During senior year, a financial aid officer from a local college gives a comprehensive presentation to senior parents, explaining all aspects of the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). This federal financial form must be filed after January 1 of senior year for a student to qualify for any financial aid – federal, state or institutional. The CSS Profile, a form that the more competitive colleges require in addition to the FAFSA, is also explained. In addition, a private financial advisor is available to meet with parents individually to go over their particular financial needs and help them fill out the FAFSA.

College admissions officers speak to parents about trends in admissions, how admissions decisions are made and how students can put together an effective application. After an overview of Lauralton’s college process by the guidance department, each admissions representative covers a different aspect of the process. A lively question and answer session follows.

This informative session provides an introduction to the Lauralton Hall college planning curriculum. The program is designed to assist parents in developing a comprehensive understanding the college planning process. At Lauralton, this process begins in freshman year and is re-enforced in sophomore year. Sophomore Parent College Night provides the perfect opportunity to bring parents into the mix, helping them gain an understanding of the breadth of the program and the amount of personal attention that is given to each student to find “the right fit.”

The 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States are located in 18 states and the District of Columbia. The institutions range from major research universities to comprehensive universities; from smaller colleges and universities that combine the liberal arts and professional studies to one strictly liberal arts college. In addition to being among 221 Catholic institutions and 1,600 independent colleges and universities in the United States, American Jesuit colleges and universities are part of a network of approximately 189 Jesuit institutions of higher learning throughout the world, thus having the distinction of being at once local, national and international.

Prospective applicants considering pursuing their undergraduate degrees at a Jesuit institution are encouraged to check out the Jesuit Excellence Tour (JET) program, a series of recruitment events that allow admissions staff at Jesuit colleges and universities to jointly recruit targeted areas across the country, including a stop at Lauralton Hall every fall.

Lauralton's Career Day, a very popular event held every other year, brings a group of professional women to campus. The event gives students an opportunity to interact with a range of professionals, many of whom are LH alumnae, relatives of students, or other friends of the wider Lauralton community. Visiting professionals represent a variety of fields including fine arts, business, communications, engineering, fashion, health, science, law, criminal justice and music education. The experience is eye-opening for many students as they hear about a “day in the life” of a profession they may not have considered. In addition, Career Day helps students learn the art of networking, which has led to mentoring relationships as well as opportunities to shadow and secure internships.

A collaborative event co-sponsored by area high schools and STAR 99.9 FM, the Southern Connecticut College Fair is an excellent way for students to learn more about colleges and universities from the representatives attending the fair.