Welcome Back Seniors

Thanks for completing the surveys

1. Summer Accomplishment Survey

2. Senior College Recommendation Survey

Where are you in the college admissions process?!

I’ve visited a zillion colleges and know where I will apply

I’m all set: the Harvard rep calls me daily

I’m pondering over a long list of colleges and am confused

I’m nowhere

Naviance Homepage

Colleges I’m Thinking About

Why should I add colleges to “colleges I’m thinking about”:

Makes your counselor love youYou can see college admission deadlines and

other important infoMakes requesting a transcript easyGives you the opportunity to apply for

scholarship nominationsYou get an email when your college is coming

to LSMSA or hosting an event

Colleges I’m Thinking About

What should I be doing now?

Researching prospective colleges and scholarships

Building and editing a list of prospective colleges (“colleges I’m thinking about”)

Seeing your counselor for help with this

Using Naviance as a resource

Applying to College

Most colleges prefer that you use an online application

1. Go the college’s website 2. Go to the Common Application

Applications online will not be processed without an application fee

If you must apply by a paper application, request an application now

Why Use the Common App?

The Common App allows you to apply online to over 415 colleges using the

same application and essays

Caveat Most colleges require supplemental

materials

Accessing the Common Application

Go to www.commonapp.org or use the link from Naviance

Set up an accountIf a college is on the CA, you must use

the Common ApplicationHow do I know if a college is on the

CA?

Completing Your Application

Applications begin with two parts: 1. Your part--biographical information, extracurricular,

short answer, and essay2. School/counselor/teacher part--Supporting

information that you request

Read the instructions carefully so that you can so you can properly secure your supporting documents in a timely fashion

Supporting Information

1. Transcript2. Secondary School Report3. Counselor Letter of

Recommendation4. Teacher Letter of Recommendations5. Test Scores

Before supporting documents are sent…..

You must: Go to “colleges I’m applying to” and

Waive your right to see your letters of recommendation

Give permission for the school to send your records

If you are applying to CA schools, enter your user name and password from your CA account

Transcripts

Make sure your transcript is correct before it is sent

Transcripts to colleges vs. transcripts to scholarships and other programs

Detailed tutorial on each of these processes is now on the right-hand menu of your Naviance homepage

Transcripts must be requested one month before the application deadline. See the deadline schedule on the left-hand side of your homepage

Sending your counselor a link from a college (Tulane) does not request your transcript or SSR

Deadlines to request supporting info

Secondary School Reports and Counselor LOR

Most selective schools and all CA schools require a SSR

Mailed or sent electronically with transcript Gives info about LSMSA and about student Counselor must comment on discipline on this form Includes a LOR from the counselor Requests for supporting documents from

counselors must be made one month before the admissions deadline

Put paper forms directly in the counselors hands

Requesting Supporting Documents from Teachers

Request a LOR from a teacher at least one month before the application deadline.

Give your teacher the “helper form” when you talk to him/her about writing the letter.

When requesting a paper LOR, provide:1. an envelope addressed to the college with

a stamp on it2. any form that should accompany the letter

Teacher LOR’s and Naviance

Go to “colleges I’m applying to” and click on “add requests” under the Teacher Recommendation section

Naviance will send your teacher an email informing her that you have requested a LOR

Do not send your teacher or counselor a link for the Common App site requesting a LOR

Remember………..

DEADLINES ARE VERY IMPORTANT!!!

Most admission deadlines are postmark deadlines, but it is your responsibility to know if this is the case

Deadlines are the same for your application and all supporting documents

Some deadlines are early. For example, early decision, early action, and priority admissions at LSU and NSU.

Test Scores

Test scores belong to you and the testing company.

Test scores do not appear on the LSMSA transcript

You are responsible contacting ACT and/or College Board and requesting that the company send your scores to colleges

Applying to LA Public Universities

These universities are not on the Common AppAll applications are on-lineMost, including LSU, DO NOT require an essayYour transcript will be retrieved from the STSSome deadlines are early, including LSU,

(11/15)Some have a separate scholarship application

and deadline

How will I know……….

…………………when colleges visit LSMSA?

You will get an email if the college is in your college list on Naviance

Publicized on school TVsPublicized in Naviance

1. Upcoming College Events 2. What’s New

When Students Visit Colleges

Visit during LSMSA holidays and extended weekends

If you need to miss school for a college visit, see Ms. Istre

During your visit ask the college for documentation of your visit

Bring documentation to the registrar's office when you return

Testing

Consider retaking ACT and SAT ILinks are on left-hand side of

Naviance homepageSAT IISee your counselor if you think you might qualify for a fee waiver

Fee waivers for college appsTest prep

TOPS

Qualifications Opportunity Award--ACT of 20 or SAT

equivalent; GPA of 2.5 Follow the appropriate curriculum

How do I Apply? File the FAFSA by April 1; put a university

in LA as the first college to receive your financial information

Send ACT or SAT to LOSFA ACT code is 1595; SAT code is 9019

TOPS—What do I get?

The basic TOPS award covers tuition and some fees.

The Performance Award and the Honors Award carry an extra stipend of $400 and $800 a year respectively.

TOPS does not cover room and board. Unless you are awarded other scholarships in addition to TOPS, you should expect to pay for room and board which varies from school to school. TOPS does not mean that your college education will be free, just less expensive.

Where can I use TOPS?

At any college or university in Louisiana

At a public university you can get tuition and some fees.

At a private institution, you will get about $3ooo per year

Scholarships

90% of the scholarships our students get come form the colleges themselves and are based on GPA and scores

Go to the scholarships and financial aid sections on the college’s website

Scholarship applications and deadlines may differ from admission applications and deadlines

To research via Naviance go to “Scholarships and money” from the “colleges” tab

Other search engines include fastweb.com and scholarships.con

Counseling newsletter

Financial Aid

By filing the FAFSA you become eligible for need-based aid such as:

• Pell Grants• Work Study • Stafford Loans• Your parents will fill this out after Jan. 1 using

their 2010 tax forms• Counseling Center will host a financial aid and

scholarship workshop on the Sat. of Parents’ Weekend

1. For next year create new slides, one for ED,EA, rolling , etc. and one showing the common app application.