Class of 2020 4 Year College Application Meeting

Your OPHS Counselors

Julie Ross (A-Fq)

Suzie Stasiefski (Fr-Mh)

Jenny Charrett (Mi-Tn)

Randy McLelland (To-Z, All 504)

Janet Svoboda (9th Grade)

Class of 2020 Webpage

College & Career CenterMs. Jean Gilbert Hawkins

● College admission representatives visit at:○ 8am○ nutrition○ lunch○ 7th period

● They may read your application - take advantage of the time to personally connect

College & Career CenterMs. Jean Gilbert Hawkins

This is where college/career/scholarship information is all at your fingertips!

Services Offered:● Naviance surveys/tasks, reset Naviance Passwords● Get information about SAT/ACT testing● Events: college application workshops, Naviance tutorials,

financial aid workshop, college rep visits, College Knowledge Night, college events off campus

● Tutoring Information● Volunteer, leadership, job, summer enrichment ● Naviance Resume, College Searches, Assessments

College and Career Webpage/Newsletter

You will get emails of college visits, scholarships, and testing if you enter your email in Naviance.

College Information Tab

Preparing to Apply to a 4 Year College

What’s Ahead:● Over the summer, complete your Naviance Task List ● Take your SAT/ACT and optional SAT Subject Tests ● Research colleges● Attend mandatory meeting for seniors applying to a 4-year (Aug)● Sign up for individual college meeting with counselor (Sept-Nov)● Request letter(s) of recommendation, if needed● Complete/Submit your applications● Request transcripts (initial, mid-year, final)● Submit SAT/ACT test scores from testing web sites● Apply for Financial aid – FAFSA/CSS Profile/Scholarships

Summer Considerations

● Apply for an internship or a job ● Enroll in an enrichment program or summer

class(es) ● Volunteer - Community Service● Tour Prospective Colleges ● Create or do something unique ● Travel● Get organized- make a list of colleges, due

dates, requirements

Naviance Tasks

You will be assigned Naviance Tasks to complete over the summer and into the school year.

Some key tasks by Aug. 6:● Counselor and Teacher Questionnaires● Resume● Enter SAT/ACT Test Scores● Complete SuperMatch College Search and Add to Colleges

I’m Thinking About List● Register for Common Application and Start UC app starting

Aug 1, if applicable

*Make sure email in Naviance is your email that you will using for college applications/communications.

College Research

● Attend College Rep Visits at OPHS in C6● Plan to visit college campuses● Identify college characteristics that are a good match for you - are students

at this school like me?● Choose roughly 3-12 colleges in your range

○ LIKELY (1-3 schools): your GPA/Scores are well above their average ○ TARGET/POSSIBLE (1-5 schools): your GPA/Scores are within the

middle 50% average ○ REACH (1-3 schools): your GPA/scores are at or lower than their average

● Know your college deadlines and what is required (go directly to college admission pages)

● Are there additional applications or materials needed when applying to honors programs, special programs, arts programs, etc.?

What Colleges Look For

● A rigorous high school curriculum that challenges the student appropriate to his/her capabilities.

● Grades that represent a strong effort, with an upward or consistent trend.

● Solid scores on standardized tests (SAT, ACT). These should be consistent with high school performance.

● Passionate involvement in a few school or outside activities, demonstrating leadership and initiative. Commitment and depth are valued over minimal involvement in large number of activities.

What Colleges Look For

● A well-written essay that provides insight into the student’s unique personality, experiences, values and goals. The application essay should be thoughtful and highly personal; not an overview of what’s already in application. More conversational in YOUR VOICE.

● Letters of recommendations from teachers and school counselor that give evidence of an interest in learning, special skills, and positive character traits.

● Many colleges seek to develop a freshmen class that is diverse: geographically, culturally, ethnically, economically, and politically. Colleges like INTERESTING people - follow your own path or you risk looking like every other applicant.

Senior Year Considerations

● Continue taking a 4th year of math● Some colleges require 3 years of LAB science (Bio,

Chem, Physics or other lab sci) - Foundations is NOT a Lab Science.

● Completing college applications takes A LOT of time; make sure that is considered with all commitments. Stay organized and Start early!

● Many colleges will ask for mid-year grades; this is not the time to lose your academic focus (senioritis!). Acceptance is provisional.

Standardized tests - SAT and ACT

Sign up online at the college board website SAT www.collegeboard.com

ACTwww.actstudent.org

Optional SAT Subject Area Tests Recommended for Math, Science, Engineering Majors or anyone applying to highly selective schools; Hebrew SAT, scores can not hurt your application

At the time of registration, plan to utilize free score reports

NCAA EligibilityCREATE AN ACCOUNT AND SUBMIT TRANSCRIPT

AND TEST SCORES

Types of Applications

● University of California (opens Aug 1)● California State University (opens Oct 1)● Common Application (register or rollover Aug 1)● Coalition Application● Other (e.g. Universal Application, Embark etc. . .,

some universities have their own application. If they also use the Common Application, use that instead.

California State University

● Student sets up a CSU portal and checks status● Request Mid Year Transcript ( if CSU requests it)● Send official ACT and SAT from testing website● Submit between Oct 1 - Nov 30● www.calstate.edu/apply

University of California

● Choose to answer 4 of 8 questions● Send official SAT/ACT test scores from testing

website to one UC campus. Scores are shared between campuses.

● Available August 1, 2019● Submission window: Nov 1-Nov 30.● http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/

Common Applicationwww.commonapp.org

● Variety of Colleges and Universities ● Account Register/Rollover - August 1, 2019 for Fall 2020● Review Supplemental Questions – often require more

writing pieces● Official Test scores must be sent to the college through the

SAT and ACT websites by the student.● Transcripts – Initial, Midyear, and Final● Note recommendations required: Counselor, # teachers,

Other recommenders (i.e. Coaches, music teacher, employer)

● DO NOT ASSIGN OPHS teachers/counselor as recommenders – Naviance does this automatically

The Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success has an application platform that provides a toolkit for students to organize, build, and refine their applications to numerous institutions. It can be accessed at: http://www.coalitionforcollegeaccess.org/ If you decide to apply using the Coalition App you will be given the option to have documents such as transcripts and recommendations outside of the Coalition Application locker. Because OPHS uses Naviance for document submission you should select the following option in the Coalition App: "I will submit all these documents separately through other means outside of the Coalition System."

The Coalition Application

Other Applications

● Variety of deadlines - if rolling, shoot for Dec/Jan● Sometimes a paper SSR (Secondary School Report)

request form needs to be given to the counselor.● Monitor your college portals for documents received

or needed. ● Don’t apply just because you receive a free, fast

application offer. Have a genuine interest. It’s no guarantee of admission.

Early Action, Early Decision, etc.

Letters of Recommendation

● Not all colleges require letters of recommendation- check each college website. No Letters for CSU/UC!!

● November 22: Last day to request a letter of recommendation

● Ask your teacher/counselor in person. Then invite them to send letters in Naviance to only those colleges that require them. DO NOT SELECT ALL COLLEGES.

● Follow up with a Thank You note.● Waiving your rights is necessary for a school letter (FERPA)

WARNING DO NOT assign recommenders on the Common App for OPHS teachers/staff.

Using Independent College Advisors

● Can assist in identifying colleges, as well as helping organize the process.

● Only your school counselor is authorized to write letters, exchange info with college admissions staff, and submit documents.

● Ask about training, i.e. UCLA College Counseling Certificate● Private Counselors need to follow OPHS protocol. Always check with

your High School Counselor about important questions.● Don’t be pressured to apply early or apply to too many colleges. ● Paying by the hour is highly recommended vs. contract.● Beware of anyone saying they can get you into a college or get you

financial aid.● Utilize FREE help – College Knowledge Night, College Fairs, Reps

visiting OPHS, College and Career Advisor - Ms. Hawkins, OPHS counselors.

Parents’ Role

● Monitor tasks and deadlines; let your child lead the process

● Manage expectations - What is your child ready for? What is the best fit for them?

● Discuss costs of colleges with your teen and what you will realistically be able to contribute $$. ○ Demonstrated financial need for SAT/ACT/application fee

waiver, see counselor● Fill out the Naviance parent questionnaire● Attend a Naviance Workshop with Jean Hawkins ● Validate information instead of going by word of

mouth

Recap - Students should...

● Take the lead on the process● Complete all Naviance tasks before 1:1 college

meeting with counselor in Aug● Communicate with teachers, counselor & colleges● Complete the applications and essays● Be responsible for meeting deadlines and know

what is due.● Request letters of recommendation and transcripts● Send test scores from the testing websites

You are the one going to college - show you are ready!

More Resources to Help You

● August 2019 – 4-year College Application Meeting

● August 2019 – Parent Mtg for College Bound Seniors

● Sept-Dec 2019- 1:1 Meeting with your counselor

● Fall 2019 – UC and CSU application workshops C6

● October 2019 – College Knowledge Night

● October 2019 – Financial Aid Workshop at OPHS

Enter your email into Naviance

Enter your email go to the ABOUT ME tabclick Profile

Enter your email go to the ABOUT ME tabclick Account

My Planner - Tasks

Go to My Plannerthen to Tasks

Post your SAT or ACT scores

Click on edit

This info is needed to assess your odds of getting into each college

About MeMy Stuff

SuperMatch - helps you match colleges

Colleges I’m thinking about

Later you will move these to “Colleges I’m Applying to”

Later you will move these to “Colleges I’m Applying to”

Compare meChoose some schools in red and some in green - realistic and reaches!

You must have an ACT or SAT score entered!

Graphs

YOU

Colleges I am applying to

Teacher/Counselor Questionnaires

Resume (must customize your printable resume)

The RESUME is used to help write your letter of recommendation.

Next up....FALL Senior College Meeting

Do your assigned tasks over the summer!

***** this PowerPoint is on the website and on Naviance - use it as your guide!!!