2. CHS College Process

3. How Your Transcript Can Help GPA Class Rank Total Credits Current Classes CHS Information

4. The Common Application www.commonapp.org www.commonapp.org www.commonapp.org Pieces of the Common Application must be completed first before you will be able to access college requests in Naviance Pieces of the Common Application must be completed first before you will be able to access college requests in Naviance

5. Step One Log onto www.commonapp.org in order to create an account. Log onto www.commonapp.org in order to create an account.www.commonapp.org Be sure to write down your ID and password to avoid being locked out of your account Be sure to write down your ID and password to avoid being locked out of your account Take note of your Common App ID Number Take note of your Common App ID Number

6. Step Two: Add Colleges Use the College Search tab to find schools that you are interested in applying to and that use the Common Application Use the College Search tab to find schools that you are interested in applying to and that use the Common Application

7. Step Three Click on the Dashboard tab to see your list of colleges Click on the Dashboard tab to see your list of colleges Click on a college and then the Incomplete link next to Recommenders and FERPA Click on a college and then the Incomplete link next to Recommenders and FERPA

8. Step Four Click on the Education link to identify your school Click on the Education link to identify your school Complete the Education form Complete the Education form

9. Step Five Go back to your Dashboard tab to see your list of colleges again Go back to your Dashboard tab to see your list of colleges again Click on a college and then the Incomplete link next to Recommenders and FERPA Click on a college and then the Incomplete link next to Recommenders and FERPA

10. Step Six Click on the Release Authorization link to confirm your consent to waive your rights for CHS to release your educational information to colleges (FERPA) Click on the Release Authorization link to confirm your consent to waive your rights for CHS to release your educational information to colleges (FERPA) Complete the form and electronically sign and date it Complete the form and electronically sign and date it

11. FYI: Recommenders Be sure to identify your school counselor as a recommender so that she may fill out necessary forms for your application Be sure to identify your school counselor as a recommender so that she may fill out necessary forms for your application An email notification will be sent to selected recommenders; be sure the information you use is correct An email notification will be sent to selected recommenders; be sure the information you use is correct

12. Naviance Can be accessed through our CHS website Can be accessed through our CHS website User names and passwords have remained the same User names and passwords have remained the same User name: 6 digit school ID User name: 6 digit school ID Ex: 69423 Ex: 69423 Password: 6 digit school ID Password: 6 digit school ID Ex: 69423 Ex: 69423

13. Step One Click on the Colleges Tab and then the College I’m Applying To link Click on the Colleges Tab and then the College I’m Applying To link

14. Step Two Match your Common App email account to your Naviance account. IT MUST BE THE SAME Match your Common App email account to your Naviance account. IT MUST BE THE SAME

15. Step Three Click on the Add to List link Click on the Add to List link Select your decision type and college and check the transcript request Select your decision type and college and check the transcript request

16. Step Four Select the people that you would like to write your letters of recommendation; an email will be sent to each selected person Select the people that you would like to write your letters of recommendation; an email will be sent to each selected person You may include an optional note to a particular recommender You may include an optional note to a particular recommender

17. What Else Can Naviance Do for Me? Scholarships Scholarships Signing up for College Visits Signing up for College Visits Interest Inventories Interest Inventories Résumé Builder Résumé Builder

18. Important Reminders Update your counselor throughout the year regarding admission status and scholarships received Update your counselor throughout the year regarding admission status and scholarships received Check your email for important upcoming deadlines Check your email for important upcoming deadlines

19. The School Counseling Website Website Scholarship information Scholarship information Scholarship information Scholarship information Class of 2016 updates Class of 2016 updates Academic resources Academic resources Financial Aid information Financial Aid information College Visits/Fairs College Visits/Fairs

20. Early Action vs. Early Decision Early Action(EA) Apply early. Receive an admission decision early in the admission cycle (usually in January or February). Consider acceptance offer; do not have to commit upon receipt. Apply to other colleges under regular admission plans. Give the college a decision no later than the May 1 national response date. Early Decision(ED) Apply early (usually in November) to first- choice college. Receive an admission decision from the college well in advance of the usual notification date (usually by December). Agree to attend the college if accepted and offered a financial aid package that is considered adequate by the family. Apply to only one college early decision. Apply to other colleges under regular admission plans. Withdraw all other applications if accepted by ED. Send a nonrefundable deposit well in advance of May 1. **ALWAYS READ THE FINE PRINT TO DETERMINE IF EA OR ED IS BINDING; IT VARIES WITH EACH COLLEGE** Early Action Early Decision Schedule

21. Sending SAT Scores You receive four score reports every time you register for the SAT. These four score reports must be used at the time of registration or up to nine days after the test date. You can send score reports at any time from your “My SAT” account. However, please know there is an $11.25 fee for sending score reports (per report) starting ten days after the test date.

22. Anne Arundel Community College Accuplacer Accuplacer Degree and Certificate Programs Degree and Certificate Programs http://www.aacc.edu/areasofstudy/d efault.cfm http://www.aacc.edu/areasofstudy/d efault.cfm http://www.aacc.edu/areasofstudy/d efault.cfm http://www.aacc.edu/areasofstudy/d efault.cfm Online Application Online Application Personal Registration Day Personal Registration Day Elena White: epwhite@aacc.edu Elena White: epwhite@aacc.eduepwhite@aacc.edu

23. Complete the FAFSA beginning January 1 st BUT before March 1 st. Fafsa.ed.gov Fafsa.ed.gov Get parent PIN & Student PIN anytime Get parent PIN & Student PIN anytime Review paper copy to know what info is needed Review paper copy to know what info is needed Other FAFSA Filing Options - FAFSA on the Web - Federal Student Aid Other FAFSA Filing Options - FAFSA on the Web - Federal Student Aid BEWARE of Companies who charge to file FAFSA for you BEWARE of Companies who charge to file FAFSA for you

25. The SAT versus ACT SAT Stronger emphasis on vocabulary Broken up into more sections (10) Each section is scored Essay is at the beginning (national average: 1500) Highest score: 2400 (national average: 1500) Register at: www.collegeboard.org www.collegeboard.orgACT Questions tend to be more straightforward Has a Science section Tests more advanced math concepts (includes Trig) Writing Test is optional on test day, but required by many schools More of a "big picture" exam (focuses on composite score) (national average: 21) Highest score: 36 (national average: 21) Register at: www.actstudent.org www.actstudent.org

26. The Redesigned SAT March 2016 March 2016 www.collegeboard.org www.collegeboard.org www.collegeboard.org www.khanacademy.org/sat www.khanacademy.org/sat www.khanacademy.org/sat