1. Class of 2020 College Planning Meeting
February 2019
Tenafly High School Guidance Department

2. Spring Timeline
Set up a college conference with your school counselor. Parents are encouraged to attend, but it is not required.
Create an SAT/ACT/Subject Test Timeline
Register online at or
SAT: May 4 and June 1
ACT: April 13, June 8 and July 13
Begin to visit colleges and take advantage of our College Visit Policy!
6 total college visit days. With no more than 3 in any given semester.
Pick up blue form in attendance 1 week prior to visit

3. Spring 2019 Timeline-Continued
Think about two teachers you will ask for letters of recommendation (junior year teachers are preferred).
Ask the teachers in person before the end of the school year.
Follow-up with them in the Fall and formally request the recommendation in Naviance. (You will be shown in fall).
Complete Junior Questionnaire and Parent Questionnaire on Naviance before the start of senior year.
Your counselor’s letter of recommendation will not be written until this is completed.
Must be logged in as student to access junior questionnaire.

4. Summer 2019 Timeline
Summer You can start filling out the Common Application. Over 750 colleges use this application.
Write a rough draft of your college essay
Continue to visit college campuses.

5. How to Research Colleges
Your Counselor- Junior Conference
Naviance Family Connection
College Websites
College Visits
College Fairs- Mini-Fairs on Tuesday’s at THS in Fall
Guidebooks
Parents, relatives, teachers, friends

6. College Search Factors
Competitiveness/Academics
SAT/ACT Optional Schools
(Reach, Match, Safety)
Programs- Major
Cost (Financial Aid/Scholarships)
Special Features – Your individual desires such as: study abroad programs, internships, co-op programs, housing options, sports
Type-Private or Public
Size
Personality – What is the Culture of the school? Conservative? Alternative? Frats and sororities? Emphasis on athletics?
Location- Urban, suburban, rural, distance from home

7. Creating a Balanced List
Do your research to find out if the school is a good fit for you. Don’t get hung up on only colleges with names you know.
Create a balanced and realistic list of schools
1-2 reach schools
3-4 target schools
1-2 safety schools
Don’t apply to schools that you have no intention of attending.
Spend time on the application. The quality of the essays and short answers matter! Do not have someone else write the essays!
Visit, Visit, Visit
If you can’t, then do your research online through virtual tours, photo galleries etc.

8. What Do Colleges Look For?
Academic Profile/Rigor of High School Transcript
Academic performance -Did you challenge yourself?
Senior year is important. Mid-Year reports are sent.
Grades/GPA from 9th grade-present
College Testing – SAT’s, Subject Tests, ACT’s, TOEFL
Check each college’s website for required testing
Extracurricular Activities – In or out of school
Recommendations (2 from teachers, 1 from your school counselor)
Interview (if offered)
Application and Essay
The Authentic “YOU”

9. What Admissions Wants to see in Letters of Recommendations
As per NACAC and ACCIS
Journal of College of Admissions, Summer 2018

10. Social Media & the College Application Process
Check your privacy settings on your social media accounts. You should not have open/public accounts.
Be careful of what you post and what you share-colleges may see them. (Profile photos, cover photos etc.).
Get a new professional address if yours is inappropriate/juvenile.
You should follow/like colleges that you are interested in applying to. It is great way to get to know them better and keep up with what is happening on campus.

11. College Vocabulary Early Decision/Early Decision II (Binding)
Regular- Typically January 1st or 15th
Commonly referred to as “ED”
Rolling-Decisions are made shortly after your application is complete.
Can only do one
Priority- Preference given for scholarships and special programs.
Not offered at every school
Early Action (Non-binding)
Early notification (mid- December)Restricted Early Action/ Single-Choice Early Action
You can be deferred from early action or early decision in the fall. Your application will be then be considered in the pool of Regular decision applicants. You may be waitlisted and may only be admitted if a seat becomes available.
Definition varies from school to school. (ie: At Yale, you may not simultaneously apply for Early Action or Early Decision to any other school with a few exceptions such as public universities

12. Naviance
Naviance is going to play a crucial role in the college search and application process.
Electronic submissions of transcripts, letters of recommendation etc.
All students/parents have their own accounts. An was sent out with your registration code.
If you have questions about your account, please see/ your counselor
Important: Update your address in Naviance. Personal addresses are allowed.

13. Naviance Features Statistics from Tenafly High School only
Scattergrams/Graphs
Application History
Resume Builder
College Search Engine