College Counseling

* Freshmen will be able to log in to Naviance by September 17.*

1. The Jesuit Excellence Tour College Fair will take place before school on Monday, September 9 from 8:00 to 9:00. This is a great opportunity for you and your parents to ask questions in a smaller setting. Please plan to attend if you are interested in any of these schools: John Carroll University, Loyola Chicago, Marquette University, Regis University, Louis University, or Xavier University. A schedule of other Indianapolis area college fairs can be found at https://counseling.bishopchatard.org/2019-2020-college-fair-calendar/. You can Google many tips on how to navigate a college fair; this list is simple and provides the most important questions: https://www.colorado.edu/admissions/2018/10/12/top-questions-college-fair.
2. Sophomores may sign up to meet with colleges who will be visiting Bishop Chatard this fall. To register: Log in to Naviance Student. (Use your student number without @org and your regular BCHS password.) Click on “Colleges” in the top right. Scroll down to “College Visits.” Click on “Show More.” Next to the collegename for the meeting you want to attend, click on “Register Now” over to the right. You will not receive a pass for the meeting. Attendance will be taken when the bell rings. Meeting locations and room numbers will also be found on the Student Activities calendar on the BCHS website. Our policy for college rep meetings is: You must sign up for a visit in advance to attend the session. Each student is allowed to participate in up to eight meetings. You are responsible to make up any work missed. You are not to miss a test, mandatory presentation, important quiz, etc., for a college meeting. If you are not sure what will take place in class on the day of the visit, be proactive and check with the teacher the day before or the morning of the meeting to see if it is acceptable for you to miss class. You will go directly to the meeting room rather than reporting to class first. Attendance will be taken. You must be in the designated room or area of the meeting prior to the ringing of the bell or you will be marked tardy for that period’s class. College meetings that take place during Seminar take up the entire period. You will not be released from the meeting room for any reason. College meetings that take place during a class period will typically end well in advance of the end of the period; you will be given a pass to return to class promptly. The Guidance Office reserves the right to remove you from the college meeting if your academic profile does not match the admission standards of the school or if your actions do not meet the desired expectations for our students.
3. This is a great time to start researching colleges. Check out Naviance Super Match (log in with your student number and your regular password, click on Colleges, click on Find your Fit, click on SuperMatch) and College Board Big Future.
4. Freshmen and sophomores should complete Naviance assessments: Strengths Explorer (freshmen and sophomores), Career Interest Profiler (sophomores). Watch this video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1omNN3vJz26To56hID0tP77KSn-Jwnctf/view, then log in to Naviance Student at https://student.naviance.com/bishopchatard. Enter your BCHS student number (do not include @bishopchatard.org) and your regular school password. Counselors will be calling small groups of students in during Seminar in the next several months to work with these results. Another helpful personality assessment is https://www.16personalities.com/. Another helpful career assessment is https://indiana.kuder.com/landing-page.
5. Plan ahead for academic success in high school. https://www.postguam.com/forum/featured_columnists/tips-for-academic-success-in-high-school/article_660c84c0-cd8c-11e7-b6bc-abad68c0ec31.html
6. Don’t forget to check out the School Counseling Canvas page for additional information and helpful links.

Thank you to our sponsors at Marian University for supporting Bishop Chatard students.

1. The Jesuit Excellence Tour College Fair will take place before school on Monday, September 9 from 8:00 to 9:00. This is a great opportunity for you and your parents to ask questions in a smaller setting. Please plan to attend if you are interested in any of these schools: John Carroll University, Loyola Chicago, Marquette University, Regis University, Louis University, or Xavier University. A schedule of other Indianapolis area college fairs can be found at https://counseling.bishopchatard.org/2019-2020-college-fair-calendar/. You can Google many tips on how to navigate a college fair; this list is simple and provides the most important questions: https://www.colorado.edu/admissions/2018/10/12/top-questions-college-fair.
2. Colleges will be visiting Bishop Chatard this fall. To register: Log in to Naviance Student. (Use your student number without @organd your regular BCHS password.) Click on “Colleges” in the top right. Scroll down to “College Visits.” Click on “Show More.” Next to the collegename for the meeting you want to attend, click on “Register Now” over to the right. You will not receive a pass for the meeting. Attendance will be taken when the bell rings. Meeting locations and room numbers will also be found on the Student Activities calendar on the BCHS website. Our policy for college rep meetings is: You must sign up for a visit in advance to attend the session. Each student is allowed to participate in up to eight meetings. You are responsible to make up any work missed. You are not to miss a test, mandatory presentation, important quiz, etc., for a college meeting. If you are not sure what will take place in class on the day of the visit, be proactive and check with the teacher the day before or the morning of the meeting to see if it is acceptable for you to miss class. You will go directly to the meeting room rather than reporting to class first. Attendance will be taken. You must be in the designated room or area of the meeting prior to the ringing of the bell or you will be marked tardy for that period’s class. College meetings that take place during Seminar take up the entire period. You will not be released from the meeting room for any reason. College meetings that take place during a class period will typically end well in advance of the end of the period; you will be given a pass to return to class promptly. The Guidance Office reserves the right to remove you from the college meeting if your academic profile does not match the admission standards of the school or if your actions do not meet the desired expectations for our students.
3. This is a great time to look for colleges to add to your list. Check out Naviance Super Match (log in with your student number and your regular password, click on Colleges, click on Find your Fit, click on SuperMatch) and College Board Big Future.
4. Juniors should complete three Naviance assessments: Strengths Explorer, Career Interest Profiler, and Career Cluster Finder. Watch this video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1omNN3vJz26To56hID0tP77KSn-Jwnctf/view, then log in to Naviance Student at https://student.naviance.com/bishopchatard. Enter your BCHS student number (do not include @bishopchatard.org) and your regular school password. You should have completed one or two of the assessments last August during homeroom; please be sure all 3 are complete now. Counselors will be calling small groups of students in during Seminar in the next several months to work with these results.
5. This is the time to prepare for and register for taking a winter or spring SATand ACT. Remember that free online test prep tools are available through Khan Academy for SAT and ACT Academy. When you apply to college next year, it will be important that you send your scores directly from the testing service through your CollegeBoard and ACT accounts, so take advantage of the free score sends when you register instead of waiting to see your scores and paying additional money for each school to receive your scores. You must send your test scores to each college or university directly from the testing service for your college applications to be complete as a senior. If you qualify for free or reduced lunch, you also qualify for test fee and score send waivers. See Mrs. Nixon to access your code.
6. The top five things you should do now to set yourself up for admission success next year are: A) Be sure to work hard to do the little things in class to raise your grade in each class. Junior grades are so important to colleges! B) Prepare for the tests on Khan Academy for SAT and ACT Academy. C) Visit college campuses and register for official tours through the admission offices. D) Explore your areas of career interest. Ask family and friends if you can job shadow them. Volunteer at places that are related to your potential careers. Demonstrated interest in career fields can also be important to colleges when they are reviewing students for competitive majors. E) Remember that your choices follow you to college. We have to notify them if you have been suspended from Bishop Chatard. They will also learn additional things about you through your essay, resume, letters of recommendation, and in some cases, your social media accounts. Think about your future when you are making academic and social decisions.
7. Check out these tips for coping with school-related stress: https://www.verywellmind.com/top-school-stress-relievers-for-students-3145179.
8. Don’t forget to check out the School Counseling Canvas page for additional information and helpful links.
9. Thank you to our sponsors at Marian University for supporting Bishop Chatard students.

1. The Jesuit Excellence Tour College Fair will take place before school on Monday, September 9 from 8:00 to 9:00 AM. This is a great opportunity for you and your parents to ask questions in a smaller setting. Please plan to attend if you are interested in any of these schools: John Carroll University, Loyola Chicago, Marquette University, Regis University, Louis University, or Xavier University. A schedule of other Indianapolis area college fairs can be found at https://counseling.bishopchatard.org/2019-2020-college-fair-calendar/. You can Google many tips on how to navigate a college fair; this list is simple and provides the most important questions: https://www.colorado.edu/admissions/2018/10/12/top-questions-college-fair.
2. Colleges will be visiting Bishop Chatard this fall. To register: Log in to Naviance Student. (Use your student number without @org and your regular BCHS password.) Click on “Colleges” in the top right. Scroll down to “College Visits.” Click on “Show More.” Next to the college name for the meeting you want to attend, click on “Register Now” over to the right. You will not receive a pass for the meeting; please come to room 213 during the passing period.
3. Please remember to avoid the two most common mistakes: forgetting to send your test scores and forgetting to send your transcripts. Transcripts: You have to list Mrs. Nixon as your counselor in order for all of the proper paperwork to be submitted. Do not list anyone as your Advisor. Remember, if a school does not accept the Common Application, you will need to apply through the college’s website and request your transcript through Parchment. You must request a transcript to be sent to each college or university through Common Application or Parchment. Test scores:  It is important that you send your scores directly from the testing service through your CollegeBoard and ACT accounts. Take advantage of the free score sends when you register. You must send your test scores to each college or university directly from the testing service. It takes 2-3 weeks for your scores to arrive to the schools, so you cannot wait until a few days before the deadline to order them.
4. Scholarships and Financial Aid:You can begin filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on October 1 at fafsa.ed.gov. You will be reviewed for financial aid based on your 2018 tax information. Many schools have moved their priority deadlines to December 1 or December 15, so please complete the FAFSA as early as possible. If your income has changed drastically from 2018 to 2019, or if you have special circumstances, please contact each college or university for assistance. We recommend fastweb.com, RaiseMe, and CollegeBoard Opportunity Scholarships for outside scholarship searches.
5. When you apply to a college or university, they will send you login information to access an online portal. Please look for these emails and log in to view your application status, see next steps, and learn about potential scholarship application or interview processes. In related news, it is very important for you to check your email from schools to which you have applied. To make things easier, unsubscribe from emails from schools you are no longer considering.
6. There is still time to complete your College Autobiography. This helps teachers write letters of recommendation for your college applications. After you complete it, you should ask them in person whether they are willing to write a recommendation for you. Then, send them the copies of your College Autobiography responses.
7. Still looking for more colleges to add to your list? Check out Naviance Super Match (log in with your student number and your regular password, click on Colleges, click on Find your Fit, click on SuperMatch) and College Board Big Future.
8. To visit a campus, register on the college or university website, preferably at least 3 weeks in advance. Please have a parent or guardian call the BCHS attendance line on the day of your visit and bring a copy of your itinerary or a school excuse form to Mrs. Kaminski when you return. For out-of-town trips or absences of more than one day, please also complete a Pre-Arranged Absence Form – pdf and return it to Mr. Reilly.
9. The Common Application indicates that some schools require Midyear Reports from BCHS. These cannot be completed until first semester grades are stored, so they will be submitted between January 10 and January 20. On January 8, please request any non-Common App transcripts to be sent through Parchment. This is important if you have been deferred or a school has requested additional academic information from you.
10. Check out these tips for coping with school-related stress: https://www.verywellmind.com/top-school-stress-relievers-for-students-3145179
11. Don’t forget to check out the School Counseling Canvas page for additional information and helpful links.

Thank you to our sponsors at Marian University for supporting Bishop Chatard students.

Local college fairs offer a great chance for families to learn more about colleges and universities nationwide. Mark your calendar and plan to attend as your schedule allows

September 23: Indy Westside College Fair, 6:30-8:00 PM, Ben Davis High School

September 24: NACAC – Indianapolis National Fair, 9:00 AM-1:00 PM, Indiana Convention Center

September 24: Hamilton County College Fair, 6:30-8:00 PM, Hamilton Southeastern High School

September 26: Indianapolis Black Alumni Council College Fair, 6:00 – 9:00 PM, Crispus Attucks High School

October 22: NACAC Indianapolis National Visual & Performing Arts Fair, 6:30 – 8:30 PM, Butler University

March 9: Greater Indianapolis Southside Fair, 6:30-8:00 PM, University of Indianapolis

March 10: Northeast Indianapolis College Fair, 6:30 – 8:00 PM, Lawrence North High School

March 11: Greater Indianapolis Northside College Fair, 6:00-8:00 PM, Grand Park Event Center – Westfield

Welcome back to school! Information to kick off the year is below. Please contact Mrs. Nixon if you have any questions.

1. Please complete this form and submit prior to 7:50 am on Wednesday, August 14, 2019 to participate in an application process to be one of Bishop Chatard’s nominees for the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program. Applications are due by Wednesday, August 14, at 7:50 am. Nominated students must: 1. Demonstrate financial need, 2. Plan to pursue a full-time baccalaureate course of study beginning in the fall of 2019 at a public or private college or university in Indiana, 3a. HAMILTON COUNTY: Be a Hamilton County resident, have a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA, demonstrate a commitment to community volunteerism, and demonstrate leadership and/or initiative in their school, community, and/or extracurricular activities, 3b. MARION COUNTY: Be a Marion County resident, have a minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA, and demonstrate motivation and/or a high level of responsibility through school, community, family, and/or extracurricular activities. CICF review criteria: 10% essay, 15% academics, 20% interview, 20% resume of activities, 30% financial need. Please contact Mrs. Nixon with questions.

2. Class of 2020 Summa Cum Laude students need to see Mrs. Nixon for an individual senior Summa meeting between August 21 and September 11. If you are unsure of your Summa status, please come in anyway. If you are opting out of Summa, please email Mrs. Nixon to let her know.

3. There will be a National Honor Society meeting next week. Please check your email on Tuesday, August 13 if you are currently in NHS or may be eligible to apply this semester.

4. Please complete your College Autobiography ASAP. This helps teachers write letters of recommendation for your college applications. After you complete it, you should ask them in person whether they are willing to write a recommendation for you. Then, send them the copies of your College Autobiography responses.

5. Colleges will be visiting Bishop Chatard this fall. To register: Log in to Naviance Student. (Use your student number without @bishopchatard.org and your regular BCHS password.) Click on “Colleges” in the top right. Scroll down to “College Visits.” Click on “Show More.” Next to the college name for the meeting you want to attend, click on “Register Now” over to the right. You will not receive a pass for the meeting. Attendance will be taken when the bell rings. Meeting locations and room numbers will also be found on the College Reps calendar on the BCHS college counseling website. Our policy for college rep meetings is: You must sign up for a visit in advance to attend the session. Each student is allowed to participate in up to eight meetings. You are responsible to make up any work missed. You are not to miss a test, mandatory presentation, important quiz, etc., for a college meeting. If you are not sure what will take place in class on the day of the visit, be proactive and check with the teacher the day before or the morning of the meeting to see if it is acceptable for you to miss class. You will go directly to the meeting room rather than reporting to class first. Attendance will be taken. You must be in the designated room or area of the meeting prior to the ringing of the bell or you will be marked tardy for that period’s class. College meetings that take place during homeroom take up the entire period. You will not be released from the meeting room for any reason. College meetings that take place during a class period will typically end well in advance of the end of the period; you will be given a pass to return to class promptly. The Guidance Office reserves the right to remove you from the college meeting if your academic profile does not match the admission standards of the school or if your actions do not meet the desired expectations for our students.

6. Please complete your Common Application as soon as possible. When you get to the questions about our school, please indicate that we have A-F grading on a 4.0 weighted scale. There are 195 students in your class and we do not rank. You have to list Mrs. Nixon as your counselor in order for all of the proper paperwork to be submitted. Do not list anyone as your Advisor.

7. Remember, if a school does not accept the Common Application, you will need to apply through the college’s website and request your transcript through Parchment. You must request a transcript to be sent to each college or university through Common Application or Parchment.

8. This is the time to prepare for and take/retake the SAT and ACT. Remember that free online test prep tools are available through Khan Academy for SAT and ACT Academy. It is important that you send your scores directly from the testing service through your CollegeBoard and ACT accounts. Take advantage of the free score sends when you register. You must send your test scores to each college or university directly from the testing service. If you qualify for free or reduced lunch, you also qualify for test fee waivers. See Mrs. Nixon to access your code.

9. To visit a college during a school day, register in advance on the college website. Have your family call you in the morning of your absence. When you return from your absence, take confirmation of your attendance or your itinerary for the day to Mrs. Kaminski. If you need a pre-arranged absence form for an extended absence, see Mr. Reilly.

10. If you are pursuing college athletics, please register with the NCAA Eligibility Center (NCAA Division I and II), NAIA Eligibility Center (NAIA), and/or NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association). NCAA Division III athletes do not need to register.

11. Scholarships and Financial Aid: You can begin filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on October 1 at fafsa.ed.gov. You will be reviewed for financial aid based on your 2018 tax information. If your income has changed drastically from 2018 to 2019, or if you have special circumstances, please contact each college or university for assistance. We recommend fastweb.com, RaiseMe, and CollegeBoard Opportunity Scholarships for outside scholarship searches.

Thank you to our sponsors at Marian University for supporting Bishop Chatard students.

Nothing helps students and families more in the college search process than making an official college visit to schools of interest. Many college visits can take place on non-BCHS school days, but there are times when it is necessary to take a day off of school.

Every senior should try to take advantage of the opportunity to visit a college when the underclassmen take the PSAT/PLAN exams, usually in early-mid October. Seniors may choose to use additional days for college visits according to the following guidelines:

1. Parents need to report the student’s absence on the day of the college visit via Safe Arrival software. Coming soon — a college option in SafeArrival.
2. In order for the absence to be considered excused, upon return, the student must provide verification to the main office of the date, time and duration of the college visit that he or she has made.
3. Students must be in good standing with a satisfactory attendance record and adhere to the guidelines regarding visits.

Juniors are permitted a limited number of college-visit days.

Updated May 2019: method of reporting the absence See  Student Handbook  for other details.

We look forward to helping you reach your post-secondary goals. Basic information for the summer of 2019 is included below. Please contact Mrs. Nixon if you have any questions.

• There are still spots available for a Just for Juniors meeting with Mrs. Nixon. Please sign up for a time slot if you are interested.
• Please complete your College Autobiography by June 5. This helps teachers write letters of recommendation for your college applications. After you complete it, you should ask them in person whether they are willing to write a recommendation for you. Then, send them the copies of your College Autobiography responses.
• If you are taking an ACP dual credit class through IU next year, please read Ms. Marx’s email from 5/21 and complete the form.
• You can begin your Common Application now. After you create an account, you can enter demographic information and make your life easier in the fall. Keep track of questions that arise as you work on the application and register to attend the Common Application Workshop at BCHS on Thursday, August 1 to have your questions answered. Remember, if a school does not accept the Common Application, you will need to apply through the college’s website and request your transcript through Parchment. You must request a transcript to be sent to each college or university through Common Application or Parchment. 
• Summer is a great time to prepare for and take/retake the SAT and ACT. Remember that free online test prep tools are available through Khan Academy for SAT and ACT Academy. It is important that you send your scores directly from the testing service through your CollegeBoard and ACT accounts. Take advantage of the free score sends when you register. You must send your test scores to each college or university directly from the testing service. If you qualify for free or reduced lunch, you also qualify for test fee waivers. See Mrs. Nixon to access your code.
• If you are pursuing college athletics, please register with the NCAA Eligibility Center (NCAA Division I and II), NAIA Eligibility Center (NAIA), and/or NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association). NCAA Division III athletes do not need to register.
• Thank you to our sponsors at Marian University and Huntington Learning Center for supporting Bishop Chatard students.
• 

Students often have questions regarding their potential to earn college credit as they evaluate which senior English course to take. This chart shows what credit some local universities currently award for AP Language, AP Literature, and W131.

A few reminders as you review this information:

1. The preparation you receive in these courses is a wonderful foundation for success in your college-level courses. Even if you will not be exempt from a specific English class at the college or university you attend, it is still advantageous to take these courses.
2. Most colleges have a policy that if you are awarded college credit from another university (100-level course or higher earning a C or better), you will receive transfer credit. There are exceptions to this.  Additionally, these credits sometimes come in as elective credit, but a certain number of elective credits are required for graduation as well.
3. Colleges and universities change their policies and the specific credit awarded on a very regular basis. Often, faculty review committees or new Provosts or Deans can change the requirements over the summer. It is important to opt into or out of a class based on the knowledge acquired and experience gained rather than always trying to work ahead at a specific college of university.
4. This information was compiled via various inquiries to registrars, admissions offices, transfer credit evaluation sites, and academic deans. There may be exceptions based on the major to which you are applying, etc. It is best to contact the college or university’s Registrar if you have questions or are trying to decide whether to enroll in a course.

College coaches often ask Bishop Chatard for copies of  the current transcript of a student-athlete as part of their eligibility screening process.  For the school to release your transcript, the school needs your permission. Please complete the BCHS Transcript Release Form now in order to save yourself a step later. Return completed form to the School Counseling Office.

Résumés are an important part of the college application process. The College Board offers some tips on the key features of an effective résumé and how to adapt it to various audiences. View  the CollegeBoardtipshighschoolresume for suggestions.

Did you know…

This helpful site allows you to see how some colleges and universities in Indiana accept AP credits. Indiana state law requires all two and four-year Indiana public colleges and universities to award college credit that counts toward a degree for scores of 3 or higher.

• Explore www.bigfuture.collegeboard.org –it’s free!
• ‘Explore Careers’: Find a career that interests you!
• ‘Explore Colleges’: Learn about colleges across the country!
• Helpful High School Courses: Choose classes that go with a college major!
• Explore the Quick How To Guide!

Any student who plans to play sports in college should visit the NCAA Eligibility Center to sign up and begin the required academic verification process. Visit www.eligibilitycenter.org to get started. It is recommended that this process be initiated by the summer prior to senior year. View Athletics for further information and tips on playing sports in college.

BCHS Top Recommended Scholarship Websites

• www.fastweb.com
• College Board Opportunity Scholarships
• www.Raise.me

Internet Links for College and Scholarship Information

Indiana-Based

• https://transferin.net/ — lists how colleges in Indiana accept AP course credits
• www.learnmoreindiana.org–Indiana’s career and college connection
• www.triptocollege.org— step by step college planning
• www.cicf.org: The Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF) Indianapolis Foundation
  –Scholarship listing from the Foundation.
• http://www.IN.gov/ssaci/: State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana Scholarships (SSACI)

National Links

• www.scholarshipguidance.com — list of scholarships opportunities
• www.inlikeme.com — College Admissions & Student Aid Resource Hub
• www.scholarships.com
• http://www.princetonreview.com— find the best college for you using this tool from the Princeton Review
• www.firstinthefamily.org–resource website for 1st generation college students.
• www.collegeboard.com–SAT prep, registration, college search, career guidance
• www.actstudent.org–prepare and register for the ACT
• NCAA Sports and College Eligibility
  ncaa.org and 2point3.ncaa.org–everything student athletes and parents need to know about eligibility, ncaa sports and divisions, and registering with the ncaa.
• eCampus Tours Scholarship Search
• www.collegesurfing.com–provides valuable postsecondary resource to students (user-friendly education and career information).
• www.fafsa.ed.gov–official website for Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Scholarship Search Websites

• www.scholarships.com
• www.fastweb.com
• College Board Opportunity Scholarships
• www.Raise.me
• www.collegeanswer.com
• http://www.studentawardsearch.com/
• www.goodcall.com