College Night for Parents & Caregivers of Juniors - Class of 2025

Class of 2023

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Welcome & Agenda

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6:00 to 7:00 Presentation

7:00 to 7:15 Q & A Session (General Questions)

• Importance of keeping things in perspective
• College planning programming at AB
• Role of Student, Parent, and Counselor
• Student’s Self-Reflection
• Components of a College Application
• Changing landscape of Standardized College Entrance Testing
• Recent trends in College Admissions
• Financial Aid

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It’s Stressful to be a Parent of a High School Junior

• Keep the whole process in perspective. We are living in a critical and historic moment with no shortage of challenges. While the stress of the college search process can have an impact on our families, we can use this as an opportunity to discuss ideas of flexibility, resilience and managing expectations with our children. These are lessons we can only learn through life experiences. Have family conversations and don’t be afraid to be honest about your feelings. Let them express themselves about any concerns or questions they may have.
• Know that you are not alone. Many families are going through a challenging time trying to figure out what the admission process is going to look like. (The Jed Foundation)

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Time flies…1.5 years from now there will be time for ‘goodbyes’

ABRHS Junior/ Senior Offerings

• Junior Groups #1 (December 6th & 7th)
• Junior Parent/Caregiver Night (December 6th)
• Alumni Connections (January)
• College Admissions Officer Panel (February)
• SERF College Fair (March)
• Junior Groups #2 (Spring)
• Junior Essay Workshop (May)
• Fall Senior Parent/Caregiver Night (September)
• Fall of Senior Year: Financial Aid Night (September/ October)
• Senior Groups (September)
• Individual student/ counselor meetings throughout the process.

College Planning Checklist: Junior Year

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Role of Students, Parents, and Counselors

Students - drive the planning/ application process, ideally.

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Parents - listen to child’s plans, goals, needs, and encourage exploration of variety of options, communicate questions or concerns to counselor.

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Counselors - offer counsel and advice from now to completion of the college planning/ application processes, support student on list development, strategy, essays, can be a bridge between student and parent.

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Points to Ponder…(student’s reflection a must!)

Why do I want to go to college?

Am I ready to go off to college? What will be challenging for me?

How hard do I want to study?

What am I curious about learning?

Where have I learned best?

Do I want to be somewhere similar or different from where I live?

Do I want to be with people that are similar or different to me?

What do I want to do on the weekends?

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Find the right college “fit”

• Any one of these vehicles will take you to the desired destination
• Comfort of the ride or the number of cup holders might differ...

• What is the best car?

How to Initiate Researching Colleges

SCOIR ‘is a solution for students, parents, counselors, and colleges focused on finding the right fit through a unified college search and planning network.’

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Future Planning Booklet, Class of 2024 Compendium of information on college planning/ application process

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Colleges’ own websites (i.e. UMass Amherst)

Virtual and in-person research and engagement option

(i.e. Northeastern Univ.):

* Virtual/In-Person Campus Tour

• Information Session
• Student Connections
• Connect with Admissions Counselors (Fall ABRHS Visits)
• Follow on Social Media

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Questions to Ask at a College Visit

On the Academic Environment:

• How much time do students spend on work outside of class?
• What type of assessments (i.e., exams/papers) do professors use most often?
• How (and how often) do students receive feedback on academic work?
• Is there a required first-year program and a culminating senior experience?

On the Campus Environment:

• Do students and faculty serve together on campus committees?
• How well do students get along with each other?
• How many students participate in community-based service projects?
• How easy is it to be involved in student leadership activities?

On Campus Resources:

• What types of financial aid/scholarships are available? Are they renewable?
• Who assists students with course selection and career advising? How often?
• What health and personal counseling services are available?
• What career planning and job placement services and/or internship experiences are available? How early can these services be accessed? What data is available on graduate and professional school enrollment and job placement for students?

SCOIR ABRHS’ College Search Application

Scattergram Data form AB Alumni Outcomes

Crafting a Balanced List

The average number of application for students in the Class of 2023 was 10.1

90% of last year’s seniors applied with at least one application via Early Admission deadlines (ED, EA, Priority App) which is consistent from the year before.

Goal

2-3 Reach

3-4 Possible

3-4 Likely

Tip: Put same amount of time/research/focus into “likely” schools as the rest. These are often schools where students get a better financial aid package with merit scholarships.

Organize Your Research

Notecards, charts, lists, write it down!! You will use it later. Trust me!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lUvbGLoFuVJ6BCrJBvnc_Mh0LRtuYzTj7FQN8vOqzDc/edit

Scoir.com (This will be our platform as it replaces Naviance)

CampusReel.org (student-driven virtual college tours)

ECampustours.com

Campustours.com

Youvisit.com

Virtualcollegefairs.com

Niche.com (great website aiding college search and scholarship info)

Unigo.com (college search and scholarship info)

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Tour SMART!

• Pick a safer school for your first visit. DON’T FALL IN LOVE

Set the bar in a reasonable place.

• Try to tour a variety of schools for comparison
• Have each family member take notes, take pictures, make pros/cons, take down names of those you meet (tour guide, admissions counselor, student)!
• Try to make it fun! Get lunch, consider area recreation, quality family time

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National Selectivity Information

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Holistic Admission

College Entrance Testing Options

• Test Optional, Test Flexible, Super Score, Oh My!

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• FairTest.org is a website that features a plethora of  helpful information for those students and parents that are considering test-optional schools
• SAT - Sign up at www.collegeboard.org March 9, May 4, June 1
• ACT - Sign up at www.actstudent.org

Feb 10, April 13, June 8

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• AP Exams (Advanced Placement)

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Recent Trends in College Admissions

Application numbers have continued to climb. The Common Application reported that applications submitted in 2022-2023 were up 7.5% from the previous year.

AB’s Class of 2023 submitted a total of 4234 applications with an average or 10 applications per student and approximately 90% submitting at least one in the early application deadline.

Test optional testing policies have gone mainstream with over 80%+ Universities & Colleges

Waitlists are likely to get longer at highly selective colleges.

Expect more gap years and college transfers.

International students enrollment will be going up.

With the end of affirmative action, colleges continue to seek diversity (institutional priorities) and will be looking more closely at personal essays and supplemental essays to reflect this.

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Financial Aid

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) - available Oct. 1st
• Required by all colleges for federal and MA state aid
• Free form
• Online application recommended

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• CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE® -available Oct 1st.
• Some colleges require this form for institutional aid
• Cost associated to apply
• Online application required

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• Individual College’s Financial Aid Application
• Required by some colleges

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• Net Price Calculator

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• MEFA.org

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Discussing Family’s Ability to Finance College Beforehand

What is my family budget??

How much debt and I comfortable accruing?

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/paying-your-share/focus-on-net-price-not-sticker-price

https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/loans/student-loans/student-loan-calculator

https://smartasset.com/student-loans/student-loan-calculator

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/pay-salary/average-salary-for-college-graduates

If you make $50,000 a year living in the region of Massachusetts, USA, you will be taxed $10,493. That means that your net pay will be $39,507 per year, or $3,292 per month.

Counselor Recommendation

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Counselor Statement: A letter of recommendation written by your counselor. The Student and Parent/Guardian response survey is required. The informal inhouse recommendation is optional.

• Student input (Student Response form (survey in SCOIR by 6/1/23)
• Parent input (Parent Response form (survey in SCOIR by 6/1/23)
• Informal recommendations (In-house Recommendations)

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Keep Calm and College Research On

General Questions

Thank you for attending.