| | We hope you and your family are safe and stay healthy as we continue to navigate this challenging time. We wish our best to you, your family and your friends.
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| Helpful Information to Always Keep in Mind:
Introduction to the Concierge Service: (For your information)
- NEW!! You can now access your videos and other materials from your Road2College account. No more wading through emails. Your Road2College Members Area gives you access to your schedule and session recordings. Sign in here.
- Use the Facebook group to share information with one another and ask questions that are on your mind. In addition, check communications within this group for special announcements, posts and information shared by Road2College. We’ll look here before Office Hours and attempt to share collective concerns, interests and needs as they arise.
Visiting schools (online and virtual)
- Research or Online Visit different types of schools near you (big/small, public/private, urban/rural). Even if your student has no interest in that particular school, they’ll get a feel for the type of school and can use this to guide future school visits.
- If you can’t get to campuses during the school week, it’s still good to visit on the weekend or during the summer (though it won’t quite be the same as a school day, there are many advantages to visiting over the summer).
- Do Russ’ VERTICAL VISIT, not a Horizontal visit. Talk with students, deans, financial aid, admissions reps, professors, etc.
- “Visit” schools online through school websites, YouTube tours, follow them on Instagram, Snapchat, etc. Attend their Virtual Information Sessions if available.
- Have your student email the admissions rep for their high school to get specific information on the impact of the “stay at home” initiative.
- Don’t ignore college fairs in the future. They can be very helpful and cost effective.
SAT/ACT Tests
- If your student is completing Algebra 2 sophomore year, they can take a practice SAT and ACT at the end of the school year to see if early testing makes sense.
- If your sophomore tests very well on the practice SAT at the end of their school year, they may want to consider some prep for the PSAT October of their junior year for National Merit consideration.
- Future consideration: Make sure your student ALWAYS includes Writing with their ACT and at least one test with Writing for the SAT.
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What We Covered Last Month:
- Ongoing updates on college changes and the impact of the current situation on the process.
- The specific steps you can take to start creating your college list.
- Standardized testing and the impacts of the cancellations.
- Don't get caught up in the "fake news" regarding summer activities.
What we covered in this month's training session; - Standardized test considerations and planning.
- Getting ready for your student's critical junior year.
- An introduction to Financial Aid.
Action items to be aware of in August:
- Make sure anything you do considers your student's safety and health concerns as a primary factor.
- Juniors who have just finished Algebra 2 should take a practice ACT and SAT (for free) with the assistance of a local tutoring company or by finding tests online.
- Have direct conversations with Admissions & Financial Aid to get college specific information regarding how they are expecting to be impacted by the pandemic.
- Speak with your student to identify your college criteria to develop your list. Conduct online virtual Information Sessions & Tours to confirm your criteria are present at the schools you and your student are considering.
- Use the process and techniques shared at our June Office Hours to start creating the criteria that is most important to develop a college list that is in sync with the academic, non-academic and financial goals of your entire family.
- Continue to research the financial stability of the colleges you are considering.
- Consider having your student take an assessment (assessment.com, DISC, etc.) to identify any majors that may impact the colleges they are considering and/or their ability to be accepted.
Best,
Russ & Debbie
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