By Vivian Conan, Librarian, Bronxville Public Library

Nov. 16, 2016:  Any parent of a high school student knows that the college admissions process is daunting. To help you navigate it, the Bronxville Public Library is hosting a webinar on Tuesday, November 22, from 8:00 to 9:00 pm for parents and students titled "College Admissions Webinar: Essential Tactics & Skills." 

You can attend from anywhere via the Internet link, an iPhone or Google Play Webex app, or a phone call made to a toll-free number. 

Tony Di Giacomo, Ph.D., an educator who has worked in admissions at Boston University and has experience at two other prominent universities, will be giving tips on essays, test scores, and financial considerations. He will also talk about the importance of starting to plan early when your student is in the eighth grade and thinking about high school.

According to Dr. Di Giacomo, "An application is not a stand-alone exercise that a senior completes. The application should reflect a series of decisions that goes back many years."

One topic that will be covered is building the student's transcript starting in freshman year of high school. "An admissions officer will want to see whether the student opted to take the most rigorous courses relevant to his or her skills, interests, and abilities," Di Giacomo said. Also, the course content students are exposed to affects their performance on tests a year or two later.  

Another is extracurricular activities. These are sometimes used as a Band-Aid; if a student is not doing well academically, he or she may be inclined to pile on the extracurricular activities, no matter what they are. In reality, students who engage in activities they are genuinely interested in will have a better sense of what they want to major in and which college would be a good fit. They will also be happier.

The webinar will include a Q&A session. Participants will be able to submit questions in different ways, depending on how they log on. After the webinar, participants can schedule a free consultation with Dr. Di Giacomo.

The webinar is free. Registration is through the Bronxville Public Library's website. Go to the calendar (http://bronxvillelibrary.org/lets/attend/), click on the program, and fill out the registration form. You will receive an email with instructions for the three ways of logging on.

Di Giacomo will also be giving this same presentation in person at the Bronxville Library on January 26.

Pictured here:  The Bronxville Public Library.

Photo by A. Warner