Senior Parent College Application Night

1. Senior Parent CollegeApplication Night Shawnee High School September 21, 2016

2. Purpose of Parent Night • Assist you with the college application process. • Discuss application procedures, transcript requests, letters of recommendation, standardized testing, and Naviance.

3. Test Dates SAT’s- at Cherokee HS- www.collegeboard.org November 5, 2016 (Deadline 10/7) December 3, 2016 ACT’s-www.actstudent.org October 22, 2016 (late deadline 9/30) December 10, 2016 Sending Test Scores • You must send Standardized Test scores to colleges directly from the testing agency • AP scores must be sent directly from College Board. • If you have taken any class as a RCBC CAP course, you will need to request a transcript from RCBC. RCBC does not appear on your high school transcript. http://www.rcbc.edu/transcripts

4. Family Connection Powered by NAVIANCE • Create a resume • Personality/learning style inventories • Explore careers/career profiler • Search colleges • Full length SAT practice tests • Apply for scholarships • Track transcripts and letters of recommendation http://connection.naviance.com/shawneehs Username: StudentID#@lrstudents.org Password: StudentID#

5. Teacher Recommendations • Ask two teachers politely in person. Give teachers at least two weeks notice. • Put teacher recommendation request in Naviance 1. Click on Colleges 2. Click on Colleges I’m Applying To 3.In the box below Common App information, Add Colleges to this List- add colleges you are applying to 4. Under Letters of Recommendation-Click Add Request 5. Select teacher’s name from drop down bar. Click Save • When teachers write you a letter, they will also fill out the common application teacher form electronically. • If you have any outside letters, you will need to send them on your own.

6. Counselor Forms • Counselors will fill out all required forms electronically but students and parents MUST complete brag sheets. • Brag sheets can be found on Naviance: • Click on About Me • On Left, Surveys to Take • Student Brag Sheetfor Counselor, Parent Brag Sheet for Counselor, Student Brag Sheet for Teachers • Answer questions for all three and click Update

7. How many schools should I apply to? • Reach 1-2 • Good Match 2-3 • Safe 1-2 • Think about major, location, size, setting (rural/urban/suburban), extracurricular activities. • Realistic evaluation of each college’s admission requirements (grades, standardized test scores, required high school courses).

8. Types of College Admissions • Early decision is a contract between you and the college. You can only apply to 1 school early decision. If you are accepted, you MUST attend. BINDING contract! • Early action is more flexible. You do not have to commit to the college if you are accepted. You can apply to multiple schools. NON-BINDING contract! • Rolling Admission-Applications are evaluated as they are received. • Regular Decision- decisions are made once ALL applications have been received by deadline. Pay attention to deadlines

9. Ways to Apply ONLINE • School Application • Go to the individual college website • You will create a username and password • Fill out the entire application online • Common Application- www.commonapp.org • You will create a username and password • Fill out once for multiple schools • Coalition Application- www.colationforcollegeaccess.org ** If a college accepts the Common Application & also has its own online application or VIP/Priority application, you MUST apply using the Common Application for us to be able to send electronic documents.**

10. Link up Common App & Naviance • www.commonapp.org • Enter email and create password • Fill out application & complete FERPA waiver (on My Colleges tab) • Login to Naviance from Shawnee website username- StudentID#@lrstudents.org password- StudentID# • Click on Colleges • Click on Colleges I’m applying To. Read Common Application Information. • Enter the email address you used for Common Application. • Click MATCH

11. Application and Transcript Process We MUST have parental release of academic records on file or the transcript will not be sent (in your packet) • Complete the application online using the college’s website or Common App website. • Submit a Transcript Request Form (in your packet) to the Registrar in the Counseling Center. Please allow up to two weeks. *You need a Transcript Request Form for each college.* • The Counselor will electronically submit all required documentation-transcripts, letters, etc.

12. Rutgers The Rutgers application process is unique • Apply online on Rutgers website • Self report your grades on Rutgers website-SRAR (Self Reported Academic Record) • Send your SAT/ACT scores directly from testing agency to Rutgers. Rutgers does not want a high school transcript or recommendation letters. If you plan to attend, you will send a final transcript in June.

13. RCBC Spring Ahead Program • October 18th- Attend BCC informational meeting at Shawnee & fill out free application- https://www.bcc.edu/adm/form.asp • December-Transcript request form due to Counseling Center • February-RCBC placement tests at Shawnee. Exempt if scored 540 in Critical Reading and/or 530 in Math on SAT’s or ACT Reading-23 and/or Math-20 (Must have applied and sent transcript by January in order to take test) • April -Trip to RCBC to register for classes (Must have applied, sent transcript & taken placement test in order to attend) • Top 15% weighted rank = NJ Star

14. College Athletics Students who are planning to play in a Division I, II sport need to complete the following: 1. Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center: http://eligbilitycenter.org • Send official test scores from College Board/ACT to NCAA • Submit a transcript request form so we can send your transcript to NCAA

15. Things to do….NOW • Counselor will meet with seniors individually to review college application process • Submit parental release of academic records • Know where you plan to apply • Sign up in Counseling Center for College Visits-Listed on Counseling Website & on daily announcements • Ask teachers for recommendation letters (2) and request through Naviance • Fill out brag sheets • Finish standardized testing • APPLY-**pay attention to deadlines** • Visit Counseling website for important information. • Follow us on Twitter- @ShaHSCounseling

16. Scholarships • Mrs. Janae Zechman– Chairperson jzechman@lrhsd.org • Check the Shawnee Scholarship page & Naviance : www.lrhsd.org/shacounseling https://connection.naviance.com/shawneehs • Complete local scholarship packet (available on school website in February)

17. Financial Aid • Visit Financial Aid website-www.fafsa.ed.gov • Complete FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) online after OCTOBER 1st • Check college deadlines for FAFSA • NJ Stars must apply for financial aid • Student Loan Guide distributed by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority of NJ (HESAA): http://www.hesaa.org/Flipbook/index.html Financial Aid Night October 13, 2016 6 pm Shawnee HS-Auditorium

18. Counselor Contact Information CounselorLast NamesPhoneEmail Mrs. Michelle Scheffer A-B x4416 mscheffer@lrhsd.org Mr. Kevin Looney C-D x4408 klooney@lrhsd.org Mr. Gary Hill E-Ha x4419 ghill@lrhsd.org Mrs. Janae Zechman He-Man x4411 jzechman@lrhsd.org Ms. Julie McGrory Mar-Pi x4417 jmcgrory@lrhsd.org Mr. Darren Welsh Pl-So x4451 dwelsh@lrhsd.org Mrs. Erin O’Neill Sp-Z x4402 erinoneill@lrhsd.org Mrs. Heidi Krihak SAC x4413 hkrihak@lrhsd.org Shawnee-609-654-7544