Oh, The Places You’ll Go!

G’ Day Seniors!

Holy Dooley! (an exclamation of surprise in Australia).  It’s a stressful time for you:  Green Transcript Request Forms, Naviance, Senior Profiles, Deadlines, Essays, Studying for tests, Competing in Sports, Clubs, Volunteering, Homework.  Your parents might be STRONGLY ENCOURAGING you to get stuff done and your counselors are STRONGLY SUGGESTING you complete stuff NOW.

Here’s why it’s all WORTH IT ... Mia and her Koala friend are studying abroad in Sydney, Australia -- halfway around the world.  Mia is the subject of the first several GW College Coach blogs (Read from the beginning to hear her story).  She is from a local western suburban high school and is attending University of Wisconsin, Madison.  She left for Sydney at the end of July (Australia’s winter) and at the end of her long flight she was a day ahead of the U.S.  We hope she tells us cool things that are happening since she lives in THE FUTURE!

“Studying abroad is the most unique experience you can have not just in college, but it is one of the greatest opportunities of your life.  I stop every once in a while and realize that I am all the way around the world; having the time of my life in a place I never thought I’d be.  I’ve had experiences that I will remember for the rest of my life.  I’ve had the most fun I’ve ever had with people I would never have had the chance to meet back in America.  I don’t know why anyone would ever pass up an opportunity to have this much fun.”                                                Sent from Mia’s iPhone.  

Almost every college has study abroad programs.  The choices are abundant and the experiences you have will be extraordinary.

And now, final words from Dr. Seuss, who was from Australia!  (not really)

“You have brains in your head.  You have feet in your shoes.  You can steer yourself any direction you choose.  You’re on your own.  And you know what you know.  And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…”

Hooroo for now,

GW College Coach

Next blog from GW correspondents from Notre Dame and U of I!

Senior Checklist

Senior Checklist 

Hey Seniors!  It’s October.  If you applied to and got in to Iowa, read no further.  Wouldn’t it be fun if the entire GW senior class went there?!?!

1.     Keep Calm and Carry on.

2.     Log on to Naviance.  Make sure to put colleges into “Colleges I’m Applying To” and request transcripts.  Check application deadlines.  Discuss with your parent if you are applying “Early Action” or Early Decision”.  Discuss with your counselor if you have questions.

3.     Complete college applications.  Check over carefully before you submit.  If using Common App, make sure you have “matched” with Naviance and responded to FERPA.

4.    Revise your essay draft if needed.  Have a friend read it and your English teacher too.  Attend Essay Writing Workshops Thursday, October 3 period 4 or period 6 (lunch periods) to get started or to polish.

5.     Obtain green transcript request sheets from the guidance office.  Complete them and turn in to your counselor.  Make sure to allow at least two weeks for your counselor to process, especially if your application requires a counselor letter of recommendation.

6.    Talk to your teachers if a letter of recommendation is needed.  Then log in to Naviance and click on to your teacher’s name and use the narrative box to highlight your experiences in his/her class and to be clear about when the letter is due and where it should be sent.

7.     You already completed your Senior Profile, right?  Right?  Ask your parent if they want to fill out “Parent Input” portion on Naviance.

8.    Contact www.actstudent.org to send your ACT scores to your colleges.

9.    Click Submit!  Oh yeah.

10.  Write in your Gratitude Journal.  How awesome is your counselor?!

So much more to tell you…. next blog coming soon.

                                                                                                TTYL,

                                                                                                GW College Coach

Seniors Tell All!

SENIORS TELL ALL!

Hey Juniors!  Welcome to the GW College Coach Blog.  The Seniors have agreed to not only let you read this, but they also have advice for you on things that were helpful to them in the college application process as well as things they would have done differently.  Eight delightful seniors were interviewed and graciously offer you some tips.

NAVIANCE

Jordan says he really liked Naviance for comparing schools.  He used Super Match to put in his preferences to get a list of schools that he could then compare.  He liked applying to schools electronically, especially Common App, which made access easy.

Allison thought looking up colleges that are visiting West and being able to register for the visit through Naviance was most helpful.  She liked the ease of the Activities Resume under the About Me tab.  Max liked that by putting in your GPA and rank Naviance could recommend colleges to you.

STRESS

Mary Ellen thought that October was the most stressful because of early action deadlines.  She said that she recommends the early and priority deadlines (November 1, November 15) because the competitive pool is not as tough and she found out if she was admitted in December.  So, it was worth the early stress.

Molly credits College 101 that she took at West for two mornings last summer.  She worked on her Common App and wrote the first draft of her essay so it was all set before the school year started.

Justine thought that late November and early December were stressful. Then she was fine for a while, but was majorly stressed at the time of this interview because she was waiting to hear from her No. 1 school.

CRYING

Justine admits there was crying involved--Jordan agreed.  So did Sarina.  Others nodded.

ESSAYS

Molly suggests keeping ideas/drafts organized in folders on the computer.  She didn’t want to show her parents her essay because she thought it was so personal.

Mary Ellen says don’t delete your essay ever--never.  She needed it for so many other reasons and had to rewrite from scratch.

Jordan tackled the “So where is Waldo, Really?” essay for his college.  He actually enjoyed it.

HOW TO BEGIN

Samantha suggests knowing what you might want to major in helps narrow down colleges.  Allison agrees.  Sarina picked a general major, so she wouldn’t have to put  “undecided.”

Mary Ellen advises “visit colleges this summer, and then it will help you decide where to apply.”  She wanted to make sure she could “see myself there.”  She suggests to start application, essays and visits early.

VISITING COLLEGES

Getting on campus is crucial.  Just call the admissions office to set it up.  Admissions people are very friendly and want you to be on campus. Most visits are fun and informative, but not always!

Sarina agrees visiting is most important.  She survived a SIX-hour college visit in the pouring rain.  (She did not choose that school.)

Allison visited a school with her mom where the student tour guide had FLUNKED out of the school and was making up the answers to the questions they had. Yikes!

All the seniors wish you luck and if you see them in the hall, you can ask them questions.  They are EXCITED about their new adventure.  It was all worth it.  Keep reading the GW College Coach Blog!

                                T.T.Y.L

                                GW College Coach

Contest!!!  The first three juniors who tell their Guidance Counselor what essay Jordan enjoyed writing win a college prize.

It’s Not About the Money, Money, Money… Forget About the Price Tag!

♪ ♫ ♩ ♬  ♪ ♫ ♩ ♬   ♪ ♫ ♩ ♬  ♪ ♫ ♩ ♬  ♪ ♫ ♩ ♬  ♪ ♫ ♩

Hey Seniors:  Thanks Jessie J.  Your song is fun.  But… It’s FAFSA Time (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)!  This form is available on-line www.fafsa.gov. You and your parent will answer questions about your income during the previous year, how many people live in your household and your assets.  This form is required to receive need-based aid from the college.  After you submit this form, FAFSA will contact you with your EFC (estimated family contribution).  Whatever is left over is your “need.”  The school then puts an aid package together that may include grants, loans, and campus job opportunities.  

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Mrs. Vega-Rodriguez, our FAFSA guru, alerted the counselors that some schools have application deadlines as early as February to get aid for the 2013-14 academic year.  Some schools have rolling deadlines where aid is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.  Check out Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of the FinAid.org website.

If you need help with the FAFSA form, Glenbard North will have a FAFSA Completion Workshop on Saturday, February 2 at 10:30 am.  Another session will take place Saturday, February 9, at Glenbard East at 10:30 am.  There will be sessions in English and Spanish.

Mr. Kantrowitz warns prospective students about borrowing an amount greater than what you expect to take home your first year on the job.  You can check the Bureau of Labor Statistics website for median salaries of your future career.  You can also check on the Naviance careers tab under wages. Exhaust any federal loans first - they are a better deal.

Don’t rule out private schools because they can sometimes be more affordable with the financial aid packet they offer you.  It’s OK to start calling the financial aid office at the colleges you are considering with your questions and about scholarships they might offer.  Also consider two years of COD or another community college where tuition is very reasonable and you can complete your general requirements, then transfer to a four-year school.

Naviance has an extensive list of scholarships that you can peruse.  You may need to fill out a green transcript request form to give to your counselor if they need to send a transcript.  Check Fastweb.com also and don’t forget about the Local Scholarship Form available now in guidance and online.

                                                                                    TTYL,

                                                                                    Cha-ching, Cha-ching, Cha-ching

                                                                                    GW College Coach