Private College
Applications
Regular Decision Timetable
Application in Fall
Scholarship due date = application deadline
Financial Aid Forms in January
Offers made only to those accepted to the college
Scholarships in Spring May 1 = Decision Day
Applying to College
APPLICATION
TRANSCRIPT
Private College Applications
1. Student Forms to complete
www . commonapp . org
or college own application
Essays, resume
Applications May Include
2. School Recommendation
Secondary School/Counselor Report
3. Teacher Recommendations 4. Midyear Report
Naviance
Order all transcripts online Links with your completed
Naviance Account
Log into Family Connection:
www.connection.naviance.com/hisd-lamar
First time registration: Get your personal code from the College Corner
Parents have access to student accounts with personal code from the College Corner
Email [email protected] and in the subject line: Need parent Naviance Code. Include student name and grade
Avoid Naviance Problems
Finish your application on commonapp.org
before
advisors and teachers
Avoid Naviance Problems
Include your correct Common App
code number in Naviance to allow the match with your school
documents
Avoid Naviance Problems
Add all colleges in Naviance under
“Colleges I’m Applying To”
Check off your FERPA preference:
Recommendations / Advisor
Go to Naviance or the Lamar Website (Academics > College Corner)
Letters of Recommendation
Applying to a Private College
Advisor Recommendations
FOR COMMON APPLICATION SCHOOLS:
1. Complete on Naviance:
“Schools I’m Applying To”
2. Recommendation Letter Request Survey 3. Email Survey to your advisor
PRIVATE COLLEGES
NOT WITH THE COMMON APPLICATION
1. On Naviance: “Schools I’m Applying To” 2. Recommendation Letter Request Survey 3. Email Survey to your advisor
4. Prepare stamped, addressed envelopes and forms (School Report, Midyear
Report…as needed)
For Any Recommendations
ALWAYS ask for the recommendation
from your teachers
NEVER leave forms with a secretary or on the teacher’s desk
Recommendations / Teachers
Who has a story to tell about you? Don’t give your resume or the
Recommendation Survey for your advisor to your teacher
Ask your teachers and complete info
Recommendations / Teachers
Follow college guidelines
Teachers from 11th or 12th grade
preferred
Ask early – each may have own
guidelines
Teacher Recommendations
for Common App Schools
1. Ask the teacher to do a rec for you. Give them at least 2 weeks notice but earlier is better
2. Select the teacher(s) from a drop down menu on Naviance
Teacher Recommendations
for schools NOT with the Common App
1. Ask the teacher to do a rec for you.
Give them at least 2 weeks notice but earlier is better
Application Essays
Your best opportunity to
make paper become a person
Be a storyteller
They have your resume already Use your experiences to show how
Requesting Transcripts
Order on Naviance
None by walk-in, phone or fax
FREE Electronic submission
Transcripts for
Common App Colleges
1. Complete your Common Application, match code, FERPA preference
2. On Naviance, add all colleges on “Colleges I’m Applying To”
3. Request transcript on Naviance
Transcripts for private colleges
NOT with the Common App
1. Complete on Naviance
“Colleges I’m Applying To”
Transcripts for private colleges
NOT with the Common App
3. Look for the orange stamp –
your sign that YOU must mail the transcript
Exceptions
Transcripts can only be sent
electronically through Naviance if you have completed the Common Application.
If they are a Common App school but you completed some other
Requesting Transcripts
October rank includes summer
school grades. Drops no-shows
and adds new seniors.
When the new rank comes out
Admissions Testing
3 things can improve your scores*
Time in the subject matter
Familiarity with the test
The practice effect
SAT or ACT?
Both accepted equally
Math counts more on SAT SAT includes Statistics;
ACT includes trigonometry ACT adds a science section
SAT or ACT ?
Wrong Answers:
SAT deducts ¼ point for each
ACT deducts no points
SAT: Most colleges consider only Critical Reading and Math
SAT Subject Tests
Take only if required; take more than minimum
if you can do well
May take up to 3 at one administration Not all tests are available on each date
SAT Subject Tests
Math has 2 options:
See www. collegeboard . com for samples and review materials
Colleges Visit Lamar
Almost 200 colleges visit Lamar students each year
Schedule on
hallway TV monitors & Naviance Show interest in them by
College Visits
Must be approved in advance of the visit
Send an email to [email protected]
2 approved visit days count as extracurricular
No more than 5 extracurricular each semester
Early Decision vs. Early Action
Application deadlines are earlier for
both – usually October or November
Only one application may be sent for
Early Decision
Early Decision is a binding
Early Decision vs. Early Action
Early Action is NOT binding. You are free
to apply to other schools and compare offers.
Acceptance of an Early Action offer has a
later deadline than Early Decision.
Single Choice Early Action allows you to
The Down Side of Early Decision
oBinding Decision
o
No option to change your mind
oNo comparison shopping $$$
o
Decisions made early in the year
$$$$$
Over 90%
of the money given to students to go to school comes from the college
they attend
If your rank and SAT/ACT is higher
than the average admitted student, your chances of getting $ increases
Financial Aid
• PROFILE or FAFSA ?
• FAFSA forms available in January • File online for best results
• FAFSA forecaster at:
Scholarships
Some schools have a separate site
and applications for scholarships
Watch Naviance for scholarships Consider local scholarships for a
Upcoming Events
September 12 PTO Senior Meeting
6:00 p.m.
Public College Application Information 6:30
September 19 Open House at Lamar October 9 College Night
