SENIOR PARENTS: We met with all seniors on Friday, September 15th, to review the college application process, including how to send test scores, transcripts, and request letters of recommendation. The presentation video is available to you here. The slide deck is available here. Once a senior has submitted their application, they must fill out this form for every college to have their materials sent. Remember that seniors who plan to apply to the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) and Michigan State University should be mindful of Early Action dates. UM and MSU are on Nov 1. We suggest students submit two weeks before the deadline to be confident about Early Action applications. Students requiring a written evaluation (letter of recommendation) from their counselors must complete a Junior Conference information form on Naviance or paper.
Don’t forget that we have representatives visiting from colleges nearly every day of the week during the fall! Calendars are posted on Naviance, eBlasts, Facebook page, and on the announcements. It’s not too late to research schools! Many students are still finding their direction on this. Counselors are happy to help. We encourage students to use the College Super-Match feature on Naviance.
APPLICATION HELP is here! Every Monday morning in October at 8:00, counselors will be available for hands-on college application help in the library. No advance sign-up is required – just show up! We love to help. October is College Application Month, so loads of FREE college apps are available. Also, with a brand new state initiative, all students with a 3.0 are guaranteed admission to these 10 colleges. We would love for every college-bound student to have at least one application sent by the end of the month.
JUNIOR PARENTS: Friday, September 15, we presented our Junior College Preparation meeting. The meeting theme was Nuts and Bolts of Junior Year: finding the right fit. We talked about college research, using Naviance, grades, testing, college matching, how to start with online searching, and making the most of college representative visits. The video recording and the slide deck are here.
Mark Thursday, October 12th, on your calendars. That is the day the PSAT/NMSQT will be given at South. This is the practice test for the SAT and the test that juniors take to determine eligibility for the National Merit Scholarship Program. The test format is digital for this test, and all tests moving forward, which means we will take the test online. The school will provide all necessary supplies, including a Chromebook. Students will want to practice for this format. A great way to do this is using Bluebook, an app from the College Board that simulates the online test. Students wishing to get some last-minute review may want to check out Khan Academy online for free test prep and reliable practice tests. You can match your College Board account with your Khan Academy account, and they will customize a free test prep program and help you develop a calendar for practicing.
Juniors will take the SAT (also online) as part of state testing in Spring. This is an official test with reportable scores. Many parents ask if their students should take the ACT and the SAT. Either test is excellent for college admissions, so students should go with the test they feel the most successful taking. Consider the PSAT score as a good baseline for SAT success. It may be wise to take an ACT so students can review both baseline test scores to decide which test he or she will choose to focus on for preparation.
FRESHMEN PARENTS: If you missed the Freshman Orientation Night, you can see my submission is about transitioning to high school from last year. It is a significant change, and we see this in five main themes: Academic, Social, Emotional, Physical, and Financial elements. I hope you find the video helpful. Please reach out if counselors can support your student in getting comfortable and thriving at South. A great place to start is by joining clubs, teams, and activities. The club list is still growing so check back often to see what new ones pop up. Typically this list will grow to 60 or 70 opportunities. Mrs. Petz in the Student Activities office is a great resource!
ALL PARENTS: Have you checked your student’s grades on Schoology yet? We are at about the middle of the first quarter and an excellent time to look at your child’s progress. Here are a few resources I found helpful in sorting through digital or paper tracking.
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How to Organize using the Schoology Calendar Function video
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Schoology workflow and organization video
The Counseling Center continues to post “Wellness Wednesday” updates weekly on Schoology for students, focusing on positive actions to take for health and wellness. Please let us know if you have an idea about something you would like to see on Wellness Wednesday
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