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

2. 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

3. 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

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

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

6. 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”

7. 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”

8. 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

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

10. 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

11. 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

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

13. 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

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

15. 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)

16. 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”

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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

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

23. 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

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

25. 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

26. 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!

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

28. 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 giving them directions on how to upload and send their letter electronically through eDocs

29. 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 address
An will be sent from Common App to your recommender with a link to submit their letter and evaluation

30. 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!

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

32. 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

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

34. 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.

35. 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!

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

38. 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”

39. 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

40. 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

41. 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

42. 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

43. 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

44. 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

45. Social Media Use Social Media - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.
appropriately.
Use a “professional” 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!

46. Quiz Time!

47. Have Fun!

48. Follow us on Twitter:
@ BWHSCounseling