Senior Handbook

Read this guide, and you will be better prepared to have a successful senior year!

Join the Class of 2019 Text Message Reminders from Ms. Carter, College & Career Center Specialist Text: 81010 In Message write: @4k944b

Join Mrs. Carter’s “Google Classroom” njf1f9 for access to important information!!

Graduation Requirements

Check the FCPS graduation requirements and consult with your counselor during the Senior

Week (9/17-9/21).

https://www.fcps.edu/academics/graduation-requirements-and-course-planning/first-time-

ninth-graders-2013-2014-through-2015-2016

Options after High School

• 4-Year Schools

• Bachelors Degree

• 2-Year Schools

• Associates Degree

• NOVA Pathways

• Career and Technical School

• Career Specific Certifications

• Military

• Enlisting, ROTC, and Service Academies

• Employment

• Entry Level Careers, Internships, etc..

• Apprenticeship

• Classroom Instruction and on the job training

• Gap Year

• Service learning experience or program completed after high school

See your school counselor or Mrs. Carter in the College and Career Center for additional

information on these options.

College Application Process Timeline

*SAT and ACT dates – See the Test Scores section below

*Transcript Request dates – See the Transcripts section below

August 2018 August 1: Common Application is live! Students may create application.

Non-Common App School Applications may be open; check college sites to confirm.

September 2018 Students should put a list of colleges on NAVIANCE STUDENT under “Colleges I ‘m thinking

about”.

September 6 and 12: Senior Presentations in Advisory

September 13: College Planning Night – 6:30PM

September 17-21: Senior Individual Meetings with Counselors

October 2018 October 14: FCPS College Fair - 7:30PM @ Fair Oaks Mall

October 15: FCPS College Night - 7:00PM @ Hayfield Secondary School

October 25: Financial Aid Night 6:30PM @ Mt. Vernon High School

November 2018 Pay special attention to the Transcript Request deadlines! (for Dec. 1 and Jan. 1 college

deadlines)

November 7: ASVAB Exam 8:30AM @ WPHS Career Center (pre-registration is required)

February 2019 Student Services sends Mid-Year Reports to all colleges you applied to

March 2019 Keep your grades up! While senioritis is real, so is a college rescindment!

March 20: ASVAB Exam 8:30AM @ WPHS Career Center (pre-registration is required)

April 2019 All admission decisions should be in by mid-April. If you have been

offered a spot on a waitlist and you would like to pursue it, please do so

immediately. If you have questions, see your counselor or Mrs. Carter.

May 2019 May 1: National Decision Day –commit to the college of your choice!

Senior Survey to designate the college where your final transcript will be sent

Components of the College Application: Test Scores

Students need to register for, take, and send their ACT or SAT test scores to the colleges

before the application deadline. West Potomac High School does not report SAT or ACT scores

to the colleges. It is the student’s responsibility to send all official score reports from the

College Board or the ACT program to each college.

The SAT TEST DATES FOR 2018

Test Date: Register By:

August 25, 2018* July 27, 2018

October 6, 2018* September 7, 2018

November 3, 2018* October 5, 2018

December 1, 2018* November 2, 2018

• Register online: www.collegeboard.org

• *Subject tests administered on these dates

• See Mrs. Carter in the career center if you need an SAT fee waiver

The ACT TEST DATES FOR 2018

Test Date: Register By:

September 8, 2018 August 12, 2018

October 27, 2018 September 28, 2018

December 8, 2018 November 2, 2018

• Register online: www.actstudent.org

• See Mrs. Carter in the career center if you need an ACT fee waiver Practice tests are available through WP PTSA: https://westpotomachs.fcps.edu/student-services/college-and-career-center/test-preparation

Components of the College Application: Transcripts

Pick up a transcript request form from Student Services or download it off the WPHS Student Services website.

After completing the student/parent/guardian part, bring the form to your counselor. The first three

transcripts are free. Additional transcripts are $5/transcript. Fees are waived for students on free and reduced

lunch. Payment can be made via check or cash. Transcripts being sent via US mail require 2 stamps each.

Types of Admission

ED – Early Decision: Students make a commitment to a first-choice institution where, if admitted they

definitely will enroll. The application deadline and decision deadline occur early. Commitment: BINDING

EA – Early Action: Students apply early and receive a decision well in advance of the institution’s regular

response date. Commitment: NON-BINDING

REA - Restrictive Early Action: Students apply to an institution of preference and receive a decision early. They

may be restricted from applying ED or EA or REA to other institutions. If offered enrollment, they have until

May 1 to confirm. Commitment: NON-BINDING

Regular Decision: Students submit an application by a specified date and receive a decision in a clearly stated

period of time. Commitment: NON-BINDING

Rolling Admission: Institutions review applications as they are submitted and render admission decisions

throughout the admission cycle. Commitment: NON-BINDING

Priority Admission: Students submit an application by a specified date to be considered for admission,

scholarship money, and honors programs, etc. Please choose this option only if the college does indeed have a

priority deadline. Commitment: NON-BINDING

Deferred Admission: Students who apply early action/decision will get a decision from the college in

December/January time frame. If the student receives a deferred admission decision, that means the

application will be considered in the regular decision pool and will receive a decision in April.

DEADLINE to bring Transcript Request

to your Counselor

Application Deadline for College/University

September 24, 2018 October 15, 2018

October 11, 2018 November 1, 2018

October 25, 2018 November 15, 2018

November 1, 2018 (early due to Thanksgiving) December 1, 2018

November 20, 2018 (early due to Winter Break) January 1, 2019

December 11, 2018 January 15, 2019

January 10, 2019 February 1, 2019

Sending a transcript

Use Naviance Student to determine if the transcript needs to be sent via Edocs, Common Application or US

Mail. Add your colleges to the “Colleges I’m Thinking About” section, and you will find this information.

Virginia Public Schools – Sending Transcript Cheat Sheet

Christopher Newport University Common Application

George Mason University Common Application

James Madison University E-Docs

Longwood University E-Docs

University of Mary Washington Common Application

Norfolk State University Paper/US Mail

Old Dominion University Common Application

Radford University Common Application

Virginia Commonwealth University Common Application

Virginia Military Institute E-Docs

Virginia Tech E-Docs

Virginia State University E-Docs

University of Virginia Common Application

University of Virginia's College at Wise E-Docs

College of William and Mary Common Application

Common Application

eDocs

US Mail

Components of the College Application: Teacher & Counselor Recommendations

Applications will ask you if you want to waive your right to review your

recommendations and supporting documents. By waiving your right, you are

ensuring that colleges know your letter is confidential. Admissions officers give

most weight to letters that provide an honest and qualified assessment of the

applicant. If you don't waive your right, you could accidentally signal to admissions

officers that you don't trust your recommender or that the recommendation is less

candid or genuine.

Teacher Recommendations

Check the college’s website, under the admissions section, to determine if

they require teacher recommendations and if so, how many. Ask the teacher that

you feel knows you the best and is willing to write a positive letter on your behalf.

No one other than the teacher and the college will read this letter as they are

considered confidential information. Most colleges will request the

recommendation from the teacher electronically. You will need to supply their

name and e-mail address in the application to ensure they receive the

recommendation form. Don’t forget to write a thank you note to your teachers for

the time they took to write your letter!

Counselor Recommendations

Letters of recommendation are a team effort. We draw information from the

student’s cumulative academic record, personal interactions with the student,

student response form and parent/guardian response form to form a

comprehensive letter of recommendation. We do not release letters to students

or parents as the letters are considered confidential between West Potomac and

the college.

COMPLETE STUDENT AND PARENT/GUARDIAN RESPONSE FORMS (next two pages) AND EMAIL TYPED RESPONSES TO YOUR ASSIGNED SCHOOL COUNSELOR AT LEAST 3 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE COLLEGE DEADLINE!

Student Information Form Name: Cell Phone: Email: Colleges/Universities you intend to apply to with the college application deadline: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Intended Major or Career Interests: 1) What are your personal strengths? What are your academic strengths? 2) Describe what makes you unique and/or something you are passionate about. 3) How have you used your time out of school? Attach a resume if available (Examples: hobbies, organizations, community service, employment, etc.) 4) What is your most rewarding academic experience for you at West Potomac High School? 5) Describe two significant events in your life and how they have had an impact upon you. 6) What three things would you want a college admissions committee to know about you? 7) Is there anything on your transcript that you feel needs clarification? If yes, please explain. 8) Is there anything else that you want us to know about you, or anything that we may not otherwise know that would help to distinguish you from the next applicant?

Parent/Guardian Information Form Please submit comments and specific information about your son/daughter that will assist the counselor in writing an insightful, thorough college recommendation. Your input is greatly appreciated. Student Name: Your Name: Relation to the Student: Best way to reach you (email or phone): 1) Choose 3 adjectives that best describe your child with an explanation for why you pick each adjective. 2) Describe some of your son/daughter’s outstanding personality traits. 3) What are some of your child’s accomplishments that have occurred over the past three years? (both in and out of school) 4) Are there any special circumstances that have affected your child’s academic performance (example: illness, death in the family, moving, personal situations). If so, please explain. 5) Please add any additional comments about your child that you feel would be pertinent to his/her letter of recommendation.

Components of the College Application: Application, Essays, Payment, Other

Items to consider

Application

Applications are sent directly to the school by the student via the

method(s) specified. Make sure you complete all items and check over for

correctness!

Essays

Your essay reveals something important about you that your grades

and test scores can't—your personality. It can give admission officers a sense of

who you are, as well as showcasing your writing skills. Be personal, specific and

honest. It is a good idea to show a draft to someone you trust: parent, counselor

or teacher to get feedback and help proofread.

Payment

Applications are not complete until your payment is sent. If you used a

SAT fee waiver then the College Board will provide you with waivers for four

college applications.

Supplemental Materials

If applicable, interview and supplemental materials (art portfolio,

supplemental essays, graded papers, peer recommendation) can be requested or

accepted by a college. Students should mail these materials directly to the college.

Playing a sport in College?

Make sure you register with the NCAA Eligibility Center at:

http://web3.ncaa.org/ECWR2/NCAA_EMS/NCAA_EMS.html#