Happy PRIDE Month!
There’s a lot going on this week, so this will be a brief edition of the Courier.
If you’ve ever wished that Couriers were, well… shorter, this one’s for you!
Summer Before Senior Year
This was a conversation in all my junior visits–finding the balance between getting a jump on the college process during the summer or pushing it off until the fall and enjoying your last summer before reaching the age of majority.
There’s no one answer to the question. Personality type (like the Myers-Briggs) has a huge influence on how students will approach this. J types (who live for the dopamine burst that accompanies crossing off a task on their to do list) are more likely to work ahead, whereas P types like to keep possibilities open; this type is often regarded as that other P, the dreaded scourge of parents and educators everywhere–procrastination.
*if you are a J parent of a P student, I’m sorry. Maybe find a support group before the college process really gears up?
I met with a junior today to do his senior visit. Read that again. He is WAY ahead of the game. We also have kids who will complete every task involved in the college process at 11:59:59 PM on the due date. And all the in-betweens…
Here are some things to consider as you make the decision about how to use your summer.
Applying to college is like having another (homework heavy) course in your schedule for the fall semester.
Your Senior Visit with your School Counselor must be completed no fewer than 10 SCHOOL DAYS before your first deadline. Submitting your Red Folder materials is your ticket to scheduling your Senior Interview.
Applying Early Decision/Early Action is just what it says: early! The earliest deadline currently is October 1, with a September 17 turn in date for Red Folder materials; two whole weeks after school starts to complete all of your application responsibilities. This is why we distribute Red Folders in the spring!
You only have one summer before senior year in your life, and you have memories to make…
Choose wisely
THE COLLEGE SPY’S ADMISSIONS TIPS FOR SUMMER PLANNING
1. College admissions counselors are interested in how students spend their summers. Summers spent gaining a new skill, working on a project of interest, broadening horizons through travel or working will add value to a college application.
2. Your student should be intentional when choosing a summer activity. Although most activities will enhance a college application, students should be conscious that the activities they list on their college applications send a message about who they are. Each extracurricular activity suggests a different set of personal attributes, areas of interest and soft and hard skills which will differentiate one applicant from another.
3. Create a LinkedIn Profile. There are lots of people in your student's life who would be valuable connections but it would not be appropriate for your student to connect with them through platforms like Facebook or Instagram. However, high school students can use LinkedIn as a tool to network with current teachers, employers, coaches, family friends and community members. LinkedIn is also a useful tool for researching colleges.
FREE SUMMER PLANNING WEBINAR: JUNE 6 at 8 pm ET
What Seniors Should Be Doing This Summer to Plan for College
Many families do not start planning for college until the fall of senior year simply because they do not know what to do to get started. Michelle McAnaney, college admissions expert and founder of The College Spy, will explain exactly what you and your child should be doing this summer to enter senior year ready to apply to college. Register here.
Grown and Flown Facebook Group
287.4K Parents Can’t Be Wrong…
If your last kiddo is graduating and you are leaving us too, you might consider joining this group.
It offers amazing support about issues that you will soon encounter:
Kids “soiling the nest” before they leave home.
How to keep the drop-off about your kiddo and not about you.
Can you actually dehydrate yourself from ugly crying?
Should you buy stock in the Kimberly Clark Corporation (makers of Kleenex) before summer’s end?
Career Spotlights: 5 Surprising Jobs That Pay Well and are in High Demand
•Physician’s Assistant
• Court Reporter
• Genetics Counselor
• AI Trainer
• Electrical Line Worker