College Placement
- Philosophy & Goals
- Programming
- College Visits
- Standardized Testing
- Scholarship Information
- College Athletics
Philosophy & Goals
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 SCOIR, the college search and administration program 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 Mr. Richardson plays 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-week evening SAT prep classes in late winter/early spring in partnership with Summit Education group, expert providers in the test prep market. This course is scheduled intentionally to 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. Information concerning dates, cost, and registration is presented to students via email and parents via the Parent Newsletter.
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 spring term, sophomores 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. As early as the summer before a student's junior year and throughout the fall term, Mr. Richardson will offer to meet with each student and their family for an individualized planning session. Each student is provided a list of suggested colleges and universities they should begin exploring, 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, Mr. Richardson will mentor them 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 the SCOIR platform.
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 2 hour and 14 minute test, and is administered digitally in October of the student's junior year. 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 scores will be.
The PSAT is NOT USED for admission consideration to colleges and universities.
ACT, SAT, and English Language Proficiency Tests
Although testing is now optional at 85% of all colleges and universities in the United States, standardized testing such as the ACT and SAT are still considered by colleges if students choose to submit them. English Language Proficiency Tests such as the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), Duolingo, IELTS, Pearson, or others will be required for all non-native English speaking international students and is an important part of the international admission process at many colleges and universities. Although 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 digital SAT is administered at Marianapolis on many of the seven national test dates; students should check their College Board portal for availability and to register.
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. Jacque Rivera, Athletic Director, as well as all of the coaches can serve as informational resources for you; be sure to check in with Mr. Rivera, 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
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)
- Remember a simple formula, 4x4=16
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)
- Remember a simple formula, 4x4=16
In January 2023, NCAA Divisions I and II adopted legislation to remove standardized test scores from initial eligibility requirements for all student-athletes who initially enroll full-time on or after August 1, 2023. Check with the NCAA school you plan to attend regarding whether standardized test scores are necessary for admission or scholarship requirements. For more information, click here.
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
- As of July 1, 2016, the NAIA reports having 246 member institutions in the US, Canada and the Bahamas.
- Approximately 65,000 student-athletes compete in 21 different conferences.
- Registering early with the NAIA Eligibility Center is required for any student who plans to attend an NAIA school.
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 PSAT 8/9 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 11/NMSQT. 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 family meeting with your assigned college counselor to discuss your college plans.
- 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 an English language proficiency test such as TOEFL, Duolingo, or IELTS. Most colleges and universities expect a score of 100 +/- on the TOEFL 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 once or twice during the Spring.
- 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 in your SCOIR Applying folder (SCOIR > My Colleges > Applying). Here, you should list all colleges and universities you plan to pursue with an application, but haven't yet officially submitted. Once applications are submitted, they must be moved to your Applied folder (SCOIR > My Colleges > Applied).
- 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.
- Check your emails regularly; read messages from colleges closely. Alert the College Placement Office if you receive any messages about missing documents, or messages containing any content confusing to you.
- Inform the College Placement Office of all acceptances and denials, and be sure to update all application decisions in your SCOIR account.
- Formally decide which offer of enrollment you will accept! You will usually need to do this by May 1. Update your enrollment choice in your SCOIR Applied folder.
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 SCOIR.
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.
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 SCOIR account or speak with Mr. Richardson 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 at https://www.nacacnet.org (Events > NACAC College Fairs).
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.
