Upload
others
View
1
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Senior Handbook
Read this guide, and you will be better prepared to have a successful senior year!
Join the Class of 2019 Text Message Reminders from Ms. Carter, College & Career Center Specialist Text: 81010 In Message write: @4k944b
Join Mrs. Carter’s “Google Classroom” njf1f9 for access to important information!!
Graduation Requirements
Check the FCPS graduation requirements and consult with your counselor during the Senior
Week (9/17-9/21).
https://www.fcps.edu/academics/graduation-requirements-and-course-planning/first-time-
ninth-graders-2013-2014-through-2015-2016
Options after High School
• 4-Year Schools
• Bachelors Degree
• 2-Year Schools
• Associates Degree
• NOVA Pathways
• Career and Technical School
• Career Specific Certifications
• Military
• Enlisting, ROTC, and Service Academies
• Employment
• Entry Level Careers, Internships, etc..
• Apprenticeship
• Classroom Instruction and on the job training
• Gap Year
• Service learning experience or program completed after high school
See your school counselor or Mrs. Carter in the College and Career Center for additional
information on these options.
College Application Process Timeline
*SAT and ACT dates – See the Test Scores section below
*Transcript Request dates – See the Transcripts section below
August 2018 August 1: Common Application is live! Students may create application.
Non-Common App School Applications may be open; check college sites to confirm.
September 2018 Students should put a list of colleges on NAVIANCE STUDENT under “Colleges I ‘m thinking
about”.
September 6 and 12: Senior Presentations in Advisory
September 13: College Planning Night – 6:30PM
September 17-21: Senior Individual Meetings with Counselors
October 2018 October 14: FCPS College Fair - 7:30PM @ Fair Oaks Mall
October 15: FCPS College Night - 7:00PM @ Hayfield Secondary School
October 25: Financial Aid Night 6:30PM @ Mt. Vernon High School
November 2018 Pay special attention to the Transcript Request deadlines! (for Dec. 1 and Jan. 1 college
deadlines)
November 7: ASVAB Exam 8:30AM @ WPHS Career Center (pre-registration is required)
February 2019 Student Services sends Mid-Year Reports to all colleges you applied to
March 2019 Keep your grades up! While senioritis is real, so is a college rescindment!
March 20: ASVAB Exam 8:30AM @ WPHS Career Center (pre-registration is required)
April 2019 All admission decisions should be in by mid-April. If you have been
offered a spot on a waitlist and you would like to pursue it, please do so
immediately. If you have questions, see your counselor or Mrs. Carter.
May 2019 May 1: National Decision Day –commit to the college of your choice!
Senior Survey to designate the college where your final transcript will be sent
Components of the College Application: Test Scores
Students need to register for, take, and send their ACT or SAT test scores to the colleges
before the application deadline. West Potomac High School does not report SAT or ACT scores
to the colleges. It is the student’s responsibility to send all official score reports from the
College Board or the ACT program to each college.
The SAT TEST DATES FOR 2018
Test Date: Register By:
August 25, 2018* July 27, 2018
October 6, 2018* September 7, 2018
November 3, 2018* October 5, 2018
December 1, 2018* November 2, 2018
• Register online: www.collegeboard.org
• *Subject tests administered on these dates
• See Mrs. Carter in the career center if you need an SAT fee waiver
The ACT TEST DATES FOR 2018
Test Date: Register By:
September 8, 2018 August 12, 2018
October 27, 2018 September 28, 2018
December 8, 2018 November 2, 2018
• Register online: www.actstudent.org
• See Mrs. Carter in the career center if you need an ACT fee waiver Practice tests are available through WP PTSA: https://westpotomachs.fcps.edu/student-services/college-and-career-center/test-preparation
Components of the College Application: Transcripts
Pick up a transcript request form from Student Services or download it off the WPHS Student Services website.
After completing the student/parent/guardian part, bring the form to your counselor. The first three
transcripts are free. Additional transcripts are $5/transcript. Fees are waived for students on free and reduced
lunch. Payment can be made via check or cash. Transcripts being sent via US mail require 2 stamps each.
Types of Admission
ED – Early Decision: Students make a commitment to a first-choice institution where, if admitted they
definitely will enroll. The application deadline and decision deadline occur early. Commitment: BINDING
EA – Early Action: Students apply early and receive a decision well in advance of the institution’s regular
response date. Commitment: NON-BINDING
REA - Restrictive Early Action: Students apply to an institution of preference and receive a decision early. They
may be restricted from applying ED or EA or REA to other institutions. If offered enrollment, they have until
May 1 to confirm. Commitment: NON-BINDING
Regular Decision: Students submit an application by a specified date and receive a decision in a clearly stated
period of time. Commitment: NON-BINDING
Rolling Admission: Institutions review applications as they are submitted and render admission decisions
throughout the admission cycle. Commitment: NON-BINDING
Priority Admission: Students submit an application by a specified date to be considered for admission,
scholarship money, and honors programs, etc. Please choose this option only if the college does indeed have a
priority deadline. Commitment: NON-BINDING
Deferred Admission: Students who apply early action/decision will get a decision from the college in
December/January time frame. If the student receives a deferred admission decision, that means the
application will be considered in the regular decision pool and will receive a decision in April.
DEADLINE to bring Transcript Request
to your Counselor
Application Deadline for College/University
September 24, 2018 October 15, 2018
October 11, 2018 November 1, 2018
October 25, 2018 November 15, 2018
November 1, 2018 (early due to Thanksgiving) December 1, 2018
November 20, 2018 (early due to Winter Break) January 1, 2019
December 11, 2018 January 15, 2019
January 10, 2019 February 1, 2019
Sending a transcript
Use Naviance Student to determine if the transcript needs to be sent via Edocs, Common Application or US
Mail. Add your colleges to the “Colleges I’m Thinking About” section, and you will find this information.
Virginia Public Schools – Sending Transcript Cheat Sheet
Christopher Newport University Common Application
George Mason University Common Application
James Madison University E-Docs
Longwood University E-Docs
University of Mary Washington Common Application
Norfolk State University Paper/US Mail
Old Dominion University Common Application
Radford University Common Application
Virginia Commonwealth University Common Application
Virginia Military Institute E-Docs
Virginia Tech E-Docs
Virginia State University E-Docs
University of Virginia Common Application
University of Virginia's College at Wise E-Docs
College of William and Mary Common Application
Common Application
eDocs
US Mail
Components of the College Application: Teacher & Counselor Recommendations
Applications will ask you if you want to waive your right to review your
recommendations and supporting documents. By waiving your right, you are
ensuring that colleges know your letter is confidential. Admissions officers give
most weight to letters that provide an honest and qualified assessment of the
applicant. If you don't waive your right, you could accidentally signal to admissions
officers that you don't trust your recommender or that the recommendation is less
candid or genuine.
Teacher Recommendations
Check the college’s website, under the admissions section, to determine if
they require teacher recommendations and if so, how many. Ask the teacher that
you feel knows you the best and is willing to write a positive letter on your behalf.
No one other than the teacher and the college will read this letter as they are
considered confidential information. Most colleges will request the
recommendation from the teacher electronically. You will need to supply their
name and e-mail address in the application to ensure they receive the
recommendation form. Don’t forget to write a thank you note to your teachers for
the time they took to write your letter!
Counselor Recommendations
Letters of recommendation are a team effort. We draw information from the
student’s cumulative academic record, personal interactions with the student,
student response form and parent/guardian response form to form a
comprehensive letter of recommendation. We do not release letters to students
or parents as the letters are considered confidential between West Potomac and
the college.
COMPLETE STUDENT AND PARENT/GUARDIAN RESPONSE FORMS (next two pages) AND EMAIL TYPED RESPONSES TO YOUR ASSIGNED SCHOOL COUNSELOR AT LEAST 3 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE COLLEGE DEADLINE!
Student Information Form Name: Cell Phone: Email: Colleges/Universities you intend to apply to with the college application deadline: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Intended Major or Career Interests: 1) What are your personal strengths? What are your academic strengths? 2) Describe what makes you unique and/or something you are passionate about. 3) How have you used your time out of school? Attach a resume if available (Examples: hobbies, organizations, community service, employment, etc.) 4) What is your most rewarding academic experience for you at West Potomac High School? 5) Describe two significant events in your life and how they have had an impact upon you. 6) What three things would you want a college admissions committee to know about you? 7) Is there anything on your transcript that you feel needs clarification? If yes, please explain. 8) Is there anything else that you want us to know about you, or anything that we may not otherwise know that would help to distinguish you from the next applicant?
Parent/Guardian Information Form Please submit comments and specific information about your son/daughter that will assist the counselor in writing an insightful, thorough college recommendation. Your input is greatly appreciated. Student Name: Your Name: Relation to the Student: Best way to reach you (email or phone): 1) Choose 3 adjectives that best describe your child with an explanation for why you pick each adjective. 2) Describe some of your son/daughter’s outstanding personality traits. 3) What are some of your child’s accomplishments that have occurred over the past three years? (both in and out of school) 4) Are there any special circumstances that have affected your child’s academic performance (example: illness, death in the family, moving, personal situations). If so, please explain. 5) Please add any additional comments about your child that you feel would be pertinent to his/her letter of recommendation.
Components of the College Application: Application, Essays, Payment, Other
Items to consider
Application
Applications are sent directly to the school by the student via the
method(s) specified. Make sure you complete all items and check over for
correctness!
Essays
Your essay reveals something important about you that your grades
and test scores can't—your personality. It can give admission officers a sense of
who you are, as well as showcasing your writing skills. Be personal, specific and
honest. It is a good idea to show a draft to someone you trust: parent, counselor
or teacher to get feedback and help proofread.
Payment
Applications are not complete until your payment is sent. If you used a
SAT fee waiver then the College Board will provide you with waivers for four
college applications.
Supplemental Materials
If applicable, interview and supplemental materials (art portfolio,
supplemental essays, graded papers, peer recommendation) can be requested or
accepted by a college. Students should mail these materials directly to the college.
Playing a sport in College?
Make sure you register with the NCAA Eligibility Center at:
http://web3.ncaa.org/ECWR2/NCAA_EMS/NCAA_EMS.html#