1. College Counseling Senior Parents
September 17, 2018
Getting it Done

2. College Counseling: Senior Parents
Resources
Your College Counselor
Naviance Family Connection
College Counseling Handbook Online
Access through the parent portal
College Publications, Guide Books, and Web Sites

3. College Visits TO THAYER:
Published in Naviance, TNN, Thayer College Counseling Calendar
Purpose: information sessions; meet admission reps.
Students sign up on Naviance
Class Conflict: get the teacher’s permission 24 hours in advance.
CAMPUS VISITS:
Weekends, holidays preferred when possible.
Check with teachers in advance.
Notify Thayer of impending absences.
Columbus Day, October 10th, Veteran’s Day - no school for seniors

4. Early Deadlines Early Decision: binding for applicant
Early Action: not binding for applicant. Applicant free to apply to more than one early program.
Early Action (single choice): not binding for applicant but restricted to one early application (Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Stanford).

5. Final Lists ED/EA rounds – develop a Plan A and Plan B.
Seek balance: possibles and likelies should outnumber reaches. Review the list on Naviance. Consult with college counselor on selectivity ratings.
Consider “financial safety schools,” if necessary. This might include public universities and it might include colleges designated as likelies where the student has more opportunity to earn a merit scholarship. Can also use the net price calculator on college’s website to project the financial aid you are likely to receive.

6. The Common Application
Over 750 colleges accept it.
Should be completed online at
Link with Naviance account – (1) sign FERPA waiver on Common Application account; (2) enter the student’s Common Application address in “Common App Account Matching” under “Colleges I am applying to” in Naviance.

7. Other Applications Coalition Application
Nearly 60 schools accept it. Almost all ALSO accept the Common App
University of Maryland, University of Florida, University of Washington, Virginia Tech are exclusive users of the Coalition Application.
Institution-Specific Applications
Elon, Georgetown
FastApps or Priority Applications
Loyola College-MD, Fordham, Drexel, Loyola U. - Chicago
State-wide Systems (University of California, U. of Texas)
UCAS (United Kingdom)
Can apply to only five different universities

8. College Essays
Drafts started during the summer – over 70% of students already submitted to college counselor; Benelli Writing Center also available to help students with their personal statements.
Some Common Application colleges require supplemental essays. Check the schools on the student’s Common Application list to see if there are additional questions or written responses required for each institution.
For colleges that don’t take the Common Application, identify their essay question to see if student’s CA essay will work or if need to write a different essay.

9. Standardized Testing
Registration deadline (late fee) for 10/6 SAT is 9/26. The deadline for 11/3 SAT is 10/5. The deadline for 10/27 ACT is 9/28.
October & November exams: results typically available for early deadlines at most colleges (with some exceptions for November testing).
December exams: results available in time for almost all regular decision deadlines.
Some large state universities have 12/1 deadlines; some special programs have early deadlines.

10. Reporting Test Scores
Students submit their scores directly to each college from the testing agency. Students should review testing requirements at colleges where they are applying (ie., are SAT Subject scores required? Is the school test optional?)
Self-reporting – a new option this year
Score Choice – students can choose which tests they want to send
Superscore – most colleges take the highest scores from different sections of the SAT; some colleges do the same with the ACT but less common.

11. Teacher Recommendations
Students should be prepared to request two teacher recommendations (preferably from more recent teachers). At least one should come from a teacher in an academic subject.
Seniors should contact teachers in person to request recommendations before the end of Sept.; make arrangements with teachers one month before the first application deadline.
Most recommendations are submitted through Naviance; a few colleges require submission by mail or direct request to the teacher via .

12. Transcripts & College Counselor Recommendations
Students need to meet with their college counselor to request transcripts and identify in Naviance the colleges where they are applying. They should make this meeting at least two weeks before their first deadline. This gives us time to prepare the college counselor recommendation, the student’s transcript, and other documentation.
For deadlines between 12/31 – 1/4, all colleges must be identified in Naviance as applications by December 7.

13. Supplemental In-office Forms
From Student: Senior Questionnaire & Resume – complete online in Naviance
From Parents: Parent Response Form, return via or regular mail.

14. Financial Aid FAFSA – available on 10/1 – www.fafsa.ed.gov
CSS/Profile – available on 10/1 – css.collegeboard.org
Paying for College Seminar – Oct 1st, 7 Noble and Greenough School
Scholarships – deadlines throughout the year. Check with individual schools to determine which ones offer merit-based scholarships. Naviance, fastweb.com, and scholarships.com are good resources to search for scholarships available from sources outside the colleges. Check with your local high school guidance office for additional scholarship opportunities in your town. START EARLY – don’t wait until April!

15. Student Responsibilities
Be the main point of communication with all parties involved in the process (college counselor, teachers, coaches, college admission personnel, etc.)
Complete application documents honestly and in own words
Be aware of standardized testing policies for colleges on list & submit test scores in advance of deadlines
Know the admission requirements and deadlines for each college where the student is applying
Stay on top of academic work

16. Counselor Responsibilities
Advise students on college selection and list balance
Provide feedback on written portions of the applications (application forms, activity lists, essays, etc.)
Support students in decision making
Counsel students and parents about critical steps in the college planning and application process
Communicate with admissions representatives on student’s behalf throughout the process
Submit a comprehensive letter of recommendation in support of the student

17. Parent Responsibilities
Provide support and guidance, but do not take over the college search and application process.
Empower students to communicate with the Thayer community members who are aiding their college process (college counseling, teachers, coaches, etc.).
Encourage students to communicate directly with college admissions personnel throughout the year.
Be upfront about financial limitations so expectations are realistic. Oversee the financial aid process.

18. Contact Us Thad Robey, trobey@thayer.org, 781-664-2222
Christine Woods,
Nellie Brennan Hall, 2227
Selene Eymer,
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