1. College Application Process PLANNING FOR YOUR FUTURE
Gaithersburg High School
School Counseling Department
College and Career Center
March 2019

2. Agenda We will cover the following topics:
Application Process
Key components of the application
What makes a good, solid packet
Paperwork and Deadlines
Significance and why they are important
Naviance Tools
Strategies to get started
Researching Colleges / Making Your List

3. Pick 6-8 Schools Target Schools Reach Schools no more than 2
It’s Time to Apply:
Starting the College Application Process
Start by making a list of schools you are interested in
Pick 6-8 Schools
Target Schools
Reach Schools
no more than 2
No more than 2 reach schools are recommended. Remember there is more than one right school for each student.
Don’t forget to make certain the schools have the major you are thinking about.

4. Questions to ask yourself as you begin your search
You have choices:
Questions to ask yourself as you begin your search
Do you wish to attend school near home or move away?
In Maryland or out-of-state?
State college or private?
State = less expensive, fewer scholarships
Private = more expensive, more financial aid
College Admission Type of campus?
City, suburban, rural
Size of Campus
Small = <3000 students
Medium = between 3000 and 15,000 students
Large = >15,000 students
Other preferences / interests?
Climate, shopping, entertainment, spiritual, community, athletics
College admission requirements: min GPA, test scores, letters?

5. Research: tools and resources
Search colleges on-line: using search tools located under Naviance Student “Colleges” Tab
Will They Be Visiting the Area?
Are They Visiting GHS: check the Naviance Home Page
Talk with your Counselor, College Career Advisor, Teachers, Parents about recommendations

6. Important documents we need from you!
Senior Packet Forms are ONLINE at the College Career Web Page!!!! Copies are also available in Counseling Office!
College Application Process:
College Application Process Checklist
College Application Organizer
Requesting Teacher Letters of Recommendation
Required Documents:
Authorization Release Records
Teacher Feedback Form - students should ask three (3) teachers for feedback forms
Student Brag Sheet - enter student Naviance account, My Planner, tasks, "complete brag sheet", complete survey
Extracurricular Activities Sheet
Student Resume - not required but very helpful
Parent Brag Sheet
Transcript Request Form - one for every application (college and/or university and/or scholarship)

7. Senior Packet Material
Student Brag Sheet and Activities page –Include:
- great DETAIL: the more information you provide, the more information we have to share to colleges on your behalf!
- Include important characteristics of school
- if possible should demonstrate leadership
Parent Brag Sheet
Authorization to Release Records –bring
to Spring junior counselor conference
3 Teacher Feedback Forms (not letters of recommendation)
Very, Very Important: Required Forms – due by end of 2nd Semester - June 5th through June 14th!!!
Counselors rely heavily on this information for
Letters of Recommendation!

8. The Tests Are Not Created Equal…
Know what test to take….
The Tests Are Not Created Equal…
Accuplacer
TOEFL - If you are applying to a 4-yr college, you may have to take the TOEFL if you have been in the US for less than 5-8 yrs. depending on the school.
SAT
ACT
Accuplacer is given daily at Montgomery College as well as several times each year at GHS.
The ESL Accuplacer, for students whose first language is not English and with less than 10 years in MCPS, is given only at MC by appointment.
Students attending Montgomery College who score less than 500 on both the Critical Reading and Math sections of the SAT or less than a 21 on the English and Math sections of the ACT, MUST take the Accuplacer.
TOEFL exam is for any student applying to a four year college or university who has been in the US less than 7 years. Sometimes students are required to take the TOEFL if English was not their first language.
Important note: Gaithersburg High School does not send out your
official test scores. Contact the test companies and arrange to have
your scores sent to the colleges to which you are applying!

9. Research: Community College 2-year associate degrees available
Flexible, save money, transfer credits
Apply EARLY to Montgomery College
Montgomery Scholars
Macklin Business Program
Nursing Program
US Service Academies
SAT/ACT in Spring Junior Year (average score)
Must complete Pre-candidate Questionnaire
Application Packets from Congressional Reps & Senators
Get to know who your local representative is
Athletes: what you need to know about college sports eligibility
NCAA Clearinghouse
In the past, application fees to MC have been waived if students apply by March 1. All students should consider completing an application to MC as the admission to MC is good for summer school courses after you begin college. Any student attending MC should complete an associates’ degree in the first two years if you are contemplating transfer to a four-year college or university. Colleges and universities will usually accept your credits from MC if you have an Associate’s degree.
NCAA Clearinghouse applications should be made during the junior year. It is online and can be accessed from the GHS website.

10. Setting up the Applications
It’s Time to Apply: Completing the College Application!!!
Setting up the Applications
Identify schools who participate
Access applications for non-participating schools directly
Register online (write down login info, requirements and deadlines!!)
Set up login and password for each
Verify what documents are needed
GHS sends transcripts and recommendations online to the CommonApp and the Coalition (UMD-CP) via Naviance as well as to all colleges and universities that accept electronic documents.

11. Application Reminders
Step It’s Time to Apply: Completing the College Application!!!
Application Reminders
Accurate address that you check!
in CommonApp, Coalition and Naviance all need to be the same!
Update Your Counselor
Check for errors!!
Spel checque iz knot enuf
Proofread
Sign and date forms in blue or black ink (best handwriting!) No pencil!
Express Your Voice, Not Someone Else’s
Let your counselor know where you are applying. Talk with teachers and counselors about your choices. They may have valuable insight into the colleges and universities or technical programs you are considering.
Schools know when your essay is not your own!

12. Step 16 - Teacher Recommendations
It’s Time to Apply: Completing the College Application!!!
Essays
Personal Essays:
- Choose Topic Wisely
- English Teacher Feedback
Special note: Even though some colleges do not require you to complete an essay, we would encourage you to do so!
Reason to compete an essay: it demonstrates a greater interest and gives colleges more information about you that could be helpful in their evaluation of your application.
Step 16 - Teacher Recommendations
Topics
Take the word OPTIONAL out of your vocabulary until the application process is over. If an application says the extra state is optional, they know if you do not complete it, you really do not care about attending that school.
Activities: please do not list things where you came in 9th out of 12. List items really important to you. Be able to explain an activity in 1-2 sentences.
In your essay be specific! If the name of another school can be substituted into your essay and the essay still works, it is a bad essay. Find specific programs, places, professors, projects to talk about in the Why This College essay.
Seek recommendation from academic teachers
ASK IN PERSON
Provide teachers with written information about your experience in the classroom or other information requested by them. Your resume could also be helpful.
Ask teachers if they would like the information before the summer break.

13. It’s Time to Apply: Almost Done!!!
Transcript Requests
Turn in At Least 3 weeks in Advance of
Application Deadline.
Separate request for each school you
are applying to including Montgomery
College.
Complete all questions
Forms are online
College Institute Transcript Request
Go to your MyMC account
Select Transcripts
Print out an unofficial CREDIT Transcript
Give 1 copy to Counseling Office

14. Naviance Task to complete BRAG SHEET

15. Time to Get Busy! Conclusion Start Now Meet your counselor Summer Fun
Schedule Tests SAT/ACT
Look at Schools
Finish Brag Sheets
Summer Fun
Visit Schools
Make Your List
Start Applications
Chart Deadlines and Requirements
Please turn in your authorization to release records, brag sheets, and parent brag sheets to Counseling!
Provide feedback forms to teachers before the last week of school.