COLLEGE CONVERSATIONS: For parents unable to sign on to last week’s first in our series of Virtual College Conversations (1st Topic – College Entrance Testing with guest speaker, Ron Michalak, President of Breakaway Test Prep), you may access slide deck via this link. Please also consult PA College Counseling’s resource on college entrance testing dates/info. For parents who are unfamiliar with PA College Conversations, we host these virtual events throughout the school year as a complement to our in-person college counseling programs. College Conversations provide additional opportunities for parents to hear more about a specific topic (e.g. the college search, financial aid/scholarships, collegiate summer programs, etc.) and ask questions that may be top of mind.
The dates/topics for subsequent virtual College Conversations for this school year are as follows:
• December 5 (Topic: Financing a College Education with Guest College Dean of Financial Aid from St. Olaf College)
• January 16 (Topic: Campus Visits/Summer Programs)
• February 6 (Topic: 9th Grade College Counseling Roadmap for Freshmen/Parents)
• March 13* (Topic: 10th Grade College Counseling Roadmap for Sophomores/Parents)
• April 3 (Topic: College Day Preview for Parents)
• May 8 (Topic: Highly Selective College Admission)
*correct date
In addition, parents who may be interested in a deeper understanding of the current college financial aid process may wish to join future College Aid Pro Webinars, with the next installment coming up on October 15 on how to successfully complete the FAFSA and CSS Profile—two crucial steps in securing financial aid for your student’s college education. Even if you think your family won’t qualify for financial aid, we strongly encourage you to join. You might be surprised by the aid opportunities available to you! Webinar Details: October 15, 2024 at 6:00 PM CT, Register HERE. Can’t attend live? Simply register, and CAP will send you the recording after the event..
REGISTER HERE: Creighton U. and Benedictine College Visit Field Trip November 7 and 8: PA Seniors, Juniors, and Sophomores are invited to a PA-sponsored college trip to Creighton University and Benedictine College – our second annual out-of-state college visit field trip November 7-8 (during the school holiday for parent-teacher conferences). Departure will be at approximately 7:40 a.m. on November 7 and return by approximately 7:00 p.m. on November 8. The cost of $200 will include transportation, meals, and overnight accommodations at the Hyatt in Omaha. Our trip will include a special dinner with PA alumni in Omaha (and former Choir Director, Dr. Richard Carillo!), an excellent networking opportunity for students. All students who wish to participate will need to pay a $75 deposit, but this fee will be credited toward the full trip cost. Space is limited so please register HERE to secure your spot! Questions? Contact Mrs. Hogan.
REMINDER: College Representatives Visits at PA Colleges are visiting PA and the most updated info. about these visits can be found in our PA College Visit User’s Guide HERE, in Naviance, as well as in morning announcements (for students). Additionally, your student should receive a system email from the Naviance platform if colleges on one of their college lists schedule a visit. Colleges will also inform our office (and students on their mailing lists) about public information sessions they are hosting in the Twin Cities region. These events are typically held at hotels, public libraries, or schools on weeknights or weekend afternoons. Students will receive information directly from colleges if they are on their mailing lists. Many colleges make note of an applicant’s “demonstrated interest” during admission deliberations. This favors students who have visited campus, attended the college’s visit to the high school, spoken to a college representative at a college fair, or accepted an invitation to meet with an admission representative during his or her stay in the Twin Cities. Questions? Contact Mrs. Hogan.
Upcoming Twin Cities Area College Programming
Questions? Contact Mrs. Hogan.
- The North America Coalition for Christian Admission Professionals (NACCAP) will host a Christian College Fair open to the public on October 21 @ 6:00 p.m. at Heritage Christian Academy
- Minnesota National College Fair
The MN National College Fair is scheduled for October 22 at the Minneapolis Convention Center with representatives from colleges all over the U.S. and international institutions. We recommend attending the early evening session to avoid large crowds!
REMINDER: Juniors/Junior Parents: Keynote Speaker
As you can tell by its frequent mention in our communications, the College Planning Event for Juniors and Junior Parents functions as a pivotal kick-off program for this phase of the college search, in earnest. With our guest keynote speaker coming from the Boston College Admissions Office for this event, we aim for 100% participation by Juniors (plus as many parents able to join as possible) on Thursday, November 14 at 2:25 p.m. in the Lecture Hall.
In addition to our November program, we are excited to welcome back to PA world-renowned scholar and Professor of Catholic Studies at University of St. Thomas, Dr. John Boyle, to give a talk to the junior class about navigating the college search with faith as a framework. While the talk is geared toward students, parents are welcome to attend (though seating is limited in the Lecture Hall) and interest in pursuing Catholic Studies at UST is not necessary to appreciate Dr. Boyle’s universal wisdom! Questions? Contact Mrs. Hogan.