College Planning for Parents of Juniors

On Tuesday, February 24th, the school counselors hosted two parent workshop sessions on the college planning process for juniors.  More than 45 parents attended the presentations to get a better idea of what is in store for their juniors.  There were a lot of questions about everything from SAT prep to teacher recommendation letters and many things in between.

For those parents who weren’t able to attend, here are some of the important “take-home” ideas:

• It is important to start the college planning process early.
• Students (with their parents) can start researching schools on Naviance in order to create their “colleges I’m thinking about” list in Naviance.
• Juniors should plan to take the SAT for the first time in May or June, or the ACT in April or June.  Some students choose to take one of each test and then pursue the one they feel better about for a second round.

Register for the SAT

Register for the ACT

• SAT or ACT preparations should start at least 7-8 weeks before the scheduled test date.  Test prep can involve taking a class, meeting with a tutor, or studying individually.
• Students must complete the Counselor Letter of Recommendation Survey (Naviance) and parents must complete the Parent Brag Sheet (paper) by the end of this school year.
• Throughout the spring and summer, students should research and visit schools, compile a list of schools, talk to teachers about recommendation letters, start to plan the college essay, and gather personal information for applications.
• In the fall, there will be another parent workshop to go over the nuts and bolts of the actual application process, along with a financial aid presentation.

Below is the Prezi that the counselors followed to present all of the information. Please feel free to take a look! 

Click the image to go to the slides presented.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact your child’s counselor.  We are happy to email, talk, or meet with you in order to make the college planning process go as smoothly as possible!

Happy February Break!

If you get a break from shoveling snow over vacation, here are some interesting articles for both students and parents.

Good family relationships: How to Raise Good Parents, by Teenagers

Relax over the break: Teens and Stress: Survival Tips

Curl up with a good book: 100 Best Ever Teen Novels


Have a great vacation!

Senioritis: An Unfortunate and Debilitating Condition

Well, it’s February and second semester is underway.  For seniors it is the last semester they will spend at Nipmuc before going off to college, work, the military, or whatever other exciting endeavors await them.  With graduation just four months away, it could be really easy to fall into the grips of a nasty case of “Senioritis.”  Senioritis is a colloquial term we use to describe loss of motivation that some students experience when they are so close to the end of high school that it feels like they already have those diplomas in their pockets.  

Here are some common signs and symptoms of Senioritis:

• General feeling of laziness
• Wanting to spend all time with peers
• Declining grades
• Dropping classes
• Increased absences or tardies
• Missing curfew
• Poor hygiene
• General apathy towards future plans
• Use or abuse of alcohol or drugs
• Missed assignments or activities
  
  
  

  
  

Does this sound like you or someone you know?  If so, it’s time to get help!  The worse you let a case of Senioritis get, the more serious the outcomes become.  Worst case scenario, your future plans of college, work, or military could be in jeopardy.  

Yes, colleges can revoke acceptances based on your performance in the second half of your senior year.  In fact, take another look at your acceptance letters.  They probably say something like, “It is important to note that this offer of admission is conditional upon you completing your current academic work in the manner that led to your admission,” or “It is understood that you will maintain satisfactory grades throughout your senior year and that you will complete all requirements for graduation.”  Almost every single acceptance letter that students at Nipmuc submitted to the School Counseling Center has a sentence like these.  

So, what can you do to avoid a scary case of Senioritis?  First and foremost, continue to put in the same amount of time to your school work that you have been in order to keep your grades up.  Remember that poor attendance in school usually has a negative effect on grades as well, so do your best to be in school for the full day every day.  Even though school is a priority, be sure to set aside some time to spend doing fun activities with friends and family.  This is a good time to embrace closeness and togetherness before you head off on your own.  Remember, too, that family time will be more meaningful if everyone is getting along, so continue to follow the rules of your home even though you’re feeling ready to be an independent adult.

If you’re sensing some Senioritis coming on and aren’t sure how well you can handle it on your own, ask for help.  See your counselor, talk to your parents, and work with your friends to motivate each other.  May 29th will be here before you know it, so make sure you’ve got a spot on that stage!