MARCH 2021

Counselors are completing our individual junior post high school planning appointments. Please ensure that you and your daughter/son are aware of the time of this appointment. If an emergency arises and you cannot keep this date, contact Maria Poccia at 594-4649 immediately to re-schedule.

 

Juniors should already be registered to take standardized tests this spring. These will be either the SAT or ACT and some students may choose to take both. 

 

Registration is completed by visiting the following the web site

www.collegeboard.org or www.actstudent.org

The NCHS (CEEB) code is 070465.  Please register EARLY

Test dates:

SAT March 13                                     

SAT May 8*                                   ACT April 17*

SAT June 5*                                  ACT June 12

  ACT July 17

*NCHS is a Test Center

 

In addition, Connecticut has set April 13 as the School Day SAT for juniors. The scores from this test can also be sent to colleges for admissions purposes. Registration will be handled through the school. Look for information to follow.

VIRTUAL COLLEGE FAIRS 

The National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) sponsors virtual college fairs.   (virtualcollegefairs.org)

 

This short video and this quick start guide provide an overview of how students can make the most of their fair experience. Students are encouraged to sign up at virtualcollegefairs.org and look around several days before each fair date.

Pro Tip: Students can click the "Remind Me" button when they see a Zoom session that will be offered by a college that interests them. The reminder will get added to their "My Schedule" tab and they'll receive a text when the session is about to start. 

COLLEGE INTERVIEWING WORKSHOP:

There will be a virtual college interviewing workshop on March 30 (Day E 3rd quarter) during the lunch block. To reserve a space and receive the Zoom link, email Mrs. Carroll (susan.carroll@ncps-k12.org) and let her know what lunch you have that day. We will be talking about the interviewing process and conducting mock interviews as well. 

 

 

FEBRUARY 2021

Counselors are beginning our individual junior post high school planning appointments. A package has been sent home from the School Counseling Office with the date and time of this appointment. Also included are additional forms and our NCHS Post High School Planning Handbook. These meetings provide an opportunity for students and their families to meet with their counselor to discuss post high school options and develop plans. Please ensure that your son/daughter is aware of the date and time of this appointment and make every effort to keep your appointment. If an emergency arises and you cannot keep this date, please contact Maria Poccia at 594-4649 immediately to reschedule but please note that counselors’ and students’ schedules are very tight and a new appointment may be delayed until later in the spring.

 

Junior students should become familiar with the Naviance system and begin to prepare for her/his individual appointment by completing several college searches, inputting an initial list in “Colleges I’m Thinking About” and completing the “Game Plan”. 

 

To enter Naviance, students must use the Single Sign In option. 

 

Please encourage any junior who needs help with Naviance to visit the College and Career Center during a “free” period to receive one-on-one tutoring in this system.

 

All students who took the PSAT in the fall should have set up an account with the College Board to view their scores. The information that is available with the scores is extremely helpful. Please encourage your child to review this. 

 

Remember that the Khan Academy will design a FREE individual online prep program for the SAT if students enter their Access Code when visiting the Khan site. The Access Code can be found with the PSAT score report.

 

Connecticut has set April 13 2021 as the School Day SAT for juniors. The scores from this test can also be sent to colleges for admissions purposes. Registration will be handled through the school for this test. Look for information to follow.

 

Other Test dates:

 

SAT March 13 ACT February 6

SAT April 13 ( at NCHS) ACT April 17*

SAT May 8* ACT June 12

SAT June 5* ACT July 17

 

*NCHS is a Test Center

 

The College Board has recently announced that Subject Tests will immediately end for U.S. students and be phased out for international students by June. The optional essay will be discontinued after June testing sessions. 

 

Students can register at:

SAT-www.collegeboard.org 

ACT-www.actstudent.org

 

 Please register EARLY.

 

College Fairs: The next NACAC College Fair will be held online on 2/28. This is a great opportunity for juniors to begin to explore colleges and understand the variety of options they will have. Register at:

https://virtualcollegefairs.org/events 

 

In addition,  

 

SUMMER PLANS

 

This is the time of the year when juniors should begin to explore their summer plans. Maybe this is the year when your child wants to have a summer job to begin earning money to save for college expenses. Alternatively, many students consider taking a class that is not offered at the high school. A volunteer experience is another opportunity to consider. There is NO one right thing for all students. Involve your child and help your son/daughter decide what will stimulate him/her.

 

JANUARY 2021

JUNIOR VIRTUAL PARENT PROGRAM JANUARY 7th at 7:00 PM 

A conversation with your child’s counselor about the post high school planning process

 

This is the time to begin making post high school plans. All juniors will be scheduled for an individual appointment with their counselors and parents beginning in the second semester. Details will be sent home together with some materials for you to study prior to this meeting. 

The package will be mailed with the following:

• Student letter with date and time of the meeting and the tasks to be completed by the student before the meeting.
• Parent letter with the date and time of the meeting and Parent Post High School Planning Questionnaire to be completed and returned to the student’s counselor.
• NCHS Post Secondary Planning Handbook
• Parent permission form to be signed and returned to the counselor
• Parent handouts 

 

 

Please encourage your child to read their PSAT Score Report carefully. The information can be used to find the areas where test preparation is recommended. Please ensure that if your son/daughter plans to take tests in the spring; he/she should have a test prep plan. This can be any or several of the following methods:

• using the free Khan Academy online prep available through the College Board website.
• courses
• individual tutoring sessions
• online programs
• study guides

 

Please encourage your daughter/son to visit the Naviance web site and begin to explore colleges. 

 

STANDARDIZED TESTING

 

The School Counseling department recommends that ALL juniors take an initial SAT or ACT in the spring. Students planning to also take the Subject Tests can do so in June.

Reasons why we recommend spring testing:

• More time to cover course content
• More time to review/study for the test
• NCHS is a testing site and there is something to be said about familiar surroundings and relaxing while testing.

The School Day SAT for juniors is April 13th 2021. We highly encourage all juniors to take this test. The scores from this test can also be sent to colleges for admissions purposes. The in-school SAT does not include the optional essay portion. Registration will be handled through the school at no cost to families.

 

Currently Scheduled Test Dates:

SAT March 13                                           ACT Feb 6

SAT May 8*                                              ACT April 17*

SAT June 5*                                            ACT June 12

  ACT July 17

*NCHS is a Test Center

 

Students can register at:

SAT-www.collegeboard.org 

ACT-www.actstudent.org

 

 Please register EARLY.

 

 

DECEMBER 2020

School Counselors will be virtually meeting with their juniors in early December where we will present a kickoff to the post high school planning process. Do ask your child to share the session with you. We will discuss how to look at the PSAT scores (expected to arrive  mid-December) to maximize prep for the SAT and research colleges to ensure that the final college list has schools that are good “fits”.

 

Junior students are encouraged to set up an account with the College Board as they will be able to go in and view their PSAT scores online. This account can then be used to register for the SAT. We cannot stress enough that students are much more than their test scores and these scores are not sent to colleges. Please use the online information to assess those areas that need review before taking the SAT this spring. Then, plan how this review will take place before the SAT. Here are some ideas:

• Use the link to Khan Academy-an online free prep resource that will create an individualized plan to help your child prepare, based on their performance in the PSAT
• Use the traditional method-buy or borrow review books.
• Visit www.collegeboard.org regularly and use their review materials
• Investigate other online programs for prep
• Take a prep class

 In addition to the above:

The College Board continues to post a SAT Question of the Day. This is available on Twitter, I Phone, I Pad (free apps).

 

 

 

Save the Date - Junior Parent Night – January 7th 2021- 7:00 pm “A CONVERSATION WITH YOUR CHILD’S COUNSELOR ABOUT THE POST HIGH SCHOOL PLANNING PROCESS”. This program will be presented virtually.

 

And……..

 

We will be starting individual junior appointments in the second semester, and information regarding the date and time will be sent home prior to these meetings. We will include a questionnaire for you to complete as well as an unofficial transcript in this mailing. If your son/daughter has questions before this appointment please encourage them to stop by and see their counselor.

 

NAVIANCE WORKSHOPS

 

We will be virtually presenting a program for parents of current juniors only who would like to learn more about Naviance. The date is January 27th, 2021. Details will be forthcoming. 

 

NAVIANCE GENERAL INFO

 

Some parents wonder whether any of the information that is in Naviance can be accessed by the colleges.

Please remember that no one but the student, parents and school counselor has access to the information on Naviance regarding the college process.

 

STANDARDIZED TESTING-

 

The School Counseling department recommends that ALL juniors take an initial SAT/ACT in the spring. Students planning to also take the Subject Tests can do so in June.

 

Reasons why we recommend spring testing:

• More time to cover course content
• More time to review/study for the test
• NCHS is a testing site and there is something to be said about familiar surroundings and relaxing while testing.

 

Currently Scheduled Test Dates:

SAT March 13                                           ACT Feb 6

SAT May 8*                                              ACT April 17*

SAT June 5*                                            ACT June 12

  ACT July 17

*NCHS is a Test Center

 

Students can register at:

SAT-www.collegeboard.org

ACT-www.actstudent.org

 

In addition, Connecticut has set April 23, 2021 as the School Day SAT for juniors. The scores from this test can also be sent to colleges for admissions purposes. Registration will be handled through the school. 

 

 

OCTOBER 2020

 

We hope that all juniors have registered to take PSAT on Saturday October 17th. Registration is now closed. Good luck juniors but remember these scores are not sent to college! 

 

 

 

 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020

PLEASE NOTE THAT AS OF THIS TIME ALL PROGRAMS WILL BE OFFERED VIRTUALLY AND LINKS WILL BE AVAILABLE.

 

Mark your calendars now 

PSAT SIGN UPS-

The PSAT will be offered at New Canaan High School on Saturday, October 17th. The test will only be offered to Juniors this year due to COVID 19  size restrictions.  Juniors must register for the test online by visiting https://user.totalregistration.net/PSAT/070465 from September 9-18. The fee is $40.00. Any student registering after 9/18 will be charged an additional $10 (late penalty) bringing the amount to $50.00. No registration will be accepted after 9/21.

 

School Counselors recommend that all members of the JUNIOR class take the PSAT as preparation for the SAT that is usually taken the following spring.

This is also the qualifying exam for the National Merit Scholarship Program for juniors.

 

This is the only date that the PSAT is offered.

 

There will be a SAT day for Connecticut junior students that is likely to be in late March 2021

 

JUNE 2020

STANDARDIZED TESTING-

AS OF FRIDAY 5/29 THE COLLEGE BOARD SITE IS OPEN FOR REGISTRATIONS. 

Please remember that your daughter/son can register for the SAT Reasoning Test, SAT Subject Tests and ACT online at www.collegeboard.org and www.actstudent.org. . If she/he is planning to test during the fall, it is important to register early in order to select the nearest test center. Please check for updates in relation to COVID-19 restrictions which may impact the number of students allowed to test in any one location. Students in the class of 2021 who have yet to take an SAT or an ACT will be given priority if they register during a designated early window beginning May 28th.

 

Test dates are as follows:

July 18 ACT

August 29 SAT*

September 12 ACT*

September 26 SAT

October 3 SAT*

October 24 ACT

November 7 SAT*

December 5 SAT

December 12 ACT*

POST HIGH SCHOOL PLANNING

 

The summer is a great time to continue the post high school college planning process. Most if not all colleges offer virtual tours on their web sites. Students can also find a link if they go to the College Profile on Naviance and there they will see a link to Virtual Tours. Colleges are hoping to open during the summer but you should check before making plans. 

 

Students should continue to add colleges to the “Colleges that I’m Thinking about” list on the Naviance website – www.connection.naviance.com/newcanaan. This will allow your student to receive an email in the fall with the dates and times IF these college representatives are visiting NCHS.

 

Summer is also the perfect time to begin work on the essay(s) that applicants will need as part of the application process. Time spent on this now is a BONUS.

 

As a part of the New Canaan Summer Enrichment Program there is a “Start Now College Essay Writing Workshop” presented by Darren Bruce (NCPS Writing Specialist). June 22-June 25th from 4-7pm. The cost will be $225 and the program will probably be run virtually. 

 

The Common Application for 2020/21 will be available online August 1st 2020 at http://www.commonapp.org.

 

Note: Students should have already set up a Common App account during our spring program. Note that the Common App closes during the last week in July. Student entries will roll over into the 2021/21 application. This information will be needed for our Senior Program that runs during the second week of school.

There will be a letter sent to seniors and their parents over the summer with more information.

 

The School Counseling Department will also send out a mailing during the summer. Parents please review this information thoroughly and ensure that your son/daughter completes the Senior Profile. This can be submitted as an attachment and sent to your child’s School Counselor or handed to our Counseling Secretary, Mrs. Poccia, at the beginning of school in late August. This information is used by the counselor to write student letters of reference and will be reviewed during the senior appointment. Parents should complete the Parent Recommendation Form and send this directly to the individual student’s counselor.

 

Counselors will be running Senior Programs for students during the first few weeks of school next year to discuss the “nuts and bolts” of college admissions. Details will be available when we return to school in September.

 

Parents please note:

 

Counselors plan to run a Senior Parent Program. If we are at school this will take place in the morning but otherwise we will offer this program virtually.  Further info will be sent home nearer to this date. 

Topics to be covered in this program will include a timeline for sending information to colleges, teacher recommendations, early decision/action programs and standardized testing.

 

NCAA STATEMENT

For students who are likely to play college sports at the NCAA Division I or Division II level, you must register with the NCAA in order to go on any paid college recruitment visits prior to enrollment and to receive clearance to play at the collegiate level.  Eligibility can be earned by taking a prescribed list of courses approved by the NCAA, maintaining a respectable average, and earning standardized test scores within a specified range.

Students who will be playing at the NCAA Division III level are exempt from these requirements.

To learn more or to start the registration process, log on to the following:

www.eligibilitycenter.org

 

MAY 2020

 

Counselors are available to continue discussing post high school plans. Following the junior appointment, students may have questions and would like to talk these over with their counselors. This is a very different year and school counselors are here to help. Please email your questions to us and if you would like a virtual meeting, email us with a period when you are not in class so that we can try to schedule a chat.

 

Our spring junior program is being revised and will cover not only an introduction to the Common Application but also some information about the changes in testing, virtual tours and other updates. Should we not return to school, we will be using the Reading Period after classes finish to virtually present this to students in their Connections groups. We will be sending out info to students later. 

 

The College Board has just canceled the June SAT, and ACT may be changing its schedule very soon. The College Board is looking at adding test dates in the fall, giving any students with no test scores early access for registration. Here at NCHS, we are also looking at adding test administration dates. We already offer SAT administration in October and November and ACT in September and December, but we are exploring an additional August or September date for the SAT. Once the College Board has set the dates, we will look at our options for reserving space and hiring enough proctors. The College Board is also exploring online testing. ACT has been planning to roll out an online test option in the fall already and will be offering options.

At the same time, an ever-growing list of colleges is moving to flexible testing policies for next year, going score optional or offering alternative ways to show academic strength. Counselors will work closely with families to decide the best options for each student. At this point, with so few clear answers, we suggest that students continue to prepare to sit for an SAT or an ACT in the fall. 

 

There will be a virtual college fair April 27-May 8! 

• 200+ individual college information sessions
• Institutions from 45 states and 13 countries are represented
• Info sessions start every hour from 9:00 AM and run through 9:00 PM Central Time each day to accommodate a variety of timezones and e-learning schedules nationwide
• Each session is 45 minutes long
• Target audience: U.S.-based juniors

These programs are also being recorded and will be available to watch on-demand later

View the schedule and register for sessions:https://www.strivescan.com/virtual/

 

APRIL 2020

 

Unfortunately due to these uncertain times, our spring program where we invite a panel of college admissions deans to talk to students and parents has been cancelled. Juniors should spend time reviewing potential colleges’ website to see what programs they are planning for the summer when they will be open to visitors. Most colleges have virtual tours on their web sites plus other activities. Please dedicate some time, outside your classwork, to working on this. 

 

Here is a link to our program from last year that gives excellent information about the college process and the importance of what’s in the admissions file.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltPts7aL-30&feature=youtu.be 

 

We have also postponed our Junior Interviewing Workshop presented by Mrs. Carroll. We hope to be able to offer this when we return to school. 

 

THE STATE SAT TEST IS CANCELLED

 

 REVISED STANDARDIZED TESTING DATES

 

Please remember to have your daughter/son register promptly for the June SAT/Subject Tests or the ACT.  Seats may be limited due to the numbers wanting to take these tests. Register promptly.  Use the web sites www.collegeboard.com or www.actstudent.org

 

            

 

June 6**                SAT & Subject Tests

June 13                 ACT

In addition:

July 18 ACT ( fewer Test Centers)

August 24 SAT (fewer Test Centers)

September 12*.           ACT

October 3*                   SAT

**Denotes NCHS as testing location

 

Please remember that testing is a stressful process and your son/daughter’s first priority should be to keep up their grades. There are more test dates in the fall that are still appropriate for college admission.

 

NACAC Co​llege Fair

Cancelled due to the current situation.

 

 

 

MARCH 2020

 

Save the Date.

April 2nd –NCHS Auditorium – 7pm  

 

College Admissions evening

 School Counselors will host a college admissions evening with representatives from University of California at Irvine, Colgate, MIT and University of Miami who will speak about the college admissions process and what to expect in your post secondary journey. The session will kick-off at 7 pm in the NCHS Auditorium. More details to come. Students and parents are welcome.

Counselors are completing our individual junior post high school planning appointments. Please ensure that you and your daughter/son are aware of the time of this appointment. If an emergency arises and you cannot keep this date, contact Maria Poccia at 594-4649 immediately to re-schedule.

 Juniors should already be registered to take standardized tests this spring. These will be either the SAT or ACT and some students may choose to take both. Some students may also register to take Subject Tests.

 Registration is completed by visiting the following the web site

www.collegeboard.org or www.actstudent.org

The NCHS (CEEB) code is 070465.  Please register EARLY

Test dates:

SAT March 14                                     

SAT May 2*                                   ACT April 4*

SAT June 6*                                  ACT June 13

 ACT July 18

*NCHS is a Test Center

 

In addition, Connecticut has set March 25, 2020 as the School Day SAT for juniors. The scores from this test can also be sent to colleges for admissions purposes. Registration will be handled through the school. Look for information to follow.

 

SUBJECT TESTS

A few selective colleges require Subject Tests in addition to the SAT for admission. Students may wish to speak with their teachers to find out if they are prepared to take these tests in either May or June. Please see the information above that concerns registration.

  

COLLEGE INTERVIEWING WORKSHOP:

There will be a college interviewing workshop for juniors held in the College and Career Center on Tuesday, April 7th during the lunch block. To reserve a space, email Mrs. Carroll (susan.carroll@ncps-k12.org) and let her know what lunch you have that day. We will be talking about the interviewing process and also conducting mock interviews. 

 

 

FEBRUARY 2020

We are beginning our individual junior post high school planning appointments. Letters have been sent home from the School Counseling Office with the date and time of this appointment. This is an opportunity for students and their families to sit down with their counselor to discuss post high school options and develop plans. Please ensure that your son/daughter is aware of the date and time of this appointment and make every effort to keep your appointment. If an emergency arises and you cannot keep this date, please contact Maria Poccia at 594-4649 immediately to reschedule but please note that counselors’ and students’ schedules are very tight and a new appointment may be delayed until later in the spring.

 

Junior students should become familiar with the Naviance system and begin to prepare for her/his individual appointment by completing several college searches, inputting an initial list in “Colleges I’m Thinking About ” and completing the “Game Plan”. 

 

Student passwords to enter Naviance are now aligned with your school email.

 

Please encourage any junior who needs help with Naviance to visit the College and Career Center during a “free” period to receive one-on-one tutoring in this system.

 

All students who took the PSAT in the fall should have set up an account with the College Board to view their scores. The information that is available with the scores is extremely helpful. Please encourage your child to review this. 

 

Remember that the Khan Academy will design a FREE individual online prep program for the SAT if students enter their Access Code when visiting the Khan site. The Access Code can be found with the PSAT score report.

 

Connecticut has set March 25, 2020 as the School Day SAT for juniors. The scores from this test can also be sent to colleges for admissions purposes. Registration will be handled through the school for this test. Look for information to follow.

 

Other Test dates:

SAT March 14                                           ACT Feb 8

SAT May 2*                                             ACT April 4*

SAT June 6*                                            ACT June 13

  ACT July 18

*NCHS is a Test Center

 

Students planning to also take the Subject Tests can do so in June. There is now a very small number of colleges that REQUIRE these. 

 

Students can register at:

SAT-www.collegeboard.org 

ACT-www.actstudent.org

 

 Please register EARLY.

 

In addition,  

 

SUMMER PLANS

 

This is the time of the year when juniors should begin to explore their summer plans. Maybe this is the year when your child wants to have a summer job to begin earning money to save for college expenses. Alternatively many students consider taking a class that is not offered at the high school. Travel abroad, athletic training camps and volunteer positions are other opportunities to consider. There is NO one right thing for all students. Involve your child and help your son/daughter decide what will stimulate him/her.

 

 

JANUARY 2020

JUNIOR PARENT PROGRAM JANUARY 9 at 7:00 PM (Snow date January 16)

A conversation with your child’s counselor about the post high school planning process

 

This is the time to begin making post high school plans. All juniors will be scheduled for an individual appointment with their counselors and parents beginning in the second semester. Details will be sent home together with some materials for you to study prior to this meeting.

 

Please encourage your child to read their PSAT Score Report carefully. The information can be used to find the areas where test preparation is recommended. Please ensure that if your son/daughter plans to take tests in the spring; he/she should have a test prep plan. This can be any or several of the following methods:

• using the free Khan Academy online prep available through the College Board web site.
• courses
• individual tutoring sessions
• online programs
• study guides

 

FYI

Students who are recognized as being eligible for the National Merit Scholarship Program can offer now  SAT AND/OR ACT scores to continue in that competition. 

 **The National Merit group has traditionally been selected from students who score at the 95%ile on the PSAT and above.

 

Please encourage your daughter/son to visit the Naviance web site and begin to explore colleges. If your child has misplaced their Naviance password, please ask them to see their counselor to have this reset. School Counseling secretaries and the College and Career Center also have access to reset passwords.

 

STANDARDIZED TESTING

 

The School Counseling department recommends that ALL juniors take an initial SAT or ACT in the spring. Students planning to also take the Subject Tests can do so in June.

Reasons why we recommend spring testing:

• More time to cover course content
• More time to review/study for the test
• NCHS is a testing site and there is something to be said about familiar surroundings and relaxing while testing.

Connecticut has set March 25, 2020 as the School Day SAT for juniors. The scores from this test can also be sent to colleges for admissions purposes. The in-school SAT does not include the optional essay portion. Registration will be handled through the school. 

 

Test dates:

SAT March 14                                           ACT Feb 8

SAT May 2*                                             ACT April 4*

SAT June 6*                                            ACT June 13

ACT July 18

*NCHS is a Test Center

 

Students can register at:

SAT-www.collegeboard.org 

ACT-www.actstudent.org

 

 Please register EARLY.

 

DECEMBER 2019

School Counselors will be meeting with their juniors during an upcoming Connections session where we will present a kickoff to the post high school planning process. Do ask your child to share the session with you. We will discuss how to look at the PSAT scores (expected to arrive  mid-December) to maximize prep for the SAT and researching colleges to ensure that the final college list has schools that are good “fits”.

 

Junior students are encouraged to set up an account with the College Board as they will be able to go in and view their PSAT scores online. This account can then be used to register for the SAT. We cannot stress enough that students are much more than their test scores and these scores are not sent to colleges. Please use the online information to assess those areas that need review before taking the SAT this spring. Then, plan how this review will take place before the SAT. Here are some ideas:

• Use the link to Khan Academy-an online free prep resource that will create an individualized plan to help your child prepare, based on their performance in the PSAT
• Use the traditional method-buy or borrow review books.
• Visit www.collegeboard.org regularly and use their review materials
• Investigate other online programs for prep
• Take a prep class

 In addition to the above:

The College Board continues to post a SAT Question of the Day. This is available on Twitter, I Phone, I Pad (free apps).

 

 

 

Save the Date - Junior Parent Night – January 9TH 2020- 7:00 pm “A CONVERSATION WITH YOUR CHILD’S COUNSELOR ABOUT THE POST HIGH SCHOOL PLANNING PROCESS” (Snow date January 16, 2020)

 

And……..

 

We will be starting individual junior appointments in the second semester, and information regarding the date and time will be sent home prior to these meetings. We will include a questionnaire for you and your child to complete as well as an unofficial transcript in this mailing. If your son/daughter has questions before this appointment please encourage them to stop by and see their counselor.

 

NAVIANCE WORKSHOPS

 

There will be a program for parents of current juniors only who would like to learn more about Naviance. The date is  January 29, 2020. This morning program will take place in the Wagner Room.   

 

NAVIANCE GENERAL INFO

 

Some parents wonder whether any of the information that is in Naviance can be accessed by the colleges.

Please remember that no one but the student, parents and school counselor has access to the information on Naviance regarding the college process.

 

STANDARDIZED TESTING-

 

The School Counseling department recommends that ALL juniors take an initial SAT/ACT in the spring. Students planning to also take the Subject Tests can do so in June.

Reasons why we recommend spring testing:

• More time to cover course content
• More time to review/study for the test
• NCHS is a testing site and there is something to be said about familiar surroundings and relaxing while testing.

 

Test dates:

SAT March 14                                           ACT Feb 8

SAT May 2*                                              ACT April 4*

SAT June 6*                                            ACT June 13

  ACT July 18

*NCHS is a Test Center

 

Students can register at:

SAT-www.collegeboard.com

ACT-www.actstudent.org

 

In addition, Connecticut has set March 25, 2020 as the School Day SAT for juniors. The scores from this test can also be sent to colleges for admissions purposes. Registration will be handled through the school. 

 

 

NOVEMBER 2019

 

So your children have taken the PSAT; what comes next?

 

First relax; the scores do not usually arrive via email from the College Board until December. Junior students are encouraged to set up an account with the College Board as they will be able to go in and view their PSAT scores online. This account can then be used to register for the SAT. The School Counseling Office will provide the PSAT score analysis, and plan for improvement together with some information to help you interpret the scores.  We cannot stress enough that students are much more than their test scores and these scores are not sent to colleges. Please use this information to assess those areas that need review before taking the SAT this spring. Then, plan how this review will take place before the SAT. Here are some ideas:

• Use the link from the Score Report to Khan Academy-see below
• Use the traditional method-buy or borrow review books.
• Visit www.collegeboard.org regularly and use their review materials
• Investigate other online programs for prep
• Take a prep class

 

In addition to the above:

The College Board continues to post a SAT Question of the Day. This is available on Twitter @SATquestion  and I Phone, I Pad and (free apps).

 

 

 KHAN ACADEMY

 

You may have heard of the Khan Academy, a FREE online tutoring service. The College Board has partnered with Khan to provide help for students in preparing for the SAT. To gain the most benefit from this program, juniors should set up an account with the College Board that will eventually be used to register for the SAT and Subject Tests and to send scores to colleges.

Once your junior receives their PSAT scores, they can use a link to send them to Khan Academy who will prepare an individualized prep program, using online tutorials.

PSAT scores will now be available online by using this account. Scores are traditionally available in December. These are not sent to colleges.

The school counselors will be meeting all juniors in groups on December 11th during an extended Connections Program session and also holding an EVENING Junior Parent Program.

  

 Save the Date - Junior Parent Night-January 9th 2020 at 7:00 pm  ( Snow day January 16th)– the school counselors will meet with the parents of juniors to discuss post high school planning. More information will be available closer to this date.

 

We will be starting individual junior appointments in the second semester, and information regarding the date and time will be sent home prior to these meetings. If your son/daughter has questions before this appointment please encourage them to stop by and see their counselor.

 

Finally, grades do make a difference. Continue to encourage him/her to work hard in classes and, when necessary, have discussions with teachers about ways to improve.

 

 

OCTOBER 2019

PSAT

The PSAT will be offered here at the high school, on Saturday  October 19th, 2019 for those who have registered for this test. STUDENTS MUST ARRIVE AT 7:30AM.They need to bring a photo ID, several Number Two pencils and a calculator. The test is approximately 2 3/4 hours in length. Phones should be left at home or POWERED OFF. 

 

DATE FOR SPRING CONNECTICUT STATE TEST

March 27th 2019. Juniors will take this test( SAT) during the school day.

 

 College Fair:

The National Association for College Counseling is hosting a STEM College Fair on October 13th from 1-4 pm at the Javitts Center, NYC. For more info, please visit www.nacacnet.org/STEMfairs

There is also a Visual and Performing Arts college fair on November 12th from 6:30-9:30pm at the Javitts Center NYC. 

 

 

AUG/SEPT 2019

 

Mark your calendars now!!!!

 

PSAT SIGN UPS-

The PSAT will be offered at New Canaan High School on Saturday, October 19th.  Students will register for the test online by visiting https://user.totalregistration.net/PSAT/070465 from September 4-13th. The fee is $30.00. Any student registering after 9/14 will be charged an additional $10. late penalty bringing the amount to $40.00. No registration will be accepted after 9/21.

 

School Counselors recommend that all members of the JUNIOR class take the PSAT as preparation for the SAT that is usually taken the following spring.

This is also the qualifying exam for the National Merit Scholarship Program for juniors.

 

This is the only date that the PSAT is offered.

 

A date for your 2020 calendar- Connecticut has tentatively set March 21, 2020 as the School Day SAT for juniors.

JUNE 2019

STANDARDIZED TESTING-

 

Please remember that your daughter/son can register for SAT Reasoning Test, SAT Subject Tests and ACT online at www.collegeboard.com and www.actstudent.org during the summer. If she/he is planning to test during the fall, it is important to register early in order to select the nearest test center.

Test dates are as follows:

 

Jul 13 ACT

 

Aug 24 SAT and Subject Tests  

 

Sept 14                   *ACT

 

Oct 5                        *SAT and Subject Tests

 

Oct 26                      ACT

 

Nov 2                       *SAT and Subject Tests (Language Tests with Listening offered)

 

Dec 7                        SAT and Subject Tests

 

Dec 14                      *ACT

*Denotes that NCHS is a Test Center

 

Seating in Connecticut is scarce for the July ACT and August SAT-Register early!

 

POST HIGH SCHOOL PLANNING

 

The summer is a great time to continue the post high school college planning process. Colleges are open during the summer and, although the majority of the student body is away, it is still a good time to visit, tour the campus and perhaps interview.

 

As you begin to visit colleges to which your daughter/son plans to apply, please remember to tell your daughter/son to add them to the “Colleges that I’m Thinking about” list on the Naviance website – www.connection.naviance.com/newcanaan. This will allow your student to receive an email in the fall with the dates and times if these college representatives are visiting NCHS.

 

Summer is also the perfect time to begin work on the essay(s) that applicants will need as part of the application process. Time spent on this now is a BONUS.

 

The Common Application for 2019/20 will be available online August 1st 2019 at http://www.commonapp.org.

 

Note: Students should have already set up a Common App account during our spring program. This information will be needed for our Senior Program that runs during the second week of school.

 

There will be a letter sent to seniors and their parents over the summer with more information.

 

The School Counseling Department will also send out a mailing during the summer. Please review this information thoroughly and ensure that your son/daughter completes the pink Senior Profile. This can be handed to our Counseling Secretary, Mrs. Poccia, at the beginning of school in late August. This information is used by the counselor to write student letters of reference and will be reviewed during the senior appointment. Parents should complete the Parent Recommendation Form and send this directly to the individual student’s counselor.

 

Please note that students and parents are welcome to submit these forms as attachments on line to individual School Counselor’s school email addresses.

 

Beware of scholarship scams! You should never have to pay a fee to an agency to learn about qualifying for assistance.

 Counselors will be running Senior Programs for students during the first few weeks of school next year to discuss the “nuts and bolts” of college admissions. Details will be available when we return to school in September.

 

Parents please note:

 

Senior Parent Program is tentatively scheduled for the morning of September 10th in the Wagner Room. Further info will be sent home nearer to this date.

 

Topics to be covered in this program will include a timeline for sending information to colleges, teacher recommendations, early decision/action programs and standardized testing.

 

NCAA STATEMENT

For students who are likely to play college sports at the NCAA Division I or Division II level, you must register with the NCAA in order to go on any paid college recruitment visits prior to enrollment and to receive clearance to play at the collegiate level.  Eligibility can be earned by taking a prescribed list of courses approved by the NCAA, maintaining a respectable average, and earning standardized test scores within a specified range.

 

Students who will be playing at the NCAA Division III level are exempt from these requirements.

 

To learn more or to start the registration process, log on to the following:

 

www.eligibilitycenter.org

 

 

MAY 2019

 

Counselors are available to continue discussing post high school plans. Following the junior appointment, students may have visited some colleges, and would like to talk this over with their counselors. Please encourage your student to come in and make an appointment to see us. Parents are encouraged to give a call to counselors if they have questions or concerns.

There is still one more date for both the SAT and the ACT this academic year.

To register for SAT  please go to www.collegeboard.com.  To register for the ACT please go to www.actstudent.org

June 1 SAT or SAT Subject Tests *   
  

June 8 ACT  

 

*NCHS is a Test Center

 

A DATE FOR YOUR CALENDARS:

 

For those students who are interested in studying abroad…...

 

CIS International University Fair in cooperation with IB Americas | New York City

with support from the United Nations International School

Tuesday 17 September 2019     5.00-7.00pm

This fair will take place at the United Nations International School and provides an ideal opportunity for your students to talk face-to-face with university admissions officials from around the globe who understand the IB DP and who actively recruit graduates.  Last year, over 100 universities from countries such as Germany, Canada, Holland, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland, UK, USA and many more participated in this valuable fair.

Students can register for the fair (free of cost) through the registration webpage . This page will contain all the Universities attending and it will be updated monthly until the fair date.

Once registered, Students will receive a barcode they can use during the fair to quickly exchange contact information with a university admission representative, without the need to fill in inquiry cards at each university table.

Due to security reasons, all attendees must pre-register for the fair online. This also includes counsellors, parents, guardians and siblings who plan to attend the fair.

 

 

 

APRIL 2019

College Admissions Events in April – Save the Dates

 

April 3rd – NCHS cafeteria – 7pm

Explore England - sophomores and juniors

Join the School Counselors for an informational session on the differences between UK and US universities. A number of universities will be on hand to discuss the application and admission process and give you a brief overview of their schools.

 

April 11th –Wagner Room – 7pm
 

College Admissions evening

10th and 11th grade parents and students. Hear about the many parts of a college application and how to approach the admissions process. Ann Fleming Brown from Union College will join the School Counselors in an interactive and comprehensive discussion.

 

Attention Juniors:

There will be a college interviewing workshop held in the College and Career Center on

April 10th  (Day G) during the lunch block. To reserve a space, email

Mrs. Carroll (susan.carroll@ncps-k12.org) and let her know what lunch you have that day. We will be talking about the interviewing process and conducting mock interviews as well.  

REVISED DATE FOR THE STATE SAT TEST

 

The rescheduled date for that Connecticut SAT test will be April 24th 2018.

STANDARDIZED TESTING

 

Please remember to have your daughter/son register promptly for the May/June SAT/Subject Tests or the ACT. Use the web sites www.collegeboard.com or www.actstudent.org

April 13**              ACT

May  4**         SAT& Subject Tests

June 1**         SAT& Subject Tests

June 8                   ACT

In addition:

July 13             ACT ( fewer Test Centers)

August 24         SAT (fewer Test Centers)

**Denotes NCHS as testing location|

Please remember that testing is a stressful process and your son/daughter’s first priority should be to keep up their grades. There are more test dates in the fall that are still appropriate for college admission.

NACAC Co​llege Fair

(https://www.nacacfairs.org/attend/national-college-fairs/hartford-college-fair/ )

Location:

Connecticut Convention Center

Exhibit Hall A

100 Columbus Boulevard

Hartford, CT 06103

860/249-6000

Fair Hours:

April 2     9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

               6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

April 3      9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Academy Night

On April 24, 2019, the Connecticut Congressional Delegation will be holding its annual Academy Night for freshmen, sophomores and juniors who are interested in attending one of our nation’s preeminent military academies – U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and the U.S. Naval Academy.  This is a great opportunity for students to meet with representatives and cadets/midshipmen from each of the academies.

The doors will open at 4:30 PM.  The program is scheduled for 5PM – 9PM   and will begin promptly at 5:00 PM at the MG Maurice Rose Armed Forces Reserve Center, 375 Smith Street, Middletown, CT.

 If you have any questions, please contact senator Murphy’s office at 860-549-8463.

STUDENT MEMBER OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION 2019-20

 

APPLICATION PROCESS

 

Every year, the Governor appoints two public school students entering their senior year to serve on the Connecticut State Board of Education for a one-year period (July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020). Student Board members participate fully in discussions about education policy and lend an important perspective to Board deliberations, although they do not have voting privileges. We encourage you to consider applying for membership on the Board.

ARE YOU QUALIFIED?

Students who wish to apply for membership on the Board:

Must be enrolled in a public high school; and

Must have at least a B+ average; and

Will have completed Grade 11 prior to July 1, 2019; and

Must be able to attend monthly all-day meetings in Hartford (usually the first Wednesday of each month).

HOW TO APPLY

If you meet all of the above qualifications, and wish to apply for membership on the Board, please submit the following:

(1) application form; (2) three reference letters from your teachers or school administrators; (3) your resume; and (4) a one-page statement describing why you would like to serve on the Board and your opinion on the education issue that you consider to be most critical.

Here is a link to the application

https://portal.ct.gov/sde

DUE DATE

Completed application packages must be postmarked on or before April 15, 2019. Please submit your completed

application package to:

Connecticut State Department of Education

Office of the State Board of Education

450 Columbus Boulevard, Suite 606

Hartford, CT 06103

MARCH 2019

College Admissions Events in April – Save the Date

 

April 3rd – NCHS cafeteria – 7pm

Explore England - sophomores and juniors

Join the School Counselors for an informational session on the differences between UK and US universities. A number of universities will be on hand to discuss the application and admission process and give you a brief overview of their schools.

 

April 11th –Wagner Rm. – 7pm -

College Admissions evening

10th and 11th grade parents and students. Hear about the many parts of a college application and how to approach the admissions process. Ann Fleming Brown from Union College will join the School Counselors in an interactive and comprehensive discussion.

 

Counselors are completing our individual junior post high school planning appointments. Please ensure that you and your daughter/son are aware of the time of this appointment. If an emergency arises and you cannot keep this date, contact Maria Poccia at 594-4649 immediately to re-schedule.

Juniors should already be registered to take standardized tests this spring. These will be either the SAT or ACT and some students may choose to take both. Some students may also register to take Subject Tests.

Registration is completed by visiting the following the web site

www.collegeboard.org or www.actstudent.org

The NCHS (CEEB) code is 070465.  Please register EARLY

Test dates:

SAT March 9                                     

SAT May 4*                                    ACT April 13*

SAT June 1*                                   ACT June 7

ACT July 13

*NCHS is a Test Center

 

In addition, Connecticut has set March 27, 2019 as the School Day SAT for juniors. The scores from this test can also be sent to colleges for admissions purposes. Registration will be handled through the school. Look for information to follow.

 

SUBJECT TESTS

Some selective colleges require Subject Tests in addition to the SAT for admission. Students may wish to speak with their teachers to find out if they are prepared to take these tests in either May or June. Please see the information above that concerns registration.

 

COLLEGE INTERVIEWING WORKSHOP:

There will be a college interviewing workshop for juniors held in the College and Career Center on Wednesday, April 10th during the lunch block. To reserve a space, email Mrs. Carroll (susan.carroll@ncps-k12.org) and let her know what lunch you have that day. We will be talking about the interviewing process and also conducting mock interviews.

FEBRUARY 2019

 

We are beginning our individual junior post high school planning appointments. Letters have been sent home from the School Counseling Office with the date and time of this appointment. This is an opportunity for students and their families to sit down with their counselor to discuss post high school options and develop plans. Please ensure that your son/daughter is aware of the date and time of this appointment and make every effort to keep your appointment.

If an emergency arises and you cannot keep this date, please contact Maria Poccia at 594-4649 immediately to reschedule but please note that counselor and students schedules are very tight and a new appointment may be delayed until later in the spring.

 

Junior students should become familiar with the Naviance system and begin to prepare for her/his individual appointment by completing several college searches, inputting an initial list in “Colleges I’m Thinking About ” and completing the “Game Plan”.

 

Student passwords to enter Naviance can be easily re-assigned by School Counselors, the Registrar, Mrs. Granite or Mrs. Carroll in College and Career Center.

 

Please encourage any junior who needs help with Naviance to visit the College and Career Center during a “free” period to receive one-on-one tutoring in this system.

 

All students who took the PSAT in the fall should have set up an account with the College Board to view their scores. The information that is available with the scores is extremely helpful. Please encourage your child to review this.

 

Remember that the Khan Academy will design a FREE individual online prep program for the SAT if students enter their Access Code when visiting the Khan site. The Access Code can be found with the PSAT score information.

 

The School Counseling department recommends that ALL juniors take an initial SAT or ACT in the spring. Students planning to also take the Subject Tests can do so in June.

Reasons why we recommend spring testing:

• More time to cover course content
• More time to review/study for the test
• NCHS is a testing site and there is something to be said about familiar surroundings and relaxing while testing.
  
  
  
  

Test dates:

SAT March 9                                            ACT Feb 9

SAT May 4*                                              ACT April 13*

SAT June 1*                                             ACT June 8

ACT July 13

*NCHS is a Test Center

 

Students can register at:

SAT-www.collegeboard.org

ACT-www.actstudent.org

 

Please register EARLY.

 

In addition, Connecticut has set March 27, 2019 as the School Day SAT for juniors. The scores from this test can also be sent to colleges for admissions purposes. Registration will be handled through the school. Look for information to follow.

 

ACT Bootcamp Live

It’s never too late to prepare for the ACT! Help your students feel ready for test day with Kaplan’s ACT® Bootcamp Live. Invite students to sign up for two 90-minute sessions taught by test experts. Topics include:

Top tips for English, Reading, Math and Science.

Methods for note-taking and strategies to answer questions.

A review of the grammar and pronoun rules needed for test day.

 

Sessions are either 2/2 or 2/6

 

Please visit the KAPLAN website for the link to sign up.

SUMMER PLANS

 

This is the time of the year when juniors should begin to explore their summer plans. Maybe this is the year when your child wants to have a summer job to begin earning money to save for college expenses. Alternatively many students consider taking a class that is not offered at the high school. Travel abroad, athletic training camps and volunteer positions are other opportunities to consider. There is NO one right thing for all students. Involve your child and help your son/daughter decide what will stimulate him/her.

 

 

JANUARY 2019

JUNIOR PARENT PROGRAM JANUARY 10 at 7:30 PM (Snow date January 17)

A conversation with your child’s counselor about the post high school planning process.

This is the time to begin making post high school plans. All juniors will be scheduled for an individual appointment with their counselors and parents beginning in the second semester. Details will be sent home together with some materials for you to study prior to this meeting.

Please encourage your child to read their PSAT Score Report carefully. The information can be used to find the areas where test preparation is recommended. Please ensure that if your son/daughter plans to take tests in the spring; he/she should have a test prep plan. This can be any or several of the following methods:

• using the free Khan Academy online prep available through the College Board web site.
• courses
• individual tutoring sessions
• online programs
• study guides

 

FYI

Students who are recognized as being eligible for the national merit Scholarship Program can offer now  SAT AND/OR ACT scores to continue in that competition.

**The National Merit group has traditionally been selected from students who score at the 95%ile on the PSAT and above.

Please encourage your daughter/son to visit the Naviance web site and begin to explore colleges. If your child has misplaced their Naviance password, please ask them to see their counselor to have this reset. School Counseling secretaries and the College and Career Center also have access to reset passwords.

 

STANDARDIZED TESTING

 

The School Counseling department recommends that ALL juniors take an initial SAT or ACT in the spring. Students planning to also take the Subject Tests can do so in June.

Reasons why we recommend spring testing:

• More time to cover course content
• More time to review/study for the test
• NCHS is a testing site and there is something to be said about familiar surroundings and relaxing while testing.

Connecticut has set March 27, 2019 as the School Day SAT for juniors. The scores from this test can also be sent to colleges for admissions purposes. The in-school SAT does not include the optional essay portion. Registration will be handled through the school.

Test dates:

SAT March 9                                            ACT Feb 9

SAT May 4*                                              ACT April 13*

SAT June 1*                                             ACT June 8

ACT July 13

*NCHS is a Test Center

 

Students can register at:

SAT-www.collegeboard.org

ACT-www.actstudent.org

 

Please register EARLY.

DECEMBER 2018

 

School Counselors will be meeting with their juniors during an upcoming Connections session where we will present a kickoff to the post high school planning process. Do ask your child to share the session with you. We will discuss how to look at the PSAT scores (expected to arrive  mid-December) to maximize prep for the SAT and researching colleges to ensure that the final college list has schools that are good “fits”.

Junior students are encouraged to set up an account with the College Board as they will be able to go in and view their PSAT scores online. This account can then be used to register for the SAT. The School Counseling Office will give the students their question booklets, in addition to other materials in in the Junior Groups meetings.

We cannot stress enough that students are much more than their test scores and these scores are not sent to colleges. Please use this information to assess those areas that need review before taking the SAT this spring. Then, plan how this review will take place before the SAT. Here are some ideas:

• Use the link to Khan Academy-an online free prep resource that will create individualized plan to help your child prepare, based on their performance in the PSAT
• Use the traditional method-buy or borrow review books.
• Visit www.collegeboard.org regularly and use their review materials
• Investigate other online programs for prep
• Take a prep class
  
  

In addition to the above:

The College Board continues to post a SAT Question of the Day. This is available on Twitter, I Phone, I Pad and I Pod (free apps).

Save the Date - Junior Parent Night – January 10TH 2019- 7:30 pm

“A CONVERSATION WITH YOUR CHILD’S COUNSELOR ABOUT THE POST HIGH SCHOOL PLANNING PROCESS” (Snow date January 17, 2019)

And……..

We will be starting individual junior appointments in the second semester, and information regarding the date and time will be sent home prior to these meetings. We will include a questionnaire for you and your child to complete as well as an unofficial transcript in this mailing. If your son/daughter has questions before this appointment please encourage them to stop by and see their counselor.

NAVIANCE WORKSHOPS

There will be a program for parents of current juniors only who would like to learn more about Naviance. The date is  January 30, 2019 ( Snow date February 6, 2019). This morning program will take place in the Wagner Room.   

 

NAVIANCE GENERAL INFO

Some parents wonder whether any of the information that is in Naviance can be accessed by the colleges.

Please remember that no one but the student, parents and school counselor has access to the information on Naviance regarding the college process.

STANDARDIZED TESTING-

The School Counseling department recommends that ALL juniors take an initial SAT/ACT in the spring. Students planning to also take the Subject Tests can do so in June.

Reasons why we recommend spring testing:

• More time to cover course content
• More time to review/study for the test
• NCHS is a testing site and there is something to be said about familiar surroundings and relaxing while testing.
  
  

Test dates:

SAT March 9                                            ACT Feb 9

SAT May 4*                                             ACT April 13*

SAT June 1*                                             ACT June 8

ACT July 13

*NCHS is a Test Center

 

Students can register at:

SAT-www.collegeboard.com

ACT-www.actstudent.org

In addition, Connecticut has set March 27, 2019 as the School Day SAT for juniors. The scores from this test can also be sent to colleges for admissions purposes. Registration will be handled through the school.

 

 

NOVEMBER 2018

So your children have taken the PSAT; what comes next?

First relax; the scores do not usually arrive via email from the College Board until December.

Junior students are encouraged to set up an account with the College Board as they will be able to go in and view their PSAT scores online. This account can then be used to register for the SAT. The School Counseling Office will provide the PSAT score analysis, and plan for improvement together with some information to help you interpret the scores.  We cannot stress enough that students are much more than their test scores and these scores are not sent to colleges. Please use this information to assess those areas that need review before taking the SAT this spring. Then, plan how this review will take place before the SAT. Here are some ideas:

• Use the link to Khan Academy-an online free prep resource that will create an individualized plan to help your child prepare, based on their performance in the PSAT.
• Use the traditional method-buy or borrow review books.
• Visit www.collegeboard.org regularly and use their review materials
• Investigate other online programs for prep
• Take a prep class
  
  

In addition to the above:

The College Board continues to post a SAT Question of the Day. This is available on Twitter @SATquestion  and I Phone, I Pad and (free apps).

KHAN ACADEMY

You may have heard of the Khan Academy, a FREE online tutoring service. The College Board has partnered with Khan to provide help for students in preparing for the SAT. To gain the most benefit from this program, juniors should set up an account with the College Board that will eventually be used to register for the SAT and Subject Tests and to send scores to colleges.

Once your junior receives their PSAT scores, they can use a link to send them to Khan Academy who will prepare an individualized prep program, using online tutorials.

PSAT scores will now be available online by using this account. Scores are traditionally available in December. These are not sent to colleges.

The school counselors will be meeting all juniors in groups on December 5th during an extended Connections Program session and also holding an EVENING Junior Parent Program.

 

Save the Date - Junior Parent Night-January 10th 2019 at 7:30 pm – the school counselors will meet with the parents of juniors to discuss post high school planning. More information will be available closer to this date.

We will be starting individual junior appointments in the second semester, and information regarding the date and time will be sent home prior to these meetings. If your son/daughter has questions before this appointment please encourage them to stop by and see their counselor.

Finally, grades do make a difference. Continue to encourage him/her to work hard in classes and, when necessary, have discussions with teachers about ways to improve.

 

 

OCTOBER 2018

 

PSAT

The PSAT will be offered here at the high school, on Saturday  October 13th, 2018 for those who have registered for this test. STUDENTS MUST ARRIVE AT 7:30AM.They need to bring a photo ID, several Number Two pencils and a calculator. The test is approximately 2 3/4 hours in length. Phones should be left at home or POWERED OFF. the test is 2 3/4 hours long.

 

DATE FOR SPRING CONNECTICUT STATE TEST

March 27th 2019. Juniors will take this test( SAT) during the school day.

College Fair:

The National Association for College Counseling is hosting a STEM college fair on October 14th from 1-4 pm at the Javitts Center, NYC. For more info, please visit www.nacacnet.org/STEMfairs

SEPTEMBER 2018

Mark your calendars now!

 

PSAT SIGN UPS-

 

The PSAT will be offered at New Canaan High School on Saturday, October 13th.  Students will register for the test online by visiting https://user.totalregistration.net/PSAT/070465 from September 6-14. The fee is $30.00. Any student registering after 9/15 will be charged an additional $10. late penalty bringing the amount to $40.00. No registration will be accepted after 9/21.

 

School Counselors recommend that all members of the JUNIOR class take the PSAT as preparation for the SAT that is usually taken the following spring.

This is also the qualifying exam for the National Merit Scholarship Program for juniors.

This is the only date that the PSAT is offered.

 

A date for your 2018 calendar- Connecticut has tentatively set March 21, 2018 as the School Day SAT for juniors.

 

 

 

 

JUNE 2018

 

GRADE 11(CLASS OF 2019)

STANDARDIZED TESTING-

 

Please remember that your daughter/son can register for SAT Reasoning Test, SAT Subject Tests and ACT online at www.collegeboard.com and www.actstudent.org during the summer. If she/he is planning to test during the fall, it is important to register early in order to select the nearest test center.

 

 

Test dates are as follows:

 

Jul 14                      ACT

Aug 25                    SAT and Subject Tests   NEW THIS YEAR

Sept 8                   *ACT

Oct 6                     *SAT and Subject Tests

Oct 27                     ACT

Nov 3                    *SAT and Subject Tests (Language Tests with Listening offered)

Dec 1                      SAT and Subject Tests

December 8           *ACT

*Denotes that NCHS is a Test Center

 

POST HIGH SCHOOL PLANNING

 

The summer is a great time to continue the post high school college planning process. Colleges are open during the summer and, although the majority of the student body is away, it is still a good time to visit, tour the campus and perhaps interview.

 

As you begin to visit colleges to which your daughter/son plans to apply, please remember to tell your daughter/son to add them to the “Colleges that I’m Thinking about” list on the Naviance website – www.connection.naviance.com/newcanaan. This will allow your student to receive an email in the fall with the dates and times if these college representatives are visiting NCHS.

 

Summer is also the perfect time to begin work on the essay(s) that applicants will need as part of the application process. Time spent on this now is a BONUS.

 

The Common Application for 2018/19 will be available online August 1st 2018 at http://www.commonapp.org.

 

Note: Students should set up a Common App User Name and Password. This information will be needed for our Senior Program that runs during the second week of school.

 

There will be a letter sent to seniors and their parents over the summer with more information.

 

The School Counseling Department will also send out a mailing during the summer. Please review this information thoroughly and ensure that your son/daughter completes the pink Senior Profile. This can be handed to our Counseling Secretary, Mrs. Poccia, at the beginning of school in late August. This information is used by the counselor to write student letters of reference and will be reviewed during the senior appointment. Parents should complete the Parent Recommendation Form and send this directly to the individual student’s counselor.

 

Please note that students and parents are welcome to submit these forms as attachments on line to individual School Counselor’s school email addresses.

 

Beware of scholarship scams! You should never have to pay a fee to an agency to learn about qualifying for assistance. Here is another great web site to seek scholarship info.

 

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/scholarship/

 

Counselors will be running Senior Programs for students during the first few weeks of next year to discuss the “nuts and bolts” of college admissions. Details will be available when we return to school in September.

 

Parents please note:

 

Senior Parent Program is tentatively scheduled for the morning of September 13th at 8 am in the Wagner Room. Further info will be sent home nearer to this date.

 

Topics to be covered in this program will include timeline for sending information to colleges, teacher recommendations, early decision/action programs and standardized testing.

 

NCAA STATEMENT

 

For students who are likely to play college sports at the NCAA Division I or Division II level, you must register with the NCAA in order to go on any paid college recruitment visits prior to enrollment and to receive clearance to play at the collegiate level.  Eligibility can be earned by taking a prescribed list of courses approved by the NCAA, maintaining a respectable average, and earning standardized test scores within a specified range.

 

Students who will be playing at the NCAA Division III level are exempt from these requirements.

 

To learn more or to start the registration process, log on to the following: www.eligibilitycenter.org