the cao and search engine

The CAO and Search Engine

(c) Copyright 2008 AY Software Services, Inc. All rights reserved. This document contains proprietary information and may not be copied without written permission from AY Software Services, Inc.

Agenda

This presentation looks at the processing life cycle of a student’s application – from registration to submission

The CAO

Registration

The CAO Objectives

•Learn about the functionality in the CAO

•Go through the process from an applicant’s perspective

Navigation

Submission


Login Screen


Login Screen

From the main login screen, students click on “Create a new account” to begin the registration process.


Creating a New AccountTowards the bottom of the registration screen students are asked to verify that they are over the age of 12 for COPPA compliance.


Getting to the Search Engine

By clicking on “Search for Colleges” on the left-hand navigation menu, the student is brought to the Simple Search Page which has some new criteria this season.


The Search Engine

On either the Simple Search orthe Advanced Search, entering in search criteria and clicking on the

button brings the user to the Search Results Screen.


The Search Results Screen

From here, schools can be mapped …

… and searches can be saved.


Comparing Schools

Clicking on the button from the search results screen allows students to compare up to three different institutions.

Clicking on the categories at the top (i.e. “Admission Criteria”) will display different sets of relevant data.


Adding a College

To add a school, check the box next to its name and then click on “Add” to get to the My Colleges screen.


My Colleges

To view school information …

… click on the school’s name – the info at the bottom refreshes.


Submission Requirements

Submission requirements are triggered…

…by answers on the Future Plans page.


The Common Application

After searching for and adding colleges, the applicant moves on to the Common Application itself, beginning with the Future Plans section with college-specific questions.


Dynamic Questions

Moving through the Common Application, take note of required questions (marked with a next to the question label) and dynamically-displayed content.

For example, the Citizenship question in the Bio section triggers different follow-up questions based on how it is answered. When a student selects U.S. Dual Citizenship, new questions pursuant to that answer will appear dynamically.


CEEB Codes

Additionally, the CEEB code look-up feature populates school information to the Common Application automatically.


Printing and PDFs

Students can check their progress at any time by clicking “Quick Print” at the top of the page. This will bring up a PDF copy of the application.


Error Messages

When students decline to answer required questions, a system message is displayed at the top of the page letting the applicant know which questions have not been answered successfully.

These questions are also highlighted in the form itself.


Sign & Submit

On the final section of the Common Application, students affirm that they have previewed their application and then selects schools for submission.


Errors in Submission

If there are still some unanswered required questions, they are displayed as clickable links that, when clicked, take the student directly to the unanswered question.

Unanswered, required questions are highlighted in gold.


Supplements

Working down the left-hand navigation menu, students will arrive at the Supplements section.


Payments

The Payments section shows all the institutions from “My Colleges” and their payment statuses.


Payments

The “Mail Check” option saves an applicant’s intent to mail a check to a given school.


Payments – Credit Cards

Unless your school requires payment before submission, students will be prevented from paying at the beginning


Payment Confirmation

After clicking on “Submit” the student will receive a processing message . . .

Followed by a confirmation page . . .


Payments

For students who pay via Sallie Mae – a receipt is available to print.


School Forms

When students first click on School Forms they will need to invite officials.


Assigning an Official

On the Invitation page applicants answer a few brief questions about the official, waive FERPA rights and authorize the release of their records before clicking on Save.



On the Invitation page applicants answer a few brief questions about the official, waive FERPA rights and authorize the release of their records before clicking on Save.

If the student selects “Teacher” a dynamic subject question appears.



Once the required information has been filled out on the School Official Details page, officials can then be assigned to schools on the “School Forms” page.

One counselor and multiple teachers can be identified for School Forms (depending onthe requirements ofeach member school).



Students can monitor status information on these pages and resend the notification email to counselors or teachers who have yet to begin a form.


Email to Officials

When students add a teacher or a counselor to their application, those individuals receive an email containing a URL, a personal access code and a password.


Common App Technical Support

Applicant Support:[email protected]

School Official Support:[email protected]

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the cao and search engine

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