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 A MESSAGE FROM HEAD COUNSELOR CARY KENNEDY
Greetings!
For the past two months, we have been meeting with juniors and their parents to complete Junior Reviews for graduation. We have really enjoyed meeting our junior parents and discussing graduation and plans for life after Brookwood. Counselors have been striving to ensure that students not only have the proper credits for graduation, but also assist with senior schedules, SAT/ACT prep, college and career exploration, financial aid, and other ways to be appealing candidates for college admission. Some students have aspirations of going to technical schools, so we help prepare them to take the COMPASS exam. Others have the calling to enter the military, so we provide them with the resources necessary; including the administration of the ASVAB here on campus.
Students can prepare for the SAT/ACT in several ways. There are several online options free of charge and students can get information about these options in the counseling office. In addition, the Brookwood Community School and the Media Center offer programs. We also offer a tutor list with several other options for preparation for these tests.
Part of the Junior Review is the introduction to our College and Career Center. In the center, students are assisted with all aspects of career and college decision making. While it is not necessary for a high school student to commit to a career, it is useful to gain knowledge about career interests. We utilize a website called Career Cruising, which is a one-stop shop for career and college exploration. In the fall, juniors competed a career interest inventory and researched colleges in Career Cruising. Parents can get access to student's accounts with a special code available in the counseling office.
Financial Aid is a priority in this economy. Many of our students earn the HOPE scholarship which pays for some or all of tuition at Georgia public colleges and provides a flat amount for private ones. In addition, collegefinancial aid offices are an excellent resource for contributions. Thirdly, websites such as College Board and GAcollege411.org give options for financial aid and scholarships. Also, our College and Career Specialist, Mrs. Varzaly completes a Junior and Senior Bulletin each week. In these publications, you will find information concerning scholarships and other pertinent information for success through the year. Finally, the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) connects students to Federal Loans, Grants, and to all Georgia funded scholarships.
While GPAs and test scores are reported as the most important factors when considering admission to college, other factors impact decision making. You may consider volunteer and leadership projects to make you a more appealing candidate for admissions and for scholarships. When you think of community service and making your world a better place, the Boy Scouts & Girls Scouts have figured things out. In those programs, respectively, Eagle and Gold projects are developed and initiated by each individual scout in an endeavor to reach the pinnacle award in the organization. Brookwood students can learn from this model of community service, with or without the Scouts' influence. Consider a "senior" project where you could leave your positive mark on the school or community. Counselors have the opportunity to regularly speak with college admissions counselors. We're finding that colleges are looking for students who distinguish themselves in their service. For example, one University of Georgia representative reported many students go on mission trips, which is great service to humanity, but one student stood out for not only going on the trip, but also raising double the amount of support so a friend could join.
Students (and their parents) can reflect on what issues concern them in the world today or what changes would they like to see in the community. A "senior" project shows initiative and leadership in the development of focused activity to meet an identified need. A pre-med student could help raise monies to donate to Doctors Without Borders, an organization which provides medical needs to underserved populations. An animal lover could arrange regular pet therapy to the local retirement home. Acts of service that come from the heart and are driven by what the student is already passionate about can enhance the experience and success for all parties. In the end, your Brookwood student has left his/her community a better than it was found, and college admissions staff can see more of the true heart of your child. Imagine how a letter of recommendation might be received by a scholarship committee or admissions committee, if it was written by a supervisor from the retirement home in the scenario above. Community service work can be focused and operate on the Pay it Forward principle. Your student is giving, and then one day, when it's a season of college admissions and scholarship decisions, it will be acceptable to receive.
Sincerely,
Cary |
