Important Letter to
Parents of Seniors:
(Mailed out
Dear
Seniors & Parents/Guardians:
I hope your summer is going well! Believe it or not, your senior year will go very quickly and there is a lot to be done. Here are 10 important topics to consider NOW:
1) Visit colleges this month! Take a college tour, meet with an admissions counselor, set up an appointment with a financial aid advisor, and if you are interested in sports, meet the coaches. Prepare before the visit by requesting information from the school, reading it over, and developing questions you would like to ask. Other considerations while visiting a college include: housing, technology, college size, campus security, religious affiliation, private or public, and extracurricular activities. You should continue to visit prospective colleges through their open houses (either call ahead or e-mail the colleges to confirm an appointment). For all open houses in New York State Private Colleges and Universities use the following website to set up college visits: http://www.nycolleges.org/openHouses.php. For all open houses and applying to SUNY (The State University of New York – including University Centers and Doctoral Degree Institutions, University Colleges, Technology Colleges and Community Colleges) colleges on-line use the following website: http://www.suny.edu/. Lastly, many private and SUNY colleges waive application fees if you apply on-line.
2) Many of you already took the SATs or ACTs. If you have not taken them at this point, and are considering college in the fall, then you need to sign up immediately! The first SAT test will be offered on October 4th, and the deadline for this test is September 9th. If you choose to send your registration through the mail, see me; if you choose to register on-line at http://www.collegeboard.com (you will need a credit card for payment), make sure you print a copy of the last page (confirmation page; this is your admissions ticket for the day of the test), and write down your user id and password to access your scores early. The first ACT (ACT Plus Writing Test) test will be offered on September 13th, and the deadline for this test is August 12th. The basic fee for the ACT if you don't take the Writing Test is less. If you want to apply on-line for the ACTs, access http://www.act.org. Please check the ACT website to see if your college choices require or recommend the ACT Plus Writing Test. Other test dates for SATs and ACTs will be published in the September edition of the West Valley Newsletter.
3) Please see me the second week of school if you have concerns regarding meeting all graduation requirements. We will also discuss your future plans, whether it is college, military, or employment in mid September. If you are interested in one of the U.S. military academies, then you need to see me immediately. Any students interested in playing sports for a Division I or II institution must be registered with the NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse as soon as possible. To register, access http://www.ncaaclearinghouse.net. You must be certified before practicing, competing, and/or receiving any athletic scholarships at a Division I or II institution.
4) Friday, November 14th is the deadline for all college applications to be submitted to the Guidance Office. Be aware that November 14th is my deadline. Colleges may have earlier or later deadlines for applications. If you submit your application any later than Thanksgiving, you risk chances on openings, and possible financial aid. If you choose to apply on-line to any college please let Mrs. Westfall know immediately, so she can send your transcripts and letters of recommendation. Anyone interested in early action/decision (application deadlines are usually November 1st depending on the college) need to see me by September 8th to begin the college application process.
5) The college process is very involved and will demand a lot of your time, please realize that you must take an active role in the entire process. You must assume the responsibility for knowing deadlines, establishing lists of colleges to investigate, contacting schools, obtaining necessary forms, and teacher recommendations (maximum of three letters) as required. Be selective when choosing someone to write you a letter, because they have the option to let you read it, or give it directly to me to be mailed, or mail it to the colleges themselves. Please provide a typed resume, and list of activities and accomplishments, so the person writing the letter can be more specific with his/her recommendation. The Guidance Direct program can assist you with writing your resume. In regard to your Guidance Direct (www.guidancedirect.com) account, you still have access to it over the summer. If you don't remember your user id and password, contact me and I can provide you with this information.
6)
The Western New York Consortium of Higher Education
Association is on Monday, September 22nd at
7)
Financial Aid Forms cannot be filed until after
8) The bulletin board across from the Guidance Office and the “Guidance Webpage” (http://www.wvalley.wnyric.org/) will be very important communication tools for you this year. It is your responsibility to check the bulletin board on a daily basis. All announcements will be placed on the board.
9) Enclosed with this letter is a "Senior Information Form". This survey is important for us to determine eligibility for certain scholarships. Please return the completed "Senior Information Form" at school no later than September 5th.
10) Share this letter with your parents / guardians because it is essential that all of us stay in contact throughout this process. It is important to reiterate the deadline of November 14th in order to process all applications for the prospective colleges. In order to ensure that correct procedures are understood and followed, please contact me at 942-3293 extension 314 with any additional questions. Enjoy the rest of your summer! Look forward to seeing you in the fall!
Sincerely,
Matthew LaBrake
Guidance Counselor