This Week In University Counselling: Grade 11
April 5-15
Appointments to see a university counsellor
To see one of the University Counsellors, you must make an appointment using our on-line booking system.
To book an appointment, you need to be logged into the Brentwood system through your school email account. Also, you must ensure that you have opened your Google Calendar at least once to ensure that the times between the two systems are in sync.
To access our on-line appointment system, click HERE to go to the correct page on the University Counselling website...
Although we shouldn’t have to tell you, do not make an appointment during a class—academic, arts or athletics—you cannot skip to attend a University Counselling appointment!
Take note: there are some evening appointments (virtual) that are available in the coming weeks... look carefully at all of the University Counsellors and their booking calendars for days/times that work best.
Grade 12 COurse selections
The following Grade 11 students have not yet had their appointment to review Course Selections with one of us in University Counselling:
Sophie A.
Ryan A.
*Hawk A.
Grace A.
Olivier B.
Ella B.
Julian B.
Jack B.
Beatrice B.
Felix B.
Angus C.
Abby C.
Lily C.
Portia C.
*Declan C.
Cole C.
Albina D.
Nicolas D.
Jaye D.
*Peter D.
Sarah D.
Siera E.
Elena F.
Nikita F.
Nardia F.
Rylie F.
Abigail G.
Kade G.
Abheirr G.
*Trevyn G.
Hamish G.
Isabel H.
Sophie H.
Liam H.
Aizah H.
Ainose I.
Youto I.
Basma J.
Sera K.
Maxwell K.
Cole K.
Teagan K.
Veronika L.
Myra L.
Soren L.
Liam L.
Alexander L.
Lauchlin M.
Sophie M.
Dara M.
Sam M.
Tavin M.
Jacob M.
Jasper M.
Jayden N.
Kevin O.
Frederick O.
Toni O.
Naomi O.
Lilja O.
Karter P.
Rose P.
Serena P.
Alexander P.
Isabella P.
Zara R.
Novella R.
Isaac R.
Temi S.
Jack S.
Anya S.
Orion S.
Maria S.
*Joseph T.
Kaitlyn T.
Rowan V.
Addison V.
Kevin V.
Matson W.
William W.
Steven W.
Matt W.
Mila W.
* = Inexplicably, these students still have NOT submitted their Course Selections!
If you feel that your name is listed above in error, please touch base with the University Counsellor that you met with. If you came in to ask a question about your choices, that does not count as the meeting required to confirm your choices.
"What Do I Do Now?"
Now, take some time to discuss your selections with your Advisors, your Houseparents, and any teachers who might be able to offer insight into your potential for success in the courses you have selected.
"What if I Want to Make Changes?"
If you want to make any changes to your selections, you can do so with the University Counsellor that you meet with.
"Where Can I Review Course Information Again?"
You can return to the Course Selection website for course information. You can also access PDF slides of the presentation offered to the Grade 11 class, you may find them in the Presentations section of Student Resources on this website.
interested in applying to colleges in the united states?
US Applicants
REMINDER: Our Next USA Sundays Workshop will run this Sunday, April 7 at 7:30 pm in the Foote Field House.
If you are on the US Applicants list, then you attendance in MANDATORY at this Workshop.
If there is a reason why you cannot attend, please contact Mr. Rodrigues (it better be darn good!)
Our 3rd USA Sundays Workshop will be on Sunday, April 21 at 7:30 pm in the Foote Field House.
Based on attendance to our first USA Sundays workshop on February 18 (and those who contacted Mr. Rodrigues about not being able to attend), the following Grade 11s have identified themselves as US Applicants:
Olivier B.
Miguel B.
Megan C.
Albina D.
Georgia E.
Abhierr G.
Trevyn G.
Sienna G.
Hamish G.
Ainose I.
Youto I.
Emma K.
Abby K.
Isaac K.
Tighe K.
Soren L.
Alex L.
Evan M.
Dara M.
Shunsuke N.
Pearl N.
Luke O.
Frederick O.
Toni O.
Karter P.
Kennedy P.
Serena P.
Stella P.
Mia R.
Evan R.
Isaac R.
Temi S.
Ruby S.
Angel S.
Grace Si.
Anya S.
Sloane S.
Grace St.
Rowan V.
Kevin V.
Matson W.
Kyle Y.
If you missed our first USA Sundays Workshop on February 18, please see the presentation slides available on the Presentations page under Student Resources section of this website.
Even if you were in attendance, take some time to review those slides and ensure you have a firm grasp of the messages in them. Ask you parents to review them and then have a discussion with them about the information provided.
If you intend to be a US Applicant and are not listed above (because you did not come to the Workshop), please email Mr. Rodrigues.
US Applicants should start making your Initial Appointments with Mr. Rodrigues to discuss your plans for US applications... We will be expecting you to make an appointment to:
discuss your testing plan
review your academic records that we have on file
your preliminary campus choices
your ideas for your Personal Essay based on the CommonApp Essay Prompts
Our next USA Sundays workshop will come right after spring break.
US Personal Essay: the commonapp essay prompts
One of the big tasks that US Applicants have is to look at the CommonApp Essay Prompts and to pick one for their First Essay Draft. The CommonApp Prompts from this past admissions cycle are (and they are unlikely to change):
Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.
Many Schools Have Extended Their "Test Optional" Admissions Policies... While Others Have Not
We continue to see schools announce that they are extending their Test Optional admission policies through to the (Class of) 2025 admissions cycle. It would seem that the foothold that standardized testing has had in the admissions process is loosening... and this may alter the approach that students take to the whole process.
At the same time, there are some schools who have returned to requiring the Standardized Testing for Admissions, so it will very much depend on where you eventually apply. Indeed, there was big news from Dartmouth and Brown recently about the return of their standardized testing requirement, Yale announced that a flexible testing requirement will be put in place, yet others are retaining their Test Optional policies for the next admissions cycle. Is this the beginning of a major shift? ...Perhaps!
We still encourage students to consider the SAT as part of their approach to applying to schools in the US, but the landscape will certainly be predominantly Test Optional for you when you apply next year.
Registering for your first SAT
Some Grade 11s who already know that they will definitely will be applying to the US have been asking about the official SAT. As you can see on the Grade 11 Timeline, we recommend that students in Grade 11 take the SAT for the first time in March. If you were unable to take that test, then taking one of the two coming tests is critical to your testing plan!
The following students are registered to take the upcoming SATs:
May 4 SAT @Brentwood: Lavinia B., Ainose I., Evan M., Dara M., Pearl N., Luke O., Kevin O., Karter P., Temi S., Ruby S., Grace Si., Sloane S., Kevin V., Kyle Y.
May 4 SAT @Shawnigan (we will arrange for transport to/from SLS for these test-takers): Albina D., Shunsuke N., Kennedy P., Mia R.
June 1 SAT: Hamish G., Evan M., Dara M., Jacob M., Shunsuke N., Frederick O., Karter P., Kennedy P., Grace St., Kevin V.
Testing Schedule for the SAT
Regardless of how you are preparing for the SAT, you need to get your testing schedule organized. What we recommend for all Brentwood students is:
1st sitting of the SAT = March or May or June 2024 (Grade 11)
2nd sitting of the SAT = June or August 2024 (Grade 11)
3rd sitting of the SAT, if needed = October 2024 (Grade 12)
Not every student needs to sit the SAT three times, but virtually all students will take it 2 or 3 times.
Testing Accommodations for the SAT
Do you get testing accommodations at Brentwood because of an IEP? If you believe you might be eligible for accommodations for the SAT, then you need to submit an application with the CollegeBoard for them. You need to see Ms Rogers in the Learning Centre as she must submit the application and required documentation to see if you qualify for accommodations. They are not guaranteed!
Summer Programs
We receive a lot of notices about summer programs that are out there in world, so we thought we would make a space to share links to some that catch our attention. Have a look at the Summer Programs page in the Student Resources section of this website.
"What's involved in this post-secondary planning process?"
Planning for your post-secondary life after Brentwood can be a confusing and intimidating process... that's why University Counselling is here to be with you every step of the way! For the process to go well, however, you and your parents have to be informed consumers! That means keeping up with information (here on this website), but also anticipating what's to come. How do you do that?
Take some time to review the Timelines section of this website. It will give you and your parents a broad view of what's involved at various stages through the process, now and into the future! Certainly, it will answer questions you have about the critical times that demand action from you!