+ Seniors: Class of 2015 Sept. 24, 2014 Personal Statement Planning & Preparation

+ What We’re Covering Logging on to Naviance Learning Which Schools Want Personal Statements Creating Common App Account (if needed) Be early, BE early and be EARLY! Resources

+ How to Log in to Naviance Start at Shorecrest homepage  Resources  Clan Connection  Naviance Next to “ ”: use your 7-digit Dashboard ID Next to “password”: use your Dashboard password. Capitalize the first letter in your last name!

+ Why Does This Matter? Naviance sends nearly all transcripts Naviance sends most letters of recommendation Naviance syncs up with your Common App Naviance lists your schools deadlines and takes you to their admissions requirements – including personal statement & letters of recommendation

+ Do all schools require a personal statement? Which colleges do not? Central Washington University (unless you’re on the bubble) Washington State University (dropped it this year! Except for honors or on the bubble) Community Colleges (never required them!) Lots of other public schools across the country (It’s up to you to check!) No.

+ Which colleges DO need a personal statement? U.W. Seattle, Bothell and Tacoma (requires at least two essays) WWU (very similar to U. of Oregon!) ALL Common Application schools (which means nearly all private schools) Plus many others you will find on Naviance

+ How do I know if the school I’m applying to requires a personal statement?

+ NAVIANCE!

+ Naviance! Go to brown “Colleges” tab Click “Colleges I’m Interested In” After adding several schools to “Colleges I’m Interested In” click on the names of those schools. Review the icons next to the names of the schools

+ Empty small blue computer screen: College accepts forms electronically. These tend to be public schools (i.e. U.W. and Western)- and MAY require personal statement.

+ What is the Common App? Ten private schools in Washington: Gonzaga; Pacific Lutheran; St. Martin’s; Seattle Pacific University; Seattle University; University of Puget Sound; Whitman College and Whitworth University Require Letters of Recommendation (via Naviance) Require one of five Personal Statement prompts – your choice. One on-line application to 559 private and public U.S. and international colleges & universities serving 2.5 million high school seniors

+ Common App – What Else? Important: the Common App is found at - not.com. The Common App is 100 percent electronic. At Shorecrest, students use their Naviance account to send transcripts and letters of recommendation sent to Common App schools. Also important: When creating an account, write down your username and password in not just one - but in TWO safe places. Losing or forgetting this information is painful and time-wasting! Students may start - and save - their progress on the Common App. It does not need to be completed in one sitting. It might take a few hours.

+ Common App – Even More To complete the Common App, students must upload their personal statement/college admissions essay. Prompts are provided. If using Shoreline-issued iPads to complete Common App registration, please use Firefox as the browser; it appears to be more successful than Safari.

+ Common App Prompts 1) Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. 2) Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn? 3) Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again? 4) Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you? 5) Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

+ In-person Resources: Shorecrest Mini-Series Thursday, Oct. 23 3:30-5:30 p.m. OR Wednesday, Nov p.m. Both in the Shorecrest Library $15 to Ms. Denney Register on “purple piece of paper” – space is LIMITED Mrs. Monson can meet BEFORE and AFTER school DURING Highlander Home (with some restrictions) AFTER you have added schools to your “Colleges I’m Applying To”

+ On-Line Resources: Check out about.com/od/essays/a /common-application- essay-prompts.htm pper.com/blog/2013/0 8/the-ultimate-step-by- step-guide-to-the-new- common-app-v4/

+ WARNING:

+ Reminder: be EARLY!

+ Tip: Be Kind You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar!

+ Tomorrow: Thursday – Sept. 25 Commons at Highlander Home Topic: How to Arrange Letters of Recommendation For Seniors planning four-year college applications

+ Tasks before tomorrow…  Add schools to “Colleges I’m Interested In”  Move existing schools to “Colleges I’m Applying To”  Review these schools for personal statement requirements  Create an account at Common App (if needed)  Start checking