1. P ROCESSING Y OUR C OLLEGE A PPLICATIONS How to use Family Connection for all things relating to college apps!

2. T RANSCRIPT R EQUEST F ORMS C OMPLETE A BLUE T RANSCRIPT R EQUEST FORM AND SUBMIT TO M RS. R ICHARDS. T HE FORM MUST BE SIGNED BY A PARENT. T HIS MUST BE DONE BEFORE WE SEND ANY TRANSCRIPTS. F ORM AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE OR IN THE C OUNSELING O FFICE.

4. When you start applying to schools, stop in the Counseling Office and add the needed information to the back of the Transcript Request Form. Your counselor will then send your transcript and other related documents in a timely manner. If you do not fill out the back of the form, no transcripts will be sent!

5. Your transcript request must be submitted at least 10 school days prior to any deadline.

6. C REATE AN ACCOUNT FOR THE C OMMON A PPLICATION, AS MANY SCHOOLS ( INCLUDING UC ONN AND ECSU) USE THIS SERVICE.

7. There are NO PAPER Common Applications. If you are applying to an institution that requires the Common App, you MUST apply electronically!!!

8. Once you set up a Common Application account, you will need to remember your Common App Password & Common App ID SUGGESTION: Write these in your agenda!!!

9. I N ORDER TO PROCESS YOUR COMMON APPS, YOU MUST MATCH YOUR COMMON APP ACCOUNT TO FAMILY CONNECTION. T HE DIRECTIONS ARE IN THE BLUE BOX ON THE “ COLLEGES I’ M APPLYING TO ” SCREEN.

10. NOTE: Y OU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MATCH F AMILY C ONNECTION WITH THE C OMMON A PP UNTIL YOU HAVE TOTALLY COMPLETED AT LEAST ONE APPLICATION ON THE C OMMON A PP WEBSITE !

11. If you do not use the Common App for ANY of your schools, click on “Not Needed” in the lower right corner of the blue box.

12. ASK TEACHERS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS PERSONALLY, THEN ADD IN “C OLLEGES I’ M A PPLYING T O ”.

13. B E SURE THAT ALL THE COLLEGES YOU ARE APPLYING TO ARE ENTERED ON THE “C OLLEGES I’ M A PPLYING T O ” SCREEN.

14. F OR THE RARE PAPER APPLICATION ! IF the school you are applying to DOES NOT have an on-line application, you will need to download and complete a paper application. To submit a paper application, you still need to list the school in Family Connection, and complete the Transcript Request Form. To process your paper application, bring the application, any supporting materials (essay, recommendations, etc.), a large envelope addressed to the college with 4 stamps to the Counseling Office.

15. A PPLYING TO MCC If you are planning on attending MCC, or any of the state community colleges, you do not need to apply until the end of January. MCC does have both an electronic application (usually available at their website late January) and a paper application. You will still need to follow the process we have described when you apply.

16. C OLLEGE R EP V ISITS The list of colleges visiting THS is also in Family Connection under the “Colleges” tab.

17. Click on the sign-up prompt, and you will receive a pass on the day of the visit.

18. COLLEGE FAIR!!! There will be a COLLEGE FAIR at Rockville High School on Thursday, October 1 st from 6:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

19. You may want to create a new email address to use for the college application process if your current email address is very long, subject to error, or questionable. Your Digital Profile….

20. Some colleges and universities are now checking social networking pages like Facebook and Twitter !! Profiling based on your social networking site

21. …Although social networking sites could have a positive impact on admission, it has had a higher percentage of negative effects…… So, what might they be looking for??? -Objectionable content such as racist or other offensive comments -Posting information that shows a lack of common sense or poor judgment -Violent content + A showcase of your individualism + Your activities, favorite books and movies + Your writing- more emphasis may be placed on what you write than the pictures that you display + Albums that demonstrate your scholastic and extracurricular activities

22. DO DO set all privacy settings to the highest possible-give full access to your profile only to friends! Don’t Don’t display questionable photos! Don’t Don’t join or start inappropriate groups! DO DO make your pictures private so only your friends can see them. DOnot DO ask friends not to tag you in any pictures that display inappropriate acitivity. Do’s and Don’ts

23. Don’t Don’t use any facebook applications (flair, bumper stickers, etc) that are in poor taste. Don’t Don’t have discussions with your friends via wall posting about which schools are better than others, etc… DO DO be cautious about posting negative content on your profile, especially about the admissions process. Do’s and Don’ts cont.

24. P LEASE SEE YOUR COUNSELOR WITH ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS PROCESS !