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!

Welcome to GW College Insider and the College Coach Blog!

Hey Juniors! If you see a senior in the hall high-five them.  They have successfully navigated the sometimes rough waters of the college admissions process.  May 1^st is the national deadline to let colleges know that you are accepting their offer of admissions.  So GW College Coach talked to several seniors on how they are doing and what advice they have for juniors who are starting the process of college exploration and admissions.

Maddie started the application process in the summer.  She spent many weekends in the library.  She originally wanted to apply to eleven schools then narrowed it down to nine.  She advises to research your schools to make sure they have your major and how your major compares to other colleges.

Alex visited several colleges before applying to make sure they had his major.  He knew he wanted a large Big Ten school.  He applied to two “safety,” one “middle of the pack,” and some “stretch” schools.  He swears by Early Action, which is typically has a November 1^st or December 1^st deadline.  He advises to start early – don’t put it off!

Betsy applied to eleven colleges, but in retrospect she wishes she had applied to fewer so that she could spend more time on the one’s that mattered the most to her.  She put things off and regrets that because it added more stress. It all worked out for her in the end!

Holt suggests writing down all of the different passwords because you have to keep using them for different accounts.  He advises to be on top of due dates.  He had a bit of a horror story when application supplements didn’t copy and paste near a deadline and it was frustrating.  He advises that you look at the whole application before you begin working on it – see the whole picture.

Regarding the dreaded ESSAY, Emily underestimated the amount of essays required.  There are supplemental and short essays that are all equally important.  Alex suggests, “Don’t just talk about where you want to go – sell yourself.”

Alex, Betsy, and Maddie agreed that talking about yourself is hard to do.  They suggest looking at individual college websites to see what they already have and then let them know what you will contribute to their campus.

Final essay thoughts…

Alex: “If you give your best effort, you won’t be worried; you’ll know you did your best.” 

Maddie:  “Make sure to show the connections between you and the college.”

Betsy: “Don’t skimp on the supplemental essays.”

Excellent advice seniors – I officially dub you GW College Coach Ambassadors! 

TTYL,

GW College Coach

Juniors:  Register for College 101: Preparing for the College Selection Process at West July 17-18 from 8:30-11:30 AM.  Visit the summer school link on our website www.glenbardwesths.org to register.

Finishing Strong

Hey Seniors:

Many of you are experiencing many emotions right now:  elation, satisfaction… resentment.  Most response letters have arrived bringing with them joyful news or possibly even a “maybe”, adding to the agony if you are on a Wait List or Deferred.  Many seniors are reporting that they are still anxious about college - for many there are still important decisions to make.  Your counselors can help you.

Let’s talk about SENIORITIS.  Some of you have had this condition since September (You know who you are!)  For others it began as soon as the acceptance notices began arriving. It is challenging to stay focused, but please know that colleges will note a downtrend in your senior grades and can rescind their admission offer.  Your colleges will require a final transcript sent from Glenbard West. This is not just scary talk from your counselors.

The National Association of College Admissions Counselors Organization keeps statistics about these trends.  In the Fall 2008 admission cycle, 21% of colleges reported that they had revoked an admission offer.  The most common reason that colleges rescinded an offer was final grades (65%), disciplinary issues (25%), and false information on the application (29%).  Public colleges are more likely to revoke an offer than private colleges.

Colleges will often offer a chance for you to explain poor grades before they rescind.  This usually takes place in the summer and if there truly is a good reason or circumstance to explain it, they will listen and reevaluate.  But “senioritis” will not impress college admissions directors!

The Class of 2012 is extraordinarily bright and talented.  Plus you are outstanding young persons and your futures are very promising.  In the Fall, on the first day of classes, your college careers will begin.  STAY FOCUSED – FINISH STRONG!

T.T.Y.L

G.W. College Coach