<p>blueiguana: We are on the semester block here, so my son is taking his AP English this semester, thus, the need for the research paper. He did meet the requirements set down by the teacher. Just needs to add the works cited page this evening.</p>
<p>As for the telemarketing from schools, we’ve gotten a few. They left messages, as we were not home.</p>
<p>Oh, that’s right momreads, you’re on a true block system. I keep forgetting!! That research ppr is such a pitr! It’s not hard, just time consuming, and you have to follow each step to the letter or it’s an automatic fail. Does your school still send them out to be graded? In a cost-saving move they are grading in-house this year. Still identified by numbers only, and there’s a system to ensure no teacher gets any of their own students to evaluate. I sure hope the teachers are being compensated for that!!</p>
<p>Just curious, what is a “Junior packet”?? I’ve never heard of that… And since my DS is almost done being a Junior, I’m wondering now if I should have heard of it, lol. I looked on the H.S. website and don’t see anything about it. Can someone please clue me in? :-)</p>
<p>I’m sure every school does it differently, but at ours there are essentially two packets juniors need to fill out, but it’s only the second that is a pain in the rear! The first packet is just for students and was turned in sometime in January. It asked basic information from the student, such as classes taken (and to be taken), extracurriculars, potential course of study in college, etc. This was the basis for the first college planning meeting with the GC (including parents).</p>
<p>The second packet is much more involved and has three sections: (1) student, (2) parent, and (3) teacher. The teacher who fills out part 3 cannot also be a teacher that will write a college recommendation. I will cut and paste in different posts so you can see what it entails. I think it’s useful, because as the instructions note, this can be the basis for a rough draft of the application</p>
<p>Per the instructions:<br>
The purpose of the College Planning Packet is to provide you with an opportunity to begin thinking about how you will present yourself to colleges during the application process. Consider this to be a rough draft of your application. By giving some preliminary thought to your interests, strengths, and goals, you will be one step closer to completing the application process in a clear, interesting, and thoughtful way.</p>
<p>Part I:</p>
<p>Activities: You will need to write a resume that will formally document your work/volunteer experiences, academic and extracurricular activities, awards (both academic and non-academic), and achievements. Be sure to list any intern/mentorship experience in this section, as well as activities outside of school and your summer. Please, be sure to explain abbreviations. Here are four examples of the format to follow on your resume. Do not assume I know abbreviations, spell out and then show abbreviation: Model United Nations (MUN). Be sure to include the name of the sponsor, coach, director, or whoever oversees each activity.</p>
<p>A. More information:</p>
<p>Where are you thinking about applying? Early decision? Early Action?</p>
<p>Why, specifically, have you decided to apply to these schools?</p>
<p>What major(s) are you interested in? </p>
<p>What do they offer that make them attractive to you?</p>
<p>Self-Assessment: Support your responses with examples and stories. </p>
<ol>
<li><p>If you were to write your own recommendation, what would you say in your first paragraph that would prompt your reader to read on? WRITE THE PARAGRAPH! Make it reflect you!</p></li>
<li><p>How have you taken advantage of the challenging curriculum and/or opportunities at TJHSST?</p></li>
<li><p>How have you contributed to our school or local community? Have you shown leadership ability, team work? If so, how?</p></li>
<li><p>What is your passion? Give examples (current- from the beginning of ninth grade)… How do you spend your free time? What is a typical weekday or weekend for you?</p></li>
<li><p>Which single activity has been most important to you and why? (You may choose a school-affiliated program or an independent one.)</p></li>
<li><p>How have you demonstrated strong character and maturity? Examples and details needed! </p></li>
<li><p>Describe any work or volunteer experiences you have had? How did the experience impact you?</p></li>
<li><p>Describe an incident in which you demonstrated strong character (loyalty, integrity, self-discipline, kindness, commitment to high ideals, caring for others, etc.) Think outside the box, not cheating is not the only answer! </p></li>
<li><p>What three words best describe you? Why/how so? You can always ask a friend, coach, teacher or family member if you get stuck.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Remember to get organized this summer with your applications, recommendations, college essays, and set up your senior interview with me when you return to school in the fall.</p>
<p>PARENT RESPONSE</p>
<p>No one knows your child better than you do, so feel free to make your responses as long as needed to fully address the question. No response is too long!</p>
<ol>
<li><p>What are the definitive personal characteristics/qualities of your daughter/son?</p></li>
<li><p>What are your childs passion(s)? Is there a story you could share that demonstrates his/her passion(s)?</p></li>
<li><p>Are there any financial limitations that could impact where your student applies? </p></li>
<li><p>How has your daughter/son demonstrated strong character and maturity?</p></li>
<li><p>Describe one or two major events that you see as turning points in your son/daughters development and explain why you view them as such.</p></li>
<li><p>His/her greatest strength/weakness is:</p></li>
<li><p>Please relate anecdotes that describe your student’s strengths, accomplishments, preferences, work habits, goals, personality, etc. </p></li>
<li><p>Is there anything you wish to add which would help me in writing the Counselors Statement for colleges?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Teacher Section:</p>
<ol>
<li> One really good anecdote is priceless! Tell me one (or more!) anecdote(s) that describe the student. Suggested topics include:</li>
</ol>
<p> Academic performance and how it distinguished him/her from others.
Qualities as a student and/or person.
Impact in your class or activity for which you sponsor.
Personal circumstances.
Unusual accomplishments.
What you like best about this student and why.</p>
<ol>
<li>to your knowledge, which characteristics below are associated with this student?<br></li>
</ol>
<p>intellectually engaged<br>
Interested in other students<br>
Strong sense of honor<br>
Well-balanced
Leadership in activities<br>
socially responsible<br>
Successful in athletics
overly confident
Resilient<br>
Accomplished in activities<br>
Works collaboratively<br>
Creative
Positive personality<br>
Superior achievement in studies
Respected by peers<br>
Intellectual risk-taker
Good problem solver
goes above and beyond<br>
frequently absent<br>
Quiet in class<br>
Inconsistent performance<br>
Active participant<br>
Leader in group activities</p>
<p>Wow, thank you for all the info!! Those are some crazily in-depth questions… Maybe all that is by-request-only, if a student is having trouble deciding on colleges/path of study? And I can’t imagine teachers having time to fill that out for every student!! </p>
<p>I wonder if DS filled something out already… I doubt it, because when I asked him before about college planning stuff, he said he had never heard a word. I haven’t either. But I’m a big planner sort anyway, so it isn’t that big a deal – I do feel for the kids whose parents are maybe counting on the GC’s to do everything. </p>
<p>So strange… I wonder if this is another regional thing? I definitely never had any sort of packet like that either – I went a very small private school, and my son is in a very large public school. It was just assumed that you handled all that college stuff on your own. But I can see where a helpful GC would be a benefit! Not like parents could meet with them, but it would be nice to at least be able to have some sort of correspondence and, well, guidance! I think I’m going to call the school. </p>
<p>Thanks again bunches for all the info!!</p>
<p>To clarify, each student only asks ONE teacher to fill out the packet. And the packet is mandatory, if you want your GC to write a letter. And since every senior applies to college, they all fill it out. There are always one or two seniors who take a gap year, and in one instance in recent memory who entered the work force directly after receiving a crazy job offer complete with very high starting salary. But every one of them applied to school. </p>
<p>And we have very good contact with our counselors. They meet with each parent at least once junior year and obviously seek their input. </p>
<p>DS is at a magnet school so admittedly circumstances are different from a traditional school. School is still large though, with more than 1800 students.</p>
<p>@crazy4disney: I think the Junior Packet is a regional thing. We have no such thing at mid-sized public here in Michigan, and I have not heard of them from any friends with students at the private schools around here. I just feel lucky to have a DD who is recognized by her GC… I won’t get started on the quality of college preparation provided by any of the GC’s.</p>
<p>@MImama ~</p>
<p>Oh thank goodness… I was beginning to think I was really missing something here. DS’s school is pretty competitive, and college is a given for pretty much all of them, but it really never dawned on me that GC’s were even involved in this process for some people until I came here to CC. Now it bugs me! DS applies to college in 3 months, and they have exactly 1 month left of school for this year. It would be a little late now, I guess, for a GC to have any input, but it still bugs me that there was maybe a resource there that <em>should</em> have been more helpful, and I just had no clue they were even there.</p>
<p>No mention of junior packets from son but since we don’t live in a competitive area, I cant say I am surprised.</p>
<p>I teach at one competitive private school and my son attends a different competitive private school.(Both schools are single-sex and my D attended the school at which I work) Both schools have meetings with the juniors - in groups and individually. Both schools have family meetings. Students fill out some paperwork that would be similar to a resume.
The GC will work with a student to identify good matches, reaches and safeties. They encourage students to limit their applications to schools they may actually attend. I.e. don’t apply to HYPS if you aren’t really going to attend.
As a parent, I didn’t fill out packets at either school. As a teacher, I sometimes write letters of recommendations and we also have info forms that aren’t formal letters of rec, but a student may ask us to fill out to assist the GC in his/her school recommendations.
The large public schools in my area have a similar process. Some aspects must just be regional!</p>
<p>How does the GC write the letter of recommendation without knowing the student?</p>
<p>Novamom is in Virginia and I am in CT and we have a very similar packet, minus the teacher section. I would guess that 98% of the students in our HS go on to college. (Would need to confirm on school profile but if not 98, then 97%.) So, as Nova says, not really optional if applying to college.</p>
<p>2014NovaMom–Thanks for sharing. I am copying, cutting and pasting as we speak. Dropped DD off at 7:30 am for the AP Chem test. I think I am more nervous than she is!</p>
<p>Thanks for hte helpful info Novamom and thanks for the insight Maryjay60! Needed the reminder that there is a lot more to this than getting the standardized tests and essays done. Going to be a busy summer for my '14er.</p>
<p>My kids’ school has similar packets to the ones Nova posted. It is also a small private. The first part is the “junior packet” and it was due earlier in the year. The “senior packet” is due in June of this year, I think. </p>
<p>As for GCs writing recommendations without knowing the kids, I think that GCs who are very overloaded (e.g. at large public schools) simply check the boxes for how rigorous the schedule was, and write something generic. The colleges can probably tell and don’t put as much weight on it…</p>
<p>Except my DS is at a large public, so the generalization doesn’t hold in our case. I am very grateful for our counselors!</p>
<p>Here in Illinois at a very large public, we have a joint student / parent form we fill out before our one meeting the the college counselor. DS is in a class of about 950 with about 7 “guidance counselors” (sign off on schedules and send college recommendations) and two college counseling specialists. Going through the process for the first time so not too sure how well it works. </p>
<p>There has been 1 or 2 public meetings each year for parents and they have been quite good, but we’ll see how well it works.</p>