COMMON APPLICATION TRANSFORMING THE WAY

STUDENT’S APPLY TO COLLEGE

HOW DO WE GET THERE ?

• Student Success Planning(SSP)

• Early College Awareness Programs

• Naviance• Evening Informational

Programs• Community Partnerships• SAT/ACT Prep Opportunities

• Field Trips• School To Career Program• College Representative

Visits• Financial Aid/Scholarship

Support & Opportunities• Individual Planning

Meetings• Developmental Guidance

Lessons

www.commonapp.org

STUDENT SUCCESS PLANNING

• Vertical Plan for grades 6-12• Pilot Year 2012-13• Yearly Goals relating to: Academic,

Career and Social/Emotional Well-being • Electronic Portfolio• Ensure that every student has a

personalized Post Secondary Plan

EARLY COLLEGE AWARENESS

College Trips to several State Schools

Motivational Speakers

Pay It Forward: Students>Students

College Rep(s)

Internship/Job shadow experiences

NAVIANCE

• Diagnostic Tool for College and Career Planning

• Each student has their own Password/Access

• Web-based for easy access

• Developmental Guidance/SSP Activities

• College Searches

• Career Interest Profiler

• Personality Profile (DWYA)

• Communication Tool

• College Visits

• Scholarship Information

SAT/ACT PREP

Elective Class Offerings

Practice Tests

PSAT taken by all 10th/11th graders (Oct. 16)

Programs: Revolution , Let’s Get Ready, Christian Action Network

Fee-Waivers

Referrals

Test-Optional Info (fairtest.org)

SCHOOL TO CAREER

Ms. Rivieccio: STC Counselor

Partnership with Guidance

Job Shadow

Internship

Employment

E-Mail Blasts

Unique Opportunities

Career Fairs

FINANCIAL AID & SCHOLARSHIP

• Scholarship Program

• Naviance

• Seminars

• Ms. Laura Blackwell:

Financial Aid Counselor

• Fee Waivers

• FAFSA

• Informational Sessions

• Advocacy

WHYThe Common Application is

designed to assist students with streamlining the process of applying to college.

COMMON APPLICATION STATISTICS

Each year, nearly 1 million students file their applications using the Common Application.

More than 500 colleges and universities utilize the common Application

www.commonapp.org

STUDENT APPLICATION

The application is the foundation of your admission file

Your job is to make sure it is complete, accurate, and submitted on time

The application must be the student’s own work.

Completing the application is, in part, an exercise in following directions

COMMON APP

This is the infrastructure of your application and includes six sections:

1. Profile

2. Family

3. Education

4. Testing

5. Activities

6. Writing

PROFILE (CONSISTS OF EIGHT SECTIONS: )

1. Personal Information

2. Address

3. Contact Details

4. Demographics

5. Geography

6. Language

7. Citizenship

8. Common App Fee Waiver

FAMILY

Background on your household, parents, or guardians

Sibling Information

Contact Information

Marital Status

Occupation

Education

EDUCATION

• Information about high school attendance

• Additional school experiences

• Contact details for your guidance counselor

• Your current academic record: GPA, current courses, and honors

• Career interests

TESTING

• Information about college entrance testing

• SAT• ACT• Subject Tests• AP• TOEFL- English testing for non-

native speakers

TESTING HOW ?

• On SAT/ACT testing, provide your highest scores in each area even if scores are from different test dates.

• Answer “Yes” if you have scheduled future testing so that the admission office can anticipate receiving further score reports.

• Test Optional

ACTIVITIES

Brag Sheet

List Activities

Work experiences

Depth of aforementioned(hours per week/year)

Positions held

Honors

Plans to participate in these pursuits in college

WRITING

There are three sections here:

1.The Personal Essay2.Disciplinary History3.Additional Information

COST STRUCTURE FOR COMMON APP

• The Common App is free. • However, Colleges may require the submission of

an application fee.• Fee Waivers are eligible to students meeting

eligibility requirements.• Application Fees can range from no charge to

upwards of $100 per college.• Payment is made by using any major credit card

or electronic check. Application fees are nonrefundable.

PERSONAL ESSAY• Students can choose from

five essay prompts• Maximum word limit of 650

words• Minimum word limit of 250

words• The essay will go to all of the

student’s colleges

MY COLLEGE TAB

All colleges that accept the Common App require a supplement unique to their school

Once student selects a school >the landing page for each school details:

Decision plans Recommender requirements Application fees

WRITING SUPPLEMENT• Schools may require –or include

as optional- writing supplement or additional short answers

• Often required by highly competitive colleges

• Pay attention to the word count•

ADDITIONAL FORMS• Early Decision Agreement• Teacher Evaluations• School Report• Mid-Year Reports• Final Report (Transcript)

ARTS STUDENTS• Students with interest and talent in

the arts • Check to see if colleges require an

arts supplement• May be a separate form of through

the Common App with Slideroom.com

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS• Some colleges encourage students to

submit supplementary materials

• May include: a special project, an academic paper, a short story or a YouTube video

• Only submit if the school indicates that they welcome or require their submission

• Let your individuality show but… follow directions

DEADLINES• Be aware of the college deadlines

• Can vary from school to school

• Check the web-site of every college to which you are applying

• Guidance may have specific timelines geared at benefiting students

• Merit $

• Increase admissions opportunities

ROLE OF COUNSELOR- GRAPHIC

• Assist with identifying schools and post secondary plans

• Help with Diagnostic Tools

• Meet with stakeholders

• Help maintain emotional equilibrium

• Establish a plan/timeline(s)

• college reps/visits

• Explain process and monitor progress

Assist with processing

materials

Letters of Recommendation

Financial Aid/Scholarship support and information

Standardized Testing

Disseminate materials, resources and information

Every student has a plan !

CONTACT INFO

Dan Sullivan, Ed.D.Guidance ChairpersonNorwalk High schoolsullivand@norwalkps.org(203) 838-4481 ext. 13272

THANK YOU

Gloria Tenofsky, N.E.F.

Dr. Manuel Rivera— Superintendent of Schools

Norwalk Library

www.commonapp.org