Teaneck High School Class of 2021 Senior Class Meeting

THS School Counseling Department

Director of Guidance, Career Services & Vocational Education Keshia Golding-Cooper

School Counselors Douglas Book Beth Fleischer Lillian Garcia Kharisma Mitchell Kelvin Reese Jennifer Taylor

Secretaries Ms. Dockery Mr. Hollis

201-833-5427 201-862-2479 201-833-5431 201-833-5436 201-833-5430 201-833-5433

201-833-5426 201-833-5425

2

Purpose of Senior Meeting

Overview
● College Types, Timelines and More ● Application Components
● Process Overview
● Other Important Information ● Q & A

Types of Colleges Which one is a good fit?

Types of Colleges

Two Year Schools (e.g. BCC)	Four Year School (e.g. FDU)

● Apply in February (ideal) ● No transcript until after
graduation
● No SAT/ACT ● No letters of
recommendation
● Qualifying students can apply for NJ STARS Program (Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship)

● Apply by deadline (October - January, mostly)
● THS needs to send information- transcripts, letters of recommendation
● Student needs to send materials - essay(s), SAT/ACT scores, etc.

How to Decide?

Consider:
● School size (small, medium, large) ● Geographic location
● Private vs. Public (cost factor) ● Academic programs offered
● Extracurricular activities available ● Other services offered

College Visits

Tour various campuses ● Looking at:
○ Library facilities ○ Residence halls
○ Dining facilities ○ Campus setting
○ Athletics/Recreational facilities
● Arrange for an interview if necessary ● Follow up with a thank you

College Rep Visits

College representatives virtual visits will begin Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Check to see which colleges will be visiting by:

•Checking Naviance
•Class of 2021 Google Classroom Join Code u3ycrf2

Application Forms

●	Common Application: More than 800 colleges ●	Coalition Application: 100+ colleges
○	(UMD, UWash, VTech- ONLY accept the Coalition)
●	Common Black College Application: over 50 HBCU’s ●	School - Specific Application

Students should try to complete the fewest application forms possible!

Coalition is more time intensive than the Common App

Main Application Options

Early Decision (ED)
●	BINDING - student makes a commitment
to a 1st choice institution. (If student is admitted, they are attending)
●	Must withdraw other applications if they are
admitted
●	Not the best option if financial aid is a
factor due to the notification timing
●	Should visit school multiple times
●	Deadlines: October -January

Early Action (EA)
●	NOT binding
●     Students apply early and receive a decision well in
advance of the institutions regular response date
●	Need to check the details- may be
Restrictive Early Action (REA) - the students may be restricted from applying ED or EA or REA to other institutions. If offered enrollment they have until May 1 to confirm
●	Deadlines: October -December

Regular/Rolling
●	NOT binding
●	May notify on a rolling basis, or may
notify all at once (in April)
●	Have until May 1 to decide
●	Deadlines: December - May,
but should be mostly done by
mid-January

NOTE: Some schools may
have a combination of all 3 types of deadlines.

Students-Get Organized Save Time, Effort and Sanity

Create a list of target schools:
● Visit each schools’ undergraduate admissions web page to gather information
○ Types of applications accepted, deadlines, items required, submission process, essay topics & financial aid forms
● When applying
○ Read and follow directions carefully
○ Answer all of the questions completely. Don't leave any blanks, unless the question doesn't apply.
○ Have the following:
■ Essay/Personal Statement/Supplementals ■ Recommendations
○ Send official SAT/ACT scores

Use a spreadsheet, checklist, calendar or whatever works!

Application Components
What do colleges need to make a decision?

Transcripts

● Includes grades for all courses taken from grades 9-11 and senior courses in progress
● Includes an unweighted and weighted GPA
● Official transcripts are sent by the School Counselor

However...

Some schools no longer require transcripts (e.g. Rutgers, Penn State, CA system schools, NC State, Pitt.)

● They require a SRAR- Self Reported Academic Record
● Student needs to enter each course and each grade into the school’s online application system
● Students can get an unofficial transcript from Skyward

Community Colleges (e.g. BCC) require transcripts only after graduation

Test Scores - SAT

Most Colleges are TEST OPTIONAL for the Class of 2021

September 26th Test:
Scores available beginning Oct. 9th

October 3rd Test:
Scores available Oct. 16th

IMPORTANT:
Students should check each college website for testing policy for the class of 2021 and the last accepted test date, for their application type ED, EA, etc.

The fastest & least expensive way to send official score reports to your colleges is by requesting these during the registration, or within 9 days after taking the SAT.

November 7th Test:
Regular Registration Deadline: 10/7

December 5th Test:
Regular Registration Deadline: 11/5

THS is a Test Center for the SAT.

SAT Subject Tests required by a few schools, again, students should check the school website.

Go to collegeboard.org to register & get updates

Also, only a few schools requires the SAT with essay.

Test Scores - ACT Most Colleges are TEST OPTIONAL for the Class of 2021

October 10th,17th,24th, & 25th Test:
Registration Deadline is 9/25 NO LATE FEES

December 12th Test:
Regular Registration Deadline 11/6

Register at ACT.org

Which test is right for me, the SAT or ACT?

Samples test optional policies and frequently asked questions: Rutgers, Columbia, Spelman, BU, & Hunter .

Don’t Forget! Even before the
pandemic, there have always been lots of test optional schools. For a full list visit:

www.fairtest.org

Sending Scores

●	Some schools now accept self-reporting of scores. Check the school’s requirements!
●	A majority of schools require scores directly from the testing service (College Board or ACT)
●	Request via online account at LEAST two weeks before the college application deadline
●	There is a fee per school (and for ACT, per test date) ●	4 free score reports when registering for SAT’s
●	SAT scores are sent as quickly as possible to you, chosen colleges, and scholarship programs
●	Within 9 days of taking the test, you can add, change or remove a college to/from score report
If you need to order more than four score reports, or send score reports more than 9 days after, it will cost approximately $12 for each
TESTING WEBSITES
www.collegeboard.org                             www.actstudent.org

Letters of Recommendation

...may be more important than even ever in a TEST OPTIONAL climate

●	Counselor Letter
○ Student Brag Sheet & Parent Brag Sheets must be completed in
Naviance, A.S.A.P. ●	Teacher Letter(s)

○ Students should ask their teacher(s) in person/via email due to

virtual learning well in advance of application deadlines.

○ Once teacher agrees, must request in Naviance:

Colleges-->Apply to College-->Letters of Recommendation-->Add Request-->Select Teacher-->Select “All Current & Future Colleges”-->add note

●	Non-academic sources coach)
●	Required by some (not

(e.g., community service/job supervisor,

all) schools

Students should follow directions carefully. There are some schools (Rutgers, Penn State, Pitt, WVU) that do not accept letters of recommendation.

Essay or Personal Statement

●	MUST be the student’s own original work, written in the student’s voice
●	Not required by all schools
●	Some schools require many essays and/or short answers
●	Have someone else proofread it- teacher, relative, school counselor
●	Some students worked on college essays in junior year during their english class

THS Process Overview

Applying Online

● Start by checking application deadlines
● Begin applications with earliest deadline first ● Apply either through the college website or
preferred application website: ○	Commonapp.org
○	Coalitionforcollegeaccess.org ○	Commonblackcollegeapp.com

minimum of 10 schoo
days before the
BEFORE ANY APPLICATION CAN BE PROCESSED

THE COUNSELOR MUST HAVE: 1. Transcript Consent Google Form

2. Student Brag Sheet - completed on Naviance (for schools that require a letter of rec.)

3. Transcript Request Google Form (at least 10 school days before deadline)

If student is planning to apply to a college Early Decision or Early Action, he/she should see his/her
counselor NOW.

Counselors require a l

material .
deadline sto submit

Overview of the Application Process

1. Transcript Consent Google Form submitted to counselor via parent/guardian email address

2. Student completes and submits online application, including self-reported grades if required

3. Student adds colleges to Naviance list

4. Student submits Transcript Request Google Form to counselor *at least 10 school days before deadline*

5. Student sends SAT/ACT scores to colleges, when required

6. Counselor submits counselor recommendation and uploaded teacher recommendations

7. Counselor submits transcripts by the deadline (mostly through Naviance)

Other Important Information

Naviance

● Request teacher recommendations ● Complete brag sheets
● Complete activities sheet
● Sign up for scheduled college rep visits ● Track applications
● Search for scholarships
● Update college acceptances
● Class of 2021 Google Classroom join code: u3ycrf2 ● Pay close attention to Google Classroom
announcements

Financial Aid

●	It’s all about the FAFSA!!!!!
(Free Application for Federal Student Aid- www.studentaid.ed.gov)

●	File the FAFSA & CSS Profile ASAP.
(College Scholarship Service Profile, is an online application created and maintained by College Board that allows college students to apply for non-federal financial aid. There is a cost associated. cssprofile.collegeboard.com)

●	Check out www.fastweb.com for thousands of scholarship opportunities

Deadlines are CRITICAL - and vary by schools and decision plan

FAFSA/ Financial Aid Night - 10/1/2020

NJ STARS
(New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship)

●	Scholarship covers tuition for NJ community colleges

Requirements:
●	Top 15% of class
●	In past, weighted class rank has determined eligibility ●	Students must complete a rigorous series of high school
courses

https://hesaa.org/Documents/NJSTARS_program.pdf

Scholarship Information

● Search tools (www.fastweb.com and Naviance)

● FAFSA/ Financial Aid Night - 10/1/2020

● Merit vs. Need Based Aid

● Read Naviance emails

NCAA Clearing House

In order for athletes to be eligible for Division I &
onli e.
● thenNCAA eligibility registration must be completed II,

egister online with the NCAA
● Rwww.ELIGIBILITYCENTER.ORG

sure al of your classes are approved for the
Clearinghouse
● Speak l to your Counselor if you are dropping classes- make

THS Campus Rep Visits

VISITS GO VIRTUAL! Things to Know Before You Go…
● Research the Demographics and Compare to You
Interests
● Research the Colleges’/Universities’ Major Offeringsr

● Wr e Do n Questions
camera on, dress the part, put your full name on
● PutitYour wProfessional Foot Forward: Be attentive,

chat pertaining to the visit
screen, mute your mic and only put comments in the

● Follow Up with a Thank You Email

THS College Fair Week - Save the Date October 12th-October 16th

NEW DATE TBA

Join the THS Counseling Department for a week long Virtual College Fair, as we host schools from all across the country including local colleges and universities, HBCUs, Ivy Leagues and trade schools.

More information and registration will be available on the Class of 2021 College and Career Google Classroom.
Join code u3ycrf2.

Senior Parent Night:
“What Parents Need to Know”

Who:	THS Senior Parents

What: The THS Counseling Department invites all

Senior Parents to learn about the college and FAFSA application process.

When: Thursday, October 1st, 6:30-8:30pm Where: Zoom Webinar
Webinar ID 994 2394 5458

What Are the Next Steps?

Before setting up your one-on-one counselor meetings, be sure to…

● Activate Naviance Account
● Create Accounts for Collegeboard, Common App, Common HBCU App, etc.

● Complete Student Brag Sheet
● Complete Requests for Teacher Recommendations ● Input “Schools I Am Applying To” in Naviance
● Schedule Counselor Meetings Starting 9/29. Counselor calendar links can be found in the Google Classroom. Join code u3ycrf2.

“How To” in Naviance Demo Where Do I Find?...
- Student/Parent Brag Sheet

- Recommendation Letter Request - Colleges I’m Applying To
- Campus Rep Visit Updates - Activities and Assessments

One More Thing!! Really two...

JOIN THE
CLASS OF 2021 COLLEGE & CAREER GOOGLE CLASSROOM JOIN CODE u3ycrf2