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College Counseling Handbook 2013-‐2014
Table of Contents 1. Table of Contents 2. About Maur Hill-‐Mount Academy 3. “And so it begins…” 4. College Counseling Calendar: Junior Year Spring 5. College Counseling Calendar: Senior Year Fall 6. SAT Test Dates ACT Test Dates National Letter of Intent 7. Sample Academic Resume (front) 8. Sample Academic Resume (back) 9. Standardized Testing Information 10. College Application Essay 11. Additional Information
Maur Hill-‐Mount Academy
Mission Statement Maur Hill-‐Mount Academy is a Catholic, international, college preparatory school educating young men and women in the Benedictine tradition.
Our Passion and Purpose PRAYER AND WORK We believe our Ora et Labora cooperates in God's plan to make all things new. To always be in conversation with God through prayer and value the dignity of all work and human activity. We believe that the divine presence is everywhere…They live by the labor of their own hands. RB 19:1-‐48:8
LOVE OF LEARNING We believe rigorous scholarship in the liberal arts, rooted in the monastic tradition, leads to the discovery of truth. To strive for wisdom lived in responsible awareness of oneself, family, society, nature, and God. We intend to establish a school for the Lord's service. RB P:45
HOSPITALITY We pledge to uphold the dignity of every human person from the beginning of life to its natural end. To be open to the multitude of persons in the human family, God’s greatest treasure and our greatest resource. All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ. RB 53:1
Our Namesake and Inspiration Maur Hill-‐Mount Academy is a co-‐educational, Catholic, Benedictine, college preparatory high school created from the merger of two long established single-‐sex schools. Maur Hill Prep was established in 1919 by the monks of St. Benedict’s Abbey to educate young men, and Mount St. Scholastic Academy was established in 1863 by the Benedictine Sisters to educate young women. The schools merged in 2003 to unify their strengths and provide the greatest benefit to the students.
And so it beings… The information contained in this booklet comes from a number of sources including information gathered by the Great Plains Association for College Admissions Counseling (GPACAG) and National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC). Hopefully this handbook will serve as a great starting point for planning your next adventure in a great college or university. The college search process is complex. At times you may feel like there is not enough information, in other situations you may feel as though you are drowning in application documents and deadlines. The important thing to remember is this: as you navigate your college decision, you will have the opportunity to make a decision that will change your life forever. Your college decision may seem overwhelming, but there are many people, including your parents, friends, family, teachers, and mentors who are here to guide you and help you through the process. In the end, however, this decision is yours. As you make your way through this booklet, and through the next few months – enjoy this time. This guide should prove useful as it consolidates what is important in finding a college that is a right fit for you.
Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.
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Whitney McGinnis Academic Counselor Maur Hill-‐Mount Academy wmcginnis@mh-‐ma.com 913-‐367-‐5482
Class of 2015 (Important Dates for Juniors)
Tentative Date Event Location/Time September 11, 2013 College Information Night MHMA Auditorium/6:00pm September 21, 2013 ACT MHMA/8:00 October 5, 2013 SAT MHMA/8:00 October 16, 2013 PSAT/NMSQT MHMA/8:30 October 26, 2013 ACT MHMA/8:00 November 2, 2013 SAT December 7, 2013 SAT MHMA/8:00 December 14, 2014 ACT MHMA/8:00 Late January – February, 2014 2014-‐2015
Enrollment/College Meetings
February 8, 2014 ACT MHMA/8:00 March 1 – 15, 2014 Register for AP Tests March 8, 2014 SAT MHMA/8:00 March 17 – 21, 2014 Spring Break = College visits! April 12, 2014 ACT MHMA/8:00 May 3, 2014 SAT MHMA/8:00 May 5 – 9, 12 – 16, 2014 AP Exams MHMA May 18, 2014 Graduation for MHMA Class of
2014 MHMA/3:00
June 7, 2014 SAT June 14, 2014 ACT Summer 2014 Research College Options Summer 2014 College Visits, volunteer work,
get a job, take classes, HAVE FUN!
Class of 2014 (Important Dates for Seniors)
Tentative Date Event Location/Time September 11, 2013 College Information Night MHMA Auditorium/6:00pm September 23 – 30, 2013 Individual Meetings with Ms.
McGinnis (college application status check)
MHMA
September 21, 2013 ACT MHMA/8:00 October 5, 2013 SAT MHMA/8:00 October 16, 2013 PSAT/NMSQT MHMA/8:30 October 26, 2013 ACT MHMA/8:00 November 1, 2013 COLLEGE APPLICATIONS
DUE!
November 1 – December 16, 2013
Work on college essays. Review final list with Ms. McGinnis and discuss further testing needs
November 2, 2013 SAT December 7, 2013 SAT MHMA/8:00 December 14, 2014 ACT (few schools will still
accept) MHMA/8:00
December 19, 2013 – January 7, 2014
Christmas Break = College visits!
January 1, 2014 FAFSA available Online February 1, 2014 “Deadline” for FAFSA Online February 8, 2014 ACT MHMA/8:00 March 1 – 15, 2014 Register for AP Tests March 8, 2014 SAT MHMA/8:00 March 17 – 21, 2014 Spring Break = College visits! April 1, 2014 College Information sheets due
back to Ms. McGinnis
April 12, 2014 ACT MHMA/8:00 May 3, 2014 SAT MHMA/8:00 May 5 – 9, 12 – 16, 2014 AP Exams MHMA May 14, 2014 Senior Awards Ceremony MHMA/6:00 May 18, 2014 GRADUATION!! MHMA/3:00
NCAA Signing Periods Sport Initial Signing Date Final Signing Date Basketball and all other sports not listed (early period)
November 13, 2013 November 20, 2013
Football (regular period) February 5, 2014 April 1, 2014 Field Hockey, Soccer, Track and Field, Cross Country, Water Polo
February 5, 2014 August 1, 2014
Basketball (regular period) April 16, 2014 DI: May 21, 2014 DII: August 1, 2014
All other sports not listed (regular period)
April 16, 2014 August 1, 2014
*Please double check accepted curriculum*
SAT Test Dates Test Date Registration Deadline Late Registration October 5, 2013 September 6, 2013 September 21, 2013 *November 2, 2013 October 3, 2013 October 19, 2013 December 7, 2013 November 12, 2013 November 16, 2013 January 25, 2014 December 27, 2013 January 11, 2014 March 8, 2014 February 9, 2014 February 22, 2014 May 3, 2014 April 6, 2014 April 19, 2014 June 7, 2014 May 8, 2014 May 17, 2014 *MHMA is NOT a test center on this day*
ACT Test Dates Test Date Registration Deadline Late Registration September 21, 2013 August 23, 2013 September 6, 2013 October 26, 2013 September 27, 2013 October 11, 2013 December 14, 2013 November 8, 2013 November 22, 2013 February 8, 2014 January 10, 2014 January 24, 2014 April 12, 2014 March 7, 2014 March 21, 2014 *June 14, 2014 May 9, 2014 May 23, 2014 *MHMA is NOT a test center on this day*
Sample Academic Resume
Jill Genevieve Jones 24505 Hwy 93
Anytown, KS 62846 913-627-8268
[email protected] Academics
• School: Maur Hill-Mount Academy, Atchison, KS • Current Grade Point Average= 4.0 (95.8%) • High Honor Roll (9th, 10th, 11th) • PSAT= 179 (10/08) • ACT (4/10): Composite 29; English 31, Math 25, Reading 31, Science 28
Leadership
• House Captain, (Student Governance Council, 12th) • Captain, Soccer (12th) • House Captain, Junior (Student Governance Council, 11th) • Editor, Newspaper (11th) • President, Latin Club (10th, 11th) • Leadership Team, Prince of Peace Youth Group (10th, 11th, 12th)
Extra-Curricular Activities Sports:
• Varsity Cheerleading (10th, 11th, 12th) • Varsity Swimming (9th, 10th, 11th, 12th) • Varsity Dance Team (9th)
Scholastic: • National Honors Society (12th) • Chess Club (10th, 11th, 12th) • Latin Club (10th, 11th)
Theater: • Dancer, Once on this Island, (11th) • Dancer, Annie, (10th) • Dancer, Seussical the Musical, (9th)
Yearbook: • Editor, Maur Hill-Mount Academy Maurite (11th)
Forensics: • Maur Hill-Mount Academy Club (9th-12th) • State qualifier, Kansas Forensics Competition (9th)
Music: • Private Lessons, Piano (Age 5-10th)
Other: • Junior League Cotillion (12th)
Honors and Awards
• All-American Cheerleading Team (12th) • Student Ambassador Award (9th)
• Debate and Forensics Award (9th) Community Service
• Guatemala school mission trip (Spring Break, 2010; 168 hrs) • El Salvador church mission trip (Summer, 2009; 168 hrs) • Youth group leadership team (2008-present, 3 hrs per week) • Foster care (2007-present) • Good Shepherd Church youth choir (2007-2008, 4 hrs per week)
Work Experience
• Private swim lessons (summer 2008-present, 5 hrs per week) • Cleaning offices (2009-present, 3 hrs per week)
References Ms. Whitney McGinnis Academic Counselor Maur Hill-Mount Academy 1000 Green St Atchison, KS 66002 913-367-5482 Mrs. Little Bo Peep Good Shepherd Church 12800 W. 75th St. Anytown, KS 66216 913-631-7116
Standardized Testing Standardized tests play a key role in the college admissions process. While they are certainly a huge factor considered by colleges and universities in their enrollment process, please keep in mind that they are only one of many facets of college enrollment. Maur Hill-‐Mount Academy offers preparation materials and assistance for the ACT, PSAT, NMSQT, SAT, SAT Subject Tests and AP Testing. Please note that it is the responsibility of the student to have their test scores sent directly to the institutions to which they apply. While we will send report ACT and SAT scores along with the Maur Hill-‐Mount Academy transcript, many schools will only accept scores reported directly from ACT or College Board. PSAT/NMSQT: Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Previously the National Merit Scholarship based its scholarship on its own tests. For the sake of convenience, the National Merit Foundation now uses the results of the PSAT for selection purposes. For more information, visit http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat/about.html SAT 1 – Reasoning Test: The SAT Reasoning Test is owned, published and developed by the College Board. It was formerly developed, published and scored by the Educational Testing Service, which still administers the exam. The test was first introduced in 1901, and its name and scoring have changed several times. The current SAT Reasoning Test, introduced in 2005, takes three hours and forty-‐five minutes and costs $51. Possibly score range from 600 to 2400 combining test results from three 800-‐point sections (math, critical reading, and writing). For more information, visit http://sat.collegeboard.com/home Minimum required score for Kansas Regents schools for the Class of 2015 and beyond: 980 SAT II – Subject Tests: The SAT Subject tests give students an opportunity to show their academic strengths in a wide variety of subject areas. Tests are given in 20 different areas, each of which is 60 minutes in length. A student may take as many as three tests in a single day. Many selective colleges will ask for two to three tests. For more information, visit http://sat.collegeboard.com/why-‐sat/topic/subjectTest/why-‐take-‐sat-‐subject-‐tests ACT: American College Testing Program. The ACT is a widely accepted alternative to the SAT, accepted more predominately in the West and Midwest, but accepted by every college in the United States. Many colleges are beginning to accept both the ACT and the SAT during the admissions process. Maur Hill-‐Mount Academy encourages students to take both the ACT and the SAT. The ACT is scored 0-‐36 in four categories: English, Math, Reading, and Science. Further, the ACT offers an optional writing test. For more information, visit http://www.actstudent.org/ Minimum required score for Kansas Regents schools for the Class of 2015 and beyond: 21 Advanced Placement: The Advanced Placement Program is designed to allow high school students to pursue college-‐level studies while attending high school. The participating colleges, in turn, grant credit and/or advanced placement to students who do well on the examinations. Exams are given in May and cover the equivalent of college expectations in specific courses. The exams are graded between 1 and 5. Generally speaking, a student must receive a 4 or higher in order to receive college credit in a course – though this is entirely dependent on the college. For more information, visit http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/about.html
College Application Essay By the time you begin applying to colleges and universities, there are very few opportunities to change the data in your academic profile. Your grades are in the books, your teachers have known you for years and have already written letters of recommendation, and by all measurable means, you are likely a very viable candidate for acceptance to many of the schools of your choice. The single most important aspect of your college application at this point is your college essay. This is what will set you apart from the rest. Your college essay is where you can really make an impact! Nearly all private schools require an essay. More elite public schools require essays as well due to the high volume of applicants. An “optional” essay on a college application should never be considered optional. You should take your essay seriously and specifically answer any questions that may be asked of you. You have a number of teachers and faculty members – myself included, who would be more than happy to revise and edit your college application essay. We want you to succeed! Your essay is an opportunity to teach the admissions personnel something new about you – so don’t be shy! Be sure to prep those who are revising your essay on the topics as well as the institution to which it will be sent. While some schools ask for an essay, others ask for paragraph response to a number of questions. Treat these are though they were an extension of the college essay, and use them as an opportunity to showcase your strengths. Admissions officers read hundreds, if not thousands, of essays every year. Make yours stand out – in a positive way! Proofread your essay. Have your parents proofread your essay. Have your friends proofread your essay. Give the admissions officers a good reason to remember your essay – and you!
Additional Resources The College Board College Search: Big Future https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-‐search FastWeb: Most comprehensive scholarship search http://www.fastweb.com NCAA Clearinghouse – The clearinghouse for all prospective student-‐athletes http://www.ncaaclearinghouse.net Greater Kansas City Community Foundation Scholarship Search
http://www.gkccf.org/scholarships
