Irvington High School
Counseling Department
INFORMATION FROM THE IHS COUNSELING DEPARTMENT
D ear Seniors,

We hope that this message finds you well! As we continue through this time of virtual learning and social distancing, we understand the anxiety and stress that is coming not only from trying to adapt to new learning, the state of the country, and also navigating what is next with your post secondary planning.

Don’t forget to take some time to engage in things that interest you, spend time with your family, and enjoy the slow down. Did you see the email we sent with ways to enjoy this unprecedented time? Missed it? Click here to read it!

Below are some common FAQs to review as we go into the last quarter of your senior year. The topics include:

  • Keeping up with Academics
  • Making a College Decision
  • Waitlisted? Now what?
  • Depositing
  • The world of work
  • Working Papers
  • What we've been up to!

We recognize the challenging and uncertain time we are living in right now. Please know that the counseling team is here for you as a resource in whatever you may need. We look forward to the day we can celebrate together your accomplishments over the last four years!

Be well,
IHS Counseling Department 
How Can I Keep Up with my Academics?
Teachers have been reaching out if you have missed more than two days of distance learning or many assignments. Be sure to communicate back to teachers if something feels challenging, you are having difficulty with the online format, or generally need support in the classroom, they are happy to support you in your learning. 

Please review the latest blast from Ms. GM about grading for 3rd and 4th quarter. Our counseling office policy still stands that we will send your transcripts to colleges at the end of the school year so they can ensure that you have graduated and are able to matriculate in the fall. 

Remember, many classes you are taking your senior year are needed for graduation by NYS graduation requirements. If you feel you are struggling, please reach out to your counselor for support as soon as possible to stay on track. 

Having a hard time organizing your day? Consider making a schedule to maintain some structure of the day. Consider this time a good trial run for college. During your time at college, you will need to schedule your day and balance the work you have instead of classes being scheduled one directly after the other. 

How Do I Make a College Decision?

Creating a college comparison sheet can help you sort out your thoughts on different colleges. When thinking about making a decision about college, consider a few different categories for your comparison:

  • Cost: think about cost not only in the annual cost of attendance, but also other factors like how much debt you will accumulate after you graduate. Think also about the hidden costs such as travel to get home. Remember, college is an investment in your future and projecting future earnings can also be helpful in evaluating the cost of each institution. 
  • Getting back financial aid packages and not sure how to make sense of them? Consider using a few of the following resources to compare your financial aid packages:
  • College Board "Compare Aid Calculator"
  • Fin Aid Award Letter Calculator
  • Learn the Lingo- What does your financial aid package mean?

  • Location: reflect back to some of the tours of colleges that you have taken over the last few years. Where did you feel the most at home? Can you see yourself in the middle of a city navigating public transit? Are you more comfortable on a campus that you will need to travel 30 minutes for anything to do off campus? Did you like the feel of being somewhere with a “college town”? What college most matches your location preference? 

  • Major: Do you have a major in mind? If so, what does each program provide you for internships, research opportunities, or other field experiences. What are the class sizes like? How will you learn best? 

  • Campus life: How do you envision spending your weekends and free time on campus? What type of clubs and organizations does the college provide? What is housing like? What type of activities are there to do that interest you?

Consider using online websites like “College Scorecard” to compare your different colleges. Simply searching your colleges will help you learn data on the graduation rate, salary estimates after completing your degree, and average debt after graduating. https://collegescorecard.ed.gov

While many colleges are closed to visitors at this time, there are opportunities to visit and learn about your different college choices:

  • Virtual Accepted Student Days: Some colleges are offering accepted student days virtually for you to take a tour of campus, learn about different programs, and hear from college administration.

  • Connect with your admissions counselor: Admission counselors at the college you have been admitted to are great resources for you to ask specific questions about the colleges you have been admitted to. 
What If I Have Been Waitlisted?
You may have heard back from colleges that you are waitlisted. Each college views their waitlist differently and how they accept students off the waitlist. Sometimes, students are ranked on a list and others and chosen off the list based on a major that the college is looking to fill.

The first thing to do when waitlisted is to let the college know if you are interested in staying on the waitlist. By taking yourself off the waitlist, you are potentially giving another student the opportunity to go to that college that they are highly interested in.

If you stay on the waitlist, you will want to reach out to your admissions counselor with a letter of continued interest ( see sample letter here ) and to follow up and ask what supplemental documents you can submit to highlight your candidacy for admission.  

Common supplemental documents you can submit include any new honors or accomplishments that you have received since you submitted your application. It also does not hurt to see if they would do another interview. 

Remember, you will need to deposit somewhere by May 1st even if you are still waiting to hear about your waitlist candidacy at another institution. Failure to do so can result in limiting your options after May 1st. 

What Should I Do When I Have Made a Decision?

Typically, May 1st is the day you want to confirm what college you will be attending. Many colleges in light of the current events, some colleges are extending their deposit deadline. You can check your college website or you can research the list here: NACAC College News 

Many colleges require a deposit in order to reserve your space. If you are unable to pay the amount requested by your college, reach out to your counselor to review options and for support on what to do next. 

Make sure you are also reviewing your Naviance account and updating your admission decisions. This helps us keep accurate data for future years using the scattergram feature. Once you have the college you have deposited to, make sure that you are setting “College I am Attending” so we know where you are heading in the fall! You may notice that you are having difficulty with your password for Naviance. Please contact your counselor to reset your password. 

We do not condone putting a deposit down to more than one college. Use this time to evaluate your admissions officers and make the best decision for you. By double depositing, you are potentially taking a spot away from a student on the waitlist. If you are struggling in making your decision, reach out to your counselor for support on making your decision.
What Do I Do If I Want to Enter the World of Work After Graduating?

If you are thinking about entering the world of work as your post secondary plan, there are a few things that you can get started on during this time to help prepare for this next step. 

Typically for employment, you will need both a resume and cover letter. Google has few resume templates if you have not started a resume yet.  

Consider this article on how to create a cover letter when you are a recent graduate: https://www.thebalancecareers.com/student-cover-letter-samples-2063664  

What Do I Do if I Need Working Papers?

The process for working papers has changed a bit. Should you want to/need to request working papers please email our school nurse, Mrs. Basha at Elizabeth.Basha@irvingtonschools.org. She will be able to support you through the new virtual process.

How Your Counselors Decompress
The School Counseling Team

Emily Colman (last names A-C)  e-mail

Heather Attenello (last names D-J)  e-mail

Andrew Lund (last names K-P)   e-mail

Rebecca Kruge (last names Q-Z)   e-mail










You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link at the bottom of every email