Guidance Services

Fontbonne's Guidance Department encourages informed decision-making by providing the following resources to students:

  • Personal counseling related to each student's overall four-year program and selection of courses
  • Aid in resolving academic difficulties through study skills help, accessing extra help, progress reports, and time management
  • Crisis intervention
  • Materials related to colleges, careers, financial aid
  • Visits by college representatives who familiarize interested students with their schools and programs
  • Workshops on topics such as self-esteem, current issues, financial aid, college selection, and adjusting to a new school environment
  • Various department-generated publications to bring current and pertinent information to students.

Faculty/Staff

Maura Lamadore-Spignesi, Chairperson
mlamadore@fontbonneacademy.org

Margaret Lamb, Counselor
mlamb@fontbonneacademy.org

 

Ursulina O'Rourke, CSJ, Guidance Secretary
suorouke@fontbonneacademy.org

Jill Terilli, Counselor
jterilli@fontbonneacademy.org

 

Guidance Resources

THE ENVELOPE SYSTEM

HOW TO GET A TRANSCRIPT AND OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION SENT TO COLLEGES OF YOUR CHOICE ALL FOUR - YEAR COLLEGES REQUIRE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:

  • Application High School Transcript
  • Current Report Card (1st and sometimes 2nd term senior year)
  • SAT I

  • In addition, most colleges require items such as: two teacher references and a well-written essay (usually 250-500 words).

    Depending upon your course of study, some colleges also require: three SAT II Subject Tests, and in the case of art or music majors: tapes, slides, actual art work, or an audition. Generally, you can add a personal statement about yourself. This can be added along with the required essay. An interview is a great idea for the college to put a name with the face. Simply call the college to arrange a convenient time. BE SURE TO READ THE DIRECTIONS THAT COME WITH EVERY APPLICATION SO THAT YOU WILL KNOW WHAT YOU NEED TO SEND !!!!!!!

    1. Type or print all of your parts of the applications or complete them on the computer and print copies to submit to the colleges. Be sure you (and a parent if you are under 18 years of age) sign it. Make a copy of each of your completed applications including your essay for your personal record. The Guidance Department recommends and supplies large white envelopes.

    2. Your envelope should contain: a) Application and all other necessary forms (including the required Application Fee) b) $1.00 Transcript fee c) Transcript request form (available in Guidance Office) d) Outside of envelope should look like this: Your Return Address Jane Smith Office of Admissions College Name Address, State, Zip Be sure to put your Name and Social Security Number on each sheet. YOUR NAME MUST BE ON EVERY FORM BEFORE PASSING THEM INTO US! Students who have mid-term Report Forms should fill out everything except school information. IF YOUR ENVELOPE DOES NOT CONTAIN ALL THE ITEMS MENTIONED UNDER #2 ABOVE, THE PROCESSING OF YOUR APPLICATION COULD BE DELAYED. When you have completed all that is necessary, place your envelope on the secretary’s desk in the Guidance Office. The secretary will log in your application and give it to your counselor. NOTE: YOUR COUNSELOR NEEDS TEN SCHOOL DAYS TO REVIEW AND PROCESS YOUR APPLICATION. THIS ALSO APPLIES TO ALL SCHOLARSHIP REQUESTS.

    3. REMEMBER - The Guidance Office DOES NOT send your SAT I AND SAT II scores to the colleges. That is your responsibility. It takes about 4 weeks for the scores to arrive at a college after you send in the request.

    4. Early Decision/Action candidates should see their Guidance Counselor by September 15th . Those deadlines are usually Nov. 1st or 15th. Any other applications you want sent before Jan. 1st should be given to the Guidance Office by the first week of December.

    5. If you send your applications via Internet, submit the envelope to us as described above with any forms needed to be filled out by guidance. We will then send out all your supporting material -- transcript, report card and recommendation, again needing the ten days as mentioned above. PAY ATTENTION TO DEADLINES !!!! SAVE THIS PAPER FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.

    COLLEGE INFO

    The College Board
    Embark
    CollegeNet Search
    The Princeton Review
    Peterson's Home Page
    FastWeb
    FastWeb Student Bulletin

    College Directories
    The sites listed below are links to various universities and college web sites.

    American Universities
    University Pages

    General Information

    College Quest
    A site for parents and students to assist you in making the right choice for college

    College Board Online
    The College Guide
    Educational Testing Service
    U.S. News Online - Education
    Register for the SAT I & II


    Virtual Tours of Some of the Top Colleges
    The following information was taken from the Kaplan, Inc. test site. These are some of the toughest schools to get into, but worth reviewing. To take a look at their admission requirements and see virtual tours, click on the school of your interest below.

    Amherst College
    Bowdoin College
    Brown University
    Carleton College
    University of Chicago
    Columbia University
    Cornell University
    Davidson College
    Duke University
    Grinnell College
    Harvard University
    Haverford College
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Middlebury College
    Oberlin College
    Pomona College
    Princeton University
    Stanford University
    Swarthmore College
    Vassar College
    Wesleyan University
    Williams College
    Yale University

    FINANCIAL AID

    To understand the financial aid process, financial planning, eligibility, and loans:

    College Is Possible
    The Financial Aid Information Page
    FAFSA
    FASTWeb - Financial Aid Search
    Sallie Mae
    Project EASI (Easy Access for Students and Institutions
    Massachusetts Educational Financial Authority
    National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
    Wired Scholar 

    COLLEGE FAIRS

     

    ATHLETIC RESOURCES

    http://www.ncaa.org/wps/portal

    SCHOLARSHIPS

    Monthly Listing: December 2007

    Previous Listings:

    Monthly Listing: January 2007

    Monthly Listing: February 2007

    Monthly Listing: March 2007

    Monthly Listing: April 2007

    JUNIOR YEAR: THE APPLICATION PROCESS
    Click here for information

    MULTICULTURAL RESOURCES
    Click here for a listing of resources for multicultural opportunities

    CAREER INFO

    Career Search
    My Road
    Occupational Outlook Handbook
    The Career Key

    LINK TO 2007 COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES




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