1. College Transfer Advising at Bard High School Early College Queens
The College Transfer Office (CTO) has a number of goals, including:
encouraging BHSEC students to be well-informed, confident, and ambitious when
considering their transition from BHSEC to to four-year colleges;
educating four-year colleges about our unique program; and
educating students and parents about the college search and application process,
including applying for financial aid, and helping students navigate these processes.
The CTO office is located in the back of the Library and is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 p.m.
Monday through Friday.
Student Resources
The CTO offers the following resources for students:
College guide books, DVDs, course catalogues, and brochures
SAT & ACT materials and study guides, including fee waivers for eligible students
Scholarship & financial aid information
Computers for college research and applications
A variety of programs, such as college information sessions, reduced cost test prep,
meetings for parents and students, opportunities to visit colleges, and the CTO advising
program for Year 1 and 2 students.
Our Advising Process
Ninth and Tenth Grade
While the CTO is not a major part of students' first two years at BHSEC, the PTA and CTO
conduct several early college awareness meetings for 9th and 10th grade parents and
students. We urge families to attend at least one of these 9th and 10th grade CTO meetings
each year to become acquainted with the college process ahead. Formal CTO advising begins
in the spring of Year 1.
In order to prepare for the college process, 9th and 10th grade students are encouraged to
consider the following:
1. Grades: Grades are generally considered to be the most important component of the
college application, and for this reason students should make efforts to do their best
work beginning in the ninth grade.
2. Extra-curricular activities: Colleges are impressed by students with an active interest
apart from school work, particularly someone who has focused on one or two interests
in a serious and sustained way. In contrast, an applicant who has hundreds of

2. seemingly empty hours of community service or is in numerous clubs for the sake of
"looking good on paper" is less attractive. You may wonder how admissions officers
would know the difference, but trust us-they do! Admissions officers also have great
respect for students who work or have considerable responsibilities at home.
3. PSATs: 10th grade students have the option to take the PSAT in October. Students are
required to take the PSAT in October of Year 1.
4. SAT Subject Tests: 9th and 10th grade students, who are strong in U.S. and World
History, should consider taking the corresponding SAT subject tests in June after they
complete that course. Since students are able to choose which SAT scores are sent to
colleges this option is particularly attractive.
5. Summer Activities: Find something meaningful to do over the summer.
Year 1
The formal CTO advising process begins in the spring of Year 1 when students are assigned a
CTO advisor and are scheduled for weekly college advisory meetings. College advisories help
students with the college application process, from staying on top of deadlines to searching
for colleges, to writing college essays and understanding financial aid.
Year 1 Simon's Rock Trip
In the late spring, students attend a multi-day retreat to Bard College at Simon's Rock in Great
Barrington, Massachusetts. The retreat is reported to be a BHSEC highlight. Alumni frequently
enquire about volunteering as trip chaperones. Students stay in the Simon's Rock dormitories,
take intensive academic mini-courses, participate in a mock admissions exercise and college
essay peer-review, and visit a variety of four-year institutions-small, large, public and private.
The 2012 Year 1 Simon's Rock trip included visits to Amherst College, UMass Amherst, Albany
College of Pharmacy, Brandeis, Boston University, and SUNY Albany and Quinnipiac
University.
Year 2
In the fall of Year 2, the college transfer advising process is in full swing. Students meet weekly
with their CTO advisory group as well as one-on-one with their CTO advisors. In individual
meetings, advisors assist students in selecting colleges, honing essays, and work through
myriad concerns as they arise. The weekly CTO advisory meetings help students manage the
many time sensitive components of the application process and also address topics such as
financial aid, essays, interviews, scholarships, and other opportunities.
Year 2 Parent-CTO Meetings
Several evening CTO meetings are conducted for parents of Year 1 and 2 parents to address
the application and advising process, deadlines, standardized tests, credit transfer issues,
financial aid, and more.

3. CTO Activities
College Information sessions
Each fall, admissions officers, from over fifty colleges and universities host information
sessions in the CTO. Meeting with admissions representatives is both an excellent way for
students to find out about colleges, and for colleges to learn about our students. Year 1 and 2
students are encouraged to attend as many of these sessions as possible, even if only for a
portion of a session. Students can simply come to the CTO at the scheduled time. However, if
there is a conflict, students must speak with teachers as soon as they can to make other
arrangements. A minimum of two class periods notice is required. It is up to individual
teachers whether or not a student can miss class, or a portion thereof.
Policy for attending info sessions:
Year 1 Students: Y1 student cannot miss classes to attend college information sessions.
Year 2 Students: Y2 students can request permission to miss class, or a portion of class, a
minimum of two class periods, but preferably 24-hours, in advance. Ultimately, it is up to the
teacher whether or not a student can miss the class, and students should only request this for
colleges in which they are keenly interested.
College Fair
Each year in May or April, Year 1 students attend a BHSEC sponsored college fair to acquaint
themselves with different colleges and universities. Over 50 schools attend. There are also
several free city-wide fairs which are publicized via the Parent Coordinator’s notes and he
CTO Bulletin Board outside of the library.
College Notes
The CTO publishes College Notes that are distributed in weekly Year 1 and Year 2 CTO
advisories and include information about scholarships, upcoming deadlines, college overnight
and diversity programs, college fairs, and more.
Naviance Succeed Family Connection Portal
Naviance is an essential piece of the CTO. It contains a database of BHSEC college acceptances
and is also where Year 2 students submit various forms and information necessary to
complete their college applications. Navanceis accessible by password only. Students receive
these in the spring of Year 1.