College Counseling Newsletter
April 2018
Dear Students and Parents,
Happy April! Apologies for the delay in getting this one out, but between our ongoing work with juniors, including our behind-the-scenes transition to our new college counseling software Cialfo (SEE-ahl-FO) and our support of seniors, who recently received the bulk of their college results, the newsletter took a backseat. That said, we hope you appreciate all that this month's issue has in store!
There are three key events in the next few weeks to make you aware of. First, we in College Counseling will present to the parents of Grades 8-11 in the Guy Lott Jr. Auditorium at 7 PM on Tuesday, April 17. This is an opportunity to share with parents various thoughts on the college process as we head into summer. Please consider attending!
Second, this Wednesday, April 11, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Stanford University, and Wellesley College will be presenting at 7 PM in the Guy Lott Jr. Auditorium. Any students interested in any of these colleges must register in advance through this link. This event is open to the public.
Third, on the evening of May 3, Bowdoin College, Haverford College, and Vassar College will provide a four-part program in the Guy Lott Jr. Auditorium starting at 6:30 PM; first, they will engage in a general presentation/workshop on the college essay, then they will present on the value of a liberal arts degree, and finally they will provide general information about each of their institutions before breaking out for individual conversations and a question-and-answer session. This event will also be open to the public, and it is a terrific opportunity for anyone interested in learning more about the college essay or liberal arts colleges. Registration information is forthcoming.
Finally, all past newsletters can be found on our Social Media Mash-Up page, an aggregation of all of our various outlets: our blog, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. If you are on any of these platforms, please follow and engage with us!
Here are some important items for everyone:
- More soon on our new college counseling software, Cialfo!
- Read this if you are planning college visits for the summer.
- Read this if you are considering test prep.
- Please complete this survey! (It is the same as last month as we did not get adequate responses. It will only take 2 minutes, and we want to hear from you, so please take the time to reply!)
- Around the Office: How your counselor's campus impacted his or her experience.
- Reminder: Check the School Calendar for all College Counseling events!
- We added a new FAQ section on the blog. Check it out!
Grade 12 (Class Of 2018)
- Reminder: Check Naviance & update your counselor with missing results!
- Most US colleges require a deposit by May 1!
- Do not double deposit!
- Read this if you were waitlisted.
- Did you know that colleges can rescind offers of admission?
- Making your final choice…
- Reminder: Take some time to thank those who have supported you!
- Reminder: Be sure to report your college results to your college counselor!
- Reminder: Mark your calendars! Cupcake Day is May 3. On this day, all seniors must come to College Counseling to notify us of their college decisions, complete a survey, and enjoy a delicious cupcake!
Grade 11 (Class Of 2019)
Consider this advice on the college essay, and review what we discussed in our recent college counseling class!
- Read about our process for requesting teacher letters of recommendation here.
- How to spend your summer wisely...
- Thinking about financial aid? Try Wellesley's net price calculator!
- Evaluating the likelihood of admissibility of your college list.
- Reminder: Teacher recommendation contracts due by May 1.
- Reminder: Draft of college essay due by April 18.
- Reminder: Resume due by May 1.
- Reminder: Keep working with your college counselor through to May 1! Is your next meeting scheduled? If not, get on Calendly! 15 minutes per night of homework on research.
Grade 10 (Class Of 2020)
- Note: We will meet with sophomores soon to discuss standardized testing.
- Here are some other tips on how you might spend your summer!
- How is your pursuit of your passion coming along?
- Parents: We've received lots of outreach with questions. Please review how best to work with college counseling.
Grade 9 (Class Of 2021)
That's all for now. Be sure to keep checking the blog and our various social media outlets. As always, be in touch with any questions, comments, or concerns!
Mr. Jeffrey Neill
Director of College Counseling
No. 800, Sec. 6, Chung-Shan N. Rd., Taipei, Taiwan
Phone: +886 (2) 2873-9900
Fax: +886 (2) 2873-1641
School website: https://www.tas.edu.tw