1. Setting the Stage for Your Future
Freshmen College Planning Meeting
January 18, 2018
Mrs. Collier
Welcome. Tonight we’re going to take a look 2 or 3 years into your future. In a very general way, we’re going to attempt to raise your level of awareness concerning how your choices (in terms of your performance here at Priory and your interests both here and beyond) form the “total package” that colleges will see when you apply for admission. And, how what that package looks like will impact your choices when applying to college.
Why now? Because if you have the motivation, you have with the time to make some things happen. From the traditional academic information to your actions beyond the classroom - knowledge of how this all works now can empower you in setting and achieving your goals. Tonight, you will be rotating through three 20 minute presentations:
1. Course selection for next year and beyond – presented by Dr. Rashford and Mr. Nickolai in the Music Room, Room 111 (Families whose last names begin with the letters A – G will start here)
The Academic Aspects of College Admission – presented by me here in the theatre (Families whose last names begin with H – 0 will start here)
Life Beyond the Classroom and College Admission – presented by Mrs. Collier in the Library (Families whose last names begin with P – Z will start here)

2. Tonight is about…Balance
Priorities
Family
School
Outside interests
Challenges of Priory
Broad Curriculum
How to Demonstrate Your Interests and Passion
Time Demands
Mrs. Collier
What tonight IS NOT designed to do:
Get you started on making a list of colleges you want to apply to
Panic you!
What tonight IS designed to do:
Let you know about all of the options available out there -- that’s the best thing about higher education in the U.S. or the world for that matter -- all the choices
Show you how to maximize your options among those choices
Motivate you to pursue outside interests if you are not already doing so.
Priory’s size and curriculum demands mean that you won’t have all the choices here at Priory that many students will have at their high school. THIS IS OK! Colleges will evaluate your application based on how you chose to take advantage of the opportunities available to you.
How do you prioritize what you will do?
How do you fill the gaps that are not available here at Priory?
Don’t overburden yourself.
How much can you REASONABLY manage?!

3. THE SOPHOMORE YEAR AND BEYOND Director of the High School
COURSE SELECTION FOR
THE SOPHOMORE YEAR AND BEYOND
PRESENTED BY
DR. JARED RASHFORD
Assistant Headmaster
MR. MICHAEL NICKOLAI
Director of the High School

4. Form IV Program of Study
Purpose:
Further build upon classical, liberal arts curriculum
Begin to consider opportunities for further engagement within and outside of school (service, academic, extracurricular)
Major components:
Complete seven academic courses
Continue with your Fine Art or study of Greek
Placement in honors-level courses determined by faculty and department heads
Participation in Form IV Seminar
Service learning, college counseling, wellness
Dr. Rashford/Mr. Nickolai

5. Form IV Academic Options
Points for consideration
Do you want to pursue Latin at the Advanced Placement level?
Are Computer Science and Business potential areas of study you might consider exploring in college?
Would exposure to another language demonstrate your commitment to understanding multiple cultures and perspectives?
Dr. Rashford/Mr. Nickolai

6. The Form IV Academic Program
Dr. Rashford/Mr. Nickolai
The course selection “map” and guidelines will be posted online within the first two weeks of February along with a complete curriculum guide.
The Form IV Academic Program

7. Course Selection Process
Students and parents should refer to the updated Curriculum Handbook at under the Academics Menu.
The timeline for this year’s registration process will be from February 1 through February 16.
Dr. Rashford/Mr. Nickolai

8. Course Selection Process
On February 1, all high school students will receive two Google Forms in their student s. One form will be used for course selections and one for athletics.
Dr. Rashford/Mr. Nickolai

9. Course Selection Form
Dr. Rashford/Mr. Nickolai
Priority for elective courses in the Classical Language block will be based on the date registration forms are received and departmental approval.

10. Course Selection Form
Dr. Rashford/Mr. Nickolai

11. Course Selection Form
Dr. Rashford/Mr. Nickolai

12. Course Selection Form
Dr. Rashford/Mr. Nickolai

13. Course Selection Form
Dr. Rashford/Mr. Nickolai
All students should speak with their advisors and parents before February 1 so that they are prepared to make their course selections when they receive the form.

14. WHAT MATTERS IN COLLEGE ADMISSION: Director of College Counseling
ACADEMICS
PRESENTED BY
MRS. BETH COLLIER
Director of College Counseling

15. College Admission Systems
Open Admission Colleges
Formula Admission
Competitive Admission
Mrs. Collier
There are three types of admission systems utilized by the colleges and universities across the country:
Open - any student with a high school diploma or equivalent is admitted
Formula - a school creates a formula utilizing grade point average and test scores
Competitive - holistic approach where the school considers factors beyond a formula to decide who is a best fit for their school
College Admission Systems

16. Competitive Admission
Academic
Rigor of Your Curriculum
Grade Point Average
Your standardized test scores (ACT or SAT)
Advisor/College Counselor Recommendation
Teacher Recommendation
Reputation of Priory School
Non-Academic
Your Activities Resume
Essay
Interview
Special Affinity or Talent
Level of Interest
Mrs. Collier
In Competitive Admission Systems both Academic and Non-Academic criteria are considered. It is a holistic review, i.e they consider the total person and what that person will contribute to campus both in and out of the classroom. Remember, colleges are LIVING and LEARNING environments:
Academics
* Rigor is important
* How well you do in your curriculum is even more important
* Test scores do play a role but not as significant as in formula systems
* Recommendations are used to complete the picture of who you are
Non-Academics
* These items show who you are as a person.
* What you will bring to a college community
* And, your level of maturity, commitment, responsibility and leadership
Competitive Admission

17. First and Foremost: Your Grades Look at the transcripts in your packet
Most important document in all of college admission
What do you notice…Sample Transcripts
Trends
Difficulty of Improving Your Cumulative GPA
Rigor
Mrs. Collier
You have completed ½ of your freshman year.
You have established a pattern of grades.
Now is the time to change if you don’t like that pattern.
Let’s review the sample transcripts
The first one looks like yours. Look at what is shared with the colleges. Look at what is not shared. Verify that everything is correct!
The second one is from a student who improved significantly between freshmen and sophomore years
the third one is from a student who didn’t see that change until junior year. See the difference of impact?
Schools look for trends… particularly upward ones. You are not your freshman year… you can make a change.

18. How Much Rigor is Right For Me?
# 1 Factor in Selective College Admission – how have you taken advantage of the opportunities presented to you academically
#2 Factor in Selective College Admission – how have you performed in the classes you have taken
BALANCE:
Challenge your strengths
Support your weaknesses
Explore your interests
Open up your opportunities
Mrs. Collier
In light of what you have just learned about the transcript, let’s talk about how colleges react to applicants from an academic perspective.
Priory’s curriculum overall is recognized as rigorous.
But, at the MOST selective schools, they expect you to challenge yourself in the most rigorous way possible, even at Priory.

19. How Much Rigor is Right For Me?
Challenge your strengths
- Take honors and AP
Support your weaknesses
- Take advantage of the Study Guides
- Ask for help (your teacher, tutors, etc.)
- Learn how to study (where, when, how)
Explore your interests
- Get involved in activities that support your academic
interests
- Be able to tell colleges why you want to pursue the
major to which you are applying
Open up your opportunities
Mrs. Collier
This means you do not have to be all A set.
At Priory, you have to think about the multi-year implications of course selection choices. Math and Science honors options are tied together. Language and history are separate.
The most rigorous course load at Priory is 4 AP’s in the junior year (keeping Latin through the junior year) and 3 AP’s in the senior year. Many of our students who are accepted to Tier 1 institutions will have 3 AP’s in the junior year and 3 in the senior year. And, some students will take only 1 AP in the junior year and then take 3 in the senior year.

22. What NOT To Do Now TESTING
Priory School students do VERY WELL on national standardized tests.
Priory School has a recommended testing policy based upon research with our students and our academic program.
Testing too early and too often may lead to test burn out.
Please review the enclosed recommended testing policy.
Mrs. Collier
Historically, our research has repeatedly shown that the vast majority of students (2/3rds – 3/4ths) score their best standardized testing score on the 2nd sitting for the exam.
Focusing on making the most of your academic experience at Priory is the best preparation you can do.
We do recommend that some students who are doing well in Biology this year sit for the Subject Test in Biology in June. We will come to your Biology classes to discuss with you whether or not it makes sense for you to take this test. Other than that, we do not want you to start testing yet.

23. HOW COLLEGE ADMISSION WORKS: NON-ACADEMIC FACTORS
PRESENTED BY
MRS. NIKKI HOSTNIK
Associate Director of College Counseling
Don’t forget to make your plans for the summer.

24. Non-academic Factors
Beyond the Academics--what will you bring to the campus (activities, leadership, talents)?
What interests you (activities, essays)?
What makes you who you are (essays and interviews?
How committed are you to the school (relationships, participation)?
Have you learned how to manage your time and take advantage of opportunities?
Mrs. Hostnik
Colleges are LIVING AND LEARNING environments. So, what you will bring beyond academics matters too. Once you move beyond the academic factors, the colleges will look to see what else you are doing with your time. What you do at Priory, what you do in the community, and what you do with your summers
If you say that you are interested in something, how are you demonstrating that you pursue your interests?
In a pool of very talented students, some times having a unique or well-explored external activity can make a big difference in your admission. Most students bring outstanding academics to the table—what you are doing IN ADDITION to these outstanding academics can have a bearing on your admission chances. Therefore, we encourage students to focus on 1, 2, or 3 outside endeavors that you are passionate about and do as much as is reasonably possible to pursue those endeavors.

25. Your Extracurricular Activities
Focus on several activities that you enjoy
Can you take this interest in another direction?
Internships or summer jobs
Volunteer service
Travel or formal programs
Hobbies
Mrs. Hostnik
What you do outside the classroom
Completes the picture of who you are
Supports what you say you like and what you want for yourself
Connect your interests to your activities (I.e. Technology/engineering interests -- participate in FIRST and TEAMS)
Consider all options (Both at Priory and beyond). The St. Louis region has MANY opportunities for students to really delve into topical areas from science to social engagement. Utilize the resources of your close friends and family members in gaining access to opportunities that may flesh out what you say you are interested in.
Make the most of your summers

26. Making the Most of Your Summer
Make plans now for an ENRICHING summer!
Participate in one of the many academic summer camps hosted on college campuses in our area and across the country
Get a summer job—if it is meaningful, GREAT! If it is not, you will STILL LEARN SOMETHING!
Attend the Summer Opportunities Fair at Whitfield School on Saturday, January 27th, 10 am to 3 pm
Visit AND the Priory College Counseling Facebook page for more information about summer programs
Mrs. Hostnik

27. Community Service How does your project reflect your interests?
The minimum 40 hours is not an activity, it is a component of the Priory curriculum.
Mrs. Hostnik
What Community Service says (or can say) about you:
I believe in the educational choice I made -- to attend Priory and the Benedictine philosophy
I am exploring my interests in every way possible.
I think of others beyond myself.
I am able to make a commitment and stick with it.
I know how to manage my time.
I am capable of being a leader.
Priory’s requirement means that colleges will discount the first 40 hours of community service that you perform
What makes sense for you beyond those 40 hours?
IT’s the QUALITY NOT THE QUANTITY THAT COUNTS!!!

28. Leadership Do I provide evidence of meaningful contributions?
Do I demonstrate breadth & quality of accomplishment?
Do I forge frontiers in activities, i.e., demonstrate initiative?
Do I demonstrate increased responsibility, commitment, and leadership?
Am I recognized for my commitment and participation?
All of these for activities both at school and in the community?
Mrs. Hostnik
Again -- what are your interests…
How have you pursued those interests
How have you made a contribution to those interests…ie. it’s not just being an officer (AIM HIGH - guitar lessons)
Not just for admission -- but these are the things that can really make an impact for scholarships too.

29. What We Will Do To Assist You
Freshmen Year:
Junior Year: Individualized work starts
Transition to High School
Finding your interests
Meeting with College Representatives who visit campus
Attend Workshops on the college process
Sophomore Year:
Practice Testing
Formal Testing begins
Career and Major Exploration begins
Course Selection for junior and senior year review
Individual meetings with your college counselor; present a list of suggested schools
In the spring, begin to explore college options in a broad sense
Explore specific schools in earnest
Various Programs on process
College Counseling Seminar in
Winter Term
Senior Year: Step-by-Step individual assistance with all aspects of the college application and selection process (College Counseling Seminar)
ALL – Presented as the final slide in the final breakout groups
Priory has a very comprehensive college counseling program
The college choice process is a developmental one that helps students make a successful transition into young adulthood.
Our program is designed to move students through each developmental step in a systematic and timely way.
Our program is based on years of experience and best practices within our profession.

30. QUESTIONS
AND
ANSWERS