THE MILTON COLLEGE COUNSELING PROCESS (continued) September, when colleges are in session and Milton has not yet begun. We STRONGLY encourage students to draft the main Common Application essay, and, where needed, supplements, as well as complete the Common Application over the summer. In the past, seniors who have followed this advice have experienced an easier fall. The College Office will be glad to review college essays starting the last week of August. The Dean of College Counseling will also be available periodically throughout the summer to work with students and review materials. A letter detailing specific timing of availability will be sent to families this spring. College Visit Days Seniors can miss two academic days of their choosing between Monday, September 10 - Friday, November 9 for visits. After November 9, exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis. Students need to fill out and submit a Special Absence Form (available in the College Office) a week before their chosen day. Please plan accordingly. We also encourage students and their families to plan college visits for the long weekends in the fall; check the school-wide calendar for specific dates. Planning ahead is one of the keys to success in this process. ADD THESE DATES TO YOUR CALENDAR NOW! Some students will want to visit colleges in junior spring. This is possible, but students should know that they will need to use their senior fall visit days to do so. Senior Fall During fall of senior year, students should meet regularly with the college counselors. The focus in the fall is for each student to come up with a thoughtful and appropriate college list and to continue refining applications and essays. With some students, this work takes two meetings; with others it takes six or seven or even ten. Everyone is different, and we have flexibility built into our process to accommodate these differences. For example, we are available and eager to read essays, but we do not insist on reading them. Our general philosophy is to empower each student to be in charge of the process and to encourage all students to use our advice as often as they need or want it. Some students will have a scant four meetings with us during the entire process and will do a perfectly fine job. Others will become weekly visitors, and they, too, will do a fine job. We respect and encourage individual styles as long as students do not become paralyzed by procrastination or exhibit stubborn and foolish independence. If we are tipped off by a wise parent or an alert advisor, we will check with the student to see what is going on and to move the process along. In order to be as helpful as possible and to stay on top of the significant paperwork required in the process, we ask that students adhere to the following deadlines: Monday, October 1 Secondary School Report Form for Early Decision/Early Action/Rolling applications and for any school with a 12/1 or earlier deadline due. Online Recommendation Release Form due. ED/EA essay review deadline.
Friday, November 30
Final List, generated in consultation with a college counselor, due. Also, deadline for any drafts of college essays that students wish the counselors to review for regular decision.
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