College Bound Student Night Proves Informative

Junior year students and their parents found this week’s College Bound Student Night to be both valuable and informative.

Huntington UFSD Director of School Counseling & Testing, K-12 hosted the event. Bernadette Walsh provided an overview of the College & Career Center and Elyssa Cooke discussed the Princeton Review and SAT and ACT preparation.

Laurie Wax and Kate Anderson addressed the college admissions process. Huntington High School counselors led breakout sessions.

“The College and Career Office is dedicated to supporting students and families throughout the process of planning for their future beyond high school,” Mrs. Walsh explained. “We offer personalized guidance to help students explore a wide range of post-secondary options, including college, vocational schools, apprenticeships, and careers.”

Ms. Cooke, a Princeton Review partnership specialist discussed and answered questions about:

Expert-led SAT/ACT prep courses and tutoring.

• Proven test-taking strategies and practice exams.

• Personalized study plans and progress tracking.

• Extensive online resources and tools.

Admissions counselors Kate Anderson (SUNY Oswego) and Laurie Wax (Penn State) discussed “finding the best fit school – factors to consider when selecting a college” covered the followed topics:

• Good Academic Fit

• Type of School (public, private, religious affiliation)

• Distance from home

• Geographic Setting (rural, suburban, urban)

• Size – Small, Medium, Large

• Programs of Study/Majors

• Campus Life/Culture: Athletics, Activities, Residential Life

• Cost/Scholarship Opportunities

• Ethnic and Geographic Diversity

• Co-ops/Internships, Honors College, Study Abroad

• Support Services, Career Services

Factors colleges consider:

• High School Transcript

• ACT/SAT Scores/Test Optional

• College Essay

• Letters of Recommendation

• Extracurricular Activities

• Special Talents

• Demonstrated Interest

• And Maybe: Legacy, Ability to Pay

The two college counselors also discussed “application elements,” including the high school transcript; GPA - weighted, unweighted and recalculated; “grading systems vary,” they said.

Additional application elements included:

• Rigors of coursework.

• Focus on core courses; subject specific grades; major prerequisites; state requirements.

• Performance and course selection all four years is important; even the senior year.

College essay advice included:

Do:

• Consider the essay prompt and be sure to answer the question

• Stay within the word limit

• Use your own voice and highlight achievements and passions

• Be positive about yourself and others; don’t be offensive or show bias

• Explain anything that is not common knowledge

• Proofread, spell check, and read your draft out loud

Don’t:

• Rely on a Thesaurus; it’s not about using big words

• Wait until the last minute or use Chat GPT to write your essay

• Write about obstacles/flaws you have not overcome or learned from

• Forget about supplemental essays

Advice on supplemental essays:

• Some colleges have a supplement to the Common Application and ask for an additional essay–or essays! The prompts may be similar to those on the Common Application, or they may be very different.

• The essay questions may be unique and designed so that the reader can gain insight into your thought processes. The same essay rules apply.

• A common supplemental essay question is “Why this college?” Demonstrate why you are a great fit for this school.

• Do your research. Go to the website. If possible, visit campus, speak to current students or alumni. Discuss specific academic programs and activities you would take advantage of at that college.

A discussion on the role letters of recommendation and extracurricular activities play in the application process also ensued.

Students and parents were also given advice on how to go about “demonstrating interest. They were told that some colleges track interest and others do not. Ask an admissions representative from the specific college you are interested in if they do, but it never hurts to show you are interested.

Attended were provided with various methods to demonstrate interest; in-person and/or virtually:

• Visit campus or attend virtual events/tours

• Join the mailing list

• Stop by table at a college fair or visit virtual college fair booth

• Meet the admissions counselor when they “visit” your school

• Email the admissions counselor for your area

• Read the emails that are sent to you from that college

• Sign up for an interview if they are offered