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Rising Star Academy - CEEB CODE - 311521

Our Mission

At Rising Star Academy, our College Guidance Department is committed to empowering and supporting every student on their journey towards higher education and successful careers. We are dedicated to providing comprehensive guidance, resources, and personalized assistance to help students achieve their college and career aspirations.

College Planning

At Rising Star Academy, our college counselor play a crucial role in guiding students through the college application process. Her responsibilities encompass a wide range of tasks and services to ensure that students make informed choices and complete their applications successfully. Some of the key responsibilities of our college counselor in the college application process include:

  • Academic Advising: Providing students with guidance on course selection, helping them choose classes that align with their interests and long-term goals; this includes Honor, College Prep and AP courses, as well as dual credit courses with Hudson Community College.
  • Standardized Testing Guidance: Assisting students in understanding standardized tests (e.g., SAT, ACT) and helping them develop a test preparation plan. This may also involve suggesting test-optional schools where applicable.
  • College Research: Assisting students in researching colleges and universities that match their academic and personal preferences, considering factors like location, size, majors, and culture.
  • Application Strategy: Helping students create a balanced list of colleges to apply to, including reach, match, and safety schools.
  • Application Forms: Advising on the completion of college applications, including the Common Application or school-specific forms. This may also involve proofreading and ensuring accuracy.
  • Transcripts and Recommendations: Guiding students in requesting transcripts and letters of recommendation from teachers, and providing information about deadlines and the process.
  • Essay Assistance: Assisting with the development and refinement of application essays, personal statements, and supplemental essays. Providing feedback and suggestions for improvement.
  • Financial Aid and Scholarships: Advising on financial aid options, scholarships, and the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or CSS Profile for private institutions. This may also include helping students identify and apply for scholarships.
  • Interview Preparation: Preparing students for college interviews when required and offering tips for making a positive impression.
  • Application Deadlines: Ensuring students are aware of application deadlines and providing guidance on early action, early decision, and regular decision options.
  • Specialized Programs: Advising on honors programs, study abroad opportunities, and other specialized programs offered by colleges.
  • Understanding Admissions Criteria: Educating students about how colleges evaluate applicants, considering factors like GPA, test scores, extracurricular activities, and recommendation letters.
  • Waitlist and Deferral Guidance: Providing support to students who are placed on waitlists or deferred and assisting them in deciding how to proceed.
  • Decision Making: Guiding students in making informed decisions once they receive acceptance letters, including considering financial aid packages and comparing offers from multiple schools.
  • Communication: Keeping open lines of communication with students and parents, answering questions, and providing regular updates on deadlines and other important information.

 

HCCC LEAP Dual Credit Program

Rising Star Academy has a partnership with Hudson Community College LEAP Dual Credit Program. Starting as early as 9th grade, RSA students can take from 6 - 18 college-level credits per academic year and earn credits towards a degree that can help them get a head start on an associate degree or explore transferring them to other colleges to lessen the time and cost it will take to reach their academic goals.

Rising Star Academy Early College Profile

AP Capstone Diploma

Rising Star Academy is one of only about 1,800 schools to offer the AP Capstone Diploma Program. This two-year innovative AP program enhances students’ skills in research, writing, collaboration, and presentation, builds their critical thinking skills, and better prepares them for college and career. Students who pass both years of AP Capstone ( AP Seminar and AP Research) as well as four additional AP exams receive the AP Capstone Diploma, which indicates to colleges that they have mastered important college level skills. Students who pass both years of AP Capstone receive the AP Capstone Certificate.

 
General College Search

www.collegeboard.org: Register for the SAT, send scores to colleges (senior year), search for colleges, and apply for financial aid on the CSS Profile (one of the two required financial aid forms, the other being FAFSA, available at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa )

www.act.org: Registration link for those choosing to take the ACT

www.fiskeguide.com: Read about colleges and get a sense of each one’s flavor. (App also available)

www.commonapp.org: goes online for seniors on August 1. Many colleges accept the Common Application, and supplementary questions asked by each specific college are available through this platform.