Seniors and the college application process
BELLEVUE HIGH SCHOOL
School code: 480070CLASS of 2015
SENIORS and the college application process
Welcome to your senior year at Bellevue High School! This is the year that all the hours of hard work, diligence, and rigor begin to pay off as you consider your post-secondary choices and the many options ahead of you. Last spring, counselors met with all juniors (now seniors) in the classroom in December to review PSAT results and work with students on our new web-based college and career planning tool, Naviance. We met again in the classroom in both April and May to teach juniors how to navigate Naviance when researching college options. We also discussed the senior timeline, standardized testing, college visits, and the importance of finding “the fit”. Each student received a packet detailing everything they needed to get started on the college planning process.
This senior packet is tailored specifically for students applying to two and four year colleges and contains instructions for using Naviance to order transcripts, request letters of recommendation and input data regarding where to send final transcripts. Counselors will be visiting classrooms to review the contents of this packet with all seniors and we will be encouraging students to share this information with their parents/guardians. This packet is available in the document library (Class of 2015) of the Naviance homepage and on the BHS website (http://Connection.naviance.com/bellevuehs) and (http://schools.bsd405.org/bhs). The powerpoint that counselors use in the classroom presentation will be available at both sites as well.
College representatives are scheduled to visit Bellevue High School on various dates throughout the fall semester. Dates, times, and locations are posted on each student’s Naviance account (click on the blue “Colleges” tab, and click on “view all upcoming college visits”). Students can register for the college visit in Naviance, which will trigger an email reminder close to the date of the visit. We encourage students to attend these meetings as it provides them with an opportunity to get questions answered in a more intimate setting, often with the college representative who will be reading their application.
Transcript processing fee: all seniors applying to four year colleges will be charged a one-time flat fee of $10.00 to cover the cost of processing official transcripts. Students can pay this fee at our Accounting Office. Scholarships are available to cover the $10.00 if needed (see your counselor).
Students will undoubtedly have questions this fall as they complete their college applications and they are welcome to stop by the counseling center to meet with their counselor or send an email with their questions. Please note that we will co-host a Financial Aid Night on December 11th for parents and students. It will be at Newport High School in their Performing Arts Center. The time will be announced closer to the date.
Congratulations on your hard work and we look forward to helping you in the next few months!
The BHS Counselors
Office Hours: 7:00 – 3:00 Office Phone: (425)-456-7031
High School CEEB Code: 480070
Counselor Email contact Seniors (last name)
Elana Jimenez Last names A - De
Mary Beth Smith Last names Di – Ji
Rich Brown Last names Jo – Mi
Kelly Troisi Last names Mo – She
Maureen Travaille Last names Shi - Z
Planning Resources
College Search
http://Connection.naviance.com/bellevuehs All BHS seniors have a Naviance account.
www.princetonreview.com Extensive college search to find a “good match”.
www.washingtoncouncil.com Washington state public university information.
www.sbctc.ctc.edu The Washington State Board for Community & Technical Colleges.
Financial Aid/Scholarships
www.fafsa.ed.gov Web version of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
www.thewashboard.org for scholarship listings, based on student-specified parameters
www.fastweb.com free scholarship search service.
www.finaid.org source for grants, loans, and scholarships.
Remember: You should not have to PAY for scholarship information.
College Testing/Test Preparation
www.collegeboard.com
www.act.org
www.mapping-yourfuture.org
www.toefl.org
Services for Students with Disabilities
www.collegeboard.com (SSD = Services for Students with Disabilities)
www.act.org Special testing.
www.salt.arizona.edu The University of Arizona SALT Program: Strategic Alternative Learning Techniques Center. Start here to see a nationally recognized student services program model, then contact the SSD (Services for Students with Disabilities) office at each college or university on your list. Communicate directly with the SSD office staff and the admissions office staff.
Student Athletes
http://web1.ncaa.org/eligibilitycenter/common/
Student athletes need to register with the NCAA and submit transcript waivers to the Counseling Center. Please give Mrs. Krikorian two copies of the signed waiver and submit a request through Naviance for your transcripts to be uploaded to the NCAA.
The Application Process for Two Year Colleges
Washington's two-year technical and community colleges offer a wide range of programs for students to help them prepare to transfer to a university, get job training, gain basic education skills and take continuing education classes. There are five technical and 29 community colleges in the state of Washington. For more information about each college, including academic programs, admission requirements and deadlines and financial aid programs, please see www.sbctc.edu.
In brief, there are four steps to enroll in classes as a first time college student at a community or technical college:
1. Complete the online admission application for the community college and pay their application fee. Classes are on a first come, first served basis. New students are admitted and assigned registration access in the order in which their registration materials are received. Some community colleges have instituted a late spring deadline for Priority Fall Admissions and students do not need to wait until they turn 18 or graduate from high school to apply. For example, Bellevue College now allows early admissions with a fall priority registration deadline of mid-May 2015. Please check college websites for up to date information on registration details.
2. Register for and take the COMPASS exam (a math and English placement exam).
3. Make an appointment to meet with an academic advisor to choose classes.
4. Register for classes.
Note: Community colleges don’t require SAT or ACT tests and don’t require a transcript during the application process.
Many community colleges partner with one or more four year universities to offer bachelor’s degrees on campus. Visit the College Transfer page at the SBCTC site, www.sbctc.ctc.edu/college/e_transfer.aspx and select University Center Partnerships.
Community and technical colleges offer a full range of financial aid programs. To be eligible for scholarships and financial aid, families must first fill out the FAFSA (free application for federal student aid). To complete the FAFSA, go to www.fafsa.gov.
PUBLIC (four year) COLLEGE Application Steps
(Examples: University of Washington, Central, Western, Eastern, Evergreen, Washington State, University of Oregon, and Montana State)
1. Access the online application through the college’s website.
2. Student orders transcripts through Naviance (except UW and UC schools). See detailed transcript instructions on page 7, “Required Naviance College Application Steps”
3. Student requests that testing agencies send ACT/SAT score reports to colleges by ordering score reports online at www.collegeboard.com or www.act.org. Be sure to allow 3 – 4 weeks for processing. Scores must be received by the college before the application deadline.
4. No counselor/teacher letter of recommendation
5. Submit your online application well before the due date!
PRIVATE (Four Year) COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY Application Steps
(Examples: Whitman, Seattle University, Stanford, Princeton)
1. Download a Private College Counselor Letter of Recommendation packet from the document library in Naviance. Be sure to RETURN THE COMPLETED PACKET to your counselor no later than 3 WEEKS BEFORE your application deadline.
2. Follow similar procedures for your two teacher letters of recommendation. See detailed teacher letter of recommendation steps on page 7, “Required Naviance College Application Steps”
3. If you are applying to private colleges via the Common App, sync your Naviance and Common App accounts (see page 8 for instructions). All counselor and teacher letters and school forms will be sent electronically through Naviance.
4. Student orders transcripts through Naviance. See detailed transcript instructions on page 7, “Required Naviance College Application Steps”
5. Student requests that testing agencies send ACT/SAT score reports to colleges by ordering score reports online at www.collegeboard.com or www.act.org. Be sure to allow 3 – 4 weeks for processing. Scores must be received by the college before the application deadline.
6. Apply online through the Common App or directly using the private school application website.
7. Submit your online application well before the due date!
Required Naviance College Application Steps
Log onto Naviance: http://connection.naviance.com/bellevuehs
Resources: Become familiar with the resources on the home page (tasks, document library and links)
Game Plan
· If you haven’t already completed the Game Plan, go to the “About Me” tab
· Under “Interesting Things About Me”, click on the “Game Plan”
· Please complete the survey
Colleges I’m Applying To
Last spring you added colleges you were thinking about to the “College’s I’m thinking about” list. Once you have decided to submit an application for a particular college, move that college to the “colleges I’m applying to” list by clicking on “Move to Application List”. For colleges that are new to your list, add them directly to the “Colleges I’m applying to” section if you will be filling out an application for that college.
How do I order transcripts for my college applications in Naviance?· For ALL (public and private) colleges on your “Colleges I’m applying to” list, request official transcripts by clicking on the “request transcripts” button above your college list. Follow the links to request a transcript for each college.
· Our secretary will then upload your transcript onto Naviance and it will be sent electronically to your selected college(s). Remember to allow three weeks for processing.
How do I request letters of recommendation for private college applications in Naviance?· Talk to your counselor and teachers in person and ask for letters of recommendation at least six weeks before your first deadline.
· For the counselor letter, complete and email background materials to your counselor at least three weeks prior to your first deadline. The background questions are located in the document library under Class of 2015, Private College Letter of Rec Background Packet. Follow similar procedures for your teachers.
· In Naviance, on the “Colleges I’m applying to” page, request teacher recommendations by scrolling to middle of the page and clicking on “add/cancel request” under “Teacher Recommendations”
· Select teachers from the drop down menu and click “update requests”.
· There is no need to select your counselor in Naviance. That selection has already been preloaded and your counselor will send a letter of recommendation and a secondary school report to your Common App schools by uploading them on Naviance once you have requested a transcript.
Are you applying to colleges via the Common App? Follow instructions below.· On the Naviance homepage, watch a video at the link “matching capp.nav” to learn how to sync your Common App and Naviance accounts.
· Go to commonapp.org and set up your account and complete through the “Education” section.
· Write down your Common App username and password
· Return to Naviance and Sign the Common App Waiver and FERPA form and enter your Common App username and password
· Go back to Common App and apply online to your colleges
Are you applying to public colleges or non-Common App colleges? Follow instructions below.· Go to the college website and click on undergrad admissions
· Review application requirements and open an online account
· Apply online
After you have submitted your college applications …follow instructions below.· In the “my app” column of the “Colleges I’m applying to” screen, update the status of your application.
· Once colleges send you their decisions, click the pencil under “results” to update your status.
Important Notes:
· SAT/ACT scores must be sent directly from the testing agencies to the colleges. For SAT, students should contact College Board (www.collegeboard.com) and for ACT, contact www.act.org. There is a fee to order score reports.
· The University of Washington and the University of California schools do not require and will not accept transcripts; instead you will be asked to transcribe your classes and grades directly onto your application. You will still need to send your tests scores to these schools.
· For the rare schools that require paper applications, please see Mrs. Krikorian at least three weeks before you need any school forms mailed.
· Know your due dates! Don’t procrastinate as colleges don’t accept late applications.
SENIOR CHECKLIST 2014
§ Do you still have questions on what colleges are a good fit for you? Go to your Naviance account and click “About Me” and complete the “Game Plan” survey. Then click on the blue “Colleges” tab. Under “College Research”, click “SuperMatch college search”. Enter criteria important to you in selecting college options and review the related matches to determine whether or not you would be interested in applying. If you are overwhelmed or don’t know where to start, please email your counselor or stop by and see us. We are here to help you!
· Sign up online for college entrance exam testing or retesting. SAT Reasoning and Subject test dates can be found at www.collegeboard.com. The online registrations for the ACT (with writing) test can be found at www.act.org.
§ Check the websites of colleges/universities you will be applying to for information on admissions, academic programs, and scholarships/financial aid information. Determine admission deadlines, and based on these deadlines, construct a timeline for retaking SAT/ACT tests, completing essays, ordering transcripts, and finalizing the application.
§ Open an “account” for each college application that you will be completing. Instructions for opening and completing these accounts are given on each college website.
§ For each college application, you will be asked to complete a personal statement or essay or a series of short answers to several questions. Look through these questions and draft your answers.
· College representatives visit BHS to talk with interested students. Be sure to sign up for those meetings. Dates, times and locations are posted in Naviance and on our school website.