PREPARING FOR COLLEGE AS A GA FRESHMAN
Welcome to GA’s Upper School. The College Counseling team hopes that families will partner with us and review this information with their freshman. For more information about GA’s College Counseling Program, please access the College Counseling Resources OneNote via your Veracross account (click on the College Counseling button on the right navigation bar). https://germantownacademymy.sharepoint.com/:o:/g/personal/karen_mason_germantownacademy_org/EkapaiIEMtt HoUKEKJPw498BmoTCmxV_D2AhY9u1ASrs3g?e=b3q1d3).
What Freshman Should Be Doing to Prepare for College:
➢ Focus on your academic coursework. Your achievements in class as well as your course selection will be paramount in the review process for admission to college. Sometimes students mistakenly think that grades from their first year of high school do not “count.” College admission officers will review your entire high school transcript, which includes your course performance in grade 9. They will also, however, consider the adjustment to high school and deeply value the improvement you make over your high school career. Keep in mind that with every academic stride you make, the more college options you will have! You are also attending a rigorous college preparatory school to achieve an education and become a scholar. Take advantage of your teachers, your advisor, and your peers so that you make the most of your GA education!
➢ Explore your interests beyond the classroom. GA is known for the diversity of its extracurricular offerings. Get involved, try out a club, a sport, an arts activity. Determine what gives you joy and devote yourself to those activities that do. The personal rewards will be numerous, plus you will have the added advantage of being a more attractive candidate for admission to college. You grow as a person and colleges notice!
Standardized Tests for Admission to College
• Upon entering high school, any official standardized tests students complete, such as the SAT or the ACT, become part of the student’s test-taking record. Hence, the SAT or ACT should not be taken for practice. The first time students should take the SAT or ACT in preparation for the college admission process is in the early winter of their junior year.
• In the spring of their sophomore year, sophomores will have an opportunity to try out both the SAT and the ACT with unofficial (not offered by SAT or ACT but by the test prep company, Compass Prep) practice exams. By taking practice exams, students gain insight into the format, timing, and material comprising both exams and can make an educated decision about which exam they want to prep for – the official SAT or the official ACT (colleges accept either exam for admission). In
junior year, students take the official PSAT in October (this exam also serves as a qualifier for national merit consideration) or a practice ACT exam on that same date.
• The PSAT and the SAT are digital exams. The ACT is still a pencil and paper exam but will also be moving to digital in the future.
• For information about the SAT, consult www.collegeboard.org. For information about the ACT, consult www.act.org. These websites provide sample questions and free full-length practice exams.
Looking Ahead
• College Counselors are assigned in March of the sophomore year and then sophomores meet individually with their college counselors in March – May.
• College Counseling will present at A Look Ahead at the beginning of the school year and hold a special meeting for Sophomore Parents in March of 2026. These meetings are designed to prepare parents for the next phase of their children’s college search.
• On the following page, you will find a calendar of educational programming that GA’s College Counseling provides to students and families throughout the year. While many of the events do not pertain to you now, we wanted to provide insight into the depth of programming offered. Events relevant to Parent of Freshmen have dates in Yellow!
COLLEGE COUNSELING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS 2024
- 2025
September–November CollegeAdmission Counselors’ Visits
September 11 Meeting for Parents and Guardiansof Seniors
September 12 SeniorOpt-In Workshop
September 27 & 30 Parent/Guardian Orientations
Over140collegesvisitingGA.CheckNavianceforalistand signup.Collegerepresentativesregisterforvisitsthroughout the fall, so check Naviance frequently. Attend sessions to demonstrate your interest in a college!
Juniors and Seniors
September 18 SeniorOpt-In Workshop
September 24 SeniorOpt-In Workshop
Presentation to Senior Parents and Guardians Honickman, 7:00pm
SeniorParents and Guardians
October 4 –7 College Application Weekend
October 15 SmartTrack CollegeFunding Webinar
Tips on Completing the Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR) required by PSU, Pitt, Delaware, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and others. 1:30 pm – 2:05 pm, MCR
Orientation for Parents & Guardians (led by Mr. Samson, but College Counseling presents)
Grades 9 and 10 – September 27, Honickman 8:30am Grades 11 and 12 – September 30, Honickman 8:30am
“Why us?” Essay Workshop – How to write a compelling “why do you want to attend x college” essay. 1:30 pm – 2:05 pm, MCR
Identity & Community Essay Workshop – How to write an authentic essay about yourself and the community (communities) in which you belong. 1:30 – 2:05 pm, MCR
College Application Weekend, no homework for the Class of 2025 due on October 8th
Seniors
AllUpperSchool Parents and Guardians
Seniors
Funding college & what every parent needs to learn about paying less for college with SmartTrack College Funding Webinar, 7:00pm. Must register here: https://join.smarttrackcollegefunding.com/germantownacademy/webinars/SbtAjTHC/register
Seniors
Seniors
All Upper School Parents
October 15 PSAT Registration Juniors meet with College Counseling during Community Time to complete pre-test registration information.
October 16 SeniorOptIn Workshop
Tips on how to best represent yourself before, during and after a College Interview, 1:30 – 2:05 pm, MCR
Juniors
October 17 Digital PSAT for JuniorsorPractice ACT
PSAT on campus, or practice ACT at home through Compass Prep. Register by September 27 for PSAT here: https://campscui.active.com/orgs/GermantownAcadem y Register for the Practice ACT through Compass Prep here: https://www.compassprep.com/schools/germantownacademy/
October 30 Coffeewith College Counseling All Upper School parents and guardians are invited to join the College Counseling team for an informal question and answer session. Parents’ Room, 8:30am.
November 4 Senior Love Day Arts Center Parking Lot during Lunch and Flex – Enjoy games and cheesesteaks to celebrate the first major deadline in the college process.
November 12 Athletic Recruitment Workshop
November 19 Intro to College Counseling & Understanding the Upper School
December 5 Meeting for Parents and Guardians of Juniors
December 10 SeniorOptIn Workshop
Athletic Recruitment Workshop – Presented by GA Athletics and College Counseling
Presentation to 8th and 9th Grade Parents and Guardians Honickman, 7:00pm.
Presentation to Junior Parents and Guardians Honickman, 7:00pm.
How to pay for College: information about the FAFSA, CSS Profile, scholarships, etc. 1:30 – 2:05 pm, MCR
Seniors
Juniors
AllUpperSchool Parents and Guardians
Seniors
9th ,10th and11th Grade students and families
8th and9th Grade Parents and Guardians
JuniorParents and Guardians
Seniors
December 18 Presentationfor9th Grade
January 8 SeniorOpt-In Workshop
Alumni Panel for 9th Grade on Making the Most of Your Time at GA Community Time 9th Grade
Negotiating Deferral and Waitlist offers from Colleges, 1:30 – 2:05pm, MCR Seniors
January 9 Alumni Panel RecentGA Alumni Panel Presentation Arts Center, Community Time Juniorsand Seniors
January 9 Alumni Panel
RecentGA Alumni Panel Presentation to all Upper School Parents and Guardians. Honickman, 7:00pm.
AllUpperSchool Parents and Guardians
January 21 CollegeSeminar Begins College Seminar starts with second semester. Juniors
February 4 CaseStudies Program Preparation
February 5 Coffeewith College Counseling
February 20 CaseStudies Program
Juniors meet with the College Counseling Team to prepare for Case Studies Night (Feb 20th). Community Time Juniors
All Upper School parents and guardians are invited to join the College Counseling teamfor an informal question and answer session. Parents’ Room, 6:00pm.
AllUpperSchool Parents and Guardians
March CollegeCounselor Assignments
March 13 Meeting for Parents and Guardiansof Sophomores
Mandatory for all juniors and strongly urged for parents. Admission Deans evaluate applicants to fictitious college. Upper School classrooms, 7:00pm.
Juniors and Parent/Guardians
Sophomores are assigned college counselors in March. Sophomores
Presentation to Sophomore Parents and Guardians Honickman, 7:00pm
Sophomore Parents and Guardians
April 12
Practice PSAT or Practice ACT for Sophomores
April 24 Coffeewith College Counseling
April 25
Practice PSAT or Practice ACT for Sophomores
Offered by Compass Prep, free opportunity for sophomores to take the exam at home. Registration link to follow.
All Upper School parents and guardians are invited to join the College Counseling team for an informal question and answer session.
Honickman, 8:30 am.
Offered by Compass Prep, free opportunity for sophomores to take the exam at home. Registration link to follow.
May 22 Mock Interviews Mock interviews with College Admission Counselors (sign up in College Counseling in May). Field House, Period H if free, Lunch or Flex
May 22 College Fair College Fair at GA Field House & Annex, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm.
AllUpperSchool Parents and Guardians
Sophomores, Juniors, and Parents/Guardians
Sophomores
Sophomores
Juniors
