2014-15 Evening Presentations by the White Plains High School Guidance Department (in order of occurrence)

College Planning Starts Now (with PTA)

Thursday, October 23, 7:00 p.m. in the WPHS Media Center

Every year of high school counts – including freshman year! At this workshop we will explain what a student needs to do right now – as a freshman, sophomore or junior – to be a viable candidate for whatever college/university he/she would like to attend. Waiting until senior year to find out that a little more hard work would have gotten you to an acceptable GPA or that the school you are interested requires four years of math when you only took three is devastating. We will address all of these issues at this meeting.

Will Your Child Be Ready for College? Building Self-Advocacy Skills Now

Thursday, November 13, 7:00 p.m. in the WPHS Media Center

This program is designed for all students – freshman through senior – and their parents/guardians. You may not be aware that when your child goes to college, the college cannot – by law – speak to you (parent/guardian) about any aspect of your child’s education unless your child is under 18. For parents who have been heavily involved throughout high school, this can be very difficult. When that involvement has allowed a student to progress throughout high school without developing his/her own skills with regard to independence and self-advocacy, it is problematic. Independence and self-advocacy are skills that are every bit as critical to post-secondary success as any sort of academic knowledge. During this evening we will give you tools to help you help your child excel in these important areas.

First Generation College Bound

Thursday, November 20, 7:00 p.m. in the WPHS Media Center

This program is designed for junior and senior students and their parents/guardians, for whom college will be a new experience. During this evening we will assume absolutely no knowledge on the part of the audience. We will walk you through all the basics: how to choose the colleges to which you will apply, the different types of applications, what is included in an application, how and when to apply for financial aid, how to choose among the colleges that accept you, what you can expect when you get there: college schedules, residential life vs. a commuter program, the big differences between high school and college for both you and your child. And we plan on answering questions – lots of them! We know we will miss something that concerns you, and we don’t you to leave without every one of those concerns being addressed.

Financial Aid Night*

Tuesday, November 25 at 7:00 p.m. in the WPHS Media Center

*Originally scheduled for December 2nd

This presentation is designed for seniors and their parents/guardians, although all grade levels are welcome. We are incredibly fortunate to once again host Heather McDonnell for this not-to-be-missed session on Financial Aid. Ms. McDonnell is the Director of Financial Aid for Sarah Lawrence College and is a nationally known expert in this field. She will discuss the types of financial aid that are available, when and how to apply, how your assets will be looked in the process and how to compare financial aid packages once colleges respond to you. Ms. McDonnell will also answer any and all questions that you have. She has decades of experience in this field, so there is really nothing that you can ask that will stump her. Her approach to this very stressful topic is both informative and humorous. She is truly a treasure, so please don’t miss this event.

College Bound with an IEP or 504 Plan

Thursday, January 8 at 7:00 p.m. in the WPHS Media Center

On Wednesday, November 28th, the Guidance and Special Education Departments are collaborating to present a CollegeEvening specifically designed for parents/guardiansof students with IEPor 504 Plans whoaretwo orfour-year college bound. We will be joined by admissionsand special program representatives from colleges known for their effective support of students with disabilities. They will speakwith you aboutthe kinds of supports that are available at the college level and how you can access them. They will also speak with you about the admissions process for their schools. This session will be open to all, because many students willneedto access support when they are incollege,but we will be concentrating on supports that are critical for students with disabilities at that level.

Need Help Applying for Financial Aid? FAFSA Night

Thursday, Thursday, February 5 at 7 p.m. in the WPHS Media Center

Whether or not you think you will qualify for financial aid, you should fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid). This workshop will feature financial aid officers from area colleges who will be on hand to help you fill out your actual FAFSA form (online financial aid form needed to apply for financial aid for college). A letter will be sent to all senior parents in January with the specific date and information on what you need to bring that evening in order to complete your application at the workshop. Material will be presented in both English and Spanish. This workshop is specifically for parents of seniors who must complete this application this year.

Applying for Scholarships and Awards (with PTA)

Thursday, February 26 at 7 p.m. in the WPHS Media Center

Each year, hundreds of thousands of dollars-worth of scholarships are awarded to students at White Plains High School. Some of these are local scholarships given by White Plains-based organizations such as the Rotary, College and Women’s Club that are available only to White Plains students. Others are regional. Then there are national scholarships and awards. Contrary to popular opinion, they are not just available to students with the highest GPAs. In fact, there are many scholarships that target students who serve the community or have a particular passion or overcame challenges to achieve whatever level of success that they currently enjoy. We will show you how to find and apply for these scholarships and awards. If you are a senior or a senior parent, please don’t miss this event!

College Planning Night

Thursday, March 19 at 7 p.m. in the WPHS Media Center

Representatives from the admissions offices of public and private colleges (past presenters have come to us from SUNY Binghamton, Vassar, Cooper Union, Penn State and Union College) will present information on all aspects of the college application process, from choosing the correct school for you to the relative importance of standardized test scores, college essays, recommendations and the other elements of your application package, to the types of applications available. This is an excellent opportunity for parents of juniors, but freshmen and sophomore parents can benefit from this as well.

Standardized Testing (with PTA)

Thursday, March 26 at 7 p.m. in the WPHS Media Center

This program is designed for 9th, 10th and 11th grade students and parents/guardians. This evening is all about college entrance exams: the SAT, the ACT, the SAT IIs (subject tests). What are they? When should you take them? How many times/how many tests should you take? How are these used by colleges in their admissions process? These are the questions that we will answer over the course of this evening. Some students begin taking subject tests as early as their sophomore year, so we encourage all freshmen, sophomore and junior parents and students to take advantage of this presentation.

Student Athletes: What You Need to Know About the NCAA

Thursday, April 9 at 7 p.m. in the WPHS Media Center

This program is designed for ALL student athletes and their parents/guardians. Each year very talented athletes who have devoted countless hours to physical training and practice are disappointed when they realize that they are not eligible to be recruited by Division I or II schools because they have not met the academic requirements of the National Clearinghouse. It is too late to find this out as a senior or even as a junior in some cases. Serious athletes must also be serious students if they want to realize their dreams of participating at the highest level of college athletics. Please join us for this presentation by members of our counseling staff and the NCAA who will explain what you need to achieve academically in order to be eligible.

Non-College Options: Technical and Trade Schools/Gap Year Programs

Thursday, April 16 at 7 p.m. in the WPHS Media Center

This program is designed for junior and senior students and their parents/guardians. Some students need post-secondary alternatives to a direct progression to a two or four-year college or university program. A variety of presenters will be on hand to talk to you about technical and trade schools and gap year programs. Every student who graduates from high school needs a plan, and that plan should leave as many options open as possible and lead to a satisfying and rewarding career. Please join us for some excellent alternatives to immediately going to college.

Naviance Night for Juniors

Thursday, May 14 at 7 p.m. in the WPHS Media Center

This program will introduce juniors and their parents/guardians to the college exploration and application process using Naviance. All aspects of the program will be demonstrated, and a timeline will be provided to ensure that you are on track for submitting your applications in your senior year. This is an important evening for all juniors, but it is essential for students who intend to apply Early Decision or Early Action in the fall.

For updates and more information, please check our monthly Guidance Bulletin and our White Plains High School Guidance Website