1. Post-Secondary Planning
Senior Parent Night
Post-Secondary Planning

2. Counselors: First Floor Office Brad Olson A - Bri
Mandy Randall Brj - Dr
Jennifer Landy Ds - Hal
Third Floor Office
Mark Elias Ham - Kar
Cindy McGunnigle Kas - Mal
Sarah Clutter Mam - Or
Fourth Floor Office
Brian Gildemeister Os - Sa
Jessica Dahlman Sc - Te
Peggy Zimmer Tf - Z

3. Does your student know what he or she needs to graduate?
If you aren’t sure or if your student is behind on credits, they should make an appointment with their counselor.

4. Is your student considering a schedule change?
Colleges make admission decisions based on the courses that are submitted to them, so:
It is your student’s responsibility to contact any colleges they have applied to if they are thinking about changing their schedule.

5. Here we go!

6. Completing an Application

7. Timeline: Early Decision, Early Action and Priority Deadlines
National Notification Deadline
FAFSA available for completion
* Check college websites for deadlines
Most application deadlines
October 1
November 1-15
December/January
May 1

8. Step One - The Application
Complete the application online
Applications can be found on the Admissions page of college websites
Look for an application checklist that will include what needs to be submitted to complete the application (i.e. test scores, letters of recommendation, essay)
Step One - The Application

9. When asked how many years of a subject your student has completed:
two terms of a subject = one year
For example:
Physical Science 2 terms
Biology terms
Chemistry 2 terms
Marine Biology 2 terms
Zoology term
= years of science

10. A Note About Math: Integrated 1 = Algebra I Integrated 2 = Geometry
Integrated 4 = Pre-Calculus
(Ignore the line for Trigonometry)
Students are often asked on applications to indicate the math courses they have taken, but there are no spaces for Integrated Math.

11. The Common Application www.commonapp.org
Accepted at more than 700 colleges
Has a number of different sections
Your student will need to link their application to Naviance by electronically signing the FERPA agreement in their Common App. account -- handout in the CCC on this process
Make sure any teachers writing you letters of recommendation know that you are using the Common Application as there is an additional form they need to complete in Naviance

12. The University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Exclusively uses the Common Application this year
Link Common App. to Naviance
Letters of recommendation
Common App. essay

13. Step Two - The Admission Essay
If your application requires an essay, follow the directions and make sure you answer the question(s).
Proof your writing.
Be authentic! Don’t write about what you think they want to hear.
“Students always ask me, ‘What would you like to see in an essay?’ And my answer is that it’s not what I want to see. It’s what you want to tell us.”
- Amy Abrams, Dean of Admission, Sarah Lawrence College

14. Step Three - Letters of Recommendation
Not every college requires letters of recommendation!
If your student needs a letter of recommendation, they need to pick up a yellow form in their floor office or the CCC.
Schools are most interested in seeing letters from teachers of core subjects:
English; Math; Science; Social Studies; World Language

15. Counselor Letter of Recommendation
Required by some colleges
Download a profile packet from the Guidance and Counseling site
instructions are available in the CCC or your floor office
(Allow plenty of time - good letters require considerable time and effort
Counselor Letter of Recommendation

16. Letters of recommendation are confidential!
Do not ask more than 2-3 teachers and allow 3 weeks for completion
Letters of recommendation are confidential!
The teacher writes the letter and will upload an electronic copy to the student’s Naviance account.
Your student’s counselor can advise which letter(s) might be helpful to their application.

17. FERPA Release
Green form available in the CCC waiving rights to view letters of recommendation
Colleges consider letter of recommendation that are confidential to have more validity and carry more weight in the admissions process
This form must be turned in to the CCC before any letters of recommendation can be sent for college or scholarship purposes.

18. Are letters ready?
Check Naviance!

19. Step Four - Submitting an Application
Review carefully to make sure all sections of the application have been completed and check for errors -submit online.
Fill out a blue transcript request form and bring $5 to the CCC (one per college)
Step Four - Submitting an Application
Before your transcript request(s) can be accepted, letters of recommendation must be in Naviance!

20. Transcript Request Form

21. Counselors need 10 school days to process transcript requests
Watch deadlines!
Counselors need 10 school days to process transcript requests

22. Colleges require that ACT/SAT scores come directly from the testing agency

23. Transcript/letters of rec.
Application
Test Scores
Transcript/letters of rec.

24. There is no perfect formula...

25. Naviance is a great resource!
Family
Access Username and
Password

26. Upcoming College Visits
Click here
Then here

27. Want help applying for college financial aid?

29. Wayzata FAFSA Completion Workshop
Get help from financial aid professionals from local colleges and WHS counselors
Process takes about 45 minutes - come anytime between 3:30 - 6:30
No reservation required
Enter to win a $500 scholarship!
Wednesday, November 1
3:30 - 6:30
B106 and B107

30. Scholarships
Scholarship information is listed in Naviance, on the Guidance and Counseling website, and is also available in the CCC.
Many local scholarship applications are available mid-December and due in early February.
The most important source for financial aid for most students is the FINANCIAL AID OFFICE at the school they will attend.

31. No appointment required - just stop in!
CAP Support
College and Career, Academic and Personal Support during myTime
Counselors will be in the CCC each week to help with any questions students may have on topics such as:
Course Planning
Academic Support
Social and Emotional Support
Post-Secondary Planning
College Applications
No appointment required - just stop in!

32. Thank you for coming!