Resources

A College Counselor’s “Words of Wisdom”

The following thoughts are a collection of several of the basic principles that we believe are important for families to understand as they go through the College Selection Process.

• Parents should keep in mind that the student should do the vast majority of the work involved in the “College Selection & Application Process” with your gentle encouragement. If the student does not ‘own this process,’ he is less likely to accept his responsibility for the outcome.
• Keep in mind there is no “one and only” college for any student. There are quite a few good institutions that will meet each student’s needs and preferences. It is simply your job to help your student identify ONE of these appropriate colleges.
• Your student is UNIQUE. They are not you, nor are they their brother, sister or friend. The school they decide on should meet their needs and qualifications, taking into consideration the entire family’s situation. A school that was good for a friend or relative may or may not be a good one for your student.
• The whole purpose of the College Selection Process is to find for the student what is called the “best fit.” College characteristics like size, location, competitiveness, cost, social climate, availability of programs/services/activities/majors, etc. all go into determining this proper “fit.”
• Most students who leave or transfer colleges do so because it didn’t “feel right” or “they did not like it there,” which is another way of saying that it was not the right “fit.” Seldom do they leave because it cost too much, was too difficult, or didn’t have the major they wanted. Therefore, this “fit” concept is very important!
• Try to be REALISTIC! Help your student select colleges whose admission, academic, or athletic standards are consistent with his/her ability, achievement, and preferences.

Testing Dates

The SAT and ACT are both valuable assessment tools, but they are different from one another. It’s important to know how they differ before you take the tests. Check out this SAT vs. ACT comparison to learn more.

TEST REGISTRATION & INFORMATION

• College Board (SAT, PSAT & AP courses)
• SAT Subject Test
• ACT

When registering online for the SAT or ACT remember that Valwood’s physical address is HAHIRA, GA.
Valwood’s CEEB school code is 113096.

The SAT codes for the closest test centers are:

• Valwood School – Test Center #11699
• Valdosta State University – Test Center #11700 – all test dates
• Lowndes High School – Test Center #11695
• TIFTON: Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College – Test Center #11675
• THOMASVILLE: Thomasville County Central High – Test Center #11669

Student Resources

Below are some useful links and resources for students and their families that will assist you in the college admission process:

• Getting Started with College Planning
• Identifying a Major and Career
• Facts about Applying Early
• Applying to College FAQs
• The College Board: SAT/PSAT/AP information
• ACT Student Portal
• The Choice: a New York Times blog on college admissions
• The Princeton Review: Test Prep, school rankings and more
• The Common Application
• Fastweb: Scholarship and financial aid resources
• FAFSA: Federal student aid info and application
• CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE: Financial Aid Application
• NCAA Eligibility Center
• College Prowler: Reviews by students, for students