College Application Workshop Krys Konow and Amanda Pearson 7 Mahan Dr Norwich, CT 06360 (860) 889-8453

Agenda Parental role in the college application process Community College Application Institutional Applications Common Application Transcript Requests Sending Standardized Scores

Parental Role: Supporting Your Child Advice from a parent of a student in college: https://grownandflown.com/things-never-do-parent-college-kid/

FERPA: Family Education and Rights to Privacy Act IN YOUR SHOES: ADVICE FROM A COLLEGE PARENT (Summer 2017 sample sent to K Konow from her child’s college) Greetings Parents! So…let’s talk about privacy. If you grew up in a large family like I did…you know that privacy was a luxury. The first (and last) time I slammed the door to the bedroom my parents calmly explained I was a guest in their home and if I ever tried it again the door would be taken off the hinges! In this digital age, we all worry about what our children are doing online and we have a clear understanding in the…house about expectations of privacy. But when you send your child off to college, there is a strange new privacy that they are afforded under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, or more widely known as FERPA. Once a student reaches 18 years of age or attends a postsecondary institution, he or she becomes an "eligible student," and all rights formerly given to parents under FERPA transfer to the student. The eligible student has the right to have access to his or her education records, the right to seek to have the records amended, and the right to have control over the disclosure of personally identifiable information from the records. It’s the “control over the disclosure” part of the description above that can be a surprise to parents sending their children off to college. Saint Michael’s College, like all other colleges that receive federal funding, is bound by FERPA policies, and what that might mean for you as a parent is frustration when you want information. Your son or daughter has to formally give the College permission to talk to you as a parent or legal guardian. I know what you’re thinking, because I was there a year ago—“You’ve got to be kidding me. I’m writing the check.” But it’s the law and college has to follow it. Fortunately, the College included a FERPA release form in the slew of forms that your child recently submitted. If your child gave you access to their academic and disciplinary records, it will be noted in their record and make it easier for campus officials to speak with you, either in person or over the phone. If your child did not give you access and you want it, you and your child can visit the registrar’s office during orientation and fill out a form together (your child must be there with you). However, most faculty and staff members at college want to work with your son or daughter directly in helping to solve problems or issues. Please do not email or call faculty members who are teaching your son or daughter. I know that this is a significant change from high school where you may have had a lot of interaction with your child’s teachers. College faculty members are terrific people and will be courteous in their response, but their relationship is with your son or daughter and not you, and they could be breaking the law in speaking with you. You can encourage your child to speak with faculty members, but calling on their behalf is not advised. You can always get in touch with the Associate Dean's Office and voice academic concerns, etc., but staff and faculty members will work with your child directly in solving any problems or addressing your concerns. This was new territory for me and different, for sure. In talking to some of the administrators at college, one thing was made VERY clear to me: As a college parent, if you need to know something, you will. Faculty and staff members will never hesitate to pick up the phone if there is something about your son or daughter that they feel you need to know. They take their partnership role with parents seriously. They will call you if there is a concern and if your child is in serious academic or disciplinary trouble, you will be made aware. Never worry about that.

Parental Role: Common App

Applying to Community College Application and application fee Immunization record Request from school nurse or your doctor Transcript (Transcript request form) Current vs. final transcript Placement Test (to be scheduled and taken at college) **Important Dates** Friday, October 26th – Three Rivers Community College – 9:15-11AM information table during CAREER FAIR, students are strongly encouraged to stop by (information on transfer to four-year universities for a variety of programs will be available)

Institutional Application Electronic or hard copy applications available Students need to speak to their counselor and request a transcript and any other documentation needed to be sent Transcript request form (on NT website) Example: Johnson and Wales University Electronic Example: New England Tech (NEIT) Admissions Policy

Common Application (Common App) The Common Application is an undergraduate college admission application that applicants may use to apply to any of nearly 700 member colleges and universities How to Apply

Transcript Request: Common App **REMINDER** When you invite your counselor to your Common App, he/she will fill out a School Report for you (see example) Class Rank GPA Ratings Disciplinary Report Transcript

Sending Standardized Test Scores SAT example https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat Sent by student from the CollegeBoard or testing agency to the college or university (electronically) NOT from Guidance When registering for the SAT, students can send to 4 schools for free Additional reports can be sent for a fee of around $12 Students eligible for free/reduced lunch have 2 fee waivers for standardized and 4 college application fee waivers** Students and parents must have submitted a free/reduced lunch application and RELEASE form

Students: It’s time to BEGIN! Guidance is here to help you and your parents are there to support you You simply need to begin! See your counselor for help!