A stream of sixth-formers rushed into the Lanphier Center last Wednesday to participate in the first ever Action Plan Program.
The College Counseling Office held its first Action Plan Program, known as APP, for sixth-formers this past Wednesday. College counselors organized this special workshop to help students navigate the college application process. In addition, counselors wanted to gather students together before the end of the fall term to advise them on how to plan the next four months of the college process. Choate’s peer schools around New England have established similar programs.
According to Ms. Marcia Landesman, Director of the College Counseling Office, “The goal of the program is to ensure that students are ready to proceed with the application process. The APP Event showed them the importance of checking nuances of different college application processes. For example, we reviewed different application programs, policies on interviewing, and how to submit standardized testing.” At the program, students received a spreadsheet intended to help track pertinent information about the application process. The counselors hoped that those spreadsheets would help students understand where they stood in the process. “Students should be mindful of the different rules in the application process. They need to understand different policies regarding early action and early decision as well,” Ms. Landesman remarked.
According to Abigail Clarke ’16 , a day student, “The spreadsheet will be helpful to organize the schools.”
Students were able to attend similar sessions in the past, but those sessions were shorter and were scheduled during conference periods, giving fewer opportunities for students to work though some of the intricacies of the Common Application together as a group. College counselors could not include as much information and felt that those sessions were not as thorough. The program this year encouraged students to move forward in their application process and to take initiative in this journey, by communicating with teachers and college counselors at appropriate times, and completing college essays and supplements. For example, in this session, students learned how to fill in the online Common Application. Ms. Landesman noted, “The Common Application is more nuanced than it seems.”
The session also covered technical aspects of the application, such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which is a federal law that allows high school students to protect their educational records, notably teacher recommendations. Students also spent time completing lengthy biographical forms, senior course lists, awards and honors, and extracurricular lists on the Common Application. “The college counselors showed seniors small steps to do now. Those small steps add up over time! If students are aware of the tricky aspects early in the process, we can alleviate stress later on,” Ms. Landesman commented.
Throughout the fall term, the office hosts help sessions known as Carrington Conversations, which anyone, even underclassman, can attend. At these events, counselors advise students on different aspects of the college application process. Upcoming sessions will cover the financial aid process, the interview process, and application essays.
What’s Ms. Landesman’s advice to people who are just starting the application process? “My advice to seniors is to have good communication with your counselor. Try to steer clear of rumors and get your questions answered by talking to your counselor instead of your peers. Know that students before you have done this and students after you will do it, too. The application process can be manageable. If you are nervous or unsure, come visit your counselor. Be sure to stay organized and be mindful of the deadlines. And remember, the application is a vehicle to showcase your strengths,” she added.
This first APP session served as a wake-up call for many sixth-formers, who suddenly realized that they need to organize their time wisely and prepare carefully for the process. “It was a good reminder for all seniors,” Clarke said. “There were some points that were helpful, such as information about the waiver form for your recommendations. We received a packet with all the necessary dates, and I will definitely read through it multiple times.”
