Transcript The College Application Process: A Crash Course for Parents
The College Application Process for Parents October 2013
Basics of Senior Year
◦ Work hard! Strive to do your best work!
Be sure you are meeting course and credit requirements for graduation.
◦ Be aware of deadlines. Deadlines are
DEADLINES!
Make an appointment to see your counselor if you have not yet done so.
◦ Stay informed: Announcements, newsletters, bulletin boards, Naviance This is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY!
Top Factors in College Admissions
Grade in college preparatory courses
Admissions test scores
Overall grade point average
Other Important Factors
Essay
Teacher/Counselor Recommendations
Factors Unrelated to Academic Achievement
Extracurricular activities Community service Work experience Relation to alumni Race/ethnicity Key “tip” factor: Demonstrated interest in attending specific college
Options with Focused Process
Physical Therapy, Nursing Music and Art Military academies and ROTC nomination, evaluation and qualification Athletics: NCAA Eligibility * Central Clearinghouse to certify athletes for Division I & Division II participation: https://web1.ncaa.org/eligibilitycenter/common/ * NCAA eligibility has no bearing on your admission to a particular institution
Hopedale’s Application Process
Forms and instructions online and in your packet USE the “College Application Process” handout Teacher recommendation process Student/Parent Questionnaire & Activity Resume School Report Form/Counselor Rec.
Filing options: Hard copy college application Online college application on college website Common Application: Online, Supplements and Required Forms, Update in Naviance
Letters of Recommendation
Counselors Use: o Academic record o o o Senior Questionnaire in Naviance Resume in Naviance Personal reflection regarding student Teachers Use: o o Academic record from classes Reflection from personal history with student in the classroom and other extra-curricular activities.
Application Basics
Packet sent from Guidance includes: Transcript School Profile School Report Form Counselor Recommendation Fee if you are applying using hard copy.
Family Connection/Naviance
See colleges your child is applying to.
Application deadlines for each college.
Application type for each college(Common App., Online, mailed).
If your child requested their transcript and if it has been sent.
Status of submission of materials (School Profile, Transcript, School Report Form, Counselor Recommendations).
Graph for each college to compare where your child stands against other Hopedale HS applicants.
Link to each college’s website.
Family Connection/Naviance
Sending Test Scores: SAT/ACT
Colleges require scores come from these agencies to be considered official. Guidance will NOT send your scores. This should be done as soon as schools are decided upon. Scores can be requested online at
www.collegeboard.org
or at
www.act.org
.
IEP/504 Students
Every student has the individual right to disclose to the college their disability. Some factors that the student should consider when making the decision to disclose include: Would you like to apply for admission into a LD program at college?
Did you have your foreign language graduation requirement waived in HS?
Are you applying to Massachusetts State Colleges (see above)?
Review “Navigating the Post-Secondary Education Search Process” and “What to Ask on a College Visit for the LD student” information found on the guidance website
“Release of Information Regarding Support Services” Form
Must be completed if you would like your IEP/504 information sent to colleges.
Scholarships
Check Naviance often for updated scholarships list (The “Scholarship Match” tool will match your child with scholarships they qualify for.
Check with local businesses and companies to see if they offer scholarships. Online scholarship finders (Fastweb www.fastweb.com
) STAY INFORMED
Senior Timeline
September
College Application Seminar with Guidance Continue to narrow list of colleges and gather applications Continue to visit colleges Call to schedule visits and/or interviews Meet with your counselor Complete Senior Questionnaire and Activity Resume if not completed Request teacher recommendations (see process handout) Chart deadlines, application and financial aid deadlines Begin drafts of essays Register for SAT Reasoning and/or SAT Subject Tests and/or ACT
Standardized Test Dates
: October 5 , November 2, December 7 – SAT October 26, December 14 – ACT
October
Continue visits to colleges and visits to college websites.
Appointments with counselors continue. Make sure you see your counselor ASAP if you are applying Early Action or Early
Decision.
Make list of schools and required application details-online, hard copy or common application. If using Common Application,
check for necessary supplements.
Request teacher recommendations. Make sure teachers have any required teacher evaluation forms!
Request SAT or ACT scores to be sent to colleges -www.collegeboard.com
- www.actstudent.org
Work on essays. Start Scholarship search (Naviance, Internet)
Mini College Fair: October 24
Scholarships Available now!!
October/ November
Begin filling out applications. Watch deadlines carefully. Transcript and school packet requests to Guidance at least two weeks in advance.
Financial Aid: Verify each colleges requirements/ deadlines for financial aid forms/information File CSS Profile if required by colleges Attend MEFA Financial Aid Night with your parents on Wednesday, October 16. Note: FAFSA cannot be submitted until January 1.
What Can You Do To Help?
USE NAVIANCE to check on status of applications and scholarship information/availability.
Check the GUIDANCE WEBSITE FOR UPDATES! Newsletter will be on the main Guidance webpage.
Follow us on Twitter for more information -
@hhsguidancedept
Complete the Endicott Survey. Provides HJSHS with sense of viewed areas of strengths and weakness from parents; part of NEASC evaluation.
www.endicottresearchcenter.net