Enjoy Spring Break!

Woohoo!!!  5 days in a row DONE!  You all did great.  I know it was exhausting for all, but now you get to enjoy your well-deserved spring break.

I hope you have a wonderful and relaxing break. Don't forget, if you end up on a college campus over break, please take a picture for the "Oh the Places You'll Go" display. 

I don't anticipate updating much over break, so I hope you have a great week and please stay safe!

Creating Your College List

With spring break coming up and COVID still being an ongoing issue, you may find yourself with some extra time on your hands.  One suggestion I have for you is to consider using some of your time to begin the process of creating a college list of schools that might appeal to you for the future.  

Seniors, you have already completed this process, but as you are reviewing your acceptances and trying to make your final decision, it might also help you to pause and reflect again on what it is that YOU want in a college and make sure that the schools you are considering are still a good fit.

I know that it will sound cheesy, but the answer for what is going to be the best college for you is something only you will know.  Truly, there isn't just 1 right college for every student.  You will find a college that is the best fit for you and you will be happy and successful there.  So how do you go about finding that college?

Start off by thinking of this as looking for colleges that will be a good fit for you.  Being a good fit will mean that they are a fit for you academically, socially and financially.

We have a bunch of pages on the Counselor Website to help guide you in the college search process.  Below are a few of the pages you could check out to help you as you are working to build your college list.

Self reflection - I'm not kidding when I said that you will know the best colleges for you, but you have to pause and start thinking about what it is that you want and what you imagine in a college.

What do you want in a college - This is thinking more about how the college will fit for you.

If you are struggling to narrow your list by size of the campus you can always take a day during spring break and drive around on some campuses and get a feel for how a bigger school looks vs a smaller campus.  We are lucky that in central Ohio there are a ton of colleges you can drive through and start to get that feel for what you picture for yourself.

Tips on investigating colleges - this is looking more at the ways that a college can fit you.

And, don't forget, even though many colleges are still limiting their campus visit tour experiences, you can find a great deal of information including virtual tours on their websites so have fun exploring and looking at different colleges to see which ones might be among your final list of future colleges for you!

College Admissions Decision Stress

These next few weeks are filled with eager anticipation and quite a bit of stress for seniors who are still awaiting college decisions.  As you know, many colleges - particularly the more competitive schools - hold their admissions decisions and release them all at once late in March or early in April.  

If you have been anxiously awaiting the news from your final colleges, try to take a deep breath and relax.  Remember, you have done everything to put yourself in the best position possible with your applications.  If you are feeling stressed as you await the news, please stop to see me so we can discuss how to manage the stress as well as what the outcome will mean if you get accepted or rejected - because I promise you - no matter what the admissions decision is, you do have a bright future ahead!

It also bears repeating that getting the decision can be hard enough, but often the more difficult aspect is being asked, “Did you get accepted?” by well-meaning friends. Trust me on this one, if they were accepted, the students would be telling everyone – you won’t need to ask. If they don’t offer up the news sharing if they were accepted or not, then be sensitive to the fact that more than likely they did not get accepted and don’t ask about it as it puts them on the spot to share disappointing news.

I also want to remind the seniors that we try to keep track of all of the college admissions decisions as that helps us understand current trends in admissions. I would really appreciate it if you'd stop by and update me as you receive your college admission decisions.

Good luck!  I hope you get the acceptances you are anxiously awaiting.

Grief Group Opportunity

After we return to school following spring break the counselors will be offering grief groups for interested students.

The death of someone significant in your life impacts everything.  Students will have the opportunity to meet and discuss their loved ones and do engaging activities as a way to help move forward in their grief.  This is not just a sit around and be sad experience - the goal is to provide a healing opportunity and understand the wide range of feelings present when grieving.  We will be partnering with a bereavement counselor from OhioHealth Hospice to provide the grief groups.

There will be limited space for each of the groups so if you are interested in participating, PLEASE let me know this week!  I would love to have you be a part of it.  Or, if you have more questions or want more information about the group, don't hesitate to stop by and see me so that we can discuss it.

College Admissions Tests

Juniors, now that you have received your scores back from the school administration of the ACT it is time to come up with a plan for what comes next.  

Some of you may be perfectly content with your scores and not need to do anything else, but for many of you, I know that you are focused on improving your scores.  Statistically, many students are able to improve their scores when they repeat the tests because you are now familiar with the pace required to complete each section and what to expect from the tests.   As a result, I encourage you to consider signing up to take another college admission test this spring or summer.  You can take either the ACT or the SAT (or both).  Don't forget, while there are some test dates in the fall, it can be tough to get the tests completed before the earliest application deadlines.

Here are the upcoming test dates and the regular registration deadlines:

- April 17 ACT: Late registration through March 26th

- May 8 SAT: Register by April 8th 

- June 5 SAT: Register by May 6th

- June 12 ACT: Register by May 7th

- July 17 ACT: Register by June 18th

- August 28 SAT: Registeration date TBD

To register for the tests, please visit their websites.

ACT: www.act.org

SAT: www.collegeboard.com

And, yes, sorry, there are fees for the rest of the times you take the college admissions tests.  However, if you are a student that is on free or reduced lunch, please stop to see me as I am able to help give you a fee waiver that can cover the cost of a test.

The other point we need to talk about is what you are going to DO between now and when you retake the test to help improve your scores.  There are a wide range of options that students can do to help improve their scores, but generally speaking if you don't do something different you will typically not see a significant change in scores.  This list is in no way fully inclusive of all of your options, but it can help get you started on ideas...

- Look at your test and reflect back on what you remember from the test and review the areas that are weakest for you.

- Take free practice tests online.

- Use question of the day practice opportunities to regularly get adjusted to the types of questions you will see on the ACT/ SAT.

- Work with an individual tutor or sign up for a course.  These options will have a range of costs associated with them and so it is important to know that ACT and SAT will say that the best preparation is a rigorous curriculum.  However, many students have found that having someone that they are meeting with and having an appointment to work on preparing for the tests helps to hold them accountable so that they can master the strategies and truly show what they know when they take the tests.  We have many tutor resources available on the Counselor Website if you are interested and I also have business cards in my office from some of the tutors/ companies.

- Make use of websites such as Khan Academy that have free test prep sections.  The ACT and SAT websites also have resources and materials available for students to help prepare for their tests.

- Get one of the books with practice tests (you might even be able to find them at the library, but many students prefer to buy them so that they can write in the books).  I believe that there is one book that a family donated back to the building because their son/ daughter hadn't actually used it and you can find it in the front of the counseling center if you are interested. 

And that actually brings me to a key point that I hit on a little earlier - I can mention lots of different ideas and strategies, but these tests are so easy to procrastinate on and think "I'll work on that later..." but so often "later" becomes "never."  I know because I have been there.  So try to figure out what you are realistically going to be able to set up for yourself as a plan and then stick with it.  Have someone help hold you accountable and don't stop until you have reached your goals.

Good luck on your test preparation.  Most of all, don't stress about it - that will never help your scores, but do the best you can and it will pay off in the long run!

Here... We... Go!!!

Tomorrow is back to 5 days a week school as "normal."  It has been quite a year to get us to this point.  You have proven your ability to adapt and overcome challenges.  We have all realized how little control we actually have over events and circumstances in our lives even if we prefer to try to plan and think of it all as if we do have that control.  And in the last year most of us have recognized the importance of  being grateful for good health and the value of the simple moments like being with those we love.

Tomorrow starts the chance to be with ALL friends that you love not just those in your half of the alphabet.  With teachers (not to mention counselors and a therapy dog) who love you. And with a step back towards the world and times of normalcy that we all miss and crave.

I know that there are very mixed emotions related to the return to all-in school.  Some of you are anxious about spending a day in 3 feet proximity with others.  Remember that I am here to listen.  Some of you are excited to have the structure and routine of not having to learn at home on your own.  Remember I am here to support you.  And some of you are dreading trying to wake up to be focused in class at 7:45am five days a week.  Remember that I honor and understand these struggles.

No matter what you are feeling - and even if you aren't feeling much about it - that is ok.  It is normal that we would be in different places and have different feelings about school and the return to all-in.  I still vividly remember last spring when we were all sent home and how sooooo many of you would tell me "I know I'm probably the only one but I really miss school."  You certainly weren't the only one then and you're not the only one who is feeling whatever it is you're experiencing now.  And just like last spring, you still deserve to be supported in whatever you're feeling and that is why I am here for you!

And, finally, I also want to remind you that even though we are all-in and you will be back to a "normal" 5 day a week school week, it is important to go in with the appropriate expectation of knowing that this still won't actually be normal.  Wearing masks, having to clean desks before/ after classes, and assigned seats for lunch spread throughout the commons and hallways are not normal.  They are all completely manageable and things we can do, but it isn't normal.  So I encourage you to temper your expectations that it will suddenly feel great and perfectly back to the way things were before COVID entered our lives.  Having that awareness will help to manage your expectations so that you aren't suddenly disappointed or left feeling frustrated and overwhelmed yet again.

Remember, you have made it through so many difficult challenges and transitions this year.  This shows that you ARE more than capable of making it through another and that I am here as are all of the rest of your teachers and the staff to help support you in this adjustment.  And Lexi and I both hope you will stop and see us tomorrow just to say hi!

Also, for what it is worth, please try to get to sleep at a decent time every night this week!  This is going to be a major adjustment and a lack of sleep will only make it feel more difficult.

Virtual College Fairs

Obviously even though it feels as if much is returning to normal, COVID is still impacting the ability to explore colleges.  Virtual college fairs are a great opportunity for students and parents to explore from the safety of home.

Tomorrow is another National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC) college fair from 1-7pm.

You can register for the free event here:  https://virtualcollegefairs.org/events/43/exhibitors

And if you want information to understand how to make the most out of your virtual college fair you can watch the short video and quick start guide here:  https://www.nacacfairs.org/virtual/

The Ohio Association of College Admissions Counselors (OACAC) college fairs are this Thursday and Friday, March 24th and 25th from 5-7:45pm.

The link to register for these free fairs are here: https://oacac.org/student-registration/

I hope you will take advantage of these career fair experiences to learn more about which colleges might be a good fit for you!