1. Naviance/Family Connection Senior Year

2. California Community Colleges
List of CA Community Colleges available on the SRVHS website. Under the counseling tab, click on “college resources,” and then click on “community college”. Research your options in our Career and College Center.
Students will need to take English and Math placements tests at DVC or Las Positas in early spring.
Register early! Near the end of the fall 2016 semester, see the SRV Career and College Center for registration information.

3. CSU/UC COMPARISON CSU UC GPA in req. courses Soph & Jr year
SAT with Essay or ACT with writing
SAT subject tests in different areas are “value added”
Depth and Breadth of coursework
Personal Insight Questions
Co-curricular activities
Application now open, must submit 11/1 – 11/30
Admissions.university of california.edu
CSU
GPA in req. courses Soph & Jr year
SAT (w/Essay not required)or ACT(w/writing not required)
Depth and Breadth of coursework
Apply 10/1 - 11/30

5. Colleges That Use The Common Application
If the college(s) to which you are applying uses the Common Application, before you list the college(s) in Naviance, you must first go to: and create an account.
Write down the address you used to create your Common App account. You will need to use this exact same address later in Naviance to match up your Common App account.
In the Common App you must complete the Education Section. Go to My Colleges. Then on left side of page, click on Recommenders and FERPA. Then complete the FERPA agreement. This must all be done BEFORE you access Naviance.
You must complete the FERPA agreement in waiving your rights to see your recommendations.
Please Note:
School staff will not write your recommendations unless you have waived your FERPA rights.

7. Getting Started On Naviance/Family Connection
Click on the Naviance/Family Connections link on the lower left side of the front page of the SRVHS website at
Use the and password you used to log in to Naviance/Family Connection last year. Click on the “forgot password?” link if you need to retrieve your password and it will be ed to you.
Still stuck? Go to the SRVHS Career and College Center or see your counselor for help.

8. You will use the “Colleges” tab to enter all the colleges to which you are applying.
If you need a letter of rec from your counselor, you’ll find all the forms you’ll need to complete and bring to her in the “document library” tab. This is also where you can get the Due Date Form that you’ll need to give to teachers for a letter of rec. from them.

9. Sign up here to attend college visits in the College & Career Center
Enter colleges to which you are applying
Research colleges and find potential matches
Search national and local scholarship opportunities

10. Here you will manage the list of colleges that you are applying to
Here you will manage the list of colleges that you are applying to. You will need to indicate the type of application (early decision, rolling, etc.), and you MUST indicate whether or not you are applying via Common App or the Coalition. SRV recommends you use the Common App whenever possible.
This is also where you will go later to update Family Connection with your college admissions outcomes & decisions. Please remember to do this as you hear back from schools – It Is Very Important!

11. This is where you will enter the exact same address you used when you set up your Common App account and your date of birth.
If you are not applying to any colleges using the Common Application, click on “not needed”

12. The postage stamp icon is for mail only schools
Note: Under the submissions screen: A red question mark will display for a school when the student has not selected whether or not they are applying via the Common App. or the Coalition. Please make sure to designate how you are applying. (SRV recommends the Common App whenever possible. )
The computer screen with the CA inside is a Common App school and accepts electronic submissions.
The empty computer screen is a non Common App school and accepts electronic submissions.
The computer screen with the CO inside is a Coalition App school and accepts electronic submissions through the Coalition only.
The postage stamp icon is for mail only schools

13. Requesting Transcripts
Transcripts – UC’s and CSU’s do NOT require transcripts with application.
Transcripts for all schools will be ordered through Family Connection. Under the “Colleges Tab” click on request transcripts.
Please DO NOT use Send.Edu or Parchment/Docufide to request transcripts. Please use Family Connection to request transcripts.
Request transcripts here

14. Requesting Letters of Recommendation From Teachers
For colleges that require letters of recommendation from teachers, please first ask teachers in person if they would be willing to write you a recommendation.
Ask teachers at least 3 school weeks prior to your due date and ask teacher(s) what if anything they may need to write for you: (resume, forms, copies of what you are putting together for your counselor rec., etc.).
Then add teacher recommendation requests in Family Connection. Send requests in Family Connection.

15. This is where you will request teacher letters of recommendation.

16. Requesting Letters of Recommendation From Teachers
Be sure you download a Due Date Form from the “Document Library” located on the welcome page in Family Connection. On the Due Date Form list only the colleges that you want each teacher to submit recs to for you. Remember CSU and UC do not accept recs.
Give the completed Due Date form to your teachers and make sure they are clear on which colleges they need to submit their recs to for you.
If you are applying to colleges that only accept recs through US mail (not electronically), make sure that you provide your teachers with any required teacher forms, as well as stamped envelopes, addressed to each college.

17. For Letters of Rec from Your Counselor
Go to the “Document Library” located on the welcome page on the right in Family Connection and download/complete the following forms (# 1-5):
*Instructions for Managing College Applications (Read this carefully and follow the steps.)
*Student Self Evaluation Survey
*Parent Questionnaire (Parent completes this and gives it back to you)
*Complete a resume (a resume template is available in the Family Connections “Document Library”.
*Due Date Form

18. For Letters of Rec from Your Counselor continued…
Put all of these completed forms in an envelope with the due date form on the top and make an appt. to see your counselor with this packet AT LEAST 3 SCHOOL WEEKS prior to your first due date.
NOTE: If you are applying to a school that uses the Common Application, you will need a counselor letter of recommendation.
If you are applying to any schools that don’t accept electronic submissions bring any required college forms, as well as stamped, addressed envelopes for your counselor to mail your recommendations.

19. Send your SAT And/Or ACT Test Scores
Don’t forget to go to to send your SAT and AP test scores to your colleges. Don’t use Score Choice.
Don’t forget to go to to send your ACT test scores to your colleges.
Family Connection does NOT send ANY test scores to your colleges.
UC’s: For SAT & ACT send to one campus and all campuses will automatically have access to that score report.
CSU’s: For SAT: Send scores to “3594”. ALL CSU campuses will then have access to your SAT scores. For ACT: Need to send to one CSU campus, then use the “ACT Score Manager” function in the CSU mentor (CSU application) website ( to send to other CSU schools (at no cost).
All other Colleges: You need to send to each college.

20. Applying to College. . . Student Responsibility:
Completing College Applications for each college
Adding colleges in and ordering transcripts in Family Connection.
SAT/ACT Scores must be sent through testing agency
Collegeboard.org
ACTstudent.org
Follow up with each school
Notifying recommenders if/when you add more colleges you are applying to
Mid-Year/Final Reports
School Responsibility:
School Counselors submit the following:
Recommendation letters
Secondary School Report
School Profile
Official Transcript – to be ordered by the student through Family Connection
Teachers Submit:
Teacher Report

21. Please Remember…
Colleges that use the Common Application will require a letter of recommendation from your counselor.
Please remember for a counselor letter of rec. to complete forms #1-5 in the Family Connection “Document Library” & schedule appt. with your counselor at least 3 school weeks prior to your first college deadline.
Staff will NOT write letters over the holiday breaks. Plan well ahead. If you have a deadline of Jan. 15, you will need have your forms to your teachers/counselor by Dec. 1st. Those not received by Dec. 1 will not be sent until after January 9th.
Check back on Family Connection to view status of your letter of rec requests.

22. Please Remember Also:
Send Thank You notes to those who wrote you recommendations.
UC’s/CSU’s do not ask for and will not read letters of recommendation.
Do not order transcripts for UC or CSU.
Remember to update in Family Connection your college admission decisions as you receive them.

23. What’s next… Check college websites and apply early for housing!
Financial Aid:
Complete the FAFSA after October 1st, and before the deadline of March 2nd,
The SRV Career and College Center will hold a Financial Aid Overview Night on Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. in the SRVHS Commons

24. Scholarships Scholarships are posted in Naviance.
Also check out the financial aid pages of each college. (Many are posting links to scholarships).
Check out the SRV College and Career Center web page RE: Financial Aid.

25. What’s Next October 4, 6:30 p.m. College Application Night
October 12, 10:30-11:25 a.m. Out of State Mini College Fair in the SRV library
Wed. Oct. 26 SRVUSD College Night 6:30- 8:30 p.m. at DVHS
Frequently check your for info. from the colleges to which you applied. (Including your spam file).
Stop in to the CCC with any questions you have regrading colleges or applications! Also Check Naviance and the school bulletin for workshops on writing essays, building a college list, and navigating Naviance.

26. Questions? THANK YOU! The SRVHS Counseling Team
The SRVHS Career and College Center Advisors