Continue working hard at school on improving your rank and GPA. This is the last chance you have to do so before college application at the beginning of your senior year! What’s more, start taking SAT and/or ACT whenever you are ready, now that PSAT is over.
Juniors, I can't tell you enough how important this is! I have had so many seniors, now and in the years past, telling me "could have/should have worked a little harder" to have a better chance to get into a college of their choices. I just don't want any of you to have any of those same regrets.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Senior Year - November/December, 2010
November 1st came and went, which basically means the very first wave of early admission program schools’ application deadline has expired. Those are usually the most selective institutions like Ivies. It is very significant to us, counselors. Translation, the majority of the recommendation letter requests were completed since most other schools do not require a letter of recommendation. What’s next? Regular application for them and some other more selective schools have their deadlines set between December 1st and January 1st. So, please keep an eye on those deadlines for those who are aiming at them. Remember, counselors need three weeks in advance for any letters of recommendation requests, and registrar’s office needs additional three days for transcript request to be processed. Also, please go to my last year’s posting for more info regarding senior year
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Senior Year - September/October, '10
Seniors, please note we, the counselors, are scheduled to speak to you on Tuesday, September 21 about the college application process during your English class. Be prepared if you have any specific questions related.
Your rank just came out, good, bad, ugly, it is already there. There is nothing you can do about it now. The only thing left is your application essays which you still have total control over. Please make sure you do the best you can, work with your parents, teachers or anyone around you that you think may be helpful.
Having the right score(s) from SAT/ACT for the schools you are applying to; a presentable resume; being genuinely happy/satisfied with the application essay(s) are simply some of the things that would indicate the readiness for submitting your college application.
Your rank just came out, good, bad, ugly, it is already there. There is nothing you can do about it now. The only thing left is your application essays which you still have total control over. Please make sure you do the best you can, work with your parents, teachers or anyone around you that you think may be helpful.
Having the right score(s) from SAT/ACT for the schools you are applying to; a presentable resume; being genuinely happy/satisfied with the application essay(s) are simply some of the things that would indicate the readiness for submitting your college application.
Junior Year - September/October, '10
Juniors, make sure you sign up for PSAT which is the very first thing that needs to be done as a junior. Of course, make sure that you are prepared.
Sophomore Year '10
Continue working on those study skills/habits I just posted for freshmen. Take PSAT in October.
Freshman Year '10
Have a 4-year plan, knowing what you are required for graduation, specific classes to take, and targeting a type of graduation plan (Minimum, Recommended, or Distinguished).
Start a routine, the easiest way to build good study habits, and be consistent.
Use a planner, learn to manage your time wisely – plan ahead.
Communicate frequently, every day, your plans, thoughts, and oncerns with your parents, siblings, teachers and/or counselors.
Get to know your guidance counselor. Stopping by and emailing are two great ways to do so.
Start a routine, the easiest way to build good study habits, and be consistent.
Use a planner, learn to manage your time wisely – plan ahead.
Communicate frequently, every day, your plans, thoughts, and oncerns with your parents, siblings, teachers and/or counselors.
Get to know your guidance counselor. Stopping by and emailing are two great ways to do so.
To All My Students, 9th to 12th, O through SL
Quite a few of my students and parents, former or present, have asked me about "falling off the saddle" on updating/maintaining this blog.
I hear you. But one thing I do have to point out here. Ever since we came back on August 1st, these past seven (7) weeks have been brutal. Due to changes in the department/school/district in terms of staff re-assignment, budget cut, policy reinterpretation and a brand new computer administrative/management system, we have had an unprecedented amount of work/corrections/changes to have been made on our students’ schedules. Putting in 11/12 hour day was a norm in the counseling department during those days.
Things are getting much better now. I am “Getting back on the Saddle Again”! And I will do the best I can to stay on it. :-)
I hear you. But one thing I do have to point out here. Ever since we came back on August 1st, these past seven (7) weeks have been brutal. Due to changes in the department/school/district in terms of staff re-assignment, budget cut, policy reinterpretation and a brand new computer administrative/management system, we have had an unprecedented amount of work/corrections/changes to have been made on our students’ schedules. Putting in 11/12 hour day was a norm in the counseling department during those days.
Things are getting much better now. I am “Getting back on the Saddle Again”! And I will do the best I can to stay on it. :-)
Friday, June 4, 2010
Senior Year - June/Graduation
I just can't believe it is graduation day again! I guess it is also the time for reflection. Going through all the thank you cards and gifts reminds me of one thing I have been saying all along. We have great students. They all are good kids, not just academically accomplished. We have the most supportive and appreciative parents. They spend countless hours volunteering at school and never miss any chance to show their appreciation of everything we do. Tokens of appreciation like an email, a phone call, or a card are just a few things we routinely receive.... Many, many times, I found myself starting my letter of recommendation with something like, “Johnny is one of many students at Clements who make this school so great….” Or finishing it up with, “He is obviously a product of a loving, nurturing family….”
At this point, I just want to use this opportunity to say thank YOU, Clements seniors and parents, for another great class/year. It is all because of you that make our job so much more meaningful. It is also because of the support and appreciation you have shown throughout which further enhances the greatness of CHS!
Go Rangers!
At this point, I just want to use this opportunity to say thank YOU, Clements seniors and parents, for another great class/year. It is all because of you that make our job so much more meaningful. It is also because of the support and appreciation you have shown throughout which further enhances the greatness of CHS!
Go Rangers!
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Junior Year - May/Summer
Summer, believe it or not, is finally fast approaching. Many students have big plans to make best use of the last summer before their senior year. With AP currently going on, I know it is almost impossible to think about anything else. Besides the activities I mentioned in my April 8th’s posting, quite a few juniors will be going to summer school in their last attempt to improve/maintain their rank/GPA since the official rank for college application will be calculated at the very end of August. Many others are going to summer school to make/catch up the credit(s) they need for graduation....
Summer is near!!!
Summer is near!!!
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Senior Year - April/May
A few students who had just received rejection letters stopped by, asking about the appeal process, and/or if they should go for it.... Here are a couple of my thoughts on this.
Generally speaking, the admission decision is final; chances of a successful appeal are slim. You should not appeal simply because you are upset with the rejection, and an appeal should not move forward if your general message is something like, "You clearly made a mistake because you failed to recognize how great I am." However, a couple of circumstances may warrant an appeal.
1) You have significant new information to provide. Things like winning a major award or honor, getting back test scores that are significantly better than the ones you originally submitted.
2) You have just learned that a procedural or clerical error was made. For example, SAT scores reported incorrectly, inaccurate information on your transcript.
Examples for no grounds for appeal: Your application needs to be taken another look by another admission counselor; Friends got in with similar qualifications (SAT score/Rank/GPA etc); Rank/GPA and scores fall within the published admissions criteria; Convinced that you are a perfect match for the school; Offered admission to some "better" schools, so their rejection doesn’t make sense; Felt the decision was unfair; Family legacy deserves a reconsideration.
Generally speaking, the admission decision is final; chances of a successful appeal are slim. You should not appeal simply because you are upset with the rejection, and an appeal should not move forward if your general message is something like, "You clearly made a mistake because you failed to recognize how great I am." However, a couple of circumstances may warrant an appeal.
1) You have significant new information to provide. Things like winning a major award or honor, getting back test scores that are significantly better than the ones you originally submitted.
2) You have just learned that a procedural or clerical error was made. For example, SAT scores reported incorrectly, inaccurate information on your transcript.
Examples for no grounds for appeal: Your application needs to be taken another look by another admission counselor; Friends got in with similar qualifications (SAT score/Rank/GPA etc); Rank/GPA and scores fall within the published admissions criteria; Convinced that you are a perfect match for the school; Offered admission to some "better" schools, so their rejection doesn’t make sense; Felt the decision was unfair; Family legacy deserves a reconsideration.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Junior Year - March/April
Course selection is currently under way. Juniors, please speak to your counselor if you have any doubts on fulfilling your graduation requirements. Do not assume anything, please!
Parents, please do not feel that you are left out of this process. Call/Email us any time when you have a question. Again, do not assume! We are sending home a verification sheet later in April. You can always make changes at that point.
Parents, please do not feel that you are left out of this process. Call/Email us any time when you have a question. Again, do not assume! We are sending home a verification sheet later in April. You can always make changes at that point.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Senior Year - February/March
Please visit http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ for information related to college financial aid. Make sure everyone fills out the information with FAFSA even if the financial need does not exist at the point.
Other useful sites, http://www.finaid.org/; http://www.fastweb.com/
Other useful sites, http://www.finaid.org/; http://www.fastweb.com/
Monday, January 4, 2010
Junior Year - January/February
It is now SAT/ACT time! Make sure every college-bound student, that is everybody here at CHS, has attempted them at least once before the beginning of the summer.
College visit should also be something of consideration if it has not already happened. Once again, please look at the location, setting, size, affiliation, security, selectivity, program/major, and cost when making plans for visit.
Last but not least, keep up with your grades!
College visit should also be something of consideration if it has not already happened. Once again, please look at the location, setting, size, affiliation, security, selectivity, program/major, and cost when making plans for visit.
Last but not least, keep up with your grades!
Senior Year - December/January
By now, all the students should have received notices on their "Early Decision" application status. I am sure lots of joy for some and much disappointment for many. What is next? For those with good news, it is time to figure out how t0 lower the cost of attending. Unfortunately for most of them, not a whole lot of choices out there due to the nature of the "Binding Admission" option, unless for those lucky few gotten into a school with the actual "Need-Blind" admission policy. For those without any good news, it is time to seriously consider/reconsider expanding your search a bit, regardless what is being offered, deferred, wait-listed, or even denied/rejected. Some of great schools you have ignored may still be OK for you to submit your application, meaning, their deadline has not passed. "Honors College", affiliated with big public institutions, should be one of the those viable options.
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