Class of 2019 Newsletter

February 2018

We have enjoyed meeting with juniors and their parents over the past few weeks. We hope you are excited for what will be a journey of exploration and growth. With all the meetings, college lists, college visits, and conversations about college aspirations, there is a tendency to focus heavily on the "college process." The college application process, however, doesn't begin until students begin filling out the Common Application during the summer months. Now, conversely, is a time of self-reflection and research. More importantly, your focus now should also be on doing well in your classes and putting an appropriate amount of effort into preparing for standardized tests. There is much wisdom in the oft quoted adage: "Be here now." Focus on the scholastic tasks before you, and allow yourself to be deeply engaged in the many extracurricular opportunities presented to you daily.

February Checklist

Before the end of the month, please attend to the following: 

• If you have not already done so, book your first meeting with your college counselor
• Complete the Junior Questionnaire before your first meeting with your college counselor
• Place colleges on your current list into Naviance, in the area titled "Colleges I Am Thinking About," located within the "College" tab
  
• Plan college visits during the winter and spring months
  
• Parents, book a meeting with your son's college counselor after his initial meeting if you have not already done so
  
• Parents, please complete the Parent Response Form

Monthly Focus

Junior College Night

Thank you to all who were able to make it to the Junior College Night. We hope you found the admission panelists to be informative and engaging. In case you missed it, here is a video of the Junior College Night.

Standardized Testing
Juniors should take at least two standardized tests - the SAT and/or the ACT - by the end of the school year. By the end of February, students should have taken at least one SAT and/or ACT. Students should likewise register for a spring SAT and/or ACT. A handful of the most selective schools in the country require SAT Subject Tests; therefore, some students will also need to register for SAT Subject Tests in the spring. Your college counselor will offer specific counsel regarding standardized testing. A full list of SAT and ACT test dates can be found by clicking here: SAT test dates; ACT test dates.

Free Online Test Prep

The College Board offers free SAT test prep through Khan Academy, a non-profit online education organization. Beginning this spring, the ACT will also offer free online test prep through ACT Academy. These online tools offer personalized study plans, full-length practice tests, video lessons, and other materials targeted to a student's academic needs. Even if you've been in a test prep class or seen a test prep tutor, these tools are helpful as you continue to prepare for standardized tests.  

Engineering and Business Information Sessions

Thank you to all those who attended the information sessions on engineering, business, and college admission. If you weren't able to make it, please review the following slides from the presentations: Engineering and College Admission; Business and College Admission. Please be prepared to further discuss your desire to pursue these pre-professional majors with your college counselor during your initial meeting.   

Senior Year Course Selection

This month, juniors will begin selecting courses for their senior year. In conjunction with the Scheduler, Junior Form Committee, College Counseling Office, and Upper School administrators, juniors will attend scheduling workshops where they will work one-on-one with trained faculty to select courses for next year. Complete senior year schedules are due to Mr. Broadus by noon on February 27.  

College Visiting

If at all possible, we encourage families to make use of spring break as an opportunity to visit colleges. If visiting colleges over spring break is not possible, know that juniors are allotted excused absences from school to visit colleges at other times during the school year. College visiting absentee forms can be found outside Ms. Hammer's office. Please be ready to discuss college visiting plans with your college counselor in the coming months. Tips for how to plan a successful campus visit can be found on the Gilman College Counseling website. 

Gilman Summer College Tour: Virginia and North Carolina

Rising seniors are invited to join Mr. Herman and Mr. Baker from the Gilman College Counseling Office for the 2018 College Tour: Virginia and North Carolina, June 13-16, 2018. During the three-night, four-day trip, students will visit at least six colleges. Further​, participants will identify how an individual college's mission, culture, community, course curriculum, extracurricular life, and graduate outcomes fit with their burgeoning preferences. Space is limited, and there are but a few spots remaining. Reserve your spot on the bus and learn more about the tour here.

AIMS College Fair

Please mark your calendar for the AIMS College Fair on Tuesday, April 17, 2018, from 6:00-8:30 p.m. at Stevenson University's Greenspring Campus. Over 100 colleges will be present to share information and answer questions.

Counselor Spotlight

For Your Consideration

In his article "College Has Evolved. So Should Your Search," Angel B. Pérez, Vice President, Enrollment and Student Success at Trinity College, offers insights into the changes in American higher education over the past few decades and suggests helpful ways to navigate this new landscape.

As you begin the process of selecting your senior year courses, read this frank article from The Chronicle of Higher Education: "Are Colleges Pushing Students to Do Too Much in High School?" Remember, while it is important to take classes that challenge you and push you to realize your intellectual potential, we also want you to create a healthy balance between the demands of your coursework and other meaningful endeavors and activities.

Contact the CCO