PHS Spring Guidance Newsletter
College & Career Planning
Use Your Summer Wisely!
With no homework or projects to complete, summer is an ideal time for students to start thinking about college.
Research colleges!
With college search tools on Naviance, students can use over 20 search criteria to help find colleges that are the right fit for them and save schools under their “Colleges I’m Thinking About” list. The Sophomore & Junior class has used Naviance to research over 450 colleges!
How to Do a College Search on Naviance: https://sites.google.com/a/pennridge.us/psd-guidance/home/naviance
Not sure where to start? Check out the top 20 colleges that current 10th and 11th graders at PHS have saved to their Naviance accounts!
- Duke University
- Harvard University
- Bucknell University
- University of Delaware
- Arcadia University
- Kutztown University
- West Chester University
- Lehigh University
- Bloomsburg University
- Pennsylvania State University- All Campuses
- St. Joseph’s University
- La Salle University
- New York University
- Lafayette University
- Millersville University
- Villanova University
- University of Pennsylvania
- Drexel University
- University of Pittsburgh
- Temple University
College Visits
Visit the College and Career Center in room 223 for information!
Spring 2017 Upcoming Visits:
To view upcoming visits, go to the “College” tab on Naviance and click on “Upcoming College Visits”. To register for a visit, simply click the ones you would like to attend. The schedule is updated frequently, so be sure to check it weekly.
Visiting Colleges:
If you are planning on going to a college for a college visit, be sure to get the proper paperwork filled out ahead of time! Did you know that you can go on 3 college visits and the absences will not count against you? The college visit paperwork can be found in either the Attendance Office or in the College and Career Center.
Visiting colleges is the best way to figure out what type of college is the best fit for you. Tour an array of campuses - small, large, private, public, urban, rural - to discover what attributes are most important to you.
Questions to ask on your college visit: https://docs.google.com/document/d/17XMDv3JEPt4Q2CThOnKwXCdzExo0c_qT-YpKuzOyHXQ/edit?usp=sharing
If you are not able to travel to a college check out the website You Visit which offers over 500 virtual college tours.
https://www.youvisit.com/education/?nabe=6155844391796736:0 virtual college tour
Prepare for College Applications
Before applying to any school, it’s a good idea to look over admission requirements to make sure you are meeting the mark. Students should be utilizing the colleges I am thinking about tool in Naviance to compare admission criteria. In addition to GPA and test scores, colleges also consider things like admissions essays and work/volunteer/enrichment experiences when making admissions decisions.
See the picture below for an example of the Comparison Chart on Naviance!
Summer Enrichment Programs
Below are a sample of programs offered this summer. Visit the College and Career Center to find more. Many programs have registration deadlines, fees, etc.
● UPenn- http://www.sas.upenn.edu/summer/programs/high-school
● Temple- https://www.temple.edu/summer/highschoolstudents
● Penn State- https://www.summerdiscovery.com/penn-state
● University of Pittsburgh- https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/ccld/lead/bridge/
● Villanova: https://www.jkcp.com/program/enrichment-for-high-school-students.php
● Drexel- http://drexel.edu/undergrad/summer/
Common App Tutorial Video
2017-2018 Common Application Essay Prompts:
1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
4. Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma - anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.
5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.
Got Spring Fever?
Summer is in sight, but stay motivated for the fourth quarter!
● Maintain routines- Schedule time for studying, recreation, meals, and sleep.
● Reorganize- Complete an end of the quarter backpack, locker, and binder cleanup to start the new quarter fresh.
● Monitor grades- Check your grades on Powerschool frequently to catch them before they start to slip.
Finish Strong!
PHS Guidance Department
Website: https://sites.google.com/a/pennridge.us/psd-guidance/
Location: 1225 N 5th St, Perkasie, PA, United States
Phone: 215-453-6944
Twitter: @PRidgeGuidance