Senior Newsletter
August 2016

We look forward to kicking off the new school year with the Senior-Parent Breakfast on Tuesday, August 30, from 8:00 to 10:00 am in the Dining Room of the Lumen Center. This comprehensive program will address the senior year and the college application process. The centerpiece of the program will be our college admission presentation, which will feature this year's speaker, Sally Richmond, Vice President for Admissions and Financial Aid at Washington and Lee University.

In order to prepare for breakfast, we ask that parents RSVP to Ms. Sawyer at vsawyer@gilman.edu as soon as possible. Due to a number of events on campus that morning, we ask seniors and families to park on the lower lot. Student attendance is required; parent attendance is encouraged.

August Checklist

Seniors should already have completed the following:

• Placed colleges that you are considering in the area designated "Colleges I am Thinking About" on Naviance
• Confirmed with two teachers that they will write recommendations for you
• Aspiring DI and DII NCAA student-athletes should have already started their initial eligibility at the NCAA Eligibility Center

Before August 15, please attend to the following:

• RSVP to Ms. Sawyer the number that will be attending the Senior-Parent Breakfast
• Register for the October SAT, September ACT, and/or October ACT (please note that the September ACT is now in the late registration period)
  • As per the previous newsletter, please remember the potential advantages for taking an ACT with Writing: 1) A number of Gilman seniors post a stronger result on the ACT, and even if they don't, the admission office will always make use of the highest score earned; 2) Your ACT results will arrive in late September or early October, giving you plenty of time to evaluate and consider different ED and EA options

Before September 1, please attend to the following:

• Complete all campus visits and interviews (if applicable) at colleges that will receive an application
• Seniors: Create a Common App account (the new Common App was released on August 1) and/or Coalition App account
• Seniors: Set a September appointment with your college counselor; you can book that meeting in the "Contact the College Counseling Office" section below
• Parents: Set a September appointment with your son's college counselor; likewise, you can book that meeting in the "Contact the College Counseling Office" section below
• Parents seeking/relying on college financial aid should be making use of each college's Net Price Calculator in order to determine the approximate amount of financial support these colleges can offer

PSAT: October 19
The PSAT will be administered on October 19. Seniors will be at school participating in various workshops related to the college application process or, with approval from the CCO, may use the day to visit colleges.

Reminders Sent to your Phone

The CCO has established an account with REMIND. If you would like occasional application and admission reminders sent directly as a text to your phone, whether senior or parent. To register, access this link. 

Standardized Testing Dates

For Your Consideration

Students, as you begin to fill out the Common App, read the Five Things Applicants Need to Know about the 2016-2017 Common App.

Parents, to support your sons as they begin the application process we suggest reading: Five Things Parents Need to Know about the 2016-2017 Common App.

Wake Forest Dean of Admission Martha Allman offers answers to the "top ten" admission questions she gets every year; read her insightful responses here.

Contact the CCO