The College Application Process: Naviance & eDocs Red Bank Catholic High School Guidance Office September, 2015

Welcome! Mr. Mark DeVoe- Director of Guidance Melinda Fellingham- Counselor Patricia Hendricks- Counselor Kelly O’Keefe-Howlett- Counselor Theodore Jarmusz- Counselor Mary Ellin Sweeney- Learning Consultant Debra Hemschoot - Registrar Tina Schwartz -Guidance Secretary

Agenda minutes Practical information Changes to the Application Process 5 EASY STEPS 5 EASY STEPS Important Deadlines Applying for Scholarships Upcoming Events Question and Answer (General)

The College Application Process Apply Hear Decide

Naviance Family Connection A comprehensive website that students and parents can use as a tool in planning for their future. Naviance is used for: College research Student Data (test scores, GPA etc.) Prospective Colleges Scholarships Scattergrams

The College Application Process using eDocs All School Documents will be sent electronically using eDocs Common Application Reports Teacher and Counselor Recommendations Transcripts – Initial, Mid-year and Final School Profile

Overall Expectations Keep the process in perspective Work together as a family Students must take ownership Discuss finances openly Start early and meet all deadlines

Expectations for the Student 5 Easy Steps

Step 1 : Apply via “The Common Application” Go to Commonapp.org and set up your account. Write down your common app username is your . This is also used to link your Naviance Account–You MUST establish a Commonapp account in order to submit your documents electronically through Naviance. Add your colleges that you are applying to via the Common App Click on ‘assign recommenders’ (sidebar) and the FERPA agreement appears. Video link for Completing FERPA on CommonAPP FERPA absolutely has to be signed before you can go forward. Login to Naviance and match your CommonApp to your Naviance account. The has to be the same. You must complete a CommonApp and sign the FERPA even if your school is not on the Common Application

Common Application

Signing the FERPA

FERPA RELEASE AUTHORIZATION

Common Application Link and Tutorials Common Application- on.htm Video link for Completing FERPA on CommonAPP Common Application You Tube Tutorial- Common Application Step by Step- on.htm

Naviance Family Connection

Common App Account Matching

Step 2: Add Prospective Colleges on Naviance

Update Application Status

Step 3: Teacher Recommendations Always allow at least 2 weeks for teachers to complete their letter. Please make sure you personally ask the teacher prior to submitting the official request. Click on the College tab, then “Colleges I’m Applying To” Scroll down to Teacher Recommendations. Click add/cancel request Add new request, click the drop-down list and choose the teacher from the list, click submit request. Your teacher request has to be done prior to your requesting a transcript.

Step 4: Requesting a Transcript You should have already started your application and created a CommonApp Account and linked it to Naviance. Your counselor should have the parent brag sheet and recommendation questionnaire from you prior to this step. You should have already asked your teachers for a recommendation. Submit a COMPLETED “Transcript Request Form” to Mrs. Hemschoot personally. DO NOT LEAVE THIS FORM IN A COUNSELOR MAILBOX! Enter Request A Transcript in Naviance. For an October 15 (some southern colleges) request should be submitted no later than October 1. For a NOVEMBER 1 deadline-request should be submitted no later than October 15. For a November 15 deadline-request should be submitted no later than October 31.

Transcript Request

Step 5: Apply Complete Common Application On line. Complete Supplements if applicable. If college does not subscribe to CommonApp, complete on- line application for that particular college, but you MUST complete a Common Application in order to send electronic documents through Naviance. Make sure you complete payment screen and THEN SUBMIT application after payment. Check for GREEN (on commonapp) box that appears at the top of the application to ensure that your application has been submitted.

Updating the Application Status Click on “Colleges You are Applying To” Under “My Applications” it will ask you if you have applied. Click on the question. Update the information that is requested.

College Search

College Groups

STANDARDIZED TESTS SAT’s and Subject Tests have to be sent directly from CollegeBoard ACT’s should be sent directly from ACT. (They are NOT included on transcript)

Throughout the Process…… Communicate with your counselor As you hear back from schools, let your counselor know. Bring in acceptance letters to Guidance as soon as you receive them. Bring in scholarship and award letters to Guidance as soon as you receive them. Check for s from the Guidance Office regularly Parents can contact the counselor at any time

Review: 5 Easy Steps Step 1: Set up a Common Application Account and complete FERPA waiver on the Common Application. Enter CommonApp ID ( ) in Naviance. Step 1: Set up a Common Application Account and complete FERPA waiver on the Common Application. Enter CommonApp ID ( ) in Naviance. Step 2: Add Colleges that you are applying to in Naviance Step 2: Add Colleges that you are applying to in Naviance Step 3: Invite Teacher Recommendations under “Colleges I’m Applying to” Step 3: Invite Teacher Recommendations under “Colleges I’m Applying to” Step 4: Request a Transcript Step 4: Request a Transcript Step 5: Apply Step 5: Apply

Benefits of Naviance Streamline the process Everything is “live” Everything can be sent at once Quick to update Monitor status electronic submission Eco-friendly

Senior Meetings Counselors meet with seniors regarding the process By end of September Steps 1-3 are complete. Review this process with your child prior to the meeting Come prepared with questions Contact your guidance counselor at any time

Upcoming Events September: Individual College Rep Visits throughout the fall October: Brookdale College Fair – September 27, (see handout) SAT: October 3rd (Registration by September 3rd) offered at RBC ACT: October 24th (Registration by September 19th) offered at RBC Application Deadline for Early Decision/Early Action for some schools (October 15 th ) Many southern schools have early deadlines. November: SAT: November 7th Application Deadlines for Early Decision/Early Action (November 1 st /November 15 th ) December: SAT: December 5 th ACT: December 12th January: Financial Aid Evening: January 5 th 2016

Scholarships Scholarships are listed on Naviance When applying for scholarships transcript requests should be brought to guidance two weeks before due date so it can be processed. You will be notified by from Scholarship Coordinator- Pat Hendricks when scholarships are available.

FINANCIAL AID WEB SITES  Financial Aid Information Pagewww.finaid.comwww.finaid.com  Fast Webwww.fastweb.comwww.fastweb.com  U.S. Dept. of Educationnces.ed.gov/ipeds/coolnces.ed.gov/ipeds/cool  NJ Dept. of Higher Edwww.nj.govwww.nj.gov  NCAA Clearinghousewww.ncaaclearinghouse.net/  FAFSAwww.fafsa.ed.govwww.fafsa.ed.gov  CSS Profilehttps://profileonline.collegeboard.com/prf/index.jsphttps://profileonline.collegeboard.com/prf/index.jsp COLLEGE WEB SITES  Alphabetical list of all Universities in the U.S.  Peterson’s Onlinewww.petersons.comwww.petersons.com  Common Applicationwww.commonapp.orgwww.commonapp.org  College Boardwww.collegeboard.comwww.collegeboard.com  ACT  SAT/ACT Optional Schoolswww.fairtest.org Naviance CAREER WEB SITES  Do What You Are  US Bureau of Labor  Career Key

Financial Aid Information FAFSA- Complete January 2016 CSS Profile (Scholarship Service) Complete in November 2015

Scholarships on Naviance

Scholarship List from Naviance

Conclusion Seniors need to visit their counselor frequently during the application season. Parents should communicate on a regular basis with their child about this process STUDENT NEEDS TO BE INVESTED IN THE PROCESS!

Q & A