College Counseling

A: Superscoring is a method where a college can choose to take your best scores from each subject tested, even if these scores were earned on different testing dates. For an example, the college may choose to take your highest Math score from an SAT you took in June, and your highest Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing score from an SAT you took in October, to combine them to get your highest possible score. Some colleges also choose to superscore for the ACT components. Not all colleges superscore, so it is important that you do your research by visiting the college admission website or inquiring the admission office to find out what is true of the admission process for each particular institution.

A: It depends on the school's freshman profile. All schools have a median fifty percent SAT or ACT score range, or an average SAT or ACT score, even the test-optional schools. You can find this by searching for it on the admission website or by asking a college admission representative. If your scores fall within the range or above the range, it is recommended that you send your scores. If you fall below the range, only send them if your transcript needs additional support. Test-optional schools look heavily upon the transcript (rigor of classes taken and grades earned) to determine your readiness and fit for their program. If your transcript is not the strongest, you may want to consider sending in test scores as well. Some schools even provide a required minimum GPA in order to opt for test-optional.

A: This is entirely a personal preference. It is recommended that once your choose which test is a better fit for you, stick only to that test, and retake it at least once or twice more from when you originally took the test. You may choose which scores you send to a college, and therefore it is no risk to take the test multiple times. You may score higher months later just by the fact that you have more math under your belt than you had the last time you took the test. On the other hand, it is good to strike a healthy balance. If you have taken a test 3 or 4 times, it may be best to rest. I don't recommend taking the ACT and SAT within the same month, or repeatedly taking both tests over again.

A: You (the student) do. It is required that official standardized test scores be sent to colleges through the testing website - either the College Board (for the SAT) or the ACT website. You may choose to have your scores sent for free up to 4 colleges, however, you must make this decision before you take the test, before you get to see your scores.

Topics for Discussion

• Freshman year matters: it’s a fresh start, an opportunity to establish and maintain a strong GPA.

• Course selection matters and can set you on a trajectory. (This particularly applies to math courses).

• Now is the time to be establishing positive relationships with teachers, coaches, peers, and administration (foundation for glowing recommendation letters).

• Activities and involvement: choosing activities, maintaining involvement, looking for leadership and service opportunities. Discovering passions and interests.

• One on one meetings are not necessary during freshman year. If there is particular concern or interest, the Director of College Counseling will partner with the student’s school counselor, administration, and teachers to ensure that appropriate classes and curriculum are selected for the student depending on her interest and college goals.

Topics for Discussion

• Sophomore year matters: if your GPA suffered during freshman year, an upward trend in grades can be redemptive. Keep working hard at either maintaining a strong GPA or improving your freshman year GPA. The sooner you correct your course, the easier it is to boost your GPA and overall grade trend.

• Course selection: staying on track with course selection in order to meet and exceed college requirements for a specific major (math is of particular importance for highly selective STEM related fields).

• PSAT’s and test prep.

• Continue establishing positive relationships with teachers, coaches, peers, and administration (foundation for glowing recommendation letters).

• Activities and involvement: sustaining involvement in activities, exploring new activities, pursuing leadership opportunities as well as opportunities to serve the community. Continuing to discover passions and interests and seeking to dive deeper.

• Self-exploration: encourage students to think about their strengths. Which classes are the most engaging? Why? What do friends, teachers, and family members say about your strengths? How could these strengths lead to a potential course of study or occupation?

• Career exploration: college counseling will maintain a presence while school counseling conducts career assessments.

• Consider a summer pre-college program at a university for rising juniors and seniors.

• One on one meetings are not necessary during sophomore year. If there is particular concern, the Director of College Counseling will partner with the student’s school counselor, administration, and teachers to ensure that appropriate classes are selected for the student depending on her interest and college goals.

First Semester

September-November:

• In the fall of junior year, students should begin to explore test preparation.
   
• Colleges will be sending representatives to visit Oakland Catholic throughout the fall. Students will be able to view the schedule of visits in their SCOIR account, and must sign up ahead of time. These visits typically take place in the College Counseling Center, however, due to the global pandemic, this year visits took place virtually. If a student needs to miss class to meet with a college representative, she must have permission from her teacher.

November:

• Standardized testing discussion in classes: Test-optional admission, SAT/ACT content, differences, test prep information, suggested testing timeline, and creating your own standardized testing plan. Students should prepare to start taking the SAT or ACT in December of junior year, followed by either the ACT in February or the SAT in March of junior year.

December:

• Financial Aid Night (evening program together with Central Catholic). The college counseling offices at Oakland Catholic and Central Catholic will invite a representative from a financial aid office at a college/university who will facilitate the evening presentation and discussion. This night is open to all Oakland Catholic and Central Catholic juniors, seniors, and their families.

Second Semester

January:

• A session will be held in January to introduce  students to SCOIR. During this session we will assist students through initial registration, highlight college search features, demonstrate how to build a college list on SCOIR, and where to find upcoming college visits. Students will also be assigned a college counselor. Each college counselor will reach out to her students to set up an initial college counseling appointment. At this time, the Junior Questionnaire will be distributed in preparation for the individual counseling session. At the initial counseling session we will discuss: determining fit (academically, socially, financially) , researching colleges, building a balanced list, and next steps. 

February:

• Junior College Planning Night (evening program). Topics to cover: self-exploration, college exploration and research, and how colleges evaluate applicants. Admissions representatives and college counselors will talk to students and parents in a panel format.

February- June:

• Individual College Counseling Meetings: college research, creating a well-rounded list, finding the right “fit,” college visits, college interviews, focusing on your own process, schedule planning for senior year, and summer opportunities/plans.

• College visits: students will be allowed two excused absences during their junior year to visit colleges. Juniors are also encouraged to take advantage of days off such as spring break, President’s Day, and summer break to make college visits.

April:

• Recommendation letter discussion. Discussion on: what are teacher letters, what are counselor letters, selecting recommenders, selecting subject areas, number of recommenders, and recommendation procedures.

• Case Studies (evening program). Every other year, Oakland Catholic and Central Catholic will team up to host an evening of Case Studies for parents and students. Together, facilitated by the college counseling office, we will go through three applicants who are applying to a fictitious university. The parents and students are now tasked to be the admission committee in order to decide which of the applicants they will admit, waitlist, and deny. Facilitators will lead parents and students through the application review and decision making process to help provide perspective on how admission committees make decisions.

• College essays and resume prep (in classes). College counselors will collaborate with the English department to help guide students through the process of composing a reader-friendly college resume and writing a compelling application essay.

June – November

• Individual college counseling meetings. Students have the opportunity to schedule a time to come into the counseling office over the summer or during the fall to meet with their college counselor.

• Students are encouraged to visit colleges, tour, and interview when applicable (in person or virtually). Seniors are allowed three excused absences to visit colleges during the school year. Students may choose to reserve these for admitted student visits in the spring.

• SAT and ACT test taking and preparation. Students should have taken one SAT test and one ACT test. Once a student has chosen a test to retake, she should continue taking that particular test, as well as seek further test preparation if necessary. If a student is applying to a school that requires or recommends SAT II Subject Tests, these tests should be taken at this time; ideally immediately following completion of an advanced class in the subject.

• Submitting college applications. Students are encouraged to wait until August, at the earliest, to begin completing college applications. Students are encouraged by priority or early action deadlines (usually a November deadline).

August:

• College Application Boot Camp I & II. Two identical Boot Camps will be held in August. Each Boot Camp is a three-day event, lasting two hours/day, taking place either virtually or in the Lecture Hall at Oakland Catholic. This Boot Camp is open to seniors only. Students are required to bring their laptop, as the sessions revolve around completing the Common Application. Students will learn about  qualities admission committees are looking for in an applicant, how to make a lasting impression, and how to demonstrate interest. The Boot Camp will wrap up with an essay writing workshop.

September:

• During the first week of school, the college counselors will discuss college application procedures, timelines, deadlines, and policies. They will discuss the process of requesting recommendation letters, using SCOIR in the college application process, and college visits.

October:

• Senior Parent Night (evening program). The college counselors will review the application process and procedure with parents. They will discuss how colleges evaluate applications, expectations and student responsibilities, and the importance of focusing on each student’s own process.

November:

• Many application deadlines take place in November. Students should be preparing to submit applications and applying for financial aid through the FAFSA and CSS Profile (when necessary). 

• Athletics in the Admission Process (evening program).

December:

• Financial Aid Night (evening program together with Central Catholic). The college counseling offices at Oakland Catholic and Central Catholic will invite a representative from a financial aid office at a college/university who will facilitate the evening presentation and discussion. This night is open all Oakland Catholic and Central Catholic juniors, seniors, and their families.

December – May

• Individual college counseling meetings: decision-making, scholarships, evaluating financial aid offers, final college visits, demonstrated interest, and the waitlist.

• College visits: seniors are allowed three excused absences for making college visits. Many colleges host admitted student programs in April. If a student is considering enrolling at a particular school and has not visited, it is encouraged that she visits the school before committing.

March:

• Regular decision results, the waitlist, making final decisions, depositing, recording all results in Naviance, and sending final transcripts. Discussion will include what it means to be waitlisted, actions to take when on the waitlist, and depositing to only one college.

May:

• Graduation Survey: how to complete this survey in SCOIR in order to ensure that all results and final college decisions are reported. This is important so that the student’s final transcript will be sent to the appropriate college and for school reporting purposes.