College Information

• Landmark College Open House, December 9

  Landmark College is holding its final Virtual Open House of 2020 on Wednesday, December 9 from 1—5 p.m. ET. The event will feature a special presentation focused on options for Post-Grad/gap year and transfer students, including:  Bridge Experience for students attending other colleges or universities Transition-at-College (TaC) program for Post-graduate and gap year students Steps to transfer to Landmark College from current institution

   

  Register Now

   

  Plus, if you send in an application before or during the Open House, your student will be eligible to win prizes such as an iPad, Shark USB drives, gift baskets, Landmark clothing, and more.

  • Landmark College

  Guidance

• School Profile 2020-2021

  The school profile is the document that is sent with every college application.  It provides colleges a standardized set of information allowing them to compare, evaluate, and understand the various types of schools from which students are applying.

  Read LaGuardia's School Profile

  Guidance

• Let's Talk College Weekly Newsletter

  Find the link to the latest issue -- as well as back issues -- of our Let's Talk College Weekly Newsletter.

  While much of the information is currently geared toward Seniors who are applying to college, there is information that everyone may find helpful.

  Families who have successfully navigated the college process consistently offer this piece of advice.  Start early!  This does not mean you have to be looking into colleges and doing research all of the time.  Starting early can include reading the information that is put out to Juniors and Seniors, such as the Let's Talk College Weekly Newsletter.  This way, you are already familiar with the process, deadlines, and information when it is you turn to go through the application process.

  Guidance

• Virtual Arts and Humanities Open House (November 14, 2020)

  Princeton University
  Invites you to a
  
  Virtual Arts and Humanities Open House
  
  Nov. 14, 2020
  Noon- 2:30 p.m. ET

  Through presentations, workshops, lectures and panels, you will have the opportunity to learn from faculty members, students and staff from Princeton University about what it's like to study in the arts and humanities in a college setting.  

  This event will go beyond just an introduction to the humanities and arts and instead engage you in discussions and subjects that you might encounter should you choose to pursue one of these fields. Featured courses include “Homer’s Iliad: Song and Text,” “Recovering Lost Voices – Bringing Diversity to the Concert Hall,” “Humanistic Studies Seniors on Writing an Interdisciplinary Thesis” and "Crossing Cultures in Music Composition."
  
  The program will consist of two programming blocks, along with an opening address and a closing session. Each programming block will last 45-minutes, and you will select your programs at the time of registration. Jill Dolan, dean of the college, and Karen Richardson '93, dean of admission, will provide the opening address. Our closing speaker is Kelvin Dinkins Jr. '09, who will reflect on his time producing Broadway shows and serving as a board member for various performing groups.
   
  Please register for the Virtual Arts and Humanities Open House. You can also find this opportunity and others on the Virtual Visit page of our website. 
   
  We hope that you will join us for this afternoon of immersion in the arts and humanities at Princeton University!

  Guidance

• Cornell University Admissions & HEOP/EOP Programs  (November 6, 2020)

  
  
  

   Cornell University's Undergraduate Admissions Office & NYS Opportunity Programs Office present  
  
  

  Strategies for Your Success: A College Application and HEOP Workshop

  Hosted by NYC 4-H Youth Development Program 
  
  

  Nov 6, 2020 04:00 PM Eastern  
  
  

  In order for students to sign up, they have to fill out the following Google Form (so that my club and I can get an understanding of how many people will possibly be attending from LaGuardia and to promote LaGuardia's 4-H club). After filling out the Google Form, they will be taken to another link where they will formally register for the event and get the Zoom link. Google Form: https://forms.gle/gLf9qoBqvNbJESU76

  Guidance

• Do I use Naviance to apply to college?

  Naviance is the platform LaGuardia uses to send school documents, which are a part of a student's application . Students submit their applications through: Common App, SUNY Application, CUNY Portal, or Directly through the institution’s application portal. 

  I. The Common Application or “Common App” - 900+ Colleges accept the Common App. 

  II. SUNY Application- Each institution charges a fee to apply. The application fee varies 

  by institution. SUNY allows for up to four application fee waivers based on SUNY’s financial need criteria. Use the Common App to apply to SUNY schools if more than four fee waivers are needed. Guidance Counselor verifies eligibility (LUNCH/Income verification form) for the CA fee waivers. 

  III. CUNY Portal - Apply to CUNY Colleges via the CUNY Portal. The College will 

  receive your transcript electronically and you can apply to 6 schools for one fee of $65 or free if you qualify for a fee waiver. 

  IV. College Specific Application Portals - Some colleges only accept applications via their 

  own application portal. 

  All Institutions, regardless of how you apply, must be listed in Naviance. Naviance tells us how, where and when to submit school documents on your behalf. If the College is not listed in Naviance under “Colleges I am Applying to” your counselor will not know to send your supporting documentation. 

  Guidance

• Let's Talk College Newsletter (October 26, 2020)

  Let's Talk College Newsletter (October 26, 2020

  Register for Upcoming College Visits

  Watch Helpful Tutorials on Financial Aid and Naviance

  See Scholarship Opportunities

  Discover what is TAP (Tuition Assistance Program) that appears when you complete the FAFSA

  .... and more!

   

  Guidance

• Dartmouth Virtual Visit on Monday, October 26, 2020; 4:30 PM

  Who:  Dartmouth

  When:  Monday, October 26, 2020

  Time:  4:30 PM

  Pre-Registration Not Required

   

   https://dartmouth.zoom.us/j/98026215404?pwd=VHBCYVNyVWc0NmlqckM4ZUxTd2F4UT09

   

  
  
  

  Rafael X. Escobedo | Assistant Director of Admissions 

  Guidance

• Let's Talk College: A message and Newsletter from our Counseling Support Team (October 19, 2020)

  The Counseling Support Team would like to invite you to visit our website for access to the Guidance Support page.  There you will find the Digital College Handbook which we update periodically.

  At LaGuardia we believe that students are most successful in pursuing their post-high school opportunities when they have adults who empower them to take ownership of their future. The Counseling Support Team communicates directly with students primarily through PupilPath.  In addition, families may access information regarding the college application process on our website, through their Guidance Counselor’s Google Classroom, as well as on Naviance.  Naviance is an excellent search tool for students. 
  
  
  We encourage students to develop the practice of demonstrating interest directly by emailing and/or calling colleges and universities: it is important that students contact admissions offices, financial aid offices, and the program of study department offices now, so they become familiar with the process by the time they enroll in the school. 
  
  
  The college application process is student-centered and we encourage students to take initiative as much as possible.  We encourage our students to be consumers about their affairs. As you can see from our own start to the year, many things have and are changing and it is best to learn about updates directly from the institutions’ websites or making outreach.

   

  How can parents/guardians help?

  
  The most important way that parents/guardians can support their student is to show their student that they respect the student’s choice, interest, and concerns in the process.

  • Ask your child to share with you the information and resources they have been reviewing on websites, through Google Classroom, as part of their outreach.

  • Ask your child how they are feeling. Let them know it is ok to have conflicting emotions - the process is exciting, scary, interesting, and tedious at the same time.

  • Remind them that it’s ok to change their mind. Remind them that everyone is different and wherever they are, their supports are ready to help them.

  • Encourage and allow your student to initiate outreach to their counselor and institutions. Refrain from reaching out on your child’s behalf.

  Based on family feedback, we scheduled virtual College Visits this year from 4pm-7pm so students do not have to miss classes to attend. 

  • Please encourage your child to register for these virtual sessions, hosted by the college’s representative, both to learn more information about the college, and to express their interest in the college. If your child is unable to attend, they should reach out directly to the college representative, which is a simple step that demonstrates initiative and interest.

  Log into Naviance.

  • Parents/guardians can help by completing the Parent Rave in Naviance to help us build a more comprehensive understanding of their student from the home perspective.

  • Refer your child to the video tutorials on Naviance when they have questions about how to use Naviance.

  • Research colleges using the database on Naviance, which includes customized features based on your child’s records.

  Join us and “Let’s Talk College”

  • The Counseling Support Team will now put out a weekly “Let’s Talk College” newsletter highlighting valuable information for the community. (PDF attached)

  • We are also reopening the live “Let’s Talk College” video conference sessions (open to all students, parents/guardians, faculty/staff) on Wednesdays at 7pm, starting this coming Wednesday. (Flyer Attached)

  We are here to support you through the entire college application process. Please reach out and rest assured that you will receive answers to the questions you have either from your guidance counselor or directly from the institution.  We want you to feel good about this process.  Tap into resources provided.  Prioritize your time and your applications and pace yourself.

   

  Best of luck,

  
  Ms. Williams and the Counseling Support Team

  Let' Talk College Newsletter 10.19.2020

  Guidance

• Who is Responsible for What?

  Student Responsibilities 

  ❏ Personal Essay/Statement 

  ❏ Create a separate and professional email address to manage all college correspondence & application accounts. This should be the same non-LaGuardia email that you are currently using on Naviance. Ex.: LastName.FirstName@Gmail.com 

  ❏ Add SAT/ACT score to Naviance and send SAT/ACT scores to your institutions if required for admission review.

  ❏ Ask Teachers for Letter of Recommendations Ask a minimum of 2 academic Teachers (and one studio Teacher if applying to a program that relates to the teacher’s expertise) 

  ❏ Request Teacher Recommendations on Naviance:https://www.screencast.com/t/yFlgLhUy

  ·       Create a Balanced College List & Add them to Naviance: https://www.screencast.com/t/jp4DehOsrA

  ·       Create a Common App account 

  ·       Request Fee Waivers through Common Application 

  ❏ Waive FERPA 

  ❏ Match Common App to Naviance: https://www.screencast.com/t/gxEQkElyo1

  ❏ You are required to pick a deadline for the school you are applying to when you add the school to “Colleges I am applying to” on Naviance. You will be asked to choose from EA, ED, RD, etc... Add accurate submission deadlines.  Update deadlines as needed. 

  ❏ Keep teachers informed of deadlines for recommendation submission to help them prioritize their time and ensure that their recommendations are submitted on time.

  ❏ Delete applications as needed (If you change your mind about applying to a school, please remove it from your list): https://www.screencast.com/t/oUbZbG8qSuR

  ❏ Verify and prepare necessary supplementals: portfolio pieces, auditions, pre-screens, additional essays as required for admission to individual institutions.

   

  School 

  Responsibilities 

  1. Counselor Recommendation 

  This is created by incorporating information provided by the student in their individual college meeting, the student’s transcript, the Parent/Guardian Rave & the student’s All About Me survey completed on Naviance. 

  2. Teacher Recommendations 

        3. Verifying Fee Waiver Eligibility

  4. Help students identify and categorize their lists as Reach, Target or Safety

  5. Answer questions and provide general information regarding the college application process, to students and families.

  6. Guide and support students in establishing “Points of Contact” with the colleges they are interested in applying to.

  7. Submitting School-Based Documents

  ·       Transcripts,

  ·        Recommendations, 

  ·       School Profile, 

  ·       Senior course load, 

  ·       Mid- Year Reports, etc…

  Parent/Guardian Responsibilities 

  1.     Complete Parent Rave on Naviance

  Log in to your parent account.

  Click on ‘About Me’ in the upper right.

  Scroll down to ‘My Surveys’

  Click on ‘Surveys Not Started’

  Save every twenty minutes or so to ensure that you do not lose your work

  2. Help your child identify and categorize Reach, Target or Safety schools on their lists.

   

  3. Support your child in establishing “Points of Contact” with the colleges they are interested in applying to.  Do not do this for them. (Read linked article)

        4. Completing Family  Income Verification Form (ASAP) 

  5. Filing taxes and preparing financial information from 2019 

  6. Acquire a budget letter (if you do not file taxes & you receive Public Assistance) 

  7. FAFSA-Opens October 1st. Each year, complete as soon as possible. Needed for determining eligibility for Federal Grants, Loans & some school-based Scholarships. 

        a. Create a parent FSA ID (if you do not have an existing one) 

        b. Complete FAFSA application 

   

  8. TAP- Opens October 1st. Needed for NYS schools only (Public & Private) 

  Easiest to complete directly after completing the FAFSA 

   

        9. CSS Profile-Select colleges require this for determining financial aid.

   

   

  Guidance