RHS Guidance Department  Senior College Planning Night

Alphabet Breakdown Class of 2016 Mrs. Rotondo: A – Dem Mr. Saleem: Den-Kor Ms. Richard: Kos-Rei Mrs. Walker: Rej-Z

Agenda  Guidance News  Admission Definitions & Standardized Testing  RHS College Application Process & Procedure Family Connection/Naviance Student & Family Responsibility Process for Submitting Applications Electronically Common Application Tips Rutgers & Penn State Tips Helpful Reminders  Questions?

Guidance News  Last year, the Guidance Department processed 1,334 applications to 261 different colleges  The majority of students completed an average of 7 applications  Our class of 2015 graduates can be found on 77 different campuses this year with: 79% attended a 4-year institution 18% attended a 2-year institution

Admissions Definitions  Early Decision: The binding admission process where the student applies to his/her first choice school. If offered admission, student must withdraw all other applications from other schools.  Early Action: The non-binding admission process whereby the student applies early to the institution. The student has until May 1, National Deposit Deadline to make a decision.  Restrictive or Single-Choice Early Action: The non-binding admission process which restricts students from applying to a binding early decision program at another school. However, students are free to apply to other regular decision schools. Example: Princeton University- November 1 st deadline nonbinding. You may not apply to an early program at any other private college or university, but you may apply early to any public institution, as long as the decision is nonbinding. You can apply to rolling admission schools as long as it is nonbinding.  Rolling Admission: Students are offered or denied admission throughout the calendar year. There is no specific application deadline.  Regular Admission: Non-binding admission process where students apply in the winter and learn of a decision in the spring.

Standardized Testing  For November Early Action Deadlines: Typically the school will still accept September & October SAT/ACT Scores. There are a few schools that will also accept November SAT/ACT scores. Call your particular college and ask.  For Regular Application Deadlines: Typically December & January SAT/ACT Scores are the latest test dates that they will accept.  AP Test Scores: Students will send their AP scores only to the institution they are going to attend. This typically will happen in July The AP score has no bearing on admission.

RHS Application Process – Student/Family Responsibility  Student & Family send the following items directly to the colleges: Completed Application-  Online or Paper; over 500 colleges accept the Common Application Application Fee Completed Essay Completed Activities Resume SAT and/or ACT scores (must be sent electronically from College Board SAT or ACT)

Electronic Transcripts (Edocs) Benefits  Delivery Time: Takes approximately 48hours for the admission office to download the transcript into their database versus paper transcript mailed which took anywhere from 2weeks – 2months.  Requirement: Some institutions will only accept transcripts electronically.  Cost Savings: Each paper transcript mailed costs $5.00 for postage.  Reduces Anxiety: Many times when we mailed transcripts, families would call stating the school never received it. Mrs. Lubbers has mailed the same transcript to the same institution up to 5 times and faxed it.

Naviance/Family Connection- Using eDocs 1.Be sure to have your username and password to Naviance/Family Connection to get started. 2.Create a username and password with the Common Application. Go to even if you are not applying to any schools using the common application. 3.Add a college into “My Colleges” tab then complete the FERPA (Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act) Waiver Form. 4.Login to Naviance/Family Connection, click the “College” tab, then select “Colleges I’m applying to”. 5.Fill out the Common Application Information. You need to input your username ( address) from the common application. This will sync the common application to your naviance account. This is how we can send your documents electronically.

Step One in using eDocs: Sign FERPA in Common Application

Click College Search & Add A College

Step Two: Sync Naviance/Family Connection with Common Application

Sync Common App to Naviance

Common Application Tips UNDER THE EDUCATION SECTION:  RHS CEEB Code:  Entry Date: 09/2012  Graduation Date: 06/22/2016  RHS Guidance Phone #: Guidance Fax:  Mrs. Laurie Rotondo: phone extension- x.3016 Counselor Title: School Counselor  Ms. Lindsay Richard: phone extension- x  Mr. Raheel Saleem: phone extension –x  Mr. JoAnne Walker: phone extension- x UNDER THE EDUCATION/GRADES SECTION:  2016 Class Size: 227  GPA Scale: 4.0 weighted  Class Rank: None

Common Application Tips  Activities Resume: You can attach an activities resume only if the institution requires it. You could upload it in the members writing section.  You can only note 10 activities…place them in order of importance. If you run out of room, you can add the remaining in the writing section under “additional information.”  This year common app is allowing students to go back and edit the application and the essay without limitations. You should not customize the essay for a particular college. College-specific essays will appear on the Writing Supplement.  You can only apply to 20 colleges using the common application.

Common Application Tips  Academic Section “ACT/SAT information” – If you are taking your SAT and ACT’s again this fall, do not self report your test scores.  Secondary School Report: Guidance will automatically complete this online and submit it for you. You do not need to provide us with any forms.  Supplement: Many institutions ask specific additional short essay questions that must be submitted separately.

Naviance/Family Connection: Adding Colleges  In the “Colleges I’m Thinking About” tab, select the link “Add to list” and add all of the schools you are applying to.  Use the “look up” tab to find the institution. Then select “Add College” at the bottom of the page.  The next screen will populate showing how the college receives transcripts. Under “Delivery Type” you will see CA (for common app), picture of a computer for electronic submission, or a stamp for mail only.  Fill out the Transcript Request Card and hand it in to Mrs. Lubbers.

Adding Colleges to eDocs and noting how the college receives transcripts

Teacher Recommendation Request Form

MAIL ONLY College Application Process  Pick up one transcript release packet for each college application that does not receive transcripts electronically in the Guidance Office.  Transcript Release Packet has the following: Pink Confirmation Receipt Postcard-  Fill in student and college name only, provide a stamp Large Envelope – Write or type college address Provide $5.00 per college application or application fee waiver. ($5.00 covers postage for initial mailing, mid year grades (February) and final transcripts (July) mailed to the colleges) *Once completed, hand into Mrs. Lubbers, Guidance Secretary. It takes 15 school days to process.

Confirmation Postcard Place stamp Write institution name and student name

Application Submission Responsibilities  STUDENT SENDS: application, essay, resume, any supplemental materials, and official SAT or ACT scores (directly from collegeboard.org and/or actstudent.org)  GUIDANCE SENDS: official transcript, counselor’s letter of recommendation, secondary school report, and school profile  TEACHER SENDS: teacher’s letters of recommendation

The Rutgers Application  You need your NJ Smart ID (obtain from Mrs. Lubbers)  November 1 st – Early Action (Rolling)  December 1 st – Regular Decision  Part A- Required Application  Part B- Required Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR) (You need a copy of your transcript to complete this section)  Part C- Optional Educational Opportunity Fund questionnaire  Separate Honors Application  Students should NOT add Rutgers to their transcript release card as they do not accept transcripts or letters of recommendation  Be sure to send your official SAT/ACT scores

Penn State University Electronic Partner  RHS is an Electronic Partner of Penn State University.  They have a separate system from Naviance/Family Connection to submit their applications.  Students do NOT have to submit a large envelope for Penn State.  Student must note Penn State on their transcript request card to ensure that their counselor sends their transcript and letter of recommendation electronically.

Last Minute Reminders  If it is a MAIL ONLY institution, get your transcript release packet (large envelope) in as soon as possible. Mail takes time!  Teacher Recommendation Request Form: Get them to your teachers as soon as possible. Some teachers wait to write your letters until they receive a request form.  Common Application Verse Using a “Special” Application: Even if you do not submit the applications using the common application, you must create an account and sign off on the FERPA. Many students will want to use the “Special” application or “Dean’s” application that may waive the application fee. This is fine just be sure to note “IA Institution Application” on Transcript Release Card. If the institution does not waive your application fee, then you should use the Common Application versus the Institution’s Application

Stay Organized!  Get a calendar- Note dates of application deadlines and dates that the transcript release packet needs to be submitted to Guidance.  Complete Transcript Release Forms ASAP.  For January 1 st deadlines- All transcript requests must be into Guidance by November 15 th due to holiday/winter break and the backlog of mail.  Make a copy of everything- Colleges receive a great amount of paperwork and they do lose material.  Keep all usernames and passwords in one place.  Prospective Division I and II athletes: register with NCAA Eligibility Center:

Important Dates:  September 17 th : Last College Workshop for Seniors at 7:45am OR 12:35pm in A101  September 21 st : RHS Counselor will begin their senior meetings  October 3 rd : SAT Test  October 24 th : ACT Test  November 1 st: Starts Early Action Deadlines  November 4 th : Philadelphia National College Fair 11am – 3pm  November 7 th : SAT Test  November 13 th : Get all MAIL ONLY school envelopes into guidance for January 1 st deadlines  December 7 th : Financial Aid Night at 7pm  December 12 th : ACT Test  May 1 st : National Deposit Deadline

Questions?