Should I begin thinking about College my Junior year?

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Junior year is the year to begin thinking about your college checklist. Who will write your letter of recommendation? (link to possible rec. template for teacher) Any dream colleges? If so, what are their requirements? Junior-year students begin thinking about SAT’s and ACT’s. Are they a requirement for your top colleges? Some students find themselves hating tests and choose to only apply to test-optional schools. That is a choice you’ll have to make based on what you’re comfortable with.     

Your junior year is the perfect time to try all kinds of new opportunities. Find what you are interested in. Some students find internships or after-school programs that not only help them build their extracurricular list but also help them understand what possible majors they’ll look into in college. 

Take this time to build strong relationships with your teachers. Ask yourself what your favorite subject is, and make sure that the teacher has good things to say about you. They could be the difference between an acceptance or a rejection.  

Take this year to visit colleges. Help your senior self out by having a good understanding of what a college campus looks like. Some students find themselves falling in love with a college because of their school environment and campus. Explore that during your junior year. 

Finally, ask questions. Talk to the students that are going (or went) through the process. Any advice they can give you? Curiosity can be one of the greatest tools in this process. 

What are Liberal Arts Colleges? Research Institutions? Difference between Private and Public Institutions? 

Difference between College and University.

Undocumented Students Toolkit

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Often times undocumented students (including DACA recipients without a Social Security Number) find the lack of documentation to be an additional challenge throughout the college process. FAFSA is made unavailable to them. Some institutions choose to charge undocumented students as out-of-state or international students, leading to higher tuition. There are institutions that categorize undocumented students as domestic students or meet 100% of Demonstrated Need regardless of citizenship status. Some colleges provide financial aid to undocumented students through the CSS profile or the college’s own financial aid form. This document is intended to advise and direct undocumented students throughout the college process.

SCHOLARSHIPS & RESOURCES:

Private scholarships are more likely not to require proof of citizenship. These are the scholarships and resources to search for. Ask your counselor for any private scholarship recommendations.

Make sure to research the Admission Policy for Undocumented Students for the Colleges/Universities on your list.

Look at Best States and Colleges for Undocumented Students here

https://www.cappex.com/articles/match-and-fit/college-options-undocumented-students

College Night for the Class of 2023

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Presentation Links:

Paying for College, Daniel Yannuzi, Arcadia University

What to Consider in the College Essay, Danielle Fitzgerald, University of Pennsylvania

Applying Test Optional and How that Affects Admission, Dana Gowder, University of Pittsburgh

Merit Aid, Need Based Aid, Scholarships, Erica Woods, Villanova University

Differences in Application Deadlines (ED, EA, Rolling, RD), Cyncoya Dillingham-Johnson, Penn State

It’s OK to Feel not OK

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Are you feeling lonely, depressed, confused, stressed? Feelings like these are common during the pandemic in all age groups, especially among college students. You may be worried about beginning college, or making the right decisions about college, or about what you want to do when you ‘grow up’ – or lots of other areas of your life and that of your family.  Remember, you are not alone, and you can find different ways to cope and work through these problems.  Students are changing their college plans; or discovering the advantages of community college; or considering other post-secondary plans such as a gap year with City Year, or trade schools. Many people, here at SLA and among your friends and relatives, are available to help you cope with your thoughts and struggles.  You can find lots of articles on almost every aspect of student life and its challenges. The #1 action for you to take: ask for help when you need it!

Further reading on teens and mental health: Teens and COVID Isolation;  Coping with Social Isolation; 

Temple University Summer Opportunities for Grades 9 through 12

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Temple Summer Programs: Temple University provides several opportunities for students entering grades 9 through 12 to experience the academics, energy, and culture of Temple University through their rigorous summer programs. Students can earn Temple college credits as well as access non-credit enrichment classes in leadership, language, or visual arts. For more information, visit HERE for updates. Be sure to apply early for limited financial aid.

Temple B4USoar: The Fox School of Business at Temple offers free, transferable 3-credit courses for high school students.  Students are mentored by college students and community professionals. For information and course options visit here.

Temple’s Upward Bound and Upward Bound Science and Math: Temple UB and UBMS are college access programs that support the academic success of Philadelphia students in high school and college. Programming for 9th – 12th graders includes academic coursework and tutoring, college tours, career panels, enrichment activities in social entrepreneurship (UB) or science research (UBMS), and internships. More information here.

Summer Media at Temple: Klein College (Temple) media workshop* is a FREE two week program for rising juniors and seniors.  Visit the site to receive notification when the program opens.

Post-Secondary Plan at SLA

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Our four year plan supports all students as they explore their strengths and discover their personal path to career success.

When accepted to SLA, every student is assigned an Advisor who follows him/her through high school, ensuring consistency and exceptional personal support. Explained below are a few of the exercises, presentations, group and individual meetings, and resources with which Advisors and the College Office guide our students. Information, individual needs, and best practices are frequently reviewed and revised.

9th Grade: Advisors focus on helping students adjust to high school and complete career readiness tasks in Naviance, a School District software platform. Teachers and Advisors work with the College Counselor to help students explore options and learn about their own interests.

Continue reading →

SAT & ACT Fee Waivers

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The College Board and ACT offer fee waivers for payment to students who are economically disadvantaged and meet income eligibility guidelines. Find PDF of fee waiver form HERE. If you are eligible for a fee waiver, come to the virtual College Office during your lunch band. Fill out the registration questions in advance and when you get to the fee waiver section, ask Mrs. Hirschfield for the fee waiver number.

Grades 9-11 Transcript Request

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Students are sometimes asked to provide an official transcript to an academic institution, summer program, or community agency. All SLA students in grades 9-11 can request official transcripts by completing a Transcript Request form HERE. (When students are asked for unofficial grades, a report card or grade printout from SchoolNet will be sufficient.) Bring all completed requests to the College Office, room 312.

Notes:

  • Allow TWO WEEKS to process the request.
  • If sending a request via email, complete the Transcript Request form, scan, and email (preferably in .PDF) back to Mrs. Hirschfield at khirschfield@scienceleaderhsip.org.
  • Seniors who need official transcripts must add it to the Transcript Request Log in the College Office.

College Fair 2022

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Sunday, October 30, 2022

11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Pennsylvania Convention Center
1101 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Representatives from two-year and four-year colleges, nursing schools, business schools and trade schools will participate in the Philadelphia National College Fair which will be held on Sunday, October 30 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Officers and enlisted personnel from the various branches of the military services will also be on hand to discuss the military’s enlistment and education programs such as R.O.T.C., the military academies and the GI Bill.

The College Fair, sponsored by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), is a timesaving opportunity for students and parents to gather a lot of information in one day. College admissions representatives will be on hand to answer key questions ranging from acceptance policies to student–faculty ratio. In addition to asking questions, students and parents will be able to set up college interviews, pick up literature and learn about the various financial aid programs available.

Review the list of participating colleges and make a list of the booths you’d like to visit. To make the best use of your time at the Fair, visit nacacattend.org to register for a personal bar code. When you visit the college booths, the reps will scan your bar code, automatically accessing your information. This will leave you more time to engage in one-on-one conversation. You can also use the computers provided at the convention site, but be aware that lines may be long at the registration tables. Your goal is to have as much time as possible to talk with the reps at their booths.

Read through this issue of College Fair Guide. There are many articles, charts, useful hints and items of information which will be helpful to you. The more prepared you are for the College Fair, the more you’ll get out of it.