Student/Parent Junior Night Welcome to: Student/Parent Junior Night

Student/Parent Junior Night What will we be talking about? Naviance Application Process Letters of Recommendation Essay Standardized Testing NCAA What to do now:

What is Naviance? A comprehensive website for parents and students to use in making decisions about colleges and careers.

Naviance It allows students to: Research colleges/careers/majors Sign up for college visits at JLHS Research/apply for scholarships Complete inventories/surveys Share information via email with students and parents Request letters of recommendation Upload information to Common App

Naviance Tabs: College--Career --About Me--My Planner How to do a college search… Search by major Super College Match Specific college search ( Location, Majors, Application Requirements Inc. GPA, SAT, etc.) Tip- Sit down and make a list of must haves for the college they want to attend. Don’t forget to include cost!

Naviance What is a reach, target, and safety school? Search for scholarships through Naviance and other search engines such as College Board’s Big Future.

Application Process

Application Process What is Common App and how does it work? What are the advantages and benefits? Over 500 schools participate in Common App! Students can create an account as early as August. Keep in Mind!- While Common App may be cumbersome, you are completing one application and submitting it to many schools. Each school has a supplement which is most often brief. More competitive schools will require more information in the supplement, such as additional essays.

FERPA Application Process (Family Education Rights Protection Act) Students will be required to sign their FERPA either waiving or not waiving their rights. The benefit of “waiving your rights” is that colleges view the recommendation as a more candid recommendation of the student since the student has NOT seen the letter of recommendation.

Application Process Common App and Naviance have a direct partnership allowing us to send all documents electronically through Naviance to Common App. All non Common App schools’ applications can be completed through the individual college’s website. We will then email and/or mail supporting documents to non Common App Schools.

Application Process Guidance needs to be notified 15 CALENDAR DAYS prior to an application or scholarship deadline in order to have the time to gather all the necessary materials to meet the deadline.

Letters of Recommendation Who, when, and how to ask for a letter of recommendation

Letters of Recommendation No letter shopping. Ask in person first. Give the teacher the “Teacher Recommendation Form.” Submit request electronically via Naviance. Teachers submit their letters via Naviance after students have officially requested a letter through Naviance. Teachers should be given substantial notice(at least 3 weeks) when asked to write a letter of recommendation. Students should follow-up with teachers in the Fall and send thank you letters to the recommenders. Detailed instructions for sending letters, follow-up, and sending thank you letters can be found on your Naviance page.

The College Essay Purpose of essay and available resources

The College Essay Purpose- Your opportunity to show a polished piece of work that tells the admissions officer something about you that they wouldn’t otherwise know from your application packet. It is crucial to put time and effort into the essay and not wait until the last minute!! Common App questions Available resources and support at Jonathan Law.

Standardized Testing SAT and ACT

Standardized Testing ACT measures achievement related to high school curriculum; science subtest; writing optional. SAT measures achievement related to high school curriculum; writing optional. Students must send SAT and ACT scores independently to colleges. Guidance does not send any scores to schools.

Standardized Testing Other things to remember: Colleges require official scores to be sent via College Board or ACT. There are four free score reports that may be sent either at registration or within nine (9) days after testing date. SAT Subject Test are required for some colleges, generally those that are most competitive. The student must research your individual schools to see if subject tests are necessary and register accordingly. SAT/ACT optional schools look more closely at your transcript and letters of recommendation and do not consider the SAT/ACT in the decision making process. **Certain majors require SAT scores regardless if the school is SAT optional.**

NCAA The National Collegiate Athletic Association

NCAA Purpose of Clearinghouse For all students interested in playing Division 1 or Division 2 athletics to determine if they are academically eligible to play. Students should register through the Clearinghouse by the end of their junior year. Grades and taking NCAA approved courses are essential to being academically eligible to play. GPA needs to be 2.0 to be eligible.

What to do now?! Create a list of schools/research Visit schools Keep your grades up Think of who you want letters of recommendation from Register for standardized tests Community service Join a sport/club Get a job Attend Financial Aid Night in May. Complete the Gold form

QUESTIONS?