NAVIGATING THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS VERONA HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELING DEPARTMENT SEPTEMBER 20, 2011
THE SCHOOL COUNSELING DEPARTMENT Mrs. Kimberly Ferlauto Director of Guidance School Counselor (S-Z) Ext. 1019 kferlauto@veronaschools.org Mrs. Diane Newman Administrative Assistant Ext. 1015 dnewman@veronaschools.org Ms. Kathleen Grant School Counselor (A-G) Ext. 1020 kgrant@veronaschools.org Ms. Colleen Green School Counselor (H-R) Ext. 1018 cgreen@veronaschools.org Mrs. Dana Lustig Student Assistance Counselor Anti-Bullying Coordinator Ext. 1041 dlustig@veronaschools.org
TONIGHT S AGENDA Types of Admissions Policies Components of the Application Process Other Important Information Scholarships and Financial Aid
TYPES OF ADMISSIONS POLICIES Early Decision Early Action Single Choice Early Action Rolling Admissions Regular Decision Open Admissions Priority/Preferred
Important Information for Early Decision Applicants Early Decision (ED) Applicants: The ED Agreement Form Required only for candidates who apply via the binding ED Plan to their first choice institution Download form from the Common App website or from the school s own website Print, student & parent sign, bring to your counselor for signature Verona High School will not send it It is the student s responsibility to mail it in
COMPONENTS OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS A Complete College Application The Student Component The Teacher Component The Counselor/ Guidance Component
THE STUDENT COMPONENT 1. Complete Applications Create a Common Application Account www.commonapp.org Decide to which Schools You Are Applying Start early Follow directions Meet deadlines Allow time for writing and reviewing Proofread! Save often! Request SAT/ACT scores to be sent
The Common Application If a school offers you the option of using the Common Application or their own application, you should use the Common Application. Create an account at www.commonapp.org Fill out basic information Add schools to the list Keep Common Application username and password handy.
Sending Test Scores Verona High School does not send any standardized test scores. It is the student s responsibility to have scores sent directly to the college: For SAT/AP scores: www.collegeboard.com For ACT: www.actstudent.org If you have not taken either test, you must do so immediately! Fall SAT dates: Oct. 1, Nov. 5, Dec. 3 Fall ACT dates: Oct. 22, Dec. 10
THE STUDENT COMPONENT 2. Letters of Recommendation Turn in Senior Uniqueness Form, Activity Resume, Parent Brag Sheet ASAP! This helps your counselor to write your letter (Should have been submitted in June) Complete and distribute teacher recommendation forms to TWO teachers. Teacher Recommendation Forms are on the Guidance Website under FORMS Make sure you tell your teacher if you are applying to a Common App School Ask your teachers at least 2 weeks before you plan on REQUESTING your transcript.
THE STUDENT COMPONENT 3. Request Transcripts Through Naviance Only AFTER Steps 1 & 2 have been completed and a Records Release Form with $5 transcript fee has been submitted to the Counseling Office Complete FERPA form in Naviance Track the status of your transcripts through Naviance
Schedule for Submitting Transcript Requests (15 School Days to Process) If the College/University Application Deadline is the Transcript Request must be submitted through Naviance on or before the following: November 1, 2011 October 11, 2011 November 15, 2011 October 21, 2011 December 1, 2011 November 4, 2011 December 15, 2011 November 22, 2011 January 1, 2012 December 5, 2011 January 15, 2012 December 16, 2011 February 1, 2012 January 10, 2012
The Teacher Component Once teachers receive the Request for Teacher Recommendation Form, they will write your letter and complete the Common App teacher form if necessary. Your teacher will upload all necessary materials to Naviance. All recommendations are confidential. Be sure to thank your teacher!
The Counselor Component Counselor recommendation School profile Secondary School Report Official Transcript/ Schedule Teacher Letters of Recommendation/Forms *All of these will become a part of your electronic file that will be sent to requested colleges through Naviance or by mail
To Enter a Transcript Request Student logs on to Naviance/Family Connection http://connection.naviance.com/vhsnj
Requesting Transcripts for the First Time Click the Colleges Tab
Click Colleges I m Applying to
Complete the Privacy Notice for Common Application (using your Common Application login information)
After the Waiver Is Complete Under the Colleges tab, click Transcripts
Select the Teachers You have Already Requested Letters of Recommendations From
Click Request transcripts for my college applications
Check Add Request boxes for the transcript(s) you want sent at this time. *If the college name does not appear, use the New Applications feature.
Scroll down and click Request Transcripts
If using a Special Application for a Common App School Under COLLEGES I M APPLYING TO Click on have you applied? Indicate NO
Make sure you get a confirmation message If a school contacts you regarding your transcript, letters, etc., check the status here. If the school accepts electronic requests, contact them and let them know the mailed date, which is when it was sent electronically. If they do not accept electronic requests, the mailed date is the date it was placed in the mail.
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION First Marking Period Grades: If you wish to send 1 st marking period grades, the student must send a copy of their report card. VHS cannot and will not send marking period 1 grades unless there is a formal request from an institution. First Semester Grades/Midyear Report: No additional request or action is necessary No additional charge Automatically sent in February after midyear grades No additional forms are needed
Important Information for Student Athletes NCAA Eligibility: www.ncaaeligibilitycenter.com Create account Should be done the end of 11 th grade/beginning of 12 th grade Request NCAA transcript through Naviance as soon as you are authorized to do so. NCAA Athletic Vision - Wednesday, October 26 th 7:00 pm @ Glen Ridge HS
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION Résumé and other Additional Info: It is the student s responsibility to send, electronically or by mail, the resume and/or any additional information they want the colleges to have. Changes to Senior Year Courses: May affect admissions offers. Students should contact each school to discuss potential changes as well as write a letter to each school explaining the course change. As always, consult with your counselor throughout the process.
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION RUTGERS UNIVERSITY & SUNY Schools Require no forms from VHS Complete a transcript request through Naviance so we know you applied, but VHS will not send anything Complete online Self Reported Academic Record (SRAR) through the Application site. Need your State Student ID (NJ SMART Number) for Rutgers Can be found on About Me tab in Naviance
FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIPS Financial Aid Night Tuesday, December 13 th 7 p.m. FAFSA Form (Free Application for Federal Student Aid ) www.fafsa.ed.gov CSS Profile www.collegeboard.com Scholarships/Special Programs Posted on Naviance. Click on Colleges tab, scroll down to Scholarships and Money
Technology Resources Verona High School Guidance website www.veronaschools.org (under Schools ) Guidance Common Application www.commonapp.org SAT- www.collegeboard.com ACT- www.actstudent.org Verona High School Naviance/Family Connection https://connection.naviance.com/vhsnj
Quick Reference Checklist First, did you. Hand in all necessary paperwork and fees to the School Counseling office Create an account with Common App Complete your applications Request Teacher Recommendations (ex. If you need to request a transcript by October 11 th for a November 1 st deadline, you should ask you teachers no later than September 26 th with a due date of October 11 th )
Quick Reference Checklist Then you can go to Naviance and. Complete the FERPA form Request Transcripts Indicate who you asked for Letters of Recommendation Track the status of your transcripts
FAST FACTS Weighted GPA on a 4.3 scale Weighted Rank Cumulative GPA and rank on bottom of transcript State ID that Rutgers asks for is on transcript Class Size : 150 CEEB Code: 311550 School Address: 151 Fairview Ave. Verona, NJ 07044
QUESTIONS Don t Stress! Make an appointment with your counselor.