News from The Newman College Counseling Office
Happy New Year from the College Counseling office!
A new year, new beginnings. Most seniors by now have made their applications, although some colleges do have later deadlines. Juniors are getting ready to enter into the college process. Our office is, indeed, very busy!
So, to get off to a good start, please make note of the following reminders so all goes smoothly.
Seniors and Parents of Seniors!
For those who've already made applications
:
Supporting documents for applications - initial transcripts/transfer transcripts, school report, teacher letters of recommendation, counselor statement, and school profile - were all submitted by me before Jan 1.
Semester 1 transcripts went out this week.
NB: however, since colleges were closed for winter break,
documents may take
longer than 2 weeks
to download and reach a student's file to be read
. So if you receive notices saying certain things are missing, please do not worry about these notices as they are completely normal.
After January 20th, if documents still appear to be missing, let me know and we will resend whatever it is that they are looking for.
As a reminder to all, when students submit their applications, whether through the Common Application, the UCAS system, the university's own application system, or even the Coalition Application, it's worth renoting that the college counseling office is responsible for submitting the following supporting documents: the Newman transcript, any transfer transcripts if applicable, teacher recommendations, the school report, and the counselor statement.
The College office is not responsible for submitting standardized test scores.
Students must go to the testing agency directly (College Board, ACT, or TOEFL/IELTS) and order their scores to be sent to the colleges to which they are applying. NB: with a few acceptions, colleges will only accept official reports before rendering a decision. These reports often
take up to 1 month to arrive
at the colleges and processed in their system, so my best advice is to order the test reports to be sent at the time of application.
Do not rush scores!
Many colleges will not accept them this way. If you have any questions about which tests to send, or whether even you should send test scores, please don't hesitate to reach out to me at my email address,
scarlson@newmanboston.org
.
For students who have been deferred or who have a first choice college-
Now is not the time to sit back and relax! You have more control in this outcome than you realize. Keep the colleges abreast via email of all new information that might be added to your applications - (an event your club has organized, a fundraising event, an especially good grade...anything!) - and remind the colleges that you care about getting accepted. If it's a first choice college, please see me for special tips.
For all seniors: you need to carefully watch out for the serious illness that goes around when one turns a second semester senior: senioritis! It's real, and it can be harmful. Stay the course!
International Students who are seniors
If you haven't done so already, please remember to have your parents get official bank documents for
each college
to which you are applying. Many colleges require this at the time of application. Once you get the, see me and I'll help you submit them to your colleges.
*** International students working with agents
,
you MUST make me aware of where you have applied!
If I do not have the colleges listed in Naviance, I cannot submit the transcripts and other supporting documents you need to support your applications. Stop by when you have a chance, to update me.
Juniors and Parents of juniors! It's your turn now!
Please have your kids start to make appointments with me either by stopping by or emailing me with their free periods. Appointments will begin in earnest the week of Jan. 27th. Meeting regularly will allow me to get to know you so I can best advise you step by step through this process, and later advocate for you with the colleges once you've made your application. In our meetings, we'll begin by covering all aspects of your academic, extracurricular and personal lives - at least as much as you'd like to share. We'll start by recommending a standardized testing schedule too. Parents, you are also welcome as well to set up meetings with me. If you'd like to do just that, please email me at
scarlson@newmanboston.org
UPCOMING PROGRAMMING
Parents of members of the Class of 2021
Standardized testing
- Although I will be discussing individualized testing plans with each junior when they meet individually with me, my best advice to all is to register and take
both an SAT and ACT in order to determine which test the student feels most comfortable.
No one needs to see the scores if they are poor; but trying will arm the tester with valuable information. March is a great time to try the SAT and February or April the ACT. If you choose not to do this, and there would be many reasons why not,
all students should at least plan to sit for the May SAT.
Here are the spring registration deadlines for test registration.
SAT
ACT
NB: Newman will be offering a standardized testing class to our students, taught by Summit Prep,
a wonderful company from Newton MA that excels at helping students learn strategies for taking the test and improving their scores
.
The classes will run at Newman on Tuesday afternoons, from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm. It will begin on March 24th, with practice tests included. For more information, and costs $575, financial aid available. A flyer with details will be circulated through Managebac.
Let's hit the ground running!
Susan Carlson
