October 3, 2014

Dear Parents,

This is a big year for your son's college admissions preparation, and I know you have questions and concerns. Please feel free to email me at any time and if we haven't already met, it would be good to schedule a preliminary meeting within the next few months.

I've attached the 2014-15 ACT and SAT schedules. On Wednesday, October 15, all juniors will be taking the PSAT at Oratory. After that, your son can take the SAT on any of the test dates offered. The scores from the PSAT typically come in just before Christmas, and many juniors take their first SAT in March, but there is also the January date. To register, log on to the College Board website.

OP will administer the ACT (the actual test) on Tuesday, April 28. Students can register to take the ACT elsewhere before and/or after this date at www.actstudent.org

You'll be amazed how your son will quickly determine which test he feels most comfortable taking. There may be a discrepancy in the scores, so if he scores much higher on one, that's the test to re-take!

The boys and I will be meeting throughout the year. Next Tuesday afternoon, Oct 7, we'll be attending the college fair at Mt. St. Mary's. I'm sure many of you have visited a college or two already and perhaps even a fair. Over 100 colleges will be at the Mount, and it's a great way for your son to introduce himself to the college rep, sign up on a mailing list, and gather information. I've attached the list of attending schools for you to peruse. Later in the year there will be many college fairs in the area, and I will post those in the morning announcements.

I teach a quarter semester class, College Research, which every junior takes as part of his cycle. In that class we dissect the entire college process: determining right fit schools, navigating college websites, writing essay and paragraphs, interviewing, resume writing - basically the entire college process. Your boys will be well versed as we head into the summer of 2015 and application work begins!

The juniors have also been included on a google.doc that I provide to the seniors - Open House events and college presentations in our area. I update the listing daily. Many schools consider "demonstrated interest" when reviewing applications, and attending an Open House event on campus, or a presentation at a local hotel, counts towards those "chits." If your son has expressed an interest in any school or if you just want to start "shopping", it's a good way to introduce yourselves. Filling out the online "request for information" form that each college web site provides is a good way to receive information on events directly from them.

I will have a College Night for junior parents in March - currently scheduled for the 51h. At that point

we'll delve into the process head first and you'll get a tremendous overview of what it's like for an admissions office to make their decisions. Mark your calendars.

Again, I'm easy to find ...

Ann Geissler Director of Guidance College Counseling

MOUNT SAINT MARY ACADEMY'S 2014-2015

Adelphi University Albertus Magnus College Albright College Arcadia University Bryant University Bucknell University Cabrini College Caldwell University Castleton State College Catawba College Catholic University of America Centenary College Chestnut Hill College Christopher Newport University College of Mount Saint Vincent College of Saint Elizabeth College of Saint Rose Concordia College DeSales University Dickinson College Dowling College Drew University Drexel University East Stroudsburg University Elmira College Fairfield University Fashion Institute of Design/Merch Felician College FEMA Corps Program Florida Southern College George Washington University Georgian Court University Goldey-Beacom College Haverford College High Point University Hobart and William Smith Colleges Hofstra University

COLLEGE FAIR October 7th - 1 :00-2:30

Immaculata University John Jay College Johnson & Wales University Juniata College Kean University King's College La Salle University Lasell College Loyola University Lycoming College Manhattan College Manhattanville College Marymount Manhattan College Marymount University Massachusetts College Pharm/Health Merrimack College Misericordia University Mitchell College Monmouth University Montclair State University Moravian College Mount Saint Mary College Mount Saint Mary's University Muhlenberg College New jersey City University New jersey Institute of Technology New York Institute of Technology Notre Dame of Maryland Univ Pace University Pennsylvania State Univ. Plymouth State University Quinnipiac University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Richard Stockton College Rider University Rosemont College Rowan University

Rutgers University Sacred Heart University Saint Bonaventure University Saint Francis University Saint Joseph's University Saint Peter's University Saint Vincent College Salve Regina University Sarah Lawrence College Seton Hall University St. Thomas Aquinas College Stevens Institute of Technology Stonehill College Suffolk University SUNY - Geneseo SUNY - Oswego Susquehanna University The Art Institutes The College of New jersey University of Arizona University of Connecticut University of Hartford University of Maine University of New Haven University of Notre Dame University of Pittsburgh University of Rhode Island University of Scranton University of the Sciences Wagner College Washington & Jefferson Coll Wellesley College Widener University William Paterson University Winthrop University York College of Pennsylvania

201412015 ACT test dates Test Date Registration Deadline** Late Registration Period** Photo Upload Deadline

(Late Fee Required)

~"li6' I •

. -

April 18, 2015 . . • - .

J.une.5

• No test centers are scheduled in New Y6rk for the February test date. *' If you miss the regular deadline, you can register during the late period but must pay the additional nonrefundable late fee.

Note that all materials sent by mail must be RECEIVED by the last date of the late period, regardless of when they are postmarked.

TEST FEES

ACT No Writing

ACT Plus Writing

$38·00

$5450

Check our website to see if the colleges you are considering require or recommend the ACT Writing Test.

If you cannot afford the test fee, ask your counselor if you are eligible for a fee waiver.

If you miss the late registration deadline for a test date, you can still try to test standby.

© 2014 The College Board. 14b-8889 Ill 1111111111111111111111111 SAT. €J CollegeBoard

777665