Monthly College Counseling Update: January 2022
Seniors
Semester grades should be finalized during the first week of February and forwarded to all schools to which students have an active application, unless the school required a self reported transcript. If the student self reported their grades in the application and we did not send an initial transcript, applicants should look for direction on how to submit semester grades in their application portal or emails from the college. We will email all students once all report cards have been sent to colleges. For students awaiting a decision, this is an excellent opportunity for a point-of-contact with the admission offices to show interest, excitement, and hopefully the success of their first semester.
Semester grades should be finalized during the first week of February and forwarded to all schools to which students have an active application, unless the school required a self reported transcript. If the student self reported their grades in the application and we did not send an initial transcript, applicants should look for direction on how to submit semester grades in their application portal or emails from the college. We will email all students once all report cards have been sent to colleges. For students awaiting a decision, this is an excellent opportunity for a point-of-contact with the admission offices to show interest, excitement, and hopefully the success of their first semester.
Juniors
College Seminar class started this week. We discussed the syllabus and how the semester will flow, who is on each student’s team and their roles in this process, that the college search should not start with the question “where do you want to go?”, and we also completed a values exercise to begin the process of looking inward to act outward. We’re down to a handful of students that have yet to complete or schedule their introductory meeting and invitations to schedule family meetings should be sent out in the next few weeks.
College Coffees
This week we completed the second of our virtual First-Year/Sophomore Parent College Coffees. The topics included our office’s philosophies, how and when to get started with college searches, using information about highly selective admission to make healthy decisions in search, and a question and answer session. Both programs had over 50 families in attendance. We will be posting a recording of one of the sessions in the near future and email families when it is available. We will have two Junior Family College Coffees in February that are question and answer based to prepare for the family meetings that start in February. Registration information for both the February 14th and 15th virtual programs will be sent out this week.
Back
College Seminar class started this week. We discussed the syllabus and how the semester will flow, who is on each student’s team and their roles in this process, that the college search should not start with the question “where do you want to go?”, and we also completed a values exercise to begin the process of looking inward to act outward. We’re down to a handful of students that have yet to complete or schedule their introductory meeting and invitations to schedule family meetings should be sent out in the next few weeks.
College Coffees
This week we completed the second of our virtual First-Year/Sophomore Parent College Coffees. The topics included our office’s philosophies, how and when to get started with college searches, using information about highly selective admission to make healthy decisions in search, and a question and answer session. Both programs had over 50 families in attendance. We will be posting a recording of one of the sessions in the near future and email families when it is available. We will have two Junior Family College Coffees in February that are question and answer based to prepare for the family meetings that start in February. Registration information for both the February 14th and 15th virtual programs will be sent out this week.
School Day Functions
This cycle we will be providing the sophomore class with an introduction and access to CIALFO. It’s also a good opportunity for the college counselors to get an introduction to the students. Sophomores will be asked to complete a brief assignment that includes a personality/career assignment and questions that require them to navigate their way through CIALFO. During this week’s Green Day, Mrs. Reigner will also be offering the 6-Lives exercise (https://grichardshell.com/book-extras/six-lives-exercise/ ) as an option for sophomore and juniors.
This cycle we will be providing the sophomore class with an introduction and access to CIALFO. It’s also a good opportunity for the college counselors to get an introduction to the students. Sophomores will be asked to complete a brief assignment that includes a personality/career assignment and questions that require them to navigate their way through CIALFO. During this week’s Green Day, Mrs. Reigner will also be offering the 6-Lives exercise (https://grichardshell.com/
College Counseling - Back on the Road and Networking
We’re excited to be traveling in the coming weeks to network, learn more about colleges and universities, and spread the Archmere story. Mr. Boehm visited Bryn Mawr and Arcadia this week, and Mrs. Reigner has plans to travel to Tulane and the University of Tennessee in the next month. Mr. Boehm has also been invited to participate in the University of the Pacific’s Counselor Advisory Board and will be traveling out to California in May to learn more about the university. Mrs. Reigner continues to be co-chair of the Pennsylvania Association for College Admission Counseling's (PACAC) Professional Development Committee that provides nationally recognized content to admission professionals on the high school and college side of admissions. Mr. Boehm was recently chosen by the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools to be a member of the 360 Review team, a group that: provides college counselors and their respective independent schools the opportunity to assess their current best practices and to enhance their dashboard indicators in an ever-demanding marketplace. It will provide him the opportunity to visit, evaluate, and observe the college counseling offices at independent high school across the country.
We’re excited to be traveling in the coming weeks to network, learn more about colleges and universities, and spread the Archmere story. Mr. Boehm visited Bryn Mawr and Arcadia this week, and Mrs. Reigner has plans to travel to Tulane and the University of Tennessee in the next month. Mr. Boehm has also been invited to participate in the University of the Pacific’s Counselor Advisory Board and will be traveling out to California in May to learn more about the university. Mrs. Reigner continues to be co-chair of the Pennsylvania Association for College Admission Counseling's (PACAC) Professional Development Committee that provides nationally recognized content to admission professionals on the high school and college side of admissions. Mr. Boehm was recently chosen by the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools to be a member of the 360 Review team, a group that: provides college counselors and their respective independent schools the opportunity to assess their current best practices and to enhance their dashboard indicators in an ever-demanding marketplace. It will provide him the opportunity to visit, evaluate, and observe the college counseling offices at independent high school across the country.
Archmere Academy is a private, Catholic, college preparatory co-educational academy,
grades 9-12 founded in 1932 by the Norbertine Fathers.
grades 9-12 founded in 1932 by the Norbertine Fathers.
© Archmere Academy. All Rights Reserved