College Information Night for Parents of Seniors Class of 2018 @BWHSCounseling

This is the “nuts & bolts presentation” Agenda This is the “nuts & bolts presentation” How to Apply to College or The College Application Folder Advice & Information Back-to-school night at 7:00pm

Materials This presentation is online Several resources can be found on our ”College & Career Counseling” webpage: Application process instructions Transcript release form Senior Information Packet Parent “Brag” Sheet NACAC Guide (best practices in college admissions) Additional forms & resources Let your counselor know if you need hard-copies

Academy of Science While the process is similar, AOS seniors will work directly with the AOS Counseling Department

The Application “Folder” Essay Student Resume Test Scores Transcript Letter/s of Recommendation Secondary School Report/Common App Counselor Form

The Application Seniors are responsible for being aware of application deadlines (see NACAC Guide) Regular Admission – traditional deadline Early Decision – binding Early Action – non-binding Rolling Admission – applications accepted based on space availability until the institution is “full”

The Application Most applications are submitted electronically over the internet – make sure you know how the college wants to receive the application Print and review before submitting it! Seniors are responsible for completing and submitting their own applications (not mom & dad!) Seniors should make copies of all applications they submit Many colleges use the “Common Application”

The Common App. The Common Application is a common, standardized first-year application form for use at any member institution. Over 700 public and private universities use the common application. Essays are standardized and topics are available online. Some colleges require supplemental information (essays, recommendations, etc.). Your Common App must be matched in Family Connection eDocs

The Application “Folder” Essay Student Resume Test Scores Transcript Letter/s of Recommendation Secondary School Report/Common App Counselor Form

The Essay Not all colleges require an essay Essays are submitted electronically along with the application Seniors should make sure they are understand the essay topic Follow the directions/guidelines Seniors are advised to print out and review (with help!) their essays before sending them

The Essay English teachers are more than happy to help students with essays; some teachers incorporate this into their curriculum Seniors should save all essays because they may be modified and reused – but be careful Essay resources – BWHS library, BWHS Career Center, public library, internet

The Application “Folder” Essay Student Resume Test Scores Transcript Letter/s of Recommendation Secondary School Report/Common App Counselor Form

Student Resume Many colleges accept student resumes Resumes are usually sent to the college electronically along with the application and essay Resumes can highlight your accomplishment both in and outside of school Be honest and truthful- Information on resumes must be 100% accurate An effective resume is EASY TO READ! Use resume templates and samples to format your own

The Application “Folder” Essay Student Resume Test Scores Transcript Letters of Recommendation Secondary School Report/Common App Counselor Form

Test Scores Seniors are responsible for determining the tests needed for the colleges they are applying to SAT Reasoning Test (typically for determining admissions) ACT (typically for determining admissions) SAT Subject Tests (typically used for placement)

Test Scores Seniors are responsible for having their test scores sent to the colleges they are applying to Requests are made directly through the College Board or ACT; High schools are not permitted to send test scores Seniors can request their scores be sent when they take the tests; or they can have their scores sent after the test date by contacting the College Board or ACT (for a fee) Some colleges have become “test optional”

The Application “Folder” Essay Student Resume Test Scores Transcript Letter(s) of Recommendation Secondary School Report/Common App Counselor Form

The Transcript BWHS sends student transcripts electronically using Family Connections eDocs Students must complete the application before requesting official transcripts (or at least be working on it) Add the school to “Colleges I’m Applying To” in Family Connection eDocs and turn in a Transcript Release Form We include a school profile with every transcript Transcript requests must be made before December 1st in order to be sent before winter break We will send mid-year transcripts to all the colleges to which a student has applied

When you have added your schools, click the Add Colleges button Use the lookup button to find schools Check if you have submitted your application When you have added your schools, click the Add Colleges button

How does your college receive official documents? This symbol indicates the school accepts electronic documents This symbol indicates they are a Common Application school and you need to match your Common Application account

The Common App Account Matching instructions can be found on the Colleges I’m applying to page: Please watch this video to understand matching your Common App with Family Connection

The instructions can be found on the BWHS School Counseling Page School Counseling > College & Career Counseling > College Application Checklist

Sending your transcript “the quick summary” All students should match their Common App and eDocs accounts. This is takes less than 60 seconds and only needs to be completed one time. To send a transcript to a college: Add the school to “Colleges I’m Applying To” in Family Connection eDocs Turn in a Transcript Release Form to the counseling secretary – this form also communicates if the student needs a counselor’s letter of recommendation for a specific college

The Application “Folder” Essay Student Resume Test Scores Transcript Letters of Recommendation Secondary School Report/Common App Counselor Form

Letters of Recommendation Counselor Letter If a senior needs a letter of recommendation from the counselor, he/she can request it when he/she requests the transcript Every senior needs to complete a Senior Information Packet, to be turned into the counselor by Oct. 3rd The Senior Information Packet is posted online and contains a parent “brag” section The counselor letter will be sent electronically through eDocs with the transcript

Letters of Recommendation Teacher Letter: If a letter of recommendation is needed from a teacher, the senior should make the request directly to the teacher, then send a request through Family Connections. In the Notes box include the following: Application deadline Which college you need the letter for (or do you need it for all) Is this a Common App school? Remind the teacher to complete the Common App Teacher Evaluation Form in addition to the letter? Teachers will submit letters of recommendation through Family Connections. If a paper copy of the letter is needed, provide the teacher with a postage-paid envelope addressed to the college. Counselors DO NOT collect or send letters of recommendations from teachers. The date of submission can be tracked through Family Connection Think about who you are asking… they may need more time!

From the Colleges Tab, select letters or recommendation to make your request

From this screen you can choose the teacher you would like to write a letter of recommendation from the drop down menu. Your teacher will receive an email giving them directions on how to upload and send their letter electronically through eDocs

Letter of Recommendation Other Recommender Non-BWHS recommenders do not use eDocs. They can always mail their letters, or send them to a specific college using that college’s unique procedures If you are having someone outside of BWHS write a letter for you and you want them to use Common App, please follow this process: Sign in to you Common Application account Click on My Colleges On the left hand side go to Recommendations and FERPA Scroll down to Other Recommender Click Add another and input name, title, and email address An email will be sent from Common App to your recommender with a link to submit their letter and evaluation

Letters of Recommendation Seniors should allow counselors and teachers a minimum of two weeks to write a letter. Please only request letters to be sent to schools you are actually applying to. Some schools don’t require any letters of recommendation. If you send more letters than the college requests, you can’t control which ones they choose to read. If you strongly believe that submitting “extra” letters will help you, call the college and ask them first!

The Application “Folder” Essay Student Resume Test Scores The Transcript Letter/s of Recommendation Secondary School Report Form

Secondary School Report/Common App Counselor Form Some colleges ask for a Secondary School Report. Schools using the Common App will ask for a Common App Counselor Form The Secondary School Report Form is sent with the transcript We do not use ‘school specific’ secondary school reports. We will send a comprehensive “universal” Secondary School Report for all students We complete a Common App Counselors Form for Common App schools

The Application “Folder” Essay Student Resume Test Scores Transcript Letters of Recommendation Secondary School Report/Common App Counselor Form

The Application “Folder” – The refrigerator slide Senior submits application electronically to the college Senior submits the essay electronically to the college (if there is one) Senior may submit the resume electronically to the college Senior has test scores sent directly to the college by the SAT (College Board) or the ACT Senior lists schools in ‘Colleges I’m Applying To’ in Family Connection and submits a Transcript Release Form to the Counseling Secretary Senior may request letter of recommendation (if needed) from their counselor and/or teachers Senior will meet with their counselor to review Transcript Release Form and answer any questions. Secondary School Report/Common App Counselor Form will be sent with the Transcript.

Keeping Sane!!! Complete one college application at a time Trying to work on several applications at once = confusion for all! Stay organized-use a checklist for each application. Pay attention to deadlines!

Interviews Some colleges interview applicants. Process, procedures, and guidelines vary. Dress appropriately!

Communication/Follow-Up Students and parents can log onto Family Connection to view transcript send dates We automatically send mid-year transcripts to the colleges our students apply to Final transcripts are sent to the colleges our students plan to attend The infamous “we didn’t get your transcript” email

Upcoming Activities Senior presentations – The week of September 18th. Counselors will begin calling seniors down next week. My College Funding Coach – November 1 at 7:00pm Financial Aid Night – November 15th at 7:00pm FAFSA Night – December 6 at 6:30pm

Applications Are Available in the Career Center Community College Pathways Program Applications Are Available in the Career Center Start at NOVA Transition to a 4-year university Individual meetings with NOVA Pathways counselors Assistance applying for financial aid Early placement testing and priority course registration No minimum GPA required to apply

Community College NOVA’s Guaranteed Admissions (incomplete list) Christopher Newport University George Mason University George Washington University Georgetown University James Madison University Liberty University Longwood University Marymount University Norfolk State University Old Dominion University Radford University University of Mary Washington University of Virginia Virginia Tech

College Visits at BWHS College representative visits to BWHS Visits are listed in Family Connections & the BWHS Webpage Sign-up through Family Connections or in the Career Center Sign up at least 2 days in advance of the visit Limit visits to 5 Avoid missing the same class twice Your teacher is not obligated to release you from class There is no substitute for a campus visit as a way to assess a school

How Many Colleges Should A Student Apply to? There is no magic number One or two “Reach Schools”- Your dream school One or two “Safety Schools”- You meet all the criteria Three or four Schools where you meet most of the criteria but the decision could go either way

SAT & the Khan Academy Students who retake the SAT: No practice = 60 point increase 6-8 hours of practice = 90 point increase 20-22 hours of practice = 115 point increase

Social Media Use Social Media - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. appropriately. Use a “professional” email address. Take down any inappropriate pictures and information. If you wouldn’t want your grandmother to see it then it’s probably not appropriate for a college admission officer to see. Colleges do check!

Quiz Time!

Have Fun!

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