College 101 Syllabus - Suffield Academy

WINTER LEADERSHIP: COLLEGE 101 – Class of 2014
THURSDAY SECTIONS (Rockwell, Booth/Bailey, Hernick, Warren)
Week 1: November 29, 2012
Week 2: December 6, 2012
Week 3: December 13, 2012
Week 4: January 10, 2013
Week 5: January 17, 2013
Week 6: January 24, 2013
Week 7: February 7, 2013
Week 8: February 14, 2013 – FIELD TRIP
Week 9: February 21, 2013
Week 10: February 18, 2013
Course Textbooks: Antonoff, S. College Match: A Blueprint for Choosing the Best
School for You. (11 th Edition) Alexandria, VA: Octameron
Associates, 2011.
2012-2013 College Handbook. Suffield Academy College
Counseling Office.
Week #1: Starting the College Search: Begin with You in Mind
- Overview of the college process at Suffield Academy
- Review contents of college binder / handbook
- Reintroduce Naviance
- Chapter 2 in College Match – complete Self-Survey for the College Bound
Week #2:
Standardized Tests: Your Options (includes PSAT return)
- present the differences between the SAT and the ACT
- help students start to devise a “testing plan” including taking the SAT in January
and ACT in February or April
- demonstrate valuable resources in terms of test prep and the college search
through the College Board Web site
- how to interpret the PSAT results and resources attached to the results
Week #3:
Defining Fit and Establishing College Criteria
- discussion on finding the right “fit” for you – what does that mean? How do you
know?
- Review different criteria important in choosing the right college for you
- Complete Worksheet 5 in College Match: “Qualitities That Will Make a College
Right for You” and Worksheet 6 – “Characteristics of Your Ideal College”

Over Winter Break: Your college counselor will email you the Junior Survey.
Complete your Junior Questionnaire and return it to your college counselor so you
may schedule your first appointment.
Week #4:
The List: How to Research and Develop a College List
- Chapter 4: Building Your College List
- How to use the Internet and Naviance for college research
- Using Naviance, students will research a list of possible colleges that fit the
characteristics they are looking for in a college (including two they had never
heard of before today)
- Discuss how campus visits can help you determine the right fit – questions to ask
- Chapter 5: Learning From Campus Visits
Week #5:
Presenting Yourself: Creating a Résumé
- College Match Worksheet #3: “Activities/Experiences Record”
- Create student résumés
Week #6: Mock Admission Committee #1
- Warm up with the GPA Game
- The tables are turned! Read and review college applications
- Chapter 7: The Admission Process Revealed
Week #7: Mock Admission Committee #2
- Work in a committee to decide “admit, wait list, deny”
- Preview of next week’s college visit field trip
Week #8:
FIELD TRIP – College Visit
The entire junior class will be attending a field trip to see either a small liberal arts
college or a larger university. You will have the opportunity to experience a college tour
and group information session, allowing you to get comfortable with the format before
you start visiting colleges on your own. We will be off campus from 12:30 p.m. - 4:30
p.m.

Week #9:
How Will Colleges Read My Application?
- College Match Worksheet #4 – “Your Admission Profile”
- How do you want to be perceived? Write your own recommendation exercise
Week #10:
College 101 Wrap-Up/ Preview of Senior Leadership
Topics to be covered in Spring Leadership:
- Service projects on campus
- College Fairs (includes attending the HAISSCCA Fair on April 16 th )
- Interviews, College Essay, Teacher Recommendations
- Evaluation: Are You Ready for College?