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Monthly Newsletter

January 2017

View of dresses from the fall Wearable Art Runway Show outside the College Counseling Office.

January is one of our favorite times of year because we have the privilege of starting the college process with a new class. For students, this process can be simultaneously complex and simple, awe-inspiring and humbling; it pushes them way outside of their comfort zone and asks them to participate in a process in which, initially, they think they have little control. As uncomfortable as this might feel, this process, done well, allows students to be more introspective, to take appropriate risks, to better manage their time, and to begin to figure out who they are and what is important to them. Our role as college counselors is to equip students with the tools, resources, and skills to make this an enjoyable experience. It is a role we very much enjoy, and we look forward to working with our students as they navigate any challenges that arise and celebrating the personal growth the process fosters.
                                                                                                        
                                                                                                         - The College Counseling Team
Juniors News
Meetings are well underway, so if you haven't already scheduled your individual meeting with your college counselor, please stop by our office to make that appointment. After you have had your January meeting with your college counselor, please schedule the next meeting for you and one or both parents/guardians.


AP Tests
The 2017 AP exams will be offered May 1 - May 12. In order for your son or daughter to take an AP exam, he or she must complete the registration form no later than Sunday, Feb. 12. The non-refundable fee for each exam is $93. Students will receive additional information about the exams, and a link to the registration form on Monday. Please call or email the College Counseling office with questions. Please note, the College Counseling Office cannot amend our order of AP exams after Feb. 12.

Junior Parent Meetings

The junior parent meetings will take place following the January individual student meetings and are scheduled by the student. 

 

The junior parent questionnaire is now available on Naviance. Please complete the questionnaire in advance of your junior parent meeting. If you have trouble accessing your Naviance account, please let us know.

Junior Parents' Night

On Thursday, Feb. 16, we will be hosting our annual College Night for Parents of Juniors. The event will begin at 5:45 p.m. in the auditorium on the Learning Village campus. We will be joined by admissions counselors and deans from the University of Chicago, Furman University, Georgetown University, University of Richmond, and University of Virginia. The evening will begin with a panel discussion followed by two breakout sessions that will address many important aspects of the college process. If you have not done so already, please select your preferences for our 2017 program here.

Test Registration Tip

Though it is certainly convenient to have a parent take care of your test registration, we encourage you to take ownership of this task. Yes, you might need a parent's credit card to pay for the test, but other than that financial reality, the process is straightforward and mirrors the many administrative tasks you'll be responsible for overseeing during the college process and beyond.

Senior News
With most application deadlines having passed, seniors find themselves in a holding pattern as they wait for decisions to be released. Though it is certainly a more relaxing time – essays have been written, applications completed, and deadlines met – it is not a time to be become passive or disengage in any way from the school community or the life of the classroom. Rather, the months of waiting provide ample opportunity for seniors to continue to do their best work, further hone and refine skills, explore additional areas of interest, and lead our School.
 
Some important reminders for all seniors:
  • Check and read your email daily.
  • Check your SPAM folder regularly to make sure you have not missed an important email from one of your schools.
  • Check your account at each school; important information, including school decisions, is shared via this route.
  • Continue to pay attention to deadlines. This is especially important for anyone applying for financial aid or invited to apply for a scholarship.

Featured TEDTalk

Instead of featuring a blog this month, we have chosen the "How to Raise Successful Kids – Without Overparenting" TEDTalk by Julie Lythcott-Haims, former dean of freshmen at Stanford and author of How to Raise An Adult.

 

The TEDTalk introduction reads: "By loading kids with high expectations and micromanaging their lives at every turn, parents aren't actually helping. At least, that's how Julie Lythcott-Haims sees it. With passion and wry humor, the former dean of freshmen at Stanford makes the case for parents to stop defining their children's success via grades and test scores. Instead, she says, they should focus on providing the oldest idea of all: unconditional love."

Suggested Reading

For recommendations on how to "parent" during the college process and avoid some of the common pitfalls, read Willard Dix's recent column in Forbes, Ten Ways For Parents To Get On Top Of The College Admission Process.

On the Horizon

We love brainstorming with students about summer possibilities, so if you aren't sure how you might spend your upcoming summer, come see us. Be on the lookout for information about this summer's Camp Corwith, and there will also be an essay writing workshop for juniors available in late summer taught by Dr. Simeone.

 

Selection is competitive for the following programs, so if interested, don't delay in submitting your application.

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