Day Two – Academic Opportunities

The summer is a great chance to stay sharp or delve into a specific academic interest. Below are just a few of the many academic opportunities that are available to students like you!

 Univ. of Notre Dame – Pre-College Programs: ND Summer Scholars and ND Leadership Seminars

 www.precollege.nd.edu

Architecture Design Camp – Univ. of Detroit Mercy

www.arch.udmercy.edu/news_events/events/event.html

High School Summer Experiences – Washington Univ. in St. Louis

www.summerexperiences.wustl.edu

Pre-College Programs at New Jersey Institute of Technology

www.njit.edu/precollege

Wharton’s Pre-College Programs (UPENN)

www.wharton.upenn.edu/academics/pre-college-programs.cfm

Pre-Collegiate Summer Program in Early American History at The College of William and Mary

www.wm.edu/niahd

Yale Young Global Scholars Program www.globalscholars.yale.edu

 For more information on any of these amazing opportunities, please see Mrs. Morissette, H302a.

 

Summer 2013, What To Do?

There are a million summer options; the hard part is deciding which one is right for you! From internships to community service, studying abroad to academic and leadership camps the options can be overwhelming. This week each day I will highlight different summer opportunities, many of which are open to student’s 9^th – 12^th grades. Keep an eye out as many of these opportunities have applications and deadlines!

 First up…. Leadership Opportunities

 There are many wonderful camps, institutes and programs – some are free of charge, while others may carry a fee. Be sure to look into each programs’ details. Please see Mrs. Morissette for application information and details for any of the below opportunities. There are just a few to get you to start thinking about programs that might interest you.

 Daniel Fox Youth Scholars Institute – Lebanon Valley College, Anneville, PA

            www.lvc.edu/youth-scholars

 JSA Summer Institutes – various locations including Princeton Univ., NJ and Austin, TX

            www.jsa.org/summer

 Leadership Institute for Entrepreneurship – Susquehanna University, Susquehanna, PA

            www.susqu.edu/LIFE

 NYU College Access Leadership Institute (NYU CALI) – New York University, NY

            www.admissions.nyu.edu

Happy Planning!

Mrs. Morissette, M. Ed.

Make the Most of Your Summer

Although it’s cold, dark and a dreary February – summer is less than five months away. The College Counseling Team at PREP encourages all of our students, particularly our juniors, to think ahead and to make the most of the summer vacation.

Juniors: Make the Most of Your Summer

After junior year summer is important for college prep. Get involved and prepare for your college essay.

The summer before your senior year is vital to your college application process. In terms of your academic resume, the summer before your senior year is crucial because…

1. It gives you the inspiration for a good college essay. Recently the New York Times published an article entitled, “For a Standout College Essay, Applicants Fill Their Summers.” Essentially the article explains how a packed summer can help students give college admissions boards a glimpse into what kind of person they really are.

2. A diverse summer, filled with jobs and internships, or volunteering looks good on your college applications.

3. It helps to develop your leadership skills and allows you to explore different fields, which you might major (or even have a career) in later.

But what you choose to do can be just as important as doing something. Here are some tips on what to choose and how to choose it.

• Plan your summer activities early. Internships, volunteering opportunities, and high-profile summer programs fill up early with students just like you who are looking to impress college admissions boards.

• Summer jobs or special academic programs like summer schools can help you prepare for college classes and majors.

• Above all, choose something that interests you. You aren’t trying to trick admissions boards, just show a part of your personality and work ethic through a summer activity.

• Even if your summer is already booked with a family vacation or summer program, look for opportunities you can use to inspire a great college essay.

It is important to plan ahead, as many programs and camps have limited space and upcoming application deadlines. Check back next week for daily post’s regarding interesting summer programs and opportunities!

Mrs. Sarah Morissette, M.Ed.

Need Help Filling out Your FAFSA?

 

 We hope you will consider joining the Prep College Counseling Team on Tuesday, February 12th anytime between 5:30pm and 7:30pm to complete your FAFSA application. The FAFSA is the application for government loans, grants and work study to help pay for college. Every student who attends college should fill out the FAFSA. Assistencia en espanol.

Prep Counselors and Pablo Orantes, Asst. Dir. Of Financial Aid at St. Peter’s University will be  on-hand to answer all of your Free application for federal student aid (FAFSA) questions

 

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

5:30pm – 7:30pm

Link Lab, Hogan 3rd Floor

Questions?

Contact Sarah Morissette (201) 547-6435

 

If you plan to attend, please bring the following materials with you that will assist you in completing your FAFSA application.

Social security number

Driver’s license (if any)

2011 W2 forms and other records of money earned

Student’s 2011 Federal Income Tax Return (IRS 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, Foreign Tax Return

Parents’ 2011 Federal Income Tax Return

2011 untaxed income records; veterans non-education benefit records, child support received, worker’s compensation

Current bank statements

Current business and investment mortgage information, stock, bond and other investment records

Alien registration or permanent resident card (if you are not a US citizen)

We hope to see you there!

- The Prep College Counseling Team

 

 

The Waiting Game - College Decisions

Check out this great blog post called The Waiting Game. The college counseling team loves these quick tips and insight!

 



 

The Waiting Game

Posted on January 3, 2013 by Susanna

By: Mia Myklebust
Many high school Seniors have completed their college applications (don’t stress if you haven’t there’s still time!) and are now playing what we like to call “The Waiting Game.” This is the time period between when students apply to and hear from colleges. At first it can be a relief to finish all your applications, but soon waiting to hear back can become nerve wracking. Many high school Seniors have found themselves waiting for the mailman every afternoon hoping that the fat envelope will come. Our best advice: don’t be that kid. If you’re stressed out try to focus on other things to get you through.
Stay busy- If you keep yourself occupied you won’t have time to worry about whether or not your letter has come yet. If you play a sport or are in a club give it your full attention. If you don’t, come up with an out of school activity to occupy your time. This could be a great time to do some Independent Research or Volunteer. Which brings us to our second point.
Update colleges on your accomplishments- If you have had any notable achievement since you submitted your applications, make sure to let your colleges know. Any new awards or honors can help your apps stand out, plus contacting admissions officers will keep your name fresh in their minds. Make sure you are only reporting new awards, don’t repeat anything that you have already included on your applications. Email or call the admissions rep designated to your area to inform them of your recent accomplishments.
Keep your grades high- This is an often overlooked, but critical part of your applications. If a college is on the fence about you, they may ask for your first semester grades to help them decide whether to admit you. You want to be able to hand over a stellar report card, not the evidence of your Senioritis. It is even possible for a college to rescind an acceptance if your Senior year grades aren’t up to par, so, study on!
If you’re really feeling the pressure while waiting to hear back from your colleges, try some of our Stress Busting Tips. Also, don’t forget to record the status of each of your applications as you receive them on the Applications page of CollegeMapper. On this page you can mark whether you were accepted, deferred or declined and how much financial aid support you got from each of your schools. Good luck and yay, college!

http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3114239534135083233#editor/target=post;postID=1740684086971402189


Mrs. Sarah Morissette, M.Ed.

Class of 2013, Happy New Year = Time for FAFSA!

                The first of the month has passed which can mean a few things, a new year to celebrate, making (and breaking) those New Year’s Resolutions, and FAFSA time! The 2013-2014 FAFSA, Free Application for Federal Student Aid, became available on January 1^st, 2013. All seniors should be in the process of exploring, reviewing and completing his FAFSA. Deadlines to complete this application vary by state, for New Jersey the deadline is June. However the sooner you complete the FAFSA, the sooner you can receive your maximum financial aid package from each college you have been accepted to.  There are many helpful resources to support the student and his family through this process – two of my favorites being http://studentaid.ed.gov/ and http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/index.htm. Be sure when filing your FAFSA to use the .gov website and not an imposture!

Happy Filings! Mrs. Sarah Morissette, M. Ed.

Want a Career in Politics?  Go to a Jesuit College!

Here's some interesting data from the Associate of Jesuit College and Universities:  10% of the members of the 112 Congress are alumni of a Jesuit college. 

Georgetown University has the most alumni in Congress, with 21, followed by Boston College with seven and Fordham University with five, the College of the Holy Cross with four and Creighton University with three, the association reported.

Loyola University Chicago, St. Peter's University and University of Detroit Mercy each has two alumni in Congress. Loyola University Maryland, Marquette University, St. Joseph's University, Santa Clara University, Wheeling Jesuit University and Xavier University each has one.

The National Catholic Reporter shares some interesting demographics as well.  Catholics are the single largest denomination in Congress.  Interestingly, Catholics appear in good numbers on both sides of the aisle. 

Unfortunately, Congress as an institution is experiencing it's low point in national approval ratings.   AJCU also reports there are 30 Jesuit alumni in appointed positions in the Obama administration

To read more:

http://www.ajcunet.edu/Fifty-Two-Members-of-the-111th-U.S.-Congress-are-Jesuit-College-and-University-Alumni/ae
http://ncronline.org/news/politics/catholics-still-largest-congress-denomination-10-percent-jesuit-grads