JUNIOR NEWSLETTER

Guidance Department

Welcome and General Tips

I would like to welcome the Class of 2009 to the Junior Newsletter. All during the year, it will contain helpful information for your preparation for college.  The junior year is when students should seriously begin examining their college options, take the PSAT. prepare to take the ACT/SAT  tests, and make college visits.

1.      Since college applications are completed in the fall of your senior year, the most recent grades on the transcript are the junior year grades.  The junior year grades are therefore very important grades in high school. This is the reason you should make your studies a top priority. You will be able to raise your GPA by the end of the year.

2.      You need to get involved in activities and develop leadership skills.  Colleges are looking for well-rounded individuals. Join clubs, participate in your church and community, and play sports if you are talented in athletics.

3.      Make sure you sign up for the PSAT/NMSQT in September and October. The PSAT/NMSQT is a national test that is administered by high schools in October.  It is great practice for the SAT and the ACT and will give you an idea of how you compare to other college bound students across the country.  Students whose scores are exceptionally high are recognized by the National Merit Foundation.  This recognition can lead to scholarships for college.

4.      Start talking to your parents about college selections.  Ask them to visit various campuses.  The best way to see if a school “fits” you is to try it on. You are allowed to take 3 college visit days this year. These college visit days will not be counted as absences. Have your parents call in the morning of your visit and let the secretary know you are taking a college visit day.

PSAT Sign-Up Procedure

Remember to register for the PSAT test which will be held here at Ursuline on Wednesday, October 17^th at 8:00 a.m. Put your name, grade, and the letters PSAT on the front of an envelope and enclose a check payable to Ursuline High School for $12 with the letters PSAT written in the memo portion of the check. Bring it to school and place it in my mailbox (Mrs. Shields) in the office. The deadline for registration is Oct. 15^th.

FYI

Ten Ways to Test Drive a College You can’t really get the feel of a campus by looking over just their brochures or even viewing a CD-ROM.  That is why admissions directors, high school counselors, and others involved with campus selection stress personal visits so strongly.  The junior year is the ideal time to do this.  It is time to get your game plan implemented.

1.      Learn about the college before you visit.

2.      Evaluate the environment of the campus.

3.      Visit the admissions office and participate in the information session.

4.      Tour the campus with and without a guide.

5.      Check out the dorms.  Are they single-sex or co-ed?  What are the intervisitation rules?  Are computers available?

6.      Arrange for campus meetings with department heads in the subjects that interest you, coaches in sports where you excel, and former graduates from your high school.

7.      Sit in on classes and check out the library.

8.      Look into life beyond academics.  Most of your time will not be spent in the classroom.

9.      Have lunch in the student center and watch student interactions.

10.  After each visit, write down your impressions of that college.

Sometimes you will just get a feeling when you walk on campus – “oh no, this is not the place for me”, or “wow, I feel good here”.  Knowing more about the campus before you actually apply can save a lot of heartache in the fall of your freshman year.

Use your “college” days, and vacation days to visit when students are still on campus and perhaps again in the summer when there is less activity.

College Representative Visits

College Representatives will be coming to Ursuline to tell you about their particular schools, and to inform you about their financial aid, special programs, etc.  You may pick up a pass from the Guidance Office to attend the ones in which you are interested.  There is a limit of four (4) passes. Passes must be picked up before the day of the visit so you have time to secure your teacher’s signature. Your pass must be signed before you attend.  Any assignments due while you are out of the room must be turned in before your absence.  Any assignment missed is your responsibility. All visits will take place in room 238 unless you are told otherwise.

An updated list has been posted on the wall in the 3^rd floor hallway, near the steps. If any more are added, the list in the hall will be updated. Please keep checking it for current dates.

COLLEGE REP VISITS IN SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, AND NOVEMBER

John Carroll U.                                                                Sept. 19^th                                                                                    1:00

Cleveland State U.                                                           Sept. 26th                                               10:45

U. of Cincinnati                           Sept. 26th                                                       1:00

U. of Charleston                                                                    Sept. 26^th                                2:00

YSU                 Sept. 27th                               1:00

Shawnee State U.                                                            Sept. 28th                                                  10:45

Kent State U.     October 1^st        10:45

Washington & Jefferson                                                       October 2^nd                                                  9:50

Goshen College                          October 2^nd        10:45

Thiel College      October 5^th        10:45

University of Akron                October 8^th          9:00

Lake Erie College              October 9^th          7:50

Ohio U.              October 11^th      10:45

LaRoche College              October 11^th        1:00

Mercyhurst College              October 17^th        1:00

Muskingum College              October 18^th        2:00

Gannon U.         October 22^nd        1:00

Westminster U.   October 22^nd        1:55

Ursuline College              October 23^rd        1:00

St. Vincent College              October 23^rd        1:55

St. Mary’s College              October 24^th        1:55

NEOUCOM      October 29^th        8:00

Notre Dame College              October 29^th        9:50

Ohio Dominican U.     October 30^th        9:50

Case Western Reserve U.         October 30^th        1:00

Ohio Northern U.                      Nov. 5^th                                     10:45

Xavier U.           Nov. 6^th                                     10:45

Bowling Green U.                      Nov. 8^th                                       9:00

Trumbull Business College                                                                 Nov. 8^th                                                               1:00

Junior Dinner

The Junior Dinner is coming up on Wednesday, November 14th.  I will be doing a presentation concerning college and test preparation.  Please put this date in your school planner.  There will be a lot of helpful information for both you and your parents, some great handouts, and a time for questions after the presentation.

ACT Prep Classes and Preparation Materials

This year, Ursuline will host a series of ACT Prep classes conducted by Kent State University. (See enclosed sheet for details.) If you are not able to attend this particular set of classes, there are also classes held in Warren on the Kent State Trumbull Campus in the evenings and on Saturday. There are fliers in the Guidance Office with the dates and times of these classes. All Kent State Prep courses are $75 whether they are held here at Ursuline or on the Trumbull campus. If we have a good response for these classes at Ursuline, Kent is willing to offer them all during the year before each major test date.

The dates for the ACT tests and their deadlines are posted in the Guidance Office and in the hall for this year. The next ACT is on Oct. 27^th and the deadline to register is Sept. 21^st. Most Juniors should consider taking the ACT in the second half of the year. There is a test scheduled for February, April, and June of 2008. However, preparation can begin now.

If you are not able to attend any of the prep classes offered this fall, you may go online to actstudent.org and take an online prep course for $20. If that is not possible, you may come to the library and take a video/dvd course. These are available for the PSAT, the ACT and the SAT.

Registration packets and materials are available in the guidance office.

Important Upcoming Events

Open House at YSU’s College of Fine and Performing Arts

Dana will have its annual Visitation Day on Wednesday, October 10^th, 2007.  Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and events are planned from 8:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. The Welcome begins at 8:15 sharp!  They invite all high school students who have an interest in art, music, communication, theatre, or telecommunications to join them on this day. Pre-registration is encouraged. You may apply on-line www.fpa.ysu.edu/openhouse.htm, or simply call them at 330-941-3625.  Free parking will be available in the M-1 parking deck on Wick Avenue.

SCIS in Cleveland, Ohio

You are cordially invited to attend the annual Student College Interview Session on Thursday, Nov. 1^st from 8:30 am until 1pm at the Cleveland Convention Center – 500 Lakeside Ave.- Cleveland, Oh. 44115.  This college fair will include college reps from IVY League colleges, historically black colleges and universities, state colleges and universities, community colleges, vocational schools, and military academies. Many provide onsite admissions and scholarships to students who provide them with copies of their transcripts and SAT/ACT test scores. The SCIS is open to all Juniors and Seniors.

United States Academy Day – Hosted by Congressman Tim Ryan

This will be held on Saturday, September 22^nd, 2007 form 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. in the Jones Room at YSU in Kilcawley Center – One University Plaza Yo. Oh. 44555.  The purpose is to provide students and parents with info about military academy opportunities and the process for pursuing a nomination. Free parking is available in the R1 lot on Elm St. just north of the expressway. If you have any questions, call 330-740-0193 and ask for Matt Vadas. Reservations are requested.

College Open Houses and Events

University of Dayton – School of Engineering

Sunday, Oct. 7 from 2 – 4 pm.  Held in Cleveland at the Embassy Suites Cleveland-Rockside on 5800 Rockside Woods Blvd., Independence, Ohio 44131. Phone 216-986-9900. RSVP on-line at http://engineering.udayton.edu/events/ or e-mail Annette Packard at apackard@udayton.edu by deadline of Friday, September 28^th..

Duquesne University

Fall Open House: Sunday, October 7 from 9am – 1 pm. Registration is from 9 – 10. For seniors and parents. You can register online at www.admissions.duq.edu or call 412-396-6222. Address is 600 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15282.

Youngstown State University

Fall Open House Program on Monday, October 8 (Columbus Day) and Saturday, Oct. 27. Registration is at 9:30 am in Beeghly Center. Lunch will be provided in Christman Dining Hall. Schedule of events can be found and registration can be done online at www.ysu.edu/admissions

All-Ohio Pre-Med Day

This year, the event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 27^th form 8:30 am – 2:30pm on the medical campus of Ohio State University. Schedules, tours and directions can be found at the website http://aed.org.ohio-state.edu/ The fee for the day is $25 per person. This includes breakfast and lunch. Parking tokens can be purchased at event. Parents are welcome. Registration forms are available in the Guidance Office.  Availability is limited; registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to the popularity of the event, early registration is highly recommended. Notification will be posted on the website once registration is full. The deadline to register is 7:00 pm on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2007. Send form to Ian Skinner, 2219 Indiana Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43201. If you have any questions, contact Dr. Michael Alexander at Alexander-6@medctr.osu.edu or call call Ian Skinner at 614-447-1064.

SEE YOUR GUIDANCE COUNSELOR

 

If you have any questions, concerns, or ideas, please fill out a request slip on the table outside of the guidance office.  I will call for you during your study hall or after school. Please indicate your best free time on the request slip.

PUT YOURSELF FIRST!