Add Workshops To The Newtown High School Senior’s ‘To Do’ List

By Eliza Hallabeck

In a recent interview, Newtown High School Guidance Counselor Jeff Tolson said the largest worry for students when it comes to their “To Do” list for college applications is writing their personal essay. New this year at the high school, weekly workshops will help to combat student fears on just that and more, according to Mr Tolson.

“The process of applying to college, can be a confusing, dizzying process,” “but we try to make it as clear and easy as possible. There is a lot to weed out, and a lot to get through. But we try to make that as simple as possible and find the easiest way to access that.”

More than half of the school’s auditorium filled with parents and students, in what Mr Tolson called a show of community support to the guidance office and their work for students, on Thursday, September 10, for Senior Planning Night, hosted by the Guidance Department.

“The essay tends to be the real piece that holds kids back,” said Mr Tolson, “and really a secret of the essay for a lot of kids is, they have already written that essay and they don’t know it. Meaning, they had a junior English class on American Literature and they wrote a beautiful piece on John Irving’s book and how it connected to them. That’s a wonderful college essay. It is a page and a half, it is about them, it shows, doesn’t tell, and it is sitting on their computer.”

A college essay can be sent with college applications to add a personal story to the process. A college essay, Mr Tolson said, shows who you are.

“A great tell-tale sign of a college essay would be, if I have five boys who are writing essays who are seniors,” Mr Tolson said, “they should be able to not put their names on those essays, slide them under my door and I should be able to tell with all five essays clearly who those kids are, because their voice is so present in those essays.”

Over the last couple of years Mr Tolson said the college application process has moved mostly online.

Handed out to students and parents at Senior Planning Night were a list of new workshops to help students with the college application process and a “To Do” list for seniors.

Workshops New This Year

New this year, workshops will be held at the school during the school day on Wednesdays. The workshops will be held in room B150/152 and will run during each lunch wave for 20 minutes and again at 2 pm.

The workshop on September 16 “Where should I apply?” will help students make lists that include good matches for them, including where and when.

On September 23, “Yeah, I’m applying to college…I have to do what?!” will be held for students to learn about the step needed to get transcripts, school reports, and recommendations sent to the school/schools of their choice.

On September 30, “What about my standardized test scores?” will help students sift through “score choice,” including what to retake and what to send.

On October 7, “Ok, so now what about $$$?” will talk to students about scholarship options with a brief guide to financial aid.

On October 14, “I have everything done but my essay,” will help students with what can be the biggest hold-up in the application process and share strategies.

On October 21, “Let’s apply!” will put students on a computer to apply online.

On October 28, “What a recap?” will review the previous workshops.

On November 4, “Not just UConn, ya know,” will share details with students about applying to the University of Connecticut, Southern Connecticut State University, Central Connecticut State University, Eastern Connecticut State University, and Western Connecticut State University.

On November 11, “Your turn!” will be an open opportunity for students to ask questions.

On November 18, “Your turn 2!” will be another open opportunity for students to ask questions.

Senior “To Do” List

Go on Naviance, www.connection.naviance.com/newtown. This is a great program to refine and limit your college choices, access forms, communicate with your counselor, edit your profile, and more.

Meet with your counselor to discuss future plans and review your college list. Schedule an appointment through any one of the secretaries, and parents are welcome.

If a student plans on playing Division I or II athletics in college, be sure to register with the NCAA (www.ncaaclearinghouse.net.) The student also needs to submit a request to release their transcript to Lynn Korotash in Guidance at NHS.

 Ask two teachers for recommendations. Complete a “Teacher Recommendation Form” for each teacher and provide each teacher with a stamped/addressed (to the college) envelope.

Complete a “Counselor Recommendation Form” and a “Parent Brag Sheet” available on Naviance.

Register for Fall SAT I, SAT II or ACT test administration at www.collegeboard.com and www.actstudent.org. Make sure to watch the deadlines, and for use on the websites use NHS CEEB with the code 070-550.

Have the student visit the campuses they are interested in.

Write the college essay. Have it proofread three to four times by different people, including an English teacher.

The student should keep themselves organized to meet all deadlines.

The student should complete a “Newtown High School Application Checklist,” which is a goldenrod colored sheet that can be found in the Guidance Office, for each college the student is interested in.

Complete one National Association for College Admission Counseling “Secondary School Report Form,” a white colored sheet that can be found in the Guidance Office, and the student should submit it to Guidance with the first school application. The Guidance Department only needs one of these sheets per student, not one per school.

The NHS Guidance Department will process up to six applications for free. A $5 processing fee will be charged for each additional application.