College Application Meeting: Part 2 Mercy High School August 24, 2018
Elements of an Application Student Responsibilities Application Test Scores Essays Requests - Teacher Letters of Recommendation - Counselor Letters of Recommendation - School Report - Transcripts Counselor Responsibilities Transcripts Letters of Recommendation School Report Teacher Responsibilities Letters of Recommendation Teacher Evaluation
Student Responsibilities: Application Student Responsibilities Application Test Scores Essays Requests - Teacher Letters of Recommendation - Counselor Letters of Recommendation - School Report - Transcripts
Different Application Types The Common Application School-specific Applications - Some colleges give students the option to complete either the Common Application or their own Schoolspecific application. Note: the College s Admissions information page will tell the applicant what type(s) of applications are used. Students can also go the Common App s website to view a list of participating schools.
Student Responsibilities: Test Scores Student Responsibilities Application Test Scores Essays Requests - Teacher Letters of Recommendation - Counselor Letters of Recommendation - School Report - Transcripts
Test Scores Mercy will post your highest test score on your transcript; however, you are responsible for sending all official ACT and/or SAT scores to colleges. At the time of testing, if you did not take advantage of the opportunity for 4 free score reports to be sent to colleges, you will need to go online to ACT and/or SAT and request that your scores be officially sent. October ACT scores will not get to colleges in time to meet a Nov. 1 deadline.
More About Test Scores Taking multiple tests: Share more than one score with your colleges. Many Colleges will evaluate you based on the highest score you share with them. For both the ACT & SAT, some colleges superscore. Some colleges will evaluate you based on the highest single sitting (ie. U of M) Testing after applying: Do not wait for test scores to apply! When registering for the September and October tests - code the colleges you want to receive your scores.
Student Responsibilities: Essays Student Responsibilities Application Test Scores Essays Requests - Teacher Letters of Recommendation - Counselor Letters of Recommendation - School Report - Transcripts
Essays: Advice from WOW Writing Workshop What do you want readers to know about you that they do not already know from your application? - Have you focused on a specific moment? - Is your theme clear? Can an impartial reader tell you WHY you shared this specific story? - Is your essay about YOU, or is it really about the place, person or experience in the story? Need essay help? Visit WOW Writing Workshop s resource page: http:// www.wowwritingworkshop.com
Student Responsibilities: Letters of Recommendation Student Responsibilities Application Test Scores Essays Requests - Teacher Letters of Recommendation - Counselor Letters of Recommendation - School Report - Transcripts
Letters of Recommendation Colleges may or may not require Counselor and/or Teacher Letters of Recommendation. - As the applicant, you must be knowledgable about whether the college requires any Letters of Recommendation. - Colleges that do not require Letters of Recommendation prefer not to receive them. - What colleges want from the school is what we do.this is for the student s benefit!
Process to Request Teacher Letters of Recommendation There is a formal request process for recommendation requests. Step 1: Determine which colleges require any teacher letters of rec and, if so, how many. Step 2: Consider which academic teacher to ask. - This should be a teacher who knows you well and is familiar with your most recent school work.
Process to Request Teacher Letters of Recommendation (cont d) Step 3: Ask teacher in-person. Step 4: Complete the Teacher Recommendation Request Form and give to teacher.
Teacher Recommendation Request Form
Process to Request Teacher Letters of Recommendation (cont d) Step 5: Request the Teacher Letter of Recommendation in Naviance Student
Process to Request Teacher Letters of Recommendation (cont d) To review, the following process steps must be followed to request Teacher Letters of Recommendation: - Step 1: Determine which colleges require teacher letters of recommendation and, if so, how many. - Step 2: Consider which academic teacher to ask. - Step 3: Ask teacher in-person. - Step 4: Complete the Teacher Recommendation Request Form and give to teacher. - Step 5: Request the teacher letter of recommendation in Naviance Student.
Student Responsibilities: Counselor Letters of Rec, School Reports & Transcripts Student Responsibilities Application Test Scores Essays Requests - Teacher Letters of Recommendation - Counselor Letters of Recommendation - School Report - Transcripts
Process to Request Counselor Letters of Rec, School Reports and Transcripts Step 1: Complete the Consent to Release Student Records Form. - Only need to fill out one time. - If you wish to add/delete colleges from your list after you have turned the form in, you must notify your counselor in-person or through email.
One-time $20 processing fee. Allow 3 full weeks for processing. Consent to Release Student Records Form Mercy High School Consent to Release Student Records This form must be completed and submitted once to the Counseling Office prior to requesting transcripts through Naviance. Please attach a one-time $20.00 transcript processing fee and the Counselor Letter of Recommendation Request form ( required regardless of application type ). Please allow up to 3 weeks for processing. Incomplete forms or those missing payment will not be processed. Student Name (please print): Date of Birth: / / Counselor (please check): Mrs. Bennetts (A-G) Mrs. Hessler (H-O) Mrs. Casey (P-Z) College(s) that I m applying to: (Please list) City in which the College Is located Application Deadline Date Application Type* (EA, ED, Rolling, etc.) Are you using the Common App? (Y or N) Do you need a Counselor Letter of Rec** (Y or N) OFFICE USE ONLY Date submitted or mailed Counselor Recommendation form must be turned in with Consent form. Check this box if you have additional colleges--list on a separate sheet and attach to this form *Consult your application or Naviance to confirm type. EA=Early Action (usually non-binding), ED=Early Decision (usually binding) **Letters are ONLY sent to the Common App schools and the Non-Common App schools that require them. RELEASE OF STUDENT RECORDS The law requires that schools receive written permission signed by the parent/guardian before transcripts and other applicable college application materials can be released to a third party. I give approval to have transcripts and other necessary documents sent to the institutions listed above when requested by my daughter. Parent/Guardian Signature: Date: / / Student Signature: Date: / / Student & parent signatures are required.
Process to Request Counselor Letters of Rec, School Reports and Transcripts (cont d) Step 2: Complete the Counselor Recommendation Request Form. - Can attach a resume in addition to answering the questions on the form. - All students must complete this form regardless of whether or not your college(s) require a letter of rec.
Counselor Recommendation Request Form Mercy High School Counselor Recommendation Request Form Student Name : Date Submitted to Counseling : Counselor (please check): Mrs. Bennetts (A-G) Mrs. Hessler (H-O) Mrs. Casey (P-Z) Mrs. Brown (all 9th) Purpose of Letter: College Application Scholarship Employment Other Please answer the following questions in detail; use a separate sheet of paper if necessary and attach it to this form: List the student activities you have participated in (when did you participate in said activities and for how long): Have you served in any leadership roles? What have you done to demonstrate leadership? Do you have any work experience? Describe : Describe your involvement in volunteer/community activities (summary of activity/organization) : Out of all the activities & experiences you re involved in, which has meant the most to you & why? 1
Process to Request Counselor Letters of Rec, School Reports and Transcripts (cont d) Step 3: Submit the forms and $20 transcript fee to the bin labeled College Application Forms in the Counseling Office. - You will receive an email from Mrs. Burek notifying you that you are now able to request transcripts electronically in Naviance Student.
Process to Request Counselor Letters of Rec, School Reports and Transcripts (cont d) Step 4: Make electronic transcript requests in Naviance. - Transcripts will be requested by you electronically in Naviance and will be sent to the colleges electronically through Naviance.
Tutorial: How to Make Transcript Requests in Naviance
Process to Request Counselor Letters of Rec, School Reports and Transcripts (cont d) To review, the following process steps must be followed to request Counselor Letters of Recommendation, School Reports, and Transcripts: - Step 1: Complete the Consent to Release Student Records Form. - Step 2: Complete the Counselor Recommendation Request Form. - Step 3: Submit the forms and the $20 transcript fee to the Counseling Office. - Step 4: Make electronic transcript requests in Naviance. Required Counselor Letter of Recs and School reports will automatically be completed by your Counselor.
FERPA & Common App Matching Process Step 1: Complete your FERPA Waiver in the Common Application Step 2: Match Your Naviance and Common App Accounts in Naviance Student.
FERPA & Common App Matching Process Step 1: Complete FERPA waiver in Common App. - After creating your Common App account and completing the education section, the FERPA waiver is required to be completed before transcripts can be sent on your behalf to Common App schools.
Tutorial: Finding and Signing the FERPA Waiver Signing the FERPA Waiver
FERPA & Common App Matching Process Step 2: How to MATCH your Naviance and Common App Accounts
Tutorial: How to Match Your Common App and Naviance Accounts Matching Your Common App & Naviance Accounts
Did they get my stuff? Once you have completed all application elements and have followed the transcript and recommendation requests procedures, you can check the status of your request(s) in Naviance Student. It is also important to check with the college to ensure all application materials have been received. It takes time for the colleges to process your documents. Questions.See your Counselor!
Odds & Ends College Rep Visits NCAA Eligibility Center Financial Aid Information Scholarship Information Key Dates
College Rep Visits
NCAA Eligibility Center If you are an athlete interested in playing a Division 1 or Division 2 sport at the college level, you must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center. - Register at www.eligibilitycenter.org. - Request a transcript by completing the form: Consent to Release Records - Athletics
Financial Aid Information College Financial Aid Information Night - Wednesday, September 19, 2018 at 7pm. FAFSA: forms available online at: www.fafsa.ed.gov - Can currently work on the FAFSA worksheet. - The FAFSA should ideally be submitted in October, 2018. CSS Profile (only used by some schools) (ie. U of M)
Scholarship Information Scholarship postings are available through: Naviance Student: see the Scholarships & Money link under the Colleges tab. Mercy s website: College Scholarships link under the Counseling tab. Common App: see the Scholar Snapp search service. If you apply for a scholarship that requires a transcript and/or letter of recommendation to be sent, you must fill out the Transcript Request Form.
Transcript Request Form Mercy High School Non-College Consent to Release Records This form will allow your Counselor to release your student records as indicated below. You do not need to submit these requests online in Naviance. Please allow up to 3 weeks for processing. Incomplete forms will not be processed. Student Name (please print): Date of Birth: / / Counselor (please check): Mrs. Bennetts (A-G) Mrs. Hessler (H-O) Mrs. Casey (P-Z) Mrs. Brown (all 9th) By signing below, I understand the directions of this form and give permission to have Mercy High School release transcripts and other necessary documents sent to the institutions listed above when requested by my daughter. Parent/Guardian Signature: Date: / / Student Signature: Date: / /
Key Dates 2018-2019 The Counseling Office will accept transcript requests starting Tuesday, September 4th. If you are applying to a college with an Early Action deadline of November 1, the last day to make transcript requests in Naviance is Monday, October 11th. The last day to submit transcript requests before the holiday break is Friday, November 30th.
Handouts Transcript Appointment Card (meeting with counselor) College Application Checklist Timeline of Important Dates
Questions? All forms and video tutorials are available in Naviance Student and on the Counseling page of the Mercy website. Thank you for your participation today!