College Counseling

During the early years, there should not be a specific focus on college admissions. The emphasis should be placed on the following:

• taking solid academic courses at the appropriate level of challenge; developing current interests; and exploring interests in new subject areas where possible.
• engaging fully in extracurricular activities, sports, and/or community service; trying out new interests; and taking on leadership roles if available.
• becoming comfortable interacting with teachers and forming positive friendships with peers.
• reading a range of texts (because reading is probably the single best possible preparation for the demands of school, college, and even standardized tests). Whether novels, poetry, non-fiction, newspapers, or special-interest articles, students should be reading outside of school.

Direct preparation for the college process, which begins in junior year, is not necessary in ninth or tenth grades, but there are items to keep in mind:

• Sophomores take the PSAT (a practice SAT) in October. These scores have no bearing on the college process; it is simply practice for the PSAT in junior year and the SAT, taken later in junior and senior years. Parents should plan to attend the December evening meeting about the PSAT.
• We encourage tenth and/or eleventh graders to take the PLAN, the pre-ACT exam. More students are using ACT scores alongside, or in place of, SAT and SAT Subject Tests. The PLAN allows students to see which test (SAT or ACT) is best for them. At the December meeting on the PSAT, we also discuss the PLAN.
• Some, though not most, freshmen and sophomores may be ready to take an SAT Subject Test, especially if they are enrolled in advanced courses in math, science, or language. An evening parent meeting on the topic of Standardized Tests will be held.
• Freshmen and Sophomores should not take the SAT or the ACT. These tests are designed to be taken for the first time in the junior year.
• Students involved in sports or the arts may want to consider summer experiences to enhance skills and explore the depth of their interests, and to consider what role these activities might play in their choice of college later on.
• Other students should use summers to work (an old-fashioned job is terrific experience and viewed positively by colleges), to explore an interest, or to get involved in some kind of service work - and to take time to relax and reflect before returning to school!
• Parents of ninth and tenth graders are invited to attend many of our evening meetings on specific topics, and we hold a special "meet and greet" session to answer initial questions. Reminders are sent to parents prior to all relevant events.
• Tenth graders take a practice ACT exam in the spring to help determine whether or not the ACT will be a good option for students.

During the junior year, expectations rise! Teachers ask for more depth and breadth in the work they assign, and the "formal" college process begins in January. Below are highlights of what will happen.

• Juniors take the PSAT (practice SAT) in October. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation will use junior scores to determine which students become Commended Scholars, Semi-Finalists, and Finalists in the National Merit Competition. Parents should attend the December RCDS evening meeting about the PSAT/PLAN.
• Parents of juniors who expect to apply for financial aid for college should attend our spring Understanding Financial Aid meeting.
• In January, we will hold the first Parent Orientation Program for parents of eleventh graders.
• In January, we begin individual meetings for juniors; individual parent meetings take place after we have had one individual meeting with your child. We also begin once-per-cycle Junior Seminar meetings, group sessions required for all juniors.
• In Spring, parents are invited to our Mock Admissions Session.
• By the end of junior year, every student will have identified and researched colleges of interest to them; they will have taken standardized tests; and they will have worked with their counselor to begin to develop a balanced list of colleges.
• In June, students and parents are sent a summer college email, including an unofficial copy of their transcript and a list of what to do during the summer, including writing two draft college essays.

• In the fall of senior year, students and parents meet with the counselors to finalize the college list and develop an action plan.
• Early in September, we hold the Grade 12 Parent Orientation Meeting.
• Parents of seniors who expect to apply for financial aid for college should attend our workshops on the Profile (in October) and the FAFSA (in January).
• We work exclusively with the senior class during the fall, so that students can complete all elements of their applications well and on time. Teachers and college counselors complete all recommendations by mid-October for early applications, and by December for regular round applications. Students must complete early applications in October, and regular round applications before mid-December.
• In January, parents and students are sent a list confirming where the student has applied.
• Throughout February and March, we continue to counsel and support seniors as their deans. We also reach out to colleges to check on applications and to advocate on behalf of students.
• In April, students receive their final admissions decisions, and they choose where to enroll by the May 1 deposit deadline.
• In June, we honor our seniors at Graduation!