Common App 2016 - 2017 Essay Prompts and More...

An e-newsletter for counselors New Members 48 institutions have recently joined The Common Application membership. New members represent 22 U.S. states and 5 countries and include 11 U.S. public, 26 U.S. private, and 11 international institutions. Essay Prompts The 2016-2017 essay prompts are unchanged from 2015-2016. 47% of applicants during 2015-2016 chose to write about their background, identity, interest, or talent. Gender Identity Starting in the 2016-2017 academic year, students applying to college through The Common Application will be able to express their gender identity in several ways including within the Profile page, optional free response field, and in member colleges’ specific sections. New Tools and Resources Common App Ready Facilitate a workshop for your students and parents to educate them about using the Common Application and taking full advantage of Account Rollover. The presentations can be shared at once or in multiple workshops. Get Common App Ready! Virtual Counselor We’ve launched Virtual Counselor, a content library filled with encouraging college-related advice for students and parents. We're always looking for articles and videos from counselors like you. If you would like to contribute to The Virtual Counselor, please contact Jen Davis. Contribute to Virtual Counselor Let’s Connect in a City Near You The Common Application 3003 Washington Blvd Ste 1000 Arlington, VA 22201 commonapp.org You are receiving this e-mail from The Common Application because you are a valued partner in advancing college access. Unsubscribe

Help in Understanding FAFSA Changes

Here’s a link to some helpful in form the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators about the new FAFSA.

http://www.nasfaa.org/early_fafsa?bcpid=4850784794001&bckey=AQ~~,AAACQMsqGAE~,RbpeeK5Ur7SvdW75m-_V855pU0lbaPrF&bctid=4848903765001

Spring College and Career Fair Opportunity

Greeting WESD Counselors! I wanted to pass along this great opportunity!  The Salem Area College and Career Fair on April 25th, would be a great spring event to get Juniors thinking about colleges before they return in the fall to “real life” decisions and the application process.  Kathy Moore was able to get a larger venue, that we hope will continue for years to come.  Let’s support this event to the extent that we can, so we will have it as an option for Juniors every year.  The event is not just for Juniors, I am just suggesting they are a great target group for this event. NEED MORE INFORMATION?  Use the link below to see the flyer for this event. Cherie Clark Regional Coordinator College and Career Willamette Promise | Willamette Education Service District cherie.clark@wesd.org l www.wesd.org/willamettepromise  503.385.4699 Salem Area College and Career Fair Find the Flyer Here

Community College Placement Tests

My daughter took some placement tests last week, and I found out some info that you and the mentors might find interesting. 

It appears that the placement tests for community colleges all have their own interpretation of cut scores. The test is the same for PCC, Clackamas Community College, and Chemeketa, the ACT Compass, but each college can pick their own cut scores. 

So a student can score at Math 20(general math) at one school, and Math 70 (Intro to Algebra) at another. And score into Reading 90 and Writing 90 or into RD 115 and WR 115 with the same score at different schools. This also is true for scoring out of taking these courses. 

So by shopping around at different community colleges, you can save a few thousand dollars in tuition and a whole lot of time sitting in classrooms taking classes that really might not be necessary. I couldn't believe the differences in the math cut scores especially. How can one college math department interpret a score as putting you at a general math level and another at algebra. The general math is two math classes below the other. So arbitrary. 

For instance, a student can score two points below a certain Reading level at PCC but score two points above that level on the same reading test at Chemeketa.

Notes about this week and beyond

1.       Please note the grades/times that students will be impacted by activities below.

●        March 30: Language Arts State Testing Practice  -- what grade level(s) will test and what periods? This is for the juniors and it will be during their regular scheduled English class.

●        March 30: Link Spring Egg Hunt – Advisory – is this for the whole student body or just freshmen? It’s for all freshmen and their Junior/Senior Link Leaders.

2.       Please let your juniors know about the College and & Careers 101 Night next Wednesday, April 6, for students and parents. It’s from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the cafeteria. I’ll leave some flyers in the office, and they’re also posted around school.

Our very own Gretchen from ASPIRE “Central” will be doing the presentation. You are most welcome to come, too!!

3.       Pass along the news to students that they (and you!) can now follow us on Twitter at @YamhillAspire

4.       It will soon be April  -- like Friday already!! Which means you can have seniors start doing the ASPIRE exit surveys. I have a shortcut to the survey on the desktop of each computer.
5.       And if you, too, could do your volunteer ASPIRE survey before May 1, that would be great. Here’s the link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3ZRZPSC
6.       In case you haven’t yet heard: The recipient of the Birl Shultz Memorial Scholarship for four years tuition at Willamette University is Hayden Cline, one of our student aides.
7.       Tuesday April 5 from 9:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., reps from eight of Oregon’s public universities will be on hand at Western Oregon University. Students (and any mentors who would like to attend) will be able to talk with these folks as well as take a tour of the WOU campus. Call 503-838-8194 for details. A flyer is posted under Events on the ASPIRE bulletin board wall.

YC ASPIRE now on Twitter

YC ASPIRE at last has a Twitter account!!  @YamhillAspire

Practice for the Updated SAT

This Saturday is first time the updated SAT test will be given.

Go to collegereadiness.collegeboard.org to practice.

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