COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS

1. COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS LAKEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL September 11, 2018

2. Counselors Mr. LaPlant Lp - O Ms. Mark H - Lo Ms. Morrow Cp - G Mr. Friesen: A - Co Mrs. Yantorni P - Si Mrs. Park Sj - Z Ms. Layer 9th Transition

3. Also in the Counseling Office… Kris Kochevar Registrar Lori Schechter Counseling Office Secretary

4. Team work Makes the Dream Work • Student Responsibilities • Counselor Responsibilities Communication is the key!

5. STUDENTS WILL SUBMIT TO COLLEGES… • Completed college application: • Common Application • Institutional Applications • Community/Junior College Applications • Out of Country Applications • Military Academies • University of California Schools and other public institutions • Coalition Application • Each one of these may ask for different types of information.

6. STUDENTS WILL SUBMIT TO COLLEGES… • Additional required application materials: • College essay(s) • Resume/Activity Sheet • Short Answer Question • Etc. • ACT and/or SAT Test Scores if required directly from the testing agency • Application Fee (unless waived by college)

7. COUNSELING OFFICE WILL SUBMIT To COLLEGES… • Official High School Transcript • ACT/SAT Test Scores (if on transcript) • Secondary School/Counselor Report Form and Recommendation (if required/requested) • Teacher Recommendations (if required/ requested) • Lakewood High School Profile

8. How Do the Counselors Know where to submit student applications? • Naviance • Green Sheets

9. Naviance • Log on to Naviance from the LHS website (Students: Links for Login). • Click on Colleges at the top of the screen. • Click on the “colleges I’m applying to” link. • If you will be applying via the Common Application please complete the Common App Account Matching process. • If you will not be using the Common Application skip the above process and click on the red/white plus button. • Applying Via Common App? Common App schools will default to “I’m not sure yet.” You MUST change this to the correct information.

10. Green Sheets What the heck is a “green sheet?”

12. Green Sheets Serve several purposes: • Tracking Sheet: What to send, Where, When • Must be completed for each school to which a student applies. • Available in the Counseling Office from Mrs. Schechter • Filled out IN the Counseling Office

13. Green Sheets • Record payment of $3.00 processing fee • Required for every official transcript request including: • Colleges • Scholarships • Military Enlistments • NCAA/NAIA Eligibility Centers • Official transcripts cannot be given to students. (Unofficial transcripts are available on the student portal of IC under Reports.) • A Mid-Year report (including a transcript with first semester grades) will automatically be sent in January to all Common App colleges. Others will need to be requested by the student. • A Final Report/Transcript will be sent after graduation to the college you select to attend. Student must inform us. Typically, that is done through the Senior Survey on Naviance. • No additional charge for either of these submissions.

14. Green Sheets • FERPA Release • Student grants us permission to release their information and chooses whether to waive or not waive their rights to see letters of rec.

15. Just checking in…How’s everybody doing?

16. Counseling Office To Do’s • Record all materials requested and processed • Review materials before sending • Follow up with students/teachers for any missing documents. Students should also be doing this. • Be aware that the counseling office may hold your application until all required materials are available to send. • We are here to help!

17. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Deadlines • Minimum of FOURweeks prior to college’s application deadline • Typical deadlines are on your handout (pink sheet). What does this mean for you? • Winter Break: December 22-January 4 • Systems crash when? • Student Record Release Form for Athletes

18. Teacher letters of recommendation • Not all colleges/universities require letters—check websites/ask your counselor/call admission offices • Two should be enough • Choose teachers who know you well as a student • Ask early—four weeks notice is required. The more time the better! • Letter of Rec Teacher Request Form may be required • Process: • Students will ask the teacher(s) • List the confirmed teacher(s) on the green sheet • Counseling office will enter teachers on Naviance • Teachers will upload letters directly to Naviance • Students can track status on Naviance, but cannot view letters

19. Counselor letter of recommendation • Not all schools require counselor letter—check websites/check with your counselor. • If one is needed, let your counselor know. • Fill out the required “Counselor Letter of Rec Request Questionnaire” on Naviance. • Email your counselor when you have completed it to let them know. You must also let them know your earliest deadline date. • Ask early—four weeks notice is required. The more time you give us the better!

20. Letters of recommendation • Letters are typically not institution specific. One letter can be used for applying to all colleges. • Many college admission letters can be used for scholarships as well with minimal tweaking. • LHS policy is not to release letters to students. • Counselors are able to review teacher letters. • Students are encouraged to properly thank their recommenders. Writing a good letter of recommendation is time consuming!

21. Paying for College • Financial Aid Night: October 4, 2018 at 5:15 pm & 6:00 pm (right before the college fair). • Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens October 1st. LHS will have a FAFSA Completion Night in mid-October (TBD). • FAFSA can = grants, work study, and loans • College Opportunity Fund = a stipend for Colorado public colleges and some Colorado private colleges (if a student is eligible for a Pell grant). • Scholarships:Two main categories: • Institutional: • College/University specific (can only be used there) • Outside entities: (typically these can be used at any college) • Businesses • Clubs • Organizations • Foundations

22. Researching Scholarships • Check individual college and university websites • Naviance • LHS Resources: • Counseling Facebook page • Counseling Website: Under College tab • Scholarship Search Engines: • Fastweb • Scholarships.com • Cappex.com • Be Aware of Scams!

23. Information • Use your Naviance resources • College Representative Visits (they have started) • Super College Week (October 1st – 5th) • College Fairs: • Out-of-state fair at LHS Thursday, October 4th, 2018; 6:30-8:00pm • Denver National College Fair Sunday, September 30th, 2018; 1-4 pm at the Denver Merchandise Mart • In-State Fair at Ralston Valley Monday, October 15th, 6 – 7pm • Counseling Facebook page: Lakewood High School Tigers-Counseling. LIKE US! • Counseling Website • Emails from the counseling office. Make sure your email is updated in Naviance!

24. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION • Data related to your college applications and scholarships will be collected throughout the year. • Graduation Insert/Scholarships • LHS Profile • Counseling advice for future seniors • Handouts: • Deadlines: Pink • Sample Green Sheet: (Green, of course!) • Application Process: Yellow • College Planning Night for Juniors packet: extras available after program concludes

25. FINAL WORDS • The quality of a university is measured more by the kind of student it turns out than the kind it takes in. Robert J. Kibbee • Start thinking for yourself. Start looking for a team you want to play on, where you can be a starter every day and at least occasionally a star. Donald Asher

26. Remember to Stop and Smell the Roses!