College Planning Day Program 2021

COLLEGE PLANNING DAY Seminar on College Planning Topics January 30, 2021 9 a.m., Live Presentation Begins Pre-Recorded Breakout Session Videos

WELCOME! Thank you for your interest in our second annual College Planning Day! This year’s virtual event is filled with a wide variety of academic and college planning information and resources. Our entire Eastside Catholic team, as well as many of our industry partners, have shared their field insights and expertise to help you feel more confident about the college admissions process.

This past year, our lives have all been radically changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It has notably affected the entire college admissions process as well. The live presentation keynote speaker, Chapman University’s Assistant Director of Admission Garrett Addison, will give a candid perspective on college admissions during these unprecedented times. Mr. Addison will “pull the curtain back” to explain how colleges make decisions about students in this changing environment, how admissions offices evaluate applications without standardized test scores and will answer your questions about long-term changes in the college admissions process.

We invite you to view the many pre-recorded breakout session videos. Topics range from navigating standardized testing, financial aid ins-and-outs, crafting college essays, junior college planning and many more. After reviewing this information, we hope you come away with a better understanding of the resources and support we faithfully provide to our Eastside Catholic students with their post-high school plans. We remain committed to helping every student identify their “best fit” colleges and do not promote schools based on the US News and World Report rankings, but instead meet with students, hear their long-term aspirations and help them reach their goals. One of our favorite activities with students is creating a list of colleges that match their interests and preferences.

Being a part of this process with your student brings us great joy. Our intent is to help students prepare for their life after high school, whatever that may be. This includes learning how to research big decisions, appreciating the importance of advocating for themselves whether it be in the application resume, essay or interview, and having the confidence to make a final college decision. Learning to self-advocate is one of the most important skills we hone with students so they can successfully navigate the future on their own. While the final college result is important, learning all of these “adulting” responsibilities and skills helps determine future success.

We also encourage all students to reach out to their school and/or college counselors if they have any questions about their academic, college or career interests, or with any daily life issues. Our counselor doors in Student Services are always open and we enjoy talking to and seeing our students. You can also leave any general College Planning Day questions via the Q&A link open for question submissions until February 7. All questions will be posted with answers in our FAQ document. For your reference, all of the video and presentation resources will be available on our school website during the 2020-21 school year.

We look forward to partnering with you and hope you find all our College Planning Day information valuable, timely and informative.

With joy, Frances Carhart Director of Student Services

LIVE PRESENTATION Welcome Frances Carhart, Director of Student Services Eastside Catholic College Counselor Introductions Siobhan McVeigh, College Counselor (A-K) Cyrus Nassersaeid ’08, College Counselor (L-Z) Keynote Speaker: College Admissions During COVID-19 Garrett Addison, Assistant Director of Admission, Chapman University In addition to discussing the holistic review process, essays, demonstrated interest and applications, Mr. Addison will cover how COVID-19 has affected how Chapman reviews student applications, what elements of the application take on more value, how students can still engage with college and observations about the changing landscape of college admissions. Mr. Addison is a double alumnus of Chapman University. He earned an a B.A. in the power of language, a major he created with Chapman faculty, and holds an M.A. in leadership development.

Join via Microsoft Teams at 9 a.m. on January 30.

Q&A

BREAKOUT SESSIONS Build a Strong Four-Year Plan Claudia Goodhew, School Counselor (L-Z) Your high school years are filled with lots of opportunities for growth. How can you build a strong four-year plan to help you navigate high school? Mrs. Goodhew will discuss and share tips on how to understand Eastside Catholic’s graduation requirements, how to maximize all four years of high school to prepare for college and how to create a successful schedule.

Caring for Yourself During Stressful Moments Kasey Dauenhauer, High School Counselor (A-K) Stress and anxiety are major contributors to our mood, well-being and academic performance. There is plenty of information supporting mental health, but do you know how to apply these skills? This session is designed for students to learn how to take care of themselves during stressful moments in school and in their personal lives by focusing on the whole self.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS College Planning for the Class of 2022 Siobhan McVeigh, College Counselor (A-K) Cyrus Nassersaeid ‘08, College Counselor (L-Z) Welcome to college planning for the Class of 2022! Ms. McVeigh and Mr. Nassersaeid are excited to introduce themselves to students and families. This presentation will provide an overview of the college planning process focusing on the second semester of junior year and first semester of senior year.

Creating the College List Frances Carhart, Director of Student Services A well-balanced college list has an appropriate number of safety, match and high-reach schools. It is unique to each student based on their priorities, aspirations and bandwidth. Learn how to create an appropriate list using scattergrams in Naviance, published acceptance data and qualitative college guides. Other topics presented include early action versus early decision, demonstrated interest and other factors to enhance the application.

Extracurricular Activities and the Resume Frances Carhart, Director of Student Services Colleges want to know how you spend your free time outside of academics. Understand what colleges want to see, how activities are reported in the application and the importance of the student resume. Students will learn how to show “depth� in their activities and where to find summer and after school activities.

Jesuit Schools Rock Siobhan McVeigh, College Counselor (A-K) While students have many types of colleges to choose from, Jesuit institutions offer a unique educational experience that encourages the development of the whole person (head and heart), intellect and feelings. This session addresses what it means to attend a Jesuit University and the benefits of attending a school that combines liberal arts and professional studies with a commitment to critical thinking, developing a global perspective and a commitment to social justice.

Learning Disabilities in the College Application Process Colin Brady, Director of Student Success, Mitchell College There are important aspects to consider for students with a learning difference, so students receive their needed academic support in the college setting. While all colleges are required to provide a certain level of support (depending on the latest neurological test date), not all schools provide the same level of individualized support. Students will learn about the application process as a student with a learning difference and colleges that provide excellent academic support.

This session is presented by Director of Student Success Colin Brady, who works closely with families applying to the academic support and transition programs at Mitchell College. Before Mitchell College, Colin was a founder and director of the transition program at the Middlebridge School, a boarding high school in Rhode Island, for students with learning differences.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS Middle School Map Testing 101: Measure of Academic Progress Sam Baker, Middle School Counselor Eastside Catholic Middle School uses the standardized MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) test to track student growth during their middle school years. This data, and other data points, help us build curriculum and support classes for our middle school students. These tests are about measuring and celebrating individual student growth and are not intended to offer a comparison to other students. Learn how this data helps us track where our middle school students are academically and helps prepare them for the rigors of high school and beyond.

NCAA Student-Athlete Academic Planning Cyrus Nassersaeid ‘08, College Counselor (L-Z)

Are you interested in learning more about how to become a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) student-athlete? Do you plan on competing in athletics in college through the NCAA? This presentation will cover the academic preparation piece for potential NCAA student-athletes, including educational requirements that need to be fulfilled and how to complete those requirements at Eastside Catholic.

SAT vs. ACT - Which Test Should I Take?

Rebecca Davidson, Senior Managing Director, Huntington Learning Center College admission testing has had an important role in determining college acceptance, program eligibility and scholarship availability for many students. Knowing the differences between the SAT and ACT will help you choose which test is best for you. Learn about the different sections and question types on each test and how that impacts which test is best for you. We will also discuss the role these tests play in acceptance rates.

Save Thousands on the Cost of College Peg Keough, Way to the Quad, College Financial Planning Advisor Join Peg Keough as she demystifies the college funding process. Having put two kids through college herself, Ms. Keough works with families just like yours to help them realize significant discounts on the cost of college, regardless of income level. Learn how to successfully navigate the financial aid process without confusion and stress. This session is recommended for parents and guardians of high school students.

Study Smarter by Maximizing your Study Skills Techniques Wendy Burnham ‘87, Executive Director of Learning Support Services Learning effective study techniques can help a student maximize their performance in school and life. This session will offer tips and strategies about various study skills and techniques to increase awareness of personal learning styles to create an individualized road map to learning and success.

Telling Your Story: Tips for Writing an Amazing College Application Essay Jessica Rice, HS English Teacher and English Department Co-Chair The personal statement or application essay is one of the best ways to show potential colleges who you are in a way that GPAs and test scores cannot. But it can seem intimidating, overwhelming and stressful if you don’t know what to expect or how to write it. This session will preview what you can do to craft the best possible essay and provide helpful tips on crushing your application essay, well ahead of application deadlines.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Testing During COVID-19 Rebecca Davidson, Senior Managing Director, Huntington Learning Center COVID-19 has impacted every part of our lives. College applications are no different. Colleges are rapidly changing their application processes to help students during this time have access to application resources necessary to showcase their abilities. Learn how the pandemic has impacted both SAT and ACT testing availability, testing requirements from colleges and how that impacts your path to acceptance.

The Strengths of Introverted Leadership Michelle Flores, Director of Student Life Cultures differ in how they value certain personality traits, and extroversion has been seen as a highly valued trait in the United States for some time. But what strengths are seen in introversion at school and in the workplace? How do an introvert traits benefit college and the workplace in the 21st century? This session is designed to highlight introverts’ strength, how to collaborate and communicate as an introvert and clear up misconceptions associated with introversion.

Tips for Middle School Students Erin Vickers, Middle School Assistant Principal

It is never too early to start thinking about college! It is important to establish good study and work habits to build the essential skills to help a high school student accomplish their goals. This session will focus on mindset, skill building and how to use the information from middle school report cards to determine areas for growth and goal setting.

OTHER RESOURCES

NAVIANCE Naviance is a robust tool that EC provides to middle school and high school students. In addition to supporting college research and applications, it provides comprehensive career exploration tools that include personality surveys that match to careers, detailed career explanations and access to Roadtrip Nation. The following demonstrations provide more details about the different resources available within Naviance.

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Naviance Student Tour and Overview The Student Journey in Naviance The New Careers and Assessments Experience Roadtrip Nation Document Resources in Naviance Student Assessments in Naviance Student and Parent Surveys in Naviance Resume Resources in Naviance Naviance E-docs x2VOL Overview (access through Naviance) Roadmap to College Alumni Speaker Series Recordings

OTHER RESOURCES ARROW (Association for Regional Representatives of Oregon and Washington) Videos The following videos have been provided and recorded by ARROW from their Intro to College Week in August 2020. ARROW exists to provide a support structure for regionally based admissions professionals. Their members represent various institutions around the world who live and/or work in Oregon and Washington, providing students and high school counselors in the area with educational opportunities and information.

Eastside Catholic and Student Services appreciate ARROW allowing us to share these presentation videos with our students and families.

Connecting with Colleges Unsure who to reach out to when you have a question about a specific university? Confused about the term “demonstrated interest”? This session will help students learn how to navigate best ways to connect with institutions, whether during a pandemic or not.

The College Essay Learn how to write your college essay! This session is geared towards senior students working on (or who will soon be working on) writing their college application essays. Presenters will include examples of do’s and don’ts and help you learn how to stand out during this portion of your application.

The Year Ahead: Senior Year Timeline and Tips Are you overwhelmed by everything required by the college application process? Let us help! This session is geared towards seniors and their family members to help them understand the best way to approach the college search throughout the next year. Information regarding building a college list, keeping the application process organized and other tips and tricks on making this process easier and effective will all be covered.

Financial Aid Basics The financial aid process sometimes feels daunting, but this session can help ease your fears! This session is geared towards both students and families to help you navigate financial aid, including FAFSA basics, the difference between loans, grants and scholarships, important deadlines, terminology and more.

How College Decisions are Made While no college makes decisions the same way, some significant similarities can help you understand what colleges are looking for once an application is submitted. This session is open to both students and parents to help you better understand what this process looks like on the college side.

College Admissions Rep Panel Still feel like you have a million questions about all things college? Listen to a panel of college representatives from the ARROW group answer frequently asked questions.

THANK YOU!

We would like to personally thank all who helped make this event possible by providing their precious time, positive energy and valuable resources to enhance our student’s and families’ understanding of the college admission process. Thank you to: • Garrett Addison from Chapman University for speaking on a Saturday morning during one of the most hectic times on the admissions calendar. Garrett enthusiastically agreed to speak and answer questions at our live presentation and we are so grateful!

• Peg Keough, owner of Way To The Quad, who continually provides grounded and ethical financial aid and scholarship information to our families.

• Rebecca Davidson and the Huntington Learning Center who provide insight into standardized testing during COVID, free in-seat practice tests and test prep discounts for our students.

• Colin Brady from Mitchell College who provides insight for students with student accommodation plans (SAPs) at Eastside Catholic. Mitchell College is a nationally-recognized school specializing in academic and social support and Mr. Brady’s insights are particularly valuable and relevant to our students who receive support from our Academic Resources program.

• ARROW, a group of regional college representatives who have provided several recorded sessions for this event in addition to access to their live presentations this past fall to juniors and seniors, as well as more webinars coming soon for students in the spring. ARROW has always supported our students and the Student Services offices enthusiastically!

• Eastside Catholic Faculty and Staff – We are also lucky to have a dedicated group of faculty and staff who helped support all efforts in making this event a success – Karen Hatch, Chad Brown, Karin House, Mollie Page, Michelle Flores, Wendy Burnham, Jessica Rice and Erin Vickers.

STUDENT SERVICES CONTACTS College Counselor (A-K) Siobhan McVeigh, 425-295-3030 smcveigh@eastsidecatholic.org

Middle School Counselor Sam Baker, 425-295-3053 sbaker@eastsidecatholic.org

College Counselor (L-Z) Cyrus Nassersaeid ‘08, 425-295-3015 cnassersaeid@eastsidecatholic.org

Director of Student Services Frances Carhart, 425-295-3128 fcarhart@eastsidecatholic.org

High School Counselor (A-K) Kasey Dauenhauer, 425-295-3144 kdauenhauer@eastsidecatholic.org

Registrar and Database Administrator Kathy Silverman, 425-295-3051 ksilverman@eastsidecatholic.org

High School Counselor (L-Z) Claudia Goodhew, 425-295-3052 cgoodhew@eastsidecatholic.org

Student Services Coordinator Karin House, 425-295-3048 khouse@eastsidecatholic.org

Schedule an appointment with an EC counselor via Calendly.