Spring Issue

Course Selection & Academic Planning

Course Selection season has concluded, marking a pivotal moment in your child's academic journey. The Program of Study remains an essential resource for understanding course offerings, prerequisites, and graduation requirements. We encourage families to review this document to ensure alignment with your child's educational goals.

Grade 11: Initiating College Planning

For Grade 11 families, now is the ideal time to plan for college. We strongly recommend scheduling a meeting with your child's counselor to develop a comprehensive plan covering the upcoming spring, summer, and fall. These discussions will encompass university research, standardized testing strategies, summer enrichment opportunities, and application timelines.

Standardized Testing Updates

Many universities are reinstating standardized testing requirements. Verifying individual university policies and collaborating with your counselor to devise an effective testing strategy is crucial. The remaining SAT dates for 2025 are as follows:

• May 3, 2025: Registration Deadline – April 4, 2025

• June 7, 2025: Registration Deadline – May 9, 2025

• August 23, 2025: Registration Deadline – July 25, 2025

• October 4, 2025: Registration Deadline – September 5, 2025

• November 8, 2025: Registration Deadline – October 10, 2025

• December 6, 2025: Registration Deadline – November 7, 2025

Please ensure timely registration to secure your preferred testing dates.

Political & Policy Updates: Impact on College Admissions

Recent political developments under President Trump may influence college admissions and visa processes for international students applying to the USA:

• Visa Revocations: The State Department has initiated the "Catch and Revoke" program, employing artificial intelligence to monitor and potentially revoke visas of foreign students. This underscores the importance of exercising caution in public and online expressions.

• Federal Funding and Campus Protests: The administration has threatened to withdraw federal funds from institutions permitting "illegal protests.” This policy could affect campus dynamics and the availability of resources. 

• We advise families to stay informed about these developments and consult with counselors for guidance on navigating these changes.

Counselor Courses: Grades 10 & 11

• Grade 10 Counseling Course: Focused on career exploration, students have been engaging in career interest inventories and developing profiles based on their strengths and aspirations. We encourage you to discuss these findings with your child to support their career planning process.

• Grade 11 Counseling Course: Dedicated to university application preparation, this course covers university research, application strategies, essay writing, and understanding admission requirements. Recent policy updates, including testing policies and shifting admissions trends, are also discussed to ensure students are well-prepared.

• Counselor Course attendance has been poor. Please remind you student to attend all sessions.
  
  

Programming & Important Dates

• Mock University Admission Event (March 18, 2025): This interactive event offered insights into the university admission review process. If you were able to attend, please give us some feedback here

• AP & IB Testing Dates: Scheduled for April & May 2025. Families should review the testing schedule and ensure students are preparing effectively.
  
  

We appreciate your partnership. Please don't hesitate to contact your counselor with any questions.

Your Counseling Team