Important Implications of the Early Decision Trends

In looking at some early data on Early Decision trends, it is vitally important that I take a minute and describe what I am seeing and the implications I am hypothesizing. For those who do not know, Early Decision is an application type that allows students to apply "early" and receive a decision early.  However, Early Decision differs in the fact that if students are accepted, they must attend.  This becomes particularly tricky because of cost.  Early Decision applications require a signed "contract" with parent, student, and guidance counselor acknowledging that they understand the implications even if the financial aid package is not what the family desires. In other words, families that are not full pay applicants, have to exude extreme caution when thinking about using Early Decision as a method of applying.

What has become a widely spread trend is colleges and universities filling more and more of their class with early decision applicants.  For example, this year, Duke and Brown filled approximately 50% of their class with early decision applicants.  This in turn makes the regular decision applicant at a huge disadvantage because there are so many applicants vying for so few spots. Boston College added Early Decision this year, but two rounds of it.  In other words, there are two different dates to apply Early Decision to Boston College.  If they accept as many students in Early Decision 2, as they did Early Decision 1, then Boston College will also fill over 50% of the class before they even look at a regular decision applicant. 

I will be spending the next 9-12 months doing a deep dive into the world of early decision.  The implications for this pattern are widespread.  Students who may have had a realistic shot at attaining acceptance at many selective schools with a regular decision application, now need to view these colleges and universities as reaches.

This is also why it is vital to apply to range of schools: confident, realistic, and reach. Please do not hesitate to reach out to your child's counselor at any time. I am always hear to help as well.

Standardized Tests

Photo: cnn.com

As we enter the winter season, we focus on practice test review and future test registration.  If your sophomore student took the Pre-ACT this past October, the results were mailed home two weeks ago.  If for some reason you have not received it, please come to CHS Guidance and we can photocopy the result report we have on file. In addition, on Monday, November 25th, we passed out Pre-ACT booklets to students in their US1 History classes.  If for some reason your student was absent that day, come pick up the test booklet in our office.

Now that you have the results, and you have the actual test booklet back, what do you do with it?

First, start a binder that is going to contain all of your college preparation materials.  Put it somewhere in your home where both student and parent/guardian can access it easily.  Next, spend some time going over the questions that were marked incorrect using the answer key in the test result booklet.  Even though questions change, student performance will not improve unless they learn from the questions they got wrong.  Once that is complete, watch the video below.  It gives you step by step directions on how to use your Pre-ACT scores in ACT Academy so that it produces a practice program to prepare the student for the ACT in junior year.

https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/160224172541-sat-test-bubble-super-tease.jpg


Lastly, on Thursday, December 12th, at 7:45 am in the library, the CHS Guidance Counselors will be hosting a Coffee with Counselors to discuss PSAT and Pre-ACT results.  We look forward to seeing you there.

Please also note that PSAT score reports have not been sent back to CHS from College Board yet. As soon as they are here, we will put them in the mail to you.

Post Secondary Planning Night

Testing Day Details

clipartpanda.com




Tomorrow, Wednesday, October 16th, Canton High School will be administering the Pre-ACT for sophomores, the PSAT for juniors, and the SAT for a small portion of seniors.  It is important that the students have the following materials for testing day: sharpened #2 pencils (not mechanical), the calculator students use in school for their math classes, water/snack, and a silent reading book.

The best way to prepare for these exams is to eat a well balanced dinner, get 8 hours of sleep, and eat breakfast tomorrow morning.  The Pre-ACT and PSAT are practice.  These practice tests give students the opportunity to experience what these tests are like, how the questions are formatted and asked, and how they need to pace themselves through a standardized test for college admissions. 

This is not an exercise to get them stressed out or to panic if they do not well.  These tests provide students information on their strengths and areas of growth, and what materials they should focus on before they take the actual SAT and ACT in junior and senior year.

For the seniors, the best way to prepare is the same as outlined in paragraph 2 above.  Positive self-affirmations go a long way in doing your best on the SAT.  Parents and guardians, give the best pep talks of your lives tonight and tomorrow morning.  Tell your teenagers you believe in them, you trust them, and you know that they will do their best because they are ready. That will have the biggest impact on them and you.

At the End of the Day

At the end of the day, when you feel like you need someone to hold your hand, we are here.
At the end of the day, when you cannot figure out the next step, we are here.
At the end of the day, when you do not know how to balance your priorities and what to do first, we are here.
At the end of the day, when you have no idea where to get the answer to your question, we are here.
At the end of the day, when you really aren't sure about that college essay, we are here.
At the end of  the day, when you have no idea how else to help your kid, we are here.
At the end of the day, when you feel like no understands how you feel, we are here.
At the end of the day, we are ALWAYS here.

I took this picture this weekend on Martha's Vineyard at The Trustees of Reservations Long Point Beach.  The summer beach access road is now closed; the winding road is nonsensical. It made me think about life a lot.  It made me think about the life of our students a lot.
The high school years are filled with nonsensical roads.  But always remember, they do lead somewhere.  And always know, we are here to help you find it when it seems impassable.

A Marathon, Not A Sprint

The start of the school year often feels like a sprint.  After having weeks of sunshine, flexibility, and spontaneous activities, those first days of school can feel like an all out sprint. Making lunches, coordinating after school activities, and assisting with the organization of homework can collectively feel overwhelming.  What we need to remember is that we have all done this before.  We have advised, we have guided, we have supported, and we have comforted.

The important thing to remember is that a school year is not a sprint, it is a marathon.  It is 180 days of learning, growing, expanding, and discovering.  Change is not easy and often complicated, but without change, there is no growth.

As you are starting the 2019-2020 academic year, know that it is normal for your student to have an adjustment period.  Often this period is longer than one expects.  The first part of the transition revolves around adjusting to the school schedule.  The second part is adjusting to the workload once it really starts to get going.  Here are a few pointers.

1) Remind your child to breathe.  For that matter, remind yourself to breathe.  You will get through this.

2) Tackle one thing at a time.  Break down longer assignments and heavier homework nights into manageable parts.  Allow for breaks in between.

3) Schedule time for family AND friends.  Both are essential in life.

4) Listen.  Even when you want to fix it, don't.  Listen and ask the child in your life what solution seems best.

5) Reach out to us.  We are here to help.  We don't know what is going on if you don't tell us.

6) Remember that us adults make missteps every day. Every single day we falter and get back up.  Teach your child how to get back up, because that is really want you need to know how to do.

Important Guidance Dates Coming Up:

Senior Parent Coffe: Friday, September 20th, 7:45 am

Wednesday, October 16th, PSAT, Pre-ACT, SAT on a School Day

Tuesday, November 12th: Post-Secondary Planning Night

Belief

Last weekend I jumped in the car with my family to travel to Martha's Vineyard for the weekend and visit my husband's parents for Father's Day.  As we are sitting in the car on the ferry, my little one casually mentions the fact that he cannot wait until tonight because the tooth fairy is coming.  Not knowing he had lost a tooth at a friend's house that day, I was in complete shock and paralyzed with panic.  We were headed to the vineyard at night, no stores would be open, and Teagan thinks money is impersonal.  So when he loses teeth, the tooth fairy brings him small tokens - like Pokemon card packs.

So, as he is rambling away, I declare that because we are going to an island, it would be hard for the tooth fairy to get Pokemon cards there.  Teagan confirms that this is true, because the tooth fairy has to fly all the way to Japan and back to go get him special Pokemon cards and that would take several days.  That night we wrote a note saying as much: the tooth fairy would be back in five nights.

The next morning Teagan woke up and saw the note.  He was ecstatic! Teagan shared that the tooth fairy would never let him down. He BELIEVED the tooth fairy had his back, put him first, and was going to get the perfect 4 dollar pack of Pokemon cards in Japan.  What I thought was a crisis because of the potential to disappointment my son, turned into one of the biggest lessons of my life.

What if ALL of our children, and I mean ALL, BELIEVED that we had their backs? What if they BELIEVED that through thick and thin, no matter what they did or said, or what misstep they took, we would ALL be there for them? What if they BELIEVED we were resources and cheerleaders who would always help them? Can you imagine what life would be like if ALL children BELIEVED that ALL  the adults in their lives were there to help?

As we enter the summer months, I am making it a focus to see if I can make it so that ALL the children in my life (yes high school students - that is you too) BELIEVE that I am there, that I have their backs, and that I am their biggest cheerleader.  Why don't you try it too?

Why Finals?

I often hear students ask about finals. What is the point of them and why do we need them? There are many reasons. Although high school finals represent the culmination of courses, it also provides an opportunity for practice in the future. There are many times in life where the passing of a test is a requirement for the attainment of something.  In order to get a driver's license, one must pass a test.  For most four year colleges and universities, one must take the SAT or ACT.  AP courses require a test. To become a teacher, multiple tests must be passed. Trading on Wall Street requires the passing of different types of exams.  Becoming a military personnel demands the passing of multiple tests.  To enter graduate degree programs, standardized tests must be completed. 

Tests are a way of life, but there are better ways to look at them.  Tests are not punishment. They are opportunities to demonstrate that you are more resilient and resourceful than you know.  Tests cause people to plan, to organize, to figure out what is learned and what is still left to understand.  Tests bring people together in study groups.  Tests push you to your absolute best. If you change the way you look at tests, and continually say internally that you can do it and you will succeed, the results of the tests are likely to change as well.

During this finals season, sit down as family and make a plan.  Encourage group studying if that works. Get a weekly calendar and schedule breaks and fun activities too.  The brain needs space to rest just like muscles do after an intense workout. Make sure the study schedule is balanced and prepared in advance. This will reduce stress, increase confidence, and make for a calmer house.

Showing Interest

As admissions decisions come out, so do wait lists.  As more and more students apply to more and more schools, it becomes hard for colleges and universities to uncover which students are really interested in attending their institutions.  As a way to measure student interest, colleges and universities turn to their databases and analyze who visited, how many times, and what actions were taken to learn more about their schools.  In other words, colleges and universities consider the following:

How many times did the student visit campus?
Did the student attend an open house?
When the college sent an admissions representative to visit the high school, did the student attend?
If the college is further way, did the student attend a local college fair or presentation?
Did the student reach out to the admission representative and ask any questions?

A college education is the most expensive investment most people will make into their education in their entire lives.  Demonstrated interest does not just help colleges and universities analyze who may really want to attend, but is also helps students figure out if they could pictures themselves as members of that college community.  In other words, not only do visits, emails to admissions representatives, and college fairs help your chances of admission, but it also helps you figure out if you even want to take the time to apply. 

Any college or university will be better off because you are a member of their community.  No college can make you apply.  Take the time and decide what institutions are a good match for you. Take the time and show how awesome you are.  You will be happy you did and will feel more confident in the choices you make.

The link below is an article that talks about demonstrated interest and the roll it plays in admissions.

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2018-05-21/what-demonstrated-interest-means-in-college-admissions


Picture from College Match Point

March Madness

I love basketball.  I played growing up, I coached for five years, and now I oversee twelve coaches for boys basketball in my hometown.  March is my favorite time of year, not just because it is my birthday, but because of March Madness. If you have been like me and watched the majority of the tournament, you have seen amazing games ending in overtime and even a couple being decided by a foul call made by a referee in the final seconds. However, in all this excitement, one story stands out.

I was scanning the internet looking for more articles on the Final Four teams and came across a story about Texas Tech. In the middle of the season, the team had a little mini collapse, losing three games in a row.  The coach, Chris Beard, knew he had to do something.  Hating the distraction of cell phones, which he had already banned at team dinners and other events, he decided to ban them at night.  The remainder of the season, the team went 13-1.  Now, tonight, they play for the NCAA Championship.

Recently, I participated on a panel following the documentary, Screenagers. We talked about the importance of establishing family values and guidelines around digital use. Although these conversations with young adults can be hard, they need to be able to unplug from the rest of the world and give their brains a break. The Texas Tech story provides a very interesting correlation between cell phone use and team focus and success.

The link below has the entire story. I am sure his players did not have their cell phones last night.  I am sure they slept better without them. Regardless of what happens tonight, I am so proud of the example they set for young athletes today.

http://time.com/5565272/college-basketball-team-ban-cellphones/

Oh, The Places You'll Go

A couple of seniors came to see me to talk about putting up a post-secondary planning bulletin board in the hallway.  They wanted a way to mark their exit out of Canton High School and their entrance into adulthood.  I absolutely loved our conversation and having an opportunity to reflect on their thought process and how we could make this bulletin board inclusive of everyone's plans.

During our conversation, we remembered the Dr. Seuss book Oh, The Places You'll Go. I see Canton High School as the place where we not only expand their worldviews and challenge their minds, but a place where we provide springboards for the big world. Their entire high school careers are the foundation for their plans as they walk out of our doors for the last time.

In these final moments of March, where seniors hear back from their last remaining colleges, and juniors prepare for the SAT, half of our student body is preparing for life after CHS. Juniors (and some sophomores) will fill our school buses next Thursday, April 4th, headed to Boston University, Tufts University, University of New Hampshire, and University of UMASS Amherst. Seniors will begin their last visits to their accepted schools and select the one that is the best fit.

The spring months in guidance bring a new beginning, a preparation for what lies ahead.  As such, please make sure to check your email for your child's course verification sheet sent this morning. I hope that this spring brings you down new roads to new places, because Dr. Seuss was right, the world out there is a very exciting place.

Balance

Course selection for the 2019-2020 school year is upon us.  We started off the process at the end of January, presenting the 2019-2020 Program of Studies to School Committee. Then we progressed into our Grade Level Meetings (grades 9-11) with CHS Guidance Counselors and Course Selection Night Events for Parents.  For those who could not make it in the evening, we offered a Coffee with Counselors.

To take care of our rising ninth graders, the Canton High School Guidance Staff visited the Galvin Middle School for a day and helped all of the eighth grade students understand how the process works. This week and next week at Canton High School, students are meeting with their counselors individually to talk about their courses and graduation requirements.

The course selection process is one that requires balance and reflection. Every single student in our schools is unique.  Every single student has a special set of gifts, areas of growths, and passions and interests.  The courses and levels selected should reflect the very unique attributes of that student. Reflecting on outside commitments, stress levels, and intellectual interests is of utmost importance.

So before you sit down with your child, take a moment and reflect on the day to day life of your child. The schedule should be challenging and rigorous but not over zealous.  The schedule should be exciting and interesting, not daunting and intimidating.  The schedule should be something the child cannot wait to start in September, not one that is hoped will go by quickly.  Growing up and balancing all these different responsibilities and commitments is exactly what  they should be learning how to do right now.  Please do not hesitate to let us help you and your child achieve exactly that.