Planning for Post-Secondary Education
September 11, 2014
Taryn Barrett and Laura Ladley
Class of 2015
• Senior Year Timeline
• Naviance, Common Application, & FERPA
• The Application Process
• Sending Standardized Test Scores
• Recommendations
• Financial Aid & Scholarships
• FAQs
Finalize a list of 4-8 colleges.
Visit campuses.
Clean-up social media pages and then apply to college.
SAT/ACT scores to colleges in the format they require.
Naviance: track applications, research scholarships, college rep
visits, questionnaires.
Secure teacher & counselor recommendations.
Financial Aid Night November 12 @ CB East 7pm
FAFSA after January 1, 2015.
Stay strong academically!
Over 150 College Reps come to South each fall
Find calendar of visits and register to attend in Naviance
Procedure to register:
• Add the college to “Colleges I’m Thinking About” list.
• Sign-up for the visit at least one day in advance.
• Print confirmation page as your pass to attend the visit.
• Prepare questions to ask the rep!
Rolling
Regular
• Earlier application
• Set deadline
• Often all apps are
read at same time
• May not receive a
decision until
Spring
typically leads to
earlier response
• Competition builds
• All PA state schools
and PSU by
Halloween
Early Action (EA)- LOVE the school, not binding;
Apply early, get decision early. Some colleges limit the number
of EA applications you send, all apps read together, May 1st to
make final decision.
Early Decision (ED)- LOVE the school, binding.
Limited to one ED application.
The Common Application
PA State System of Higher Education
School Specific Applications
The Application Portion:
o Submit application & fee to college.
o Arrange for “official score reports” to be sent by College
Board or ACT~ if required.
The School Records Portion:
o Complete Transcript Request Form (TRF) for each college to
which you apply. TRF on Guidance Website.
o If teacher recommendations are required get a Green Sheet
from Mrs. Schamp, fill out and give to your teachers.
** Please note that you should submit two TRF to the
Senior House if you apply to Penn State and have
indicated that you would attend one of their satellite
campuses if not admitted to University Park. **
When we receive your TRF, we will send the following:
o Transcript with test scores- all or nothing
o School Profile
o Counselor Letter of Recommendationo If requested and Naviance survey is completed
If your colleges want OFFICIAL test scores- you need to have
your scores sent directly from CollegeBoard and/or ACT.
Some colleges will take the scores listed on your transcript into
consideration for admissions purposes.
If you are taking the SAT or ACT in October, we suggest that you
have your scores sent by CollegeBoard and/or ACT to the
colleges to which you are applying.
o
o
o
o
o
o
How do I get them?
Ask your teacher in person now & complete any paperwork
they may require of you
Submit your application
Submit TRF to Senior House Office
Pick up a Green Sheet from Mrs. Schamp, fill it out and give
to your teacher
Give your teacher 15 school days to submit your letter
Follow-up with your teacher – we suggest that you give them
a thank you note and update them about acceptances
*James Madison University will only accept ONE
recommendation
“Financial Aid Night”
November 12, 2014 ~ CB East 7p.m.
o
o
o
o
o
www.fafsa.ed.gov for an estimated EFC.
NPC – Net Price Calculator on college sites.
CollegeBoard has excellent NPC for multiple schools!
Complete the FAFSA January of senior year.
Complete CSS profile (if required by schools) fall
of senior year.
o Search for scholarship opportunities on Naviance.
** Updated frequently in winter/spring.
o Evaluate financial aid packages.
o Complete financial aid forms January/February.
o Mid-year grades automatically sent to schools to which
o
o
o
o
o
you applied – February.
Visit schools AGAIN.
Secure housing by sending a deposit.
Final decisions by May 1st
Complete Senior Survey on Naviance: final transcript
sent.
Stay strong academically!
What is our grading scale? 4.0 weighted
What is our graduating class size? 635
What do I say for “rank”? NA
What about deciles? NA
Do counselors need those forms the applications tell us to
print? No, we use our own.
What should I use as my enrollment/start date? 9/4/2012
What to do if I forgot my Common App username or
password? Contact Common App
What to do if I need my Naviance password? Try your 6digit DOB and if that doesn’t work click on the “forgot my
password” link
What if I do not remember my CollegeBoard password?
Contact CollegeBoard directly
Where is the Transcript Request Form?
CB South webpage under Guidance or Naviance homepage.
My online applications show that the college is sending my counselor
an electronic form to release my records. Do I need to do anything
else?
YES! We will only send records if you fill out OUR CBS Transcript
Request Form. We do not use the individual colleges' forms.
Do I have enough credits to graduate and what is CP 12 on my
schedule all of a sudden?!
Check portal for credits. CP 12 stands for Career Plan 12.
What if I want to play sports in college?
Go through NCAA clearing house for Division 1 or 2 school & bring in
a TRF to the Senior House Office.
Why can’t I add colleges to the list of “colleges that I’m applying
to in Naviance”? We will do this when you hand in your
transcript request form.
When should I be done my applications? We suggest that you
aim to have your applications complete by Halloween. Your
ultimate goal is to have everything complete by Thanksgiving so
you can enjoy your break! By winter break, rolling admissions
schools should all be in so you can be competitive!
Step-by-step guide to the application process:
Transcript Request Form:
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Taryn Barrett &
Laura Ladley
Class of 2015