College Application Night September 14, 2016 Graduation is right around the corner!

College Application Night Agenda Final to do list and timelines Student, Counselor, Parent Responsibilities Reminders: What goes into the college application? Naviance Family Connection Question and Answer

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Senior Fall to-do list Senior Meeting: MANDATORY meeting with your School Counselor before winter break Student initiated Identify plan- college, career, military, etc Discuss final list of schools and deadlines Come prepared with questions or concerns, take notes Early Action/Early Decision deadlines require an earlier meeting (no later than 10/12. Graduation Requirements Ensure schedule carries enough credits and all graduation requirements are met Student responsibility

Participate in our College Rep Visits!!!!!! (Demonstrated interest) If a student has a school on their Naviance list, they automatically get email reminders about upcoming visits Visit Schools, take tours (Demonstrated interest) Share essay with School Counselor and English teacher (ask nicely) Schedule interviews with colleges/universities (if required) Or auditions for certain programs! Take SATs/ ACTs again in fall if student needs or wants STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY: Send official SAT/ACT scores to colleges This process can take up to 6 weeks Be aware of early deadlines Subject Tests: School/Major requirements differ (student responsibility) Senior Fall to-do list

Senior Fall to-do list Request transcripts online through Naviance Stay on top of your application deadlines! Be aware of priority deadlines for scholarships and certain majors/programs NOTE: YOU MUST REQUEST TRANSCRIPTS 3 WEEKS PRIOR TO DEADLINES The reason is because we write letters of recommendation to be sent to the colleges for each and every one of you! DO NOT ASK US THE NIGHT BEFORE A DEADLINE

Senior Fall To-Do List RECOMMENDATION Letters: Students complete COUNSELOR QUESTIONNAIRE Students should also have completed resume for counselor The more specific and thorough the student completes questionnaire, the better the letter will be Remind parents to do parent response form Request TEACHER RECOMMENDATIONS through Naviance Provide copy of resume-sit down to chat about your hopes, dreams, goals, favorite schools, what you are looking for in an academic program, what extracurricular activities you plan to be active in on campus, etc Complete teacher questionnaire on Naviance Provide teachers with the list of schools and deadline (max number of recs) Coach/Other Recommendations Give these outside recommenders a stamped and addressed envelope to mail separately (they do not use Naviance) OR you can assign them as recommenders in Common App (not in Naviance!!) Senior Fall To-Do List

The actual application

What is in a college application? STUDENT Sends In: Common Application or individual school application The bulk of the application Lists all of biographical info, school history, classes, activities, short and long essays Supplements Additional materials – e.g. portfolio for Art programs, auditions, etc When your app is complete, send it. You don’t need to wait for School Counselor. Standardized Tests: SAT I, SAT II, ACT Students go to collegeboard.org or actstudent.org and send their scores to EACH school. This is not automatic and can take up to 6 weeks. Schools have different requirements- student responsibility Not necessary to take test more than 2 times We recommend that you take SAT Subject tests the June after you complete an Honors/AP class. For example, if you take BIO H, take the SAT Subject test. If you take AP CHem, or AP Physics, take 9

Common App Supplements

What is in a college application? COUNSELOR Sends In: School Profile A snapshot of our school and community Your transcript All final average grades from every class: 9th grade-current senior year grades and courses Your GPA and class rank on your transcript Secondary School Report Lists all senior year classes, GPA, rank, asks counselor about your academic history, integrity, motivation, etc School Counselor Recommendation We talk about academics, extra curricular activities, and character Send Mid-Yr. Grades (not Midyear exam grades) Send Midyear Explanation of Change form Send Final Transcripts We recommend that you take SAT Subject tests the June after you complete an Honors/AP class. For example, if you take BIO H, take the SAT Subject test. If you take AP CHem, or AP Physics, take 11

What is in a college application? TEACHER Sends In: Teacher Report Tells the school how long the teacher has known the student and in what capacity. Asks teacher to evaluate you on everything from academic potential to your motivation to your character Teacher Recommendation Best teacher to represent student Teachers often address strengths in class as well as positive qualities they have noticed outside of class We recommend that you take SAT Subject tests the June after you complete an Honors/AP class. For example, if you take BIO H, take the SAT Subject test. If you take AP CHem, or AP Physics, take 12

PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES Review Naviance- help child finalize a list of prospective schools Guide son/daughter in the application process (DO NOT DO THE APPLICATIONS FOR THEM!) Complete FAFSA and CSS Profile Be careful of deadlines for CSS profile for each school Can submit FAFSA as early as October 1st Be aware of Financial Aid deadlines/Scholarship deadlines Accompany son/daughter on college campus visits Complete Parent Response form on Naviance If student is on an IEP be sure the plan and the required tests are all current within three years of application date - It is the student and parent responsibility to see that these tests are current.

Requesting Transcripts & Teacher Recommendations through Family Connection on Naviance

Before you can request transcripts and recommendations you MUST… First, complete the FERPA waiver on commonapp.org Next, match your Common App and Naviance / Family Connection accounts on Naviance

How to Request Transcripts & Teacher Recommendations on Naviance You MUST have a school in the list of “Colleges I am Applying to List”

Requesting Transcripts from “Colleges I’m Applying To” list in Naviance

Requesting Transcripts for applications that are NOT on your list

Other reminders…. If a school is NOT on Common App: You will need to go to their website directly and apply online. Please still put these schools in your Naviance account & request transcripts, teacher recommendations, etc. through Naviance. NOTE: If you choose an option to apply through a school specific application and NOT use Common App, you MUST alert your School Counselor. COMMON APP is preferred when possible! If you add more schools to your list down the road, always remember to request transcripts and to remind your teacher and counselor to send their letters.

After School College Application Support with Counselors What: Common App, Naviance, Essay writing, interview skills When: 230-3pm Wednesday, September 21st Thursday, September 29th Wednesday, October 5th Thursday, October 13th Where: Computer lab C104 Who: YOU (and your fabulous counselors)

An opportunity for seniors to take control of their learning Investigate a career, explore an interest, or service /help the community Work and learn from Community Mentors and SHS faculty Application process starts September 14th Pre Application DUE OCTOBER 14th to Mrs. Wilbur If accepted, students are released from their 4th quarter classes to conduct 30 hours of service toward their project.