After the New Year's, many businesses and companies promote their college planning resources, especially targeting juniors who are about to start planning their post-secondary process. These services typically come with a fee, and many parents and students begin to feel pressure to sign on just to "keep up with the Joneses." Moreover, according to CNBC, "High school students and their parents have become so panicked with the mystique surrounding today's college admissions process that they are clamoring to find help to better their odds in the college admissions game." Although many articles, including the one above, cite the lack of quality admission counseling in high schools, I am fortunate to report that those comments do not generalize to Hopkinton. Due to our abundant resources, proactive students, and extensive parental support, our counselors are able to work one-on-one with families to facilitate the college process, all for free.
As an example, coming up in the third quarter (i.e., January 28th) all eleventh-graders will be assigned to a small-group Junior Guidance Seminar class, taught by a school counselor during the school day. For six sessions (each meeting lasting an hour), counselors will cover topics in depth such as testing for college admissions (SAT/ACT/Subject Tests), discussing test prep, determining the best college fit, using the Common/Coalition Application, starting the college essay, asking for teacher recommendations, preparing for interviews, and learning college email etiquette. Additionally, please note that on February 28th (7:00 p.m.), the school counseling department will offer a Post-Secondary Planning Night for juniors and their parents, offering topics such as On Writing the College Essay, Navigating the College Process in the Digital Age, and Affordable College Options: Hidden Gems in Canada and Abroad.
Regardless of your child's grade, if you are feeling overwhelmed about college, rest assured that you don't need to hit the panic button yet; if you need assistance, please email your child's school counselor and s/he can allay your concerns. Or, if you are unsure of whom your student's counselor is, please don't hesitate to contact me. As you know, it takes a village, so don't hesitate to reach out to your friendly neighborhood Spider-man...oops, I mean counselor!
As an example, coming up in the third quarter (i.e., January 28th) all eleventh-graders will be assigned to a small-group Junior Guidance Seminar class, taught by a school counselor during the school day. For six sessions (each meeting lasting an hour), counselors will cover topics in depth such as testing for college admissions (SAT/ACT/Subject Tests), discussing test prep, determining the best college fit, using the Common/Coalition Application, starting the college essay, asking for teacher recommendations, preparing for interviews, and learning college email etiquette. Additionally, please note that on February 28th (7:00 p.m.), the school counseling department will offer a Post-Secondary Planning Night for juniors and their parents, offering topics such as On Writing the College Essay, Navigating the College Process in the Digital Age, and Affordable College Options: Hidden Gems in Canada and Abroad.
Regardless of your child's grade, if you are feeling overwhelmed about college, rest assured that you don't need to hit the panic button yet; if you need assistance, please email your child's school counselor and s/he can allay your concerns. Or, if you are unsure of whom your student's counselor is, please don't hesitate to contact me. As you know, it takes a village, so don't hesitate to reach out to your friendly neighborhood Spider-man...oops, I mean counselor!
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| Heroes in action! HHS Counselors and Administrative Assistants, from left right, Cheryl Elder, Kristen Wurster, Dori Zeigler, Connie O'Loughlin, Hannah Webb, Lee Greco, Pat O'Brien, and Mike Flanagan. Not pictured: Kiely Murray |
