The College Counseling program complements the academic and extracurricular offerings at Germantown Academy. We recommend a course of action for students during each year of their GA career and tailor meetings for students, and for parents, at each grade level. The following overview of GA's College Counseling program includes recommendations and the counseling services available at each step on the path toward college.
- Courses – adjust to academic program and teacher expectations
- Activities – time to test interests, stretch self
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Summer between Freshman and Sophomore Years
- Rejuvenate!
- Perhaps attend a summer camp or program
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Sophomore Year
- Fall
- General student meeting about the PSAT
- Take PSAT in October
- Winter
- PSAT results to family home in December
- College counselors assigned in January/February
- Spring
- Group Meeting for Parents in April
Individual meetings between students and college counselor:
Establish relationship – get to know each other
Discuss scheduling plans
Review activities
Assess college knowledge
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Summer between Sophomore and Junior year
- Rejuvenate!
- Get a job
- Volunteer
- Attend a summer camp or program
- Visit colleges to explore “types”
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Junior Year
- Watch out for updates and announcements at class meetings
- Attend meetings with college representatives
- Check GA email every day!
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Fall
- Attend meetings with college representatives
- Take PSAT in October
- Visit a couple of colleges during breaks
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Winter
- Receive PSAT results in December
- Take the SAT and/or ACT
- Parent Meeting in January
- College Seminar begins in January
- Meet one-on-one with college counselor
- Answer questions
- Shape college list
- Review test taking plan
- Visit colleges during any breaks (interview if possible)
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Spring
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- Visit colleges over spring break
- Update your counselor on your college visits
- Schedule a family meeting (parents and student) with your college counselor
- Ask two teachers for letters of recommendation
- Take AP exams if appropriate
- Take Subject Tests if appropriate
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Summer between Junior and Senior Year
- Finalize college list
- Complete initial visits to each college
- Complete interviews at all colleges offering them
- Begin working on college applications (Common Application and many unique apps available in early July)
- Write, revise and revise again essays
- Work, volunteer, attend a summer camp or program
- Carve out some time to REJUVENATE
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Senior Year
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Fall
- Meet with college counselor for check up in September and continue to check in with counselor as needed
- Parents of seniors attend meeting with college counselors
- If applying for financial aid, check to see if colleges require the CSS Profile (collegeboard.com) and what each college’s deadline is
- Complete any standardized testing needed
- Continue working on applications, applying to all colleges offering a rolling admission plan by end of October
- Strive to complete all applications by mid December
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Winter
- Receive admission news in mid December if you applied ED or EA
- Apply for financial aid (January 1 is the first day to file FAFSA)
- Wait!
- Enjoy senior year!!, BUT DON’T SLACK OFF
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Spring
- Continue enjoying senior year
- Receive admission news by first week of April
- Arrange for overnight visits at top choices
- Meet with counselor to assess options and financial aid packages (if applicable)
- Make decision and pay deposit by May 1, the National Candidate’s Reply Deadline!
Celebrate!!
Additional Presentations
Other sessions conducted by college admission counselors and/or financial aid officers will be held periodically. Parents and students will be notified of these well in advance of their occurrence.