Photo courtesy of Harold Melamed
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College Counseling for Seniors
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The college search is most involved during the senior year. Although primary responsibility for the college search rests with the student, the Blake College Counselors are committed to assisting students and parents throughout the process.
Seniors are responsible for scheduling private meetings with their college counselor as the need arises throughout the year.
Seniors who have advanced well into the search and know with certainity what schools are a good fit early in the fall may choose to apply under Early Decision or Early Action plans. These applications should be started in September and October. Applications due later in the school year should be started in October, November, and December. Students need to be mindful of application deadlines as well as college counseling office deadlines.
Once seniors have admission decisions on all of their applications, the college counselors will assist students in weighing the options and selecting the final choice. The College Counselors will also assist the student who wishes to pursue a college waitlist.
Students:
- Be ethical and always maintain integrity. Adhere to all commitments and complete college applications and essays yourself.
- Take the time to think seriously about your interests, ambitions, accomplishments, strengths, and weaknesses. You need to share these thoughts with your College Counselor.
- Try to define, as well as possible, your needs as they relate to your future education.
- Take time to diligently research colleges and universities.
- Schedule and keep all appointments and punctually complete any forms given to you by your College Counselor.
- Take the time and initiative to raise any questions or concerns you may have (no matter how small) with your College Counselor. Please feel comfortable scheduling as many meetings as you think you need.
- Be willing to share with your College Counselor as much about yourself as is comfortable. The more your College Counselor knows about you, the more helpful he/she can be to you during the process-from suggesting colleges to writing a supportive recommendation.
- Keep your College Counselor informed of any decisions you may make as we go through the process: changes in your lists of schools, college visits, or new information about your activities and accomplishments.
- Be responsible and prompt about securing recommendations, providing test scores to colleges, filing applications, and notifying College Counseling of the outcomes of the your applications.
Parents:
- Disregard rumors about college admission and be very, very cautious of all rankings.
- Try to keep the lines of communication open with your child throughout the process. Be encouraging, supportive, optimistic, and realistic, offering advice and guidance when appropriate. Listen to what your child is saying about the college search process and be a sounding board for your child.
- Celebrate your child's many accomplishments.
- Think carefully about your preferences or biases regarding college choices. Remember, the student should make the college choice. If you as parents remain receptive and open-minded, your child will be more likely to seek your advice and will make a wise decision.
- Help your child think about who he/she really is.
- Be open to new suggestions even "unknown" colleges. Help your child understand that more than one college will be a good place for him/her. There is no one perfect college choice.
- Be candid about the parameters (cost, distance from home, etc.) of the college search to the child and to the College Counselor.
- Recognize that your child will have his/her own timetable for considering college options, filling out applications, etc. (However, it is important to stay on top of deadlines.)
- Support an ethical approach. Students are expected to complete their own applications. Students packaged professionally look just like that-packaged. If you have questions, please call us.
- Maintain a healthy perspective as well as a sense of humor.
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