1. College Application Process
A-F Mrs. Williams
G-N Mr. Humphries
O-Z Mrs. Swartz
All 9th graders Mrs. Bamber
School Counseling Secretary
Mrs. Hollins

2. College Entrance Exams
ACT: CSHS October 27
Registration Deadline September 28th
SAT: CSHS November 3
Registration Deadline October 5th
SAT Subject tests required for admissions for selective universities
October and November Test Dates are Recommended. Test given at CSHS on those dates. Register online. Prep materials in Career Center

3. College Visits
Dates posted on Blackboard under CSHS Counseling News and listed on CSHS website
Attend Campus Open Houses or schedule a campus visit
Look for opportunities for fee waivers or early acceptance options
More than 40 colleges visit each year. Information from college preference sheets will be used to inform students of visits and scholarships
Please sign up for college visits in advance

4. College Day September 18, 2018 Salem Civic Center 6:00 pm-8:00 pm
to register
This information can be found on Bb

5. Letters of Recommendation
Determine if your college will accept letters of recommendation and how many
Ask teachers who know you well to write a letter of recommendation. Give at least 2 weeks notice for recommender to compose the letter
Recommenders should be invited to submit online thru Common App or college website
All other rec. letters need to be submitted to Counseling secretary for Parchment upload
Send a thank you note to recommenders.
Letters should speak to your academic and intellectual ability and classroom leadership. Some colleges do not want them.
Make sure that your teachers are aware if you are doing an on-line recommendation form. On-line common app recommendations.

6. College Applications How Many Should I Send?
Reach or dream school
Safety School
Good Fit School
Should aim for five applications.

7. How to Apply The standard method for college applications is online
The application will be available on the college’s website
Use the Common Application for all schools that accept it.

8. Application Deadlines
Regular Decision
Early Action (necessary for some scholarships)
Rolling Admissions
Early Decision
Binding
Not for athletes or special talent
Must reply before financial aid package available
At certain schools the early action deadline must be met in order to be eligible for academic scholarships
*Check with individual schools for deadlines*

9. Filling Out Your Application
Complete Release of Information- Colleges, NCAA
Fill out the application, including essays. Proofread & spell check
Students need to use Parchment to order transcripts, teacher rec. letters and secondary report forms.
Print Secondary School Report form. Bring to School Counseling Secretary, Mrs. Hollins to upload.
If you have taken any dual enrollment classes you will need to request a transcript from VWCC to be sent to colleges/universities
Save a copy of the application. Report forms will be turned in to the Guidance Secretary. Be sure to complete the student portion of the secondary report form/counselor form. Transcript request forms can be found in guidance and posted on-line at CSHS Bb- Counseling News. Online request for VWCC is preferred.

10. Sending Your Application Packet
The Counseling Secretary will process your application packet which includes:
Transcripts (Release of Information must be on file)
Secondary Report Form (Complete your portion, print, and bring to Counseling Secretary to upload to Parchment)
Recommendation letters (on-line/paper copy given to Counseling secretary to upload to Parchment)
The packet must be uploaded/mailed by CSHS personnel to remain “official.”
Students must send ACT/SAT scores directly to the college
Release of Information Form must be on file to send Transcripts. SAT Test scores should be sent directly from college board or ACT.

11. DEADLINES
All applications with January 15th deadline or before are due to the School Counseling Secretary by November 16, 2018.
Early Decision/Early Action applications are due to the School Counseling Secretary 2 weeks before deadline.
Please pay careful attention to all deadlines!
You may go ahead and submit your requests for transcripts and you can continue to work on your applications.

12. Financial Aid
Complete any financial forms requested by the college when you apply for admissions—Some schools have a separate Financial Aid Application
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) filed between October 1 and the school’s priority deadline
Some colleges require a CSS Financial Aid Profile (
Financial aid decisions are mailed mid-March to mid-April usually with admissions decisions

13. Financial Aid Workshop
October 8, 2018 at 6:00 pm
Northside High School
General financial aid information
Tips for completing FAFSA given by college financial aid officer
Super Saturday, usually in February, college financial aid offices open and financial aid personnel will help you fill out your FAFSA

14. Scholarships
A scholarship list is posted on your student’s Blackboard; also, check college website
Links to scholarship search engines are available on Blackboard
Pay attention to Honor Scholarships for schools that your student has interest in and their deadlines.
Transcripts for scholarships need to be requested at least two weeks prior to the scholarship deadline

15. Athletics
NCAA Clearinghouse Registration for Division I or II prospects
Place transcript order on Parchment
Plan on at least 6 weeks for the form to be processed by NCAA
Add NCAA to your release form

16. Community Service/Career Portfolio
Get involved or stay involved
Continue to use Major Clarity to find career and college information
Continue to update your resume throughout the school year
Keep a copy of your resume for your records

17. Senior Interviews Credit Checks for graduation Post-graduation plans
Counselors will meet individually with each senior starting September 10th – October 5th
through Government classes
Credit Checks for graduation
Post-graduation plans