Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can’t Lose

Congratulations to the Glenbard West Hitters on their undefeated football season and their State Championship win!  
The skilled and superb coaching staff and the hard working focused players took it game by game and certainly inspired all of us toward whatever challenge we might be “tackling.” For many of you it’s completing your college applications, looking ahead to financial aid and scholarships, and preparing yourself for admissions decisions!  WILL YOU GET IN?!!

For some of you that applied early action or early decision, you will find out mid December.  At this point, if you put in your best effort, wrote your best essay, made your deadlines, you may hear happy news.  Please share this with your guidance counselors and teachers who wrote you letters.  They will be thrilled for you. 

Some of you may get WAIT-LISTED.  Because colleges don’t know how many students will actually accept their offer of admission, many colleges have wait lists.  If you are on a wait list, you may still get admitted when enough students decide to go elsewhere.  Make sure you contact the college reaffirming your desire to attend that school.  Talk to your guidance counselor.  Send the school a letter or email describing any new honors, awards, or noteworthy endeavors.  DO NOT call them EVERY DAY or WEAR a COSTUME and carry a poster that says, “ADMIT ME.”  This rarely works -- ha ha.

Most of you have Plan B and C already figured in.  See your counselor if you need guidance.  It’s not too late to still apply to many colleges.  Check deadlines -- don’t forget green transcript request sheets and put your colleges into “Colleges I’m Applying to,” requesting a transcript.

Next blog about Financial Aid and Scholarships.

TTYL

GW College Coach

Say No to Stress!

Hey Seniors:  The first major early deadline, November 1^st, has come and gone.  Those of you who had early applications made it through using Naviance for the first time, but there was lots of panic in the Guidance Office:               

“It says its STILL PENDING”

“Has my teacher sent my letter!?”

“Have you sent my transcripts!?”

Why doesn’t it say COMPLETED?!?

How many of you heard your counselor say “I’ve NEVER missed a college application deadline?”  (Ever, Never, No Never ever -- Never)

Some seniors are still having nightmares about the University of Illinois application, especially the self-reported academic record or SRAR -- seniors love saying “SRRRARR…”.  How many of you waited until Halloween to submit?!

Seniors shared some advice on how they handle stress:

D. says -The stress makes me very tired… Running and napping help a lot.

S. says - When it’s too much I just stop - hang out with my sister or watch a movie.

J. says - I have a cute magnetic board in my room with a college checklist - I can see

              what is ahead and it calms me.

Stress Reducers 

·      Get up 15 minutes earlier

·      Breathe deeply

·      Exercise - take a walk

·      Take time for things you like to do 

·      Connect with your friend - nurture those relationships

·      Do something fun - every day

·      Talk it out when you’re angry

·      Take frequent breaks

·      Listen to music you like

·      Stop worrying about what you can’t control

For more (there are 100!)

www.perspectivesldt.com  

“Stress drives all kinds of biochemical changes in our bodies: It instantaneously increases our heart rate and blood pressure, makes our guts not function well and creates damage to our blood vessels and organs.” (J. David Forbes-Nashville Integrated Medicine)

“Since we are unlikely to avoid stressors altogether, stress-proofing your brain is a wise approach to our 24 hour brand of anxiety.  There are things you can do so you will be less reactive to a stressor when one hits”, says MIT instructor Thea Singer.

Scientific studies show SOCIAL SUPPORT is huge and helps us to not over react to stress.  The benefits apply whether you are giving or receiving social support.  Volunteering is a huge stress buster.

Watch the STRESS EATING (GW Coach!!)  It makes you feel temporarily better, but over time it wears down our ability to keep anxiety reasonably controlled.  Instead, read a book, take a walk, jump rope.

Meditation is great.  Try Compassion Meditation, a technique aimed at creating more empathy and acceptance of others -- VERY HELPFUL in warding off stress, Singer says.

Notice something good that happened to you today and tell someone about it.  Do something nice for someone else.  Science says this REALLY WORKS.

                                                                        T.T.Y.L

                                                                        GW College Coach

(Check out “Time To Do Reset on Stress” by Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune October 21, 2012)

Applications, and Essays, and Deadlines... OH MY!

Hey Seniors:  So we know that right now you are working diligently on your college applications.  Good 4 U!  Here are some tips on... 

WHAT NOT TO DO WHEN YOU APPLY!

Being someone you’re not                                                              

(suddenly joining 10 clubs this year and protecting the rain forest!)  Admissions wants to know about one or two activities that are truly a passion for you.

Neglecting the Personal Statement

Even if it’s optional – do it.  It gives you the opportunity to give more information about you to admissions.

Writing about the wrong school                                                           

Yikes!  A student wrote about the ‘exciting school spirit, fun football games, etc. and how fun it would be to live in Ann Arbor.  Then the student sent it to Wisconsin.

Mentioning majors the school doesn’t offer                                                 

Do your research on-line to make sure the college has the major you are considering.  “Undecided” is OK if you truly don’t know.

Being careless in Social Media                                                           

Privacy Settings!!!  Be careful when sharing pictures, post, tweets, and videos.  Admissions often interacts via Facebook and You Tube to provide info and answer questions.  You don’t want them to see THAT picture.

Using slang in essays 

Slang such as LOL, YOLO and :) undermines your college essay.  Admissions wants to get a sense of who you are -- your character.  They want to see if you can articulate this in a well-written essay.  Make your English teacher proud!

Read more about this in “Best Colleges” Edition of U.S. News & World Report 2013 edition.

           TTYL,

GW College Coach

Did you “like” the Glenbard West Guidance – College Coach facebook fanpage, yet?

P.S. Don’t forget to turn in green GBW Transcript Request Forms to your counselor after you have submitted your application online.

R U Ready For...

NAAAA-VEEEE-YANCE

Hey Seniors:  Here we go!  Welcome to the first blog - YOUR blog.  So by now you know that Naviance is not a yoga move.  Counselors have been meeting with you in small groups to show you how Naviance will assist you in the college application process.  They have shared that they are VERY IMPRESSED with how quickly you are adapting to our new online electronic transcript process and how many of you are already making great progress with your applications.  Counselors are still catching up with students.  Last week some of you missed your meeting because you participated in the Blood Drive or were SWARMED by BEES on Circle Drive!  (This really happened, but College Coach is sworn to secrecy.)  

If you have additional college questions, please make an appointment with your counselor.  They will be available to help you every step of the way.

Have you started your ESSAY?!!   There are helpful essay starters in your blue packets.  Many of your Senior English classes will have an essay/personal statement unit.  Your English teacher can look over a draft to give you some great input.  Also, there are three Essay Writing Workshops to help you get started or to help you polish your draft.   

Tuesday, September 18          2:45-3:45         Library

Tuesday, September 25          2:45-3:45         Rm 313

Tuesday, October 2                2:45-3:45         Rm 313

DON'T FEAR THE ESSAY.  Use it to let the college admissions staff know who you are and why their campus will be enhanced because you are there!

                                                                                                T.T.Y.L

                                                                                                GW College Coach

We're on Facebook!  "Like" our fanpage Glenbard West Guidance - College Coach for important college updates, reminders, and other news!

REMINDER:  College representatives will be visiting Glenbard West this month!  View the complete list of reps on Naviance Family Connection.  Sign up through Naviance to meet with a college rep and be sure to stop by the Guidance office at least two days in advance for a pass.  Questions?  See your counselor!