COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS LAKEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL September 11, 2018

Counselors Mr. Friesen: A - Co Ms. Morrow Cp - G Ms. Mark H - Lo Mr. LaPlant Lp - O Mrs. Yantorni P - Si Mrs. Park Sj - Z Ms. Layer 9th Transition

Also in the Counseling Office… Kris Kochevar Registrar Lori Schechter Counseling Office Secretary

Team work Makes the Dream Work Student Responsibilities Counselor Responsibilities Communication is the key!

STUDENTS WILL SUBMIT TO COLLEGES… Completed college application: Common Application Institutional Applications Community/Junior College Applications Out of Country Applications Military Academies University of California Schools and other public institutions Coalition Application Each one of these may ask for different types of information. Talk a little bit about each application. Common Application: One application that you can send to multiple member institutions. Over 800 schools are now using CA. Request letters of rec through Naviance—not Common App. Institutional Applications: application specific to that institution Community College: Typically no fee, easy to fill out Out of Country: May be different requirements for example predicted IB or AP scores; different deadlines/timelines; Financial Aid might look different; Workshop on International Applications in October Military Academies: Lengthy process that starts early; Deadlines for nominations are coming up SOON. University of California: Don’t require much from the high school upfront—all info is self-reported by student. If the university is interested in the student, they will ask for official documents at a later date. Coalition Application: Newer application platform; Similar to Common Application but not nearly as many member schools. Counseling office is still advising to use Common App over Coalition app if you have that option. There are a few schools that are exclusively Coalition App (University of Washington, University of Florida, University of Maryland)

STUDENTS WILL SUBMIT TO COLLEGES… Additional required application materials: College essay(s) Resume/Activity Sheet Short Answer Question Etc. ACT and/or SAT Test Scores if required directly from the testing agency Application Fee (unless waived by college) Test scores: Scores from the state-wide administration of the SAT in April are on student transcripts. Some colleges will accept scores from the transcript; however, some colleges want them directly from the testing agency. They will state this plainly on their websites. SAT subject tests and IB/AP scores are not included on the transcript. If families have financial hardship, they should talk with their counselor.

COUNSELING OFFICE WILL SUBMIT To COLLEGES… Official High School Transcript ACT/SAT Test Scores (if on transcript) Secondary School/Counselor Report Form and Recommendation (if required/requested) Teacher Recommendations (if required/ requested) Lakewood High School Profile The Common Application always requires the counselor to fill out a form but not all Common Application institutions will also require a letter of rec. Check college websites to see what’s required. If you’re not sure, talk to your counselor. School Profile: describes Lakewood high school and the courses available. Used by out-of-state colleges to get a sense of LHS and its academic options.

How Do the Counselors Know where to submit student applications? Naviance Green Sheets

Naviance Log on to Naviance from the LHS website (Students: Links for Login). Click on Colleges at the top of the screen. Click on the “colleges I’m applying to” link. If you will be applying via the Common Application please complete the Common App Account Matching process. If you will not be using the Common Application skip the above process and click on the red/white plus button. Applying Via Common App? Common App schools will default to “I’m not sure yet.” You MUST change this to the correct information. Go to Naviance to show families/students how to add schools and complete the matching process.

What the heck is a “green sheet?” Green Sheets What the heck is a “green sheet?”

Green Sheets Serve several purposes: Tracking Sheet: What to send, Where, When Must be completed for each school to which a student applies. Available in the Counseling Office from Mrs. Schechter Filled out IN the Counseling Office

Green Sheets Record payment of $3.00 processing fee Required for every official transcript request including: Colleges Scholarships Military Enlistments NCAA/NAIA Eligibility Centers Official transcripts cannot be given to students. (Unofficial transcripts are available on the student portal of IC under Reports.) A Mid-Year report (including a transcript with first semester grades) will automatically be sent in January to all Common App colleges. Others will need to be requested by the student. A Final Report/Transcript will be sent after graduation to the college you select to attend. Student must inform us. Typically, that is done through the Senior Survey on Naviance. No additional charge for either of these submissions.

Green Sheets FERPA Release Student grants us permission to release their information and chooses whether to waive or not waive their rights to see letters of rec. On the back of the Green Sheet. Allowing us to release student records and choosing whether to waive or not waive right to see letters of rec. Explain that if you don’t waive your right, it doesn’t mean that you will be able to review your letters in high school. Only when you get to college…IF the admissions office keeps letters for enrolled students. It is LHS policy not to give student’s copies of their letters. Teachers might be more candid if they know the student will not see the letter. And if prevents students from comparing letters.

Just checking in… How’s everybody doing?

Counseling Office To Do’s Record all materials requested and processed Review materials before sending Follow up with students/teachers for any missing documents. Students should also be doing this. Be aware that the counseling office may hold your application until all required materials are available to send. We are here to help!

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Deadlines Minimum of FOUR weeks prior to college’s application deadline Typical deadlines are on your handout (pink sheet). What does this mean for you? Winter Break: December 22-January 4 Systems crash when? Student Record Release Form for Athletes

Teacher letters of recommendation Not all colleges/universities require letters—check websites/ask your counselor/call admission offices Two should be enough Choose teachers who know you well as a student Ask early—four weeks notice is required. The more time the better! Letter of Rec Teacher Request Form may be required Process: Students will ask the teacher(s) List the confirmed teacher(s) on the green sheet Counseling office will enter teachers on Naviance Teachers will upload letters directly to Naviance Students can track status on Naviance, but cannot view letters

Counselor letter of recommendation Not all schools require counselor letter—check websites/check with your counselor. If one is needed, let your counselor know. Fill out the required “Counselor Letter of Rec Request Questionnaire” on Naviance. Email your counselor when you have completed it to let them know. You must also let them know your earliest deadline date. Ask early—four weeks notice is required. The more time you give us the better!

Letters of recommendation Letters are typically not institution specific. One letter can be used for applying to all colleges. Many college admission letters can be used for scholarships as well with minimal tweaking. LHS policy is not to release letters to students. Counselors are able to review teacher letters. Students are encouraged to properly thank their recommenders. Writing a good letter of recommendation is time consuming!

Paying for College Financial Aid Night: October 4, 2018 at 5:15 pm & 6:00 pm (right before the college fair). Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens October 1st. LHS will have a FAFSA Completion Night in mid-October (TBD). FAFSA can = grants, work study, and loans College Opportunity Fund = a stipend for Colorado public colleges and some Colorado private colleges (if a student is eligible for a Pell grant). Scholarships: Two main categories: Institutional: College/University specific (can only be used there) Outside entities: (typically these can be used at any college) Businesses Clubs Organizations Foundations FAFSA is gateway to government grants, work study money and subsidized loans COF is a stipend for in-state schools

Researching Scholarships Check individual college and university websites Naviance LHS Resources: Counseling Facebook page Counseling Website: Under College tab Scholarship Search Engines: Fastweb Scholarships.com Cappex.com Be Aware of Scams!

Information Use your Naviance resources College Representative Visits (they have started) Super College Week (October 1st – 5th) College Fairs: Out-of-state fair at LHS Thursday, October 4th, 2018; 6:30-8:00pm Denver National College Fair Sunday, September 30th, 2018; 1-4 pm at the Denver Merchandise Mart In-State Fair at Ralston Valley Monday, October 15th, 6 – 7pm Counseling Facebook page: Lakewood High School Tigers- Counseling. LIKE US! Counseling Website Emails from the counseling office. Make sure your email is updated in Naviance! College Rep Visits: Be sure to tell students they can find the complete list of visiting colleges on home page of Naviance. Also posted outside the counseling office, on the LHS school calendar, calendar on the Counseling website and on Facebook. Its everywhere!

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Data related to your college applications and scholarships will be collected throughout the year. Graduation Insert/Scholarships LHS Profile Counseling advice for future seniors Handouts: Deadlines: Pink Sample Green Sheet: (Green, of course!) Application Process: Yellow College Planning Night for Juniors packet: extras available after program concludes

FINAL WORDS The quality of a university is measured more by the kind of student it turns out than the kind it takes in. Robert J. Kibbee Start thinking for yourself. Start looking for a team you want to play on, where you can be a starter every day and at least occasionally a star. Donald Asher The world is changing and going to college doesn’t necessarily equate to finding a good job. Make the most of your college experience. Its not about where you go, its about what you DO while you’re there. Take advantage of opportunities available to you (internships, work experience, activities, etc).

Remember to Stop and Smell the Roses! Next year at this time, your life may look very different. More than likely, you won’t be living with your family, you might not be in the same city, the same state or even in the same country! Enjoy your senior year and the people in it—including your parents! This process can be stressful but it is exciting as well. Remember to take some time along this journey to stop and appreciate.