UXBRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL
300 Quaker Highway
Uxbridge, Massachusetts 01569
Main Office: 508-278-8633 Fax: 508-278-8647
UHS School Counselors:
Secretary: Jen Robertson: (508) 278-8633 x7112: jrobertson@uxbridge.k12.ma.us
August 2018
Dear Class of 2019 Parents and Guardians:
Though summer is in full swing, we know many Uxbridge High School Seniors are thinking about the upcoming college application process starting this fall. To prepare them for this exciting time in their life, the school counseling department would like to remind you of key actions they can take during the summer to prepare them for their college application process and post high school planning.
Login to NAVIANCE
All members of the Class of 2019 should have access to their own personalized NAVIANCE account. NAVIANCE is an online career/college preparation tool meant to help students search for careers and prepare for the college admissions process. Under the College tab, students have the ability to search for colleges using available tools such as SuperMatch College Search. Under the Career tab, students have the ability to explore occupations and complete interest surveys. Under the About Me tab, students can access several self assessment tools that will help them explore college and career matches in relation to their personality and interests. In the fall, NAVIANCE will be used to send transcripts and letters of recommendation electronically to colleges and universities. If your son/daughter does not have an account, they should contact the Guidance Department or email their guidance counselors in order to get registered on NAVIANCE. Only with an access code available from your son’s/daughter’s counselor can he or she gain entry to their NAVIANCE account. To login to NAVIANCE/Family Connection, go to: http://connection.naviance.com/uxbridge
In addition to NAVIANCE, BigFuture by The College Board is an easy to use, online, personalized college and career planning kit for all students. To access this tool, go to https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search. You may also access PSAT and SAT scores through www.collegeboard.com/quickstart. In order to access your son’s/daughter’s scores, use the access code printed on the student’s PSAT Score Report. If students cannot find their PSAT Score Report, they should contact the School Counseling Department to get their access code. This useful tool incorporates responses students provided when they took the test and presents personalized information in four main parts:
- View questions and answer explanations with My Online Score Report
- Get a personalized SAT study plan with My SAT Study Plan
- Find colleges with My College Matches
- Take a personality test and find compatible majors and careers through My Major and Career Matches and MyRoad
Visit College Campuses
There is nothing like visiting a college or university campus to know if it is the right fit. As such, we highly recommend that members of Class of 2019 get out and visit college campuses during their summer. Campus visits and tours can be arranged by calling the admissions offices at the respective colleges or universities. Students should also be researching college websites online and inquiring through the admissions office(s) with any questions. It is recommended that students use the time between now and the end of summer to establish a tentative list of schools in which they may be applying to in the fall. They may also begin requesting interviews with admissions counselors at their preferred colleges and universities.
College Fairs
Plans are in place to give members of UHS Class of 2019 an opportunity to attend a College Fair hosted by Uxbridge High School on Friday, September 14th. More specific information regarding the Fair will be available in September. Some other upcoming college fairs in the Fall include:
Date and Time
|
Event
|
Sunday September 9, 2018
10am – 12pm
|
NEACAC College Fair
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Tripp Athletic Center
|
Friday September 14, 2018
Time: 8am - 12pm
|
Uxbridge High School College Fair
300 Quaker Highway
Uxbridge, MA. 01569
|
Sunday September 16, 2018
1pm – 3pm
|
NEACAC College Fair
Western New England University
Alumni Healthful Living Center
|
Tuesday October 9, 2018
9:30am – 11:30am
|
NEACAC College Fair
Sacred Heart University
William H. Pitt Health and Recreation Center
|
Tuesday October 16, 2018
6pm – 8pm
|
NEACAC College Fair
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)
Sports and Recreation Center
|
Wednesday November 7, 2018
6:30pm – 8:30pm
|
Boston Performing Arts and Visual Arts Fair
Emmanuel College
Jean Yawkey Center
|
Prepare for the SAT/ACT
Though many colleges today are becoming test optional (to review a list of these schools go to: http://www.fairtest.org/university/optional), it is still wise for college bound students to take the SAT and/or the ACT. It is recommended that most students take BOTH SAT and ACT at least once each, then try to improve their scores a second time on whichever test they scored higher on the first time. Higher selective colleges also require students to take SAT Subject tests. Students should check with the schools to which they may apply to see if they require the SAT Subject Tests. Students wishing to register for the 2018-2019 tests may do so online (w/credit card) for SAT’s at www.collegeboard.com and for ACT’s at www.actstudent.org. The High School Code Number for UHS is: 222 – 155. Free Study Guides and practice tests for SAT’s, ACT’s and SAT Subject Tests are available on the aforementioned websites. Students may also obtain study guides for each of the standardized tests in the Guidance Office when they report back to school this fall. The testing schedule for the 2017/2018 school year is as follows:
Date
|
Test
|
Registration Deadline
|
Late Deadline
+ $28 fee (SAT)
+$30 fee (ACT)
|
August 25, 2018
|
SAT and SAT Subject Tests
|
July 27, 2018
|
August 15, 2018
|
September 8, 2018
|
ACT
|
August 10, 2018
|
August 26, 2018
|
October 6, 2018
|
SAT and SAT Subject Tests
|
September 7, 2018
|
September 26, 2018
|
October 27, 2018
|
ACT
|
September 28, 2018
|
October 14, 2018
|
November 3, 2018
|
SAT and SAT Subject Tests
|
October 5, 2018
|
October 24, 2018
|
December 1, 2018
|
SAT and SAT Subject Tests
|
November 2, 2018
|
November 20, 2018
|
December 8, 2018
|
ACT
|
November 2, 2018
|
November 19, 2018
|
February 9, 2019
|
ACT
|
January 11, 2019
|
January 18, 2019
|
Write a College Essay Draft
Though colleges and universities evaluate each application with a holistic approach, many admission counselors consider the essay written by the applicant the most important part of an application. The essay allows an admissions counselor to assess the student’s application in a more personal light. According to one admissions counselor, “It makes the facts in the student’s folder come alive for us. Because it is the student’s personal statement, no single piece of admissions evidence gets as much attention and provokes as much discussion.” Due to the essay’s significance, the School Counseling Department recommends students begin writing their college essay during the summer. In order to get your son/daughter started, we have listed the 7 Common Application prompts bellow. Please have them select one only. Once they have completed the first draft, we recommend the essay be reviewed by your son’s/daughter’s guidance counselor or English teacher in the fall.
2018-2019 Common Application Essay Prompts
- Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
- The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
- Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
- Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma - anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.
- Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
- Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
- Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.
Complete a Student Information Sheet
Most colleges and universities require students submit two letters of recommendation from teachers and one letter of recommendation from his/her school counselor. In order to provide students with the best letters possible, we highly recommend students fill out a Senior Information Sheet detailing their interests, extra curricular activities, work experience, goals, and other information important to the student. The information sheet can be accessed through NAVIANCE. To access the form your son/daughter should:
- Login to NAVIANCE
- Click on the “My Planner” Tab
- Once in this section, Click on the “Tasks Assigned to Me” tab
- Scroll to the task that states “Complete Senior Information Sheet”
- Download the document and complete the questions thoroughly
Students can submit it to their recommenders and guidance counselor in person in the fall or upload it into their NAVIANCE account. This form should be provided to recommenders at least one month before their first college application deadline. For any questions, please contact your son’s/daughter’s guidance counselor or the Guidance Department.
Employment
Students looking into employment (rather than college) after graduation should research careers and occupations. Developing a resume for the job search process should be an objective at this point in time. Under the About ME tab in NAVIANCE, students will find a user-friendly link to develop a resume. Reviewing options for technical schools and the military is also encouraged. All students are encouraged to explore and pursue some form of postsecondary education to increase their future employment opportunities.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s school counselor when school re-opens in the fall. Our email addresses and extensions are listed at the top of this letter. The UHS School Counseling Website can be found at: https://sites.google.com/a/uxbridge.k12.ma.us/the-uxbridge-high-school/guidance-department. We look forward to helping your sons and daughters as they pursue their post-secondary goals. Please let us know how we can be of assistance.
Enjoy your summer!
Amber Hampton and Chris Barry
UHS School Guidance
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