MOUNT OLIVE HIGH SCHOOL
Guidance Newsletter V O L U M E
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I S S U E
M A R C H / A P R I L
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: What’s Hap2 pening in Guidance Recognizing 3 Stress in Teens Scholarships
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7 Ways to 5 Keep Drama Off Your Social Media Accounts Jr. College Night and Trends in College Admissions
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College Fairs
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Test Taking Tips
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2018 College Scholars Program
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Welcome to spring!
formed decision possible.
It may be hard to believe, but we’re already in the middle of the third marking period!
Juniors will start taking their college placement tests, and that can be very stressful! We have some great test taking tips for you, which can be applied to any test a student may take, whether it’s for SAT’s, ACT’s, AP tests or your classroom quarterly.
For seniors, this is an exciting (and perhaps a bit nerve-wracking) time in their lives; college admissions decisions are coming in, and they are getting ready to make one of the most important decisions of their life! Where to spend the next four years? What happens if they don’t get their first or even second choice? Don’t stress — everyone will end up where they are meant to end up. Spend time researching and comparing your top schools so you are able to make the most in-
This is a great time to step back and look at how your school year has been, and make whatever changes you need to be successful over the next few months. YOU CAN DO IT!!
Junior College Night/College Admissions Panel —March 13 Attention all Juniors and their parents/guardians! Our popular event, Junior College Night/College Admissions Panel, will take place on Tuesday, March 13 in the MOHS Recording Studio at 6:30 p.m. Mark your calendars! Admissions representatives from Rutgers, Caldwell College, County College of Morris, Rensselaer Polytechnic University, William Paterson University and Fairleigh-Dickinson University will be attending. Learn about the college admissions process from the guidance counselors, and have a Question & Answer session with the admissions representatives! Underclassmen and their parents are also invited to attend! It’s never too early to prepare for your college admissions plan! See more information on pages 6 and 7.
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What’s Happening in Guidance!
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Make sure to check the Guidance website for important updates and announcements! If you have a question for Guidance, contact the Guidance Corner through Google Classroom using the code “a8yc5h” Counselors have been very busy meeting with their students for scheduling for 2018-19. Freshmen are transitioning to their new counselors, so you may be hearing some new names! Ms. Wheaton and Mr. Turk have been meeting with the 9th grade classes for the “Do What You Are” personality assessments using Naviance. These assessments identify personality traits and introduce students to possible careers based on those traits. Mr. Kerrigan will be holding an information session for seniors about local scholarships this month. The local scholarship applications will be posted on the website, and will be due in early April. Make sure your seniors take a look, as there are many great scholarships available! Registration for AP exams is ongoing through the end of March. Make sure you don’t miss the deadline or you may have to pay a late fee! For questions regarding testing, students should see Mr. Turk. Don’t forget if you have an address change to contact Guidance for an address change form and submit it with two proofs of the new address.
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Recognizing Stress in Teens Stress affects teens differently than adults. Often, when adults look at teenagers, they may appear to be having a very good time. Sometimes it’s hard to see that, underneath the bravado and laughter, there is a lot of tension. What are the common signs of teen stress? Teens react to stress in ways that are consistent with their personalities. Some face stressors directly, others indirectly. Some are active in their expression of stress, others take a passive route. The possible signs of stress include the following:
General irritability; arguing about everything, however minor
Regressive or immature behavior; they want their own way, they want it now, they can’t tolerate change from routine, and they are excessively sensitive to demands, expectations, or what sounds like criticism
Obsession with external appearances and material goods; lots of time spent looking “right,” having the right haircut, car, phone, etc.
School phobia; avoiding school work, cutting classes; sudden drop in academic performance
Secretiveness; lying about whereabouts or actions
Chronis dissatisfaction; nothing is good enough (including themselves)
Loss of interest or pleasure in things they used to enjoy
Excessive sleeping or sleeplessness
Difficulty concentrating
Significant change in eating habits
Excessive or ongoing worrying
Frequent crying spells
Increase in the number of accidents or mishaps
Frequent colds, flu or other communicable diseases and chronic conditions
Withdrawal; spending a lot of time alone; saying “no” to invitations from friends
Daydreaming, excessive fantasizing
Hyperactivity
Escapist behaviors (i.e. binging on Netflix)
Remind your student that he/she can speak to a guidance counselor or the Student Assistance Counselor, Mrs. Rehm, if they are feeling stressed, or need to find some online resources for help. No one is alone!
SCHOLARSHIPS There are several items to complete on the high school senior checklist before high school graduation - one of which is finding scholarships to help pay for college. Although you may have been granted admission to your dream college, you still may need to cover the rest of your college tuition and fees if you didn't land a full-tuition scholarship or your financial aid doesn't foot the entire bill. Scholarships are an excellent way to supplement the cost of tuition, room and board, books and other expenses, especially since they don't ever have to be paid back. Local scholarships will be announced later in March, but there are numerous national scholarships with free money just waiting to be found! Here are some that you may find interesting:
Duck Brand Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest http://stuckatprom.com/
Vegetarian Resource Group College Scholarship https://www.scholarships.com/financial-aid/college-scholarships/scholarships-by-type/ essay-scholarships/the-vegetarian-resource-group-college-scholarship/
Shout it Out Scholarship https://www.unigo.com/scholarships/our-scholarships/shout-it-outscholarship Flavor of the Month Scholarship https://www.unigo.com/scholarships/our-scholarships/flavor-of-the-month-scholarship
Signet Classics Student Scholarship Essay contest https://scholarships360.org/the-signet-classics-student-scholarship-essay-contest/
What is Your Do-Over Moment in Life https://www.unigo.com/scholarships/our-scholarships/do-over-scholarship
Fountainhead Essay Contest and Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest https://www.aynrand.org/students/essay-contests
Make Me Laugh Scholarship https://scholarships360.org/make-laugh-scholarship/
7 WAYS TO KEEP DRAMA OFF YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT 1. THINK BEFORE POSTING Always, always think twice before you post anything. And never post a comment when you're angry; even if you change your mind and delete the post or picture, it may be too late. Not every form of social media comes with an edit function, and even if it does someone may still see your post before you delete it.
2. BE VERY SELECTIVE WHO YOU ALLOW TO FOLLOW YOU Social media encourages us to collect 'friends' and followers. But these people aren't really our friends, unless you know them in real life. The more people that you allow to view your social media accounts, the greater the possibility that drama will follow. Be very selective about who you accept as friends, and if it's a personal account then keep it open to friends only.
3. UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S EASY TO MISUNDERSTAND Remember that it's very, very easy for misunderstandings to occur on social media. So before you take offence at what someone posts, consider that you might be misreading their meaning.
4. DON'T BE DRAWN INTO AN ARGUMENT Arguments can blow up in a moment on social media, as a throwaway comment is taken as an insult - and it soon escalates. Don't let yourself be drawn into an argument. If someone is clearly spoiling for a fight, don't respond and keep feeding it. Say your piece if you must, then move on.
5. BE THE BIGGER PERSON It's so tempting to want to prove you are right when someone makes a statement on social media that you disagree with. This can lead to an endless series of replies as each person tries to out-argue the other. But is it really so important to be 'right'? Sometimes it's best to be the better person, stop arguing, and just let them feel that they've won the argument.
6. SOME THINGS SHOULD ONLY BE SAID IN PRIVATE Never try to call someone out on social media. If you have a problem with someone, talk to them privately. Even if you're right to be annoyed, don’t drag mutual friends into it. Keep your discussions on the topic private, and don't embarrass anyone in public.
7. DON'T GO LOOKING FOR TROUBLE Finally, don't trawl through someone's social media comments in an attempt to find out something you can use against them. If you go looking for trouble, you're probably going to find it. Unless there's compelling reason to go digging, don't waste your time and energy on looking for dirt. Social media can be a great tool, but the drama that goes on there is an energy sucker. Just don't get involved - it will only leave you angry and frustrated!
College Admissions Panel Junior Parent Night/College Admissions Panel will take place on Tuesday, March 13 in the MOHS Recording Studio at 6:30 p.m. You may be wondering what to expect, and realizing it’s time to get serious about your student’s college future! Guidance will give you an overview of the college application process and introduce you to Naviance (Family Connection), a computer-based program to help students navigate the college process and make realistic choices. Using Naviance, students can search for colleges and create a preliminary college list. Students will also be introduced to the forms used for teacher recommendation requests and counselor recommendation requests. As a parent, it will be essential to pay attention to deadlines and help your teen stay organized and on top of the process. And clear the decks for spring break–plan to be doing some campus visits during any school holiday! The panel will include college admissions representatives from Caldwell College, County College of Morris, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Rensselaer Polytechnic University, Rutgers University, and William Paterson University. They will host a Question and Answer session, focusing on current trends in admissions. We encourage all juniors and their parents/guardians to attend this extremely informative program! Freshmen and sophomores are invited to attend as well to get a jump start on the college preparation process.
Factors and Trends Affecting Today’s College Admissions Just how does today’s admissions differ from “back in the day?” Why has the process become so competitive (therefore stressful)? Sally Springer et al, authors of Admission Matters: What Students and Parents Need to Know About Getting Into College, identify three factors: the “echo” boom (or baby boomlet), social changes, and the Internet. 1. “Echo” boom. “More high school graduates than ever are competing for seats in the freshman class…In 1997, there were 2.6 million graduates…by 2009, the number of high school graduates had grown to 3.3 million…they are projected to stay at or above 3.2 million at least until 2022.” This demographic explosion explains, at the simplest level, why you were accepted at “Ivy U,” but despite an impressive high school resume and stellar test scores, he or she may be edged out of yesterday’s most prestigious colleges. An institution you viewed as “second tier” back in the day may be viewed as a hot school today, and the quality of student at that school will be much higher now, too. 2. Social changes. Application numbers have grown much faster than the age cohort. Not only are there more students graduating from high school each year, proportionally more of them want to go to college. A college education is increasingly seen as the key to economic success in our society, just as a high school diploma was once the minimum requirement. At the same time, colleges themselves have increased their efforts to attract large, diverse pools of applicants.
3. Internet. Not only can students research colleges more efficiently than ever before via the Web, but electronic applications such as Common Application, connected to school guidance departments through Naviance, have made it easy to apply to multiple college. The Common Application now has over 500 member colleges and universities. NACAC’s State of College Admission 2014 survey indicated that 32 percent of college applicants submitted seven or more applications in 2013, versus only 9 percent in 1990.
OTHER TRENDS IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS Colleges Are Increasingly Valuing Demonstrated Interest As colleges start looking at lowering their acceptance rates while at the same time increasing their yields, they are emphasizing the need for demonstrated interest from candidates. Gone are the days where writing about how a school was your dream school was enough to show interest. Instead, colleges are now looking at quantitative data of interactions with prospective admits: filling out an information card at a college fair, making an official campus visit through the admissions office, applying Early Action, and more are playing a bigger role in determining how likely you are to attend their school. Holistic Admissions Will Be Even More Holistic For many years, the Common App held a strong monopoly in how students submitted their college applications; an overwhelming majority of college applications that were sent online came through the Common App. However, with the introduction of the new Coalition App and radical changes being made to other applications, the Common App’s monopoly is slowly starting to erode to the benefit of many students. The Coalition App, created by the Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success in response to the growing amount of barriers present in the application process, now accepts applications for over 100 colleges and universities across America. Among its many differences with the Common App is the Locker, an online platform for students to collect and organize essays, presentations, projects, and more in a private location . Students can begin to utilize the Locker at any time during high school — there is no need to wait until junior year! For example, a freshman can upload artwork or a video of a play or performance. Students can then use the contents of the Locker to attach supplemental materials to their application. This allows a more in-depth holistic review by the college of the potential applicant. Adapted from www.synocate.com
COLLEGE FAIRS Underclassmen! You’ve attended our mini college fairs during lunch, but why not attend a Regional college fair with a large selection of colleges? The NACAC College Fairs will be held next month in New York and New Jersey. Each one will have over 300 college admissions representatives in attendance! The New York City fair will be held on April 22 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Jacob Javitz Center in New York City. The New Jersey fair will be held on April 25 at the Meadowlands Exposition Center at Harmon Meadows in Secaucus; the first session will be held from 9 to noon and the second session from 5 to 9 p.m. For more information and a list of participating schools, check out the NACAC website at www.nacacfairs.org and select New York or New Jersey. What is a College Fair? A college fair is an event in which college admissions representatives come together at a school, communitygathering place or large convention center to meet one-on-one with high school students (and parents) to talk about their respective colleges and answer questions. Sometimes held during the day, but more frequently in the evening, reps are usually at tables or in booths where they provide handouts and brochures about the campus, academic programs, course offerings, activities and sports. Bottom Line: College fairs are unique opportunities for you to meet college admissions people face to face and begin the process of showing colleges your “demonstrated interest.” They are especially useful if you don’t have the time or resources to personally visit colleges. Not all colleges in the U.S. are represented at these fairs, but you will usually find at least some that are of interest to you. You never know, you might even find a few schools that you have never heard of that eventually end up at the top of your college list! What To Do Before You Attend a Fair? Once you find out about an upcoming college fair, go online to the sponsoring organization’s website and register for the event. Don’t forget to note the date, time and location on your calendar. Before you actually attend a college fair, there are a few things you can do to make sure you get the most out of it, including: 1. Go to the college fair website and write down which colleges you want to visit. 2. From the “Questions to Ask Colleges” list below, write out questions you will ask the college reps. By the way, it will help you make a good impression if you know something about the schools before you meet them. 3. Gather everything you will need for the fair, including your college list, a pen and notebook to write down notes about the colleges you visit.
4. Pull together some basic information about what kind of student you are, including your overall GPA, test scores, number of honors and/or AP classes you are or have taken, and a list of activities in which you are very involved. If you have one, bring along a copy of your activities resume to refer to as you chat. What To Do When You Arrive: As soon as you arrive at the college fair venue, keep in mind that one of your goals is to make a good impression. So, once you go through the front door, put a smile on your face, stand up straight and look confident. Your goal in visiting different college tables is not only to get information, but also make a connection with the college admissions representative. You never know when a casual meeting with a rep could turn into a friendship or lead to his/her becoming an advocate for you in the application selection process. When you arrive at the fair venue, get the list of colleges that are at the fair and mark on the college fair map where they are located. Decide how much time you want to spend with each of the colleges, allowing for more time at the schools in which you are most interested. Also, leave time to just wander around and stop by schools whose booths or information look particularly intriguing. Introducing Yourself to the College Reps: Introduce yourself, smile, and be friendly, attentive and positive as you talk with the representative and ask questions. If you have specific questions about majors, activities, sports or anything else, ask away. Here are some suggested questions to ask: 1. “What is the campus atmosphere like at your school? What do students do in the evenings and weekends?” 2. “What do students like most about your college? Is there anything you are aware of that they don’t like?” 3. Ask if the rep can provide the names of students with whom you could talk so that you can get a sense of the college from someone who is already there. 4. “What is the area (town, city) around the college like?” 5. “How accessible are faculty to students?” 6. If you have a learning issue, ask about the college’s learning services. 7. If you are anxious to do research, ask if that is available to undergraduate students and how?
Right after your visit with a college, take two minutes to write down anything that you found that was important or memorable. This will be very useful information for you when you begin completing applications in the fall. You may want to send a thank you note to those college reps of schools that are top on your list. Good luck!!
TEST TAKING TIPS If you’re taking a standardized test soon, whether it’s the SAT, ACT, or PARCC or another test, here are a few tips that can help you prepare: 1. Practice, practice, practice. The more you practice, the more familiar you will be with the test format, and the less likely you are to panic when you take the test for real. Practice also gives you an opportunity to get rid of all the bad habits that lead to careless errors. Search online for practice tests! 2. Don’t try to cram at the last minute; it’s more effective to study over an extended period. 3. Be prepared! Eat a good breakfast, avoid eating sugary foods, and instead try high-protein foods like scrambled eggs to aid concentration and minimize fatigue. Get a full night’s sleep before the test, don’t pull an all-nighter cramming before the test because lack of sleep will affect your performance. And wear comfortable clothing! 4. Pace yourself. Calculate the amount of time you have to answer each question and avoid getting bogged down on any one question. You might also take a minute at the start of the test to scan through the questions, so you can know what to expect. 5. Answer the easiest questions first. If you’re stuck on a question, move on to the next question. You can always come back to the question later. 6. If you have time left over at the end of the test, review your answers. Don’t second-guess an answer unless you are certain that you misread or misinterpreted the question. Watch out for careless errors. Also double-check that you wrote all of the answers in the correct locations. (If you skipped a question, make sure you didn’t misalign the answer to the next question.) 7. Read the question in full before trying to answer it. At least some of the answer choices will be designed to trap students who don’t read the question fully. Also identify the answer first before looking at the answer choices, since some of the choices will be designed to prime you into misinterpreting the question. Don’t jump to conclusions. 8. Eliminate any answers that you know are incorrect, especially on questions where you are having trouble arriving at the answer. Eliminating a few wrong answers can increase the chances of a random guess being correct. If you can eliminate one or more of the answers, making an educated guess among the remaining answers is worthwhile. 9. Consider all the answer choices before writing down your final answer. If one of the answers is an all-of-the-above choice, make sure there isn’t more than one correct answer. If you’ve identified at least two correct answers, choose the all-of-the-above response.
2018 COLLEGE PREP SCHOLARS PROGRAM JUNIORS! ARE YOU A HIGH-ACHIEVING, LOW-INCOME STUDENT? Get an early advantage in college admissions with the 2018 College Prep Scholars Program offered by QuestBridge. QuestBridge is a nationally recognized non-profit that has connected thousands of high-achieving, low-income students with full fouryear scholarships to attend colleges. Many of these students started their paths to success through the College Prep Scholars Program, which provides special awards, recognition and opportunities that give high school juniors the preparation they need to get into top colleges.
Who is qualified to be a College Prep Scholar? High school juniors, typically in the top 5-10% of their class, earning primarily A’s in the most challenging courses available, whose families earn less than $65,000 annually (for a typical family of four) with minimal assets. Students should also demonstrate strength in character and motivation to succeed.
Awards for College Prep Scholars include:
Full scholarships to college summer programs at Stanford, Yale, Penn, Emory and more
Exclusive access to 40 top colleges at a National College Admissions Conference
Distinction as an outstanding candidate for admission to our college partners
Personalized college essay feedback from a trained coach
Quest for Excellence Awards, such as laptops and all expense paid campus visits
And more!
The free, online application is open NOW through March 21, 2018 at www.questbridge.org.
