Class of 2021 Newsletter
Sophomores, you are almost halfway through Gilman's Upper School! We wish each of you the best of luck on exams and final projects, and we hope that you enjoy a fun, interesting, and relaxing summer. Whatever your summer plans are, we hope you'll find some time to read. Looking for suggestions? Check out NPR's list of 100 Best-Ever Teen Novels.
College Visiting for Rising Juniors
While we recommend that students begin visiting colleges in earnest during the spring of their junior year, some sophomores may express an interest in visiting campuses this summer. These visits should be less about touring schools to which a student might eventually apply and more about simply stepping foot on campuses to get a feel for different "types" of schools in terms of size and setting. We are fortunate to live in an area rich with options for higher education, and you could visit a variety of schools without leaving the Baltimore area. Or, if your travel plans take you near a college campus this summer, consider signing up for a tour. All colleges will publish their visit schedule on their website; we recommend registering in advance for campus tours and information sessions.
If, conversely, your son doesn't mention anything about visiting college campuses, that's okay, too. Rising juniors can have an equally meaningful and worthwhile summer by engaging in a service project, working, going to camp, reading a few books, traveling with family, or playing on a sports team.
Spring Parent Coffee
Thanks to those of you who attended the sophomore parent coffee hosted by the College Counseling Office in April. Our guest speaker was Phil Pine, founder and president of Capital Educators test prep. Phil offered thoughtful guidance for parents on standardized testing; if you weren't able to attend, you can view his remarks here.
Standardized Testing
PSAT and Testing Accommodations On Wednesday, October 16, 2019, sophomores and juniors will be taking the PSAT at Gilman. For more information on the test and to see sample questions, please visit the College Board's PSAT website. If you are a student who has been approved to receive testing accommodations (such as extended time) at Gilman, learn more about the process of requesting extended time on the PSAT by visiting the College Board's website on Services for Students with Disabilities. If you have any questions regarding the process of applying for extended time, please contact directly our Upper School Learning Specialist, Dr. Stephanie Dennis.
Test Prep As this recent NACAC survey confirms, the most important factor in college admission is a student's transcript. Right now, then, students should be focusing their energy on doing well in their courses and developing collaborative relationships with teachers. Also important, however, will be standardized testing. Most students will elect to do some form of test prep often starting in the summer or fall of their junior year. A number of companies in the Baltimore area offer test prep for a fee (we referenced a few in the spring newsletter). There is likewise comprehensive, free online SAT prep offered through Khan Academy and free online ACT prep offered through ACT Academy.
Capital Educators: Fall Test Prep at Gilman Capital Educators will offer a test prep class at Gilman this fall; the schedule is online here. The course is scheduled so that it will conclude in time for the December SAT and ACT dates, the time we advise juniors to sit for their first standardized test(s). For more details and to register, please contact Capital Educators at (410) 532-9400. If your family receives financial aid from Gilman, Capital Educators will provide the same percentage discount to their fee. Inform their staff when you register, and we will coordinate the information with their office.
Common Standardized Testing Timeline Fall of Junior Year: PSAT at Gilman Winter of Junior Year: Take your first SAT and/or ACT Spring of Junior Year: Take another SAT and/or ACT June of Junior Year: Take SAT Subject Tests (if advised by your college counselor) Summer/Fall of Senior Year: Take final SAT and/or ACT
Counselor Spotlight Mr. Herman and Mr. Baker recently visited Swarthmore and Haverford Colleges in Pennsylvania. Did you know? Every student at Haverford College completes a Senior Thesis on a topic of their choosing. Recent topics include the history of graffiti and street art in Rome, Italy, and the impact of oil spills on the environment. At Swarthmore, any student interested in continuing their musical education at any level (introductory to advanced) is guaranteed private lessons from a professional musician as part of his or her tuition. Ms. Ross recently visited colleges in the Lehigh Valley. Did you know? Lehigh is one of the nation's premier research universities offering more than one hundred majors including business and engineering for its 7,000 students. Muhlenberg is a small liberal arts college recognized for its tight-knit community, close relationships with professors, and a world-renown arts and theater program. Lafayette is known as "a tradition-rich liberal arts college whose selective enrollment is small enough to make you feel like you belong to a real community, but large enough to give you unique opportunities across the arts, sciences, and engineering."
For Your Consideration
Reflecting on the "cultural roots of our political problems," New York Times columnist David Brooks responds to these "Five Lies Our Culture Tells Us." Without question, students must navigate and confront these same false narratives as they grow into the students and people of character we want them to be.
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