The Application Process MLK Counseling Dept

Goals for the meeting How to apply to colleges How to request transcripts Expectations of seniors/parents/counselor FAFSA How to get money for school Tips for parents

Parent Tips to start Have discussions about expectations, yours and theirs. Consider your student’s readiness factor when considering schools. Try to keep conversations open. Remember, they may seem like they are ready to leave home but they are as unsure as you are. Remember, this is their application to fill out. Not yours.

Parent Timeline: Fall: Make a list of the deadlines Watch for scholarships deadlines and possible separate applications October is FAFSA time Fill out CSS Profile if your school requires it Spring: Submit housing deposits Review and discuss the financial aid award letters as a family. Make the college choice deposit by May 1

Student Timeline: Meet with the counselor once school starts Fill out the applications and submit them Retake ACT/SAT Request transcripts and teacher recommendations through Naviance Submit Scholarship applications for your colleges File FAFSA File CSS Profile if needed Start searching for scholarships Make your college choice by May 1

APPLY EARLY! Your college list should have the following categories: Safety Target Reach You should have 4-8 schools on your list WATCH for deadlines….they are closer than you think! Don’t Procrastinate. The goal should be to have applications completed by Nov 1

Application Tips Read the directions Have another person go over your application to look for unfinished sentences, grammar errors, misspelled words. DON’T FORGET TO SUBMIT. Allow plenty of time for all the pieces to arrive prior to the deadline. Keep a copy of everything.

Self Reported Academic Record (SRAR) Some colleges have students input the coursework and grades. They will request the transcript at a later date. Come to the counseling office and ask for your transcript so no mistakes are made. Accuracy is important.

To waive or not to waive? FERPA Agreement Students are given the option to waive rights to access their recommendations. We highly suggest to waive: 1.It shows colleges the student is not “afraid” of what is written. 2.Some colleges may disregard letters if not waived

The MLK Process: If you are using the common app, open an account at commonapp.com Fill out your application. Sign into Naviance Go to “Colleges I am applying to” If you are using the Common App, link it with Naviance List the colleges you are applying to. Request recommendations.

Naviance

Expectations: Students- Communication with parents and counselor. Fill out the applications. Don’t forget to focus on your senior year and complete both semesters with enthusiasm. Parents- Communication with student and lot of patience. Coaching but not doing the applications for your student. Continue monitoring school work. Counselors- Overseeing the process. Meeting with students. Answering questions. Sending transcripts. Writing recommendations. Posting on Naviance any Scholarship opportunities that come through our office.

The 5 ways to get those $$ Federal Money……File the FAFSA State Money……File the FAFSA Scholarships from the college…..Some colleges have a separate application for scholarships, ASK. Independent Scholarships….Naviance, Scholarship search engines, employers, church, etc Work…

Scholarship searches: www.scholarship360.org www.unigo.com www.myscholly.com www.schoolsoup.com www.petersons.com www.scholarsnapp.org www.raise.me www.collegegreenlight.com www.fastweb.com https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search www.scholarships.com www.cappex.com

It could be a phony scholarship if: The scholarship site does not have an ‘About Us’ page. They should give the name of the business or nonprofit offering the award. Do a quick web search to make sure the business or nonprofit exists and has made recent updates to the website. There is no clear criteria for how entries will be judged. Look for information on how the scholarship evaluators will consider your information. It requests financial information. Most legitimate scholarship organizations have access to information from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as FAFSA. That means you shouldn't have to provide Social Security numbers, salaries and other personal information for yourself or your parents. If there are no clear Privacy policies.  Before applying for a scholarship, read the organization’s privacy policy on the website. Make sure it states definitively that it won’t sell information you provide.

Recognizing potential scams: How are you contacted that you won?  If someone claiming to represent a scholarship organization calls to tell you that you’ve won an award that you don’t remember applying for, this could be an attempt to fool you, especially depending on how the scholarship is paid. How is the award paid? Most legit scholarships will pay the award directly to the university or college, not to the recipient. If the organization wants to write a direct check to you, it’s probably OK. However, a red flag is if the scholarship organization asks for your bank account number, since this could be an attempt to access your money. Never pay to apply for a scholarship. If they ask for payment, go to the next scholarship. Never pay money to get money! Give our private information thoughtfully.

Pointers for parents: Do not take control of the process Reassure your student that you will be proud, regardless if they are accepted into that “perfect” school. Don’t believe everything you hear. There is a school for everyone. All selective schools are a reach. BREATHE! This is a time of uncertainty. But soon your student will be gone. Enjoy your student and the process.

MLK Counselors A-G: Ursula Reed ursula.reed@mnps.org H-M: Jenny Nichols jenny.nichols@mnps.org N-Z: Tandra Freeman tandra.freeman@mnps.org http://royalcounseling.weebly.com/