Northern Valley Regional School Counseling Program & The College Process

October, 2017

Matthew Spatz District Director of Guidance

Northern Valley Mission Statement We at Northern Valley Regional High School District, provide an

environment in which each student seeks answers to questions, challenges assumptions and develops self-worth.  Our high schools encourage individual academic excellence, aesthetic appreciation and moral integrity.  Recognition of academic and culture diversity promotes mutual respect and acceptance.

We provide a framework for the immediate and future concerns of our students.  Such provisions require a constantly critical reevaluation of curriculum and course design to keep abreast of global research and new techniques within our respective disciplines.  We promote students respect for learning and their desire to acquire knowledge through traditional as well as appropriate technological means.

Education requires a shared commitment.  Therefore, the responsibility of the community is to support and complement the schools' philosophy and goals.  This joint commitment of students, professional staff, Board of Education and community forms the basis for a challenging and effective program.

Professional School Counseling Program

� Aligned to Professional Standards � Guided by best practices in Professional

Associations and Organizations ◦  American School Counseling Association (ASCA) ◦ National Association of College Admissions

Counselors (NACAC) ◦ NJ School Counseling Association (NJSCA) ◦ NJ Association of College Admissions Counselors ◦  CollegeBoard

ASCA Comprehensive Program � ASCA Model ◦ Foundation ◦ Management ◦ Delivery ◦ Accountability

� Three Student Domains: ◦ Academic Development ◦ College & Career Readiness ◦ Social/Emotional Development

ASCA Comprehensive Program � Mindset Standards ◦ Psycho-social attitudes or beliefs students

have about themselves in relation to academic work ◦ Make up students’ belief system as

exhibited through behaviors � Behavior Standards ◦ Learning Strategies ◦ Self Management Skills ◦ Social Skills

ASCA School Counseling Services

� Direct Services

�  School Counseling Core Curriculum �  Individual Student Planning � Responsive Services

�  Indirect Services � Consultation � Collaboration � Referrals

Personal / Social Development Research supports link between social-

emotional well being and student success ◦ Raise self-awareness and identify strengths ◦  Support and reinforce life skills for student

well being ◦ Help students seek balance - in course

planning and elsewhere ◦  including helping students identify stress and

develop coping skills

Role of School Counselor

•  9th through 12th grade. •  Meets regularly to review progress, set

goals and develop future plans. •  Schedules courses in accordance with

requirements, interests & future plans. •  Assists in completing and interpreting

learning style and career inventories. •  Interprets assessments

Role of School Counselor

� Assists college search & application process.

� Acts as intermediary with teachers and administration.

� Assists students and families to resolve issues.

� Provides help in referrals to IRST, CST SAC and outside professionals.

Four-Year, Developmentally Appropriate Program

� (8th Grade) � 9th Grade � 10th Grade � 11th Grade � 12th Grade

8th Grade to 9th Grade Transition

� 8th Grade Parents and Students visit. � 8th Grade Students visit during day. � Individual Meeting - student, parents

and counselors review recommendations and create appropriate 9th grade schedule.

� Peer Mentors host Spring Social and Summer 9th grade Orientations.

9th Grade Experience

� 9th Grade Parent Orientation Night � Students meet with counselor: ◦ Review transition issues ◦ Check on academic status ◦ Encourage co-curricular involvement

� 9th Grade Parent Program - Nov � Freshman class meetings - Everything

Counts

9th Grade Experience �  Health Lab - with SACs �  Introduction to Naviance ◦  Learning Style Inventory ◦  Multiple Intelligences Inventory ◦  Career Interest Profiler ◦  (All have links to career clusters, majors and colleges)

�  Individually review academic progress, 4-yr plan and future goals.

�  Plan 10th Grade courses �  Opportunity to take SAT Biology Subject test

10th Grade Experience

� Continue Naviance program ◦  “Do What You Are” inventory ◦  Identifies personality traits ◦  Links to career clusters, majors and colleges ◦ Update resume

�  Individual meeting - review academic progress, 4-year academic plan and future goals.

� Plan 11th Grade courses

10th Grade Experience

�  Sophomore Parent Night - December � Opportunity for PSAT in October. � Review PSAT results - may sign up for

BigFuture through CollegeBoard � College Night (College Fair) - October �  Financial Aid Night - Fall � College Admissions Panel - May

11th Grade Experience

�  PSAT - October � College Night (College Fair) - October �  Financial Aid Night - Fall �  Review PSAT results - sign up for MyRoad

through CollegeBoard �  Junior Parent Nights - Fall & Spring � Alumni Return Day - January �  Student workshops - Fall & Spring � College Representative meetings - all year � College Admissions Panel - May

11th Grade Experience

�  Review academic progress �  Identify future goals & review academic plan �  Plan12th Grade course �  Take AP, ACT, SAT and SAT Subject tests �  Individual Junior Parent Conference - discuss

college search process and introduce application process

� Continue with Naviance ◦ Career Search / College Match ◦  Scattergrams

12th Grade Experience �  Review academic progress �  Take ACT, SAT and Subject tests. �  Senior Parent Presentation - September �  Senior Class Meeting - September �  Individual conferences - college application

process �  Early Decision meeting - Fall � Apply with Naviance ◦  FERPA ◦  eDocs manages application material ◦  Students complete Senior Questionnaire ◦  Parents complete Brag Sheet

12th Grade Experience

� Application Workshops - Wed � Transcript Review � Financial Aid Night - Fall � College Fair - Oct. � Alumni Return Day - Jan. � Transition to College program � Graduation Exit Survey - May

Admission Criteria � Grades in ‘College’ Prep courses ◦  (Honors, AP, Dual Enrollment)

� Grades in all courses �  Strength of Curriculum (Rigor) �  Standardized test scores �  Personal Essays / Written Statements � Counselor Demonstrated Interest �  Teacher Recommendations �  Rank, Subject Scores, Extra Curricular �  Interview

Importance of Various Factors in the Admission Decision: First-Time Freshmen

Percentage of Colleges Rating As: Considerably

Important Moderately Important

Limited Importance

Not Important

Grades in College Prep Courses 79.2 13.0 6.9 0.9

Grades in All Courses 60.3 31.0 8.7 --

Strength of Curriculum 60.2 26.8 10.0 3.0

Admission Test Scores (SAT, ACT) 55.7 32.5 7.9 3.9

Essay or Writing Sample 22.1 39.0 21.6 17.3

Counselor Recommendation 17.3 42.4 27.3 13.0

Student’s Demonstrated Interest 16.9 33.3 26.8 22.9

Teacher Recommendation 15.2 43.5 27.8 13.5

Class Rank 14.0 37.7 32.0 16.2

Subject Test Scores (AP, IB) 7.0 35.2 32.6 25.1

Portfolio 6.6 10.0 30.6 52.8

Extracurricular Activities 5.6 43.3 34.6 16.5

SAT II Scores 5.3 8.4 23.0 63.3

Interview 3.5 23.1 28.4 45.0

State Graduation Exam Scores 3.5 11.0 25.4 60.1

Work 0.9 21.3 44.8 33.0

Note: -- = No institutions in category. Source: NACAC Admission Trends Survey, 2014

Trends In College Admissions

� Applications remain strong - total number of student dropped; applications per student increased.

� Enrollment remains fairly constant. � More focus on ‘First Generation’

‘underrepresented’ & ‘International’ �  Still emphasizes grades & test scores, but

colleges appreciate grit and resilience. � More students accessing 2 year colleges.

Trends In College Admissions � Acknowledged increase in number of

emotional-related issues delaying or interrupting matriculation.

� Clientele seek value, fit, job placement, opportunities

�  Look ‘Beyond the Obvious’ � Colleges emphasizing future skill

development, value, internships, research opportunities, advisement, placement.

�  Colleges That Change Lives � Where you Go is Not Who You’ll Be

College Outreach �  Counselor Visits to College Campuses ◦  Counselors see campus first hand and experience official tour

and presentation. ◦  Counselors share information about college visits with fellow

counselors and student upon their return.

�  College Night (Hosted with Pascack Valley) ◦  Over 200 schools represented each year. ◦  Counselors meet with college representatives to share and

update information.

�  College Admissions Representatives ◦  All Counselors have up-to-date contact information for

representatives. ◦  Representatives and counselors maintain communication.

Colleges Counselors Visited �  Allegheny College �  Amherst College

�  Baldwin-Wallace College �  Bates College

�  Berkeley College �  Binghamton University

�  Bowdoin College

�  Butler University �  Carnegie Mellon University

�  Case Western Reserve University

�  Champlain College �  Colby College

�  College of Wooster �  Dennison University

�  Dominican College

�  Duquesne University �  East Stroudsburg University

�  Eastern Colorado State �  Eastwick College

�  Felician College

�  Goucher College �  Hampshire College

�  Hobart and William Smith Colleges �  Hofstra University

�  Hood College

�  Indiana University �  Ithaca College

�  John Carroll University �  Johns Hopkins University

�  Juniata College �  Kent State University

�  Kenyon College

�  Loyola University �  Marietta College

�  Maryland Institute College of Art

�  McDaniel College �  Michigan State University

�  Montclair State University �  Mount Holyoke College

�  Mount St. Mary's University

�  New York University �  Notre Dame of Maryland University

�  Oberlin College �  Ohio University

�  Ohio State University

�  Ohio Wesleyan University �  Otterbein University

�  Penn State University �  Point Park University

�  Purdue University

�  Ramapo College of NJ �  Rider University

�  Rutgers University �  Seton Hill University

�  Smith College �  St. John's College

�  St. Thomas Aquinas

�  Stevenson University �  Syracuse University

�  The Juilliard School

�  University of Alabama �  University of California at Berkeley

�  University of Delaware �  University of Massachusetts - Amherst

�  University of Michigan

�  University of Notre Dame �  University of Pittsburgh

�  University of Rochester �  University of Virginia

�  Valparaiso University

�  Washington College �  Western Colorado State University

�  William Paterson University �  Wittenberg University

College Connections Over 140 colleges visit Northern Valley each

year ◦  Juniors and Seniors attend. ◦  School counselor attends visit, takes notes, and

shares information within department. ◦  Representative likely read the applications for

our area. ◦  Students view/register through Naviance. ◦  Email invitation sent to student if college is on

‘prospective’ list. ◦ All visits are posted.

Colleges Who Visited Us �  Adelphi University �  Alfred University

�  Babson College �  Ball State University

�  Ball State University �  Barnard College

�  Bates College

�  Bennington College �  Bentley University

�  Bergen Community College

�  Berkeley College �  Binghamton University

�  Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania �  Boston College

�  Boston University

�  Brandeis University �  Bryant University

�  Caldwell College �  Case Western Reserve University

�  Castleton State College

�  Centenary College �  Champlain College

�  City University of New York �  City University of New York

�  Clark University �  Clarkson University

�  Colgate University �  College of Mount Saint Vincent

�  College of Saint Elizabeth �  College of the Holy Cross

�  Curry College

�  DeSales University �  Dover Business College (Paramus)

�  Drew University

�  Duke University �  East Carolina University

�  East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania

�  Emerson College

�  Fairleigh Dickinson University �  Fashion Institute of Design and

Merchandising, Los Angeles �  Fashion Institute of Technology

�  Felician College

�  Franklin and Marshall College �  George Mason University

�  George Washington University

�  Gettysburg College

�  Hampshire College

�  Haverford College �  High Point University

�  Hobart and William Smith Colleges �  IDC-Herzliya Israel

�  Indiana University at Bloomington �  Ithaca College

�  James Madison University

�  Johnson & Wales University �  Juniata College

�  Kean University

�  Kent State University �  King's College

�  Lafayette College �  Lasell College

�  Lehigh University

�  Lesley University �  Lincoln Culinary Institute

�  Lynn University �  Manhattan College

�  Manhattanville College

�  Marist College �  Marymount Manhattan College

�  Mercy College �  Michigan State University

Colleges Who Visited Us �  Monmouth University

�  Montclair State University

�  Moravian College

�  Mount Holyoke College

�  Muhlenberg College

�  New York University

�  Northeastern University

�  Northwestern University

�  Nova Southeastern University

�  Ohio State University

�  Pepperdine University

�  Plymouth State University

�  Pomona College

�  Providence College

�  Purchase College

�  Radford University

�  Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

�  Richard Stockton College of New Jersey

�  Roger Williams University

�  Rowan University

�  Sacred Heart University

�  Saint Anselm College

�  Saint Joseph's University

�  Saint Michael's College

�  Seton Hall University

�  Siena College

�  Skidmore College

�  Southern New Hampshire University

�  St. Francis College

�  St. John's University - Queens Campus

�  St. John's University - Staten Island Campus

�  St. Thomas Aquinas College

�  State University of New York at Albany

�  Stevens Institute of Technology

�  Stonehill College

�  Stony Brook University

�  SUNY College at Geneseo

�  The College of New Jersey

�  The George Washington University

�  The Ohio State University

�  The University of Akron

�  The University of Arizona

�  The University of Scranton

�  The University of Tampa

�  Towson University

�  Tufts University

�  Tulane University

�  University of Akron

�  University at Buffalo The State University of New York

�  University of Chicago

�  University of Colorado at Boulder

�  University of Connecticut

�  University of Florida

�  University of Hartford

�  University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

�  University of Massachusetts, Amherst

�  University of Massachusetts, Lowell

�  University of Michigan

�  University of New Hampshire

�  University of New Haven

�  University of Rhode Island

�  University of Rochester

�  University of South Carolina

�  University of Southern California

�  University of Vermont

�  Ursinus College

�  Utica College

�  Vanderbilt University

�  Washington University in St. Louis

�  Wellesley College

�  West Chester University of Pennsylvania

�  Western New England University

�  Wheaton College MA

�  Widener University

�  William Paterson University of New Jersey

�  Worcester Polytechnic Institute

�  York College of Pennsylvania

The School Profile

� Updated and published yearly. �  Shared with all representatives who visit

Northern Valley. � Posted on NV website. �  Sent to each school along with each

student application. �  Includes school information & updates;

highlights student achievements.

School Profile Information � Mission Statement and School information �  Special highlights and recognitions �  Post Secondary Education Statistics �  PSAT, SAT, Subject, ACT, AP Scores � Honors, Advanced Placement and Dual

Enrollment offerings � GPA statistics and information � District Graduation Requirements � College attendance all students-past 3 years

Profile - Curriculum Details

Profile - Curriculum Details

Profile - GPA Details

Profile - Class Statistics

Colleges Attending - past 3 years �  Albright College

�  Allegheny College

�  American Academy of Dramatic Arts

�  American University

�  Arcadia University

�  Auburn University

�  Babson College

�  Baldwin Wallace University

�  Barnard College

�  Bennington College

�  Bentley University

�  Bergen Community College

�  Berkeley College

�  Berklee College of Music

�  Binghamton University

�  Bloomsburg University

�  Boston College

�  Boston University

�  Bowdoin College

�  Brandeis University

�  Bryn Mawr College

�  Brown University

�  Bucknell University

�  Caldwell University

�  California Institute of Technology

�  Carnegie Mellon University

�  Case Western Reserve University

�  Champlain College

�  Charleston Southern University

�  City University of London

�  Clemson University

�  Colgate University

�  College of Charleston

�  College of William and Mary

�  Columbia University

�  Cornell University

�  Dartmouth College

�  Drew University

�  Drexel University

�  Duke University

�  Eastwick College

�  Elmira College

�  Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

�  Emerson College

�  Emory University

�  Fairfield University

�  Fairleigh Dickinson University

�  Fashion Institute of Technology

�  Florida State University

�  Fordham University

�  Franklin & Marshal College

�  Full Sail University

�  Georgetown University

�  George Washington University

�  Gettysburg College

�  Gordon College

�  Hamilton College

�  Harvard University

�  High Point University

�  Hofstra University

�  Indiana University

�  Iona College

�  Ithaca College

�  James Madison University

�  John Jay College-CUNY

�  Johns Hopkins University

�  Johnson & Wales University

�  Kean University

�  Keio University

�  King's College

�  Lafayette College

�  Lehigh University

�  Lewis & Clark College

�  LIM (Laboratory Institute of Merchandising)

�  Long Island University

�  Louisiana State University

�  Loyola University Chicago

�  Loyola University Maryland

�  Lynn University

�  Manhattan College

�  Marist College

�  Maryland Institute College of Art

�  McGill University

�  Mercy College

�  Miami University, Oxford

�  Michigan State University

�  Monmouth University

�  Montclair State University

�  Moravian College

�  Muhlenberg College

�  Nassau Community College

�  New England Conservatory of Music

�  New Jersey Institute of Technology

�  New York Institute of Technology

�  New York University

�  Northeastern University

�  Northwestern University

Colleges Attending - past 3 years �  Oakland University

�  Oberlin College of Arts & Sciences

�  Ohio State University

�  Pace University

�  Pennsylvania State University

�  Plymouth State University

�  Pratt Institute

�  Princeton University

�  Providence College

�  Purdue University

�  Ramapo College of New Jersey

�  Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

�  Rhode Island School of Design

�  Rider University

�  Rochester Institute of Technology

�  Roger Williams University

�  Rowan University

�  Rutgers University

�  Sacred Heart University

�  Saint Peter's University

�  San Diego State University

�  Santa Barbara City College

�  School of Visual Arts

�  Seton Hall University

�  Siena College

�  Springfield College

�  St. John’s University

�  St. Lawrence University

�  St. Thomas Aquinas College

�  Stanford University

�  Stevens Institute of Technology

�  Stockton University

�  SUNY at Albany

�  SUNY College at Geneseo

�  SUNY at New Paltz

�  Syracuse University

�  Tallahassee Community College

�  Temple University

�  Texas A&M University

�  Texas Southern University

�  The College of New Jersey

�  The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science & Art

�  The Culinary Institute of America

�  The Curtis Institute of Music

�  The New School

�  Towson University

�  Trinity College

�  Tufts University

�  Tulane University

�  Union College

�  University of Alabama

�  University of Arizona

�  University of California

�  University of Chicago

�  University of Colorado

�  University of Connecticut

�  University of Delaware

�  University of Florida

�  University of Hartford

�  University of Illinois

�  University of Maryland

�  University of Massachusetts

�  University of Miami

�  University of Michigan

�  University of Mississippi

�  University of New Hampshire

�  University of New Haven

�  University of New Orleans

�  University of North Carolina

�  University of Notre Dame

�  University of Oregon

�  University of Pennsylvania

�  University of Pittsburgh

�  University of Rhode Island

�  University of Rochester

�  University of Scranton

�  University of South Carolina

�  University of Southern California

�  University of Tampa

�  University of Tennessee

�  University of the Arts

�  University of Vermont

�  University of Victoria

�  University of Virginia

�  University of Wisconsin

�  Vanderbilt University

�  Vassar College

�  Vaughn College of Aeronautics & Technology

�  Villanova University

�  Virginia Tech

�  Washington University in St. Louis

�  Wentworth Institute of Technology

�  West Virginia University

�  Wilkes University

�  William Paterson University

�  Worcester Polytechnic Institute

College Attendance

� Diversity of pathways ◦ Two-year schools have increased ◦ Gap year, career, military have increased

� Diversity of college placements ◦  220-250 different colleges ◦  35 different states ◦  4 different countries

College Satisfaction (’14 - ’17)

� Were you admitted into one of your top college choices? (86%)

� Are you attending to one of your top college choices? (85%)

� Overall, are you satisfied with your final college or post-secondary choice? (96%) ◦  (Matches ‘Happiness Score’ from Princeton

Review’s College Advisement Service)

Satisfaction w/Guidance (’14 - ’17)

� 41% - Extremely Satisfied � 48% - Satisfied � 7.8% - Somewhat Satisfied � 2.6% - Neither Satisfied Nor Dissatisfied � 0.2% - Somewhat Dissatisfied � 0.1% - Dissatisfied � 0.1% - Extremely Dissatisfied

Feedback - Evolving our Program

�  Survey students and parent throughout 4 years

� Provide more guidance to students in self-assessment and research

�  Increase face time �  ‘Hammer’ the application workshops � Parent and Student Presentations - Break

Outs (smaller groups)

Feedback – Evolving our Program

� More clearly identify reach, target, safety ◦  (3 + 3 + 3)

�  ‘Love Your Likelies’ �  ‘Match to be made not Prize to be won’ �  Identify traits & qualities of colleges

before identifying names � Draw a picture (literally) of how you view

yourself in college

Naviance �  Strengths Explorer �  MI Advantage �  Learning Style

Inventory �  Career Interest

Profiler �  Do What You Are �  Road Trip Nation �  Resume �  Supermatch �  Enrichment

�  College Visits �  Scholarships �  Scattergrams �  Majors �  Careers �  Application

Management �  Goal Setting �  College Events �  College Lists �  Recommendations

Frank Bruni - Parent Letter to Child Dear Matt,

On the night before you receive your first college response, we wanted to let you know that we could not be any prouder of you than we are today. Whether or not you get accepted does not determine how proud we are of everything you have accomplished and the wonderful person you have become. That will not change based on what admissions officers decide about your future. We will celebrate with joy wherever you get accepted - and the happier you are with those responses, the happier we will be. But your worth as a person, a student and our son is not diminished or influenced in the least by what these colleges have decided.

If it does not go your way, you’ll take a different route to get where you want. There is not a single college in this country that would not be lucky to have you, and you are capable of succeeding at any of them.

We love you as deep as the ocean, as high as the sky, all the way around the world and back again - and to wherever you are headed.

Mom and Dad

Questions

� Mathew Spatz ◦ District Director of Guidance

� Kerri Hubbard ◦  Lead Counselor - NV Old Tappan

� Mike O’Malley ◦  Lead Counselor - NV Demarest