College Placement

Philosophy & Goals

The process of identifying, researching and applying to colleges represents one of the most significant aspects of a student’s experience at Marianapolis. All that students have learned about the world and about themselves both in and out of the classroom informs their decisions about their future studies. Students and their families often find themselves overwhelmed and anxious about the college application process, but they need not be.

The College Placement Office at Marianapolis seeks to provide each student with the advice, support and information necessary to clarify the college process. The College Placement Office works individually with each student and their family to help them find the colleges that are best matched to their needs, personal desires, and academic merits.

The College Placement Office serves as a link to the college admissions offices, and through their comprehensive letters of recommendation, highlight students’ strengths, explain their accomplishments at Marianapolis, and provide as much positive support as possible to enable the colleges to reach an informed decision about each applicant. By guiding students through the process, serving as a realistic resource about college options, and helping students to maximize their chances of admission, the College Placement Office serves as an advocate for students throughout the process.

While the College Placement Office has numerous resources to assist each student, there is no substitute for the individual student taking responsibility for their educational journey. Choosing which colleges to apply to from the thousands of accredited four year colleges in the United States and around the world requires the commitment, dedication and follow-through of each individual student. Using Naviance or SCOIR, the college search and administration programs used here, students will be able to better understand their aptitudes, explore possible careers, examine colleges on-line, and develop a list of colleges to which they will apply. While the college counselors play a prominent role in facilitating the process, it will be up to the individual student to actually submit their college applications to their colleges.

It is our firm belief that students will benefit more from the college process if they are active participants. We relish in the opportunity to empower students to own the process, to take control of the details, and in doing so, create their own unique set of opportunities and craft their own future.

Programming

The college search and selection process is far too important to a student’s future success to do alone. Our philosophy at Marianapolis is to approach the college search and selection process as a family, a team all working together toward the common goal of identifying, applying, gaining admission and enrolling in the college or university which best serves the individual student’s personal interests and academic abilities. The saying, “it takes a village to raise a child” is appropriate here as well; “it takes a team to identify the right college or university.”

In addition to the family and faculty support Marianapolis students receive, the College Office offers several signature programs during the year through which students and parents can interact with college representatives.

Parent and Family Weekend Fall College Fair

A college fair in the traditional sense, the fall college fair serves as the kick-off event for the annual Parent and Family Weekend on campus. We typically host 90-100 national colleges and universities and families have the opportunity to engage with admission office representatives who are responsible for working with Marianapolis students. Making connections and having the ability to learn more about different institutions directly from someone who represents the institution is a critical step in a student’s research and selection process.

SAT Prep

When interest exists Marianapolis offers 6- or 12-week evening SAT prep classes in the spring, or 3-week online classes during the summer session. Both opportunities culminate at a time when the actual SAT is just days away, so the tips and techniques are still fresh in the student’s mind.

Group and Individualized Planning

The College Office regularly attends full class meetings to address grade-specific timelines, deadlines, expectations, and to answer any specific questions or concerns students may have regarding what they need to do. During the summer rising juniors are administered an “initial interest survey” in which they express to the College Office what they think they may want in a college or university. Early in the student’s junior year Counselors meet with each student and their family for an individualized planning session. Counselors suggest colleges and universities students should explore, and students are trained to identify additional options using their SCOIR account, a powerful database and application administration system here at the school. Each college-bound student is given as much individualized attention as they need to ensure their application process is a success!

Information Sessions & Interviews

Throughout the academic year the College Office hosts Admission Officers from many colleges and universities nationwide who wish to present their institutions to interested students. Information sessions typically follow the class period schedule, giving students opportunities throughout the day to learn more about institutions in which they’re interested.

Occasionally Admission Officers or assigned alumni representatives may also want to interview students to supplement their application materials. If students are interested, the College Counselors will mentor interested students through interview preparation. Students can interview on the college campus, or use the Marianapolis College Office as an alternative venue when necessary or desired.

College Visits

If you are a College Admission Representative looking to request a visit to Marianapolis, please do so using RepVisits.

All students are highly encouraged to visit the college or university campuses in which they’re interested in person. Families should consider beginning making visits early in the student’s high school career. Completing campus visits over a year or more will make the process less stressful and more fun for all involved. Campus visits may include a guided tour, a general information session presented by an Admission Counselor, faculty member or panel of students, meetings with athletic coaches, faculty, or a Financial Aid Counselor, and an admission interview. For many students, visiting and touring a campus in person can have a significant impact on their impression of the institution and ultimately their enrollment decision.

Standardized Testing

PSAT/NMSQT

The Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test and National Merit Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is a nearly three-hour test, and is administered in October of the sophomore and junior years. The test is comprised of two sections: Math, and Evidence Based Reading and Writing. Each section is scored from 160-760; a “perfect score” is therefore 1520. The scores from the junior year are used for National Merit selections. In the spring of the senior year, finalists will be notified if they have been awarded a National Merit Scholarship.

The PSAT helps familiarize students with the standardized testing format in preparation for the SAT or ACT which most students will take in the spring of junior year or fall of senior year. When you receive a copy of your PSAT scores, you will also receive a guide to interpreting the results and the answer key. The results you receive are a worthwhile tool in assessing areas of weakness as you look forward to taking the SAT or ACT. Generally speaking, PSAT results will give you a rough projection of what your SAT-I scores will be.

The PSAT is NOT USED for admission consideration to colleges and universities.

ACT, SAT, and TOEFL

Standardized testing such as the ACT, SAT, SAT Subject Tests, and the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) for non-native English speaking international students is an important part of the admission process at many colleges and universities. While the ACT is not administered at Marianapolis, we are always available to help students identify area testing centers where they can sit for the test.

The SAT, SAT Subject Tests, and the TOEFL are all administered at Marianapolis multiple times each year making it convenient for students to address this aspect of their applications. A full grid of test dates, registration deadlines and associated fees can be accessed below.

While standardized test scores are important to many colleges and universities here in the United States, an increasing number of institutions are transitioning to a “test- optional” model, and no longer requiring test results. Currently more than 1,450 colleges and universities do not require standardized test scores as part of the admission application. That said, know that some of the colleges and universities to which you aspire to apply may not require test results in certain circumstances. This will be an important question to ask the admission counselors you meet along the way on your journey so you can be certain you’re meeting their requirements to apply. FairTest.org is a great 1st step to check those institutions in which you’re interested in applying, but always confirm with the college or university admission office directly to ensure the information is accurate and current.

Scholarship Information

As college and university tuition, housing and meal plan expenses continue to rise, paying for one's higher education is a growing challenge for most families. Need-based student or parent financial aid loans are available, in large part from the Federal Government, as would be "grants" (free money not requiring repayment) from both the government and many colleges and universities as well. One last, very broad category of financial assistance may be awarded to deserving or qualified students in the form of a "scholarship".

Students and parents often use the term "scholarship" rather loosely when referring to "grants" because both are funding sources not requiring repayment. However, a true "scholarship" is more often something awarded to the student on a meritorious basis following an application to be considered, and being deemed qualified by one or more individuals awarding said scholarship. When thinking about "scholarships" in a broad sense, one should consider the variety of opportunities for which students can apply. What follows are the more common type of scholarships available:

Internal Scholarships

These would be opportunities from within a college or university.

For example, "College XYZ" offers merit scholarships for students interested in business, nursing, or music.
Students are required to submit a scholarship application (separate from, and in addition to their admission application) along with other required documents (an essay, a transcript, letter(s) of recommendation, etc).
Internal selection committees from the Admission Department, Financial Aid Office, specific academic departments or others on campus review the credentials from all applicants and make the selection(s).
Some colleges and universities do not require an additional application for consideration of merit monies; all students would be automatically considered at the time their Admission application is reviewed.

Athletic Scholarships

Many NCAA Division I and Division II colleges and universities offer scholarships for some of their recruited athletes.
Don't wait to be "discovered"; students should take the initiative to contact the Coaching staff at institutions in which they have interest, introduce themselves, and ask direct and pointed questions of the Coaches. "Do you offer athletic scholarships here?", "If so, how many?", and, "Can I get one as a walk-on, or do I need to be an official recruit?" are just a few questions students should ask coaches.
Athletic scholarships are quite limited, and oftentimes are not guaranteed from year to year; again, more questions to ask a Coach.

External Scholarships

These would be opportunities from the wider world; the local PTA, the Knights of Columbus or Lions Club, Boy / Girl Scouts of America, or Coca Cola are just a few.
There are thousands of so called "external scholarships" to be had, its simply incumbent on the student to discover those for which they are qualified.
My last piece of (important) advice for scholarship seekers: do not, under any circumstances and regardless of what claims or promises they make, pay scholarship application fees. If even a nominal scholarship application fee is required, walk away.

If applying for scholarships is necessary for you be sure to schedule an appointment with your College Counselor to discover what may be available and appropriate for you.

College Athletics

Are you interested in continuing to play a sport in college? If you aspire to continue with athletics at the college or university level, there are a few things you should know now. Mr. Andrew Vitale, Athletic Director, as well as all of the coaches can serve as informational resources for you; be sure to check in with Mr. Vitale, your coach, and Mr. Richardson in the College Placement Office if you're hoping to play sports in college.

There are a number of different athletic associations, levels of competition within those associations, and different colleges or universities generally affiliated with each all across the country.

NCAA

The National Collegiate Athletic Association is the largest, most widely recognized and diverse of the athletic associations in terms of opportunities available to college bound athletes.

Fast Facts

Fast Facts

The NCAA requires all prospective student-athletes to meet a few general criteria in order to be eligible to play:

Graduate from high school
Complete core coursework
Have a minimum GPA
Earn an ACT or SAT score which matches your core-course GPA

The NCAA currently has 1,123 college and university member institutions.
There are 98 voting athletics conferences and 39 affiliated organizations.
Nearly half a million college athletes make up the 19,500 teams that send more than 54,000 participants to compete each year in the NCAA’s 90 championships are in 24 sports across 3 divisions.

Division I:

The most competitive NCAA division
Nearly 350 colleges and universities offer D-I opportunities
These 350 institutions field 6,000 teams and have nearly 170,000 student athletes among their student bodies
Generally these institutions are the largest among the NCAA schools
Generally they manage the largest athletic budgets and provide the most generous athletic scholarships
Student-athletes MUST register with the Eligibility Center
a minimum 2.3 GPA is required to be eligible*
16 "core courses" are required:
- Remember a simple formula, 4x4=16
  - 4 English courses (1 per year)
  - 4 Math (1 per year)
  - 4 Science (1 per year)
  - 4 Social Science (1 per year)

Division II:

307 colleges and universities offer D-II opportunities
118,800 student-athletes
Student-athletes are often equally skilled as their D-I counterparts
Enrollments at Division II schools range from more than 25,000 to less than 2,500; approximately 87 percent of the division’s member schools have fewer than 8,000 students.
A "partial scholarship" model is used at D-II schools. 61% of all student-athletes receive some form of athletic aid
Student financial need is funded through partial athletic scholarship, academic grant, other forms of need-based financial aid, and employment.
Student-athletes MUST register with the Eligibility Center
a minimum 2.2 GPA is required to be eligible*
16 "core courses" are required:
- Remember a simple formula, 4x4=16
  - 4 English courses (1 per year)
  - 4 Math (1 per year)
  - 4 Science (1 per year)
  - 4 Social Science (1 per year)

* NCAA Divisions I and II utilize a "sliding scale" to match test scores and GPAs to determine eligibility. The sliding scale balances your test score with your GPA. If you have a low test score, you need a higher GPA to be eligible. Find more information about sliding scales at ncaa.org/playcollegesports.

Division III:

The largest of the three divisions both in terms of college and university participation and student-athlete involvement
450 colleges and universities offer student-athletes D-III opportunities
187,800 student athletes compete on D-III athletic teams
no athletic scholarships are available; institutions may still fund students through other need-based financial aid vehicles, but funds specifically designated for athletics are not available.
Eligibility Center registration is NOT REQUIRED

Additional information on the NCAA divisions and data on student success can be found here.

For more information on eligibility and to register with the NCAA initial eligibility center please refer to http://www.eligibilitycenter.org or browse their brochure.

NAIA

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is often compared to NCAA Division II in terms of size of institution and high level of competition among its student athletes.

Fast Facts

Fast Facts

Additional Associations

Other (smaller) associations include:
National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA)
United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA)
Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC) – Community colleges in Washington and Oregon

College Placement Timeline

Freshman Year

Develop good study habits.
Participate in sports and activities.
Participate in community service work.
Always look to improve your writing skills.
Take the PSSS test.
Think about courses to take to best prepare you for college.
International students should practice their English at every opportunity.
Once received from your college counselor, activate your SCOIR account and begin exploring colleges and universities.

Sophomore Year

Junior Year

Take the PSAT. Your junior year score will measure your qualification for the National Merit Scholarship Program.
Explore college websites, catalogs and guidebooks.
Keep working! Junior year is critical for college acceptance decisions.
Attend various Admission presentations scheduled during the day throughout the year, as well as different panels, presentations and college fairs happening in the evening. Detailed information can be found on the community events calendar on the Marianapolis website, the upcoming events calendar here in the College Placement section, or on your SCOIR calendar. Events may be in person, or offered virtually.
Consider taking the SAT Prep class offered in the spring.
Schedule your required meeting with your assigned college counselor to discuss your college plans. If you are not aware of who your assigned college counselor is, inquire in the College Placement Office.
Work on your college essay in the summer after junior year. Consider asking different people you trust to proofread it and provide you with some constructive feedback. Your parents, favorite English teacher, college counselor, or best friend are all people you might consider asking.
Work on your college resume.
Think about teachers to ask for college recommendations, then ask them to write them. Provide each teacher you ask for a recommendation with a copy of your resume. Recommendation requests are required to be made prior to May 1 of junior year.
International students should take the TOEFL. Most colleges will expect at least a score of 80 on the ibt.
Begin listing the colleges and universities you like in your SCOIR account. On August 1 before senior year, create your Common Application account and list the colleges and universities there as well.
Take the SAT or ACT during the Spring. Investigate whether any of the colleges or universities to which you plan to apply require subject tests. Register if necessary.
If you are an athlete, register with the NCAA Eligibility Center.
Visit colleges during spring break and over the summer.

Senior Year

Check in with your assigned college counselor. Schedule an appointment to speak further about progress you've made on your college search over the summer, to finalize your senior academic schedule, and to answer any questions about your college admission applications.
Take the SAT or ACT again in the fall.
Make sure your teachers have completed your letters of recommendation.
Finalize your college list and make sure it is posted on Naviance.
Make sure your essay is completed.
Complete all of your college applications. Send them in electronically by deadline.
Be sure that you send your SAT or ACT scores to your colleges. Colleges want an official score sent directly from the test company.
Decide if your applications will be Early Decision, Early Action, or Regular Decision.
Keep working! Grades still matter very much.
Follow your emails from colleges closely. Alert the College Placement Office if you received any messages about missing documents.
Inform the College Placement Office of all acceptances and denials, so that accurate records can be kept.
Formally decide which offer of enrollment you will accept! You will usually need to do this by May 1.

Additional Resources

Lunch & Learn

The Lunch & Learn Program is a schedule of career- and college-focused meetings involving professionals who come to speak with Marianapolis students about their specific career. Lunch & Learn sessions are offered in a discussion style format where guests offer information and students are able to ask questions. The Lunch & Learn Program is open to all students during the day's lunch periods, so everyone has a chance to attend. The program also offers discussions on topics such as the college essay, searching for scholarships, building a comprehensive and appropriate resume, tips for successful admission interviewing, and maximizing the use of Naviance.

Past Lunch & Learn speakers have included:

Matt McGarry '82 - ABC news (Emmy award winning) producer

Jose Silva '85 - Tax Partner at a firm in Mexico City and President of the Board at "Together with Children."

Carla Faucher '84 - Physical Therapist

Boston Red Sox

John McLoughlin - Lawyer, US Department of Defense, where he is Regional Director for Africa for the Defense Security Cooperation Agency/DIILS.

Colin Duethorn '11 - Actuarial sciences

Michelle Massman Drew - Clinical Supervisor/Social Worker

Frank Rizzo - Wall Street working in the areas of marketing, accounting, auditing and finance (at Dun & Bradstreet and Standard & Poor's)

Sarah Neithercut - Assumption College Admission Office's Assistant Director.

Dr. James McLoughlin - Orthopedic Surgeon

Craig LaFiandra, P'16, P'17 - Business, specializing in the area of Strategic Accounts for UnitedHealthcare

Dr. Murray Buttner - General Practitioner in medicine

Ms. Candace Peterson - Nurse practitioner

SCOIR

SCOIR is a college placement database and application management program available to all students at all stages of the college search, application and selection process. It helps students navigate the college search process with a variety of research and self-assessment tools, and assists the College Placement Office by organizing all the supporting academic documents needed for college applications. SCOIR includes all U.S. colleges and universities and many institutions abroad as well. Students can search majors, degree programs, college locations, size and a number of other factors to consider when applying to college. Also incorporated into many of the college profiles within SCOIR are 360-degree virtual tours developed by YouVisit, a leader in online campus and landmark tours around the world. Students will also have the ability to peruse imported social media posts, review a variety of data points such as overall admission rates and SAT averages, evaluate their own candidacy by plotting themselves on a historical application scattergram, and more.

Summer Session Online

As part of the summer session online learning program rising seniors have the opportunity to get a head start on their college essays. “Mastering the College Essay” teaches students to think logically about their writing as a reflection of who they are, and how they would like to be represented to the colleges and universities at which they wish to be considered for admission.

Students are exposed to a vast array of application essay prompts and sample responses which help them to understand what is contained in a unique and effective college essay. In addition, students spend time reflecting on their own lives, considering their personal values, identity or events which will help them stand apart from a crowd of other applicants. They learn the qualities of effective personal writing and are able to use those qualities to compose one of the most important pieces of prose they've ever written. By the conclusion of the course, students will have multiple college essays ready to go for use on their university applications.

Financial Aid Information

Books and Guides:

The College Board Scholarship Handbook: Undergraduate Scholarships, Internships, and Loan Programs, The College Board
College Cost and Financial Aid Handbook: Compare costs and aid available at over 2,700 colleges, The College Board.
College Scholarships and Financial Aid: General Reference, John Schwartz
Peterson’s Scholarships, Grants, and Prizes: Guide to more sources for private aid than any other reference, Peterson’s Guides
The Scholarship Book: The Complete Guide to Private-sector Scholarships, Fellowships, Grants, and Loans for the Undergraduate, Daniel J. Cassidy

Websites:

Federal Student Aid, an Office of the U.S. Department of Education provides information about financial aid provided by the federal government, along with other resources.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a required financial aid form for any college in the United States.
Fastweb is a free scholarship search tool.
Bigfuture, by the College Board, includes college and scholarship search tools useful information and tutorials about the financial aid process.
Mr. Richardson’s Pinterest page, dedicated to scholarships and financial aid information

College Fairs

College fairs can be excellent opportunities to access many different institutions, each with unique programs and experiences to offer, all in one place, all at the same time. In addition to our own annual “Parent & Family Weekend Fall College Fair” at which we typically host 90-100 colleges and universities, we encourage students to seek out other opportunities as well. For more information on the Marianapolis Fall College Fair students should reference their Naviance account or speak with the Counselors in the College Office.

Other organizers of significant college fair programs include the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and our regional affiliate, the New England Association for College Admission Counseling (NEACAC).

National College Fairs are FREE and are scheduled in major cities all throughout the country. The schedule includes events throughout the calendar year and the fairs typically host 250-400 colleges at any one time. Specialty College Fairs are also offered on a more limited basis for Performing and Visual Arts as well as STEM-oriented and Career Fairs. National College Fairs here in New England are held in Boston and Springfield, MA, Providence, RI, and Hartford, CT. See the full schedule here.

NEACAC College Fairs are also FREE, and are typically held at various colleges and universities throughout New England. Typically smaller and more intimate than their National College Fair counterparts, NEACAC fairs can also serve students well in providing them access to a wide variety of colleges and universities, each of whom can help them discover their own unique set of interests.