Welcome to Olentangy Liberty High School The College Application Process Senior Parent Night 2018

Meet the Guidance Department Angela Rafey (A-Cl) angela_rafey@olsd.us Ron Waterwash (Co-Go) ron_waterwash@olsd.us Jill McGrew (Goddard) (Gr-Le) jill_mcgrew@olsd.us Jenna Purlee (Li-O) jenna_purlee@olsd.us Brittany Vallier (P-Si) brittany_vallier@olsd.us Bobbie Sisko (Sk-Z) bobbie_sisko@olsd.us

Guidance Website & Twitter -The Guidance Department has a Schoology Course called Counselor Corner: OLHS - all students have access to this course -Use the site to access up-to-date important information, student services forms, links, resources, seminars, announcements, etc. **Follow us on Twitter @OLHScounselors

Tonight’s Goals Understanding the college application process Learning the role Naviance plays in the application process at LHS Planning for college

Application Process

College Applications Application (online) - Application fee required for most colleges Written Essay - Students should have someone review their essays Transcript Requests - All transcript requests must go through Naviance Class Rank - we do not rank; however, you can request in writing (form) to have it placed on transcript. Once it’s on, it’s on permanently. Transcripts will be available to submit starting mid-September Letters of Recommendation - All letters of recommendation must go through Naviance Check w/ each college - some require none; some require letters from certain individuals Test Scores - All test scores MUST be official; you can request them through either www.act.org or www.collegeboard.com

Submit application to the college FIRST, THEN request transcripts/letters of recommendation Ensures college already has a file started for your child (preventing lost materials) DON’T PRINT OR DOWNLOAD ANY FORMS Counselors use: Our own Counselor Forms OR Common App Counselor Form online These get sent automatically with transcripts

How to Apply FIRST visit the university website for application instructions Coalition Application (http://www.coalitionforcollegeaccess.org) Use the Common Application (www.commonapp.org) whenever possible Check if supplement is required If an institution is not part of the Common Application, access their website directly to apply READ directions: Recommendation letters? Scholarship deadlines? Essays? Secondary School Report? Mid-year Report? Deadlines?

The Common App Undergraduate admissions application Nearly 600 schools linked to common app One general application Can add as many schools as needed Complete each school’s supplemental materials Common App & Naviance MUST be matched in order to send transcripts/recommendations FERPA must be completed within the Common App BEFORE matching process

Application Boot Camp Counselors will be available every Tuesday/Thursday during the month of October during 11th and 12th periods for any and all application questions. Computers will be provided No appointment necessary but students will need to sign in Student Services Classroom

What Are Colleges Looking For? Most Important Considerations: GPA Rigor of curriculum taken ACT/SAT scores Other Considerations: Application essay School/community involvement Recommendation letters How can you stand out among the pool of applicants?

Safe vs. Reach Schools When applying to schools, students should create a list of: Safe Schools - colleges where students know they will be accepted (meet all requirements) Reach Schools - colleges where students may not be accepted (lower scores than average, highly competitive admissions process, etc.)

Early Decision vs. Early Action Early Decision - Apply this way ONLY if your child is absolutely sure this is where he/she wants to go Legally binding contract You will withdraw your applications from all other schools once accepted You will go to this school Early Action - Apply this way if you want to take advantage of the opportunity to get an acceptance sooner than regular application students

Naviance

What Does Naviance Do? Students can: Do college searches Sign up for college representatives visiting LHS Request transcripts (MUST use Naviance for this) Track transcript requests Request letters of recommendation (MUST use Naviance for this) Build a resume Research careers Do scholarship searches Search for other types of financial aid

Naviance Website:connection.naviance.com/olentangylhs Student username: e-mail address i.e. 16jsmith@olsd.us Student password: they picked We recommended during Junior seminar last year to use OLHS+student ID# i.e. OLHS48321 Or myolsd password

Transcript Request Notes There is an option to request that test scores be sent DO NOT CLICK; we do not send test scores Request test scores be sent from www.act.org and/or www.collegeboard.com Most colleges routinely send out notices immediately upon receiving a student’s application that they need (or do not have) the student’s transcript. This does not mean we haven’t sent it. In most cases, you and your student can track the dates we send transcripts from LHS and the dates colleges receive them Each transcript accompanied with an LHS School Profile details Honors/AP Courses offered grading scale GPA ranges of students Let’s colleges know LHS is an academically rigorous school Please allow 10 working days notice BEFORE a deadline in order to complete transcript/letter of recommendation requests due to the volume of requests handled (see Important Dates slide)

Transcripts for NCAA Eligibility First, go to NCAA website and register Second, go to Naviance and request transcripts for NCAA Eligibility Center (same as for college transcript requests)

Naviance & College Visits @ LHS Use Naviance to sign up for meetings with college representatives Click “College Visits”

College Visit Reminders Students must sign up AT LEAST a day in advance; they cannot sign up the day of a visit here at LHS Students can be gone from a class THREE (3) times to meet with a college rep @ LHS Students can meet with a college rep an unlimited number of times during study hall/lunch Outside of school, students are allowed up to THREE (3) on-campus visits

ACT/SAT Testing

SAT Preparation Students can go to www.khanacademy.org for SAT preparation assistance Download real, full-length practice tests Watch videos with step-by-step solutions to problems that students missed Math, Reading, and Writing tutorials of real, previously unreleased SAT problems

**LHS is an SAT test site** Register at www.collegeboard.com SAT Dates **LHS is an SAT test site** Register at www.collegeboard.com Test Dates August 25, 2018 October 6, 2018 November 3, 2018 December 1, 2018 March 9, 2019 May 4, 2019 June 1, 2019 Registration Deadlines July 27th, 2018 September 7, 2018 October 5, 2018 November 2, 2018 February 8, 2019 April 6, 2019 May 3, 2019

**LHS is an ACT test site** ACT Dates **LHS is an ACT test site** Register at www.act.org Test Dates October 6, 2018 December 8, 2018 February 9, 2019 April 13, 2019 June 8, 2019 July 13, 2019 Registration Deadlines September 7, 2018 November 2, 2018 January 11, 2019 March 8, 2019 May 3 , 2019 June 14, 2019

Scholarship & Financial Aid October 10, 2018 - Financial Aid Workshop @ Liberty HS at 7:00 p.m.

Scholarships/Financial Aid Financial Aid (Need Based) Must complete FAFSA online (October 1) Scholarship (Merit Based) Primarily awarded by individual colleges Local, regional, and national also available students can locate all scholarships online through Naviance (check often) NOTE: Many colleges have earlier application deadlines for scholarship consideration

FAFSA Go to the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) website www.fafsa.ed.gov FAFSA - FSA ID Students and parents will create get his/her OWN FSA ID number These numbers follow students through the rest of their higher education careers (KEEP THEM SAFE) We recommend doing this now

Important Dates October 18, 2018 - Transcript request deadline for November 1st November 8, 2018 - Transcript request deadline for December 1st college application December 3, 2018 - Transcript request deadline for January 1st college application October 1, 2018 - FAFSA application available February 15, 2019 - FAFSA deadline for many colleges April 1, 2019 - Deadline for colleges to communicate financial aid packages May 1, 2019 - National College Declaration Day May 19, 2019 - Graduation @ 1 p.m. Schottenstein Center (OSU)

District Seminars for Parents & Students September 13, 2018 - Preparing for the College Admission and Selection Process @ Orange HS at 7:30 p.m. October 7, 2018 - Suburban College Fair @ Otterbein University from 1-3:30 October 10, 2018 - Financial Aid Workshop @ Liberty HS at 7:00 p.m. November 15, 2018 - Education Options @ Olentangy HS at 7:00 p.m. December 6, 2018 - College Credit Plus @ Berlin HS at 7 p.m. March 24, 2019 - NACAC National College Fair @ Columbus Convention Center - www.nacacfairs.org

Final Thoughts... Overwhelmed? Don’t worry; we’re here to help Encourage your son/daughter to talk to his/her counselor Senior seminars are next week and will be full of helpful information for your child Thank you :)

Q & A Session