CLASS OF 2016

PREPARING TO APPLY Naviance……………… Update list in “Colleges I’m Applying To” Family conversations about which schools to select. Make sure you have safety, target, and reach schools. When possible, visit campus!

PREPARING TO APPLY VISITING COLLEGES Contact admissions office via website or phone. Sign up for a tour/information session. If possible, schedule interview or appointment with admission counselor. Bring a copy of your transcript. Take notes! Ask questions!

PREPARING TO APPLY IDENTIFYING APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS: Visit http://www.commonapp.org to create a Common App account; add your colleges. Create accounts for all applications NOT on Common App (Directly on intended college website). Identify any colleges to which you wish to apply Early Action or Early Decision. Strategize a realistic timeline for completing all application by deadlines. Verbally request a letter of recommendation from 2 teachers: Give teachers the “Teacher Brag” sheet located on the homepage of NAVIANCE. Request letters of recommendation on NAVIANCE (LORS’s cant be sent if requests are not entered on Naviance)

PREPARING TO APPLY IDENTIFYING APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS: Request transcripts electronically on NAVIANCE on “Colleges I’m Applying To” page. Click “Request Transcripts” (located on the page below matching section). Check off all the schools to which you would like a transcript & counselor recommendation sent. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the “Request Transcripts”. *** Requests for TRANSCRIPTS must be entered at least 10 SCHOOL DAYS before the application deadlines***

PREPARING TO APPLY IDENTIFYING APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS: STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES Your counselor does NOT send SAT or ACT scores to colleges. Student’s responsibility to send official scores through either - College Board(http://www.collegeboard.org) or - ACT (http://www.actstudent.org).

APPLYING to RUTGERS…. YOU WILL NOT NEED TO REQUEST TRANSCRIPTS or RECOMENDATIONS FOR RUTGERS. IN LIEU OF MAKING A TRANSCRIPT REQUEST FOR RU, YOU MUST COMPLETE THE RUTGERS SELF-REPORTED ACADEMIC RECORD (SRAR): https://www.ugadmissions.rutgers.edu/srt/Login.aspx

FINANCIAL AID 2 Forms: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) http://www.fafsa.ed.gov - Available as of October 1st CSS Profile (http://www.collegeboard.org) School specific and due by application deadline. List of schools can be found on link below. https://student.collegeboard.org/css-financial-aid-profile

FINANCIAL AID Information needed to complete the FAFSA : 2015 Federal Tax Return 2015 W-2 Forms FSA ID Student Driver’s License (For State Aid purposes only) Social Security Benefit Statement (For State Aid purposes only)

FAFSA APPLICATION DEADLINES Be aware of individual school deadlines. The 2015 Applicant federal tax returns should have already been completed. The tax filing extension is October 1, 2016. Therefore even if the family filed an extension, taxes should be completed prior to the earliest school deadline. State deadlines. (September 15th for new students) Institutional aid deadlines may be earlier; check with the school. Some aid is first-come, first-served. DEADLINES MATTER!!!

FAFSA TIPS: Completing the FAFSA is simple and FREE! Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT). Detailed instructions appear for every question. If a student needs help, you can access real-time, private online chat with a customer service representative. Application is mostly available 24/7 and is available in both English and Spanish. Check with your local college and NJFAFSADays.org for FAFSA help. Also contact FAFSA at 1-800-4-FedAID or 609-588- 4618 for FREE help!

SCHOLARSHIPS: NAVIANCE check out the full list at http://connection.naviance.com/piscataway - click "Colleges" tab and scroll down to "Scholarship List". Please utilize your free time to search and apply for scholarships. Below are some other helpful websites to assist you in the process: https://www.petersons.com/college-search/scholarship-search http://www.fastweb.com/ http://www.finaid.org/ http://www.hesaa.org/ https://www.wellsfargo.com/student/planning/scholarships/?_requestid=49692 http://www.scholarships.com/ http://www.njstars.net/ http://apps.collegeboard.com/fincalc/efc_welcome.jsp

No need to worry. We’ve got your back . Focus on JUNE 20th 2017!!!