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We will meet with the 8th graders in the spring to discuss on-boarding with Naviance, course selection for high school, and the importance of their high school GPA. We will meet with freshmen and sophomores in the fall, to refocus their energies on preparation and performance. We meet with juniors throughout the year to emphasize standardized testing and test prep. Also, parents will have the opportunity to schedule a private meeting with their daughters. We meet with seniors in early August during our annual application workshops and both juniors and seniors are invited to attend formal visits with college admissions counselors.

Parent education and group guidance focused on developing a college list, building resumes, interview skills, essay writing, and career and major options are offered at each year in high school.

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A student should select courses that are appropriately challenging at every stage in her Sacred Heart career. Colleges consider each applicant in the context of the academic program she has followed, and give weight to the level of challenge a student has encountered as well as to the grades earned. Advanced Placement classes are in most departments the most challenging offerings available, but students are not advised to enroll in classes at the AP level without a reasonable prospect of success, as determined by prior studies. We take into account students’ motivation as well as their future college plans in determining their academic schedule.

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Recognizing that there is a major difference between these two application plans (Early Decision applicants are required to accept the admission offer they receive), the primary determiners for students considering these plans are:

• Have you researched and visited a sufficient range of colleges to make a decision that (in the case of ED) commits you to attend?
• Is your academic profile competitive in the ED/EA pool you are entering?
• Is financial aid a significant factor in your choice of a school? (If yes, you will probably want to have a choice among a variety of financial aid packages. An ED acceptance will oblige you to take the offer tendered by that school’s aid office.)

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The cost of a college education is frequently an issue with families. It is a good idea for parents to use the Net Price calculator available on each university’s website well in advance of actual college applications; these tools offer a very close estimate to actual college costs. Once a family determines that they will seek financial aid, there are two chief applications they will need to complete

CSS Profile, available October 1, used by many colleges to help them allocate non-federal financial aid packages. Parents are encouraged to submit this as soon as possible and in advance of posted deadlines. 
 
FAFSA, available October 1, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid analysis form, is used by colleges to determine need for federal fund allocation purposes. Many colleges require one to submit the FAFSA to be considered for scholarships as well. This too should be completed in advance of posted deadlines. The FAFSA also serves as the student’s TOPS application. 
 
The college counseling office offers a Financial Aid workshop every fall to help families prepare for the financial aid process. The College Counselor also uses historical data in Naviance to help students determine the likelihood of a merit-based award and often an estimate of that award. 

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The Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance publishes information at www.osfa.la.gov. The best website for a free scholarship search is www.fastweb.org. Parental employers, churches, benevolent associations, service groups (Rotary, Kiwanis, etc.), veterans’ organizations, and major companies (Dunkin’ Donuts, Coca Cola, Toyota, etc.) are all sources of scholarship funding of varying amounts. These can be found on Naviance under scholarship search. 

Students are notified by the college counselor of any opportunities that are shared with her via email, they are posted outside her office on the scholarships bulletin board, and posted to parents monthly in parent communication. 
 
Our students do exceptionally well as they compete for scholarships. The class of 2018 was awarded over 12 million in scholarships for a class of 65 and the class of 2019 was awarded over 8 million dollars in scholarships for a class of 51.

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Summer is an opportunity to recharge, reflect, and renew one’s energy! The college counseling office works closely with students to develop a plan for summer that might include volunteering, pairing with local and national opportunities for internships, global exchange and service learning, taking college courses, and deepening an interest in academics, the arts, athletics, or their faith life. In 9th grade, students are encouraged to explore new interests, in 10th, they are encouraged to invest deeply in a few key areas of interest, and in 11th and 12th, they are ready to make an impact in these areas. Summer is the best time to commit to this plan.

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Students who are seriously considering participating in athletics in college should let us know of their plans as early as possible. Those who are looking at NCAA Division-I programs will need to acquaint themselves with the “core course” requirements needed to qualify at this level of college athletics.

The NCAA website, www.ncaa.org, will provide basic information, and link students to the NCAA Clearinghouse.

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YES … in 2019, the college counselor led a trip for 10 students to UNC Chapel Hill, Duke University, Georgetown University, George Washington University, UVA, Wake Forest, Washington & Lee, and High Point University. A tour is offered annually dependent on interest. 
 
If you want to plan your own tour, use these tips prepared by our College Counselor. ADD document about college visit tips

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The number varies among the needs and motivations of individual students. A student should focus on creating a final list of schools that may span a spectrum of selectivity, which also matches the student’s interests and excites her with the prospect of enrolling on their campuses. A safety isn’t viable if the student can’t see herself going there.

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The key to answering this question is to gain knowledge of colleges by visiting websites, attending presentations by college visitors, visiting college campuses, taking campus tours, and taking part in interviews or group information sessions. We will work to facilitate these investigations throughout their junior and senior years.

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Sacred Heart students easily stand out in the application process. On average, over 50 colleges and universities visit ASH each fall to visit with students. Students are able to get one-on-one attention in these meetings and an effort is made to personally connect our students to the college representatives when they visit. Admission and scholarship interviews and special events are held throughout the year to deepen our relationships with college representatives around the world. 

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On average, about 70% each year attend college outside of Louisiana. About ½ the class each year attends a private college. View recent college attendances map in the last few years.