Putting it All Together: How to apply to college, meet every deadline and still enjoy senior year! Mr. Bob Foltin Mrs. Sue Biemeret SHS College Counselors

What You’ll Learn Application deadlines College application process Transcript request process Timeline for senior year Better understand how to make it through senior year!

College Apps, Round 1 Major Deadline #1: All public university apps must be filed by October 15th!! Includes application, transcript, test scores, any other required information [essay, letters of recommendation, etc.] Extremely crucial at Illinois, Indiana and Michigan…

College Apps Major Deadline #2: If you are applying Early Decision or Early Action to any college, plan to file complete application by October 15 th Remember that many of ED/EA apps require teacher/counselor letters, so be sure to ask by mid-September….

College Apps Major Deadline #3: ALL four- year university applications should be filed by DECEMBER 1 st Aim to finish the entire college application process Only exception: 2-year apps, which should be filed by March 1st

Your Transcript: Registering with Parchment REGISTER WITH PARCHMENT.COM All transcripts sent electronically through Parchment Complete registration process by going to Student or parent can establish account If student is minor, parent should establish account If student is 18, student should establish account Please note: We are not processing any transcripts until after Labor Day to guarantee accuracy of every transcript we send….

PARCHMENT.COM How to Register Click on “Sign In” in upper right corner of Parchment home page Follow prompts to complete registration process Make a note of your password! Required Information: , Password, Name [as it appears on SHS transcript], Date of Birth Once completed, activation link will be sent to account

“My Opt-In Preferences” Prompts for signing up to join “College Discovery” and “Parchment Newsletter” We encourage you to just say No! Naviance data about college admission much more accurate than Parchment info No need to complete academic and personal profile sections

Parchment Registering “Date started” high school is 2009 “Last Year Attendance” is 2013 Student ID and Social Security Info is optional; Parchment stores data by name and birth date Must sign FERPA release form; we encourage you to waive right to view recommendation info When asked, be sure to list the Adlai Stevenson High School in Illinois! Each time you sign in, scroll down to “My Transcripts” to view or send your transcript to colleges

Managing Your Parchment Transcript You can view, or send your transcript to colleges View your transcript to use as reference tool as you complete applications An unofficial copy of your SHS transcript will be sent to your Parchment account. [This is not official; colleges receive updated official transcripts.] To send a transcript to college, click Send button Click on “Academic Destination” to send transcript to college [Be sure to choose the right college!] [Can also send to NCAA and other destinations….]

Requesting Your Parchment Transcript Most transcripts sent to midwestern colleges will be delivered FREE $2.55 fee for other transcripts sent Due to contract between Parchment and the State of Illinois

Two Last Words about Transcripts Do not send transcript to Common Application schools through Parchment!! Counselor will deliver all Common App transcripts at no charge More to follow on Common App…. The earliest college deadline is October 15 th, so no need to panic about deadlines!!

Transcript Requests – One last thing… It takes time for Parchment to process your transcript… It takes time for the college to process your transcript request and add it to your electronic file, so… PLEASE wait 2 weeks before inquiring if your transcript has been uploaded into a college’s info system and attached to your application! “Electronic” does not mean “instant”

Big News from Some Big Schools– Illinois, Iowa, Kansas NO TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED IN APPLICATION PROCESS!! You will self-report all your courses, semester grades and senior year courses online If you are admitted and plan to attend one of these schools, a final transcript will be required.

Tips for University of Illinois Process Use your Parchment transcript as a reference tool as you complete your UIUC app Attention to detail is very important Attend our Workshop on new application: 9/19,8 th hour in rm 2104 Application goes live on 9/1

The Common Application Attend our Workshop on Common App: 9/6, 8 th hour Only used by 490 colleges Create account at: Make a note of your Common App ID Work your way down the left rail to complete every piece of the CA 99% of schools have supplements [usually more essays…] Last item on rail: SCHOOL FORMS

COMMON APP SCHOOL FORMS #1 “Invite” teacher[s] to write a recommendation for Common App This initiates process for teachers, who can submit letters online or on paper Tip: Speak with your teacher[s] before you invite them

COMMON APP SCHOOL FORMS #2 Under School Forms, invite your counselor to be a recommender—KEY STEP FOR Common App! [This will your counselor to submit your school forms online.] THIS IS ALL YOU HAVE TO DO TO SEND A TRANSCRIPT TO ALL COMMON APP SCHOOLS. [Greatly simplified process!! It’s FREE!!] Tip: Make an appointment with your counselor before you invite them!

What to Do NOW Need help with Essays??? Attend a “Write Stuff” workshop in the CCC: 9:30am (late arrival) – 8/30, 9/7 7:30am (2 nd day) – 9/5, 9/11 2:35pm (8 th hour) - 9/12, 9/18 Find an “essay coach” – Teacher, Resource Center, College/Career Center You do not need to hire an outside resource!

The Lowdown on Letters of Recommendation Check to be sure you even need a letter! Check college website. [There should be a reason you’re sending letter[s]. Be sure to ask teacher/counselor at least 3 weeks before any deadline Complete a College Recommendation Form [available in CCC or on our website], copy and give to each recommender Be sure to give recommender any additional required forms. Recommender mails letter for you, so provide each recommender with pre-addressed and stamped envelopes. If using Common App, “invite” teacher to write a letter online; you can complete request process online Be sure to write/ a “thank you” to each recommender!

NOW Finalize your college app list Visit colleges Last chance to take ACT or SAT Apply online at or Search for scholarships at: College websites

College Application Process Begin to complete online apps Tip: Make copy of every app you send Arrange to send ACT/SAT scores [ or IF you need teacher/counselor recommendations, ask NOW! Arrange to send electronic transcript from Parchment, if needed

Timeline - Now Meet with college reps in CCC List posted in Naviance, in CCC and on SNN— changes daily so keep checking! 9/18, 3 rd hour, Missouri [Recital Hall] 9/11, 2 nd hour, Indiana [PAC] 9/11, 4 th hour, Illinois [West Auditorium] 9/12, 1 st hour, Iowa [Recital Hall] All other rep visits take place in CCC Get pass 2 school days prior to visit in CCC! Need teacher permission to attend.

Other Fall Events College Athletic Evening September 10, 7 pm, Stevenson HS National College Fair – 9/29 [Navy Pier], 11-3 or 9/30, Milwaukee, 12-3:30 National Performing Arts Fair – 10/14, Chicago H.S. for Arts, 1-3:30 CLC ICE College Fair – 10/18, 6-8 pm

Timeline, Continued Attend Financial Aid Seminar 1/9 File FAFSA in February Revisit colleges – Feb/March Pick up Local Scholarship packet – March Decision Day: May 1st

CCC Support Write Stuff workshops: 9:30-10:15: 8/30, 9/7 7:30-8:15: 9/5, 9/11 8 th hour: 9/12, 9/18 UIUC Application Workshop 8 th hour, 9/19, 2104 Common Application Workshop 8 th hour, 9/6, CCC CCC Hours: 7:00 am – 3:30 pm