Devon Prep College Counseling Handbook 2017-18

Devon Preparatory School

College Counseling Handbook 2017-18 Mrs. Elizabeth Eshleman, Director of College Counseling

Mission Statement Devon Preparatory School is a private, Catholic, college prep school, grades six to twelve, focused on the holistic education of young men for life.

The Devon Prep Identity Devon Preparatory School is singularly focused on preparing young men not just for college, but for the entirety of their lives. By operating our school at the speed, intensity, and standards of real life, our young men are well-positioned to succeed and be leaders for their lives and callings beyond Devon Prep.

We educate and inspire our students by holding them accountable to the highest academic and moral standards. Through the support of the entire Devon Prep community, students learn how to demand high standards from themselves.

At the same time, we understand the stresses a rigorous environment can create for our young men. The Devon Prep community is committed to the emotional well-being of our students.

Through the teaching of coping skills, stress management, and creating a trusting environment where students can share concerns, students learn how to navigate the challenges of life in a constructive, healthy way.

Academics, athletics, and extra-curricular activities serve to: 

Challenge students in a nurturing way to step outside their comfort zones, learn more about themselves, and their capabilities

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Create an environment where students demand of themselves high expectations and standards

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Develop an intellectual curiosity of the world and have a strong moral and ethical compass to both anchor and guide them

The Key Principles that fulfill the Devon Prep Identity 

Our Catholic, Piarist centered tradition ensures the highest priority is educating the total young man (intellectually, spiritually, physically, and emotionally)

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Devon Prep’s intimate, but diverse, student body population is a strength and an advantage.

Faculty and staff get to know each student on an individual level, the school can make adjustments and adaptions more quickly than larger, slower institutions, and we can foster a deeper sense of school community.

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Devon Prep is a rigorous, world class academic institution. Our key differentiator is our focus on offering the highest quality education through a challenging, cutting edge curriculum

taught by a well-credentialed faculty with a deep personal alignment to Devon Prep’s mission. We teach faculty and students to focus on the learning process, not just the outcomes. By focusing on the learning process, students increase attention and focus, develop critical thinking skills, and practice true learning. 

Athletics and extra-curricular activities serve to supplement and complement academic learning by building a well-rounded person.

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We will use tools and technology to enable students and faculty access to the best learning and teaching vehicles. Tools and technology will be evaluated to ensure they serve our learning process and not replace the process.

College Counseling Program Upon entering Devon Prep, many students are already beginning to develop the personal motivation to succeed so they may go to the college of their choice. Our curriculum is structured so that every graduate will meet course requirements at colleges and universities throughout the United States. The College Counseling Program at Devon Prep has been designed to empower the young person so he can have success through the college explorations and application processes.

The College Counseling Program has enjoyed considerable success. 100% of our graduates continue their education at a four-year institution of higher level learning.

The College Counseling Program is available to all students in the Upper School. During freshman and sophomore years, students will have the opportunity to meet in informal, small groups to plan and learn about the important factors used in the college admission process. The formal program begins in the Junior year, when the Director of College Counseling hosts an information session for students and parents on the college exploration and selection process, standardized testing programs, and the application process. At this session, families receive an additional college guidance manual, designed to help the student to select the right college in a timely manner. From Junior year through early Senior year of the Upper School, students have personal appointments in which the Director of College Counseling helps the student to explore his interests and options.

Parents are required to attend the first appointment and encouraged to attend all other meetings.

In addition to 1x1 meetings, Juniors will meet in a Small Group College Counseling meeting during Advisory/Free periods. The meetings begin for Juniors during the second semester of his Junior year. Seniors will continue to meet in Small Group College Counseling sessions during the fall of his Senior year.

College Search In doing your college search, it’s important to note that there are many wonderful colleges out there. You may find one that is perfect for you, or you may find several. In deciding what colleges to consider, keep an open line of communication with your college counselor and parents. It’s important that everyone is on the same page throughout the college search process.

Here are some college search sites that the College Counseling Department recommends to get you started:    

www.petersons.com www.princetonreview.com www.collegeboard.org www.naviance.com

Some things to keep in mind during your college search Size: Do you want a big school with many options? A small school with lots of personal attention?

Something in between? Do you want large lectures or smaller seminar-style classes?

Location: What part of the country? Do you want to be in a city, small town, suburban or rural environment? How far are you willing to go from home?

Academics: Does the college have the major you want? If you’re not sure of your major, what options are available for undecided students? Are there internships, research or foreign study opportunities? What are the qualifications of the teachers?

Activities: Is there a specific activity (club, sport, etc.) that you want to pursue in college? What is there to do on the weekends? Are you interested in participating in Greek Like? How vast is their intramurals program?

Campus atmosphere: What kind of rapport is there among students and faculty? Visit the campus and, if you can, eat in the dining hall, sleep in a residence hall and attend a class.

The Interview: This is your chance to present yourself in your best light to the admissions officers.

Do your research: go onto the college’s website, talk to alumni, be ready with questions and be ready to answer questions in a way that will bring another positive facet to your application.

Cost: Keep in mind the cost of a school. While scholarships and financial aid may be available, will they be enough to realistically allow you to attend? How much debt are you willing to take on for the college investment?

The Application Process What Devon Prep Sends Our College Counseling Department will send your application credentials electronically via Naviance (or the institution specific technology). With each application, the following items are sent: 

transcript

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College Counselor letter of recommendation

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Counselor form(s)

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Teacher letter of recommendation

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Teacher form(s)

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our school profile

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anything else that you wish us to include in the application.

In order for us to send out the transcript, you must submit an application checklist for each college you apply to. This is a way not only to keep track of applications but also serves as an official transcript release to the colleges. In addition, students will be required to keep their Naviance accounts active and up-to-date.

Common Application Student applying to institutions using the Common Application ( www.commonapp.org) will link their Common App account with their Naviance account. The Common App is an application accepted by over 700 colleges across the country. It simplifies the process so that you only fill out one basic application and essay. You may have some supplements required by certain universities, but the body of the application need only be filled out once. College members of the Common Application give equal consideration to the Common Application versus their institutional application.

Finally, make sure that you meet the deadlines that the College Counseling Department has posted. Meeting deadlines is important in the college application process, as well as in college and in life.

What Colleges Consider Much time and energy goes into a college decision. It is not an exact science, and the more competitive the college, the less predictable the admissions selection process will be.

Let’s examine the important pieces of the college application puzzle.      

Curriculum and Grades Standardized Tests Activities Essay Letters of Recommendation Other Factors

Curriculum and Grades First and foremost is your academic record: the types of courses you have taken as well as the grades you have earned. All four years of high school will be considered, including Freshman and Senior years. Colleges want you to take the most rigorous coursework you can handle, including advanced and AP courses. They want to see improvement and progression in your GPA over the course of high school. Most colleges will also want to see your first semester grades in senior year.

Whichever college you enroll at will require your final transcript through the end of senior year. If you do not satisfactorily complete senior year – and each college defines “satisfactorily” differently – the colleges reserve the right to reconsider and possibly rescind your acceptance. To avoid such a scenario, it is in your best interest is to continue to work diligently throughout your senior year.

Standardized Tests Whether you like it or not, standardized tests play a significant role in college admissions. As a student, you need to be familiar with the different tests and how they are used.

All Devon Prep ninth through eleventh grade students will have experience with PSAT/NMSQT Test. The PSAT/NMSQT is the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. This is a standardized test (typically given in October) that provides firsthand practice for the SAT Reasoning Test. It also gives you a chance to enter National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) scholarship programs. For more information about the PST/NMSQT, please see www.collegeboard.org/student/testing/psat/about.html.

Most students will first take the SAT Reasoning Test (SAT) during their junior year. The SAT will assess how you analyze and solve problems. There are two sections to the SAT: the Evidence Based Reading and Writing section (formally known as the Critical Reasoning or Verbal section) and the Math section. 

Most colleges and universities will consider the highest critical Evidence Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) and Math scores, even if they are at different sittings. That said, we encourage students to take the SAT more than once.

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Students are recommended to begin taking the SAT in the late fall/early spring of their Junior year and again the fall of their Senior year.

More information on the SAT can be found at www.collegeboard.org/student/testing/sat/about/SATI.html and www.collegeboard.org.

SAT / SAT II Check upcoming SAT test dates: http://sat.collegeboard.org/register/sat-us-dates SAT Date

Register-By Date*

August 26, 2017

July 28, 2017

October 7, 2017

September 8, 2017

November 4, 2017

October 5, 2017

December 2, 2017

November 2, 2017

March 10, 2018**

February 9, 2018

May 5, 2018

April 6, 2018

June 2, 2018

May 4, 2018

** SAT only

ACT Another option for students is to consider the ACT Test. The ACT Test assesses high school students’ general educational development and their ability to complete college-level work.

Students are tested in four general areas: English, Mathematics, Reading and Science. The ACT Test, like the SAT Test, is typically offered multiple times during the academic year.

Check upcoming ACT test dates: http://www.actstudent.org/regist/dates.html Test Date

Registration Deadline

September 8, 2017

August 4, 2017

October 28, 2017

September 22, 2017

December 9, 2017

November 3, 2017

February 10, 2018

January 12, 2018

April 14, 2018

March 9, 2018

June 9, 2018

May 4, 2018

July 14, 2018

June 15, 2018

SAT-ACT Diagnostic Test So that Devon Prep students can best determine which test is in their wheel-house, we have partnered with an outside test prep firm to offer the SAT-ACT Diagnostic Test. This is a practice test which includes sections from both the SAT and the ACT. An optional test for students, it will be offered once a semester to targeted class years. Students and parents will receive a detailed report and summary of their performance on the Diagnostic Test. Results from the SAT sections and ACT sections will help a family determine which test if s best fit for the students. For more information, please contact Mrs. Eshleman.

We also offer an SAT Boot Camp and ACT Boot Camp in the summertime so that students can be best prepared for their standardized test.

Many of the “most selective” colleges will also require two to three SAT Subject Tests. Many colleges, however, do not. These are hour-long tests in specific subjects such as Physics, U.S. History, Spanish and Molecular Biology. They are administered on the same day as the SAT, so you can only do one or the other on a given day. Even if not required for admission, they may be used for placement purposes. So if you are strong in a subject, you may still want to take the SAT II. We strongly recommend that you take the SAT IIs when you have completed the course. You have the greatest chance for success at that point in time. For more information, please see https://sat.collegeboard.org/about-tests/sat-subject-tests/faq.

Activities Colleges also look at your extracurricular activities, not just the number but the length and quality of involvement. Colleges don’t want to see you involved in 30 activities for only a semester each.

They’d rather see you pick a few activities, focus on them, and develop into leaders through them, especially if they are diverse (e.g., Newspaper, Student Council, Basketball). Devon’s size and family-oriented atmosphere provide an excellent opportunity for many students not only to get involved in extracurricular activities but to develop into leaders. Colleges like to see well-rounded students, with an emphasis on leadership and community service, all of which all of our students do anyway!

Essays Most colleges will also require an essay or personal statement from the applicant. This is a chance for you to give your application some personality, a chance to go beyond the black and white of your GPA and SAT scores. Colleges will look at your style, grammar and how well you answered the question, but the most important part is what the essay tells the college about you. Often, it is less important what you write than how you write. Make sure you’re answering the question they ask, and if you make reference to a college, make sure it’s the right college. If you use the same essay for different colleges, it’s all too easy to leave something in an essay that doesn’t belong.

Make the essay personal, specific and interesting. Give it a good title and have a strong introduction to engage the reader. Make them care about reading your essay, and it will help you in the evaluation process.

Recommendations The Director of College Counseling will prepare a letter of recommendation for each senior. Many colleges will also ask for one or two letters of recommendation from teachers. The teachers who gave you A’s may not always be the best recommendation. Sometimes if you worked extra hard for a C, that teacher may be able to give more insight for the admissions committee. Consider also your intended major and if the teacher knows you outside of class in selecting your recommenders.

Students should ask their teachers for recommendations before the conclusion of their junior year.

Upon returning to school in September, students should approach their teachers and reaffirm their continued support. To make things easier for the teachers, students should provide a copy of their resume, a list of their schools, application deadlines and pre-addressed, stamped envelopes to their teachers.

Other Possible Factors Choice of Major: Some majors are more selective than others. Speak directly with the Admission Office to learn about their admission processes.

Demonstrated Interest: Many colleges will try to determine the likelihood of your enrolling if you are accepted as a factor in their decision. So if you visit the school, go to a presentation at Devon or in the area, chat with a representative via phone, e-mail, IM, texting, etc., it could have a positive impact.

Biographical information: The most selective colleges are able to craft their class to achieve a balance of gender, ethnicity, legacy, public/private school, geography, etc.

Legacy: Most schools are interested in familial ties to the institution. If your parents, siblings or other family members attended, be sure to note it on your application.

Your presentation of yourself: This could be in an interview, on an Instagram/Facebook page, etc.

If you give an unfavorable impression, it could have a negative impact on your prospects for admission. Colleges regularly troll social media to get another glimpse of their applicants.

As you see, there is much that is considered in the admissions decision process. Strive to do your best in all of these areas. Always put your best foot forward.

College Counseling Timeline It’s never too early to think about the future beyond Devon Prep. While the formal College Counseling Program does not begin until Junior year, there are many things underclassmen should consider: Freshman Year: This is the time to start building your academic and social foundations. Students will meet with the Director of College Guidance in small, informal groups to begin discussing the important factors used in the admissions process. Don’t worry about specific colleges at this point. Establish strong academic performance and activities, as this is important to your development and your college acceptance. Colleges will look at freshman year grades during their evaluation of your application so be sure to do your very best work.

During freshman year, you should: 

Prepare for and take PSAT in October

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Learn study skills

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Get involved outside of class in interesting activities

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Meet in small group setting with College Counselor

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Think about taking AP classes for next year

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Plan an exciting summer

Sophomore Year: In sophomore year, you want to build upon the foundations you established in freshman year.

Improve upon your grades and take more challenging courses. Start thinking about possible major or career interests. Students’ personal Guidance Counselors will begin to take career exploration inventories to see where his interests lie. 

Prepare for and take PSAT in October

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If enrolled in an AP Course, consider taking the SAT Subject Test(s) in May or June, if recommended by your teacher

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Meeting in small group setting with College Counselor

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Meet with the Director of College Counseling and/or personal Guidance Counselor to see if you are on the right track with academics and activities (go for quality, not quantity of activities)

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Begin a career search

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Financial Aid night (for parents)

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Think about course choices for junior year. Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself academically (with support of your current teachers and college/personal counselors)

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Take AP exams in May

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Plan an exciting summer

Junior Year: Junior year is the last full year of grades that colleges see before making a decision. Continue improving your grades and curriculum. Academics is most important in the evaluations of your application for college. Colleges want to see the TYPE OF CURRICULUM you are enrolled in and THE GRADES you are achieving. This is also the time to stretch yourself and dig deeper in your extracurricular involvements. Consider taking on leadership roles in your activities. During Junior year, students should be exploring all his options for his future. Take time to visit a college campus while classes are in session. There are a number of days in the fall where students have no classes, and college campuses are in full swing. This is a great opportunity to visit a college/university and get a full experience, not only of the campus setting but a chance to meet the students and see if this institution will be a “fit”.

Juniors will have the opportunity to meet with the Director of College Counseling with his parents for their 1x1 college strategy session. In addition, Juniors will meet every other cycle with the Director of College Counseling in Small Group College Counseling meetings during Advisory period beginning in the second semester.

September 

Start your college search (see next chapter) (www.princetonreview.com, www.Petersons.com, www.collegeboard.com)

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Meet with colleges representatives who visit Devon Prep (see College Visits section)

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Prepare for October PSAT/NMSQT

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Continue participation with the college visit program

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Financial Aid Night (parents)

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Take PSAT

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Participate in local, evening college fairs (PACAC Delaware County College Fair, PACAC Montgomery County College Fair for example – see College Visits section)

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Consider taking the ACT or SAT

October

November 

Continue with college meetings

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Fill out Student Profile (with essay and activities resume) and Parent Form

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National College Fair at PA Convention Center in Philadelphia

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Consider taking the SAT

December 

PSAT results returned

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Register for spring SAT/ACT test dates

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Start thinking about summer study, jobs, travel, etc.

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Student Profile and Parent Form due to College Counseling Office

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Mid-year exams – focus on your grades!

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“Introduction to College Counseling ” information session in the evening for both student and parents

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Small group college counseling meeting during Advisory begin

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1x1 meetings with college counselor begins

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Schedule courses for senior year

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February ACT

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Think about and register for SAT II: Subject Tests

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Meetings with college counselor continue

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March SAT

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Continue to visit colleges while they’re still in session

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Mock Admissions Committee Case Study presentation

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Meetings with college counselor continue

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April ACT

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Study for AP exams and finals

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PACAC Regional College Fair (TBD)

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Meetings with college counselor continue

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Request teacher recommendations

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AP and final exams

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May SAT and SAT IIs

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June SAT/SATII/ACT

January

February

March

April

May

June

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Start summer job, coursework, etc.

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Continue visiting colleges to solidify list

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If interested in pursuing Division I/II athletics, register for the NCAA Clearinghouse and contact coaches about visits.

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Narrow your college list

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Gather applications, look over essay drafts and finalize resume

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July ACT (new in 2018)

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Email your teachers with letter of recommendation requests

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Work on essays, resume and applications

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Get in contact with your admissions representative

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August SAT

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Register for fall SAT/ACT test date(s), if necessary

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Reconnect with teachers for letter of recommendation requests. Provide your college list and resume, if ready.

July

August

Senior Year: Fall of your Senior year is the time to apply to colleges. Colleges want to see that you continue the progress that you have made earlier in high school: more challenging courses, higher grades, leadership positions. It is important for you not to lose academic focus during your senior year as most colleges will want to see your first quarter/semester grades prior to making a decision on your application.

Seniors will continue to meet in Small Group College Counseling meetings each cycle for the fall semester.

September 

Discuss college list with college counselor

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September ACT

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Participate in the college visit program

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Mock Interview Night for Seniors (Tuesday, September 26, 2017; RSVP required)

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Provide your college list and resume to the teachers writing letters of recommendation on your behalf

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October SAT/ACT

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Financial Aid Night (Tuesday, October 17, 2017)

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Sign up (with a parent) for a Financial Aid PIN number and pin.ed.gov

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Get applications due in November/December to College Counseling Office

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Continue meeting with college representatives visiting Devon Prep

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Attend Open Houses on campus

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Participate in regional information sessions hosted by out-of-area institutions

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Schedule interviews, if recommended

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Gather financial records and fill out worksheets at fafsa.ed.gov

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Complete the FAFSA online before college deadlines

October

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November 

Keep in contact with your admissions representative

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November SAT

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Attend Open Houses

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Fill out PROFILE or college’s financial aid form

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Get applications due in January to College Counseling Office

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Complete the FAFSA online before college deadlines

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December SAT/ACT

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Complete the FAFSA online before college deadlines

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Get all remaining applications to College Counseling Office

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Early application (Early Action/Early Decision) decisions returned – let the College Counseling Office know the outcome

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Begin getting copies of acceptance and scholarship letters to College Counseling Office

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Mid-year exams – senior grades count!

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“Letting Go” presentation for senior parents

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Get copy of Regular Decision acceptance and scholarship letters to College Counseling Office

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If you have decided on a college, withdraw your application from other institutions

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Meet with the college counselor to discuss your options

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Attend Accepted Student Day programs at colleges

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Meet with the college counselor to discuss your options

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Make decision of where to go, if you haven’t done so

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May 1 – Deposit Deadline

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Final exams – senior grades count!

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AP exams

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Graduation!

December

January February March

April

May

June

College Visits to Devon Prep Every fall, Devon Prep is visited by a large number of admissions representatives from colleges and universities throughout the country. College representatives may request their visit through www.RepVisits.com or contact the school directly at eeshleman@devonprep.com or 610-688-7337 X172. These representatives will meet with interested juniors and seniors to promote their institution and answer questions about their campus and admission processes.

Students interested in participating in these college visits will need to follow the posted guidelines.  

College Visit Guidelines 2017-18 College Visit Schedule

College representatives: Devon Prep is pleased to host college visitors throughout the fall. Interested juniors and seniors are permitted to participate in the college visit program. College representatives will have 30-40 minutes to share information about their institution. These are NOT lunchroom visits.

If you would like to schedule a visit to Devon Prep, please go to www.RepVisits.com to self-book your appointment. If you prefer to speak with someone in person, please contact Mrs. Liz Eshleman at 610-688-7337 x172 or eeshleman@devonprep.com and I will be happy to work with you in scheduling your appointment.

Financing Your Education As the cost of college continues to rise astronomically, funding for college comes more to the forefront. In recognition of this, Devon sponsors two presentations on Financial Aid and Funding for College. It is important to note that most students going to college receive some sort of financial aid. 

Download the College Counseling Department’s 2018-19 presentation to parents on financial aid.

Need-based Aid In order to be considered for need-based financial aid, students must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Beginning in October 2017 (for aid applications for the 2018-19 award year), students and families will file the Free Application for Federal Student Air (FASFA) using Prior-Prior Year (PPY) tax data. (Please click here for more information.) Devon Prep encourages its students to apply earlier in this span and estimate if need be, because it’s better to meet the deadline and have to adjust the numbers later than miss out on an opportunity for financial aid.

To submit the FAFSA, you will need a pin, which you can obtain at www.pin.ed.gov.

Some private colleges will require a second form, either their own institutional form or the CSS Profile. These forms will provide supplemental financial aid information that these colleges will use in determining institutional financial aid.

Scholarships Most often, students will receive automatic consideration for academic scholarships simply by applying for admission. Sometimes, there is a separate scholarship application or interview. Some of the most selective colleges do not offer academic scholarships, as everyone who is accepted is a scholarship caliber student. These schools usually devote more institutional funding to need-based aid. Some colleges may also offer performance scholarships for qualities such as athletics, music, community service and leadership.

External scholarships are also available. There are several scholarship searches available. Do not pay for them! Anything that these services provide can be found free online, and two that Devon Prep recommends are www.fastweb.com and http://www.goodcall.com/scholarships/search.

Competing in your sport at the College Level – NCAA and the Eligibility Center For students interested in competing in intercollegiate athletics at the Division I or Division II levels, you must have your academic and amateurism status certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center (formerly the NCAA Clearinghouse.) There are specific rules and guidelines to follow. Please link to the NCAA site for more information.

Summer Enrichment Summer Activities While it is important to use the summer to unwind from the high academic demands that Devon Prep places on its students, it is also important that students do not spend the entire summer doing nothing. Colleges like to see students do something productive over the summer, be it traveling, volunteering, taking classes, participating in a pre-college program or getting a job (which many colleges think is the most important thing you can do over the summer!)

Devon Prep Summer SAT/ACT Boot Camp Program

For the ninth year in a row, Devon Prep will be running its “Summer SAT and ACT Boot Camp�. We welcome Devon Prep students (as well as siblings and friends from other schools) to participate in our program this summer.

The summer session includes 20 hours of prep/test meetings in total: Monday through Thursday for two weeks in the summer (eight lecture sessions), two full-length simulated SATs on Thursdays of the summer session, and three, one hour 1 x 1 review session.

The final sessions will take place in the early fall before the actual test. Students will schedule their 1Ă—1 one-long appointment with his or another instructor to review any last minute details so that he can have the most success on the test.

Enrollment will be limited to ensure small class size and personalized attention.

If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact Mrs. Eshleman at eeshleman@devonprep.com or 610-688-7337 x172.

Upcoming Events Mock Interview Night for Seniors Tuesday, September 26, 2017 7:00 PM Calasanctius Hall Reservations required! Please contact Mrs. Eshleman at eeshleman@devonprep.com to reserve a space.