Welcome to Myth Busters August 9, 2016 Kathleen Sullivan

Myth Students see an Assistant Principal only if they are in trouble & Guidance Counselors for everything else.

Busted! ☺ Guidance Counselors are the ‘go to’ folks for: ● Your student’s schedule ● Which classes to take ● Academic counseling ● Personal, social/emotional counseling ● Questions about after high school goals (college, etc.) ● College letter s of recommendation

Guidance Counselors are... ● Ms. Nikki Dang (A-H) ● Mrs. Shana Howden (I-Pg) ● Mrs. Malissa Goldstein (Ph–Z)

Assistant Principals ● Available for any concerns that you

have ● College letters of recommendation ● Attendance/tardy issues ● Discipline concerns ● Staff issues

Assistant Principals are... ● Mr. Erwin (A –Gl) ● Mr. Wong (Gm-Li) ● Ms. Sullivan (Lia-Shi) ● Mrs. Butterworth (Shj –Z)

How to make contact w/ APs or GCs. ● Please feel free to contact Guidance

Counselors or Assistant Principals any time. ● Contact via phone message or e-mail (one or the other) ● Allow 24/48 hrs. for a response not including weekends or school holidays. ● Students can drop in any time, we have a strong preference that parents make an appointment.

Myth There are really only 5 or 6 colleges in the United States of America worth going to.

Busted! ☺ There are 3,400 colleges and universities in the U.S.A. Rugg’s Recommendations on the Colleges by Frederick E. Rugg. It’s about best fit.

Myth To be competitive, we should hire a private college counselor.

Busted! ☺ ● 4 Assistant Principals ● 3 Guidance Counselors – students

one-on-one

● 2 Career and College Advisors ● Homework Center w/ LHS Teachers and there’s more …

Instead of hiring a private college counselor … ●Family Connection by Naviance ●Guidance Presentations ●Individual Junior Appointments w/ Guidance Counselors

Instead of hiring a private college counselor … ● FUHSD College Fair – Thu. 9/8/16 ●School-day Guidance Presentations for Seniors ● Check w/ your Guidance Counselors

Myth Take LOTS of Advanced Placement classes.

Busted! ☺ ● Challenge/Do not overload ● Teacher recommends/Teacher

does not recommend ● They are college level classes ● GPA matters more than AP

Myth My friend’s student got into Stanford. So, if my kid does everything my friend’s kid did, she will get into Stanford too.

Busted! ☺ ●No! ●Many variables ●Embrace the mystery ●Make lots of options ‘ok’.

Myth Academics are more important than Co-Curricular commitments.

Busted! ☺ ●Colleges want well-rounded students. ●Students need balance ●Students need rich experiences ●College Letter of Recommendation

Myth Academic Honesty violations are not that big of a deal.

Busted! ☺

They are a big deal.