Berks Catholic HS Class of 2017 COLLEGE SEARCH / APPLICATION RESOURCE “College is a match to be made, not a prize to be won.” – Frank Sachs

COLLEGE APPLICATION NIGHT: Constructing Powerful College Applications August 24, 2016 / 6:30 – 8:30 pm / Franco – Post Auditorium

Topics to be covered:

• How is the Application Reviewed? What does the application say about the student?

• CASE STUDY The decision is yours: Admit / Waitlist / Deny

• Application Options and Terms (Rolling Admission, Early Action, Early Decision, etc)

• NEW STUFF: SAT new and old, Ear ly FAFSA (and PPY), and the Coal it ion

Applicat ion

• Standardized Tests: Old SAT? New SAT? ACT (Wait..what?)?, I get penalized for low scores...right? Test Optional (I'm sorry... say that again?), HELP!

• The Common App

• The Power of Communication (Essay / Personal Statement, Interview, Personal Interactions

with Admissions Officers, etc)

• BC Procedures for requesting transcripts and recommendation letters

• Timelines and Deadlines

• Athletics and Other Special Circumstances

• Questions and Discussion

BERKS CATHOLIC COLLEGE COUNSELING: “It’s Al l About the Fit!”

Updated: 8/23/16

Berks Catholic HS Class of 2017

COLLEGE SEARCH / APPLICATION RESOURCE “College is a match to be made, not a prize to be won.” – Frank Sachs

WELCOME TO THE COLLEGE SEARCH JOURNEY and APPLICATION PROCESS! Searching for the right college is a journey, a time to explore, to learn, and something to be enjoyed. It is in the journey-not the final destination- where we learn about likes and dislikes, and priorities. Applying to college is a process and the opportunity to tell your own story. As such, it is something to be done carefully, over time, with planning and guidance. Choosing, and Attending the school that is the BEST FIT, provides YOU with the opportunities for success, and to grow, develop, and experience in ways you may have never imagined! Continuing education is an investment in yourself that will appreciate in value over your lifetime. Approach the process with purpose, an open mind, and sense of adventure; ask questions and ask for help when you need it …. use the resources around you AND… Don’t forget to HAVE FUN! - Mr. D, Mrs. Bonanno, Dr. Stahler, Mr. Piersol

RESEARCHING COLLEGES CAMPUS VISITS - 3 days for Seniors, 1 for Juniors. You will also want to take advantage of holiday breaks during the school year to supplement these days. Plan to visit each campus at LEAST ONCE before making your final enrollment decision in the Spring. NOTHING TAKES THE PLACE OF A CAMPUS VISIT! ADMISSIONS REPRESENTATIVE VISITS – The list of schools visiting B.C. is constantly being update and communicated in the following fashions: ANNOUNCEMENTS, E-MAIL, TWITTER, BCHS WEBSITE www.berkscatholic.org, BULLETIN BOARDS, or by asking College Counseling Staff. In short, “I didn’t know” is not a reason to miss an opportunity!

ON-LINE INVESTIGATION: Investigate your colleges interests on-line. If you don’t know the actual web address of the school you are applying to, try: school name .edu ADMISSION PAGES: Use these to connect with the admission representatives for Berks Catholic and other information vital to the application process. SKYPE and similar “connecting” options often offered BLOGS / COLLEGE OPINION SITES* I often hear of people who discount or choose schools solely based on what they read on blog or “insider opinion” sites. My Question to them is: Do you really want the comments of a few strangers (and their personal motivation)

APPLICATION OPTIONS PLEASE BE AWARE OF THE EXACT DEADLINES FOR EACH

SCHOOL TO WHICH YOU ARE APPLYING. EARLY ACTION (EA): you are expressing interest in a college and will be notified of an admission decision earlier than regular admission date. Early Action is NON–BINDING so you have until May 1 to make an enrollment decision. Typical EARLY ACTION DEADLINES are November 1 - December 1 EARLY DECISION (ED): Early Decision is BINDING and you are only allowed to apply ED to ONE college or univers ity. When you apply Early Decision, you have made the commitment to attend that school IF accepted. You, your parents and counselor will be required to complete and sign an ED Agreement If you are accepted ED, you must withdrawal your application from all other schools. Typical EARLY DECISION DEADLINES are November 1 - December 1 ROLLING ADMISSION (Rol l ing): Rolling Admission applications will be reviewed and decided upon once they are completed (ALL materials received application, transcripts, recommendations, essay, etc). it Notification typically occurs between 4-8 weeks after completion of apps. The typical review period for ROLLING ADMISSION is between mid-October and early April. ROLLING ADMISSION at LARGE SCHOOLS It is generally recommended to submit the completed application BY or BEFORE Thanksgiving Break. REGULAR DECISION: Applications are due by a specific date and decisions notices are sent at one specific time after that date (usually between March 15 and April 15). Typical REGULAR DECISION DEADLINES are between Early December and Mid- February

REQUEST DEADLINES PLAN AHEAD!!! Do NOT wait until the last minute to request transcripts and recommendations. COLLEGE INFORMATION WILL NOT BE PROCESSED OR MAILED FROM B.C. if it is requested the day before a holiday break. ALL requests for official transcripts, recommendations, etc MUST be submitted to Mrs Bonanno and teachers according to the following timeline: Info sent before Requests are due Thanksgiving Break………….………NOVEMBER 1 Christmas Break…………………..……DECEMBER 1

Remember- Holiday Season = Heavy Mail Season

COMPLETING AND SUBMITTING APPLICATIONS Proceed with CARE and ACCURACY. BE AWARE of the admission plan & deadlines for each college.

ON-LINE: REMEMBER- You haven’t actually applied until:

• ALL sections are completed • You press SUBMIT at the end of the process • You get an electronic “receipt” or veri f icat ion that your appl icat ion has been

submitted. I f you do not receive this sort of notif ication, your application was not properly submitted.

ON-LINE and PAPER: As soon as a college receives your application they will automatically send:

• Receipt of application letter • A list of items needed to complete your applicat ion

ON LINE APPLICATION STATUS:.

• Status updates vary and may not reflect “real -time” informat ion. In other words your posted status may not be current at the time you are checking.

• Students concerned about their on- line status are encouraged to talk with the College Counseling Staff or call the admissions off ice to follow up.

If you requested transcripts and recommendations in writing (see Mrs Bonanno for appropriate forms) your information will be sent to all colleges you have indicated. Please understand, colleges receive thousands of pieces of mail each day*, so your information may be in the admissions office, but may not have yet been entered into the admission computer system (processed) and made into an application file. Give colleges 2-3 weeks- from the time you sent the application, and requested information from B.C.-to receive and process, and create your application file.

* Johns Hopkins Admissions Office recently reported receiving 23 bins of mail In ONE DAY!

ON-LINE APPLICATIONS and MERGER ANNOUNCEMENT In 2011 periodically thereafter announcements were made at the state and national level to colleges and universities, FAFSA, NCAA, College Board, ACT, etc. about the merger of Central and Holy Name into Berks Catholic, SOOOOO at this point-this should no longer be a challenge- BUT…. If you encounter a school who has still not updated their database, please inform the College Counseling Office. I f you are applying to a college on-line and Berks Catholic is not a pre-populated opt ion, simply l ist Holy Name(B.C. has HN’s former HS Code) as your high school and-if possible- enter Berks Catholic as the second high school opt ion. An academic, historic and community overview of BC (called a Profile) is sent with every student transcript, given to visiting admission officers and posted on the College Counseling Page of the BC Website. The Profile will allow admissions committees to have a full and clear understanding of Berks Catholic when making admission decisions.

DUAL ENROLLMENT and DUAL CREDIT QUESTIONS DUAL ENROLLMENT (PSU Berks): Students taking dual enrollment classes at PSU Berks should indicate this on college applications as this shows an extra level of intellectual depth and academic rigor DUAL CREDIT (Alvernia, RACC) : Generally speaking it is recommended that you DO NOT indicate that you are taking dual credit classes (through Alvernia ) as doing so can actually slow down- or stop completely the application / application review process. HERE’S WHY:

• College admissions offices approach dual credit differently from school to school because the way dual credit is offered in varying ways. Whatever the particular method of delivery, colleges will want to see proof of this in the form of a college transcript.

• Because Alvernia does not award transcripts until the end of the academic year, or after

graduation, the application review process may likely be suspended until the transcripts are provided. Some on-line applications- may not allow you to complete or submit the application until the college transcript is provided. You will be responsible for requesting transcripts directly from Alvernia or RACC

COLLEGE SEARCH / APPLICATION RESOURCE . 2

COLLEGE SEARCH / APPLICATION RESOURCE . p. 3

Think of application as though it were a pop-up book. When the f i le is open, you should jump to l ife from the pages. – Mr. D

“The College Application is the story of the student.” - Gail Sweezey, Dean of Admissions-

INVOLVEMENT, RECOMMENDATIONS, INTERVIEW, ESSAY The Small Stones in the Façade of Your Stone Home

Your Resume, Recommendations, Essay, and Personal Interactions with Admissions Officers serve as complement to your academic record. The Essay and Interview are YOUR VOICE in the application process, and the opportunity to both self-advocate and help your admission counselor get to know you for the 3- Dimensional, living, engaged person versus just a stack of papers.

The Key to each case is QUALITY vs. Quant ity. INVOLVEMENT

• FOCUS on those things to which you have been committed the longest and are most important to you: Sports, Job(s), Student Government, Clubs, Service, etc.

• STAND APART by discussing your accomplishments or experiences like: Governor’s

School, Travel, Cultural Immersion, etc

• HIGHLIGHT Leadership Roles, or positions of responsibility: Student Government, Team Captain, Assistant Manager (job), Club Officer, Eagle Scout or Gold Award, Founder of a Club or Organization, etc "If you can't write a 500 word essay about each activity you are involved with- it doesn't really mean anything.” Jackson Pil l iod BCHS C’12 -

RECOMMENDATIONS • Choose recommenders carefully! • 2-3 recommendations from teachers and counselor is the norm.

Teachers you had / have had in 11th and / or 12th Grade are preferred.

• Give recommendation writers plenty of notice (minimum 15 school days) to write. • Provide each writer with a complete and accurate Request Form 1 per writer (you

may attach a “resume” if you wish ) accompanied by neatly addressed and stamped envelopes with the Berks Catholic H.S. return address .

• The recommendation letter is a communication designed to “bring you to life” in the application process. Give your writers insight into who you are as a person.

• The letter is a confidential communication between the writer and an admission committee and will be sent directly from the writer to an admissions office.

• Writing recommendation letters takes much time and effort, and is typically done on the writer’s personal time, for your benefit. Please follow-up with a hand written Thank You note!

• A supplemental recommendation from an employer, clergy, coach are okay- IF the person knows you well and can speak clearly on your behalf. That said, this recommendation should not take the place of those from teachers and counselor.

INTERVIEW / PERSONAL CONNECTION

• Take advantage of every opportunity to connect! • Make an appointment. • When Visting College Campuses:

o Connect with the counselor for BC o KNOW and express why you are visiting that school. o Research each school. Be prepared to ask thoughtful questions. Students AND

Parents turn cell phones OFF. Do NOT chew gum. ESSAY

• A sneeze is a MOMENT in time, writing is a PROCESS; do not confuse the two • Optional essays are NOT really optional. Choosing not to write an essay is like choosing

to play basketball in your bare-feet. You can exercise that option, but…. • Please refer to the Application Resource Manual and your Essay Packets for full details!

Here are some things to consider before you begin, and while you are writing.

More Essay Wisdom to Fol low

BERKS CATHOLIC HS COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCEDURES These procedures are in place to maximize efficiency and make applying to college as organized and stress free as

possible. ALL requests for transcripts and recommendations must be submitted in writing REQUESTING TRANSCRIPTS and RECOMMENDATIONS: When requesting Transcripts AND Recommendations students will need to provide the following:

• ALL Request for Transcript and Recommendation MUST be made in WRITING using the proper forms which can be found in Mrs. Bonanno’s Office.

• Forms MUST be COMPLETE, ACCURATE, NEAT

• Provide NEATLY addressed, stamped # 10 sized envelopes for each item to be sent

• Include the Berks Catholic HS return address on each envelope: Berks Catholic H.S. 955 E. Wyomissing Blvd, Reading, PA 19611 • On-Line requests for recommendations and transcripts will not be honored unless prior

arrangements have been made with the College Counseling Office or recommender.

• Automated On-line transcript requests will NOT BE HONORED without BC Form. TRANSCRIPTS

• Offic ial Transcripts are confidentia l documents and will only be sent di rectly from BCHS to the requested admissions off ices or other designated recipients

• ALL requests for off icial transcr ipts and recommendat ions must be made in

writ ing, using appropriate forms (see Mrs Bonanno) 15 SCHOOL DAYS PRIOR to the date you want them sent.

• Transcripts are used by admissions officers to assess academic performance and rigor: classes,

grades and ALL standardized test scores. Activities and Awards should be included on a resume.

• ALL sets of SAT, SAT Subject and ACT scores will be included on the transcript. Students wishing to exercise Score Choice certain must submit a request in writing to remove all scores from the transcript. The student then assumes sole responsibility for having scores sent to colleges and universities directly from the College Board (SAT) or ACT.

• There is a $5 fee for each initial official transcript sent to colleges.

“Submit all SAT results. A lower cumulative test result will not have a negative impact on an applicant.” –

Admissions Officer ,Univ. of California- Berkley

ESSAY ADVICE FROM THE EXPERTS

* Don't be gimmicky, whiny, or gory. * “If you're going to write that sports essay, make sure it has a personal twist.” -Admissions Officer, Duke University- * Have someone (teacher, parent, counselor) EDIT your essay. Pay close attention to GRAMMAR, SPELLING and PUNCTUATION * Be careful to avoid topics that are too controversial- unless you can speak from an educated position and frame your argument well. Remember, different people have different points of view.

AVOID THE 7 DEADLY S INS of WRITING 1 . Pa ss i v e Vo i ce 2 . In correc t Pun c tuat i on 3. Word ine ss 4 . M isu se o f Apos t ro phe

5 . M isplaced and Dangl ing Modi f i e r s 6. Pron oun P ro bl ems 7 . Commi t t i ng Pe t P eev es

“ HEY Mr. D- WHY Al l of the Guidelines & Forms?” Check the math (which is FUN ) :

• 5 x 170 = 850 AVERAGE number of college applications per student times the number of Berks Catholic Seniors- equals requests for college application materials.

• 850 x 3 = 2,550 MINIMUM number of items being sent from Berks Catholic IF each student ONLY requests 1 recommendation letter and transcript to be sent to each college. The third item is the school profile -each transcript is accompanied by a B.C. Profile- which explains our grading scale, academic rigor, etc. and is an essential tool in making admission decisions.

COLLEGE SEARCH / APPLICATION RESOURCE . p. 4

COLLEGE SEARCH / APPLICATION RESOURCE . p. 5

ATHLETIC RECRUITMENT Things to Remember:

• Athletic Recruitment is a business. • Admissions admits….Coaches coach…don’t

confuse the two.

• When on any campus ask yourself: “Would I still like the school if I were sitting the bench or no longer on the team?”

• Know what you want in a college (aside from

the sport)

• Are you a good fit for the program?

• OWNERSHIP This is your future and your process- take ownership of it!

• Check out great resources at

ncaa.org/eligibilitycenter Click: PROSPECTIVE STUDENT ATLHETE

* The University of Michigan Football Program sends approximately 8,000 letters of inquiry annually. The odds of getting a football scholarship to U.M are about 320:1 ** You are about 10 times more likely to receive an academic scholarship than an athletic scholarship.

LEARING DIFFERENCES GREAT RESOURCE: K&W Guide to Colleges for Students With Learning Disabil ities .- print only Students interested in accommodations or learning assistance should contact the learning support offices at each college and university to which they are applying. Documentation should be sent directly to these departments

SOME SCHOOLS W/ STRONG LEARNING SUPPORT

American Univ. DC, Beacon Coll. FL Bellevue Coll. WA, DePAul Univ. IL,

Drexel Univ. PA, Univ. of Iowa, Daemen Coll, NY, Galludet Univ DC, Landmak Coll VT, Univ. of Arizona,

West Virginia Wesleyan, Mercyhurst Coll. PA, Marshall Univ. WV, So. Illinois Univ.,

Hofstra Univ. NY, Roch. Inst. of Tech. NY, Univ. of Denver, CO, Univ. of Connecticut,

Marist Coll, NY, Misericordia Univ, PA,

ESSA

Y T

IP- E

DIT

vs. SPE

LL

-CHE

CK: Is the d

ifference betw

een PHEA

SAN

T and

PEASA

NT.

ON

E of these is a wild

gam

e bird

that is legal to hunt, eat, stuff and

mount.

The other is a poor p

erson in tattered clothing

in a med

ieval village. H

unting and

eating the

latter is illegal, im

moral, and

gross.

Both are actual w

ords that S

pe

ll Ch

eck w

ill let pass. E

ditin

g w

ill keep you from

writing

ab

out comm

itting a crim

e.

Glossary of Common Admissions Terms

Updated: 6/24/16 jd ACT: A standardized college admission test. It features four main sections: English, math, reading and science — and an optional essay section. Admission Tests: Also known as college entrance exams, these are tests designed to measure students’ skills and help colleges evaluate how ready students are for college-level work. The ACT and the College Board’s SAT are two standardized admission tests used in the United States. The word "standardized" means that the test measures the same thing in the same way for everyone who takes it. Read more about admission tests. Articulation Agreement: An agreement between two-year and four-year colleges that makes it easier to transfer credits between them. It spells out which courses count for degree credit and the grades you need to earn to get credit. Award Letter: Official notification of the type and amount of financial aid a college is offering a student. Candidates Reply Date Agreement (CRDA): An agreement many colleges follow that gives applicants until May 1 to accept or decline offers of admission. This agreement gives students time to get responses from most of the colleges they have applied to before deciding on one. Class Rank: A measurement of how a prospective student’s academic achievement compares with that of other students in their grade. This number is usually determined by using a weighted GPA that takes into account both grades and the difficulty of the courses taken. Coalition Application (aka: Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success): A standard application form platform accepted by the 90 member colleges of the Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success. The Coalition App is available educators beginning in May 2016 and open the actual application to students in July 2016. Learn more at coalitionforcollegeaccess.org College Application Essay: An essay that a college requires students to write and submit as part of their application. Some colleges offer applicants specific questions to answer, while others simply ask applicants to write about themselves. Colleges may refer to this as a “personal statement.” Common Application: A standard application form accepted by all colleges that are members of the Common Application association. This application can be filled out once and submitted to any one — or several — of the 500+ colleges that accept it. CSS Profile (College Scholarship Service ) A financial aid document used by certain colleges and universities to determine their own EFC methodology. http://student.collegeboard.org/css-financial-aid-profile Deferred Admission: Colleges may grant admitted students the opportunity to postpone enrollment for a pre-determined amount of time. The average postponement is usually for up to one year. Demonstrated Interest- The process in which a student expresses a desire to attend a specific school. This interest can come in the form of a campus visit, email and phone contact or a campus interview. Demonstrated Need: The difference between what a family can contribute toward college expenses and the actual cost of attending college. Early Action (EA)*: An option to submit your applications before the regular deadlines. When you apply early action, you get admission decisions from colleges earlier than usual. Early Action plans are not binding, which means that you do not have to enroll in a college if you are accepted EA. Early Action continued: Some colleges have an early action option called EA II, which has a later application deadline than their regular EA plan. *See also Restrictive Early Action NOTE: EA is a specific program, offered at some institutions. Applying early in the process does not necessarily mean applying Early Action. Early Decision (ED): An option to submit an application to a first-choice college before the regular deadline. Early Decision applicants receive their admissions decisions prior to students applying Regular Decision. Early decision plans are binding, meaning there is an agreement to enroll in the college immediately if admitted and offered an appropriate financial aid package. Some colleges have an early decision option called ED II, which has a later application deadline than their regular ED plan. NOTE: ED is a specific program, typically offered by highly-selective institutions. Applying early in the process does not necessarily mean applying Early Decision. Early FAFSA (also known as Prior Prior Year or PPY): Beginning in October 2016 (for aid applications for the 2017-18 award year), the White House will allow students to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) using prior-prior year (PPY) tax data. Previously, the FAFSA used the previous year’s tax data. EX: The family with a student from the Class of 2017 can utilize tax returns from 2015. (Source: NACAC) Expected Family Contribution (EFC): How much money a student and their family are expected to contribute toward college expenses. EFC is based on FAFSA application and a calculation by the federal government. FAFSA Free Application for Federal Student Aid : The application every student must submit in order to be eligible for federal financial aid. Financial Aid: Money given or loaned to students to help pay for college. Financial aid can come from federal and state governments, colleges, and private organizations. Grade Point Average (GPA): A number that shows overall academic performance. It’s computed by assigning a point value to each grade earned. Grant: Money for college that does not have to be repaid. Most grants are need-based and are awarded by the state or federal government. Institutional Aid (or Campus-Based Aid): Financial assistance given by a college.

Glossary of Common Admissions Terms- continued

Legacy Applicant: A college applicant with a relative (usually a parent or grandparent) who graduated from that college. Some colleges give preference to legacy applicants (also called “legacies”). Merit Aid: Financial aid awarded based on a student’s individual achievements and talents. Need-Based Aid: Financial aid given based on the ability of a student and their family to pay for college. Need-Blind Admission: A policy of making admission decisions without considering the financial circumstances of applicants. Colleges that use this policy may not offer enough financial aid to meet a student’s full need. Open Admission: A policy of accepting any high school graduate, no matter what his or her grades are, until all spaces in the incoming class are filled. Almost all two-year community colleges have an open-admission policy. However, a college with a general open-admission policy may have admission requirements for certain programs. Placement Tests: Tests that measure the academic skills needed for college-level work. They cover reading, writing, math and sometimes other subjects. Placement test results help determine what courses you are ready for and whether you would benefit from remedial classes. Priority Date or Deadline: The date by which your application — whether it’s for college admission, student housing or financial aid — must be received to be given the strongest consideration. Registrar: The college official who registers students. The registrar may also be responsible for keeping permanent records and maintaining student files. Restrictive Early Action is a non-binding early application option for students who have completed a thorough college search and are confident Stanford is their first choice. Admission decisions are released by December 15 but admitted students have until May 2 to respond to their offer. Rolling Admission: An admission policy of considering each application as soon as all required information has been received, rather than setting an application deadline and reviewing applications all at once. Colleges that use a rolling admission policy usually notify applicants of admission decisions quickly. SAT: The College Board’s standardized college admission test. The newly redesigned (again) format launched in March 2016 features two main sections: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) and Math (M). The Writing section which was mandatory from 2005 January 2016 is now optional. Colleges and university admissions offices are currently tending to accept both the old and new format of the test for the high school classes of 2017 and in some cases 2018. SAT Subject Tests: Hour-long, content-based college admission tests that allow you to showcase achievement in specific subject areas: English, history, math, science and languages. Some colleges use Subject Tests to place students into the appropriate courses as well as in admission decisions. Some schools will allow students to fulfill basic requirements or earn credit for introductory-level courses, depending on their performance on the test. Scholarship: Money for college that does not have to be paid back. Usually awarded based on specific criteria, such as academic performance, extracurricular activities, ethnic heritage or religious affiliation. Student Loan: Financial aid that must be repaid. Student loan programs are available through the federal government and private lenders. Transcript: The official record of course work at a school or college. A high school transcript is usually required for college admission and for some financial aid packages. Transfer Student: A student who enrolls in a college after having attended another college. Undergraduate: A college student who is working toward an associate or a bachelor's degree. Universal College Application: A standard application form accepted by all colleges that are Universal College Application members. You can fill out this application once and submit it to any one — or several — of the 46 colleges that accept it. Wait List: The list of applicants who may be admitted to a college if space becomes available. Colleges wait to hear if all the students they accepted decide to attend. If students don’t enroll and there are empty spots, a college may fill them with students who are on the wait list. Weighted Grade Point Average (GPA): A grade point average that’s calculated using a system that assigns a higher point value to grades in more-difficult classes. For example, some high schools assign the value of 5.0 (instead of the standard 4.0) for an A earned in an AP class. Work-Study: Financial aid given in exchange for work (typically at a job on campus). To qualify for the Federal Work Study (FWS) program, the FAFSA must be completed. Yield: The percentage of accepted students who go on to enroll at a college. Competitive colleges have high yield rates.

INFO, TIPS & POINTERS WHAT IS NAVIANCE?

• A comprehensive website that students and parents can use as a tool in planning for their

future.

• Naviance is used for: • College research • Student Data (test scores, GPA etc.) • Prospective Colleges • Scholarships • Scattergrams

POINTERS ABOUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS

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

TIPS ON THE COMMON APPLICATION

• Go to commonapp.org and set up your account. Write down your common app username (e-mail) –You MUST establish a Commonapp account in order to submit your documents electronically.

• Add your col leges that you are applying to via the Common App • Click on ‘assign recommenders’ (sidebar) and the FERPA agreement

appears. FERPA absolutely has to be signed before you can go forward. • Login to Naviance and match your CommonApp e-mail to your Naviance account. The e-

mail has to be the same.

BERKS CATHOLIC HS: Naviance Family Connection: College Application Process –Step by Step – Student

1. Login to your Naviance account berkscathol ic .org Academics College Career Counseling (your Username should be your email address or the first part of your email address prior to @gmail, yahoo, hotmail, etc. It is recommended that your password be the same as the one used for your email account )

2. Bui ld a resume on the About Me tab. This will help with completion of the activities portion

of the Common App and other applications. You can also feel free to: Complete student brag sheet survey and have a parent complete the parent brag sheet survey located on the About Me tab left hand side.

3. Go to the Colleges Tab

4. Click on Colleges I ’m Thinking About

a. Add your colleges of interest (from the list created during your college planning meeting

and/or others you’re interested in) b. Click on the name of the college (this will link you to the college website) c. If you can apply online, complete and submit the application. If No, download

the application and complete it and mail it.

If you are apply ing via Common Appl ication (check the school profile on Naviance to see which schools are Common App Members ) you will want to do the following:

a. Create an account at commonapp.org b. Write down your Common App. Username and Password (try to use the same

username and password for all college needs) c. Go back into Naviance and sign the Common App. Waiver and enter your

Common App. username and password

If all of the colleges you are applying to are not listed:

i. Click Add To List and click Lookup or Search by one of the choices on the Left hand side

5. AFTER you have submitted your application

a. Go back to your Colleges I ’m Thinking About list b. Check the box next to the College where you applied c. Click the box at the bottom that says Move To Appl ication L ist d. Choose the Applicat ion Type (RD, ED, EA) e. Check the box I have Submitted My Appl ication then Add Applicat ions

6. Click on Colleges I’m Applying To

a. If you have not done so, sign the FERPA waiver

b. Click Request Transcr ipts

i. Check the box next to Add Request – this will send the request to the Guidance & Registrar Naviance account. When your Transcripts have been sent, it will be marked as Sent so you will be able to keep track of your application materials – Give the college at least 2-3 weeks to show your Transcript as being Received (on their website, etc..)

ii. Check Mid-Year Transcript if appropriate

c. If you need Other Transcripts (for Scholarships , NCAA, etc.) i. Under the Colleges Tab, left hand side, click Transcripts ii. Click Request transcripts for scholarships or athletics iii. Complete the form – all information iv. Scroll to the bottom and click Add Transcript Requests

Teacher Recommendations- Give the teachers at least 3 weeks to wri te a recommendation. The longer you wait to ask and formally request….the longer you should expect to wait for the letter to be completed and sent. Please refer to Application

BERKS CATHOLIC HS: Naviance Family Connect ion:

College Application Process –Step by Step – Student CONTINUED

7. Click on your Colleges TAB

a. Click on Colleges I ’m Apply ing To b. Scroll down to Teacher Recommendations c. Click Add/Cancel Requests d. Go to Add New Requests

Click the dropdown menu and choose the teacher(s) from the list(make sure you have personally asked

i. this teacher prior to this request and that your Activity Resume is updated in Naviance)

ii. Add any notes to the teacher(s) in the box (i.e. Please mention my passion for Biology and my interest in Medicine.)

iii. Click Update Requests – this will send an email to the teacher stating your request and will add the request to the teacher’s Naviance account. It will also record that you have requested it in your Naviance account. When the teacher has completed the Recommendation, they will mark it as Completed and it will show in your Naviance account so you can keep track of your application materials.

8. When you receive a decision from the college, click the under Actions to update your Status

(Accepted, Waitlisted, etc.)

2016-17 SAT Dates (per collegeboard.org) 2016-17 ACT Dates (per act.org)

Test Registration and Site Selection at collegeboard.org Test Registration and Site Selection at act.org

SAT Test Dates SAT Subject Test Available ACT Test Dates

October 1, 2016 Yes September 10, 2016

November 5, 2016 Yes October 22, 2016

December 3, 2016 Yes December 10, 2016

January 21, 2017 Yes February 11, 2017

March 11, 2017 No April 8, 2017

May 6, 2017 Yes June 10, 2017

June 3, 2017 Yes

RESOURCES / REFERENCES Below are just a FEW resources to assist you in your college search.

GENERAL

www.collegeboard.com www.cappex.com www.petersons.com www.princetonreview.com www.nacacnet.org/forstudents www.nces.ed.gov

SPECIAL FOCUS (Consortia)- Just to Name a Few www.ctcl.org College That Change Lives www.ecoleague.org Environmental Science / Studies focus www.collegeofthefenway.org Colleges in Boston in proximity to Fenway Park.

SAT PREPARATION

College Board and Khan Academy Partnership (FREE and Personalized)

www.collegeboard.org/quickstart Use your PSAT code on the score report

www.kaplan.com www.princetonreview.com www.revolutionprep.com

FINANCIAL AID SEARCH ENGINES

Please refer to the Scholarship Programs List in your packet and posted Naviance

MAJOR / CAREER INTEREST SURVEYS and INFORMATION

NAVIANCE: Career Cluster Survey and Strengths Explorer www.collegeboard.com http://www.yourfreecareertest.com www.bls.gov up to date info on career fields, job projections, employment trends, etc

Berks Catholic High School College Counseling “It’s ALL About the FIT!”

Berks Catholic High School / 955 E. Wyomissing Blvd. Reading, PA 19611 berkscatholic.org

RESOURCES & IMPORTANT DATES Please refer to your poster for month-to-month application timeline