College Counseling Updates – Kris Nilsen’s All Things College
Nilsen’s News
Class of 2022! October 18, 2021
Click Here for all things college!
MAKE SURE THE FOLLOWING IS COMPLETED NOW!
- Finish YouScience Assessment if haven’t already
- Sign FERPA Release and Waiver
- Send Recommendation requests to chosen facilitators (Go to the “My Colleges” tab. In the top right corner click on “Application Documents”. Then click on “Teacher Recommendations”.
- Research colleges on your list
- Move colleges from “Following” or “Suggested” to the applying column if applying and then applied
- Keep up with application deadlines.
COLLEGE APPLICATION TIMELINE/OCTOBER
- Apply to your California State University (CSU) campuses right now. Use your transcript in your Pathways Student Portal for reference purposes.
- Finish your Common App for your chosen EA/ED schools and submit. Do NOT report your SAT/ACT scores on your Common App because then you’ll forfeit your right to apply test-optional to some places…that is, if you plan to go test-optional at designated places.
- Make sure your letter-writing facilitators are identified in SCOIR.
- You and your folks should complete the FAFSA. You will not be informed of Early Admissions financial aid until after you’ve completed this step, so do it now.
Check to see if any of your private colleges also require completion and submission of the CSS/Profile. You most likely have some.
FAFSA IS NOW OPEN / DOWNLOAD THE APP ABOVE
WHAT IS THE CSS PROFILE FOR?
The CSS Profile is an online application used by colleges and scholarship programs to award Institutional (their own) aid. It is an application that universities use to gauge how much non-federal financial aid you need. Private colleges mostly use the CSS Profile.Check your prospective colleges against this list:
https://profile.collegeboard.org/profile/ppi/participatingInstitutions.aspx.
If you find one or more of your colleges there, you should then in addition to the FAFSA, complete the CSS/Profile. You will not be informed of Early Admissions financial aid until after you’ve completed this step, so do it now.
CSS STUDENT GUIDE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE NEWSLETTER
THE COLLEGE SEARCH HAS NEVER BEEN SO FUN! DOWNLOAD THE APPS TOO!
COLLEGE EXPRESS
COLLEGE FAIR
https://thecollegefair.com/
NICHE
https://www.niche.com/
WHAT IS NATIONAL PORTFOLIO DAY?
SIGN UP NOW!
Most colleges are test-optional this year due to Covid 19 but If you would like to take the SAT, it is being offered on-site:
When: Thursday October 28, 2021 Where: The Village room in lower school
Time: 8:30 am – 1:30 pm
Proctor: Mrs. Nilsen
Cost: $60 (Cash or Check made out to SCVi)
Limited Seating / First Come First Serve
Email kris.nilsen@scvi-k12.org to reserve a spot
CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW TO ACCESS APPLICATION WEBSITES
Get Common App For Mobile
- App. Opens 10/1
- One application/different essays depending on college
- If application waivers are needed, request in Common App
University of California Apply
Submit 11/1-11/30
$70 per campus
One Application
Self-report all classes and grades
No recommendations needed
Can request Application Waiver in application
Required to answer 4 out of 8 short answer personal insight questions
Due November 30th
Cal State Apply
App. Opens 10/1
$70 per campus
One Application
Login to Student Portal to view transcript
Self-report all classes and grades
No recommendations needed
Can request application waiver in application
Due November 30th
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY DEADLINES
Once you have submitted your first application you will not be able to make any changes. Please review your application carefully and resolve any issues before submitting your first application.
November 30, 2021
- Fresno State
- Cal State Fullerton
- Cal State Long Beach
- Cal State LA
- Cal Poly Pomona
- San Diego State
- San José State
- Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
December 15, 2021
- CSU Bakersfield
- CSU Channel Islands
- Chico State
- CSU Dominguez Hills
- CSU Monterey Bay
- CSUN (Northridge)
- Sacramento State
- Cal State San Bernardino
- CSU San Marcos
- Sonoma State
Later Deadlines
- Cal State East Bay (2/15/22)
- Humboldt State (2/28/22)
- Cal Maritime (7/1/22)
- San Francisco State (12/30/21)
ETHAN SAWYER IS HERE TO HELP YOU
HOW TO ANSWER THE UC PERSONAL INSIGHT QUESTIONS
Oct 9th, 16th, & 23rd
Saturdays | 2:00-4:00 pm PT (5-7:00pm ET)
Register Here
Need Help With Your College Applications?
How to Write a Successful Common App Activities List: You get 10 spots and 150 characters to describe each of your extracurricular activities. How do you make the most of that space? This in-depth guide (with examples) may help.
How to Use the Additional Information Section: This is probably the most underutilized section of the application. Though optional, it provides an important opportunity for some students to provide context for their application.
The College Essay Guy YouTube Channel: I’ve spent a ton of time the last 9 months recording tons of new videos, from my full guide to the “Why Us?” essay, tips on the UC personal insight questions, to reviewing some of my favorite essay examples of all time. Subscribe if you’d like to get notified; I publish a new video each week.
The Dangers of Getting Personal Statement Feedback From Too Many People: A helpful lesson from Pete the Cat.
How to Write a Super Essay by Combining Essay Prompts: If you’re writing separate essays for all your supplemental essays, this one’s for you. Write better essays and save hours drafting by finding opportunities for overlap among your college essay prompts.
The College Application Hub:Okay, I lied. I had a few more resources come to mind that I wanted to share as I wrote this email, so here’s my College Application Hub, which has pretty much all the things, organized by category.
FEATURED COLLEGE!
Each week, Mrs. Nilsen will provide insight into unique college options for learners & families:
- Fiske Guide to Colleges 2021 – an annual comprehensive catalog of diverse universities here in California and nationwide.
- Colleges That Change Lives – 44 liberal arts colleges that support the goal of every student finding a college that develops a lifelong love of learning and provides the foundation for a successful and fulfilling life beyond college.
- Colleges that Create Futures – looks beyond the usual “best of” college lists to highlight 50 schools that empower students to discover practical, real-world applications for their talents and interests.
This Week: Whitman College / Go Blues!
345 Boyer Avenue, Walla Walla, Washington
Click here for Admissions Info
Click here for Tuition & Financial Aid Info
Enrollment: 1,529
Undergraduates Only!
Acceptance Rate: 56%
Male/Female: 43/57
Private
Test Optional
Strong Programs: Biology, Psychology, Economics, Politics, Environmental Studies, English, Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology, Astronomy.
“Indeed, when asked what kind of person should come here, the first thing a Whitman student is likely to say is, ‘If you’re not willing to get involved, don’t bother to come here.’ By involved that student would mean in one’s studies, with one another, with teachers, and in campus life.”
~Colleges That Change Lives
Details:
- 9:1 Student-to-faculty ratio
- Average class size: 18
- 77% of students receive financial assistance
- Whitman is an independent, co-educational, non-sectarian, residential, liberal arts and sciences undergraduate college
- Historic Walla, Walla, recently named ‘Friendliest Town in America,’ is in the scenic sunny southeastern corner of Washington, 3 hours from Spokane, 4 from Portland and 4.5 hours from Seattle
- 98% of full-time faculty hold the most advanced degree in their field; there are no teaching assistants
- 51 majors
- 3 combined programs
- Engineering (with California Institute of Technology (CalTech), Columbia University,Washington University in St. Louis, and the University of Washington)
- Oceanography (with University of Washington)
- Forestry and Environmental Management (with Duke)
- 75% of students live on campus; freshman and sophomores are required
- 70% of students volunteer
- More than 22 music groups and ensembles; 8 theater productions stage per year
- NCAA Division III, Northwest Conference, 8 varsity teams for men and 9 for women
- Social life revolves around on-campus activities
- 35% men and 34% of women go Greek (Fraternities and Sororities) “Greek life at Whitman is very relaxed”
- In good weather, students gather on Ankeny Field to study, toss a Frisbee, or relax, and watching the sun set over the wheat fields is a popular pastime
- Everyone looks forward to the annual basketball rivalry game against Whitworth University (the “Battle of the Whits”)
- The Walla Walla are is small and quaint
- Autumn is gorgeous, winter sporadically snowy, and spring delightfully warm.
- Hiking, biking, and backpacking are minutes away
- White-water rafting and rock climbing are popular on weekends
“If you are choosing a liberal arts school in the Northwest,” says a student, “choose Whitman”!
Appointment w/Nilsen
For availability, click HERE.Choose a time that works with your schedule. Fill out information and choose In-Person or Virtual
Appointment will be added to my google calendar. If in person, come to my office (by Etta James)
If virtual, at the time of the meeting click HERE!
Meeting ID-881-632-1018
Password: College
StudentSquare
StudentSquare is linked to ParentSquare. Learners need to do the following:
- Download the app
- Sign In (uses school email)
- Edit account and add cell phone number
Follow Me On Twitter & Instagram
@NilsenLovesCollege
Twitter
Instagram
Pathways Student Portal / Login Regularly
The student portal is a great way to stay on track throughout the semester. Please login regularly.
REPORTING: There are 3 tabs.
“SCVi 4 year plan”: Click on each subject to see what grades you received and credits earned.
Transcripts: View and print unofficial transcript. Also make sure all classes and grades are up to date.
Class Attendance:
View attendance by month. When getting attendance emails, you can check here to see what class and facilitator issued the absence.
Class Schedule:
Make sure the classes listed here are the classes you are physically attending. If the class is not listed, you are not “in” the class.
Resources:
Helpful links and information. If you login to the portal first, you will be able to access all programs at SCVi (Brightspace, SCOIR, College, etc)
Pathway Student Portal Login
We Are In This Together!
iLEAD Student Support Counseling Website
California Help Line
We Are In This Together!
Click below for some awesome resources to help you through difficult times.
California Help Line
California has launched a “Peer-Run” mental health hot-line for kids to get help before a crisis occurs. The numbers and hours for Los Angeles County are below:
1-888-448-9777 (English and by text)
1-888-448-4055 (Spanish and by text)
The number will be staffed the following hours:
M-F: 5pm – 10pm
Sat: 11am-4pm
Sun: Closed
Help is just a phone call away!
Mrs. Nilsen
Mrs. Nilsen
@NilsenLovesCollege
Academic/College/IB Counselor
28060 Hasley Canyon Road, Castaic, CA, USAkris.nilsen@scvi-k12.org661-704-4823scvi-k12.org
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