Seniors wait, seniors celebrate… This is an admittedly challenging time of the year for many seniors applying to college. They know first hand how arduous the waiting game can feel, with admissions announcements and spring itself seeming to come at a glacial pace. For me, patience has been a perennial lesson of my adulthood, a lesson I have to engage every so often, no matter how old I become. While we do still have some students waiting for news, we also have many enjoying early returns. Over 75% of our seniors have heard positive news from at least one school on their lists. 83% of them have earned at least one merit scholarship, with scholarships totalling over $2.6 million over four years. Over 40 schools--small, medium, large, public, private, as diverse as our student body itself--have so far shown their confidence in our Griffins. Among some recent returns, several Colleges that Change Lives: Clark University, Lawrence University, Cornell College, Kalamazoo College, and Knox College. Students have also had great news from Purdue University, UIUC, the University of South Carolina's heralded Honors College, Michigan Technological University, to name a few. Some seniors may need to wait a little while longer, but more great news will certainly come. I invite any one who needs a reminder of how specifically stellar you are to come see me for a pep talk. Annual College Fair at Oakton Community College This past Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2018, sophomores and juniors boarded a bus to Oakton Community College to speak with representatives from over 70 colleges and universities across the country. This was a great chance for students to learn about schools they may have on their early wish lists, but an even better chance to learn about programs and places that might have otherwise not shown up on their college radars. Roycemore Griffins spoke with reps from Rutgers, UIUC, Miami Ohio, Augustana College, Knox College, Savannah College of Art and Design, and the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, shown here. JUNIORS - Your College Counselor is IN! This is the time of year when juniors meet with me one on one to start crafting their college admissions plans and lists. So far, I have enjoyed some great meetings, getting to know your interests and aspirations, which not only helps with this journey but also with the counseling letter of recommendation I will write on your behalf next fall. While many families wish to meet together, students may also come on their own. Either is fine, but most important is the meeting itself. Please swing by or reach out by email, and propose a 45 minute window to meet anytime after B Block. SENIORS!!! Ms. Finley O’Dell Wants to Talk to You! Yes, the head of school wants to see you. Gulp. Why, you might wonder? Ms. Finley O’Dell wants to get to know you, to create a graduation ceremony that celebrates each one of your individually. This is a wonderful opportunity not only to leave a lasting impression, but also to share your hopes for yourself and for Roycemore for future years. Please come see me to sign up to spend an hour of what I promise will be a wonderful, memorable conversation. Upcoming Standardized Tests ACT: Test Date: April 14. Registration: March 9 June 9 Registration: May 4 July 14 Registration: June 15 SAT: Test Date: March 10 Late Registration: February 28 Test Date: May 5 Registration: April 6 Test Date: June 2 Registration: May 3 Juniors!!! Please remember that you’ll want to have taken some combination of two of the SAT and/or ACT before the school year ends. Waiting till summer or fall can add to the workload and stress of culling a strong application. As your college counselor, I know you’ll have bigger--and far more delicious--fish to fry in mid-July. Hey, that rhymed!
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For our seniors--and their families, teachers, and college counselor--this time of the year can manifest as a smorgasbord of joy, disappointment, wonder, confusion, and very understandable impatience. I ask everyone to remember that, above all else, this is a season of the unknown. All of our students are college eligible and poised to have great success at their next school. Most of our seniors (and America’s seniors) just don’t know where that will be… yet. For further reading… To help with some of the tougher parts of college admissions, I am including here a couple of relevant articles that college counselors are sharing with each other at a viral rate right now:
The season is also full of joy. Our seniors have enjoyed many wonderful early returns this fall! Ten of our seniors have indeed heard positive news--from Grinnell, Emerson, Chapman, Kalamazoo, Knox, College of Wooster, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Vermont, University of Maine (Honors College), University of Oregon (Honors College), and College of Charleston (Honors College), just to name a few. Two students have also earned “full rides” and altogether, these students have already garnered over $1.6 million in merit scholarships. College Over Cookies - a conversation for the season To help navigate the season’s challenges and understand “next steps,” we held a meeting today, College Over Cookies. Over shortbread and chocolate covered pretzels, we discussed what happens between submission and matriculation to a school, ways to handle referrals, to ED2 or not to ED2, and discussed concerns and questions that many students shared in common. ACT Prep for SOPHOMORES and JUNIORS We are currently taking reservations for sophomores and juniors interested in after-school ACT test prep to be held at Roycemore School this winter. At a very reasonable cost (much lower than most test prep classes), Steve Byer of Byer Consulting will lead an eight-session class leading up to the April ACT exam. Steve has a great record of helping past Roycemore students raise their scores. This class will run if we have an enrollment of at least five students. Please let me know if you’d like more information: scampbell@roycemoreschool.org. Standardized Testing ACT - the registration deadline for the February 10 ACT is January 12. SAT - the registration deadline for the March 10, 2018 SAT is a ways off but signing up early helps get a test location close to home. Regular registration deadline: February 9. Students in search of test prep resources can always come to me. I have tons of practice tests and printed guides in my office, and can direct you to great online resources as well. Early congratulations are in order… Those of us who have tasted the various cakes Tatum has brought to celebrate the unit circle in math or the end of the school year in Advisory know how talented she is. So does the Culinary Institute of America, as they recently offered her early admission. To learn more about Tatum’s catering business and amazing creations, visit Tatum’s Sweet Treats website. More Visits from College Representatives!!! October--and a sliver of early November--marks a busy time for visits!!! Fri, 10/6:
The FAFSA is now live!!! For families seeking financial support from colleges and universities, this free federal application is a crucial first step to applying for financial aid. Families are encouraged to submit FAFSA applications as early as they can, hopefully in tandem with college applications. The reason for this is that later in the application season (e.g. late winter/early spring) schools can run out of FAFSA money to distribute. Other Financial Aid Considerations CSS - Private schools often have a second financial aid application, the CSS Profile, which takes a deeper dive into families’ true expenses. All college and university financial aid web pages will have links to these forms. Again, it is important to apply as early as possible, as coffers can also run low later in the year. NOTE: All colleges and universities are required by federal law to have an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) calculator on its website. Often it is on the Financial Aid main page of a college’s site. Please note that the EFC calculator does NOT include merit scholarships, which can also go to support tuition expenses. Please let me know if you have any questions. I am happy to assist. College Night 2017 Thank you to all juniors and family members for attending the “official” launch of your formal college journeys! I hope you all enjoyed playing the Kahoot Quiz debunking many of the myths of college admissions, and that you all will come see me with questions as the year unfolds. I look forward to getting to know all of you even better during our fourth quarter college admissions mini-course, and to meeting with you individually later in spring. Mock Admissions Event with the University of Chicago! On September 13, Carol Lin Murphy, associate director of admissions at the University of Chicago, led us through an enlightening workshop on how decisions of admission are made. Seniors and juniors took on the role of admissions officers, deciding between two real applications who earned admission, who didn’t, and why. Students learned that not only do applicants to this highly selective school bring impeccable academic records, but they also display a rich and deep set of activities, eloquent and thoughtful essays, and often stand out through interviews and other personal connections they build with their best fit schools. Standardized Testing
For Further Reading… SENIORS (and parents), I urge you to read “It’s Not About the Application,” a recent blog post from the Georgia Tech admissions office. It offers a breath of fresh air and a reminder about how not to get too bogged down in emotion and myopia as you prepare to send your applications into the Void of the Currently Unknown. T’is the season for College Representative Visits!!! This week, we will have visiting representatives from the following colleges and universities:
Next week, we will host:
Over the next few months, we are also slated to host:
For additions and changes to upcoming visits, please also check the College Representative Visit Calendar posted on the wall just outside the second floor elevator. Sign up for the visits that appeal to you! This will help me find the proper space to hold the meeting. Thank you. T’is also the season for College Fairs!!! JUNIORS AND SENIORS… Alice, Andrea, Jenny, and I enjoyed a fun and informative trip to the CTCL College Fair in Lincolnshire on Sunday, August 27. There, many of the college representatives who came to Roycemore last year came up to me to talk about some of the students who ended up going to their schools or who “got away.” I also got a chance to ask of many new colleges the kinds of questions that tend to matter to Roycemore students--including opportunities for undergraduate research, job placement supports, and merit scholarships. Saturday, October 14, 2017 NACAC will host its HUGE National College Fair in Chicago 11 am to 3 pm McCormick Place Chicago, Illinois Not only is this a great place to network with hundreds of colleges, NACAC provides incredible resources about the college admissions process. Please utilize them!!! For example, take a peek at “How to Use Your College Counselor.” You will need to RSVP to reserve a space at this event. The PSAT is coming!!! The PSAT is coming!!! SOPHOMORES AND JUNIORS!!! This year, all 10th and 11th graders will sit for the PSAT, which will be held at Roycemore on the morning of Wednesday, October 11. Soon, we will hold pre-registration sessions in your English classes. There, you will fill in identifying information on your answer sheets (to save time on Test Day), and receive a copy of your PSAT booklet to introduce you to the test. Please save that booklet. Ms. Campbell will hold a PSAT Preview session on Friday, September 29 during Activity Period! More details to follow… JUNIORS!!! COLLEGE NIGHT Monday, September 11, 2017 6 - 7:30 pm MPR, Roycemore School The time has come for the Class of 2019 to begin activities related to college selection and application. Because of the importance and complexity of the process, we meet each year with the junior class to discuss what has to be done between now and graduation in June of 2019. At this meeting, Ms. Campbell will share pertinent resources and present essential facts about college choice, application procedures and strategies, and testing. We will also have time for questions. NOTE: PLEASE BRING A PHONE OR LAPTOP!!! We will be playing Kahoot! SENIOR MEETING Tuesday, September 12, 2017 Activity Period & C Block 10:16- 11:42 am Roycemore Library At this REQUIRED meeting, we will have a two part meeting. First, Carol Lin Murphy, associate director of admissions at the University of Chicago, will be holding a mock admissions session. You will try on her proverbial shoes, reading real past applications and making your own guesses as to who earned admission, who did not, and why. Second, for the more boring finale, Ms. Campbell will review the nuts, bolts, and timelines relevant to your college application process. You must attend this important meeting! Standardized Testing SAT - the registration deadline for the NOVEMBER 5 SAT is coming up--on October 4! ACT - the registration deadline for the OCTOBER 28 ACT is coming up--on September 22! NOTE: If you are applying either early decision or early action, the October ACT is the LAST dates for taking tests with scores that will “count” on your application. For further reading… “The joke among insiders is that the number of “rejected” students is considerably greater than the number of students who actually apply to college, but the humor is lost on anyone relying on U.S. News, other media and even college websites that report admit rates taken as what the term suggests, accurate representations of the chance of being admitted.” To learn more about Gary Saul Morson (Professor of Slavic Languages and Literature at Northwestern) and Morty Shapiro (President of Northwestern University) are intimating with this provocative (yet sobering) quote, please read “Oh what a tangled web schools weave: The college rankings game,” from the August 27, 2017 edition of the Chicago Tribune. GRIFFIN GRADUATES! Yes, I’m (still) talking to you!
Soon, your Roycemore email will become a memory. For now, while you still have it, I want to share this insider’s advice about how to navigate the sometimes tough stuff of the first year of college. It is called “What No One is Going to Tell You About Your Freshman Year.” The only thing wrong with it is its title. . P.S. Please stay in touch. Send your new email and news about how your own freshman year is going. We look forward to seeing how you soar. Colleges that Change Lives Conference, Sunday, August 27! On Sunday, August 27, a huge, arguably important, college fair is coming soon to Chicago. It includes the 40+ schools that make of the consortium of Colleges that Change Lives. These small liberal arts colleges are known for having excellent, often rigorous, undergraduate programs with great post-graduation outcomes. They are also known for admitting students with B averages and "outside the box" individual strengths and learning styles. Many of you also have many of these schools on your own radar. This conference offers a great opportunity to meet admissions representatives, demonstrate your interest (often a positive when your application is reviewed, ask the questions that are vital to you, and perhaps learn about other schools that may surprise and entice you. Roycemore graduates also tend to gravitate to many of CTCL schools: CTCLs acceptances 2014-17 (* now attending)
I plan to bring my own set of burning questions to the morning session in Lincolnshire. I encourage you to join me! JUNIORS AND FAMILIES! Save the Date!!! COLLEGE NIGHT Monday, September 11, 2017 6 - 7:30 pm MPR, Roycemore School The time has come for the Class of 2019 to begin activities related to college selection and application. Because of the importance and complexity of the process, we meet each year with the junior class to discuss what has to be done between now and graduation in June of 2019. At this meeting, I will share pertinent resources and present essential facts about college choice, application procedures and strategies, and testing. We will also have time for questions. Look for more information to come very soon. SENIORS! Save the Date!!! SENIOR MEETING Tuesday, September 12, 2017 Activity Period, 10:16- 10:54 am Roycemore Library At this REQUIRED meeting, we will go over the nuts, bolts, and timelines relevant to your college application process. Stay tuned for more details as they come together. Individual Meetings for Seniors! Seniors, I will be asking to meet with each of you to review your college lists and supporting materials for your applications, as well as to answer any questions you may have. Please feel free to reach out now to get an early spot on my meeting calendar. I am (mostly) free any time after B Block every day! Standardized Testing SAT - the registration deadline for the OCTOBER 1 SAT is coming up--on September 1! ACT - the registration deadline for the OCTOBER 28 ACT is coming up--on September 22! NOTE: If you are applying either early decision or early action, these are the LAST dates for taking tests with scores that will “count” on your application. Summer Syllabus In late May, I passed out a highly recommended College Admissions Summer Syllabus 2017 to all rising applying to college next year. I hope you all find it useful as you spend your summer taking stock of your best fit possibilities for college and the life stories that will most authentically reflect your interests and ways of learning. Common App Essay Prompts Earlier this spring, the Common App released its NEW and REVISED essay prompts for 2017-18. These can help in your brainstorming and drafting of your personal essays. For some excellent examples of successful application essays--with analysis from college admissions officers on why they were successful--please visit the admissions essay webpages created by:
Some supplemental essay advice… Many of the more selective schools also require supplemental essays. These deserve your full attention, as the schools that require them have specifically created them for their potential students. They often ask you to answer the question, “Why (insert college name here)?” Admissions officers are looking to see if you have done your homework, thoroughly researching the school’s various offerings in coursework, extracurriculars, support services (and more). They want to see in your essay not a regurgitation of its brochure material but rather evidence that you have imagined yourself at that particular college to talk about specifically about how the school fits you. See the FACTS page of this site for helpful advice about approaching these supplements. What to Know Before You Go On May 17, we held our first annual “What to Know Before You Go” event. It was a wonderful success--with a hearty turnout of students and alumni! Liz Fekete Trubey, the director of academic advising for Weinberg College at Northwestern University, covered a myriad of relevant of topics--from navigating the very likely possibility of changing majors, to dealing with time management, finding academic and other support, dealing with loneliness and other social challenges, and even learning to do laundry. THANK YOU, Liz!!! It was great to have Kassi, Cyane, Annabelle, Brandon, Spencer V. and Spencer S., and Kaelyn back to campus to talk about their specific first year experiences. BIG THANKS, Griffin Alumni! We look forward to seeing you all again next year. Standardized Testing SAT - the registration deadline for the August 26 SAT is coming up--on July 28! ACT - the registration deadline for the September 9 ACT is coming up--on August 4! Remember: Kahn Academy offers free online prep, and the ACT offers either low or no cost prep, depending on financial need. Please let me know if you need any assistance with this. Note that Steve Byer is available for private tutoring or, with enough interest, still offer a summer ACT prep session at Roycemore twice a week during the month of August. If you are interested, let me know ASAP. Congratulations, Seniors! Working with you all this year has been an honor and privilege. Please keep in touch and come back to report on your adventures soon. Big props to Charlie for dying my hair Roycemore blue for graduation. Even more congratulations for our seniors!
All of our Roycemore seniors seeking college admissions have received acceptances. All have also had more than one “yes,” leaving them with happy tough decisions to make. Together, these 20 students have earned acceptances from over 75 colleges, including Dickinson College, Oberlin College, College of Wooster, Haverford College, Rhode Island School of Design, Sarah Lawrence College, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Civil Engineering), Centre College and Miami University (Ohio)--just to offer a small sample. 95% of these students earned at least one merit scholarship, and together received over 4.2 million dollars in merit scholarships. Resources for Seniors Still Making Decisions For those of you still deliberating between two great options, Chris Teare, the senior associate director of admissions at Drew University, has recently published some advice for Forbes magazine: “5 Questions to Answer Before You Put Down Your College Deposit.” For those of you on waitlists wondering what to do if a spot opens up: “Accepting a Waitlist Spot After Depositing Elsewhere.” For those of you seeking to close the gap between financial award and true financial need, the US Department of Education has some advice: “Financial Aid Not Enough? Ideas on How to Fill the Gap.” SENIORS (and curious JUNIORS) - Mark Your Calendars for May 17, 3:30 pm “What to Know Before You Go” Wednesday, May 17 3:30 pm - 5 pm Roycemore Library Liz Fekete Trubey, the director of academic advising for Weinberg College at Northwestern University, will be talking to all graduating seniors (and interested juniors) about navigating that crucial first year of college. She will offer anecdotes and advice about the myriad of questions and challenges that come to her office doorstep each week. A panel of recent Roycemore graduates will also join us to answer your questions and recount their own experiences. Afterward, we will have cookies and ice cream (and maybe ice cream sandwiches). Please wear your college swag! We will be taking pictures for a “Oh, the Places the Griffins Will Go” bulletin board display. The counselor will be in through June 22! Juniors! I have enjoyed meeting with many of you about your initial college searches, and am still taking appointments! As we head into the final stretch of the academic year, our days are getting more and more frantic. As such, I will be taking appointments through Thursday, June 22. Please feel free to stop by or send an email to reserve your spot on my part of Roycemore’s busy calendar. Standardized Testing SAT - the LAST day to register for the June 3 SAT is coming up--on May 9! ACT - the LAST day to register for the June 10 ACT is coming up--on May 5! If you would like to know what your scores “mean,” or you identify a need to do some test prep over the summer, please feel free to come see me. Many free or low cost options for test prep exist. Also, note that Steve Byer will also offer a summer ACT prep session at Roycemore twice a week during the month of August in advance of the September exam. If you are interested, let me know. Oh where the Griffin graduates will go!
Every Friday, I have the honor of making a Homeroom Announcement about the happy admissions news our seniors have collected that week. I confess: it is a huge highlight of my week to take a moment to admire the accomplishments of our hard working seniors. So far, this early part of the season--our students have had offers from over 45 colleges and universities, including the University of Puget Sound, Cornell College, Indiana University, and Kalamazoo College, among others. Over 76% have so far earned merit scholarships, which currently total over $3 million. The Essays Are Here, the essays are here! The Common App recently released the six essay prompts for 2017-18 college applicants. Several questions have been revised, and one very open-ended question has been added. Junior, as your friendly college counselor, I recommend thinking about the story you want to tell about yourself as early as right now--but definitely get started on a draft this summer. Spring Break College Visits Several of you have asked me for suggestions in planning Spring Break trips that include college visits. Especially if schools are in session when Roycemore is not, Spring Break can be an excellent time to go see some intriguing campuses, take a formal tour, quiz students, and arrange to sit in on a class. For some great advice, check out Deborah J. Cohan’s “The Professor’s Cheat Sheet to the Perfect College Tour,” published this past fall in Psychology Today. JUNIORS! And families! The counselor is in! I have had the privilege of meeting with many of you and getting a sense of your hopes and expectations for your college searches over the coming year. If you’d like to make an appointment, please feel free to send email (scampbell@roycemoreschool.org) or stop by. If my door is open, please consider yourself welcome! ACT/SAT Deadlines ACT - Regular registration for the April 8 exam is March 3. SAT - Regular registration for the May 6 exam is April 7. Early congratulations!
More than half of Roycemore seniors have enjoyed happy college admissions news--and sighs of relief--at this early point in the season. Collectively, these fourteen students have earned acceptances from over 35 colleges, including College of Wooster, Haverford College, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Engineering), Lawrence University, and University of Vermont--just to offer a small sample. Merit scholarships have also been generous and impressive. The counselor is in! Juniors! I am looking forward to meeting with you to have our first conversations about your individual college searches. Today, you and your families will receive an invitation to make an appointment with me--but you don’t need to wait for that invitation to arrive. Please feel free to stop by or send an email to reserve your spot on my part of Roycemore’s busy calendar. Test-taking Strategies, Anyone? Starting February 1, from 3:45 - 5:45 pm, Roycemore will be hosting an ACT Prep course to finish in advance of the April ACT. Please see the flyers in the hallways and your email, or come see me for more information. The registration deadline has been extended to Monday, January 30. ACT/SAT Deadlines ACT - Regular registration for the April 8 exam is March 3. SAT - Regular registration for the March 11 exam is February 10. JUNIORS!
SAT or ACT? Which is best for you?
Upcoming ACT and SAT Registration Deadlines
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Stacia CampbellDirector of College Counseling for Roycemore School in Evanston, IL. Archives
May 2020
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