RHS Counseling Department Senior College Planning Night Alphabet

RHS Counseling Department Senior College Planning Night

Alphabet Breakdown Class of 2020 Mrs. Cruz: Mrs. Vavra: Ms. Schmid: Ms. Richard: Mrs. Walker: A – Cav Caw- Her Hes - Mar Mas – Sca Scb - Z

Agenda o Admission Definitions & Standardized Testing o RHS College Application Process & Procedure n n n n Naviance Student & Family Responsibility Process for Submitting Applications Common Application Tips Coalition for Access, Affordability, & Success Application Rutgers Tips Helpful Reminders o Questions?

Admissions Definitions o o o Early Decision: The binding admission process where the student applies to his/her first choice school. If offered admission, student must withdraw all other applications from other schools. If you choose this route, there is a binding contract that must be signed by parent, student, and counselor. Early Action: The non-binding admission process whereby the student applies early to the institution. The student has until May 1, National Deposit Deadline to make a decision. Restrictive or Single-Choice Early Action: The non-binding admission process which restricts students from applying to a binding early decision program at another school. However, students are free to apply to other regular decision schools. o o Example: Princeton University- November 1 st deadline nonbinding. You may not apply to an early program at any other private college or university, but you may apply early to any public institution, as long as the decision is nonbinding. You can apply to rolling admission schools as long as it is nonbinding. Rolling Admission: Students are offered or denied admission throughout the calendar year. There is no specific application deadline. Priority Admissions: Application given special consideration based on when the application was received by the college. Regular Admission: Non-binding admission process where students apply in the winter and learn of a decision in the spring.

Standardized Testing o For November Early Action Deadlines: Typically the school will still accept August, September & October SAT/ACT Scores. There a few schools that will also accept November SAT/ACT scores. Call your particular college and ask. Southern state schools (North Carolina) will accept applications as early as the end of August and early September. o For Regular Application Deadlines: Typically December & January SAT/ACT Scores are the latest dates that they will accept. o AP Test Scores: Students will send their AP scores only to the institution they are going to attend. This typically will happen in July 2020. The AP score has no bearing on admission.

Test Optional Schools – Fair. Test. org

Advanced College Search in Naviance Student

Scattergram in Naviance Student with SAT

Scattergram in Naviance Student with ACT

RHS Application Process – Student/Family Responsibility o Student & Family send the following items directly to the colleges: n Completed Applicationo Onlinen nearly 900 colleges accept the Common Application n Over 140 colleges accept the Coalition Application n n Application Fee Completed Essay Completed Activities Resume/Activities Section SAT and/or ACT scores (must be sent electronically from College Board SAT or ACT)

How Many Applications Should I Submit? o This is a personal/unique answer o On average, RHS students apply to approximately 7 institutions o They ensure that they choose institutions from the categories of target and probable. It is optional if they apply to reach institutions.

Naviance Student Using e. Docs 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Be sure to have your username and password to Naviance Student to get started. Create a username and password with the Common Application. Go to www. commonapp. org even if you are not applying to any schools using the common application. Add a college into “My Colleges” tab then complete the FERPA Waiver Form. Login to Naviance Student, click the “College” tab, then select “Colleges I’m applying to”. Fill out the Common Application Information. You need to input your username (email address) from the common application. This will sync the common application to your naviance account. This is how we can send your documents electronically.

Step One in using e. Docs: Sign FERPA in Common Application

Common Application Tips www. commonapp. org UNDER THE EDUCATION SECTION: o o RHS CEEB Code: 311326 Entry Date: 09/2016 Graduation Date: 06/19/2020 RHS Counseling Phone #: 609. 632. 0950 Guidance Fax: 609. 371. 7960 o o Counselor Title: School Counselor Mrs. Dyesha Cruz: phone extension- x. 3036 Email: cruz. dyesha@robbinsville. k 12. nj. us Ms. Lindsay Richard: phone extension- x. 3012 Email: richard@robbinsville. k 12. nj. us Ms. Kaitlyn Schmid, phone extension – x. 3028 Email: schmid. kaitlyn@robbinsville. k 12. nj. us Mrs. Michelle Vavra: phone extension –x. 3014 Email: vavra. michelle@robbinsville. k 12. nj. us Mrs. Jo. Anne Walker: phone extension- x. 3031 Email: jwalker@robbinsville. k 12. nj. us o o o UNDER THE EDUCATION/GRADES SECTION: o o o 2020 Class Size: 234 GPA Scale: 4. 0 weighted Class Rank: None

Click College Search & Add A College

Step Two: Sync Naviance/Family Connection with Common Application

Required to let us know what application you are using Direct to the institution includes the Coalition App

Congratulations! You have officially added and noted how you will apply to your college

Common Application Tips o Academic Section “ACT/SAT information” - note past & future dates that you took or are taking the test. You do not need to report your actual scores. Reminder, you still need to send official scores directly from testing agencies to the colleges. o Secondary School Report: Counselors will automatically complete this online and submit it for you. You do not need to provide us with any forms. o Supplement: Many institutions ask specific additional short essay questions that must be submitted separately. o Activities: You have 10 slots to list activities. List activities in order of importance to you. You get 50 characters, you the little space you have wisely. o Writing: Your essay must be at least 250 words, but no more than 650 words. You may type your essay in word first, then copy and paste it into the text field. New feature, sharing your essay using the Google Drive.

List of Colleges that require self report grades in Common App

Naviance Student: Adding Colleges o In the “Colleges I’m Thinking About” tab, select the link “Add to list” and add all of the schools you are applying to. o Use the “look up” tab to find the institution. Then select “Add College” at the bottom of the page. o The next screen will populate showing how the college receives transcripts. Under “Delivery Type” you will see CA (for common app), picture of a computer for electronic submission, or a stamp for mail only. o Fill out the Transcript Request Card and hand it in to Mrs. Lubbers.

Letters of Recommendation o Counselor Recommendation: All student brag sheets, activity resumes, & parent brag sheets must be turned in for the counselor to write the letter. Counselors need a minimum of 15 school days. o Teacher Recommendation: n n Part I: All teacher brag sheets were handed in by June 1 st. If you did not turn them in, be sure to give them to your teachers immediately. Part II: o o Complete the Teacher Recommendation Request Form. Provide the teacher with addressed and stamped envelopes for each school that does not accept them electronically. Each envelope should have the name and address of the admission office. Be sure to use Robbinsville High School’s address as the return address. Submit all forms and envelopes to your teachers 15 school days prior to the application deadline. A log binder is available to teachers in the Counseling Department.

Teacher Recommendation Request Form

MAIL ONLY College Application Process o Pick up one transcript release packet for each college application that does not receive transcripts electronically in the Guidance Office. o Transcript Release Packet has the following: n Pink Confirmation Receipt Postcardo Fill in student and college name only, provide a stamp n Large Envelope – Write or type college address n Provide $5. 00 per college application or application fee waiver. ($5. 00 covers postage for initial mailing, mid year grades (February) and final transcripts (July) mailed to the colleges) *Once completed, hand into Mrs. Lubbers, Counseling. Secretary. It takes 15 school days to process.

Confirmation Postcard Place stamp Write institution name and student name

Application Submission Responsibilities o STUDENT SENDS: application, essay, resume, any supplemental materials, and official SAT or ACT scores (directly from collegeboard. org and/or act. org) o COUNSELOR SENDS: official transcript, counselor’s letter of recommendation, secondary school report, and school profile o TEACHER SENDS: teacher’s letters of recommendation & teacher evaluation forms

Coalition for Access, Affordability, & Success Application o The Coalition Application is in its 4 th year allowing students to apply for the Fall 2020 start term. o There approximately 140 member institutions. o We use Naviance Student to send your documents electronically to college admission offices. We treat Coalition Application just as we do any non-common application school. o Do NOT invite recommenders to send documents through Coalition. We use Edocs.

The Rutgers Application www. admissions. rutgers. edu o o o o o You need your NJ Smart ID (obtain from Mrs. Lubbers) November 1 st – Early Action (Rolling) December 1 st – Regular Decision Part A- Required Application Part B- Required Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR) (You need a copy of your transcript to complete this section) Part C- Optional Educational Opportunity Fund questionnaire Separate Honors Application Students should NOT add Rutgers to their transcript release card as they do not accept transcripts or letters of recommendation Be sure to send your official SAT/ACT scores

Last Minute Reminders o If it is a MAIL ONLY institution, get your transcript release packet (large envelope) in as soon as possible. Mail takes time! o Teacher Recommendation Request Form: Get them to your teachers as soon as possible. Some teachers wait to write your letters until they receive a request form. o Common Application Schools: Add your colleges to the “My Colleges” section then be sure to add RHS’ ceeb code to the “Education” section before handing in your transcript card. This is how Common Application syncs with Naviance Student. *Even if you do not submit the applications using the common application, you must keep the schools loaded in the “My Colleges” section for us to send your transcript electronically. Many students will want to use the “Special” application or “Dean’s” application that may waive the application fee.

Stay Organized! o Admission Deadlines Calendarn Note dates of application deadlines and dates that the transcript release packet needs to be submitted to Guidance. o Complete Transcript Release Forms ASAP. o For January 1 st deadlinesn All transcript requests must be into Guidance by November 14 th due to holiday/winter break and the backlog of mail. o Make a copy of everythingn Colleges receive a great amount of paperwork and they do lose material. o Keep all usernames and passwords in one place. o Prospective Division I and II athletes: register with NCAA Eligibility Center: http: //eligibilitycenter. org

Financial Aid & Scholarships o Financial Aid Night – October 7, 2019 o Apply for Financial Aid on/after October 1, 2019 o Local Scholarship Program through the RHS Counseling Department March 2020

Important Dates: o o o September 19 th: RHS Counselor will begin their senior meetings October 7 Th: Financial Aid Night at 7 pm October 5 th: SAT Test October 20 th: Philadelphia National College Fair 11 am – 3 pm October 26 th: ACT Test October 28 th: Atlantic City National College Fair 6 pm – 8 pm & October 29 th: Atlantic City National College Fair 9 am – 12 pm November 1 st: Starts Early Action Deadlines in the Northeast November 2 nd: SAT Test November 13 th: End of 1 st Marking Period. *Request 1 st Marking Period Grades to be Sent* November 25 th: Get all MAIL ONLY school envelopes into guidance for January 1 st deadlines February/March: RHS Local Scholarship Applications Available

Final Thoughts o o o There is a college for every student. Be realistic and positive. Stay Organized. Let your son/daughter do the work. The application process produces a roller coaster of emotions. o Seek out the help – we are here for you. “College is a match to be made, not a prize to be won. ”

Questions?