April Action Items & Important Info Contact your counselor with questions after reviewing the information below.
STUDENT ACTION ITEMS - Request your teacher recommendations. Ask two 11th grade core academic teachers (English, History, Languages, Math, or Science) if they will be recommenders, by following the steps below.
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Prepare your choices for teacher recommendations. As a reminder, you can see what you brainstormed with your counselor in SCOIR by clicking on “Me” (top right corner) and then “Surveys”.
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The recommendation request window will open at 8am on April 21 and close at 4pm on April 30. During that window, email your two teachers inquiring if they could write a strong letter of recommendation for you; make sure to articulate your appreciation for the effort you’re asking of them. If your teacher declines because they’ve reached their cap of 15, reach out to another teacher or connect with your counselor to explore other options. NOTE: If you email your teacher prior to April 21 at 8am, they will decline your request.
- If a teacher agrees to write for you, enter the request in SCOIR. This is how teachers keep track of who they’ve agreed to write letters for. Use the following steps (here’s a 2-min video of the steps):
- Click on “My Colleges” at the top-right of the homepage and then “Docs” (or the document icon) in the upper right.
- Next, click “+ New Request” and select your teacher on the following screen. If you are requesting a recommendation from a study away teacher (Chewonki, SEGL, Mountain School, etc.) enter the request as “Other (Non-Lakeside Teacher)”
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Leave the subject line as is; in the required “message,” write a few words (one sentence max) thanking the teacher again.
- Hit “Submit”!
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By May 7, write a Highlights Letter for each teacher (minimum of 350 words) and email it to them. This letter should describe two papers, projects or moments in class in which you were at your best (not necessarily where you earned your highest grade, but where you were most invested and demonstrated strong competencies). Describe which of your qualities or skills were highlighted by each example. Was it your creativity and imagination? Your cross-disciplinary thinking? Your ability to critically analyze or effectively research? (Some teachers might request a meeting to discuss the letter with you - this is okay! They want to know as much about you intellectually as they can so they can advocate on your behalf. If they request a meeting, respond promptly and work your schedule around theirs.) Without a Highlight Letter, the teacher will be unable to write your recommendation.
- Continue researching colleges and follow in SCOIR those that interest you. On the Resources Page under the “Researching Colleges” you’ll find a variety of links that might support your research.
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Watch the College Essay Workshop Video here (if you didn’t attend in-person in March). Note: This recording is from last year’s presentation. The content for this year’s presentation, including the Common App essays prompts, remained the same.
- Planning college visits? Read the info below.
PARENT/GUARDIAN ACTION ITEMS: -
If cost/affordability is a factor in your student's search, discuss this with your student (if you haven't already). During the parent/guardian meeting with your student’s college counselor, they will ask how cost might impact your student’s search, if at all. To prepare, we suggest sharing the the following with your student:
- If you're planning college visits, read below for more information.
- Want to suggest colleges in SCOIR? Watch this SCOIR video tutorial.
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Be a "sounding board" for your student. When they share their college research and thoughts or as they explore summer opportunities, pose questions to help them dig deeper. Rather than sharing your opinions at this stage, help them develop their own.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION - Many students are asking what they can do now to strengthen their applications. The most important step all juniors should take is completing their classes as strongly as possible. The transcript is the most important component of any college application, and junior grades are the last set of final marks that colleges will see.
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Planning college visits? To maximize your college visits, read this blog post and our Resources Page FAQs. Consider connecting with Lakeside alumni (this list is accessible only to students from their Lakeside accounts). While tours and information sessions are useful, they are designed to market the institutions, and you will get a more candid perspective from alumni currently in college. You might be able to locate an alum's email address from that college's online directory or find them on social media.
- Considering interviews? The college counselors strongly recommend that students wait until after junior year to interview; colleges often share that students rarely interview strongly at this early stage. Because colleges have differing interview policies, the student should review each school's interview policies on their website.
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Wondering what college-related tasks you’ll have this summer? During the second week of June, students and parents/guardians will receive a detailed email communication outlining students’ summer tasks and responsibilities and our expectations, including drafting their main college essay, drafting their activities list, and meeting with their counselor in August.
UPCOMING DATES AND DEADLINES April 11: College Counseling Office Closes for Spring Break April 21: Office reopens; Students begin requesting teacher recommendations April 22 - 24: College Essay Workshops in English classes
April 30: Last day for students to request teacher recommendations May 1: Virtual College Talk: The Arts in College (7-8 pm) May 7: Teacher Recommendation Highlights Letters due May 8: Deans & Directors Program for Parents/Guardians (6:30-9 pm) May 9: Deans & Directors Program for Students May 22: Virtual College Talk: The Year in Review (7-8 pm) Jun 27: College Counseling Office Closes for Summer Break Aug 11: College Counseling Office Reopens |
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