • SAT Subject
December • ACT
In order to take SAT Subject Tests… You should be finishing…
Humanities Literature AP English (grade 11) United States (U.S.) History U.S. History (grade 11)
Mathematics Mathematics Level 1 Pre-Calculus
Mathematics Level 2 Advanced/honors Pre-Calculus (Check with Math teacher)
Sciences Biology E/M (Ecological/Molecular) Biology (with BB&N prep offering)
Chemistry Chemistry or Honors Chemistry (with BB&N prep offering)
Physics Hon Physics (with BB&N prep offering) World Languages * Chinese
Honors Level 4 or 5 (with approval of teacher)
French Latin Spanish * Test with Listening offered only in November. Please read test ticket for required equipment for test day.
Grade 9 Grade 10
Grade 11
Grade 12
JUN
E:
SAT
Subj
ect
Test
in
sc
ienc
e fo
r SO
ME
stud
ents
.
OC
T: P
SAT
@ B
B&
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JUN
E: S
AT
Subj
ect T
est
in
scie
nce
for
SOM
E st
uden
ts.
AU
G-D
EC
: Ta
ke o
ne f
ree
prac
tice
test
for
bot
h th
e A
CT
and
SAT
to
dete
rmin
e in
itial
test
ing
path
.
AU
G-F
EB
: Pla
n fo
r tes
t pre
p du
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this
pe
riod,
dep
endi
ng o
n st
uden
t sch
edul
e. FE
B o
r MA
R: T
ake f
irst A
CT
(Feb
) or
firs
t SA
T (M
ar).
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r B
B&
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divi
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from
th
is
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d.
MA
Y &
JU
NE
: Re-
test
and
/or
SAT
Subj
ect T
est(s
) for
SO
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stud
ents
.
JUL
Y/A
UG
/SE
PT/O
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/NO
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•
Ret
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•
Try
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, if n
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•SA
T Su
b te
sts,
if ne
eded
.
FALL WINTER SPRING
OC
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SAT
@ B
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N
BB
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WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE COLLEGE OFFICE
• College Counselors work with students to find the right matches. We are a College Counseling Office, not a College
Placement Office. To that end, we will meet with your son or daughter often to help them learn to identify, research, and choose the colleges that meet their needs, but we will not “give them” a list.
• College Counselors communicate with colleges about the BB&N academic program. In the fall, representatives from colleges come to BB&N to meet with seniors and with the College Office to better understand what kind of students this school produces. The BB&N School Profile (available online) also helps to communicate what our education provides. In addition, the counselors are responsible for writing the School Statement, sometimes called the Counselor Recommendation.
• College Counselors provide information. Using teaching tools such as scattergrams (charts that plot BB&N application history using grades and test scores) we help students and families understand the competitive nature of college admissions and help to manage expectations. Students use our web-based programs, Naviance and College Kickstart, with our assistance, to help craft a balanced list of colleges.
• College Counselors help students create a testing plan. While there are some general recommendations for standardized testing, testing plans are unique to each student. We will work with your son or daughter to tailor a plan for the spring of the junior year and the fall of the senior year.
WHAT WE EXPECT FROM THE STUDENTS
• Students should focus on their classes. Grades continue to be the most significant factor in college admissions
decisions, and students must put their classes first. • Students should meet with their college counselor. Starting in January, students should sign up for a meeting with their
assigned College Counselor. Prior to this meeting, students will complete a resume and questionnaire that requires some reflection on high school experiences and hopes for the future. In these early meetings, we will talk about the process, the student’s interests, and make suggestions about early research.
• Students should visit colleges. March break is the best time to begin to visit a range of colleges. These “diagnostic visits” should take students to a big university, a small college, as well as both an urban and rural setting. Students will begin to get a sense of what they might like through these visits and will better be able to refine their lists in the spring. Interviews are not recommended at this stage – just take the tour and see the campus.
• Students should check and read emails. We cannot stress the importance of this responsibility!
WHAT WE EXPECT FROM PARENTS • Appropriate Communication. Please feel free to contact us with questions, comments, and concerns. We do our
best to respond to emailed questions within two business days, but our daily priority will remain working one-on-one with students.
• Positive Support. Whether it is listening to your child, driving to colleges, or just offering a positive word, students need their parents at this time.
• Read our mail and attend our meetings. Please pay careful attention to our mailings and try to attend the meetings we schedule. Almost all of the most frequently-asked questions are addressed in advance.
• Let go. Letting your child take the lead role may be the hardest part of the process. However, it is a wonderful opportunity to watch your child take his or her first step towards adulthood. We will be here to help – both students and parents – navigate this exciting process!
Parent Communication – A Roadmap The college process is the perfect chance to practice some of the skills your child will need to be successful in college and beyond. To that end, the BB&N College Office uses every opportunity to put the child at the center of the experience. That does not mean that parents/guardians should be absent or silent throughout the process. Instead, our curriculum seeks ways to involve parents at key moments while always encouraging independence in our students. Therefore, the official start of the college counseling process is marked by your child meeting with his/her assigned college counselor. Parent/family meetings are only scheduled after that first meeting has occurred. Parents are invited, but not required, to set up meetings during the following windows:
• Parent/Family Meeting Window #1 (Late Feb/Early March): Parents are invited, but not required, to make a parent/family meeting after the student and counselor have met. This meeting might include: an introduction to the process, discussion of the testing plan, examination of financial aid opportunities, or conversation about college visits. The parent questionnaire (found on the BB&N website) should be submitted before or at this meeting. Parents should reach out directly to Christina Myers to schedule this meeting ([email protected]/617-800-2106).
• Parent/Family Meeting Window #2 (Mid-May): Parents are invited, but not required, to make a parent/family meeting after spring break but before the end of the school year. For some, this meeting may be the first parent/family meeting. (See above.) For others, this meeting may include: discussion of the college list, feedback after college visits, looking ahead to summer, examination of financial aid opportunities, or planning for the application process. Parents should reach out directly to Christina Myers to schedule this meeting ([email protected]/617-800-2106).
• Final Parent/Family Meeting Window #3 (End of Sept/mid-Oct): Parents are invited, but not required, to make a parent/family meeting in late September or early October. Topics that may be covered include: early applications, what to expect during the application process, or finalizing a balanced list. Parents should reach out directly to Christina Myers to schedule this meeting ([email protected]/617-800-2106).
• Between Meetings, Senior Work Week, and Beyond: Questions that arise between parent/family meetings, after the early round of applications, or at other times during the process can be addressed through:
• Your child: We would ask that you send your questions, comments, and concerns through your child. Students are our priority during school day and as the senior year progresses, we hope to move towards the independent management of their process. This task is a perfect way to help your child learn to develop an agenda: sit with your child and develop a list of questions to be discussed and ask for a report after the meeting. This approach encourages students to take ownership, makes sure everyone is on the same page, and teaches your child a critical skill.
• Email: Sometimes an issue of a sensitive nature arises in between scheduled meetings that you do not feel comfortable sharing with your child. Email communication directly with your child’s counselor is best in this situation. Again, please keep in mind that the school day is reserved for students. Counselors strive to return substantive emails with a thoughtful response within 48 hours. Whenever possible, emails should be shared with the student so as to provide open communication and encourage empowerment.
• Phone calls: At times, a phone call may best serve the student’s situation. Parents are asked to reach
out to Christina Myers to schedule a phone call or ask a general question that might be answered quickly ([email protected]/617-800-2106).
• Website/handbook: It is important to remember that the BB&N College Counseling page on our
school website (https://www.bbns.org/our-campuses/upper-school-campus/college-counseling) contains a wealth of information. The entire college counseling handbook is available for download and is often the best, first place to look for answers.
PREFACE Page ii
Tools for the College Process: How to use this Workbook
onsider this College Counseling Workbook the roadmap for your process. We have created it to outline BB&N’s approach to college counseling in a way that will minimize the uncertainty that surrounds the college selection process. The workbook is organized in a manner that will take you through all components of the “college admission journey” and
is designed to be used in several ways: • HANDBOOK: This book contains information about all aspects of the process,
from start to finish. Read each chapter carefully as the collective information can help answer all your questions.
• WORKBOOK: Interspersed throughout the book are worksheets that will help you navigate the process.
• NOTEBOOK: Make use of the note-taking pages, margins, and other opportunities to record your thoughts. You will be amazed at how often notes taken in the winter of your junior year can come in handy next April.
• RESOURCE BOOK: Inside these chapters is a wealth of information about research tools you can use during your search.
Preface
P
C