THE COLLEGE PROCESS

PREPARING FOR THE

NEXT STEP

THE COLLEGE PROCESS

OBJECTIVES

Students will understand the criteria colleges use for admission

Students will explore factors they should consider when selecting a college

Students will learn about the transcript process

ASSESSING WHERE YOU ARE

What have you done?What do you need to do?Check off where you are in the process:

Identified schools you like Visited schools Narrowed down your list Take SATs or ACTs Signed up for prep class for SAT or ACT Talked to teachers about letters of recommendation Handed in Waiver of Rights form

Everyone must start NOW

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

THE TOP 5 MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS

SAT ACT A reasoning test assessing

general ability 10 Sections: three critical

reading, three math, three writing, one experimental

Length of Test: three hours and 45 minutes

Penalty for Wrong answers: Yes

Scoring Method: 200-800 per section with 2400 the highest possible score

An achievement test based largely on what students have learned in their classes

Four Sections: one English, one math, one reading, one science reasoning, one optional writing section, one experimental

Length of test: two hours and 55 minutes, plus an additional 30 minutes for writing

Penalty for wrong answers: NO

Scoring Method: 1-36 for each subject, which is averaged for the highest possible score of 36

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SAT AND ACT

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK

LOCAL COLLEGE PROFILES

as reported for Class of 2011

University of Maryland, College Park 25,500 applications for a class of 3,975 Average SAT: 1250-1400 (CR and Math) GPA: 4.05 weighted

Towson University 15,704 applicants; 8,900 students were admitted Average SAT: 1560-1770 on all three parts (middle 50%) Average GPA: 3.53

Stevenson University Average SAT: 1380-1710 (middle 50%) ACT average: 22 GPA: 3.3 unweighted

LOCAL COLLEGES PROFILES cont.

Salisbury University Approximately 8,000 applicants; 4,000 students were admitted Average GPA: 3.7 Average SAT: 1720

Frostburg University 5,000 applicants with a 58% admission rate Average SAT: 1010 on verbal and math (SAT preferred school) Average GPA: 3.2

UMBC 8,000 applicants; admitted about 60% of applicants Average SAT: 1200 (CR and math) or 1800 on all three parts Average ACT: 27 Average GPA: 3.6

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU??

Work hard to identify colleges that are a good academic match

Study for your SAT’s and ACT’s

Be realistic about creating a list of schools where you will be accepted

Visit schools to narrow down your list

WHAT CRITERIA STUDENTS USE

SizeLocation

Distance from home Location of campus (suburb, city, rural)

Academic programsSpecial programsCostReputationDorms, food, culture of campusExtra Curricular Activities i.e. athletics, theater,

music, art

HOW DO I KNOW WHAT I LIKE IN A SCHOOL?

VISIT! VISIT! VISIT! VISIT! VISIT!Take a tourTalk to students on campusWatch an athletic event or academic eventTalk to admissions counselorsVisit with the admissions rep that come to

Reservoir (may sign up for up to five)

ASK YOURSELF: HOW DO I FIT INTO THIS CAMPUS?

MAKING A LIST

1-2 Reach Schools Long shot for admission; your academics are below

admission averages

3-5 50/50 Schools Good candidate; your academics are exactly within

admission averages

1-2 Likely Schools Strong candidate; your academics are above admission

averages

Be sure to have safe schools academically and financially on your list!

TYPES OF ADMISSIONS

Early Decision Early deadline, early response, BINDING

Early Action Early deadline, early response, NON-BINDING

Priority Deadline Students apply by an earlier deadline, and receive priority over

students who do not meet the deadline. Decisions are also made earlier

Rolling Admission Students are accepted/denied as applications are received.

Regular Admission Apply by regular deadline (usu. Jan 15) and hear a response by April 1

COLLEGE APPL ICAT ION CHECKL IST

WAIVER OF R IGHTS

TRANSCRIPT REQUEST

COUNSELOR LET TERS OF RECOMMENDATION

TEACHER LET TERS OF RECOMMENDATION

PARENT INPUT

T IMEL INE

THE TRANSCRIPT PROCESS

COLLEGE APPLICATION CHECKLIST

College Application Checklist Task Timeframe Where

☐

Complete the Teacher Information Form This should be completed for each teacher you are asking to write a letter of recommendation. The information on this form will help your teachers write a more personalized letter for you.

By June 18

☐

Complete the Counselor Information Form This gives a complete picture of your activities - both in and out of school, your honors and awards, and other information that helps your counselor write a comprehensive letter of recommendation.

By June 18

☐ Have your parent/guardian complete the Parent Input Form This is optional but it helps your school counselor with additional information from your parent that is helpful in writing your letter of recommendation.

By June 18

☐ Add Colleges to the Colleges I Am Thinking About List Log onto your Naviance account and add colleges to Colleges I Am Thinking About list. If colleges on this list come to visit, you will receive an email notifying you of the date and time they are visiting so you can sign up to attend.

Ongoing

☐ Complete Waiver of Right to Access Letters of Recommendation The completed form needs to be signed by your parent or guardian. Counselors and teachers will not submit their letters of recommendation without having this form completed in your file.

By June 18

☐ Complete Transcript Request Form 20 days prior to deadline The completed form, which needs to be signed by your parent or guardian, allows the school to send your transcripts to the colleges to which you are applying. The transcript fee is $4 per transcript and you should allow 20 school days for it to be sent.

By September 15

☐

Complete the Teacher Recommendation Request Form and hand it to teachers face-to-face, 20 days prior to deadline Once your teachers receive this, they can use the Teacher Information Form (you have completed on Naviance) to write a letter of recommendation for you. Your teachers will send your letters electronically through Naviance or mail them if necessary. Don’t forget to write a thank you note for each teacher who writes a letter of recommendation for you. A new form should be completed and given to teachers if you add more schools.

By September 15

☐

Invite teachers to complete the letter of recommendation in Naviance Click on “Colleges I Am Applying to” under the Colleges tab. Under the Teacher Recommendations section, click the add/cancel requests link. Select the teacher you would like to write a recommendation from the drop down menu. Repeat for additional teachers. Click the Update Requests button. ARL Teachers will not be on this list – you should discuss with them in person.

After you submit the Transcript Form to Registrar

CEEB Code: 210-557

WAIVER OF RIGHTS

NAVIANCESTUDENT SERVICES

Home Page

Document Library

College Application Documents

Find “Waiver 2.14” and click “View”

Print Page Complete Return to Student Services

Pick up a paper form in Student Services Complete Return to Student Services

WAIVER OF RIGHTS

Form needs to be signed by both

your parent/guardian

and you

Complete and return to Student Services

before you invite

teachers on

Naviance!

TRANSCRIPT REQUEST


Home Page

Document Library


Find “Student Records_Transcript Request” and click “View”


Pick up a paper form in Student Services Complete Return to Student

Services

TRANSCRIPT REQUEST FORM

Due Date:

20 school days prior to your first

college application deadline

Transcript Request Form

Return to Student Services with $4

per transcrip

t!

COUNSELOR RECOMMENDAT

ION

NAVIANCE

Home Page

About Me tab

Surveys To Take (left hand side)

Reservoir High School Counselor Input Form

COUNSELOR RECOMMENDATION INPUT FORM

Due Date:

JUNE 20, 2014(last day of school)

1

2

3

Please answer with great DETAIL!!

TEACHER RECOMMENDAT

ION

INVITING TEACHERS

ON NAVIANCE

Colleges tab

Colleges I’m Applying To

Under “Teacher Recommendations” use drop down menu to select teacher(s)

Click “Update Requests” button

NAVIANCE

Home Page

About Me tab


Reservoir High School Teacher Input Form

Maximum of 2 teachers

TEACHER RECOMMENDATIONINPUT FORM

Due Date:



1

2

3

3

Please answer with great DETAIL!!


Home Page

Document Library


Find “Teacher Recommendation Request Form” and click “View”


Pick up a paper form in Student Services Complete Return to Student

Services

TEACHER RECOMMENDATION REQUEST FORM

Due Date:



Complete &

return to each of your

teachers

PARENT INPUT

NAVIANCE

Parent Home Page

About Me tab


Parent Information Form

*This is optional but strongly encouraged

PARENT INFORMATION FORM

Due Date:

JUNE 20, 2014(last day of school)

TIMELINE

TIMELINE REMINDERS

Counselor Recommendation Input Form

Parent Input Form

DUE JUNE 20, 2014 (last day of school)

TIMELINE REMINDERS

Transcript Request Form The registrar will add all colleges listed on request form to

“Colleges I’m Applying To” in Naviance

Teacher Recommendation Input Form

Teacher Request Form

DUE 20 DAYS PRIOR TO 1ST COLLEGE APPLICATION DEADLINE

MOST COMMON REQUEST DUE DATES

College Application Deadline Last Date Student Can Turn in Requests

October 15, 2014 September 16, 2014

NOVEMBER 1, 2014 OCTOBER 3, 2014

November 15, 2014 October 13, 2014

December 1, 2014 October 23, 2014

December 15, 2014 November 12, 2014

*January 1, 2015 *November 21, 2014

CLOSING THOUGHTS

It is imperative to find the balance between a rigorous schedule and being successful Colleges want to see that you have challenged yourself across

curriculums and maintained success

Use multiple resources when researching colleges Cross reference different websites and utilize print publications

Even if you don’t think you want to apply to HCC Apply to HCC by February so you can be considered for

scholarships and Honors programs.

It is important to keep all your options open!

ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS

Admissions counselors caution families from using the term “safety school” Entrance requirements are become more demanding

There is no such thing as the “perfect college” There are over 3000 colleges and with effort and guidance

you can find multiple colleges where you will be happy and successful.

Be realistic when you are creating your list of schools Be sure to include an appropriate range of schools and an

appropriate number.

Visit Reservoir Student Services website for up to date information about college, forms, scholarship,

information and more

S t uden t Se rv i ces webs i t e can be f ound :www. rhsga t o r s . com

Qu i ck L i nks

S t uden t Se rv i ces

QUESTIONS??