The College Application Process: Naviance & eDocs

1. The College Application Process:Naviance & eDocs Mendham High School Counseling Office September, 2012

2. Welcome! • Dr. Marianna Marchese - Director of School Counseling • John McGoldrick - Counselor • Joan Rosen - Counselor • Marlene Russell - Counselor • Jim Simmons - Counselor • Abby Stead - Counselor • Stephanie Gardner - College & Career Center

3. Agenda • 60-75 minutes • Practical information • Changes to the Application Process • 5 EASY STEPS • Important Deadlines • Upcoming Events • Question and Answer (General) • “Personal Training”

4. The College Application Process

5. Naviance Family Connection • A comprehensive website that students and parents can use as a tool in planning for their future. • Has been used in the past for: • College research • Student Data (test scores, GPA etc.) • Prospective Colleges • Scholarships • Scattergrams

6. New Naviance Initiative: The College Application • School Documents will be sent online through the Naviance program • Common Application Reports • Teacher and Counselor Recommendations • Transcripts • School Profile • Some schools will still be sent paper copies

7. Overall Expectations • Keep the process in perspective • Work together as a family • Students must take ownership • Discuss finances openly • Start early and meet all deadlines

8. Expectations for the Student • Mendham High School uses Naviance exclusively to manage the College Application Process. Students are expected to: • Update “Colleges I’m Thinking About” • Continue to research/visit colleges • Request Teacher Letters of Recommendation in Naviance • Complete Brag Sheets for the counselor • Submit a Transcript Request Form to your counselor • Students - Check email daily and respond. Is your email address appropriate?

9. Step 1: Apply via “The Common Application” • Go to Commonapp.org and set up your account • Write down your common app username and password • List your colleges that you are applying to via the Common App • Login to Naviance and sign the Common App Waiver & FERPA form and enter your Common App username and password

12. Naviance Family Connection • https://connection.naviance.com/family-connection/auth/login/?hsid=wmmhs

13. Step 2: Teacher Recommendations • Always allow at least 3 weeks for teachers to complete the letter • Please make sure you personally ask the teacher prior to submitting the official request. • Click on the College tab, then “Colleges I’m Applying To” • Scroll down to Teacher Recommendations • Click add/cancel request • Add new request, click the drop-down list and choose the teacher from the list, click submit request.

15. Step 3: View Prospective Colleges and Update Application Status

16. Step 4: View Active Application and Delivery Type

17. Types of Applications 1 2 3 4 5 • Question Mark = Student hasn’t listed the college in the Common App website • Blank Computer = Accepts EDocs and is not a Common App school • CA in Computer = Accepts EDocs and is a Common App School • Stamp = Paper Copy must be mailed • CA with line = Common App School but student has elected to use School Application instead

18. Step 5: Requesting a Transcript • Application should be submitted prior to this step • Your counselor should have brag sheets from you prior to this step • Submit a completed “Transcript Request Form” to your counselor personally. DO NOT LEAVE THIS FORM IN A COUNSELOR MAILBOX!

19. Requesting a Transcript

20. Updating the Application Status • Click on “Colleges You are Applying To” • Under “My Applications” it will ask you if you have applied. Click on the question. • Update the information that is requested.

24. Throughout the Process…… • Communicate with your counselor • As you hear back from schools, let your counselor know • Check for emails from the Counseling Office regularly • Parents can contact the counselor at any time

25. Review: 5 Easy Steps • Step 1: Set up a Common Application Account • Step 2: Enter CommonApp ID in Naviance and complete FERPA waiver • Step 3: Update “Colleges I’m Thinking About” • Step 4: Invite Teacher Recommendations under “Colleges I’m Applying to” • Step 5: Request a Transcript

26. Benefits of Naviance • Streamline the process • Everything is “live” • Everything can be sent at once • Quick to update • Eco-friendly

27. Senior Meetings • Counselors meet with seniors regarding the process • By end of September Steps 1-3 are complete. • Review this process with your child prior to the meeting • Come prepared with questions • Contact your guidance counselor at any time

28. Upcoming Events • September: • College Fair at County College of Morris • September 18th from 12:00-3:00 • Mini-College Fairs • Individual College Rep Visits • October: • SAT: October 1st (Deadline passed) • ACT: October 22nd (Registration by tomorrow) • Financial Planning Night: October 19th at 7:00pm • November: • SAT: November 5th • Application Deadlines for Early Decision/Early Action (November 1st/November 15th)

30. Conclusion • Seniors need to visit their counselor frequently during the application season • Parents should communicate on a regular basis with their child about this process The process requires a minimal amount of time and effort outside of completing the actual application!

31. Q & A