1. Senior College Planning Night September 6, 2018

2. Getting Ready for College
Continue to work hard and stay motivated
Organize yourself with a planner or calendar to keep track of dates and deadlines
Time Management
Be self-sufficient
Cook basic meals, do laundry, schedule your own appointments, wake yourself up in the morning
Attend “accepted student day” events on campus and learn where important offices are and resources that are available to students.

4. Information for Applications
Mr. Dave Manners, Guidance Counselor –
Ms. Valerie D’Alonzo, Guidance Counselor –
Fax Number:
School Code:
Grading Scale: 4.0 (weighted)
#Seniors: 516
Rank: “NA” - We do not rank

5. Application Deadlines
Early Action (EA): You apply early and find out your decision early. You can apply to many schools “EA”
Early Decision (ED): This is binding. Only apply to 1 school Early Decision-- your 1st choice. If admitted ED, you MUST attend!
You can still send in other regular decision and early action applications
If you are applying ED through Common App, the student, parent, and counselor have to sign the online ED agreement.
Rolling: Admission decisions are made approximately 4 weeks after your application is complete. State schools are rolling admissions.
Look for a “Priority Date” (i.e. PSU Priority Date: Nov. 30)
Nov. 1 or 15th

6. Steps for Applying Fill out your college applications
Using either:
The college’s own application
The Common Application OR
The Coalition Application
Request your transcripts from Guidance on Naviance
Request letters of recommendation from 1-2 teachers
Send your “Official” SATs/ACTs
Each piece will arrive at your schools separately

7. Guidance will Send:
1. Your transcript (which includes unofficial SAT/ACT scores) 2. A recommendation if requested 3. Secondary School Report 4. A copy of your senior schedule

8. Transcript Request Process
Step 1:  Sign, and return the Release of Records Authorization form to Ms. Matthews in the Guidance Office.
One per student  
This must be turned in before you can add colleges to “Colleges I’m Applying to” and request transcripts and recs on Naviance
REMINDER: Complete your Counselor Rec Survey in Naviance & Waive your FERPA in Common App
Step 2:  Follow all instructions on the Step-by-Step Instructions for Sending Transcripts – 2nd page of your handout. You will add colleges to your list in Naviance, and electronically request that we send your Transcript to each school listed.
Step 3:  Request Teacher Letters of Recommendation in Naviance

9. FERPA Waiver – Check the first box

10. Transcript Status
You can see when we send out your transcripts on Naviance.
Initial Materials Submitted (this means they were sent) or Pending (in progress).

11. Sending MP1 Grades & Mid-Year Grades
We will automatically send your mid-year grades to all of the schools you have applied to after the first semester grades post at the very end of January.
MP1 grades are occasionally requested. Please stop by guidance to fill out a request form if you need us to send them.
Cumulative GPAs update after you finish a course.

12. College Visits at CB West
College Reps will begin visiting West mid-September
Sign up on Naviance
This is the last chance for you to meet the person who will read your application!!

13. Resumes and Interviews
You will each have to complete a resume as part of your Career Plan this year
You can use a template in Word
Optional: Upload your resume to the Common Application
Some schools request interviews for admission
We will hold a college interview workshop in the guidance conference room for students who are required to interview for admission.
Sign up on Naviance (in the college visit section)

14. SAT & ACT Sending Scores 2018 Testing Dates
ACT: September 8, October 27, December 8
SAT: October 6, November 3, December 1
Register on Collegeboard for the SAT and ACT.org for the ACT
Some colleges request you to send “Official Scores” from Collegeboard or ACTstudent.org
Use your FREEBIES! Send scores to 4 colleges for free when you register for SAT/ACT
SAT/ACT score comparison chart:
SAT/ACT Concordance Table
Test Optional Schools: Fairtest.org/university/optional

15. Wednesday, October 3 – District Financial Aid Night at CB South
FAFSA
Federal Application for Federal Student Aid
The FAFSA opens on October 1
FAFSA.ed.gov
CSS Profile
For elite private schools
Starts October 1
Costs: $25 for first schools, $16 for each additional school
css.collegeboard.org
Wednesday, October 3 – District Financial Aid Night at CB South

16. Scholarships
Most scholarship money comes directly from your college
Common Application: Scholar Snapp connects you with scholarship opportunities if you select “Yes”.
Naviance Scholarship list*
Continuously updated with any material that comes into the guidance office
College Board Scholarship Search: “Big Future”
Fastweb.com
***Most scholarship applications on Naviance become active in the spring***

17. Upcoming Dates Financial Aid Night - October 3 @ 7pm at CB South
Back To School Night – September 7PM at CBW

18. Q&A Can any teacher send a recommendation through Naviance?
Only current CB West teachers; Former teachers, coaches, and MBIT teachers will have to mail, or fax their recommendations—please provide them with stamped, addressed envelopes if needed.
If colleges can see my senior schedule and I have early release or late arrival, will my schedule look too easy?
If you have taken appropriately challenging classes for your main subject areas and have room for a few LA’s or ER’s, it’s ok to take them.
Colleges focus more on your major subject areas then on electives or study halls.
See the next slide to see how counselors rate the level of rigor in your schedule
Do I have to send the Common App to all of my schools at the same time?
No, but your common app content and main essay will need to be complete before you send it anywhere
I’d like to attend college rep visits, but can’t miss class time, what should I do?
If it’s a large visit like PSU, Pitt or Temple, and you don’t need the info update, you don’t need to attend. If it’s going to be a small group meeting with the rep, you should try to stop down to say hello and pick up paperwork, then let the rep know that you have to go to class. The visits take approximately 30 mins.
When is the District College Fair?
April 3 at CB South. If you are looking for one in the fall, here is a link to college fairs in our region:
If my first 2 SAT scores are similar, is it worth taking a 3rd SAT?
It may be worth it if you have done something to improve your scores, like an additional Math class or a Test Prep class.

19. Appendix A: Common App Counselor Ratings

20. Appendix B: Common App Teacher Ratings