Rocky River High School

1. Post High School Planning 2012-2013 Rocky River High School

2. FIT “The talent of success is nothing more than doing what you can do, well.” Henry W. Longfellow

3. “What Colleges Look For” Challenging Curriculum Grades reflective of an upward trend Solid scores on the ACT and/or SAT Passionate involvement in a few activities, work experience, community service, etc. Special talents or experiences ….. If required: A well-written essay Positive Teacher Recommendations

4. Admission Decision Options • Early Decision, Early Action • Rolling Admission • Regular Decision • Admit • Deny • Defer • Wait List

5. Research College Options:Reach, Probable, Safety • College and Scholarship Search: Naviance.com • College Fairs Baldwin Wallace University – Oct. 1 (6:30-8:00) LCCC - Oct. 4 (6:00-8:00) • College Representatives: Check NAVIANCE, RRHS’s website and/or morning announcements for scheduled visits • Talk with teachers, family members and your assigned counselor

6. Visit Colleges – A MUST October 17, 2012 – RRHS Senior College Visit Day • Seniors are allowed up to 5 “Planned Absences” per year; the dates can be used September through May • Request “Planned Absence Form” from the Attendance Office • Visit when students are on campus • Call ahead for group/individual tours • Access the college’s website for visitation dates and times • Ask to meet with a coach or professor in area of interest

7. Take or Retake ACT or SAT Test Date: Deadline: Late Fee Applies: SAT – October 6 September 7 September 21 ACT- October 27 September 21 September 22-Oct. 5 • Register: www.actstudent.org or www.collegeboard.org • CEEB Code: 364450 • Retakesand Non-correlated Score FREE Online Test Prep available in NAVIANCE through Test Prep RRHS is NOT a test site

8. ACT and SAT Test Score Release Reminder • YOU must release official test scores to colleges through the respective testing company (ACT and/or College Board) • Applications are not considered “complete” unless colleges receive official scores directly from ACT or SAT Test scores are NOT housed on RRHS documents

9. RRHS College Application Process STEP #1 • Access Common Application through the following website: www.commonapp.org • Under APPLY click on “Never Registered?” • Complete the registration process by filling in the required Personal Information • Create your Username and Password

11. RRHS College Application Process Step #2 • Login to Family Connection through NAVIANCE (accounts created last year) http://connection.naviance.com/rockyrhs • Go to the College Tab and click on “Colleges I Am Applying To”

13. Standard Online Application Process for Students Step #3 • Complete the FERPA form – you are encouraged to check “YES” • Enter your Common Application Username and Password • Click submit

15. RRHS College Application Process YOU ARE NOW REGISTERED AND MAY BEGIN THE ONLINE APPLICATION PROCESS (STEPS A-D NEED TO BE COMPLETED EVERY TIME YOU FILL OUT AN ONLINE APPLICATION A - Update information in “Colleges I am Applying to” prior to applying online B - Complete and Submit College Applications through Family Connection in NAVIANCE C- Request Teacher Recommendations and Transcripts through Family Connection in NAVIANCE D - Complete College Application Checklist and Records Release Form for EACH school to which you have applied online. Access this form through Family Connection in NAVIANCE by going to Document Library and then clicking on Common Documents Folder. This form is also located on RRHS’s website. Double-click the Counselor tab and then go to the College Planning tab.

16. Teacher Recommendations • Required? • Protocol for approaching teacher(s) – IN PERSON • Select junior or senior level teacher • Give 2 weeks notice • Request teacher recommendation through Family Connection in Naviance (ONLY AFTER YOUR PERSONAL REQUEST HAS BEEN APPROVED) • Write a thank you note • Inform teacher regarding admission status

17. Reminders • DEADLINESfor college and scholarship applications are listed within each application. Please make a note of them. Apply to public schools by October 15. Apply to public schools in Ohio by Thanksgiving. • TEST SCORES must be submitted through the respective testing website(s) via ACT or College Board. RRHS documents do not house test scores. • The Counseling Office has 10 school days to process all requested documents once the College Application Checklist and Records Release Form is submitted to Mrs. Urbin in the Counseling Office.

18. Reminders - continued • Please note, if you are requesting a recommendation from your assigned counselor you must attach a completed Counselor Recommendation Form to this document. This form is located on the RRHS website in the Counselors’ tab under College Planning, and in NAVIANCE’s Common Documents Folder. • Apply to schools as early as possible to avoid missing mandated college application deadlines. • College and Scholarship Applications to be processed by Winter Break must be submitted through the appropriate venue no later than 4:00 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012.

19. Scholarships and Financial Aid • The majority of scholarships will be awarded directly from the colleges to which you apply • AFTER completing and submitting applications, go to each school’s website to search for additional scholarship opportunities • Access countless scholarship and financial aid links through NAVIANCE

22. The Financial Aid Process Financial Aid Night at RRHS: Thursday, November 29, 2012 7:00 pm High School Auditorium Guest Speaker: Bill Dull College Now Greater Cleveland

23. Counselor Assignments Mr. Petrulis A-G Mrs. Morriss H-N Mrs. Hecker O-Z *Individual meetings will be held with each student and their assigned counselor during the 1st or 2nd quarter

24. THANK YOU Questions? Have a great year!