College & School Counseling

St Joseph High School 2020-2021 School Profile

The Office of College and School Counseling includes a professional staff of experienced counselors dedicated to the college, career, and personal needs of our students. Counselors also work closely with administration, faculty, and parents to provide a supportive environment for all students.

From the moment freshman year begins, formal meetings between students and counselors take place throughout the year in small group, seminar, and one-to-one settings. This active environment of the office in the life and success of each of our students continues through the four year at St Joseph High School.

Important Information from College Counseling

Upcoming Events

If you have any questions about these upcoming events, reach out to Tim Nash at tnash@sjcadets.org.

September 16, 2021 - 6:30pm-8:00pm: Back to School Night

Please meet your child’s College and School Counselor in our offices for informal meetings about our office, your child, and all the services that we offer. This event is for parents.

September 23, 2021 - 6:30pm-7:30pm: Senior College Application Workshop

Please join the College and School Counseling Staff for an informative presentation on the College Application process. We will tell you everything you need to know about submitting your first applications to college. This event is for Seniors and their Parents.

September 28, 2021 - 7:00am-8:00am: Competitive College Admission

Deb Johns, Senior Associate Director of Admission at Yale University will give an open presentation/discussion on how best to prepare to apply to colleges and universities that are competitive. This event is open to all parents.

September 30, 2021 - 6:30pm-8:30pm: College Fair

Over 100 colleges and universities will be in attendance. This event is open to all students and parents.

October 2, 2021: SAT test day

Several locations in this area will host the ACT test on this date. Please visit www.act.org to register and find a location nearest to you. This event is for Seniors.

Event Registrations

Required

Timelines for Each Grade Level

Freshmen Year - College Planning

Freshman Year - College Planning Timeline

Develop good study habits.
Participate in sports and activities.
Participate in community service work.
Always look to improve your writing skills.
Take the PSAT.
Think about courses to take to best prepare you for college.
International students should practice their English at every opportunity.
Learn about the Naviance College software.

Sophomore Year - College Planning

Junior Year - College Planning

Junior Year - College Planning Timeline:

September

Attend College Fairs in your area to pick up materials on potential colleges. Please make sure to sign up for their mailing lists.
Attend College presentations at SJHS during the school day.
Prepare to take the PSAT.
Identify which SAT and ACT tests you will take this year.

October-November

Meet with your school counselor to start College Planning process.
Take the PSAT (October) - please remember the scores are not sent to colleges but count for National Merit Scholarship eligibility.
Plan your Senior Year courses with your school counselor - specific college majors require specific high school courses taken.
Identify your top Colleges and schedule appointments to visit in Spring.
Attend Jesuit College Fair here at SJHS (November)
Begin Test Prep for Spring Testing (SAT-ACT)

December-January

Register to take the SAT and ACT test at least one month prior to exam date.
Continue to research and develop your college list.
Review your PSAT scores with your school counselor. Certain scores may make you eligible for merit scholarships.
Continue with Test Prep.

February-May

Visit your top colleges (February vacation or weekends). Colleges spend thousands on marketing to you through the website and brochures. The campus visit is very important to get a “feel” for the college.
SAT and ACT exams offered. Please make sure you are registered and you know where the exam is being held. Make sure you know which colleges will receive your scores.
Start to think about two teachers you will ask to write your letter of recommendations.
Start to consider topics for your College Essay. This will be an assignment in your current English Class.

June-August

Make sure you have a Common Application account and begin to fill out as of August 1.
Through Naviance, invite two teachers to write you a letter of recommendation.
Finalize College List.
Complete your Essay.
Continue to Visit Colleges of interest.
Begin searching for outside scholarship opportunities.

Senior Year - College Planning

Senior Year - College Planning Timeline:

September-December

Meet with your counselor about your list and create the list in Naviance.
Discuss with your counselor the type of application you will use for each college you are applying to.
Take the SAT or ACT again if you are not satisfied with your scores.
Finalize your college essay and resume.
Request your recommendation letters through Naviance ( if you haven’t already).
Complete the Ferpa Agreement on the Common App website.
Match your Naviance account with Common App account.
Sign up to meet with College Admission representatives when they visit SJHS.
Complete all your applications and be aware of deadlines for each college. Deadlines normally range from October 15 (Early Action and Early Decision) to January 15. Some colleges also have rolling admission policies.
Send your SAT or ACT scores directly to the colleges on your list. Colleges want this directly sent from the test company.
Follow your emails closely from the colleges. Please alert your counselor at SJHS if you received any messages about missing documents.
Attend Open House Programs at interested colleges.
Continue to do well in school. Most colleges will want to evaluate your first quarter or semester senior grades. You do not want an admission acceptance to be revoked due to a poor performance in the classroom.
Remain active in the community - keep attending activities and volunteer opportunities.
Consider applying for Financial Aid after October 1.
Check your colleges of interest to see if they require you to file the CSS profile (in addition to the FAFSA) for financial aid.
Check your email or mailbox for Early Action or Early Decision notifications.

January-March

Analyze financial aid packages from colleges.
Attend Accepted Students Day at colleges of interest.
Meet with you school counselor about your college decision.

April-June

Make your final college decision by May 1.
Finish strong with all your classes and exams.
Graduate from St. Joseph High School.

Common App

Financial Aid & Scholarships

It is more important than ever for students to make sound decisions about financing their college education. All colleges require you to file the FAFSA (see website below) and some require both the FAFSA and CSS Profile. Below you will find a few links that will serve as a starting point for this journey.

Federal Student Aid, an Office of the U.S. Department of Education provides information about financial aid provided by the federal government, along with other resources.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a required financial aid form for any college in the United States.
Fastweb is a free scholarship search tool.
Bigfuture, by the College Board, includes college and scholarship search tools useful information and tutorials about the financial aid process.

CSS Profile - required by some selective colleges

Below are two videos that will help you fill out the FAFSA and CSS profile line by line.

SCOIR

SCOIR is the new platform St Joes will be using to replace Naviance. SCOIR is a customized, secure website that supports post-secondary, college and career planning. It is designed to assist students and their parents/guardians in making informed decisions about college opportunities and career choices. This online resource allows students the ability to research colleges, view statistical and historical data on other SJHS students anonymously, build a resume, and view the schedule of college representatives visiting the high school and much more.

Both students and parents can access SCOIR. If you need an invitation to create an account, please contact your child’s counselor.

You can access SCOIR via www.scoir.com or by downloading the SCOIR app to your phone or Ipad.

NCAA Eligibility Center

SAT/ACT Information

Important Information to bring into ACT and SAT Testing Days:

Bring a copy of your printed ticket with you on the day of the test and a photo ID
Bring two No.2 pencils the day of the exam
Bring a calculator to use on the designated math sections of either exams
You are allowed a bottle of water and snack-this can be eaten outside of the testing room

Things are you are not allowed to bring into the exams:

Books, dictionaries, scratch paper or notes
Highlight pens, colored pens or correction fluid
NO electronic devices other than a permitted calculator

ACT & SAT Testing Dates 2021-2022:

SAT Dates 2020-2021

August 28, 2021
October 2, 2021
November 6, 2021
December 4, 2021
March 12, 2022
May 7, 2022
June 4, 2022

ACT Registration Dates 2020-2021

September 11, 2021
* Registration Deadline: Aug 6

October 23, 2021
* Registration Deadline: Sept 17

December 11, 2021
* Registration Deadline: Nov 5

February 12, 2022
* Registration Deadline: Jan 7

April 2, 2022
* Registration Deadline: Feb 25

June 11, 2022
* Registration Deadline: May 6

July 16, 2022
* Registration Deadline: June 17

Test-Optional Information

380+ “Top Tier” Schools that Deemphasize the ACT/SAT in Admissions Decisions

While standardized test scores are important to many colleges and universities here in the United States, an increasing number of institutions are transitioning to a “test- optional” model, and no longer requiring test results. Currently more than 950 colleges and universities do not require standardized test scores as part of the admission application.

That said, know that some of the colleges and universities to which you aspire to apply may not require test results in certain circumstances. This will be an important question to ask the admission counselors you meet along the way on your journey so you can be certain you’re meeting their requirements to apply. FairTest.org is a great first step to check those institutions in which you’re interested in applying, but always confirm with the college or university admission office directly to ensure the information is accurate and current.

Useful Links

Important Information from School Counseling

Our multifaceted curriculum, comprised of individual counseling, group counseling and developmental school counseling lessons, is designed to develop students into well adjusted, empathetic and emotionally intelligent young adults. Our office recognizes social emotional wellness as an influential factor in academic achievement and collaborates with parents, faculty and administrators to promote student success.

Freshmen Year

Sophomore Year

Junior Year

Senior Year

Videos

Accepted...Now What?

College Admissions Night

Missed Our College Admissions Night in January? View the recording below to hear from our panel of experts! Many thanks to the following Admissions professionals for participating on our panel: Corry Unis, Vice President, Enrollment Management at Fairfield University; Karissa Peckham, Associate Vice President, Enrollment Management at Central Connecticut State University; Julia Naclerio, Senior Associate Director of Admission at Trinity College, and Michael DiPiazza, Director of Undergraduate Admission at Assumption College.

College Admissions Info Session

Financial Aid and Paying for College

Sophomore Parent Presentation

Junior Parent Presentation

Juniors College Planning Presentation

Senior Parent Workshop - The College Process

Junior College Planning Videos

Introduction

SAT / ACT

SCOIR Overview

SCOIR College Search

Common App

College Essay

NCAA

College & School Counseling Staff

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Tim Nash, Director

Tim Nash, Director

Tim Nash, Director of College & School Counseling
tnash@sjcadets.org
Tim has close to 30 years of experience in college admission. His admission career path included stops at 5 catholic colleges, one private university and as an enrollment consultant at a higher education marketing company. He has presented at a number of regional and national conferences on the following: athletic recruitment, interview strategies, financial aid and other enrollment management topics.

Megan Baird, Assoc. Director

Megan Baird, Assoc. Director

Megan Baird '01, Associate Director of College & School Counseling
mbaird@sjcadets.org
Mrs Baird received her MS, Counseling, Fordham University in 2007 and BA, Psychology, Quinnipiac University in 2005. Mrs Baird has been working in the Guidance and College Counseling Office at St Joseph High School since 2005. Mrs Baird is a proud St Joseph Alum - Class of 2001. She is married to Peter Baird, Class of 2000 and they have two beautiful children: Lexi and PJ.

Kathleen Seperack, Social Worker

Kathleen Seperack, Social Worker

Kathleen Seperack, Social Worker
kseperack@sjcadets.org
Mrs Seperack received her BA from Fordham University and her MSW from Southern Connecticut State University. She has also earned a License in Social Work. Mrs Seperack has worked at Bridgeport Hospital, Child Guidance Center of Greater Bridgeport, Wooster Middle School, St Augustine School and St Raphael School.

Cristin Clark, Counselor

Cristin Clark, Counselor

Cristin Clark, Counselor
cclark@sjcadets.org
Ms Clark received her BA in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Connecticut and continued her studies at Fairfield University, earning her MA in School Counseling. Ms Clark is a recipient of Fairfield University’s Excellence in School Counseling Award. She holds certifications from the State of Connecticut’s Department of Education and the National Board of Certified Counselors. Ms Clark has training in both group and individual counseling practices.

Jack Nogueira, Counselor

Jack Nogueira, Counselor

Laura Schiels, Counselor

Laura Schiels, Counselor

Laura Schiels, Counselor
lschiels@sjcadets.org
Ms Schiels obtained her BS in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Rhode Island and her MA in School Counseling from Caldwell University. She is a Certified School Counselor in the state of Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey. Prior to working at St Joes, Ms Schiels was a school counselor at a catholic high school in New York City and also taught Kindergarten and Pre-K.

Alexa Oberle, Registrar, Counselor

Alexa Oberle, Registrar, Counselor

Lynn Mallon, Secretary