The college application process

SHS GUIDANCE STAFF Mr. Jim Collins: A-E Mrs. Tammy Zimmer: F-I Mr. Ryan Wilhite: J-P Mrs. Dana Mitchell: Q-Z Ms. Kaitlyn Orsborn: Freshman Mrs. Jen Bohinc CCP Mrs. Rochelle Fenlon: Secretary Phone: 937-748-6062

SENIOR YEAR FOCUS Grades Rigor of Senior Schedule ACT / SAT Extracurricular Activities Update Resume NCAA Clearinghouse and Athletic Eligibility Apply!

HOW DO COLLEGES EVALUATE STUDENTS? Academic record: Strength of curriculum Test scores GPA Non-academic factors: Extracurricular activities Leadership and service Essays Recommendations Awards and honors

Grade Point Average School’s Conversion Chart: GPA/Class Rank available to students in Naviance (profile) Calculated at the end of each semester Calculation Percent grades for classes are converted to a 4.0 scale using our school's conversion chart. The grade on a 4.0 scale is multiplied by the credit awarded (normally 1 for year-long courses and .5 for semester courses- the only exception is PE which is .25 credit) to receive the Quality Point Value. The Quality Points are added together and divided by the number of credits attempted to equal the student's GPA. School’s Conversion Chart: 103-110= 5.0 (weighted classes) 101-102= 4.7 (weighted classes) 93-100= 4.0 90-92= 3.7 87-89= 3.3 83-86= 3.0 80-82= 2.7 77-79= 2.3 73-76= 2.0 70-72= 1.7 67-69= 1.3 63-69= 1.0 60-62= 0.7 Below 60= 0.0

the application process The SHS Guidance office has a specific protocol to follow so we can best serve the needs of each student as college applications are processed. Please refer to this process so the guidance office can assist each student in a timely manner.

STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITY Be aware of deadlines –admission, scholarships, financial aid, etc. These are different for every university. Submit student portion of the application at least two weeks in advance of deadlines. Request to have official ACT and/or SAT scores sent. Must come from testing company. (SHS does not send these scores.) Complete all supplemental essays. Log into Naviance to make transcript requests and teacher recommendation requests. Guidance requires two weeks to process these requests.

Counselor’s responsibility Transcripts Students must request transcripts through Naviance for each school to which they are applying. Counselor will submit a copy of student’s transcript with the counselor portion of the application (if applicable). Counselor is available to answer questions the student may have regarding the application process. Student should sign up to see his/her counselor in the guidance office. REMEMBER: AT LEAST TWO WEEKS TO PROCESS ALL REQUESTS.

Types of Admission Early Action: non-binding, may apply to other colleges, and commit in spring Early Decision: BINDING, early commitment, can apply to other colleges, but with regular decision option (if accepted, must withdraw all other applications) Regular Decision: follow posted plan Honors Program: selection process often varies from traditional applications, deadlines vary from school to school

COMPLETE COLLEGE APPLICATION FIRST There are TWO application options: Which option do I use? The Common App Campus online application

Campus online application Use college web pages to access applications. Start with “Admissions” links, “Apply Now” or “First Year Students”

What is the Common App? One application that is accepted by many universities Fill out the application one time and submit to many universities Some universities have supplemental applications/essays that are required Student MUST sign the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) Waiver and match Common App account in Naviance in order for transcripts to be sent

The Common App- commonapp.org

This is required for “matching” later. The common APP Use a specific email account that is not linked to any other social media. This is required for “matching” later.

Ferpa waiver

Complete and sign electronically. FERPA Waiver Complete and sign electronically. FERPA Waiver only needs to be completed ONCE. It will apply to all colleges in the Common App.

Requesting transcripts Once you have submitted the college application, you are now ready to request to have your high school transcript sent! Transcript requests are completed electronically through Naviance. You must give the guidance office two weeks to process transcript requests. The transcript includes: Official grades up through the last semester completed Official GPA and class rank through the last semester completed Senior year schedule SHS school profile

Transcript Request Deadline DEADLINES College Deadline Transcript Request Deadline November 1 October 18 December 1 November 10 January 1 December 11 February 1 January 18 February 15 Please note: Transcript requests are not processed over holiday breaks.

naviance

Naviance- family connection

Username- LASTNAME.FIRSTNAME Password- naviance Username- LASTNAME.FIRSTNAME Password- Student ID #

naviance Colleges tab: Colleges I’m applying to College search options Scholarship search options

Click “colleges I’m applying to” naviance Click “colleges I’m applying to”

naviance If using the Common App, student must match Common App account using email address that was used when creating the Common App. FERPA Waiver is at end of the Common App! Must be completed before accounts can be matched.

Transcript request To make a Transcript Request… Click “request transcripts”

Transcript request Look up college name

Transcript request Select School Search by school name

Can also change decision deadline type Transcript request School name appears Click on request box Can also change decision deadline type

Do NOT select “don’t know yet” Transcript request Must indicate which application you are using. Do NOT select “don’t know yet”

Teacher recommendations Request teacher recommendations Ask teacher in person Add request through Naviance Naviance will send email notification to teacher Allow at least two weeks for completion and provide specific deadline information Follow up with thank you note

Teacher Recommendations Click “Add Request”

Teacher recommendations Select A Teacher Be sure to select the college(s) to which you want the teacher to send your recommendation Save

Shs College visits/scholarship search Upcoming SHS College Visits Scholarship Info National Search Scholarship List

COLLEGE VISITS THREE COLLEGE REP VISITS AT SHS List of representative visits available on the guidance website, Naviance and in the guidance office Sign up in the guidance office or on Naviance at least one day prior to the meeting THREE COLLEGE CAMPUS VISITS Contact university to schedule visit Submit College Visitation Form to the guidance office at least one week before your visit (form is available on the guidance website and in the guidance office) Submit visit verification form to the attendance office upon your return to school All college campus visits should be taken by May 1

Financial Aid Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) fafsa.ed.gov FAFSA is available on October 1! Complete FAFSA early! Do not wait! Create a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID now! studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa/filling-out/fsaid You will need this ID to complete the FAFSA. It can take a couple of weeks to be issued a FSA ID, so create one now! Colleges recommend that ALL students complete the FAFSA Don’t assume you will not qualify for financial aid Completion of the FAFSA is a requirement for many university scholarships Please stay for our Financial Aid Night presentation tonight at 7:30pm!

Finally… After submitting college application…wait at least six weeks for processing Colleges will notify you if part of your application is missing (don’t panic if you receive notification that a portion is missing and you’ve already submitted it) Everyone is applying right now…be patient. Results are not immediate. Colleges can wait until March to notify you. Begin Financial Aid process…FAFSA is available on October 1st, but you can create a FSA ID now! Ask questions!

Please let us know how we can help! Questions? Please let us know how we can help!