KINGS High School Class of 2018 College Applications Guide Order of Events 1. In Naviance: Create your college list: Click on COLLEGES tab Click on Colleges I m Applying to 2. In Naviance: Build a Resume: Click on About Me Click on Resume 3. Finish taking your ACT/SAT - If you are taking the SAT or ACT in the fall of your senior year, you should NOT wait until you receive new scores to submit college applications. 4. Complete your applications using the Common Application (Page 4-6) OR For non-common App schools their college website (Page 3) Some deadlines can be as early as November 1 or December 1 5. In Naviance: Mark that you ve applied 6. In Naviance: Request Transcripts 7. In Naviance: Request any Letters of Recommendation if needed 8. Submit your ACT/SAT Scores directly from ACT or College Board 9. The Counseling Department will complete the school report or counseling form and send your transcript(s). 10.Commit to your college no later than May 1 of senior year. Common App or Not? Applying via Common App - Don t know? Here s how you can tell When you go to the Colleges I m Applying To tab in Naviance, IF you see a symbol that looks like this or - You are applying to a school that accepts the Common App. If the computer is blank then go directly to that school s website to apply. Page 1
Which Admission Decision Option Should I Choose? Choose Carefully Rolling Admissions This is the practice of admitting or rejecting an applicant as soon as all admission materials have been submitted. The usual length of time for notification is roughly three weeks. Regular Decision You are applying by the normal date set by the college and will receive notification of admission based on how that college processes applications. Early Decision This is a binding contract! Early decision is used primarily by selective schools, e.g., Miami Ohio. A student who decides that a particular college is her ABSOLUTE FIRST CHOICE applies early in the fall of their senior year. Under Early Decision, the applicant signs a statement agreeing to attend that university upon acceptance, regardless of financial aid offered. (If accepted, the student must then withdraw her applications from all other colleges). The advantage of this system is that the candidate will receive notification by mid-december. Early Action Allows students to receive an admission decision earlier than most students. Notification Date This is the date that colleges notify all applicants of acceptance or denial. How Do I Request my ACT/SAT Scores to be sent? When registering for the ACT/SAT if you chose for your scores to be sent to certain schools this step is already complete. If not go to www.actstudent.org to send ACT results If not got to www.collegeboard.com to send SAT results Page 2
Applying to Colleges For Colleges NOT using the Common App 1. Log into Naviance 2. Click on the COLLEGES tab. Click on COLLEGES I M APPLYING TO 3. Add the Names of ALL Colleges you will be applying to by clicking on +add to this list. 4. Under the College box choose lookup to select your school(s) 5. Under the Type box choose early/regular/rolling decision, etc. 6. To Complete the Application: From the COLLEGES tab, select Colleges I m Applying to then double click the school name. From here you can either choose Apply On-line or click on the school website to access the application. 7. Go Back to Naviance: You MUST request a Transcript. Look for a blue link (above the College list header) that reads request transcripts. Click on the link and check the box to process your request. 8. While still in Naviance: You MUST indicate you have submitted your app Go back to your List of Colleges and look for a column titled My App. Click on have you applied? and change your status to I have applied ** You MUST complete steps 7 and 8 in order for Naviance to notify your Counselor that you are finished with your application and ready for official documents to be sent on your behalf. ** Page 3
Applying to Colleges Using the Common App.Initial set-up Steps 1-7 1. Start the Common App at www.commonapp.org. a. Click the green CREATE ACCOUNT button b. Click the small blue words create account 2. Follow the steps to register and set up your account. Write down your Common App username and password!! Keep it safe and do NOT create more than one account. 3. Under the COLLEGE SEARCH tab - Search your college(s) by name and click ADD. You must add at least one college to proceed. This will add schools to My Dashboard. 4. Under the COMMON APP tab complete the Education section from the left margin. This must be completed before you can proceed with anything else. You will need to enter your counselors contact information at this point. A-G Heidi Murray School Counselor hmurray@kingslocal.net 513-398-8050 H-N Erika Volker School Counselor evolker@kingslocal.net 513-398-8050 O-Z Alex Garvin School Counselor agarvin@kingslocal.net 513-398-8050 5. Under the MY DASHBOARD double click on any school (it doesn t matter right now which one) that you ve added and select Recommenders and FERPA from the left hand margin. Page 4
Applying to Colleges Using the Common App.Initial Set-Up Steps 1-7 6. Click Release Authorization and follow the steps. 7. Now Go Back to Naviance. Under the COLLEGES tab, choose Colleges I m Applying to and you will see a large shaded blue box titled Common App Account Matching. Fill it out using the email you used to create your Common App account. Click the MATCH button. It should now say Common App Account Matching Complete YOUR INITIAL SET-UP IS NOW DONE; Page 5
Applying to Colleges Using the Common App completing your app steps 8-10 SINCE INITIAL SET-UP IS NOW COMPLETE; YOU CAN TAKE YOUR TIME TO WORK ON YOUR APPLICATION AT THIS POINT 8. Return to the Common App to complete your application. Because your Naviance and Common App are now matched any additions to colleges that you make in Common App will automatically appear in Naviance. - Complete all sections under the COMMON APP tab like profile and family. Under Education/Grades your class size is 320 and choose none for rank. Enter your weighted GPA on a 4.0 scale. - Complete all sections specific to each college under DASHBOARD tab - Request Letters of Recommendation in Naviance; NOT in Common App 8. Once your Common App is completed Go Back to Naviance: You MUST request a Transcript by clicking on those words. 9. While still in Naviance: You MUST also indicate you have submitted your app Go back to your List of Colleges and look for a column titled My App. Click on have you applied? and change your status to I have applied. Page 6
Transcripts!!! --- what s all the HYPE about? How long does is take the Counseling Department to send my Transcript after I select that box? Please allow atleast 10 school days to process all Transcript requests. It s important to know that the counselors have other documents they are required to prepare and send with your Transcript. Why Does the College Say It Needs My Initial or Final Transcript? My Counselor Said It Was Already Sent Please read your letter carefully. There are 3 possible issues: 1.When you electronically submit your application, some colleges immediately send you a reminder notice to have your transcript sent. If you requested your transcript to be sent, you are fine. The Counseling Dept. will send your transcript but it may take 3 weeks for the college to document it s receipt. 2.The letter actually states they want additional information. That means you need to send them additional test scores and/or your grades from the first semester of senior year. 3.The letter you received actually states that they need a FINAL transcript to officially enroll you. The FINAL transcript is mailed from the Counseling Dept. AFTER you graduate. The college has received your initial transcript but they are warning you that they need the FINAL transcript to prove you have graduated. This FINAL transcript is mailed in June and only to the college you are actually Attending. How Does My Counselor Know Where to Send My Final Transcript? In Naviance you must update your status once you ve selected the college to which you ll attend. A Final Transcript will be sent to your college in June. SEE BACKSIDE FOR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Page 7
Frequently Asked Questions How Do I Find my GPA? GPA can be obtained in Naviance. Choose ABOUT ME; OFFICIAL THINGS; PROFILE How Many Colleges Should I Apply to? The majority of students apply to 3-5 colleges; it s a decision for parents and students to make together. When Do I Apply for College? Most colleges begin accepting applications in August/September. Many colleges have an early decision deadline of November 1 or December 1 You can apply as late a January 5 th for the Common App. It is the student s responsibility to know the deadlines of each school to which they apply. What Much Does it Cost to Apply? Each college application typically costs around $50. Waivers exist for those in financial need. See your counselor. How Do I request Letters of Recommendation? 1-2 Letters of Recommendation should be sufficient for most applications. 1. Log into Naviance. 2. Click on the COLLEGES tab. 3. Click on Letters of Recommendation. 4. On the recommendation request page, students will click on the blue Add Request button and select their teacher(s) from the drop down list.. Type a brief note to your teacher. 5. Follow Up your online request with a face-to-face visit the teacher. 6. Make sure your resume is current in Naviance. Page 8