The College Application Process:

Naviance & eDocs

Mendham High School Counseling Office

September, 2012

Welcome!• Dr. Marianna Marchese - Director of School Counseling• John McGoldrick - Counselor• Joan Rosen - Counselor• Marlene Russell - Counselor• Jim Simmons - Counselor• Abby Stead - Counselor• Stephanie Gardner - College & Career Center

Agenda• 60-75 minutes• Practical information• Changes to the Application Process• 5 EASY STEPS5 EASY STEPS

• Important Deadlines• Upcoming Events• Question and Answer (General)• “Personal Training”

The College Application Process

Apply

Hear

Decide

Naviance Family Connection• A comprehensive website that students and

parents can use as a tool in planning for their future.

• Has been used in the past for:• College research• Student Data (test scores, GPA etc.)• Prospective Colleges• Scholarships• Scattergrams

New Naviance Initiative: The College Application• School Documents will be sent online through

the Naviance program• Common Application Reports• Teacher and Counselor Recommendations• Transcripts• School Profile

• Some schools will still be sent paper copies

Overall Expectations

• Keep the process in perspective• Work together as a family• Students must take ownership• Discuss finances openly• Start early and meet all deadlines

Expectations for the Student• Mendham High School uses Naviance

exclusively to manage the College Application Process. Students are expected to:• Update “Colleges I’m Thinking About”• Continue to research/visit colleges• Request Teacher Letters of Recommendation in

Naviance• Complete Brag Sheets for the counselor• Submit a Transcript Request Form to your

counselor

• Students - Check email daily and respond. Is your email address appropriate?

Step 1Step 1: Apply via “The Common : Apply via “The Common Application”Application”

• Go to Commonapp.org and set up your account• Write down your common app username and password• List your colleges that you are applying to via the

Common App• Login to Naviance and sign the Common App Waiver &

FERPA form and enter your Common App username and password

Naviance Family Connection• https://connection.naviance.com/family-connection/auth/login/?hsid=wmmhs

Step 2: Teacher RecommendationsStep 2: Teacher Recommendations

• Always allow at least 3 weeks for teachers to complete the letter• Please make sure you personally ask

the teacher prior to submitting the official request.• Click on the College tab, then “Colleges

I’m Applying To”• Scroll down to Teacher

Recommendations• Click add/cancel request• Add new request, click the drop-down

list and choose the teacher from the list, click submit request.

Step 3: View Prospective Colleges and Step 3: View Prospective Colleges and Update Application StatusUpdate Application Status

Step 4: View Active Application and Step 4: View Active Application and Delivery TypeDelivery Type

Types of Applications

1. Question Mark = Student hasn’t listed the college in the Common App website

2. Blank Computer = Accepts EDocs and is not a Common App school

3. CA in Computer = Accepts EDocs and is a Common App School4. Stamp = Paper Copy must be mailed5. CA with line = Common App School but student has

elected to use School Application instead

1

2

3

4

5

Step 5: Requesting a TranscriptStep 5: Requesting a Transcript

• Application should be submitted prior to this step

• Your counselor should have brag sheets from you prior to this step

• Submit a completed “Transcript Request Form” to your counselor personally. DO NOT LEAVE THIS FORM IN A COUNSELOR MAILBOX!

Requesting a Transcript

Updating the Application Status• Click on “Colleges You are Applying To”• Under “My Applications” it will ask you if you have applied.

Click on the question.• Update the information that is requested.

Throughout the Process……Throughout the Process……

• Communicate with your counselor• As you hear back from schools, let your

counselor know• Check for emails from the Counseling Office

regularly• Parents can contact the counselor at any time

Review: 5 Easy Steps• Step 1Step 1: Set up a Common Application Account: Set up a Common Application Account• Step 2Step 2: Enter CommonApp ID in Naviance and : Enter CommonApp ID in Naviance and

complete FERPA waivercomplete FERPA waiver• Step 3:Step 3: Update “Colleges I’m Thinking About” Update “Colleges I’m Thinking About”• Step 4:Step 4: Invite Teacher Recommendations under Invite Teacher Recommendations under

“Colleges I’m Applying to”“Colleges I’m Applying to”• Step 5:Step 5: Request a Transcript Request a Transcript

Benefits of Naviance

• Streamline the process• Everything is “live”• Everything can be sent at once• Quick to update• Eco-friendly

Senior Meetings• Counselors meet with seniors regarding the

process• By end of September Steps 1-3 are complete.• Review this process with your child prior to the

meeting• Come prepared with questions• Contact your guidance counselor at any time

Upcoming Events• September:• College Fair at County College of Morris

• September 18th from 12:00-3:00• Mini-College Fairs• Individual College Rep Visits

• October:• SAT: October 1st (Deadline passed)• ACT: October 22nd (Registration by tomorrow)• Financial Planning Night: October 19th at 7:00pm

• November:• SAT: November 5th• Application Deadlines for Early Decision/Early Action

(November 1st/November 15th)

Conclusion

• Seniors need to visit their counselor frequently during the application season• Parents should communicate on a regular basis

with their child about this process

The process requires a minimal amount of time and effort outside of completing the actual

application!

Q & A