Naviance: What is it and how do I log-in?

Naviance is a commonly used on-line system where students can access their account to connect with their high school guidance department. This helps streamline the college admissions process and career assessment and planning. Not all high schools use Naviance but all are quite similar. Also, Naviance can be uploaded on mobile devices through it’s App.

Here are some simple directions on how to navigate Naviance.

  1. Go to https://www.naviance.com/resources/tag/family-connection
  2. Click on “log in” upper right corner and choose ‘students/families’
  3. Type in your Zip Code (or where your student’s high school is located)
  4. Click on the high school listed

  5. To check your student’s GPA you’ll need to:

    1. Click on “About Me” link (upper right hand corner)
    2. This should take you to the “General Information” page, if not, click on that tab.
    3. Then, scroll down toward the bottom. On the right side, you’ll see GPA

 

How to ride out the tide of uncertainty and discomfort: Advice on how you and your rising senior can get through the uncomfortable stages of growing up.

You nag, he yells!

You ask, she snaps back!

You ignore, she slams the door!

It’s that time of year, when the rising senior in your home may display one or more of the following behaviors: unmotivated, cranky, short tempered, inpatient, incommunicable, indecisive. 

Here are a few suggestions to help you and your teen manage her senior year together. 

1.   Give space (at least for a short time): The few weeks leading up to senior year can be an uncomfortable time for you and your teen. She may need to ‘nest’ a bit before gearing up to take flight and complete the entire college application process. 

Your student may need a bit of time to pull back and hug her childhood teddy bears a bit more before taking on the expectations of senior year.  If he is unsure of a final college list, give him more time to ‘sit’ on the decision. 

Senior year and the college application process is a time for the old parenting ‘push/pull’ phenomena where the teen seems less confident and more anxious than other times of the year. This is a process. Hold on through these times of discomfort. They will pass.

2.   Plan out the year:

Use your calendar for plugging in all the dates of personal and school commitments. Remind your teen that she should take time for herself during the year. Enjoy senior year traditions. Don’t fret too much as the college application process takes time.

3.   Acknowledge the discomfort:

Regardless of whether your teen wants to talk about it, I recommend acknowledging how this is an uncomfortable time for her and you. Just a simple conversation about how it’s normal to feel sad, frustrated and scared will help your teen process her emotions better and normalize the negative feelings. Arguments will happen. Your teen and you will make mistakes. The process of parenting through the college application process and senior year is not supposed to be flawless. Embrace and acknowledge that once your teen leaves home, he will most likely grow to appreciate where he came from. Sometimes a teen needs to leave for that appreciation to develop. 

It’s OK to doubt yourself. It’s OK to feel anxious. Process these emotions so you can move forward and take on your senior year!

 

 

College Interview Tips

Many colleges, small ones in particular, require or highly recommend that applicants interview as a component of their admissions application. This is a time for you to shine, ask questions, and to hear a college representative's take on the institution. It adds to your application and can help you decide, if accepted, if you want to enroll next year. A student may also be asked to interview for admission into a specific program at both large and small institutions. 

Depending on each school, interviews are conducted by admissions representatives or local alumni, who usually interview applicants in his/her geographic area. Many times, however, it is advantageous for the applicant to interview on campus with an admissions representative. It shows your level of interest and commitment to potentially enrolling if accepted.

Here are a few quick tips to help an applicant prepare for an interview.

1. Prepare:

  1. Do your research: Read through the college's website about potential areas of study, activities on campus, study abroad opportunities-- any aspect for which you are interested in, be prepared to ask questions.
  2. Attire: Dress appropriately for the interview. Silence your phone. Don't chew gum. Make eye contact while shaking the interviewers hand and be on time. Ask for the person's contact information so you can send a thank you note. 
  3. Relax, you got this! Arrive about 10 minutes early so you can relax. Practice with a sibling or friend so you can prepare talking about yourself and the school. 
  4. Practice talking about the following:
    1. Why you are interested in attending this college?
    2. Why is this college a good match with you?
    3. What qualities do you have that can contribute to the college community?
    4. Know your GPA and test scores and be prepared to discuss your extracurricular activities. 
    5. Last, express your personality! Smile, make eye contact and be able to discuss what motivates you and why.

2. Why Interview?

Many small colleges use a more holistic approach to assessing applicants. Therefore, meeting each applicant in person can help each student's chances, especially the marginal applicant. 

The college is looking to gain a better understanding of you as a person. Expressing your interests, experiences and personality during the interview is unique to what's learned through just reading the written application. 

3. Last, avoid yes and no answers. Practice answering with a short yet full answer to the question.  Practice is the key to success.

You've got this!

 

 

 

Hey Seniors, It’s Summer time! Let’s write our college essays!

By: Suzanne Lagemann, M.A.

The essay is my favorite part of the college application. When I worked in Admissions, I looked forward to reading each essay as it gave insight into the person applying.

Here are some key aspects of a strong essay.

1. The essay should tell a unique story about you. You have complete control over this part of your application.

2. Admissions committees do not take a long time to read and review each application. Therefore, an essay that ‘hooks’ the reader will stand out in the admission officer’s mind, for whom will inevitably be the person that delivers and discusses your application to the committee.

3. Don’t write what you think the admissions committee wants to hear. I repeat, don’t write what you think they want to hear. Your entire application should be about you, not someone who you think they’ll accept.

4. Do not repeat any information about you that has already been communicated in other parts or your application.

5. Speak directly. Your voice will be heard. Discuss parts of you that you are most proud of.

Here is a quick outline of how to go about creating your essay.

1. Writing is a process. Have patience. Many students have been asked to write a personal narrative. If so, you can refer back to that assignment to help you start the process of your college essay. It should take at least 3 to 4 drafts for a well-crafted essay.

2. Take time to choose the right topic. A unique quality about you, experience or event should be discussed but it should be relevant to who you are today and who you want to become in the future. So, take time to write down a number of topic ideas. Think about them and start a draft of one or a few of your ideas. Over time, you will see which topic stands out and for which you feel most passionate about.

3. The idea you chose to write about should be simple. Simple.

4. Share a piece of who you are and reflect: For example, I am a listener. I like to ask questions and take the time to listen. At one of my first jobs, I realized that I enjoyed advising and working with students because I was a person in their life that listened to their thoughts and problems. It has helped me to be a strong student advocate, counselor and teacher.

5. Make sure you are answering the essay prompt

6. Have a teacher or counselor review your essay

7. Ensure that you have carved out time over the entire Summer to dedicate to working through each state of the writing process. Manage your time.

How to navigate college with learning differences

By Suzanne Lagemann, MA
Along with the ups and downs of your teen leaving home to head off to college, students with learning differences need to also ensure that they understand their rights and responsibilities in receiving similar accommodations that they had in high school.

Unlike in a public school system, colleges and universities do not provide a case study team, nor is there a ‘special services’ department. But they do have a disability resource center (DRC), or an office of a similar title, that provides student support for their need for reasonable accommodations.

How do students and parents begin to understand how it works? Here is a basic breakdown of the three key areas that need explaining.

1. Student:

If you are a student who had an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or a 504 plan or any other arranged accommodation, you need to contact the disability resource center (DRC) at the college you attend or plan to attend.

 It is the student’s responsibility to self-identify as a person who is eligible to receive accommodations at the college or university.

In general, colleges need up-to-date documentation. Therefore, a student must bring his documents from his high school or from a private doctor who administered a series of assessments, which was then used to support academic accommodations. Documentation should be from within 3 years from the time you request accommodations.

2. Disability Resource Office:

A student should bring her documentation to the university’s disability resource center (DRC). It is up to the student to request accommodations with supportive documentation. The student should request the same accommodations as he received in high school.

I have worked with and taught students who decided that they would just 'wait and see' if they needed accommodations at college. Not a good idea. Securing extra test-taking time, note-taking support or other basic accommodation should be arranged prior to the start of the semester. Make your transition to college as smooth as possible. 

3. Professor:

The student must hand a copy of the DRC form to each professor, which states the reasonable and appropriate accommodations.

The professor will not be informed of the learning difference diagnosis, but will only be told of the appropriate accommodations. The professor, by law, must provide those accommodations for the student.

At the beginning of each semester, professors should review how college students receive academic accommodations.  As a professor of a new student seminar, I review how to go about this and the importance of taking the initiative to do so.

**It is important to know that if a student waits until the middle of the semester, after struggling, to notify the DRC of his learning difference, the accommodations are not retroactive. The assistance would start when the professor(s) receives an official DRC form stating the needed accommodations.**

Prospective college student:

You should inquire about the college’s DRC when visiting campus as a prospective college student. Ask to visit the office while on campus so you can see the size and scope of their services.

Every college that receives federal aid has a disability resource center, but some schools have allocated more resources to this office than others.

Also, review the college’s DRC page on their website. This can provide valuable insight.

Overall, I find my students who request academic accommodations to have a strong understanding of their needs and how to navigate their education experience accordingly.  Success is the result of the student taking responsibility.

For more information: www.LDAAmerica.org

 

 

 

 

What Colleges are looking for....

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 15, 2018

Rankings for What Colleges are Really Looking for in Admissions

 Fairfax, VA – The Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) released today its ranking of What Colleges Look for in High School Students, based on an annual survey of nearly 2,000 independent educational consultants. While grades and standardized test scores are near the top of these annual rankings, a number of significant changes and surprises are challenging the assumptions about college admissions. Number 1 on the list: A challenging curriculum. New to the list: The family’s ability to pay tuition. The much-discussed social media presence of students? Not so much.

Students applying to college in the coming year often fret over every detail of the application. However, the new rankings from IECA should be a reminder to students that not all aspects of the application are treated equally. The association advises students not to worry about things that don’t matter all that much in the colleges’ decision-making.

Many students and parents are surprised to hear that the leading criteria universities want to see isn’t grades (#2) or standardized test scores (#3), but rather evidence that a student took as rigorous a high school curriculum as they could. “Colleges want to know that future students don’t shy away from a challenge,” said IECA’s CEO, Mark Sklarow. “Grades and scores are important, but it is far better to accept a challenge, show some grit, and earn a slightly lower grade if necessary than to breeze through high school with easy courses and straight A’s.”

Item #4 in the ranking—the essay—is also the most misunderstood, according to IECA. The essay tends to be more important at smaller and independent colleges. But too many students think the essay is about construction, grammar and format. The association warns that while these matter (typos and bad grammar should never happen), the essay must show insight into a student’s unique personality or life-shaping experiences. An essay that worked in an English class is unlikely to be one that is appropriate for the college application. “This essay should help the reader—that all-important admission counselor—better appreciate who you are, what shaped you, and what makes you tick,” says Sklarow. “That doesn’t mean a student needs some life altering trip; rather a simple ongoing volunteer commitment or personal interaction may be worth sharing.”

Two new items ranked on the 2018–19 list from IECA. Debuting at #7 is the family’s ability to pay. While some schools are “need blind” in their admissions decisions, most are not. Increasingly, according to IECA, colleges take into consideration who can contribute to the school’s bottom line. The other new criteria this year was a student’s character and values (#12). Colleges increasingly contemplate what campus life will be like and how a particular applicant will add—or detract—from the campus. Colleges want to see leaders, students with special skills or talents, and those who have been active in campus activities, as well as those whose values fit a college’s view of itself. Colleges also seek diversity, striving for a campus made up of those from varied cultural, social, economic, geographic, religious, and occupational backgrounds (#9).

Much has been written in recent years about two areas: demonstrated interest (how an applicant demonstrates a genuine desire to attend) and social media (what a student’s online life reveals). The IECA rankings showed these areas to be of less importance than other items.

Sklarow cautioned that “Every college is unique, so each emphasizes something different in its process of reviewing applications. One of the great benefits of hiring an independent educational consultant is their knowledge of such differences, and their ability to share this information with students as they guide them through the application process.”

About IECA

IECA was founded in 1976 as a nonprofit, professional association of established independent educational consultants. IECA member independent educational consultants are professionals who assist students and families with educational decision-making. Their educational backgrounds, specialized training, campus visitations, and professional experience equip them to help students choose schools, colleges, or programs that meet their individual needs and goals. Membership in the Association requires an appropriate master’s degree or comparable training and a minimum of three years of experience in the profession, as well as meeting IECA’s professional standards and subscribing to its Principles of Good Practice. Members continually update their knowledge and maintain skills through IECA-sponsored meetings, workshops, training programs, webinars, and information exchanges with colleges, schools, programs, and other IECs.

Suzanne Lagemann, M.A.

Associate Member, IECA

suzannelagemann@gmail.com

201-956-1825

www.IECAonline.com

Transitions in Life: when you can’t control everything

My Grandma used to say, “The only thing constant in life is change.” Well, now as a middle aged adult, I can understand the true meaning behind such a simple sentence. Just last night, I attended a middle school parent orientation and although it wasn’t labelled as such, it was all about helping parents with the upcoming transition; your child will move on from the comforts of the single teacher-assigned class room model to a bigger school with multiple teachers who specialize in single subjects. Fear of your child not having friends, not opening his locker and struggling with time management are just some of the common uncertainties typically faced by new middle school students.

Why do we worry about new beginnings?

Losing the security of what now seems common, letting your child grow up more and not having control over the outcome tend to be some of the reasons why.

While sitting at the orientation, I thought about how similar transitional themes are felt during the college application process and also discussed at new student orientations at colleges and universities.

As parents we want our children to take risks but always succeed. We want them to feel loved. We want them to be happy. We want them to do well in school. We want them to be admitted to a ‘dream’ college or university.

Yes, we all want these accomplishments for our children but the reality is success is never attained in a straight line. We have to feel uncomfortable. We have to fail. We have to develop strategies to learn and succeed. Nothing comes easy. AND this is uncomfortable.

Here’s a great video a first year student at Cornell University created last Fall. She does just what students and parents need to do in order to address, process and transition through new beginnings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAUcoadqRlE

1. Patience: We need to be patient with ourselves through new beginnings. Feeling anxious can cause us to want the change to happen quickly. Patience is needed to let your child acclimate. It may take longer than you would like. Remind yourself that change is a process. Be patient.

2. Let go: Let your child struggle with feeling uncomfortable during a transition. That’s what is meant to happen. It’s human nature to not like feeling insecure and but try to process these uncomfortable feelings and let them go. It’s OK to feel nervous and insecure.

3. Face those feelings: Once you are able to acknowledge these uncomfortable feelings you will be able to then process them.

4. Think of a time in your past when a transition was uncomfortable. Did it eventually work out? How did you manage any anxiety or stress during this timeframe? Rely on past experiences to help you with the current transition.

5. Talk to your child(ren) about all of the above. Talk about how change is supposed to feel uncomfortable. You are there to support and help her through this time.

And before long, after you are settled into the new phase, a new transition will arise! Because as my Grandma always said, “The only thing constant in life is change.”

About the author:

Suzanne Lagemann, M.A. is an adjunct professor at Montclair State University and is an independent college admissions consultant. She is an associate member of IECA and has worked in higher education for almost 20 years. suzannelagemann@gmail.com, @slage24