1. Westford Academy Guidance Department Presents
The College Search Process
Westford Academy Guidance Department

2. Westford Academy Guidance Department

3. Counselor Assignments Class of 2018
A-Chasse Leah Birnkrant Chawla-Erdal Karen Halloran Fan-Jani Susan Lynch Jhawar-McCabe Brian Doherty McCarthy-Palnati Jill Karatkewicz Pandiscio-Skotz Tracy McLaughlin Smith-Waterhouse Heidi Hider Welch-Zhu Wendy Pechacek
Westford Academy Guidance Department

4. On-line Course Selection
Program of Studies
Timeline:
iStudent portal opens 2/17 at 2 pm
Review/approve/add electives over break 2/20-2/24, see teachers with questions after break
March 2 Course Request Deadline
March 17 Override Deadline
Time Management worksheet
Westford Academy Guidance Department

5. Westford Academy Guidance Department
Emotional Well-Being
One in four young adults have a diagnosable mental illness
One in three students seek mental health counseling during college
75 percent of mental health conditions begin before the age of 24
College counseling centers report double digit growth in the use of their services in the past few years
Westford Academy Guidance Department

6. Emotional Well-Being (cont’d)
In an ACHA report, students cited stress, depression and anxiety as among the top impediments to academic performance
64 percent of young adults who are no longer in college are not attending college because of a mental health related reason
7 percent of college students have “seriously considered suicide” in the past year
Westford Academy Guidance Department

7. Westford Academy Guidance Department
Time
Management
Activity
Westford Academy Guidance Department

8. Westford Academy Guidance Department
Collaboration
Student
Guidance Counselor
Parent
Westford Academy Guidance Department

9. DO YOUR JOB

10. Westford Academy Guidance Department
Student’s Job
THE STUDENT IS THE QUARTERBACK. PILOT. ENGINEER. DRIVER.
Whatever analogy you prefer – the student is calling and executing the plays!
Finalize college application list
Fill out and submit the applications (INCLUDING writing the essay)
Request official test scores (SAT, ACT) from the testing companies
Complete & hand in yellow sheets (transcript request forms)
Check status of application (many colleges use online portals) regularly
Westford Academy Guidance Department

11. Westford Academy Guidance Department
Counselor’s Job
THE COUNSELOR IS THE COACH. ADVICE GIVER. GUIDE. SENSEI.
Sometimes we’re also the referee…
Provide feedback on the college list (is it missing anything?)
Write letter of recommendation
Upon receipt of yellow sheet: send official transcripts, recommendations (teacher and counselor), school profile.
Send additional grade updates to colleges as needed (Term 1, Mid-year, etc)
Westford Academy Guidance Department

12. Westford Academy Guidance Department
Parent’s Job
THE PARENT IS THE SUPERFAN. CHEERLEADER. SUPPORT TEAM.
Support & encourage (leave the pressure and unsolicited advice for another day)
Hand your child the phone/computer - they can make their own college appointments
Prepare your child for disappointment - and reassure if it happens
Assist with FAFSA & CSS Profile (if needed) - and have an open, honest discussion about finances for college
DON’T BUY THE SWEATSHIRT UNTIL A DEPOSIT IS MADE!
Westford Academy Guidance Department

13. Westford Academy Guidance Department
Junior Year Timeline
February
2/10 SAT Registration Deadline for 3/11 SAT’s (at Westford Academy)
After Feb vacation - Individual Student/Parent Meetings with your counselor begin
Think about Teacher Recommendations
March
3/2 deadline for course requests in
iStudent
Continue College Meetings
3/3 deadline for April 8th ACT
3/5 registration deadline for AP exams
3/10 Job Shadow Agreement Form Due
3/17 “Late” AP Registration Deadline
3/17 Course Override Requests Deadline
April
April 7th deadline for May 6th SAT
April vacation – visit colleges
May
5/1 AP exams begin
May 9th deadline for June 3rd SAT
May 5th deadline for June 1oth ACT
5/16 Junior Job Shadow Day
Summer
Essays, college visits & lists, etc.
Westford Academy Guidance Department

14. Post-Secondary Options
Four Year College/ University
Two year Community College
5th year programs
Employment
Gap Year
Alternative Programs
Technical/ Vocational programs
Military
Internship Programs
Westford Academy Guidance Department

15. Finding the BEST FIT College
The college search is not about getting into the best college. We don't believe in a best college. There is no school that is best for ALL students.
Size
Location
Programs
Majors available
Academic supports
Cost & Financial aid
Extracurricular Activities
Student life
Athletics
*Princeton Review,
Westford Academy Guidance Department

16. What Colleges Want to See
Challenging HS curriculum
Grades with strong effort or upward trend
SAT/ACT Scores – required for most colleges
SAT/ACT scores that match your academic record
Well-written essay
Dedication to extra-curricular activities - passionate
Strong recommendation letters
Well prepared interview - if applicable
Westford Academy Guidance Department

17. Westford Academy Guidance DepartmentWA
Transcript
Westford Academy Guidance Department

18. Westford Academy Guidance Department
Class of 2017 Scattergram
Westford Academy Guidance Department

19. Westford Academy Guidance Department
SAT vs. ACT
SAT (1600)
Subjects
EBRW
Math
Essay
Register at
ACT (36)
Subjects
English
Math
Reading
Science Reasoning
Writing Section
Register at
Westford Academy Guidance Department

20. Naviance: Colleges Tab
Westford Academy Guidance Department

21. Westford Academy Guidance Department
Search Results
Westford Academy Guidance Department

22. Colleges I’m Thinking About List
Westford Academy Guidance Department

23. COMPARE ME
Westford Academy Guidance Department

24. Colleges I’m Thinking About List
Westford Academy Guidance Department

25. Westford Academy Guidance Department
College Homescreen
Westford Academy Guidance Department

26. OVERLAPS
Westford Academy Guidance Department

27. Westford Academy Guidance Department

28. Westford Academy Guidance Department
University of Massachusetts Lowell Scattergram
Westford Academy Guidance Department

29. Averages for Accepted WA Students – Class of 2016
UMASS at Amherst
Early Action
Average GPA: 3.87
Average ACT: 31
Average SAT (out of 1600 – Math & Reading)
Regular Decision:
Average GPA: 3.69
Average ACT: 29
Average SAT (out of 1600 – Math & Reading)
Westfield State University
Average GPA 2.93
Average ACT: 20
Average SAT (out of 1600 – Math & Reading)
Westford Academy Guidance Department

30. Now… Let’s start THE LIST
Reach
Realistic
Safety
Westford Academy Guidance Department

31. Westford Academy Guidance Department
Application Options
Regular Decision
Early Action
Restrictive/Single Choice Early Action
Early Decision
Rolling Admission
Westford Academy Guidance Department

32. Westford Academy Guidance Department
Mass Transfer
Enroll in a linked degree program at a Mass Community College
Upon completion of Associates Degree:
No application fee
No application essay
General Education Requirements satisfied
Eligible for Full transfer of credit to a UMASS campus or MA state school
Guaranteed admission with an incoming 2.5 GPA
Tuition discount based on final GPA
Westford Academy Guidance Department

33. Westford Academy Guidance Department
MA ComCom
Commonwealth Commitment through MassTransfer
Start at one of the 15 Massachusetts Community Colleges in a new MassTransfer “A2B Mapped” program
Finish within 2 ½ years
Maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher
Transfer to a State U or UMass campus and continue full time
You get:
A freeze on mandatory student fees for up to 4 ½ years
A MassTransfer tuition credit worth an average of $1,200
10% rebate after each completed semester
An Associate’s degree and a bachelor’s degree in 4 ½ years
Average savings of 40% on the cost of your bachelor’s degree
Westford Academy Guidance Department

34. Financial Aid: Prior, Prior
Tools and Info on WA website
Net Price Calculator
FAFSA
(Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
File after October 1, 2017
Can register now for PIN
CSS Profile
available October 1, 2017
Check each college’s financial aid application deadline
College Financing Seminar – mid-October
Westford Academy Guidance Department

35. Westford Academy Guidance Department
Job Shadow Day
Takes place on May 16, 2017
Job Shadow Agreement Form due March 10
Find the form on the School to Careers website, under Junior Job Shadow – you will need to login with your Westford Google account
See your counselor with questions
Westford Academy Guidance Department

36. Westford Academy Guidance Department

37. Westford Academy Guidance Department

38. Westford Academy Guidance Department
Communication is key!
Naviance User ID and Password
Each student
Each parent/guardian
Guidance Blog
Very important information from the Guidance Department
Waguidance.blogspot.com – use Follow by box on right
REMIND
to 81010
Westford Academy Guidance Department

39. Westford Academy Guidance Department

40. Westford Academy Guidance Department

41. Westford Academy Guidance Department
WA Guidance would like you to join 2018!
Westford Academy Guidance Department

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43. Westford Academy Guidance Department
Student To Do List
BEFORE we schedule your Junior/Parent Meeting, you must:
Submit the Junior Year Profile Survey in Naviance
Submit the Personality Survey (Do What You Are) in Naviance
Submit the Cluster Finder Survey in Naviance
Complete at least one College Search in Naviance and SAVE it
Begin adding colleges to “Colleges I’m Thinking About” in Naviance
Westford Academy Guidance Department

44. Westford Academy Guidance Department
Naviance
Westford Academy Guidance Department

45. “College is a match to be made,
not a prize to be won.”
ENJOY the process!