Naviance - Instructions For Requesting Teacher Recommendations
NOTE: Please follow separate instructions for transcript requests and guidance counselor recommendations. These instructions are for teacher recommendations ONLY.
Only select teachers are participating in the LHS Naviance recommendation program this year. Confirm with your recommender before making a request through Naviance.
You must request your recommendations at least ONE MONTH before your first application is due. For example, if you’re applying early to a school with a November 1 deadline, you must request your recommendations by October 1.
Step 1: Go to the LHS website. http://lps.lexingtonma.org/lexingtonhs
Step 2: Click on Family Connection under the Students tab:
Step 3: Log into Naviance Family Connection:
You probably created an account in your guidance seminar last year. If not, please see your guidance counselor ASAP to set one up.
Step 4: Once you have logged in, click on the Colleges tab.
Step 5:
Click on “colleges I’m applying to.”
The first time you choose “colleges I’m applying to,” you will have to complete the FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) Consent Waiver. In order to complete this waiver you must create a username and password on the Common Application at www.commonapp.org.
The majority of post-secondary institutions use the Common Application to streamline the application process. You must be sure to complete the FERPA Consent Waiver, whether you plan to use the Common Application to apply to colleges or not. The Guidance Department and teachers need the FERPA Consent Waiver completed in order to electronically submit any materials (transcripts, letters of recommendation) on your behalf to any college.
Based on feedback from college admissions offices, all seniors should waive their rights to access their recommendation letters. You would do this by checking “yes” below (see blue arrow). Additionally, in order to authorize release of requested records, check the last box of the form as well (see red arrow).
If you have not set up an account at www.commonapp.org, please do so immediately. You cannot proceed without entering this information. Once your common application account is set up, please enter the username and password above (see green arrow).
Once form is complete, click Submit.
Please look at the model on the next page for reference:
Step 6: Create a list of schools you are applying to using the “colleges I’m applying to” list. Click on “add colleges to this list.”
Step 7:
Select the school from the “lookup” list. NOTE: Some schools have similar names, so please be precise when selecting.
Step 8:
Select the type – Regular Decision, Early Action, Early Decision, Rolling
You must select the CORRECT type. If you are unsure, please read your application documents and/or ask your counselor! Repeat this process for all the schools that you’d like to apply to.
Step 9: Verify the application method for each school. Under the Submissions column there are three types of applications. Next to each college listed will be one of the following icons to indicate how to complete the application for that college:
The blue computer icon with the “CA” indicates the Common Application.
The blue computer icon indicates an Electronic Application that you should fill out on the college’s website.
The red stamp icon indicates a Paper Application that you must download, print, and mail using the traditional paper method. These forms are usually available on the college’s website.
Step 10: Request Teacher Recommendations NOTE: ALL TEACHERS ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE LHS NAVIANCE THIS YEAR. CONFIRM WITH YOUR RECOMMENDER BEFORE MAKING A REQUEST THROUGH NAVIANCE AND EACH TIME YOU ADD ADDITIONAL COLLEGES. TEACHERS WILL NOT KNOW YOU HAVE ADDED COLLEGES UNLESS YOU TELL THEM.
Click on “add/cancel requests.”
Step 11: Select the teacher from the pull-down menu. You can add a personal note if you would like.
Step 12: Scroll to the bottom of the page and click “update requests”:
Step 13: Return to the “colleges I’m applying to” tab. You should see the teacher’s name and the status of your recommendation request. Please confirm that this information is correct.
If any application requires mailed paper documents, you must also provide the documents and addressed, stamped envelopes to the teacher one month before the application is due.
NEXT STEPS:
On your deadline, please confirm that all of your materials were submitted. If there are any problems or mix-ups, let your recommender know ASAP.
To confirm, please follow these steps:
1) Log-in to your NAVIANCE FAMILY CONNECTION account
2) Click on “Colleges I’m applying to”
3) Scroll to bottom of page…..below colleges….
4) Click on Teacher Recommendations sections:
This is where students can view Teacher – Status – Your Note
Once a teacher sends your recommendation it will say – COMPLETED.
IF YOU DECIDE TO APPLY TO MORE SCHOOLS :
PLEASE NOTE that the Naviance system will not alert your recommenders if you add a school to your list. For example, if you made five requests in November and decide later to add a sixth school, your recommender will not be aware of the addition or the need to send materials unless you email him/her directly. This is a shortcoming in the Naviance system and could easily lead to confusion. The bottom line is: if you make requests in the fall and later decide to add new schools to your list, you have to let your recommenders know.
Sources for this handout:
http://www.fcps.edu/LangleyHS/assets/2011-2012/NAVIANCE_FAMILY_CONNECTION_USER_INSTRUCTIONS_(2).pdf
http://www.sau57.org/shs/guidance/Documents/Naviance%20%20Instructions.pdf
http://youtu.be/s8yczSPNmJI
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCsQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mahopac.k12.ny.us%2Fdownload.axd%3Ffile%3Da6b8db7c-fec9-4f00-bb73-82de310a5246%26dnldType%3DResource&ei=GcgtUpj1B5au4APCo4DADg&usg=AFQjCNFzE8jQpegPqG97B3SnGVblOtDF6g&bvm=bv.51773540,d.dmg
http://www.smhs.org/ourpages/auto/2009/11/24/41411948/Transcript_Instructions.pdf
http://www.lsrhs.net/departments/counseling/CounselingWebSite/NavianceStudentGuide.html