Counselor Connections
Newsletter from Mount St. Mary Counseling Department
September 20, 2022
While all parents are invited, the presentation and discussions will focus mostly on the tasks associated with filling out applications this fall and through January.
Our series continues in October with Mr. Mark Morlock, CPFA. Mr. Morlock will talk with our parents about the financial aid process of applying to college. This presentation is open to all parents. It's never too early to begin preparing for the college years.
Calendar
- Sept 22 - Coffee & College Conversation evening presentation - 6:30-8:00 pm Room 216
- Sept 23 - Coffee & College Conversation morning presentation - 8:15-9:15 am Library
- Sept 26 - PSAT Workshop 3:00-4:30 pm Room 216
- Oct 1 - SAT
- Oct 1 - FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) opens
- Oct 1 - CSS Profile (College Scholarship Service Profile) opens
- Oct 3 - Buffalo Service Academy Night - 6:00 pm
- Oct 3 - PSAT Workshop 3:00-4:30 pm Room 216
- Oct 7 - Registration deadline for Nov 5 SAT
- Oct. 12 - PSAT Testing Day for grades 9, 10, 11
- Oct. 12 - No School for Seniors
- Oct 13 - College & Coffee Conversation Financial Aid presentation - 6:15-8:00 Cafeteria
- Oct 14 - College & Coffee Conversation Financial Aid morning presentation - 8:15-9:15 am Library
- Oct 22 - ACT
- Nov 3 - Registration deadline for Dec 3 SAT
- Nov 4 - Registration deadline for Dec 10 ACT
- Nov 5 - SAT
- Dec 3 - SAT
PSAT Workshop
A Note from Mrs. Shepard
Parents planning to pick up their student at the end of testing should use the information below about length of tests and add 45 minutes. Students are not allowed to have their phones with them in their testing room and each classroom will start and finish at different times.
The cafeteria will be open all day for students to congregate after testing is completed. No food service is available on this day. Students who need to remain at school until 2:30 or later should bring their own food.
Busses will run at regular times before school. Please contact your home district to find out when they will run a bus from Mount St. Mary in the afternoon.
PSAT Testing Day Wednesday October 12
Testing Day Information: Students in grades 9-11 will sit for the PSAT test on Wednesday, October 12 2022. 9th grade students take the ‘PSAT 8/9’, and 10th & 11th grade students take the ‘PSAT/NMSQT’.
PSAT 8/9 is a 2 hour, 25 minute exam that covers three academic areas: Reading, Writing & Language, and Math.
Reading: 55 minutes, 42 questions
Writing & Language: 30 minutes, 40 questions
Math: 60 minutes, 38 questions
PSAT/NMSQT is a 2 hour, 45 minute exam that covers three academic areas: Reading, Writing & Language, and Math.
This is the test most people think of when they hear “PSAT.” A sufficiently high score on the PSAT/NMSQT can qualify your junior student for a National Merit Scholarship. While it is extremely competitive to receive this particular scholarship, many schools and corporations offer additional scholarships to students who receive high scores on the PSAT.
Reading: 60 minutes, 47 questions
Writing & Language: 35 minutes, 44 questions
Math: 70 minutes, 48 questions
Why? We administer this suite of exams in house for several reasons. First, it helps students target areas to focus on for their upcoming SAT (typically taken in the Spring of their Junior year). Students can also predict how they might perform on the SAT by using their PSAT scores.
Preparing for the Test We highly recommend that students take some time to review practice questions, which can be found here:
https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt/preparing
https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/psat-8-9/preparing
Last but not Least: This test has no impact on your student’s overall GPA or any grade. Scores are not submitted to colleges. The experience of sitting for a test like this is so valuable!
Ms. Osborne's College & Career Corner
College Admissions Visit Guidelines
Beginning last week, Mount started welcoming college admissions representatives to our Career Center (Room 205) to talk with prospective students about their schools. The visits with representatives provide an excellent opportunity for our students to learn about different programs, financial aid, scholarships, open houses and campus life of colleges and universities from across the country.
Here are some guidelines regarding the visits:
Visits are available to Seniors and Juniors only;
Students interested in a particular admissions visit should register to attend through Scoir;
Students must check in with their teacher before coming to the Career Center for a visit;
Students may not miss a test/quiz/assessment to come to a visit;
Students should be thoughtful in the visits they choose to attend so as not to miss too much class time;
Teachers will be notified of students in attendance.
Students should check the Scoir calendar or the Mount Instagram page regularly for the most up to date visit schedule!
If you have any questions please reach out to Ms. Osborne in the Career Center!
From the Desk of Mrs. Uhl
With Mon Oct 10 (Indigenous Peoples' and Columbus Day) and Wed Oct 12 (PSAT for 9 -11 grades) being days off of school for seniors, families should consider making Tues Oct 11 an official college visit day for their senior student. Mount St. Mary allows 2 college visit days for its students as an excused absence. A form is available in Ms. Osborne's room (205). Students bring it to their teachers for a signature. When complete, forms are turned into Mrs. Uhl (room 206).
Families can schedule a longer trip during these days or visit local schools. Most colleges schedule Open Houses on weekends, offering tours and presentations. If visiting during the week, arrangements must be made with the Admissions Offices of each school.
Whenever a visit is made to a campus for the purposes of exploring, it is important to schedule an official visit through the Admissions Office. College representatives keep track of students who visit their campus. Representatives are skilled and trained to provide information and answer questions you may have about their school.
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
QuestBridge
QuestBridge is looking for high school seniors who have shown outstanding academic ability despite financial challenges. Theytake a holistic approach to reviewing applications, and we do not have absolute criteria or cut-offs for GPA, standardized test scores, income, or other factors.
Application deadline is September 27, 2022.
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer Opportunities:
SABAH Evening & Weekend Program
SABAH’s Evening & Weekend program provides adaptive ice skating for individuals, of any age, challenged by a disability. The program is offered weekly, from October through March, at four locations throughout WNY. Each session lasts approximately one hour and includes basic skating skills, games, some free time, and a lot of fun!
For more information or to register as a volunteer, please visit www.sabahinc.org/volunteer
Danceability
Danceability is looking for volunteers to assist dancers, challenged by a disability, one on one under the direction of their instructors, who are physical therapists, social workers, special ed teachers and counselors.
Volunteers must be 16 years of age or more and be able to commit 1 hr a week from September through May with breaks for the holidays. There is a Volunteer Open House on Tuesday, September 13th from 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM.
Questions? Call (716)651-0094 or email info@danceabilityinc.org
For more information please visit www.danceabilityinc.org/volunteers/
Counseling & Wellness Staff
Kelli Shepard - 9th & 10th grade Counselor - kshepard@msmacademy.org
Joanne Uhl - 11th & 12th grade Counselor - juhl@msmacademy.org
Jessica Gertz - School Social Worker - jbliss@msmacademy.org
Jordan Osborne - College & Career Center Coordinator - josborne@msmacademy.org
Mount St. Mary Academy
Mount St. Mary Academy, founded by the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur, is a Catholic, private, college preparatory school for young women. Within a nurturing and academically challenging and inclusive environment, the Academy strives to develop the whole person’s gifts and potential. Guided by our Catholic tradition, and rooted in Gospel values, we empower scholars to be leaders dedicated to lifelong learning, moral integrity, social justice, and service to and inclusion of others.
We Believe in You!
Email: juhl@msmacademy.org
Website: msmacademy.org
Location: 3756 Delaware Ave, Kenmore NY 14217
Phone: (716) 877-1358
Facebook: facebook.com/msmacademy
Twitter: @msmacademy
Conversations about College Admissions
- Claire Nold-Glaser, Independent Counselor of College Planning Help
- Christina Caucci-Anderson, Admissions Counselor, Office of Undergraduate Admissions SUNY University at Buffalo
- Kristin Schultz, Regional Recruitment Director, Undergraduate Admissions Xavier University
Previous Newsletters
September 13 Counselor Connections Newsletter
September 6 Counselor Connections Newsletter
June 7 Counselor Connections Newsletter