College Counseling Program
Notre Dame High School
Suzanne White, College Counselor
(978) 689-8222 ext. 30
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SENIORS 

College Information
·        Hosted over 50 college visits: Admissions staff spoke with our senior classes and met with 
         students individually, discussing SATs, college essays, grades, curriculum, and college specifics
·        Individual parent meetings with each family, many conducted in Spanish:
     o  Discuss what parents and students should be doing now to get ready
     o  Review student transcript, SAT scores, IOWA tests, and develop year-long college list and plan
     o  Financial aid and paying for college
     o  Distance from home
     o  Challenges in the classroom
     o  Importance of grades, curriculum, and SATs
     o  Techniques for networking with admissions staff and directors
     o  Individualized timeline for students applying to colleges
·        Attended NACAC: Networked with Directors of Admissions and met the Jesuit College Directors
         of Admissions
·        College Writing class: Curriculum prepares students for college and assists them with the
         application, essay, and financial aid process.  The second half of the class is prepares them to
         be successful in college and find the resources necessary navigate and participate meaningfully
         in college.
·        Completed resumes
·        One-on-one work with students on essays
·        Training on how to use search engines for college searches: CollegeBoard Matchmaker,
         Peterson's, and Naviance
·        Naviance Computer software: Every senior has an account where they can search for colleges,
         and the counselor can monitor the application process
·        Preparation for conducting interviews
·        Website-Including links to helpful websites and important information
·        Weekly emails to students on college information, college visits, and important updates 

SAT Preparation
·        All seniors required to take the SAT twice, assisted with the application process and use of fee
         waivers
·        SAT IIs: some seniors take SAT IIs, or subject tests.  College counselor assists with signing up
         for SAT IIs
·        SAT preparation program in the classroom from September until November 3rd, in English,
         writing, and math classes
·        All seniors required to take the ACT at least once
·        All seniors given a StudentEdge account, where they can complete online classes for SAT
         preparation, as well as take practice tests online, for free. Financial Aid
·        Financial Aid night in December-Bilingual admissions directors and financial aid directors plan to
         attend
·        FAFSA nights (three),  where bilingual financial aid experts help parents complete the online
         FAFSA
·        CSS Profile assistance to help parents fill out the CSS Profile online 

Solidified College Application Process
·        Developed individualized application timelines for each student
·        Developed School Profile
·        Developed Fee Waiver for applications
·        Put SATs, ACTs, and SAT IIs on transcripts, so students do not have to pay to send scores to
         colleges
·        Developed self-addressed postcards, for confirmation of receiving application materials
·        Provided resources for teachers on writing college recommendations; prepared and distributed
         packet with recommendation-writing tips, and ten sample recommendation letters for different
         types of students 

Transitioning to College Curriculum and Guest Speakers:
·        Curriculum surrounding financial aid, academic support services, social support services, and
         techniques to succeed academically
·        Guest speakers for students--other students, staff from offices of multicultural support,
         professors, academic support, ALANA offices, health services, counseling services, etc.
·        Guest speakers for parents, including college representatives
·        Conducted learning styles inventory for all students
·        Prepared Posse students, and other students, for interviews etc.  

JUNIORS

·        SAT preparation:
     o  Mandatory Kaplan PSAT classes after school for 5 weeks, funded by private donor
     o  All juniors take PSAT
     o  All juniors have My Road College Board accounto   Review individual PSAT scores, and review
         missed questions
     o  Compare PSAT scores to college SAT requirements
     o  All juniors, mandatory Kaplan SAT classes for 8 weeks, funded by private donor
     o  All juniors, mandatory SAT in June (using fee waivers)
     o  Some students will take the subject tests for the SATs in spring
·        Learning about colleges:
     o  Two colleges speak to juniors in fall: a small Catholic school and a medium-sized private 
         school: Salve Regina University and Suffolk University
     o  College visits in spring: Holy Cross/Worcester State; Salem State/U Mass Lowell; Colleges of 
         the Fenway
     o  Taste of College in spring at NDHS,  prepare students and parents
     o  Boston Jet: Jesuit College Fair at NDHS, prepare students and parents
     o  College representatives visit community homeroomo   Each student given a list of colleges that 
         they could potentially get into, so the student and their parent can visit schools together over 
         the summer
·        Preparing for college:
     o  Talk to all juniors bi-weekly in fall about college and preparing for the process: curriculum, 
         GPA, SATs
     o  Individual meetings with juniors and their parents in spring (review transcripts, PSATs, IOWA 
         tests, potential colleges, and importance of reading)
     o  Parent night with directors of admissions in spring, to talk about what colleges are looking for   
         in applicants
·        College Application preparation:
     o  Work with juniors to complete:
         §  one resume
         §  one college essay
         §  one common application
         §  one personalized short college list (list of colleges can visit over the summer)
         §  will ask two teachers for recommendations, giving them their resume 

SOPHOMORES

·        All sophomores take PSAT
·        All sophomores registered for MyRoad
·        Gave "Preparing for College" talk to all sophomores, talked about the PSAT, and importance of 
         curriculum, grades, and SATs (baseball, review transcripts and college GPA requirements,  and
         importance of reading)
·        Review PSAT results in math and English classes, as well as comparing PSAT scores to college
         SAT requirements
·        Taste of College in the spring at NDHS,  student and parent preparation
·        Boston Jet: Jesuit College Fair at NDHS, student and parent preparation
·        Parent meeting in spring for freshman and sophomore parents to discuss what colleges are
         looking for (in Spanish and English)
·        College representatives visit community homeroom 

FRESHMEN
·        Met with all freshman classes about the importance of grades, curriculum, and SATs (review 
         transcripts and college GPA requirements)
·        Taste of College in the spring at NDHS,  prepare students and parents with questions, and how 
         to participate meaningfully in the college fair
·        Boston Jet: Jesuit College Fair at NDHS, prepare students and parents with questions, and how
         to participate meaningfully in the college fair
·        College representative visits in community homeroom
·        College Visit for freshman to local college
·        Review the Common Application and characteristics that teachers are expected to evaluate
         students upon
·        Seniors talk to freshman about that which they knew they knew in their freshman year
·        Parent meeting in spring for freshman and sophomore parents to discuss what colleges are
         looking for (in Spanish and English)