Dear Families of Juniors,

 

As we all try to manage the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic, we want you to know that the health and well-being of you and your students is our main priority. As a part of the CollegeBound Initiative (CBI) family, we wanted to reach out and provide our support, and share some relevant information regarding the college process for your student(s). 

 

In accordance with recent guidelines for social distancing from the city and state, all of our Directors of College Counseling (DCCs) will be working virtually.  To be clear, we are not suspending the critical advisement to you and your children.  Our staff has the required files, materials, contact information, and laptops necessary to work virtually.  With school closings and colleges canceling events and fairs, we have also suspended all upcoming college trips planned for March and likely April.

 

We are looking to the next few months and planning for a nontraditional college preparation cycle. This will require more responsibility and ownership from our students, but we are here to help.  Here are some initial updates:

 

• Your student(s) should be closely monitoring their email at this time for outreach from their DCC.  We are working on developing the appropriate online convening tools to meet with students 1:1 and in small groups to convey information, determine timelines for accomplishing key milestones, and securely relay information.  We ask that you encourage your student(s) to dedicate time regularly to engaging with our DCCs.  Please have your student(s) reach out directly to their DCC if there is any barrier to accessing the internet. 

 

• Our staff will be sharing resources and guidelines for 11th graders to make the most of their time at home.  Here's a preview of what they'll be covering, and what your student(s) should be thinking about this Spring: 

• Financial aid overview and required documents

• Standardized testing preparation

• Overview of our college systems

• Tips for requesting letters of recommendation and creating resumes

• The college essay

• Guidance on assessing the best fit colleges that match their academic profile

 

Lastly, we know that a number of AP, ACT and SAT exams are scheduled in the following weeks and months. We are closely monitoring this situation and will look to ACT and College Board for more information on how to proceed.  Here is what we know to date about the College Board SAT Administrations and ACT Administrations. 

• In response to the rapidly evolving situation around the coronavirus (COVID-19), College Board is canceling the May 2, 2020 SAT administration. Makeup exams for the March 14 administration (scheduled for March 28) are also canceled.  College Board has not yet canceled the June 6, 2020 SAT.ACT has rescheduled its April 4 national test date to June 13 across the U.S. All students registered for the April 4 test date will receive an email from ACT in the next few days informing them of the postponement and instructions for free rescheduling to June 13 or a future national test date.

• Students should structure time daily/weekly to build their test taking skills and content review via these standardized test prep tools online:

• ACT Academy

• Khan Academy

•  

• Like most of you, we are building new plans as information is brought to our attention. Each day is different from the last; one thing I know for sure is we wants to work with you, hear from you and partner with you to ensure that all students get through this challenging time with as much guidance and relief as we can provide. We look forward to engaging with you

• Thank you and be well,

•  

• Sade Ortiz-Lucin

• Sade Ortiz-Lucin

• Director of College Counseling

• The Young Women’s Leadership School of Astoria