College & School Counseling - St. Joseph High School 2022

The St. Joes Difference

Every student’s journey through high school is unique and the school counselors at St. Joseph are dedicated to assisting students every step along this journey- academically, emotionally, physically and socially. Our experienced and professional staff of school counselors will help each SJ Cadet find the college that is the best “fit” for them.

“College is a match to be made, not a prize to be won.” -Frank Sachs

Important Information from College Counseling

Upcoming Events

Senior Parent College Application Workshop - Sept 7, 2023, 6:30pm-7:30pm
Talk It Out Tuesday (for Freshmen Parents) - Sept. 12, 2023, 7:30am-8:15am
College Fair - Sept 28, 2023, 7pm-9pm
PSAT Day and Senior College Visit Day - Oct 11, 2023 (School Day)
Financial Aid Night - Oct 26, 2023, 6:30pm-8pm
Junior Parent College Planning Night - Jan 25, 2024, 6:30pm-8pm

College Representative Visit Schedule

These dates are subject to change due to the representatives schedule or weather.

Monday, September 11th

Saint Joseph's University @ 12:35 pm

Wednesday, September 13th

Johns Hopkins University @ 9 am

Thursday, September 14th

Manhattan College @ 9 am

Friday, September 15th

Quinnipiac University @ 12:35 pm

Monday, September 18th

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth @10 am

Tuesday, September 19th

Rhode Island College @ 12:35 pm

Wednesday, September 20th

University of California - Irvine @ 9 am

Thursday, September 21st

University of Scranton @ 9 am
Boston University @ 10 am
Providence College @ 12:35 pm

Friday, September 22nd

Merrimack College @ 12:35 pm

Monday, September 25th

Christopher Newport University @ 8 am
DePaul University @ 9 am
Tufts University @ 11 am
Loyola University Chicago @ 12:35 pm

Tuesday, September 26th

SUNY at New Paltz @ 8 am
Worcester Polytechnic Institute @ 12:35 pm

Wednesday, September 27th

Saint Michael’s College @ 8 am
Fairfield University @ 9 am
Marywood University @ 11 am
Dickinson University @ 12:35 pm

Thursday, September 28th

High Point University @ 8 am

Friday, September 29th

Fisher College @ 9 am
University of Dayton @ 12:35 pm

Tuesday, October 10th

Pace University Westchester @ 8 am
Hampden-Sydney College @ 9 am
University of Tennessee @11 am
George Mason University @ 12:35 pm
Pace University NYC @ 3 pm (VIRTUAL)
Thomas College @ 4 pm (VIRTUAL)

Thursday, October 12th

Connecticut College @ 8 am
Stetson University @ 9 am
University of New England @ 11 am
Florida Southern College 12:35 pm

Friday, October 13th

Syracuse University @ 8 am

Monday, October 16th

Keene State College @ 9 am
Emerson College @ 4 pm (VIRTUAL)

Thursday, October 19th

Southern CT State University @ 9 am
University of Southern Maine @ 12:35 pm

Friday, October 20th

Elon University - 9 am
Queen Mary University of London @ 3 pm (VIRTUAL)

Monday, October 23rd

Lynn University @ 8 am

Tuesday, October 24th

American University @ 11 am
Sacred Heart University @ 12:35 pm

Wednesday, October 25th

York College of Pennsylvania @ 8 am
Gettysburg College - 11 am
Saint Anselm College @ 12:35 pm

Thursday, October 26th

St. Bonaventure University @ 12 :35 pm

Monday, October 30th

Temple University @ 4 pm (VIRTUAL)

Thursday, November 2nd

Miami University Oxford - 12:45 pm

Wednesday, November 8th

Franklin & Marshall College @ 8 am

Thursday, November 9th

Beacon College @ 12:35 pm

Wednesday, November 15th

Rutgers University - 12:45 pm

Scholarships

2024 Coca-Cola Scholars Application!

Open to: High school students who will graduate during the 2023-2024 academic year
Applications open from: August 1, 2023 - October 2, 2023 (5pm EST).
The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation supports more than 1,400 exceptional college students each year, with annual scholarships of $3.55 million awarded through 3 nationally recognized programs.
Click here for additional details or to apply.

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.

Click here to read a presentation given by Corry Unis (Farfield University) at St. Joes in 2021.

SCOIR

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

SAT Dates 2023-2024

August 26, 203 (Register by July 28)
October 7, 2023 (Register by Sept. 7)
November 4, 2023 (Register by Oct. 5)
December 2, 2023 (Register by Nov. 2)
March 9, 2024* - (Register by Feb. 23)
May 4, 2024* - (Register by Apr. 19)
June 1, 2024* - (Register by May 17)

* Digital exams

ACT Dates

September 9, 2023 (Register by Aug. 4)
October 28, 2023 (Register by Sept. 22)
December 9, 2023 (Register by Nov. 3)
February 10, 2023 (Register by Jan. 5)
April 13, 2024 (Register by Mar. 8)
June 8, 2024 (Register by May 3)
July 13, 2024 (Register by June 7)

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

Navigation

College Counseling Four-Year Plan

Our College & School Counseling Team is made up of experienced professionals dedicated to ensuring our students achieve their collegiate goals. Counselors help to set collaborative goals and prepare events to ensure students are meeting benchmarks every step of the way while simultaneously offering support on the journey to finding that "perfect fit" college.

First Year

Transition to high school and new academic expectations.
Develop appropriate study habits, time management skills and explore organizational techniques (executive and metacognitive skills).
Become involved-participate in sports, clubs, activities and community service opportunities.
Take the PSAT 8/9 Identify and select courses that best prepare you for college.
Sign up for a SCOIR account and explore this college admissions software tool.
Enhance conflict resolution and problem-solving skills.
Increase communication, confidence and self-advocacy.
Select courses for 10th grade

Sophomore Year

Refine executive and metacognitive skills.
Enhance social connections and participate in a variety of activities.
Attend the SJHS College Fair and the Jesuit College Fair Identify academic and extracurricular personal strengths and interests; seek out leadership opportunities in these areas.
Discover career clusters to compliment skills and interests.
Self-monitor academic performance Select courses for 11th grade

Junior Year

Enhance metacognitive skills and set individualized short and long-term goals for personal and academic achievement.
Develop deeper interpersonal relationships.
Create a detailed post-secondary planning timeline and use SCOIR more frequently in the college search process.

September

Attend the SJHS College Fair Prepare to take the PSAT’s
Attend college admission representative presentations at SJHS

October-November

Take the PSAT
Attend the Jesuit College Fair at SJHS

December-January

Meet with school counselor to review your PSAT scores and make a testing plan
Begin to formulate a list of colleges based on preferences
Sign up for SAT and/or ACT

February

Attend the Junior College planning workshops
Meet with school counselor to identify and select senior year courses
Register for classes
Consider taking the ACT test

March

Sign up for the May or June SAT
Make an appointment with school counselor to begin generating a list of colleges

April

Sign up for May SAT’s
The ACT will be offered
Use Spring Break as College visit week
Begin brainstorming the college essay

May

The SAT Test will be offered
Sign up for June ACT or SAT
Make a verbal request to teachers for recommendation letters
Register for the NCAA Clearinghouse if you plan on playing Division I or Division II sports. (See Mr. Nogueira with any questions)

June

The SAT test and ACT test are both offered
Complete student self-evaluation and parent brag sheet
Meet with the school counselor before summer break!

Senior Year

Counsel students through decision-making to create the best fit post-secondary plan

July-August

The SAT and ACT tests are offered
Visit colleges
Reduce the initial list to 8-12 balanced colleges (target, safety and dream)
Sign up for the October or November SAT or ACT
Start working on college applications
Complete the resume and college essay

September

ACT test will be offered
Attend the Senior College planning workshops
Schedule a meeting with school counselor to discuss the final list of schools
Provide all information to recommendation writers and request in SCOIR
Sign up for college visits with the admission representatives at SJHS through SCOIR
Work on applications
Make a list of application deadlines

October

Oct. 1: begin filling out the FAFSA
SAT and ACT tests will be offered
Complete the CSS profile for schools that require it for financial aid
Request SJ transcripts 10 full school days prior to the Nov. 1 - Nov. 15 deadlines
Send ACT and/or SAT scores to schools that are not “test optional”

November

Nov. 1 - Nov. 15: Submit your early action/early decision applications
SAT test will be offered
Complete and submit all applications and transcript requests for the December 1 deadline
Check with teachers to make sure they have completed your letter of recommendation

December

Begin researching scholarship opportunities
Complete and submit all applications and transcript requests for the Jan. 1 - Jan 15 deadlines

January

Finish completing all applications and request transcripts

February

Submit FAFSA and CSS profile for financial aid
Notify the School Counseling Office on college decision and scholarships (provide copies of scholarship letters)

March

end thank you notes to recommendation writers
Notify the School Counseling Office on college decision and scholarships (provide copies of scholarship letters)

April