We have a new Director of College Counseling, Deborah Heller, and she is very excited to be working with you! Dara Klein and Raydale Blaylock continue to work in the College Office. We hope that you had a wonderful summer and look forward to meeting with each of you over the next few months! You will be receiving information in advisory on Wednesday letting you know how you can set up your senior meeting and sign up for college rep. visits. Also, your GPA's covering Freshman-Junior year have been updated in Naviance. If you have any questions about your GPA feel free to come speak to someone in the college office about it.
Please see the link below for upcoming Open House Programs and College Nights in NYC. Also remember to sign up now for the October SAT if you plan to take it. The deadline is September 9th!!
We know that this time of year can be stressful, but we are always here to help you with any concerns or questions that you may have. Here's to a successful 2008-2009 school year!
The College Office
Open Houses and College Night Programs
On a personal note....
To all Beacon students and families past and present,
After an outstanding 6 years as the Director of College Counseling at Beacon, it is time for me to say goodbye. These years at Beacon have allowed me to meet so many extraordinary students, families and staff members. I will carry what each of you has taught me always. Beacon is a family, so this will not be goodbye but see you soon.
Keep making the world a better place!
Ms. Binder (official now Mrs. Fuentes)
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GRADUATES OF THE CLASS OF 2008!!!
Final transcripts with graduation dates are being mailed to your colleges TODAY, Monday, June 30th! All grade changes that were communicated to the programming office and the college office have been made!
You may get a letter from a college saying that your final transcript is missing and needs to arrive by a certain date. Please do NOT worry... this is common, it very likely crossed in the mail with your transcript. You can assume at this time of year that colleges are getting many transcripts mailed from many high schools - please allow two to three weeks for colleges to be able to acknowledge receipt of your transcripts.
It has been a pleasure working with the class of 2008! Best of luck to all Beacon graduates!
The College Office Staff
Are you still unsure of your college plans for next year?
Are you stressed about your May 1st deadlines?
Not sure where you want to go to school?
Not sure what your financial aid packages mean?
The College Office staff is available to speak to you about your concerns. Please stop by and let us know how we can help.
Here are some things to consider:
Did you visit?
Did you feel like you could be "yourself" and fit into the community?
Have you spoken to current students or other admitted students?
Are the academics solid in the areas most important to you?
Can you have the level of access to professors that you would like?
If you are living on campus, how far from home will you be?
Will you be too far to come home as frequently as you would like (plane tickets cost money, the further you go - the more they tend to cost),
Will you be able to pursue extracurricular interests that are important to you (if you are politically active, are their opportunities to be active locally and globally? If you dance, but don't want to be a dance major, can you take classes)...
Does the school have any special services that you might need?
What is the weather like?
Have you eaten the food (if you have dietary restrictions, can they be met)?
Is there a level of diversity (however you define that) that you would like?
Is the social life the type of atmosphere you are looking for?
How is the relationship between the college and community (will there be a lot of opportunities for community service, internships)?
Can your family afford the school without going into an unreasonable amount of debt?
Can you see yourself calling this place home?
If you need help thinking this through, please come see any member of the College Office staff.
COPIES OF THE 2009 BEACON COLLEGE PLANNING GUIDE ARE NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE!
Not sure where to begin with the College Search?
Want advice from former Beacon Students?
Not sure what to do when visiting a college?
Want information on College Essays?
What's the difference between SAT and ACT?
What should I consider if I am an athlete?
How do I find scholarships?
What is financial aid?
How do I write a resume?
What should I do when asking for recommendations?
THE BEACON COLLEGE PLANNING GUIDE addresses all of these concerns and SO MUCH MORE....
Last week every junior should have received a copy in advisory. If they were not in advisory, they should check with their advisor for extra copies. If additional copies are desired, they are available for download on this blog --- to the right - in bold under the calendar and vital statistics. That link will always be available.
Junior College meetings are off to a great start! We are having lots of fun getting to know the students and helping to guide each student with their individual wants and needs in mind. Scheduling Procedures. Each week in advisory we are handing out meeting appointment slips for the students' whose meetings are coming up in the next two weeks. We are doing the best we can to schedule students in a fair and timely fashion with regard to when students turned in their required materials (junior packet and meeting preference sheet), and when they are free. If you get an appointment that you know you will NOT be able to attend, please let the College Office know as soon as possible so we can fill that time with another student and reschedule you for the next available time.
IF YOU HAVE NOT TURNED IN YOUR JUNIOR PACKET AND MEETING PREFERENCE SHEET - there is still time. If you need an extra copy they can be picked up in the College Office. These forms may ONLY be returned to the College Office during LUNCH BANDS.
JUNIOR COLLEGE NIGHT will be Monday, March 24th at 6pm at Beacon.
We encourage all juniors and their parent(s)/Guardian(s) to attend. We will have an energetic presentation by Larry Strickler who is a veteran of the College Admission Process from both the high school and college side. Be prepared to be entertained and learn a lot at the same time.
For those of you who like to plan ahead - we will also have a FINANCIAL AID NIGHT with special guest Heather O'Donnell (Director of Financial Services at Sarah Lawrence College) on Thursday, May 22nd at 6:15pm (location to be determined - either at Beacon or across the street at PS 191).
URGENT
SENIORITIS . . . FORGET ABOUT IT – Here’s what an actual college acceptance letter says about it: “You must successfully complete your courses currently in progress. You are expected to achieve the same level of academic performance, or higher, during your senior year as you have demonstrated throughout your high school years. Failure to complete all courses in which you are currently enrolled at our level of expected achievement may result in the withdrawal of our offer of admission.” You’ve made it this far, DON’T DROP THE BALL NOW!
GENERAL REMINDERS
• UPDATE YOUR COLLEGE RESULTS ON NAVIANCE – As you begin to hear back from your colleges, you must update your Naviance profile with the results from each school (i.e., were you accepted, denied, put on a wait list, etc.).
• FINANCIAL AID College Applications are not complete when you have mailed out your application materials. YOU MUST BE VERY MINDFUL OF FINANCIAL AID REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES. Do not drop the ball on Financial Aid – you must read the financial aid sections of your application instructions for each school. Not all school’s requirements will be the same. Financial aid is first come, first served – don’t miss deadlines!!!!
• If you have not already verified that your schools have received all necessary documents…call and check in with them… please keep in mind that it may take several weeks for them to acknowledge receipt of mail.
DON'T FORGET TO COME BY THE COLLEGE OFFICE AND LET US KNOW ABOUT YOUR ADMISSIONS DECISIONS - If you are happy we want to celebrate with you. If you are sad, we want to help you deal with those emotions too. However you are feeling, we can help (or certainly try hard).
HI SENIORS-
We just wanted to let you know that Mid-Year Grades were mailed to all colleges on or before February 14th. It will likely take about a week or so for them to be processed by the colleges. If you get word that the schools are missing them - just know they are on their way.
For any students who let the College Office know that there was a problem with a grade - those grades were corrected before being sent out.
Have a great break!!!
Beacon Families-
As many of you know, over the last several weeks - Beacon has been dealing with a variety of technology issues that have now been resolved (YAY!). We apologize that we have not been able to post more regularly to this blog - but will be up and running again after February break.
The College Office Staff wishes you a restful and fun week off.
Juniors: The College Office staff has started coming around to advisories to introduce ourselves and the college search and selection process. We have been handing out a JUNIOR YEAR - TO DO LIST - with a check off list of things to be thinking about every month. If you would like an additional copy: CLICK HERE
Juniors/Junior Families: What to expect in the coming months...
(the following is also being mailed home the week of January 22nd)...
This is your official WELCOME to the college search and application process! The College Office staff is excited to begin our work with the Class of 2009! In the last two weeks, We have started to visit junior advisory classes to introduce ourselves and mark the official start of the college process. We will be continuing these introductory visits until February 13th. These initial meetings are an overview of what is to come – with an emphasis on the fact that any student who wants to go to college can – regardless of their grades, test scores, differences of ability, financial constraints, citizenship status, etc. Every student has college options!
During the parent/advisor conferences earlier this semester, you should have received a letter outlining a general overview of the college search and selection process. For a copy of that letter you can CLICK HERE. At that time, we also handed out a parent questionnaire. This gives you the opportunity to give us some insight about your students that you would like us to consider when helping them find appropriate college fits. This is an optional form. If you have not filled it out and would like to, you can access another copy by CLICKING HERE.
During the first week of second semester, we will be taking students out of their history classes for one day to get them registered with a web-based computer software system called Naviance, which will allow the students and the College Office to communicate with each other throughout the process. It also has wonderful search features and connects directly to individual college websites.
On February 6th, current seniors will be going into junior advisories to hand out the Junior Packet. At this time, juniors will be able to talk to seniors about how they managed to get through this process. The “junior packet” is a questionnaire that we ask all students to fill out about their experience in high school, and their thoughts about college. It is a detailed packet that we will use to get to know them better so we will be prepared to meet with them in their individual meetings. Individual meetings will be scheduled once the packet is completed. Each student will be given a preference sheet to indicate when they would like to come for their meeting. This will ask if parent(s)/guardian plan to attend and requires your signature. Throughout this process, several forms will require your signature. This is the best way for us to insure that you are in the loop.
Also in February, we will be distributing a Beacon College Planning Guide to every Beacon junior (and every junior advisor). This will be a comprehensive 50+ page guide to many different aspects of the college search and selection process. It will cover many topics such as (but not limited to) – how to search for schools, campus visits, interviews, writing essays, asking for letters of recommendation, issues for students with special needs, athletics, testing, financial aid/scholarship, etc. The College Office staff and advisors will discuss many of these topics at length in advisory. Parents will be able to view or download their own copy from our website in late February.
On Tuesday, March 24th the College Office will be hosting Junior Family College Night for students and parents. We have a guest speaker coming to address many different important aspects of the College Process. In May, we will have a financial aid expert come speak to families about the financial aid process. You are encouraged to attend all events.
During senior year, there will be another College Night, and another round of individual meetings. We will offer group and individual workshops on essay writing and mock interviews. Beginning in September over 75 college representatives will visit Beacon to talk with students interested in attending their institutions. Students are not required to take part in these activities, but are encouraged to take advantage of the many resources that will be provide by the College Office throughout the next year and a half.
The College Office staff is very happy to help you with questions that you may have along the way. We look forward to working closely with you all as we move forward with this often daunting, but also exciting process of college selection.
Happy 2008!
The College Office Staff
I apologize for the delay since our last post. We have been very busy in the College Office processing the paperwork to send out to your colleges. Please pay close attention to the following messages:
Turning in Transcript Request Forms
The College Office will not be accepting any application materials the week of Dec. 17-21st. The last time we will be accepting materials before break is Thursday and Friday (Dec. 14th and 15th). We will be spending next week ensuring that we get out all requests that were given in up until this point. If you have anything due after January 15th – you can turn it in to the College Office after the holiday break. We will continue to accept materials on Monday's, Thursdays and Fridays during lunch bands and between 2:30-4pm. Please remember, in order for the College Office to guarantee timely processing of paperwork, you must follow all procedures and give the College Office transcript request forms three weeks prior to application deadlines.
Check in with Colleges to be sure that they have received ALL materials that are needed. Wait until 3-4 weeks after materials have been sent before you call (do not include the week between Christmas and New Year’s). It takes colleges several weeks (up to six weeks with CUNY and SUNY) this time of year to be able to open and sort mail and update their systems to show receipt. Many schools will let you know if they are missing something, but some will not. IT IS THE STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITY TO CHECK IN WITH THEIR COLLEGES UNTIL ALL APPLICATIONS ARE COMPLETE. If you get an email or letter that your high school transcript is missing – please call the college directly to check before contacting the College Office. Please also let the college know that the transcript may have been sent before the application was received.
FINANCIAL AID:
College Applications are not complete when you have mailed out your application materials. YOU MUST BE VERY MINDFUL OF FINANCIAL AID REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES. Do not drop the ball on Financial Aid – you must read the financial aid sections of your application instructions for each school. Not all school’s requirements will be the same. Financial aid is first come, first served – don’t miss deadlines.
HAVE A HEALTHY AND HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON!
The College Office Staff
SENIORS:
Please note: In the last few weeks, the College Office gave presentations of Application Procedures in all English classes. If you missed this presentation, please come to the College Office to get materials that were handed out.
Every student is expected to follow procedures as outlined in the Application Procedures packet. Extra packets and transcript request materials can be picked up at any time in the College Office.
Please note that materials can ONLY be dropped of for transcript requests during Lunch Bands and After School (3:30-4pm) on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. Please plan accordingly.
These procedures are necessary to ensure that all application materials can be mailed out in an accurate and timely fashion.
Senior College Information Night
Thursday, October 18th, 6:00 – 8:00pm at Beacon The evening will start
off with a presentation from a panel of college admission experts and then
break into smaller workshops covering a variety of different topics (ex. How to distinguish yourself in a selective college admission pool, ins and Outs of SUNY/CUNY, Essay Writing, Interview Skills, Parents Dos and Don’ts, Opportunity Programs, Art/Theater/Dance Students, etc.). We are very excited to bring you this program and hope to see students and parents/guardians there.
NO RSVP needed.
TRANSCRIPT CHANGES - Seniors – if anything on your transcript is incorrect – YOU MUST HAVE IT CORRECTED by Wednesday, October 10th. After October 10th, the college office is going to be printing transcripts to send to colleges and is not responsible for mistakes that have not been corrected by that time. PLEASE NOTE – do not assume the change has been made until you have requested a transcript from the programming office and seen that it is now correct. If you are making a change to your transcript – notify someone on the College Office staff so that we can double check your transcript for the change before we send it out
Well, it's that time of year again. The College Office Staff hopes that everyone enjoyed their summer and had an opportunity to relax and regroup for the exciting 2007-2008 school year. Seniors should be making the college office their second home this year. Stop by and say hi.
We have some reorganization in the College Office this year. Please stop by room B-08 and say hi to our new Guidance and College Counselor - Ms. Dara Klein. (Yes, another fabulous Ms. Klein.) Sadly, Mr. Fleck will not be returning to Beacon - but Ms. Klein will quickly pick up where he left off as a wonderful part of the Beacon Counseling Team.
REGISTER NOW FOR YOUR REMAINING SAT/SAT II or ACT Exams!! The deadline to register without a LATE FEE is September 10th. That's next week. Don't miss out - GET ONLINE AND REGISTER. If you need a fee waiver - please come to the COLLEGE OFFICE ASAP.
SENIOR MEETINGS
In advisory this week, you will be receiving a Senior Questionnaire and a senior timeline and a senior meeting request form. A senior meeting schedule will be developed on a first-come, first-served basis and you will receive your date and time during your advisory class. When you come to your senior meeting, you should be further along in the process then you were last time we met. These meetings are optional - you should come with questions. The meetings will last 30 minutes.
IF YOU NEVER HAD A JUNIOR MEETING let's schedule that ASAP. You must still fill out a junior packet. If you need a copy - come to the college office and pick one up.
SENIORS, if you are an artist and have some work you would like to display in the College Office, we would be glad to shamelessly rave about it when college representatives come to visit.
Juniors and Seniors - A list of visiting representatives will be available in your advisories and online very soon. It will be revised daily so be sure to listen to announcements for the most up to date information. Remember ... YOU MUST SIGN UP IN THE COLLEGE OFFICE TO ATTEND THESE MEETINGS - even if you are free or have lunch. And if you are missing class- you must get a pass signed by your teacher - 3 days in advance - NO EXCEPTIONS!
We know that everyone has different feelings about the college process from excitement to fear and everything in between. We are here to help you navigate this difficult time - we will get through it together and before you know it we will be taking pictures of you in your caps and gowns.
As you start this year, let me share with you some advice from former Beacon students. Click HERE to find out what the class of 2004 said when asked what advice they would give future seniors.
Do not forget - senior year shouldn't be all about the college process. There is lots to be learned and fun to be had as well. Here's to a fabulous year! See ya soon in B-10! Cheers to the class of 2008!!
Much more to come ... please check back regularly.
Congratulations Class of 2007! Graduation is finally hear. For those of you who are heading on to college - whether you are graduating now or at the end of the summer, The College Office has to send your FINAL TRANSCRIPT to the colleges you will be attending.
This will happen automatically. You DO NOT need to give us any specific forms other than those we required of you to sign your graduation checklist.
WHAT WE DO NEED ... if you have ANY problems with your FINALY GRADES and know that there will be a change on your transcript - you MUST notifiy the COLLEGE OFFICE IMMEDIATELY!
We will be sending Final Transcript this Thursday June 28th and Friday June 29th and don't want to send anything out that is incorrect. It is your responsibility to notify us of any changes and to follow through with teachers responsible for making those changes. You must also let us know when the change has been made so that we can send the corrected transcript to your college.
For those of you who are taking summer school classes, we will let your colleges know that a final transcript will be mailed when we return to workat the end of the summer.
Thank you! CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN ON YOUR GRADUATION!
The College Office Staff
The Beacon College Planning Guide, a reference tool created by the College Office Staff was handed out to all junior in February, through advisories.
This is a 60+ page booklet that discusses all aspects of the college search and selection process including topics such as: how to start your search, writing the college essay, standardized tests, issues facing students with learning/physical disabilities, scholarships, helpful website, etc.
You can view and print an extra copy of this booklet by CLICKING HERE.
A link to this planning guide can permanently be found on the right side bar of this blog following the VITAL STATISTICS SECTION.
Now that May 1st is behind us - Seniors should:
NOTIFY SCHOOLS THAT YOU DO NOT PLAN TO ATTEND: Most of you have chosen your college and have sent off the deposit. Take a moment to write a short note to the other colleges who accepted you and let them know that you will not be attending. This way they do not have to do any further work on your behalf and can offer your spot to other interested students. It’s quick and easy and you can use the same form letter for each college – for example….Thank you for offering me admission to (insert name of school) for the fall 2007 semester. After careful consideration, I have decided to enroll at another college (you can name the school you will attend if you want – but you don’t have to). I appreciate all of the time that your office put into my application review. Sincerely, (typed name, social security number and signature).
SAY THANK YOU to your TEACHERS and ADVISORS who wrote your recommendations. They helped and had a role in your success.
NOT LOOK BACK: You made your decision and just dropped your deposit into the mailbox. Suddenly panic sets in – OH NO, I made a mistake! STOP!!! A recent study by the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) found that “about 87 percent of college students rate their overall experience as ‘good’ to ‘excellent,’ and 80 percent would probably go to the same institution if they had it to do over.” So relax, calm down, you made the right decision. The process is over; the future is waiting. Now hit the books, keep up the grades and you’re all set for college in September.
UPDATE NAVIANCE: As you begin to hear back from your colleges, you must update your Naviance profile with the results from each school (i.e., were you accepted, denied, put on a wait list, etc.). THIS WILL BE MANDATORY BEFORE GRADUATION – SO YOU MIGHT AS WELL DO IT NOW!!!!!!!!! Colleges require final transcripts with proof of graduation, before you can register for classes, and we will be sending only those final transcripts for students who have updated NAVIANCE.
NOT BLOW IT NOW: Remember, colleges can REVOKE YOUR ADMISSIONS DECISION if you change your academic course load significantly or if your grades take a dive after you have been admitted. Don’t give them a reason to get in touch with you over the summer to tell you they have changed their minds – THIS DOES HAPPEN! You are so close to reaching a major achievement – HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION. Stay focused and do what needs to be done.
Are you still unsure of your college plans for next year? Are you stressed about your May 1st deadlines? Not sure where you want to go to school? The College Office staff is available to speak to you about your concerns. Please stop by and let us know how we can help.
There are some things to consider:
Did you visit?
Did you feel like you could be "yourself" and fit into the community?
Have you spoken to current students or other admitted students?
Are the academics solid in the areas most important to you?
Can you have the level of access to professors that you would like?
If you are living on campus, how far from home will you be?
Will you be too far to come home as frequently as you would like (plane tickets cost money, the further you go - the more they tend to cost),
Will you be able to pursue extracurricular interests that are important to you (if you are politically active, are their opportunities to be active locally and globally? If you dance, but don't want to be a dance major, can you take classes)...
Does the school have any special services that you might need?
What is the weather like?
Have you eaten the food (if you have dietary restrictions, can they be met)?
Is there a level of diversity (however you define that) that you would like?
Is the social life the type of atmosphere you are looking for?
How is the relationship between the college and community (will there be a lot of opportunities for community service, internships)?
Can your family afford the school without going into an unreasonable amount of debt?
If you need help thinking this through, please come see any member of the College Office staff.
SAT: Each junior is recommended to take the SAT Exam for the first time in the Spring of their junior year. April 27th is the last date to register – without a late fee – for the June 2nd test date – the last test date this school year. If are in need of a fee waiver (and qualify for free or reduced lunch at school) come to the College Office.
COLLEGE MEETINGS:
The Juniors meetings are going really well. Students are being scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis according to when they turned in their junior packet and meeting preference sheet, and the preferences they selected. Meetings will continue through May and early June. If you have not turned in your necessary information, you can stop by the College Office to pick up a copy, fill it out and return the information ASAP!
WAITING LIST… ARE YOU CURRENTLY ON A WAITING LIST FOR COLLEGE? If so, you MUST let the College Office know - IN PERSON - what school you are on the waitlist for. We need to send your 3rd Quarter grades, but will not do so, if you do not notify us. Please be sure that all grades are correct before making this request. When maintaining your spot on the waitlist – it is a good idea to write a letter to the school reiterating your interest and letting them know why you think you are a good match. In addition to current grades, you could send a graded paper to show them the caliber of work you are capable of. If you have any additional test scores or letters of recommendation you can also send copies of those. Please remember, you must make a decision to attend a school you have been admitted to and make a deposit (non-refundable) by May 1st as there are no guarantees that you will be admitted off a waitlist. Also, it is important to be aware that at many schools, students who are admitted off a waitlist receive limited financial aid.
THIS EVENT IS FOR BOTH STUDENTS AND PARENTS - JUST A REMINDER - COLLEGE NIGHT will be Tuesday, March 27th at 6pm in the Auditorium at PS 191 across the street from Beacon. We hope to see you all there.
JUST A REMINDER - COLLEGE NIGHT ( which is for BOTH parents and students) will be Tuesday, March 27th at 6pm in the Auditorium at PS 191 across the street from Beacon. We hope to see you all there.
JUNIOR PACKET AND MEETING PREFERENCE SHEETS: Juniors, if you have not already done so, please fill out the junior packet and meeting preference sheets. They can be returned to the College Office during lunch on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. Remember, BOTH the packet and the meeting preference sheet (signed by a parent) must be completed or they will not be accepted. If you have lost either the packet or the meeting sheet do not fear, just come by the College Office to get a new set.
Meetings have already begun and are being scheduled on a first-come/first served basis. Parents/guardians are invited to attend these meetings. Separate meetings for students and parents will not be possible.
YOU MUST ATTEND YOUR ASSIGNED MEETING. If you receive your scheduled meeting time, and know you have a conflict - please come to the College Office immediately to arrange for a new time.
Appointment sheets will be given out weekly in advisory for meetings for the weeks that follow. Be patient, we are doing the best we can to accomodate your free periods and your month preferences.
SENIOR ADVISORS WERE ASKED TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING ANNOUNCEMENT IN ADVISORY TODAY...
Please be aware that mid-year grades will AUTOMATICALLY be sent to ALL colleges that you have applied to. It is NOT necessary for you to turn in any forms, envelopes or stamps. These grades will be sent in early February as soon as grades are reported by teachers.
When you receive your report card you must notify your teacher and the College Office immediately if any grades are incorrect. This is not a time to try to make deals with teachers – this is only if an error is made. The College Office will be sending grades out the week of February 5th and if you do not inform us of changes within 2 school days of getting your report card – we can not be held responsible for sending out incorrect grades.
YOU are responsible for following up with your teacher until the change has been made and then notifying the College Office again when everything is accurate.
Juniors/Junior Families:What to expect in the coming months...
(the following information is also being mailed home the week of January 22nd)
The College Office is excited to begin our work with the Class of 2008! In the last two weeks, Stephanie Binder and Kevin Fleck have begun to visit Junior Advisory classes to introduce themselves and mark the official start of the college process. There are still 3 advisories that we have yet to visit – and we will be meeting with them on February 7th. These initial meetings have been an overview of what is to come – with an emphasis on the fact that any student who wants to go to college can – regardless of their grades, test scores, differences of ability, financial constraints, citizenship status, etc. Every student has college options.
Back in September, we mailed a letter to parents outlining what the college process will look like at Beacon. For those of you who would like to review the contents of that letter – CLICK HERE. At the time this letter was sent, we also sent a parent questionnaire. This is an optional form. If you have not filled it out and would like to, you can access another copy by CLICKING HERE.
During the first week of second semester, we will be taking students out of their history classes for one day to get them registered with a web-based computer software system called Naviance, which will allow the students and College Office to communicate with each other throughout the process. It also has wonderful search features and connects directly to individual college websites.
On February 7th, current seniors will be going into Junior Advisories to hand out the Junior Packet. At this time, juniors will be able to talk to seniors about how they managed to get through this process. The junior packet is a questionnaire that we ask all students to fill out about their experience in high school, and their thoughts about college. It is a detailed packet that we will use to get to know them better so that we will be prepared to meet with them in their individual meetings. Individual meetings will be scheduled once that packet is completed. Each student will be given a preference sheet to indicate when they would like to come for their meeting. This will ask if parents plan to attend and requires a parent signature. Throughout this process, several forms will require a parent signature. This is the best way we know to be sure that parents are in the loop.
Also in February, we will be distributing a Beacon College Planning Guide to every Beacon junior (and every junior advisor). This will be a comprehensive 50+ page guide to many different aspects of the college search and selection process. It will cover many topics such as (but not limited to) – how to search for schools, campus visits, interviews, writing essays, asking for letters of recommendation, issues for students with special needs, athletics, testing, financial aid/scholarship, etc. The College Office staff and advisors will discuss many of these topics at length in advisory. Parents will be able to view or download their own copy from this website in late February.
On Tuesday, March 27th the College Office will be hosting Junior Family College Night for students and parents. We have a guest speaker coming to address many different important aspects of the College Process. All are encouraged to attend.
During senior year, there will be another College Night, a Financial Aid Night and another round of individual meetings. We will offer group and individual workshops on essay writing and mock interviews. Beginning in September over 70 college representatives will visit Beacon to talk with students interested in attending their institutions. Students are not required to take part in these activities, but are encouraged to take advantage of the many resources that will be provide by the College Office throughout the next year and half.
The College Office staff is very happy to help you with questions that you have along the way. For the quickest response you can email:
Stephanie Binder at sbinder@beaconschool.org or Kevin Fleck at kfleck@beaconschool.org.
This website will be a source of much valuable information throughout this process. Please check back regularly for updates. We look forward to helping the Class of 2008 find wonderful college matches.
MID – YEAR GRADES:
Please be aware that mid-year grades will AUTOMATICALLY be sent to ALL colleges that seniors have applied to. It is NOT necessary for seniors to turn in any forms, envelopes or stamps. These grades will be sent in early February as soon as teachers report grades. When first semester grades are given out – students must notify the college office immediately if any grades are incorrect. They must then follow the proper procedures to have those grades corrected immediately.
Check to See if Appliations are Complete:
Check in with Colleges to be sure that they have received ALL materials that are needed. Wait until 3-4 weeks after materials have been sent before you call (do not include the week between Christmas and New Year’s). It takes colleges several weeks (up to six weeks with CUNY and SUNY) this time of year to be able to open and sort mail and update their systems to show receipt. Many schools will let you know if they are missing something, but some will not. IT IS THE STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITY TO CHECK IN WITH THEIR COLLEGES UNTIL ALL APPLICATIONS ARE COMPLETE.
FINANCIAL AID:
College Applications are not complete when you have mailed out your application materials. YOU MUST BE VERY MINDFUL OF FINANCIAL AID REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES. Do not drop the ball on Financial Aid – you must read the financial aid sections of your application instructions for each school. Not all school’s requirements will be the same. Financial aid is first come, first served – don’t miss deadlines.
ATTENTION SENIORS - The College Office will NOT be accepting transcript request forms the week of December 18th-22nd. We will be busy that week processing all previous requests. We will begin accepting transcript request forms again when we return from the Holiday break.
As part of this year's application procedures, we have asked all students to use new Software called NAVIANCE which helps to keep tabs on the application process on the student end and the College Office end. Students were trained on using this software through English Classes in late September. The packet that was given out during that meeting - with step by step instructions on how to perform the basic tasks can be downloaded by clicking HERE. Please make sure you are updating your profile and your list of colleges you are applying to. IF YOU MISSED YOUR TRAINING SESSION AND THE MAKE UP SESSION AND NEED YOUR REGISTRATION NUMBER - Please stop by the College Office. The WEBSITE for students to access Naviance is: http://connection.naviance.com/beaconschool.
In order to keep some sanity in the process of dropping off Transcript Request Forms and other application materials - The College Office is going to stick to a rigid schedule of when those things can be dropped off. You can CLICK HERE to download the band schedule shaded with the times we will be accepting these materials.
Those times are: Monday, and Friday D, E and H Bands and Thursdays D and E bands.
Please plan accordingly!
Hello Beaconites! I hope you are having a great summer - I just wanted to draw your attention to an article that I just read in Time Magazine called ...
Who Needs Harvard?
Competition for the Ivies is as fierce as ever, but kids who look beyond the famous schools may be the smartest applicants of all.
You can read the article at:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1226150,00.html
See you in two weeks....
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2006! It has been an absolute pleasure getting to know you and helping you navigate the College Admissions Process. You will be missed!!!!!!!!!!!! Best of luck with whatever your future holds. Please come visit Beacon often as once a Beacon student, always a Beacon student! We can't wait to hear about all the exciting things that lie ahead for you all!
Juniors - CONGRATS! You are almost seniors... a few weeks ago I gave a list out in advisory about things you should be doing before you begin your senior year. In case you need any extra copy of that - you can CLICK HERE to download a copy. In addition - you should read through the Beacon College Planning Guide that was handed out in advisory before Spring Break. It has a lot of valuable information about all areas of the College Admission Process. Stop by the college office if you need another copy. HAVE A GREAT SUMMER. Don't forget to register for fall SAT's as deadlines for October and November test dates are in September. Feel free to email Ms. Binder over the summer at sbinder@beaconschool.org.
As is typical this time of year - many students are scheduling Junior College Meetings and then not showing up for their scheduled appointment. At this point in the year, unless there is an emergency, the college office WILL NOT be able to rescheduled missed appointments until the fall semester. Please double check your meeting time and plan to arrive promptly. Please contact the College Office in advance if you are unable to attend your scheduled appointment for some reason.
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....)
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.
SUNY College at Oneonta will be holding On-Site Admissions for AALANA students on Monday, January 23 – Friday, January 27, 2006 at the SUNY Metropolitan Recruitment Center at 420 Lexington Avenue. AALANA is a program that is committed to provide students of color with the social, spiritual, and academic support necessary to thrive in a diverse community of students, faculty, and staff. AALANA applicants must be from African American, Latino, Asian, or Native American descent, and have a GPA minimum of 80 and a minimum combined SAT score of 950. This program is for AALANA students who have applied to SUNY Oneonta, but those who have not applied yet are urged to set up an appointment anyway. EOP students are invited to schedule an appointment but will NOT receive a decision at the On-Site Admissions Program. During the On-Site Admissions Appointment, members of the Oneonta admissions team will review students’ academic credentials and supplemental information. During the interview, students who meet the admissions criteria will receive a formal written agreement confirming their acceptance (pending a formal application to the College at Oneonta). Students who have already applied to SUNY College at Oneonta will have the ability to gather additional information about the campus and programs. Upon acceptance through On-Site Admissions, all AALANA students and EOP students (based on space available) will be invited to attend a bus trip to and accepted student open-house at Oneonta on April 1, 2006. Students will spend the night with a current Oneonta student and transportation, meals, and lodging on this trip will be free for participants.
**Students who call and schedule an appointment MUST bring their transcripts, test scores, and/or other supporting information for review during their scheduled appointments.
To schedule an appointment with an Oneonta admissions counselor, call 1-800-SUNY-123 and ask for the On-Site Admissions Program schedule.
There will be two evening programs happening in October. On TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18TH - The College Office will be hosting a SENIOR COLLEGE NIGHT from 6:30-8pm in the Auditorium at P.S. 199 - which is across the street from Beacon.
Wednesday, October 26th we will be hosting a SENIOR FINANCIAL AID WORKSHOP from 6:30-8pm in the Auditorium at P.S. 199 - which is across the street from Beacon.
These evening will be geared toward senior families - but ALL are welcome to attend.
There are many more people that make the College Office run than just Ms. Binder. I just wanted to take a moment and introduce them. First, is Raydale Blaylock. Ms. Blaylock is a paraprofessional at Beacon who has numerous responisibilities. You may have met her over the last several years if you have needed to replace your metrocard - or have needed working papers, etc. Ms. Blaylock is here to help the College Office run as soothly as possible and is Ms. Binder's right hand in everything she does. If you have a question - she almost always has an answer! Don't be afraid to ask.
Many of you have already met Valerie Cihylik - who is beginning her third year as a volunteer at Beacon. You may remember her if you attended essay writing or college visit workshops. Valerie will be running more of those this fall and spring and she is also wonderful enough to help author our weekly (or semi weekly) College Office Bulletin. Stay tuned for details about upcoming workshops
Also joining the college office are fabulous interns Nicole Levine and Marissa Lifshen. Nicole is currently completing her Masters at NYU and Marissa is studying at Teachers College (Columbia University). They are excellent resources and students should get to know them and ultilize their expertise. Come say hi - they are anxious to get to work!
Well, it's that time of year again. I hope that everyone enjoyed their summer and had an opportunity to relax and regroup for the exicting 2005-2006 school year. Seniors should be making the college office their second home this year. Stop by and say hi. I will begin to schedule senior meetings starting Wednesday, September 14th. When you sign up - you should be further along in the process then you were last time we met. IF YOU NEVER HAD A JUNIOR MEETING you must still fill out a junior packet before you can meet with Ms. Binder. If you need a copy - come to the college office ASAP.
SENIORS, if you are an artist and have some work you would like to display in my office, I would be glad to shamelessly rave about it when college representatives come to visit. A list of visiting representatives will be available in your advisories and online very soon. It will be revised daily so be sure to listen to announcements for the most up to date information.
I know that everyone has different feelings about the college process from excitement to fear and everything in between. I am here to help you navigate this difficult time - we will get through it together and before you know it I will be taking pictures of you in your caps and gowns.
As you start this year, let me share with you some advice from the class of 2004. Click HERE to find out what the class of 2004 said when asked what advice they would give future seniors.
For those of you who are planning to take the October SAT - unfortunately the regular registration deadline has passed but the late deadline (with additional fee) is September 14th. For the calendar of SAT dates and fees go to http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/calenfees.html
MARK YOUR CALENDAR - For those of you who like to plan ahead, there will be a Financial Aid Night for senior families on October 26th(time and location to be determined). There will be a general college information night in early October and I will give you that date as soon as it is finalized.
Do not forget - senior year shouldn't be all about the college process. There is lots to be learned and fun to be had as well. Here's to a fabulous year! See ya soon in B-10! Cheers to the class of 2005!!
Much more to come ... please check back regularly.
Seniors who applied to CUNY:
Many of you have been contacting me concerned that you received a letter from CUNY saying that they have not received your high school transcript. These letters can be discarded if the transcript was the only thing missing. Today the college office received a letter from CUNY's Director of University Admissions - Richard Alvarez which said the following:
"It has come to my attention that a number of your students received a letter from the UAPC (University Application Processing Center at CUNY) requesting additional documents. This letter was sent to students who filed a CUNY Personalized application, requesting that they send a transcript from their current high school. This request was made in error since CUNY can access their current high school transcript electronically. However, students who attended a secondary school prior to their current high school must submit a transcript from that institution if they have not yet done so."
If the letter indicated that other things are missing - please bring a copy of the letter to the college office and we will look into it immediately.
You can download this file to use as a general timeline for your college application process.
MY APOLOGIES - I have been busy processing paper work for college applications and the website entries got away from me as they tend to at this time of year. I hope that everyone is settling nicely into the new year. Second semester quickly approaches and it is an exciting time for SENIORS who are learning of their college decisions and for JUNIORS who are embarking on the college selection process.
SENIORS - Class of 2005 - you have done a great job of getting your college applications mailed out and following the college office procedures. Just remember - the college process does not end just because the applications are in the mail. For the current COLLEGE OFFICE BULLETIN FOR SENIORS CLICK HERE. You will find useful reminders and updated scholarship information.
JUNIORS - Class of 2006 - Your official welcome to the college process will come in the next two weeks when the College Office Staff (Ms. Binder, Ms. Blaylock, or one of the College Office Interns - Jessica/Tricia) come to your advisory class to give an overview of the college process and hand out the JUNIOR PACKET. The junior packet is a questionnaire that will help you to start assessing yourselves and what your priorities are in the college selection process. Once you have completed your junior packet, you will bring it to the College Office to schedule a meeting with the college office staff. In the meantime - to download a copy of the current COLLEGE OFFICE BULLETIN FOR JUNIORS CLICK HERE. You will find out about what you can be doing now, how to register for SAT's, what summer programs are available, etc. The college process should be exciting, but has also been known to be a bit daunting - the College Office Staff is here to help - come to the College Office in the Basement - Rm. B10 to introduce yourself and familiarize yourself with the resources the College Office has to offer.
Beacon will be hosting two college information nights this Fall that seniors and their families will not want to miss. The first is a general COLLEGE INFORMATION NIGHT - being held at Beacon (or across the street at the auditorium at PS 191 - final details coming soon) at 6pm on Wednesday, Oct. 13th. A panel of experts will be on hand to talk about all aspects of the college application process. The second event will be a FINANCIAL AID NIGHT that is being held on Thursday, Nov. 4th at 6:30pm at Beacon (or at the auditorium across the street at PS 191 - details to follow). This will be the first of ...
two financial aid nights the school year. It will be conducted by Heather McDonnell, Director of Financial Aid at Sarah Lawrence College. She is extremely informative, calming and funny. Sometime in early January we will have a second financial aid meeting where we will have another financial aid officer come to take you step by step through the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). We will notify you of that date as soon as it is confirmed. These events are open to all Beacon families - BUT - they are geared specifically to the needs of seniors. The same events will be held next year. In addition, there will be a college information night especially for junior families in the spring.
Attention SENIORS and SENIOR parents. Many of you may be receiving letters from colleges asking for final transcripts from Beacon. PLEASE NOTE - final transcripts for all Beacon students who graduated by June 24th, 2004 were mailed to colleges on June 28th and June 29th. Please be aware that it takes 3-4 weeks for colleges to sort mail and update their computer systems and the letters you are receiving have likely crossed the transcripts in the mail. If you have any problems. PLEASE - CONTACT THE COLLEGE FIRST. If there is still a problem, you can contact Stephanie Binder at sbinder@beaconschool.org. Please be aware that she will be out of town and unreachable from July 17-Aug 3rd. Enjoy the rest of your summer!
Congratulations! You have made it to the end of another school year. Summer awaits and it is time to relax and unwind - BUT - don't forget about The College Process. Now is a great time to get a jump start on next year. Download Ms. Binder's list of THINGS TO DO BY FALL
to make sure you are making the most of your summer months. Enjoy!
The NYC Department of Education is hosting an information session to expand higher education opportunities for students of color. The program will include information on the Gates Millennium Scholars Program as well as application procedures, financial aid, scholarships and public and private funding opportunities.
MANHATTAN:
Monday, May 17, 2004, 6-8pm
Martin Luther King High School
122 Amsterdam Avenue
New York, NY 10023
BROOKLYN:
Tuesday, May 18th, 2004
Boys and Girls High School
1700 Fulton Street
Brooklyn, NY 11213
QUEENS:
Wednesday, May 19th, 2004
York College - CUNY
94-20 Guy R. Brewer Blvd.
Jamaica, NY 11451
BRONX:
Thursday, May 20, 2004
Bronx School of Law, Gov
244 E. 163rd Street
Bronx, NY 10451
For more information call 311, or email Susan Cofield (scofiel@nycboe.net) or Stacey Haley (shaley@nycboe.net). The sessions are free and geared for current high school students and their parents/guardians.
Attention FRESHMAN and SOPHOMORE students and parents.
On Tuesday Night May 18at 6pm Beacon will be hosting a "What I Need to Know Now About College Night." There will be expert speakers discussing important topics including the changes to the SAT exam. This will be the first of several meetings of this nature, so if you can't make it to this one, there will be another early next year. PLEASE NOTE - DUE TO SPACE LIMITATIONS - SEATING WILL ONLY BE GUARANTEED FOR THOSE WHO RSVP. Please RSVP to Stephanie Binder, College Counselor at sbinder@beaconschool.org. Please let me know the name of the Beacon student and the number of people in the family who will attend. YOU MUST RSVP BY Wednesday May 12th to secure a spot.
PS - This is only for FRESHMAN and SOPHOMORE families as the topics will be geared specifically to them.
I am excited to report that since my last post (which was TOO long ago) I have had the pleasure of meeting with the majority of the class of 2005. From mid-February through early March, I visited junior advisories to introduce myself and formally begin my work with Beacon's current juniors. It is so very exciting to get to know my third class of students at Beacon. Since March 1st I have received over 60 completed junior packets and have had junior meetings with approximately 20 students. This is a fantastic class and I am really excited to get to know everyone better as we move forward.
Here are a list of the best things Beacon Juniors can be doing now to make sure they are on track in the college admissions process:
1. If you have not already - COMPLETE YOUR JUNIOR PACKET AND MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MS. BINDER.
2. Focus on your academics. Junior grades are critically important. Continue to challenge yourself with the most rigorous courses that Beacon offers that you could be successful at.
3. Look into summer opportunities (job, internship, pre-college program, volunteer work, etc). I will be posting a list of summer programs in the next week or two.
4. You should be continuing your involvements in extracurricular activities which may be a part of Beacon or outside of school. Remember, colleges are looking for quality of activities not quantity. There is no perfect combination of activities that will look "best" to colleges. A college would rather see you follow through with two to three activities for several years than join 10 clubs in your senior year. They are looking to see that students show dedication and growth within their extracurricular interests. If you feel you don't have enough activities, because you have a job, or you are committed to taking care of siblings or other family responsibilities, that is FINE all of those things are taken into consideration.
5. Make sure you are planning ahead for your standardized tests. Juniors should plan to take the SAT I exam either May 1st (Deadline for registering is March 25th) or June 5th (Deadline for registering - April 29th). See www.collegeboard.com for more details. Students who are planning to take SAT II exams should plan on beginning those this Spring as well. You should consult your academic teachers to figure out what three subjects to take. Please note: MOST SCHOOLS do not use the SAT II in their decision making process. For more information on what type of information is on each subject test, you can pick up a practice material packet in the college office.
6. Research, research, research ... consider the college process and elective. You should be spending time each week dedicated to the exploration of colleges. Websites are a great place to start. The College Board Website (www.collegeboard.com) and the Princeton Review website (www.review.com) are great places to get started.
7. Make sure to check out this website for updates. I will try my best to update it at least once a week. And don't forget to go to the "college" tab when you log onto the Beacon portal and create your college database profile.
If you are feeling totally lost and anxious about this process, you most likely have not had a junior meeting - so finish that packed and come see me. I can help you make a plan of attack for this daunting task called college admissions.
DON'T FORGET - Have some FUN with this!! I am here to help. The best way you can reach me is at sbinder@beaconschool.org
Ms. Binder
THE GOOD NEWS: I just wanted to let all the seniors and their families know that all application information requested from the college office, that was due on or before January 15th has been mailed. In addition, all requests made to the college office prior to December 12th have been completed. You should now remember to follow up with your colleges about two weeks into January to make sure that all materials have been received. Remember, it can take 1-4 weeks for colleges to process application materials at this time of year.
THE BAD NEWS: Due to some bugs in the database and time crunches, not all updates have been made to the college office database. Mr. Ordway will be working on the bugs over the vacation and all updates will be made by the end of the first week in January. If you have any questions or concerns over the break, I will be checking my email frequently.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Well, we made it to winter break all in once piece. I just wanted to let you know that if you have any college related meltdowns over winter break - or if you get college decisions that you want to share. I will be checking my Beacon email frequently.
Enjoy your holidays and I will see you in 2004!
Many testing centers will be closed tomorrow Dec. 6th due to severe weather. If you are scheduled to take the SAT I or SAT IIs tomorrow, please go to http://www.collegeboard.com/sat/html/center_closings_alert.html
where you you finding a list of closings.
Lonnie Morrison, the Director of New York Metropolitan recruitment for Syracuse University will be conducting on-site interviews at Beacon on Wednesday, January 14th, 2004 from 9:30am – until all are interviewed. Each student will get a 15-20 minute time period. Please come to the college office to arrange for your time. The appointments will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. All students applying to Syracuse should take advantage of this opportunity – EVEN if you have already interviewed with another Syracuse representative.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 8 - WINTER BREAK - The college office schedule will be as follows:
Monday - Thursday: Open E-Band (lunch) and Advisory ONLY
Friday - Closed all day
This temporary change is necessary in order to process application requests in a timely fashion. When dropping off application materials, please plan accordingly. If you have an URGENT problem that needs my immediate attention, please leave a note in my mailbox and I will come find you.
Thank you for your understanding.
The October Issue of the Atlantic Monthly magazine has some great articles about the college admission process. Whether you are a parent, a student or an educator, it is worth it to check them out. You can find them in their entirety online at http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/2003/11/admissions.htm.. Some articles are lengthy but they give some great insight into the current state of college admissions and the struggles that students face when trying to make educated college selection choices. CHECK IT OUT! I also will have copies in the College Office for those who are interested.
The Big Apple College Fairs are a great place to find information about hundreds of colleges. This year's fairs will be taking place at the following times and places. For more information, go to http://www.collegebound.net/bigapplecollegefairs/.
LOCATIONS............................. DATES/TIMES
SUNY Maritime - Bronx, NY......... Friday, October 17, 2003 - Noon - 3pm
College of Staten Island ............ Saturday, October 18, 2003 - 1pm - 4pm
York College - Queens, NY..........Sunday, October 19, 2003 - 1pm - 4pm
City College - New York, NY...... Monday, October 20, 2003 - Noon - 3pm
Polytechnic University - ............. Tuesday, October 21, 2003 - 1pm - 4pm
Brooklyn, NY
The weekly bulletin has been updated - download here. I apologize to anyone who was misinformed of the NYU open house dates. They hosted open house sessions this weekend at many of their different schools and there was an incorrect date on the bulletin. I do my best to make sure that all dates on this bulletin are double checked, but for you own peace of mind, please note the contact information in each listing and go the the respective website or call the institution for further details. Thank you.
Attention students and parents: If you received the application procedures handout at the college night, in a college meeting or downloaded it prior to October 6th, 2003, there was an error on your form. The CUNY application fee has been changed and is now $50 (not $40 as previously indicated). Sorry for any inconvenience. You can print out another copy of the application procedures below.
COLLEGE NIGHT & FINANCIAL AID NIGHT - SENIOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS - MARK YOUR CALENDARS - College Night will be Thursday, Sept. 25th at 6:00pm at Beacon. A panel of professionals from SUNY, CUNY and private schools will join us for a discussion on where students should be in the admission process, and what colleges are looking for when reviewing applications. Financal Aid Seminar - Thursday October 9th at 6pm - Heather McDonnell, the Director of Financial Aid and Sarah Lawrence College will be speaking. You do not want to miss out on this presentation. I hope to see you at both events.