NEARR (New England Area Regional Representatives) will be hosting a virtual college fair this summer across two days - Tuesday, July 7th and Wednesday July 8th. Our member colleges have been clustered into seven different groups via various characteristics (i.e. location, size, religious affiliation, etc.). Each grouping of colleges will present together about their schools and take questions from attendees. This format will provide attendees the opportunity to learn about a handful of colleges at one time. Students, their families, and you their counselors, are all invited to participate. Please note, at this time registration is limited to New England residents.
The college fair schedule and registration can be found on our website: regionalreps.org/college-fair.
Tuesday, June 30, 2020
Thursday, June 18, 2020
Summer Reminders for Class of 2021
Juniors (or should we say SENIORS!),
As we close out this school year, we wanted to remind you of your summer “to do” list. Remember, we are not trying to ruin your summer! Our expectation is that you complete the items below, which will make the college application process more manageable in the fall.
Below are the videos we have sent out to help start out this process. The first is general information and provides a good overview of timelines and expectations. The second is tips from the Guidance Department on getting started with your college essay.
Junior Meeting Overview Video: https://www.wevideo.com/view/1623228993
College Essay Tips: https://www.wevideo.com/view/1726852097
Please sign up to stay informed:
● Guidance Blog: http://waguidance.blogsport.com - sign up for email updates using the Follow by Email box on the right hand side.
● Join the Class of 2021 Guidance Google classroom - 2anxvnc
● Download the SCOIR app and enable push notifications
Summer To-Do List:
● Email/Forward your counselor your teacher’s email confirmation to write your letter of recommendation
● Continue college research and virtual visits
● Complete a draft of your essay
● Work on Common Application: www.commonapp,org - becomes “live” on August 1 (accounts already created will rollover).
○ Open and start completing individual college supplements after August 1
● Complete Senior Data Sheet (link was shared through Google Classroom, Scoir and your Westford email address on June 16)
● Create/update your Activities/Awards in SCOIR and/or a resume
Parents/guardians: There is an optional parent questionnaire available for you to complete in your SCOIR account under Surveys. If you would like to answer any/all questions, please plan to do so prior to September 1.
Wednesday, June 17, 2020
Evaluation Worksheet for Virtual Campus Tours
Following is a timely blog post from SCOIR. To subscribe and receive future posts, download the SCOIR mobile app and click on the Links tab.
An Evaluation Worksheet for
Virtual Campus Tours
SCOIR Blog post by Julie Kampschroeder on June 01, 2020
Outside the Classroom
- What clubs/organizations are offered for students in your career path?
- Are you interested in continuing a sport or participating in fine art on a non-competitive level? And if so, do they offer this option?
- What do students do on campus to stay mentally and physically healthy?
- Are students required to pay to get into athletic events? And if so, how much?
- Is tutoring available to students? What is the cost? Where is tutoring?
- Are counseling sessions available to students at no cost?
- Where do I go if I get sick? Is there a cost? Do I need insurance before I come to campus?
- What organizations are available to support First Generation College Bound students?
Room & Board Options
- Which dorms are for freshmen?
- What are the differences in these choices?
- What are the cost differences in these choices?
- What types of meal plans are offered?
- What are the cost differences and food options available on campus?
- What happens if I do not spend all of my meal plan at the end of the semester?
- How can I become a Resident Assistance (RA) on a dorm floor?
- Would I get free room and board for assisting new students as an RA?
Cost
- How much is the Cost of Attendance (COA)? What is the average cost per student?
- Can they meet full financial need?
- What are the requirements for academic scholarship?
Admission Requirements
- What GPA, test score and core courses are required to be admitted?
- What GPA, test scores and class rank are required for scholarships?
Once you determine your end goal, begin a virtual tour of your own on Scoir using YouVisit and CampusReel. Be prepared to take notes to compare each campus. It may be difficult to get the ‘feel’ for a campus virtually, so I suggest researching student rankings on professors, academics, food and the social scene. This information is not marketed by the campus, so you will get a true ‘feel’ for the campus. CampusReel are student tours that give you their viewpoint of the campus.
If a college or university is still on your list at the end of your virtual tour, go to the admissions page and sign up for virtual information events. It is always a good idea to let a college know you are interested in attending and signing up for virtual events will let them know you have interest. Many colleges also offer virtual one-on-one meeting options to answer your questions.
College admissions, as we know it, has never operated during a pandemic. Students must be creative in continuing their college search and making the college aware of their interest. Taking virtual tours, emailing college professors, attending virtual information sessions and requesting virtual appointments to clarify information is a great way to actively participate in the college process.
Monday, June 15, 2020
The Changing Landscape of College Admissions
Dear students and parents,
This post is shared in hopes of alleviating some of the worries students and families are feeling about approaching the college search process in light of the COVID 19 pandemic.
After watching webinars, reading articles, and waiting for testing agencies to make decisions, the one thing we know for sure is that everything is subject to change. We will do our best to share with you what we know right now, and will forward additional information as we receive it via the Guidance blog and Guidance Google classrooms.
Because this is a fluid situation and every college is making decisions on a daily basis, it is important to check the college/university websites regularly for updates.
Additional Flexibility in the Admission Process
One message that we hear in every presentation about the coming admissions cycle is that colleges understand that the pandemic has led to school closings, shifts to remote learning and pass/fail grading policies, cancellations of co-curricular activities, and a host of other disruptions that dramatically impact students’ experiences. You can be certain that colleges will be flexible in working with students and families no matter what challenges or limitations they’ve faced. None of us know what the next few months will hold, but college admissions counselors are committed to getting to know students and their stories.
Following are some common areas of concern raised by students and families, along with resources to address those questions.
Standardized Testing
Across the country, many juniors were poised and ready to take the March SAT when COVID 19 led to closure of schools. Since then, the May and June SAT, as well as the April (and June for all of New England) ACT were cancelled, so the majority of students have no test scores going into the fall. This has caused a great deal of stress for students and has also led to a sweeping change to the standardized testing portion of the college application process. Colleges understand that it is an equity issue if some students are unable to apply because they were unable to test.
Test Optional for the 2020-2021 Application Cycle
Students applying to many colleges during the 2020-2021 admission cycle have the option of applying under a test-optional policy. In some cases, this change has been instituted for next year only, while in others it is a permanent policy change depending on the institution.
Here are just a few examples: Northeastern, Boston University, the entire University of California system,Tufts, Dartmouth, Cornell, and the University of Pennsylvania. In fact, we heard from Cal Tech, Johns Hopkins and Penn State just in the last 24 hours! These schools are joining a growing number of colleges and universities that were already test-optional. Below are links to organizations who track these decisions. As always, your best bet is to check the specific website for the college or university’s admissions website.
If you have not yet taken an SAT or ACT, we suggest that you register for a fall date just to have one score available IF you are applying to a college that still requires scores. Because so many of our students apply to and attend UMass-Amherst, it is important to note that as of June 10, they are still requiring the SAT for 2020-2021 applications.
However, with over 70% of schools already test-optional for the coming cycle, if sitting for the exam is a source of stress for you, then you may want to consider shifting your focus to only test-optional schools.
SAT/ACT optional announcements by college/universities in response to COVID 19
Fairtest: http://fairtest.org/university/optional
NACAC (National Association of College Admissions Counselors) Central site where colleges are reporting changes to decision dates and testing requirements
Credit/No Credit
We understand that many students were frustrated by the district decision to move to a credit/no credit grading policy for the second semester. We want you to know that we have been assured by countless colleges that they will review each transcript within the context of the student’s own school and environment. To evaluate context, college admissions counselors review a student’s transcript and application, as well as their school’s profile. We will share a transcript showing your mid year average for this year, and if you feel that your performance during the beginning of term 3 shows an upward trend that is not visible there, you will have the opportunity to explain in your application.
Colleges have also asked that we clearly state how our school district decided to move forward in light of the COVID 19 pandemic. The following language will be included on every transcript, as well as the Westford Academy school profile in order to provide college admissions offices with that context:
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the second semester of the 2019-2020 school year was based on a credit /no credit grading system to ensure equity for all students. Westford Academy utilized a remote learning system that required students to engage in weekly learning and assignments for each of their courses. Students who met or exceeded these requirements were given credit for successful completion of the course. The second semester of this academic year is not calculated in a student’s cumulative grade point average.
In addition, the staff at the Common App are fully aware that the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the lives and postsecondary plans for many students. In an effort to reduce anxiety for applicants affected by these events and provide students with a way to share their experience with colleges and universities, they have added a prompt to the 2020-2021 application to provide a space where students can do just that. The Common App will provide students who need it with a dedicated space to elaborate on the impact of the pandemic, both personally and academically. The goal is to provide colleges with the information they need, while having students answer COVID-19 questions only once so that they can use the rest of the application as they would have before to share their interests and perspectives beyond COVID-19.
Here is the question applicants will see:
Community disruptions such as COVID-19 and natural disasters can have deep and long-lasting impacts. If you need it, this space is yours to describe those impacts. Colleges care about the effects on your health and well-being, safety, family circumstances, future plans, and education, including access to reliable technology and quiet study spaces.
- Do you wish to share anything on this topic? Y/N
- Please use this space to describe how these events have impacted you.
It is important to note that the question will be optional and will appear in the Additional Information section of the application.The response length will be limited to 250 words.
The question will be accompanied by a more detailed FAQ to help students consider the kinds of impacts they may wish to report, including illness and loss, housing and employment disruptions, and shifting family obligations.
We are confident our students will not be at a disadvantage due to the district’s decision to move to a Credit/No Credit system. Here are just a few of the messages received from colleges since March:
Tulane University
My high school is going pass/fail. Is that OK?
“Whatever your school does, we’ll support it. If you have only P/F in the second semester, we’ll totally understand. It might mean we put a bit more emphasis on your first semester, but we’ll also completely understand your circumstances. If you’re currently on an upward trend, we’ll make the assumption that that trend would have continued in the second semester. We’ll give you the benefit of the doubt in every single way we can. Tulane just announced that students can opt to take their classes Pass, Minimal Pass, Or Fail, so we get it. Go to your online classes, do the best you can, make your presence felt, try your hardest. We’ll notice, trust me.”
UMass-Amherst “We would never hold a pass/fail system against a student in the admissions process. We are working to develop fair and reasonable measures for evaluating students’ academic performance and progress under these unusual circumstances.”
Northeastern University
What if my grades were impacted by COVID-19 in spring 2020?
A: We know that entire communities have had to change their teaching and learning practices in an instant, and that many people are anxious about how that will impact grades and final exams. Northeastern respects each school district’s pedagogy and will be thoughtful about the impact of Spring 2020 as we work with students entering as first-years and as we evaluate students for admission in the coming years.
The University of Chicago “We recognize that school transcripts will look different for many students this year, and we will work with that! Academic progress as usual is currently being disrupted for students across the globe. We encourage students to continue to engage with whatever method of learning your school is able to offer, and to do so to the best of your ability. If your school moves to an alternative grading system or method of credit notation (pass/fail, credit/no credit, etc.), we will fully understand why the change has been made and it will not, in any way, be an issue for an admissions office. If a high school closes and does not provide any online or structured replacement educational opportunities, rest assured that we will understand that as well (this is a good opportunity to read something new that piques your interest!).”
Massachusetts Institute of Technology “In recent days, we have received more questions from prospective students worried about disruptions to other aspects of their education, including grading policies, extracurricular activities, and so on. I’m writing to reaffirm that, consistent with our longstanding practice, we will not penalize students for factors outside their control, including changes to grading policies and procedures, cancellations of activities and exams, and more, because of COVID or any other disaster or disruption. We always strive to evaluate applicants fairly in their context, especially in times like these.”
Our best advice is to do your very best through the end of this school year, use your time this summer to dive into something you are really interested in and explore it because you actually have the time to do so, and find a way to help others if possible.
Exploring College Campuses Remotely
Although the closure of college campuses has put a pause on in person campus tours and information sessions, colleges and universities are working hard to provide virtual experiences to help you research their institutions. In some ways, the options for students currently involved in the college search process are a new and improved version of what was previously offered. In addition to virtual student-led campus tours and information sessions, many colleges are offering opportunities to connect with current students and faculty in Google meets or live Zoom sessions. Because everyone is working remotely now, there is increased access to personal interaction with these important members of your prospective future campus, as well as your admissions representative at that school.
Virtual College Tours
YouVisit provides access to virtual college tours. It is integrated into our college search and application platform, SCOIR.
Virtual College Fairs
Here are just a few of the organizations offering virtual college fairs where students have the opportunity to register to meet with college representatives from school of interest.
Campus Reel is an opportunity to hear from actual students on campuses about their experiences. This is integrated into SCOIR as well, and can be found on each college’s overview page under Student Life.
College Connect is a free platform that pairs high school students with current college students who are ready to answer questions about their school.
What about “virtual demonstrated interest”?
Some colleges evaluate metrics regarding whether an applicant has demonstrated interest in their institution prior to applying. Follow the colleges you are considering on social media and signing up for virtual tours and info sessions are examples of how to connect with a college.
One interesting recommendation from Jon Boeckenstedt, Vice Provost of Enrollment Management at Oregon State University, was that students research how the colleges they are interested in supported their current students and maintained a sense of community during the COVID 19 crisis. Based on what you learn, is this a place you would like to be?
Summer Plans
What can you do this summer if you can’t participate in the activities you had planned?
Many students feel they’ve been robbed of the chance to build their resume either this spring or over the summer. Students should remember that everyone is in the same situation and no one chose these circumstances. Rather than looking back at what might have been, try to look forward to what can be. What are your gifts? How can you share them with others? Also, try to learn something new - pick a passion project and do it throughout the summer.
During a recent webinar, admissions counselors encouraged students to go “back to basics.” They suggested that any perceived “checklists” for summer accomplishments need to be set aside. Panelists said they would be looking for authenticity in summer activities - do something that is meaningful to you - whether that be a time for self-care, helping others, or expressing gratitude. Examples included activities as simple as planting veggies for a neighbor or reading stories to children.
They also encouraged students to use this time for self-reflection. Are there relationships that you have expanded or come to value more deeply during quarantine? What has been hard about this? What has been good for you? What types of learning experiences have worked for you? Has this time changed your view of the world? These questions can help you to discover your strengths and find your direction!
Tulane University Admissions has a great blog post with considerations for the summer called “Coping in the Time of Corona.” http://tuadmissionjeff.blogspot.com/2020/03/coping-in-time-of-corona.html
Following is an excerpt that is reflective of the messages we hear daily from admissions offices across the country:
“I'm a junior in high school and all of my spring extracurricular activities have been canceled.”
We totally get it. There are no sports. There is no spring musical. There is no dance recital. Listen, if you include on your Common Application activities section a list of all the books you read for pleasure during your social distancing, I’ll love it. Get creative. Maybe you love to paint and you go Instagram Live a few times and teach people to paint? You could be the next Bob Ross. Or maybe you’re a soccer player and you do a live video teaching people how to dribble a soccer ball on your own? Teaching guitar lessons? Yes please. We will love seeing anything you did during this whacky time. That also goes for doing nothing related to the above. If you have to care for siblings, make food for the family, or just need some personal mental time or space, that is fine with us too.
Some tips on how to stay busy right now:
- Walk a lot. And when you do, leave your phone at home. The bad news and Instagram Memes will be waiting for you when you get back. Take a break from it for a bit.
- Tour some museums! So many are offering free tours right now.
- Pick up a totally new skill: car maintenance, gardening, cooking, baking, etc.
- Learn to cook from NOLA’s best chefs! The New Orleans Culinary and Hospitality Institute goes live with online cooking classes.
- Go for a cleanup. Grab a trash bag and walk around a neighborhood and pick up litter. Why not?
- Volunteer to get groceries or run errands for elderly family or neighbors. It’s a great way to contribute right now.
- Have some fun: Mafia over Zoom. House Party app. Netflix parties. Neighborhood scavenger hunts.
One of our favorite blogs is from the Georgia Tech admissions office. Below is a piece about how to be “seen” as a unique person in the application process, using only words. It is a thought-provoking piece that highlights the value of self-reflection prior to diving into the college application process.
Below are just a few of the resources available to help you explore virtual opportunities you might consider over the summer. Just remember, there is no right answer! Do what you love, try new things, figure out what is important to you. In the end, any plan that helps you learn more about yourself and your gifts will benefit your future!
Summer Programs
Volunteer/Service Opportunities
Academic Opportunities
Class Central is a clearinghouse for free online courses. If you do decide to take a summer course, look for a topic that you have always been interested in but have not had time to pursue.
Hone your study skills ww.studyright.net/study-skills-course/
CollegeWise’s: What did you do during Coronavirus? A fun list of ideas to browse for inspiration.
**Note: The Guidance/Counseling Department is sharing resources that we believe may be helpful to families as they navigate the college process during this uncertain time. We do not endorse any specific group or organization in regards to test prep and/or college counseling.
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