Counseling Newsletter

Kevin Callahan
kevinc@isb.ac.th

All:  Welcome back from GCW to everyone.  We hope that your trips were happy, productive, and safe!  And we hope that you aren’t too worn out from your trips to get some good work done!

The Counseling department is looking for a volunteer parent to be in charge of the College Spotlight board in the high school.  Every week we focus on a different university from the top schools around the world and our volunteer parents have always done a great job.  We’re looking for a parent to continue this much-appreciated job.  See Cathy Curtis if you are interested.

Freshmen – Grade to date checks with counselors are coming up.  Do you check with your son or daughter to see how classes are going?  It’s a good discussion point as long as you focus as much on the positive as on the “needs improvement” category!

Sophomores:  Sophomore Seminar took place February 27-28.   Students take the information that they have learned about themselves to generate an Individual Career Plan.  It’s great information for thinking about future courses of study.  Choosing classes for grades 11 and 12 will be coming up soon.

Juniors:  Junior conferences are in full swing.  Have you made an appointment to see your son’s/daughter’s counselor yet?  Don’t delay!

Seniors:  If you are a U.S. citizen applying to schools in the U.S. you may be eligible for loans, grants, work study, or any combination of the three.  You need to file a FAFSA with the colleges in the U.S. that you have applied to.  Go to https://www.fafsa.ed.gov/  – it’s a free application and might be well worth your time.  Most schools start assigning financial aid in March so time is of the essence.  If you haven’t done your 2012 taxes yet, estimates based on 2011 are accepted.

Seniors applying to universities in Japan, Korea, Australia, South Africa etc. with late deadlines, PLEASE be aware of those deadlines.  They can vary from university to university!! See your counselor if you have any questions.

As you receive your offers for universities, remember that when you make a deposit for a university, you are committing to that university for a year.  You may not deposit at more than one university.  You have to make up your mind!  Remember that, because universities that learn that their accepted students have “double-deposited” will sometimes remove their offer.

Upcoming University Visits (Consult Naviance for additions or changes)