WELCOME SENIOR PARENTS! The College Application Process Lianne Musser, College Coordinator

WELCOME SENIOR PARENTS!

The College Application Process

Lianne Musser, College Coordinator

Find and apply to a college

Right Fit for You!

Overview of Program

• What should have been done already?• What do I need to know before I apply?• How do I complete an application?• How do I get letters of recommendation?• How do I get a transcript?• What do I do after I have applied?• How do I keep track of everything?

Senior Meetings

• Power Point handout• Unofficial Transcript• College Handbook• College Corner • Group Guidance

week of Sept. 8th

LTHS College HandbookStep-by-Step

READ YOUR HANDBOOK CAREFULLY!

College Handbook Explains

• Post high school planning• Sending test scores to

colleges• Preparing the application• Securing

recommendations• Financial Aid information

• Explains types of application deadlines

• Applying to U of I• Colleges that accepted

LT students • Transcript Request forms• Common application tips

and More!

What should have beendone already?

• Researched colleges• Reviewed admissions requirements• Visited campuses• Talked to Admissions Representatives• Narrowed Search: Target, Safety, Reach• Looked at or started essay or personal

statement

Uh-Oh, what if I didn’t?

• Use Naviance and other tools

• Update “Colleges I’m thinking about” list

• Talk to Counselor or visit College Center

• Use your handbook!

What should I do right now?

• Unofficial transcript: Review for accuracy. Turn in by Monday for corrections.

• Official transcript will be available after Labor Day• Credit/No Credit deadline-Sept. 12th

• ACT/SAT deadlines for retakes (Aug. 22 for Sept. ACT)• College Visits: Sign up on Naviance and print out pass

for teacher approval• Campus visits: Call AP office

What do I need to know before I apply?

• Admissions terms• Admissions and

foreign language requirements

• Application deadlines• Student Rights and

Responsibilities

Two Types of ApplicationsInstitutional Application

Simple

• College’s own application• Sent directly to college• Essay requirement varies• Counselor evaluation may be

required• May require teacher or

counselor recommendation letter

Common Application

More Complicated

• Used by 500 colleges• Sent to Commonapp.org• 650 word essay required• Counselor evaluation or

recommendation required• May require one or more teacher

evaluations or recommendations• May have a “supplement”

Extremely important

• Always use your Proper Name• Use your LT Student email address on all college

applications and Common application account• Use Correct High School CEEB code: 142-483• Date of Birth• Social Security Number (Some apps/FAFSA)

Flowchart of Process

Getting StartedFive R’s of Applying

• Retrieve• Review• Request• Record• Relax

RETRIEVE APPLICATION

• Online @ college website (ends in .edu)

• Common application www.commonapp.org

• Download a paper application

Review Application

• Read instructions carefully

• Make a list of requirements (essay, recommendations)

• Note deadlines• Select “admissions

plan”

Admission PlansTerms you should know

• ROLLING ADMISSION – Start date Applications are reviewed and admissions decisions made until full

• REGULAR DECISION – Defined Application Period (Sept. –March) Apply and receive decisions by a specified date

• EARLY ACTION – Also called “Priority” (Priority by November 1) Apply Early. Admitted Early (Dec). Best option for most applications.

• RESTRICTED EARLY ACTION - Single Choice Early Action Apply early with some restrictions, but have until May 1 to confirm.

• EARLY DECISION – BINDING CONTRACT. Must attend if admitted. Apply Early to ONE first choice school. Drop all applications if admitted.

Applications may require some or all of the following:

• Counselor School Report (Evaluation)• Counselor Recommendation letter• Teacher Evaluation• Teacher Recommendation• Mid-Year Report (7th semester transcript)• Coach or other recommendation letter• Give them what they ask for

REQUESTTeacher Recommendation

• Ask teachers in person.• Select recommenders carefully• Recommendation requests form in

College Center or Document Library in Naviance

• Allow at least 10 school days to complete recommendations

• Supply addressed and stamped envelopes for mailed materials

• Mailed or transmitted? Ask!

RequestTest Scores

• LT does NOT send test scores• Test scores do NOT appear on transcript• Student sends test scores to each college directly from

the testing agency (ACT or SAT)• www.actstudent.org for ACT scores• www.collegeboard.com for SAT and AP• Students should always send scores when they are

registering for an ACT exam.• NOTE: Some colleges require ACT with writing.

RequestTranscript Request Form

• Every college application requires a transcript request form (including Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas, California)

• Self-Reported Academic Record for the University of Illinois @ Urbana-Champaign

Transcript Request Form

REGULAR APPLICATION

• Transcript

• Application Completed Online

• School Report Form (Counselor)

• Letter of Recommendation (Counselor)

• Fee Waiver (Form required)

• Other Documents (Please name

COMMON APPLICATION

•Transcript

• Application Completed Online

• School Report Form (Counselor)

• Letter of Recommendation (Counselor)

• Fee Waiver (Completed online)

• Early Decision Agreement

(Completed online)

Transcript Request Forms

• Complete college application or Common application

• Print out copy of application• Find transcript request forms in

Naviance, Counseling Office, College Center, handbook

• Use for ALL applications, even those that say they do not need one!

• Add to Common App school list if using Common app

• Complete form• Request appointment with

counselor• Bring copy of application and

completed request form to meeting

• Request will be processed in 10 school days

• Watch deadlines and leave sufficient time for counselor to write a letter, if needed.

RequestCounselor Appointment

• Make an appointment• Complete Transcript

request form• Bring all other forms

except Common app • “Proof of submission”• Attach required fees or

essays for mailing only• Walk-ins before or after

school

Allow at least10 School DAYS

• LT will submit your transcript and supporting documents to the college listed on the Transcript Request form

• We guarantee that it will arrive by the application deadline only if you have allowed 10 school days for processing

Observe Deadlines

Application Deadline

• November 1• November 15• December 19 – Jan 16

To Counselor

• October 17• November 1

• December 5

How Do I keep track of everything?

• Keep a Record of your work (copy of application, teacher requests, deadlines)

• Use application checklist on back of Handbook

• Get an accordion file for record-keeping

• Check progress on Naviance• Do your own work!

RELAX

• Receive admissions decision• Respond to college no later than May 1st

• Turn in copy of all admissions decision letters and scholarship offers to the College Center as soon as you receive them. They are included in the graduation program.

Additional InformationNCAA Eligibility Center

• Register at www.eligibilitycenter.org• Review application to make sure information matches

Naviance• Use correct CEEB Code• Indicate that you attended North Campus for 9th and 10th

• Request a transcript• Request test scores• Attend NCAA night

Upcoming Events and Programs In College Corner

University of Illinois @ Urbana-Champaign Visit

Timmi Turley

SRAR application process

Tuesday, September 23rd

1:30 pm

Sign up on Naviance

Financial Aid and Scholarship Information Night

• Frank Palmasani

“Financial Fit”

November 6th

Vaughan Gym

7:00 pm

NCAA INFORMATION PROGRAM

November 19th

Room 140

6:00 pm

• Eligibility• All Divisions

College Fairs

• National College Fair @ Navy PierSaturday, September 27th. 11 – 3 pm

Register online @ www.gotomyncf.com

• Visual and Performing Arts FairDePaul University Theatre School

Sunday, September 21st – 1-3:30 pm

• National Portfolio Review DaySchool of the Art Institute, October 19, 10 – 2 pm

• College of DuPage Fair, Tuesday, October 21, 6-8 pm

How Can We Help?

• COLLEGE CORNER online or in College Center

• COLLEGE REPRESENTATIVE VISITS. Sign up on Naviance

• COLLEGE/CAREER CENTER 7:30 – 4:00 p.m.

Senior Counselors

Ms. Ziroli (A-G) nziroli@lths.net

Ms. Elliot (H-O) kelliot@lths.net

Mr. Torres (P-Z) etorres@lths.net

Ms. Strickland astrickland@lths.net

COLLEGE COORDINATOR

Ms. Musser lmusser@lths.net

Questions?