March & April 2025 Newsletter

Advising Updates

Hello Students and Families!

I hope that this newsletter finds you well. The last of college admission decisions and financial aid offers will arrive soon! No matter the results of your admission decisions, I hope you feel proud of all the hard work you have put into the process. No matter where you go, the college you attend does not define who you are or who you will become.

For all students, spring break is right around the corner. This is a good time to visit college campuses, meet with admission representatives, and tour the areas where the colleges are located. Seniors, a campus visit can help you choose between your top two or three choices. For Juniors, a campus visit is a great way to continue refine your college list.

For more information about how to arrange campus visits, see the campus visit section of your Digital Binder.

Out of Office Mar. 15th - Apr. 2nd
I will be traveling from March 15th-April 2nd. Due to the nature of my travel, I will only have limited access to email, text, and phone at 210-596-9567. Please allow for a 24-48 hour response time due to the time zone difference.

Seniors - This is a really exciting time and I hope that knowing you have great college options to choose from helps keep your nerves at bay. Follow this link for information about things to keep your eyes on…

Juniors - Many of you have been working on researching colleges! Now is a great time to expand your research by visiting campuses. We will talk about writing your activities resume, introduce the CommonApp, and begin work on your first essay as we move into April and May. Follow this link for more information…

Sophomores - Think about summer activities and touring some local college campuses. Many things can provide helpful experiences. Read more here…

All Students - Prepare for AP exams
Good luck to those of you who are taking AP exams in May! Spend some time preparing for the exam so you can earn the highest score possible. Khan Academy offers free preparation courses for AP coursework and exams.Scores of 3, 4, or 5 may qualify for college credit. The AP credit policies of your future college can be found on the college's website. You can also ask your admission counselor for information about the score you need to receive credit for AP coursework.

Spring College Fairs
The Pacific Northwest Association for College Admission Counseling (PNACAC) is hosting college fairs in Seattle and Portland in April. Over 100 colleges and universities will be in attendance, providing a fantastic opportunity to meet your admission counselor and to ask questions that will help you learn more about each school.

Students are asked to register prior to the event and may do so using the links provided below. You will also find a list of colleges who will be in attendance, so that you can make sure the colleges you are considering will be there.

Seattle PNACAC College Fair
Date: Saturday, April 26, 2025
Location: Seattle University, Redhawk Center  550 14th Ave, Seattle, WA  98112
Start Time:  9:00am
End Time:  12:00pm

Registration information: https://www.pnacac.org/college-fairs_1/spring-college-fairs/seattle

Portland PNACAC College Fair

Date: Sunday, April 27, 2025
Location: University of Portland Chiles Center, 5000 N Willamette Blvd Portland OR 97203
Start Time: 12:00pm
End Time: 3:00pm

Registration information: https://www.pnacac.org/college-fairs_1/spring-college-fairs/portland

In the Media

Read, listen, and learn about the college admission process, important topics, and latest news in higher education. These articles and podcasts can help you understand some of the nuances of the application process.

Drexel University, 2022

March & April Reminders

Seniors:
- Keep your grades strong - avoid senioritis!
- Make final campus visits to help narrow down your college list.
- Begin comparing financial aid offers.
– Final admission letters from colleges should arrive by the start of April. 
- Notify colleges that you will not attend.
- Send thank you notes to those who wrote letters of recommendation. 

- Parents of seniors: begin drafting financial aid appeal letters if needed.

- Military affiliated families: Connect with VA Benefits representatives on your college campus to learn about how to claim yellow ribbon benefits.

Juniors:
- Research colleges on your suggested list
- Begin creating your initial list of colleges in your Custom College Plan account. 
- Tour colleges.
- Register for an SAT or ACT. More SAT dates will become available in May.

Sophomores & Juniors:
- Make plans for a productive summer.
- Investigate summer programs, jobs, and internships.

All students:
- Prepare for AP exams

College Knowledge

  • You’re entring the homestretch now! But don’t let up on your momentum in the classroom! Continue Reading...

  • Now is the time to start visiting colleges to enhance your college research. Continue Reading...

  • Spring is a great time to think about summer activities, classes, and visiting a college or two! Continue reading…

  • Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) isn't your typical single-subject major. Read more…

  • Learn more about Fire Sciences and the careers related to this area. Read more…

  • What if we reframed reading as a workout for the brain? Read more…

  • While downtime is important to re-energize, summer is also a great time to explore new interests by taking a class, trying a residential summer program housed on a college campus, getting a job, or volunteering in your community. Look for an experience that is exciting to you. Continue reading…

  • To get a clear picture of the total cost of attending a school, look beyond just tuition, Read more…

  • College websites can be difficult to navigate. These tips will help, continue reading…