About

The OCC Over the Midyear Holidays

  • Personnel
  • Wellness
Trevor H. Rusert

As we head into the holiday vacation, we in the Office of College Counseling (OCC) want to share with you some essential notes that require the attention and advanced planning of students and parents alike. Seniors and parents of seniors in particular, please make note of the following:

  • Counselor Availability. The upcoming break is an important time for all faculty and staff to rest, recharge, celebrate holidays, and spend time with their families. As such, the college counselors will not be available to review essays or host Zoom meetings during the break. However, the college counselors are available for email communications over the holidays, but response times may be delayed as the OCC will be closed and counselors may not be available on certain days. Please read the guidance provided in email away messages carefully for instructions throughout the break. 

  • Application Submissions. In accordance with our stated Two Week Rule, the OCC continues to recommend that students submit any and all applications two weeks in advance of the posted university deadlines. For all applications listed in students’ Cialfo applying lists with deadlines between the end of the semester and February 1, all supporting materials will be submitted by the OCC by December 15, the last day of classes prior to the break. Make sure Cialfo is accurate! Students should continue to email their college counselor when they have applied to a university and indicate as such on their Cialfo account.

  • Midyear Reports. For US applications, something called a midyear report, which contains semester 1 grades, is required to be submitted. These will be submitted after the holidays, although universities may begin to notify students that they are missing earlier. They are not due until the middle of February, so please understand the plan. 

  • Missing Materials. It is essential that students check the emails and portals that universities provide after applications are submitted. If materials appear to be missing, we expect students to follow the guidance provided here

  • Document Requests. Any and all documents that students require for applications before February 1 must be submitted in writing by December 13 so that the OCC will have the time to produce the requested items before the office closes. Requests that come in after this date may not be able to be met. Plan accordingly! 

Finally, as an additional reminder for grade 9 and 10 students and parents, please plan to be in attendance at our Academic Pathways presentation on January 30, 2024! 

Please contact your college counselor with any questions about this or any other matters! And, students, best of luck with a strong finish to the semester!