Transcript Welcome To The College Application Workshop

Welcome
To The College
Application Workshop
Jennifer Gioglio (A-D)
Gina Vanak (E-K)
Debbie Burch (L-Q)
Erin Masotta (R-Z) interim counselor
for Rebeca Castellano
Where to begin?
Complete the college search process and try to finalize a list on
Naviance
Update all contact information, especially email addresses for student and
parents
Use the “Checklist” in the “About Me” tab to stay organized on ‘nextsteps’
Senior Class Visits - “Welcome Packets” were distributed and reviewed
in senior flexes last week
Senior Workshops - sign up in the counseling office for time with the
school counselors to work on your college application materials – week
of September 23-26
College Fair, Danbury Mall - October 21, 2013 from 5 to 9pm
Financial Aid Night - October 28, 2013 at BHS from 7 to 9pm
Sign up for Brookfield e-news for automatic updates on important
events.
Key Terms
Early Decision (Only 1 School): These offers
are binding.
If you are accepted to this school, you are pledging to
attend, without regard to financial assistance!
Early Action (multiple schools)
This is not binding, but allows students to receive
notification sooner
Regular Admission
Decision in the spring or earlier.
Rolling Admission - apply early
Applications are reviewed as they are received. An
admissions decision is made once the committee has
reviewed all of the materials.
SAT/ACT Testing
How many times should I take the SAT I?
Register for SATs on www.collegeboard.org
Send scores directly to colleges. Counseling Office will not
include standardized test scores on your transcript.
Do I need to take SAT II’s? (SAT Subject Tests)
Achievement tests
Know how many you need to take – check school’s website
Should I take the ACT instead of SAT?
www.act.org
English, Mathematics, Reading, Science, Optional Writing
ACT with writing can be accepted instead of SAT II subject tests
at many schools.
Testing Dates
SAT Test Dates
October 5: register by 9/6 … Late registration by 9/20
November 2: register by 10/3 … Late registration by 10/18
December 7: register by 11/8 … Late registration by 11/22
January 25: register by 12/27 … Late registration by 1/10
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ACT Test Dates
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October 26: register by 9/27 … Late registration by 10/11
December 14: register by 11/8 … Late registration by 11/22
February 8: register by 1/10 … Late registration by 1/24
Early decision/action applicants should plan to complete testing no later
than the October test dates, and notify schools of upcoming test dates!
Family Connection/Naviance
Using the Checklist
Enter Colleges on Naviance
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Enter the schools you are considering in “Colleges I’m thinking
about” section
**This is a good way to get more information about schools you are not
sure of. Naviance will ‘invite’ you to meet with the rep when they visit
BHS**
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Enter the schools you will apply to in “Colleges I’m applying to”
section
**Pay attention to application deadline dates and required paperwork**
**This is a good way to monitor the application type
and deadlines for each school!**
The Common Application
Q:
A:
What is the Common App and when should I use it?
The Common Application is a standardized
application online which will distribute your data to
those schools to which you indicate you are applying.
Check the document requirements on Naviance to see
whether or not you should use the Common
Application to submit your documents.
Common Application
FERPA
Step 1: Complete the FERPA release in your common application
under the “Add Recommenders” section. Note that the
education section needs to be complete first.
Step 2: In the “Colleges I’m applying to” section of Naviance enter
your common app email and match your accounts. This permits
BHS to prepare and release your transcript and counselor letter
FERPA
(Federal Educational Right to Privacy Act)
Rights to see or waive the application documents submitted on your behalf
after submission.
**We recommend that students “waive” their rights**
FERPA
Application Checklist
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Complete application and fee payment online
Essay: upload to online application or mail
Resume (highly recommended) : upload to online
application or mail
Send any other supporting documents you want to
include
Send your SAT scores via Collegeboard.org AND/OR
ACT scores via ACT.org
Hand in transcript request form and indicate if a
counselor recommendation is needed
The Application Essay
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Always answer the question asked:
don’t try to make one essay answer
every question
Write about a topic that you are
passionate about – put your
personality into it!
Get feedback…Ask your counselor
or English teacher to review your
essay for content. You are
responsible for spelling and
grammar!
Resume
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A resume outlines your academic and work
experience and highlights your talents, awards
and accomplishments and makes your
application package 3-D
Review your resume on Career Cruising
Bring in a hard copy to the counseling office to
keep in your college file so that we may
nominate students for appropriate
programs/awards!
Request your Documents
** ALLOW AT LEAST
10 SCHOOL DAYS FOR
DOCUMENT PREPARATION **
Part 1: Request Transcript
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Complete a transcript request form for each college, indicating whether
or not you are using the Common App for that college, and whether or
not you need a counselor letter for that college
Part 2: Let your counselor know if you NEED a counselor
letter. You should provide Mrs. Beneway with:
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Updated resume
Completed Parent Input Form (Brag Sheet)
Completed Student Questionnaire
Transcript Fee Schedule
Transcript Fees:
First 5 transcripts: FREE
Transcripts 6-10: $5.00 total, not for each
Transcripts 11+: $5 each
For Counselor Recommendation Letters…
The following documents should be turned in with your
transcript request form:
Parent Input Form
Student Questionnaire
Resume
Document Library
This can be found on the right-hand side of the
student home screen in Naviance.
Folder name:
Senior forms …. Print out what you need, and
bring in the completed form to Mrs. Beneway in
the counseling office for processing
Teacher Letters of
Recommendation
Allow at least 10 school days!
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Find out how many teacher recommendations are
required for your application
Complete gold “Formal Letter of Recommendation
Request” form and give one to each teacher along
with the Common App Teacher Evaluation or schoolspecific evaluation form
How do the letters get sent out? : This is specific to
each teacher. Have a conversation with your teacher!
**The counseling office does not hold or process teacher
letters of recommendation**
TEACHER LETTERS:
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Talk with your teachers about
letters of recommendation.
Provide them with at least ten
school days in advance of the
college deadline … the more
time you provide them, the
better!
Follow up with a written note
of thanks to each teacher
Your teacher will submit letter
of recommendation either
directly to the student OR
directly to the colleges
themselves.
Common App Teacher Evaluation Form
Talk to your teacher and they are
mailing your letter, give this form to
your teacher to mail in with your letter
If your teacher is sending your letter
electronically, there is no need to give
this form to your teacher(s).
Important Deadlines
Give the counselor at least 10 school days for
processing before a deadline. Please pay attention to
those that fall around holidays. Counselors cannot
accommodate last minute applications!
College Deadlines: Application Documents In By:
November 1
October 18
November 15
October 31
December 1
November 13
December 15
December 2
January 1
December 6
UCONN ECE Credits
ece.uconn.edu
**Turn in form by tomorrow 9/13**
National College Athletic
Association
Who needs to register?
How do I register?
www.eligibilitycenter.org
Financial Aid
***Financial Aid Night at BHS Monday, October 28, 2013**
CSS/Financial Aid Profile:
www.collegeboard.org
Not all schools require this
Must apply on-line
FAFSA: Free Application For Federal Student
Aid
Apply for Pin NOW – both student and parent
Everyone must fill this out. It is the federal form.
Complete ASAP after Jan. 1 using estimated tax information
www.fafsa.ed.gov - must apply online
NOT www.fafsa.com - This site is a scam. Be very careful.
Other useful sites
www.fastweb.com
www.finaid.org
Scholarships
Local scholarships are posted on Naviance and generally
become available after January 1, 2014
National scholarships – see links posted on BHS School
Counseling website
Research scholarship opportunities
Business
Community organizations
Special Interest
Scholarships offered by colleges
Be aware of scholarships scams
THANK YOU
FOR
ATTENDING