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Mission | History | Testimonials | Facilities | College Guidance & Acceptances
Library & Technology Resources | Ancillary Programs | Research & Publications
College Guidance
When a student enters BFA, one of the first things we do is develop a plan for their graduation. In concert with the student's advisor, our college counselors review all prior transcripts to determine which credits are lacking and develops an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for each student. Additionally, we give entering students math, reading comprehension and composition skills inventories to determine if any review or catch-up work is needed. The counselors and academic advisors also review any prior educational testing a student may have had and will suggest other testing if it seems warranted.
Once the IEP is finalized, the academic advisor works with the student to
make a plan for completing all graduation requirements. For a full-year student,
this will include developing semester work plans for fall and spring, then
month-by-month and week-by-week plans. Students see that the work they do each
day and each week moves them closer to their graduation goal.
BFA's college counselors meet with each student individually to determine his or her interests, talents, and career goals in order to guide the student in the college selection process. In addition to traditional resources such as college viewbooks and videotapes, we access the vast amount of information available on the internet, using on-line search engines specifically geared to colleges, viewing college websites and utilizing on-line applications.
These resources are complemented by visits from college representatives to BFA and our students' attendance at college fairs and to individual campuses of schools that interest them.
At the 10th grade level, students take the PLAN, the pre-ACT college placement test. The PLAN is a good diagnostic tool in that it helps identify any areas of weakness that need to be addressed in the junior and senior years. We also administer the PSAT for a student's consideration by the National Merit Scholarship program. We use the results of both tests to advise students on which college entrance test is best suited for them. (Some of our students find that taking an untimed test helps them in accommodating any learning disabilities they might have.)
At the 11th grade level, our counselors meet with each student to start the college application planning process. We encourage students to visit colleges over school breaks and during the summer and begin to assess, with their family, which colleges might be most appropriate for them. We offer SAT and ACT preparation workshops to assist students in developing their test-taking skills.
We produce a college counseling newsletter in the fall to keep both parents and students aware of deadlines, college receptions, college fairs, scholarship information, financial aid, HOPE scholarship information and the like.
In the 12th grade, the application process begins in earnest for those who
enter BFA as seniors. Our counselors meet with students and parents in the
fall to start detailed planning for SAT and/or ACT testing, college selection
and application deadlines.
BFA graduates have been extraordinarily successful in their college search process. A list of college acceptances may be viewed in the College Acceptances section of this web site.
