College Admission Rep Visits
Traditionally, College Admission Rep Visits are held during PASS (advisory) throughout the fall. It is an excellent opportunity to learn more about a potential school and ask lots of questions! The schedule of visits can be found in Naviance as well as posted on the bulletin board outside the Counseling Office. Students may sign up in Naviance to attend a visit. A Hall Pass will be emailed to the student prior to the visit.
Naviance & College Applications
Students applying to colleges need to create a list of colleges in Naviance to which they will be submitting applications. Transcripts can be requested at the same time. Check early with each college or in Naviance to determine the requirements of the application: letters of recommendation, SAT or ACT scores etc. (Not all schools need these.) If a student determines they are no longer interested in applying to a particular college, it is extremely helpful to the Counseling staff if the student indicates as such in the Naviance college list. Once the decision has been made as to which institution the student will be attending, that should also be noted in Naviance so the final transcripts can be sent.
The most common method of college applications:
~ Direct to the institution via their website
~ Coalition Application
~ Common Application
Some colleges allow a choice of "Direct to the Institution" or another method.
Letters of Recommendation (LOR)
Requests for LORs for college applications are made in Naviance on the College tab. Allow 2 - 3 weeks lead time to assure the recommender has adequate time to write the letter. The more information you furnish about yourself via a "Brag Sheet" and "Letter of Recommendation Request" will increases the likelihood of a well-crafted letter. This is no time to be modest! The more your recommender knows about you, the better! Note: Letters of Recommendation for scholarships are not requested in Naviance. Contact the recommender directly. See the Scholarship page for more information.
SAT & ACT Scores for College Applications
2-year colleges do not require SAT or ACT scores. Many 4-year colleges require one or the other with no preference as to which one. There is a trend for many colleges to become "test optional" which means that SAT or ACT scores are not required but can be submitted if the student feels the scores would be beneficial. Check with each college for specific requirements. If scores are required they would be requested and sent through either collegeboard.org for SAT scores or ACT.org (not Naviance).
Helpful Info
The Edmonds School District College Planning webpage is a great resource for college information. The MTHS Career Center also has many resources for getting started on your college applications including the following:
Identifying good-fit colleges to apply to
Tips on filling out your college application
How to write a great admissions essay
Understanding financial aid and what colleges are a good financial fit for you
Big Future is a site hosted by The College Board that guides students in exploring careers, finding colleges, admissions and the finances of higher ed. It is a super easy site to navigate, full of helpful information.
College Week Live is a college search site where students chat live with admission counselors in colleges and universities across the country. This site is helpful for students seeking schools outside of Washington State.
The College Navigator provides information regarding specific colleges and universities
Websites that will help you in the college admissions process...
Peterson's College Search- Offers many different search methods that help you identify good-fit schools with up-to-date information on admissions, cost, financial aid, programs / majors. Check out the "Colleges You May Like" function!
CollegeBoard College MatchMaker- A great tool that will help you generate a list of potential schools. List is based on geography, size, programs of study, admissions, and more.
College Prowler- "The ONLY college guides written by students for students." A great tool that will give you student perspective on the school. Use this for finding a school that matches your personality and learning style!
Scoir.com is a new college search website. Check it out!
Great articles to help you through the college admissions process...
