Confused about College?

Spring is the birth of new life with buds on trees, flower stems peeping out of the ground, longer days, and the return of wildlife that migrated south for the colder months.  In the life of school counselors, spring represents seniors selecting colleges for matriculation, and juniors selecting colleges to visit.
With the total cost of private college totaling over a quarter million dollars in the northeast, the pressure to find the right fit is larger than ever. Families can rise to the challenge of fit by utilizing the resources available to learn about college options appropriate for their students.

There is not a one size fits all model. Every student comes with different talents, different academic strengths, and different academic interests. Juniors are in guidance seminars to learn how to effectively find colleges and universities that match up with their academic abilities and interests as well as their personal preferences for community environment, location, and personal hobbies and passions. Yet, it is equally important for students to seek out their guidance counselors for individual meetings to have more personalized in-depth conversations about the college process.  It is extremely common to find families coming in and meeting with counselors so that everyone is on the same page with a clear plan moving forward.

Upcoming Events: 

TEC College Fair at Westwood High School on March 22 from 6:30-8:30 pm
http://www.tec-coop.org/internships-college-fairs/college-fairs/college-fair-exhibitors

NEACAC College Fair at Stonehill College on May 15 from 6:30-8:30 pm

Deadlines:
March 17th late registration deadline for April 8th ACT
April 8th regular deadline for May SAT

The Power of the Word

As we approach the midway point of the school year, also known as the end of the first semester or the end of term two, we all need to push each other to finish strong and commit 100 percent to those final days, those final assignments. Like a marathon, a school year requires disciplined, sustained effort over a significant period of time. In the dead of winter, with the summer sun months away, we must reach out to one another and offer the encouraging word, the reassuring smile, and the helping hand. With semester classes giving closing assessments, junior students beginning standardized test prep classes, and seniors finalizing their last college applications, let's rally around them and assist them in juggling the responsibilities of life.

As I finish my twelfth college application cycle, I reflect on the numerous essays and supplements I reviewed this year.  As always our students push the boundaries and think outside of the box, something that is imperative in the college application process.  I recently received the following article, and although brief and simplistic in nature, it details solid advice that would all college bound students should reference when writing their essays.  The strength of  verb choice greatly impacts the power and emotion of the college application essay.  It should not be overlooked or undervalued. In fact, these suggestions would help all pieces of writing.

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Important Dates:
Course Selection Night at Canton High School: 6:30 pm February 9th
SAT at Canton High School: March 11th (register NOW at collegeboard.org)

Answering the Why

As senior students wrap up their regular decision applications, they start finalizing their supplemental essays for their college applications. Many colleges and universities that require supplemental essays include the question "Why (insert name of college)?" This question presents the most problems for high school students.  Frequently, the answer includes a long list of why the college is perfect. However, what the answer fails to explain is why is the college perfect for YOU? The college knows what it is about, it's strengths, and what it stands for.  The college is really asking what parts about the college make you want to go there.  In other words, how does the student fit within the college community and what would the student add to it?

This question is not posed as a challenge to see what the applicant knows about the school in general. The question is posed to find out what draws the student to apply to the college. Be specific.  What do you want to major in? Why? If you do not know, what programs of study interest you? What about the culture excites you? What extracurricular activities do you want to be a part of? Is there a specific, unique internship opportunity or study abroad experience that you are dying to take advantage of?

In order to test the strength of the supplemental essay, substitute the real name of the college with another college that it is similar to.  Read the essay aloud. If it still makes sense, then the essay is not one you should keep. Make sure that the essay is so specific that it would not make sense to use on any other application. It is only then that you know you are finished.

News and Notes:

PSAT scores are available online for 10th and 11th graders on College Board's website.  Check your email with a video demonstration for how to access scores and what they mean.

Friday, December 16th at 7:45 am: Coffee with Counselors: Understand your PSAT Scores: Library: RSVP to Anne Murray at murraya@cantonma.org

The Holiday Stretch

"The holiday season is a perfect time to reflect on our blessings and seek out ways to make life better for those around us."

Happy Holidays! In the guidance department, we strive to make the quote above how we work all year long!  The hustle and bustle of the stretch of holidays from Halloween to New Year's Day is well under way. With crazy sales, family gatherings, and holiday parties, we know time is your most precious resource right now.  And if it is yours, it must be your children's too!

Life in CHS Guidance is just as busy! With the regular decision deadlines approaching, we are diligently giving essay revisions, recommendation writing, and finalizing college lists! With first term grades released before the Thanksgiving holiday, we are busy catching up with freshmen to see what they think of their academic progress thus far. College Board releases the PSAT results in two weeks; there is so much going on!

We also host multiple events in the month of December.  Please reach out to your child's counselor with any questions.  An email was sent today about our event on the 8th!

Thursday, December 8th: 6 pm - 8 pm Post-secondary Pathways Night: Mini-Fair with Alternative Plans to Colleges and a College Admissions Night: Open to 10th, 11th, and 12th Grade Families. There is something for EVERYONE! Students and parents encouraged to attend together.
Friday, December 16th: 7:45 am: Coffee with Counselors: Understanding Your PSAT Scores

The Power of Choice

The high school years tend to be the most demanding on our resource of time.  Students try to master the art of balance by fitting in sports, arts, hobbies, homework, family time, friend time, drivers ed, SAT, ACT, and applying to college. Parents strive to set phone limits, driving boundaries, curfews, reasonable bed times, and family dinners.  Sometimes, in the midst of all of this organized chaos, there seems little time to talk about how we make smart decisions as students enter adulthood. How do we teach our students to make good decisions and support one another even if opinions differ? How often do we ask them if they are completely comfortable making a different decision than their friends? If the answer is no, then have they found the right friends?

Even though at this age, it may seem that our teenagers need us less, the reality contradicts that notion.  Yes, some can drive themselves to play rehearsal and sports practice, pick up dinner on their way home, do their own laundry, and make their own meals. At the same time, they really need to hear that we are in their corner, not here to lecture and scold, but to listen and brainstorm. High school students need to know we are here, all they need to do is give us a sign. It is our collective responsibility to help them on their journey into adulthood.  Because as they say, it takes a village.

Coming Up:
Tuesday, November 1st, 6:30 pm at Stonehill College: Financial Aid 101
Thursday, December 3rd: December 3rd SAT Registration Deadline
Friday, November 4th: December 10th ACT Registration Deadline
Saturday, November 5th: SAT (at other testing locations)
Thursday, December 8th: 6:30 pm: College Admissions Night in the auditorium
                                                         Alternative Options to College Fair in the cafeteria
Friday, December 16th: 7:45 am: Coffee with Counselors: Explaining PSAT results

From Canton to College

As parents, it is natural to want your children to enjoy high school and relish every aspect of this developmental stage. From dating to driving, prom and voting, high school represents a time of great growth and maturity. Yet, high school also represents a time of preparation for post secondary planning. The college application process does not simply reflect the act of applying and enrolling. Rather, it begins in sophomore year, with self-evaluation and career exploration. Junior year entails matching the results of self-awareness and career goals with colleges and universities. The process culminates in senior year with college applications and matriculation. The events listed below are offered as a resource to help students and parents navigate this complex task.

Wednesday, October 5th: 

Canton High School will be chaperoning sophomores, juniors, and seniors, to the TEC College Fair in Waltham.  Bus will leave at 5:30 and return at approximately 8:30. Cost is 10 dollars. Please to go myschoolbucks.com to register and pay. Permission slips were emailed to parents with details last week. 

From 6:30 to 7:30, on the same evening, parents are invited to attend a financial aid workshop for parents, presented by MEFA, in the library. Then from 7:30-8:30 in the cafeteria, parents can come learn about the intricacies of the SAT and ACT.

Wednesday, October 19th:

The PSAT will be held during the school day, from 8-12. Cost is 20 dollars and registration can be done at myschoolbucks.com. We are striving for ALL sophomores and juniors to take this exam, as it is an important step in preparation for the SAT in the spring of junior year.

BIG NEWS: WE ARE BREAKING UP!

Welcome to the 2016-2017 academic year! In the guidance department, we are starting this year off with a bang. In an effort to increase our communications and services to parents, we are breaking up the comprehensive twitter and blog posts. What does this mean you ask? Galvin Middle School Guidance now has their own twitter and blog focused solely on middle school students.  This blog will focus on high school material. If you have a middle school student, please sign up for updates for the following:

Galvin Guidance Blog - galvinguidance.blogspot.com 

Galvin Twitter - @ GMS_Guidance

The Canton Guidance Department also had the great fortune of welcoming two new members to the team. Mr. Chris Buss joins CHS after five years at Saugus High School. He is taking over Mr. O'Brien's caseload.  Mrs. Kari Denitizio starts her career here in Canton at Galvin Middle School after working as a teacher and counselor for years in Brockton.  She oversees the seventh grade and is the entire grade's school counselor. Please welcome them to Canton!

Please note the upcoming event at CHS:

Friday, September 9th at 7:45 am: Senior Parent Coffee with Counselors: College Admissions