James Hubert Blake High School College Night “Nuts & Bolts” THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS September 13, 2018

Application Process Four year Institutions Two year Community Colleges Career & Technical Schools

How Many Colleges Should I Apply To? Target Safe Reach No magic number 6-8 is about right Make arrangements to visit college campuses and meet with admission reps who visit Blake.

Four Year College Applications Application – Biographical Data Common Application (www.commonapp.org) Coalition Application (www.mycoalition.org) Black Common App (www.CommonBlackCollegeApp.com) Application Fee – ranges from $0 - $90 Official Transcript – GPA & Courses Official Test Scores – sent from College Board or ACT www.fairtest.org – Test optional colleges Essay Letters of Recommendation – teacher & counselor Audition/Portfolio/Interview – specific to colleges

College Admission Vocabulary Early Decision: Binding Early Action Priority: Best Chance to be Admitted Rolling Admission: Apply Early! Regular Admission Open Admission: MC

The UMCP Application Priority deadline is November 1. Submit by this date for best chance of admission & consideration for Honors, Gemstone, Scholars, & merit scholarships. 90% of the class will be selected from these applicants. Test scores need to be sent directly from ACT or College Board to College Park. Request no later than October 1st. Request official transcript no later than October 11. Apply using the Coalition App, mycoalition.org

Score Reporting Send official scores: SAT www.collegeboard.org ACT www.actstudent.org 4 free score reports if requested during registration; after test-$12 each Blake HS does NOT mail/fax test scores. *Many colleges award scholarships based on SAT or ACT scores as well as GPA.

Blake College/Career Center Website Access College Information, Scholarships, Financial Aid, College Testing and Preparation Blake H.S. Code 210959 Required for SAT or ACT registration and college applications

(See or email your Counselor if you need your password reset) Use Naviance Student (See or email your Counselor if you need your password reset)

College Visits in College/Career Center Sign up on Naviance Student at least one day in advance Click Register Now, then View Details. Print Page & Get Signed by Teacher (subject to classroom teacher’s approval)

Search for Colleges in Naviance School Type (2 or 4 yr) Location Student Body - Enrollment Size Majors & Minors Athletics Cost + Financial Aid Special Programs (clubs, newspaper, band, ROTC, etc)

Benny Bengal considers Frostburg

Colleges I’m Thinking About

Move colleges to “colleges I’m applying to” before you turn in Transcript Request Form Colleges MUST be posted here to send your transcripts. Note the submissions type and deadline. Use the COMMON APPLICATION for all CA schools. Use the COALITION APP for Maryland, Virginia Tech, Florida & Washington

IMPORTANT: Link your Common Application account to your Naviance account Steps to link your Common App account to your Naviance account: Watch the quick video on the Naviance Home Page with step by step instructions. Make sure to sign the FERPA waiver & authorization on the Common App. Choose “Yes, I waive my rights to read my letters of recommendation.” Colleges want students to waive their rights to read their recommendations so they know that the letters were written freely without the students looking over their teachers’ and counselor’s shoulders. There is an explanation of this on the Common App website under “Recommendations” on each college’s specific questions. Create a common app account Add at least one college On the Education tab, find Blake HS Go back to the College tab, click on Recommendations

How to Request a Teacher Recommendation Ask early in PERSON at a convenient time for the teacher Provide the teacher with the blue “Request for Recommendation Letter” form with colleges and deadlines listed. Addressed envelopes with postage (if college does not accept electronic submission) Copy of resume is suggested Add teacher in Naviance Student. Check in with teachers closer to deadlines.

Teacher Recommendations AFTER speaking to the teacher in person, submit a REQUEST to the teacher on Naviance. From the Colleges tab in Naviance Student, click on Letters of Recommendation

On the recommendation request page, click on the blue Add Request button to submit requests, one teacher at a time.

Step 1: Select a teacher from the drop-down Note: Counselor letters do not fall under this category.

Step 2: Review the colleges and check one or more boxes to indicate which schools the teacher should be sending the letter of recommendation. Note the # of required and # of allowed recommendations for each school. Colleges are pulled directly from your “colleges I’m applying to” list

Step 3: Add a personal note to the teacher Step 3: Add a personal note to the teacher. Click the SAVE button at the bottom of the screen.

See the Registrar Ms. Marks (15 school days in advance of deadline) Complete Transcript Request Form 1-3 transcripts = free 4 or more transcripts = $3 each Envelopes w/postage stamps (if required) Addressed to college’s admission office Scholarship transcripts

Transcript Request Form (return to Ms. Marks, Registrar) Complete with parent signature

Secondary School Report LET’S REVIEW STUDENT SUBMITS: BLAKE SUBMITS: Transcript (Transcript Request Form) Application Secondary School Report SAT/ACT Scores Counselor Recommendation (Student/Parent Reflection Forms) Teacher Recommendation (Blue Form) Blake School Profile Application Fee

Two Year College Applications (Montgomery College) Simple Online Application. Beginning October 1st FREE for MCPS students!! No Essay or Recommendations or Transcript Due Date for MC Scholars & Macklin Business Scholars is in Jan 2019. Separate application. Official transcript and letters of recommendation required. Apply at montgomerycollege.edu

MC College Ready Scores Accuplacer determines if you need remedial, non-credit courses in college MCPS Accuplacer October 10, 2018

Blake P.O.S.T. Expo, Dec. 4, 6:30 – 8 pm CAREER TECH SCHOOLS Application deadlines - 2nd semester. Apply to Career Tech schools after contact with admission office. Check MHEC website for accreditation http://www.mhec.state.md.us/ Blake P.O.S.T. Expo, Dec. 4, 6:30 – 8 pm

FAFSA opens October 1 Free Application for Federal Student Aid Financial Aid Workshop Wednesday October 3, 7:00 pm Amphitheater www.fafsa.gov

Scholarships Start NOW, don’t wait until the Spring Follow ESSAY prompts carefully! Discuss your personal financial need Adhere to all Deadlines! Be neat! There is MONEY out there, but you have to find it Utilize links on College/Career Center webpage www.fastweb.com www.scholarships.com www.cappex.com

Scholarship Transcript Request Form Request in advance Provide addressed envelope w/postage and transcript fee. See registrar if online transcript required.

School Counseling Staff Ms. Conter A - Card Ms. Smith Care - F Ms. Hayes G – Kar Mr. Tolbert Kas - Man Ms. Baer Mao - Par Mr. Thomas Pas - She Ms. Costenbader Shi - Z Mrs. Prochnow College & Career Coordinator Ms. Marks School Registrar TBD ACES Coach

Just think, this time next year you can rent out their room!! Questions? Just think, this time next year you can rent out their room!!