CLICK HERE to access a list of summer opportunities available for high school students. These are summer programs who have sent fliers or emails to The College Office at Beacon. It is by no means an exhaustive list of the opportunities available.
Juniors -
The College Office Bulletin is going to be updated as often as possible and will contain valuable information about resources in the college selection process. It will list current reminders, SAT dates and deadlines, open-house and college fair informations, summer opportunities, test prep programs, and eventually scholarship information. Copies will be distributed in advisory, and will be made available in the college office and on this website. Please be sure to check regularly for updated information. You can CLICK HERE for the Bulletin given out the week of February 13th.
Hello Parents/Guardians of the Class of 2007! The College Process is officially here. Each of you should have received a mailing from the College Office before February break welcoming you and your family into the College Process. If you did not receive this mailing, it is likely because the programming office does not have a correct permanent address for your family. If this is the case - please contact the programming office immediately and make sure to take the necessary steps to ensure that your address is corrected. In case you did not receive in introductory letter - or you have lost the letter you can CLICK HERE to print out a copy. In addition to the letter to parents the mailing included a parent questionnaire. This is an optional form that the college office provides for parents who want to give the college office background information about their son/daughter that will help us to get to know them better and to serve them best in the college process. You can download a copy of the parent questionnaire by CLICKING HERE.
Please check this website regularly as it should be a useful source of information as we proceed through the college application process.
Welcome to the Class of 2007! I am excited to be working with you as you make your way through the College Application Process. I know that this can be a scary and stressful time - but my hope is that it can also be a FUN and EXCITING time. Here are some tips to get you started:
1. The most important thing is to keep focused on your grades (it is not too late to get good grades even if they haven't been as strong as you would have liked in the past).
2. Continue to take the most challenging courses that you think you can be successful at.
3. Continue to engage in extra curricular activities. There is no BEST list of activities. Explore what you are interested in whether it is an art class, and academic program, a sport, a musical instrument, social/political action, community service, an internship, a part-time job, or even taking care of siblings and family members. It is not quantity but quality that counts. One or two things that you have been committed to over time and show growth in is all that is expected.
4. Do something withyour summer other than sit on the couch. Again, this could be many different activities - just do something that is exciting to you!
5. Start thinking globally about college. This means that you don't have to have a final list of schools - you just need to start thinking about your preferences: (size, location, weather, strength of academic area of interest, athletics, activism, social life, diversity, etc)
6. Research!
7. Come introduce yourself to the College Office Staff. The better we know you - the more effectively we can help.
8. Hand in your Junior Packet
9. Create a place at home to keep your college paperwork organized. Keep copies of everything sent to you and everything you mail out.
10. When you talk to college representatives on the phone - or in person, write down the date and time of the conversation and the name of the person you spoke to. In person -ask for a business card and follow up with an email thanking that person for their time.
11. Don't get your heart stuck on one specific school - but rather get excited about a bunch of schools. This will lead to less disappointment. There are several great college fits for every student out there.
12. This process is a unique process for each of you - be true to yourself. Don't make choices based on what your friends are doing.
13. Please be respectful of others through this process. I don't want to hear "X College Sucks" or anything similar. Be aware that students around you may be in a different situation than you are and you don't want to hurt anyone's feelings by being inconsiderate.
14. I will end with the most important thing ... as you begin to go through this process - remember to MEET ALL DEADLINES - actually I prefer you BEAT the deadlines - and follow exact procedures.
15. GET EXCITED! EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU HAS COLLEGE OPTIONS!!!!! (regardless of your grades, test scores, finances, etc....)
9-11th Grade Families-
Last week on Beacon Announce, I sent out a message announcing a pre-college workshop being held by Learning Leaders on February 21st. I mistakenly put a phone number down to call for more information. That phone number is only for emergencies. You can CLICK HERE to read the flyer for the program. To register for the event - you can CLICK HERE to download the registration form which can be faxed to Learning Leaders. If you do not have access to a fax machine - I am glad to fax the forms from the College Office (Rm B-10).
The coodinator of this program was overwhelmed by calls from Beacon parents (over 27 calls last week) and apologizes for being unable to respond to them all.
Please note - this program is ONLY for students - not families.
I apologize for not giving you all of the pertinent information last week. Thank you for your understanding.
Seniors should alert the College Office IMMEDIATELY if there are any grade changes that need to be made and should follow the regular procedures for getting grades changed. Changes must be reflected on their transcript by Wednesday, February 8th. No exceptions will be made. Please be clear that changes should only be requested if there was an ERROR – there is no begging for grade changes with additional work presented.
Mid year grades will automatically be sent to all colleges (other than CUNY) that students have applied to. We do not need any forms, envelopes or stamps from students.