AUGUST 18 , 2015

COLLEGE CENTER

WWW.TINYURL.COM/BHHSCOLLEGECENTER

COUNSELORS WWW.TINYURL.COM/BHHSCOUNSELORS

Class of 2016

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Agenda

College guidance overview for Seniors College systems and application types Personal statements & essays

What should I be doing now? Requesting recommendation letters

Naviance & Brag Sheet for counselors Common Application schools Non-Common Application schools

Ordering transcripts: Parchment College rep visits to BHHS & other upcoming events

How to strengthen your college application

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As Juniors…

Theme: Investigation and Making ConnectionsGoal: Start to define yourself as well as your

post-secondary plans by investigating post-secondary options. Building upon the last two years, start to define your interests and engage deeper in extracurricular activities while taking leadership roles, prepare for rigorous classes in 12th grade, learn college requirements in detail, engage in a meaningful college search to build an appropriate college list, take the SAT or ACT at least once by the end of the year, take SAT Subject tests if needed, brainstorm college essay ideas.

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College Guidance Overview for Seniors

Theme: Making Decisions & Doing the WorkGoal: This is the year to put everything you

learned about yourself and the college admissions process into action. It is time to apply to colleges, get admitted, and commit to the school of your choice. Along the way, use good decision making skills and always make decisions based on if it makes sense to you and your future, not what others think you should be doing. Finalize the college list, write college essays, complete and submit admission applications as well as financial aid applications, request counselor and teacher recommendation letters, seek appropriate help, celebrate your successes, thank those who helped you along the way.

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College Guidance Activities for Seniors

Individual meetings with counselors: starts in September

College Monday Workshops: every Monday* during lunch (*few exceptions)

College rep visits: begins September 1 1-on-1 Essay Review Sessions: sign ups available soonCollege Connections Fair: Monday, October 12

Seniors ONLY can enter at 6:30 p.m. Financial Aid workshop at 7:30 p.m.

College Day: Wednesday, October 14Coffee with the Counselors (parents only): once a

monthACT & SAT workshops & practice exams

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College Systems & Application Types

California Community CollegeCalifornia State University (CSU)University of California (UC)Private colleges and universities

75+ in California THOUSANDS in United States

Out of state public colleges and universitiesSimple Guidelines for Applying to Colleges

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College Systems & Application Types

Simple Guidelines for Applying to Colleges

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California Community College

112 campuses in CaliforniaAssociate degrees (many lead to careers)Transfer to 4-year school (to obtain Bachelors degree)

CSU or UC: must complete 60 semester units or 90 quarter units (equivalent to 2 years of full time studies)

Most private schools: 30 semester units or 45 quarter units okay to transfer (check with each college and major)

Articulation agreements or TAG are available for most schools- use www.assist.org

VERY important to plan for transferring- it is NOT an automatic 2 year plan!- use UCTAP

Apply to community college by February/March of Senior year- use www.cccapply.org

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California State University

23 campusesBachelor and Master degreesFirst institution of higher education established by the

State of California, originally created to train teachersTo be eligible: 2.0 GPA, A-G courses, SAT or ACT (no

Writing)Not required/accepted: SAT Subject exams, essays,

recommendation letters, transcriptsApplication filing period: Oct 1–Nov 30To apply: www.csumentor.eduMany CSU’s are impacted and very difficult to get into!

Like… Cal Poly SLO, San Diego State, Long Beach, San Francisco State

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University of California

10 campuses but San Francisco is graduate onlyBachelor, Master, and Doctorate degreesResearch & theory based curriculumsCompetitive admissions with many highly selective

campusesTo be eligible: 3.0 GPA, A-G courses,

SAT or ACT with Writing, personal statements, list of activities & honors

Not required/accepted: SAT Subject exams (some majors “highly recommended”), recommendation letters, transcripts

Application filing period: Nov 1–Nov 30 (available Aug 1)To apply: www.universityofcalifornia.edu/apply

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Private Colleges & Universities

75+ private colleges and universities in California3,000+ in US (including public schools)All vary in admission requirements and application

deadlinesApplication requirements: official transcript, official test

scores, essays, activities & honors, recommendation letters, interview, portfolio/audition

Use Common Application or Universal College Application

Early Admission Plans: Early Decision vs. Early Action vs. Restrictive Early Action (more info click HERE)

National Candidates Reply Date: May 1

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Out of State Public Institutions

3,000+ colleges and universities in US (including private schools)

Many operate on rolling admissions plan (check Naviance for a list of popular schools)

Many offer non-selective or slightly selective admissions with non-impacted majors

Many have low out-of-state tuitionWestern Undergraduate Exchange (WUE): tuition

discount for California studentsDon’t forget about Honors programs/colleges at

public schools; rigorous academics in large, research universities

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Personal Statements & Essays

One of the most important pieces of your applicationOne of the only ways to show your true self and personalityFollow instructions, spell check, have someone look it overNot a typical English paperDon’t procrastinate- doing so will send the message that

you don’t careDo it YOURSELF- your essay must be authentically youAvoid clichés and controversial topics; you never know who

will be reading your essayWrite about WHY and HOW, and it should always be about

YOUCheck Naviance for list of Essays that Worked

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What Should I Be Doing Now?

College Counseling Timeline for Class of 2016 Get organized with application requirements,

deadlines, interviews, portfolios/auditions, essaysRequest recommendation lettersComplete Brag Sheet for CounselorsAttend college related events on and off campusAttend College Monday WorkshopsTake/retake SAT or ACT (consider CSU apps!)Complete applications and write essaysOrder transcripts

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What Should I Be Doing Now?

Stay connected to College Center

emails via Jupiter Grades

like on Facebook

subscribe to Mrs. Chi’s page

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Requesting Recommendation Letters

Required: Counselor recommendation letter Must complete Brag Sheet for Counselors in Naviance 1-2 teacher recommendation letters from academic subjects

(English, history, science, math, & foreign language) Okay to include 1 additional letter from coach, employer,

professor, club advisor, program director, etcUC* and CSU do not accept recommendation letters

*unless they ask you for it after you submit your applicationSome schools do not require recommendation lettersYou may need letters for scholarships

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Naviance Family Connection

1. Log in: https://connection.naviance.com/bhhs Username: 5-digit ID number If you don’t remember your log in info, email your counselor

2. Update email address Tip: use the same email address for all college applications Make sure your email address is appropriate

3. Click on “about me” and complete the following tasks:

Under “surveys to take” brag sheet for counselors (if you need a counselor rec letter) parent brag sheet (one of your parents must do this)

Resume Test scores

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Naviance Family Connection

4. Finalize your college list Click on “colleges” Click on “colleges I’m applying to” Add colleges to this list You can also move colleges from “colleges I’m

thinking about” to “colleges I’m applying to” Include all UC and CSU campuses you are applying to Include SMC and other community colleges you are

planning to enroll in

5. Contact your counselor for your senior meeting after completing the above steps

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Here you can watch videos, review admission information,

link to the school’s website, and even begin the

application!

If you are interested in a school, click here to add it to your colleges I’m

thinking about list.

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Here you can keep track of colleges you are interested

in, rate your level of interest, view upcoming

application deadlines, and transfer schools from

colleges I’m thinking about, to colleges I’m applying to.

You can also research other colleges and

scholarship opportunities.

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Help Us Help You… PLEASE

Examples of NOT-SO-HELPFUL responses:

Question: What sets you apart from your peers or makes you unique?Response: im unique.

Question: What would you or your friends say are your three best qualities? Explain each or GIVE EXAMPLES of how you have demonstrated these qualities.Response: my passion and enthosuams.

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Help Us Help You… PLEASE

Example of HELPFUL responses:

Question: What sets you apart from your peers or makes you unique?Response: I think my strong work ethic not only in academics but in other aspects of my life as well sets me apart from most of my peers.. it's easy to see based on my high academic achievement, but it's something that transfers to many other aspects of my life. My dedication to my internship and DECA are just two examples, where I've gone above and beyond not because it was necessary but because that is the kind of person I am. Settling for mediocrity is not something I find appealing, even if it means more time, effort, and work. Every opportunity I had during my internship I immediately took, working extra hours, projects and events, not for the benefit of a college application, or even a brag sheet, but because I felt passionate about what I was doing, and I wanted to soak up as much as I could. Many students don't take the initiative unless they see an immediate monetary return. Other the other hand I value the memories and exposure from every experience therefore I'm willing to take initiative to find my own internship, and work beyond what was expected. This is not something that can really be proved, or could really be explained on a college application, there for it's something that show my true motives; my constant desire to push myself.

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Common Application: Inviting Recommenders

Create an account: www.commonapp.orgSave your Common App ID; you will need it

to order transcripts from ParchmentCreate a college list using the “College

Search” tabYour college list will appear on your

“Dashboard”Add Beverly Hills High School to your

Common App: Click on “Common App” tab Click on Education Click on Find School then choose Beverly Hills High

School Complete this section of Common App

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Common Application: Inviting Recommenders

Click on “My Colleges” tab then choose one of the schools listed

Click on Recommenders and FERPA and sign the FERPA Release Authorization

You must waive your right to review all recommendations and supporting documents in order for your counselor and teachers to write your recommendation letters

Click on Invite Counselor and enter the requested information to invite your counselor to be a recommender (click HERE for counselors’ email addresses)

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Common Application: Inviting Recommenders

Click on Invite Teacher and enter the requested information to invite your teacher(s) to be a recommender

You will need email addresses of your counselor and teachers

Completing these steps will trigger an email to your invited recommenders with instructions on submitting their recommendation letters via the Common App Recommender website

Confirm with your counselor and teacher(s) that they received the invitation

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Non-Common Application Schools

Complete online application on the school’s website

Follow instructions specific to that college to request your counselor and/or teacher recommendations, if applicable (remember, not all schools want recommendation letters)

If letters need to be snail-mailed, then let your counselor and/or teachers know in person and provide them with self-addressed and stamped envelopes

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Requesting Recommendation Letters

October 1: Deadline to ask your counselor and teacher(s) for recommendation letters for Early Action and Early Decision schools; also to notify your counselor if you are applying to schools with rolling admission deadlines

November 1: Deadline to ask your counselor and teacher(s) for recommendation letters for regular decision schools

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Ordering Transcripts

Once you start your college applications, you must request that official transcripts be sent to ALL of the colleges to which you are applying

All transcripts must be ordered through Parchment

Send one to Common App (use your CA ID#)Get an unofficial copy and review it for

accuracy before you send official transcripts to colleges

UC & CSU campuses and the University of Washington do not want transcripts

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Ordering Transcripts through Parchment

1. Go to www.parchment.com or click on the link on the BHHS website or Naviance

2. Click on “Order Transcript” and then “High School Transcript”

3. Register and complete your information. You do not need a code to register. Remember that you are entering college in 2016.

4. Once you are registered, click on “My Transcripts”

Search for and select Beverly Hills High School Enter your earliest year of attendance (2012 if you entered

BHHS as a 9th grader) Enter 2016 as your expected year of graduation

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Ordering Transcripts through Parchment

5. Complete the FERPA agreement and waive your right to review. Remember that your counselor and teacher(s) will not write recommendation letters if you do not waive your FERPA rights.

6. If you are applying to one or more Common App schools, then you must click on “The Common Application” tab and enter your Common App ID. This will generate a copy of your transcript for all Common App schools.

7. Search for other colleges to which your transcript should be sent

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Ordering Transcripts through Parchment

8. For other organizations such as scholarships and NCAA Eligibility Center, click the link under “Select Other Destinations” and enter the required information

9. Once you have added all of your schools/organizations, pay for your transcripts online

10. If you later add schools to your “colleges I’m applying to” list in Naviance, then be sure to order additional transcripts

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College Rep Visits to BHHS

Over 100 college and university reps visit our school each year

Great way to get to know the school and the admission rep who will read your application

Most updated list is in NavianceIf you want to attend a college rep visit:

Sign up in Naviance Get the gold permission slip signed by your teacher

prior to the day of the visit Gold forms available in House offices and College

Center

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Upcoming Events

Individual meetings with counselors: starts in September

College Monday Workshops: every Monday* during lunch (*few exceptions)

College rep visits: begins September 1 1-on-1 Essay Review Sessions: sign ups available soonCollege Connections Fair: Monday, October 12

Seniors ONLY can enter at 6:30 p.m. Financial Aid workshop at 7:30 p.m.

College Day: Wednesday, October 14Coffee with the Counselors (parents only): once a

monthACT & SAT workshops & practice exams