Batavia High School
Senior College Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 1 Fall 2016
CONTENTS
Page: 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11-12 13-15 16-17 18
Application Procedures Three Ways to Apply Naviance Login Procedure Naviance Quick Guide Transcript Requests Letters of Recommendation Common Application Procedures College Application Timeline Helpful College and Career Websites Financial Aid Overview College Application Essays Campus Visits Admission Types
Prepared by the Batavia High School Counseling and Advising Department
Senior College Newsletter
Batavia High School Volume 1, Fall 2016
CEEB Code
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
140 212
Things to note before you begin your college applications:
Be sure to give your counselor at least 2 weeks prior to the application deadline to process any transcripts or letters of recommendation needed.
Batavia High School does not record ACT or SAT scores on transcripts. You must request your scores at www.actstudent.org (ACT) or www.collegeboard.org (SAT).
Official transcripts must be sent from BHS directly to the college, scholarship agency, etc. We can not issue students or families official transcripts.
You must pay a $5 flat fee for your transcripts through your Power School account or in the BHS Finance Office.
If one of your college applications requires a letter of recommendation, please complete the Resume and Game Plan both found under the “About Me” tab in Naviance. Log on to Naviance at http://connection.naviance.com/bataviahs.
Application Steps: 1. Read through the information in the Senior Newsletter with your family.
2. Be aware of the information in the “Things to Note before you Begin” section above. 3. Apply either directly through the institution or by the Common Application. (Each school may have specific procedures so make sure to follow them.) 4. Document your application and request your transcript through Naviance. 5. Request letters of recommendation (if needed). 2
Senior College Newsletter
Batavia High School Volume 1, Fall 2016
CEEB Code
THREE WAYS TO APPLY
140 212
1. Direct to Institution (most applications are available online through each college’s website):
Make sure you pay the one-time BHS $5 transcript fee.
Complete the Resume and Game Plan in Naviance. Both links can be found on the “About Me” tab.
Apply online to your school(s) of choice, pay any fees, and download any forms (if applicable) your counselor may need to fill out.
Document your application and request transcripts via Naviance.
Request ACT/SAT scores through either www.actstudent.org (ACT) or www.collegeboard.org (SAT).
Request letters of recommendation as required by your college.
2. Common Application
Refer to the notes on the next page.
3. Coalition Application
The Coalition Application is brand new, just recently launching in July 2016. Many issues are still being worked out with this application so we recommend that you avoid applying through this route if possible.
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Senior College Newsletter Naviance Login Procedure
Batavia High School Volume 1, Fall 2016
Naviance Login Procedure
Go to http://connection.naviance.com/bataviahs OR
Log on to the Batavia High School website - bhs.bps101.net Once you are on the BHS homepage, put your cursor on the “Students” tab at the top of the page and click on the Naviance link
Enter your Username and Password
Username: BHS email
Password: same as your Chromebook password
If you need further assistance, please contact your counselor. Parents, please contact your student’s counselor if you would like to register for your own parent account.
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Click here to sign up for College Visits
Click here to Access your Resume and Game Plan
Click here to look up scholarships
Click here to request transcripts
Click Here to Request Letters of Recommendation
Click here to tell us if you are accepted or denied
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Transcript Requests
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Batavia High School Volume 1, Issue Volume 1 1, Fall 2016Fall 2016
How to Request Transcripts for College Applications Transcripts must be requested through our web-based program, Naviance: http://connection.naviance.com/bataviahs Login Information All BHS students have their own Naviance account. Username: students’ personal bps101 email address Password: students’ Chromebook password
Directions for Requesting Transcripts
Log onto Naviance
Click “Colleges” tab on the left Click “Colleges I’m applying to”
Add the colleges you are applying to Click “Request transcripts” *Transcripts will then be sent electronically from our College and Career Secretary, Mrs. Rydholm, within 2 weeks of request.
Batavia High School cannot include ACT or SAT scores to colleges on your transcript. Please contact the testing company directly to have your official scores sent to the schools to which you are applying:
ACT -- www.actstudent.org SAT – www.collegeboard.com *If you need assistance with Naviance or requesting transcripts, college applications or scholarships, please visit your Guidance Counselor: Mr. Lesniak- Last Names A-G Mrs. Hack- Last Names H-O Mrs. Bernard- Last Names P-Z 6
Senior College Newsletter
Batavia High School
Letters of Recommendation
Volume 1, Fall 2016
How to Request Letters of Recommendation
The first step is to check with your colleges to see if they require or welcome letters of recommendation. If needed, colleges will often ask for two or three letters of recommendation from people who know you well. Who should you ask? Read each of your college applications carefully. Schools often ask for letters from an academic teacher or a school counselor or both. You can also ask a coach, club advisor, employer or anyone else who can describe your skills, accomplishments and personality. Make sure you give your references at least one month before your earliest deadline to complete and send your letters. The earlier you ask, the better. There are three ways to go about requesting a letter of recommendation: 1. Ask in person. 2. Send an email. 3. Submit a request through Naviance (see directions below).
To request a letter of recommendation through your Naviance account, go to the “Colleges” tab and click on the “Colleges I’m applying to” link. Scroll to the bottom of the page to find the Letters of Recommendation section. Click on the “add requests” link found in this section to request letters. You will need to notify your teachers and/or counselor if you are using the Common Application for the college(s) you are requesting letters for. This is because the Common Application also requires teachers and counselors to complete specific evaluation forms. 7
Senior College Newsletter
Batavia High School Volume 1,
COMMON APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Fall 2016
The Common Application is used by over 700 colleges and universities across the United States. The benefit of the Common Application is that students can fill out one application and send it to member institutions.
Make sure you pay the one-time $5 transcript fee.
Complete the Resume and Game Plan in Naviance found on the “About Me” tab.
Go to www.commonapp.org.
Create an account and pick the schools you are considering applying to.
KEEP A RECORD OF YOUR USERNAME AND PASSWORD THAT YOU CREATE!
Complete the required portions of the Common Application.
Login to Naviance and click on the “Colleges” tab.
Click on the “Colleges I’m Applying to” link, read and complete the blue Common App Account Matching Section. Before you can do this; however, you must complete the FERPA section on the Common Application.
Click on the “add colleges to this list” link found below the blue matching section. Add the colleges you are applying to and request transcripts.
At mid-year in January, you will need to log back in to Naviance and request a mid-year transcript for the schools you are still interested in attending. In May, you will need to request a final transcript to be sent to the college that you committed to.
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College Application Timeline
Batavia High School Volume 1, Fall 2016
SEPTEMBER
Narrow your list of college choices and apply! Check the scholarship list on Naviance. Watch for college rep visits. Sign up on Naviance. Attend the mandatory Senior college presentation on 9/1/16. Attend your small group college review session. These groups will be held throughout September during the school day. We will send you a pass on where and when to report.
OCTOBER
Complete the FAFSA application online as soon as possible after October 1st. This is the form all colleges will need to consider you for financial aid based on need. Many scholarships also recommend you complete the FAFSA. Attend the college fair at Waubonsee Community College on October 3rd. Keep your grades up! Request transcripts through Naviance as needed.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY/MARCH
Request mid-year transcripts if required by your colleges. Register in the Counseling and Advising Office to take Advanced Placement (AP) test(s) if applicable. Continue to check the Scholarship list on Naviance. Register on fastweb.com or collegezone.com. This is the peak season for scholarships! Visit or revisit colleges if you are still undecided.
APRIL/MAY
Make college choice and send in your deposit by May 1st. Don’t forget about housing! Take the AP exams in May if you have signed up. Request final transcript to be sent to your college of choice at graduation practice. Enjoy GRADUATION!!! You made it!
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
Watch for application deadlines. November 1st and November 15th are common Early Decision and Early Action deadlines.
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Helpful College and Career Websites
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Batavia High School Volume 1, Issue Volume 1 1, Fall 2016Fall 2016
Career Sites:
Mapping your future www.mapping-your-future.org
Occupational Outlook Handbook www.bls.gov/oco/
College Search Sites:
College Board www.collegeboard.com/csearch
Career Cruising www.careercruising.com
Naviance
Petersons www.petersons.com/ugrad
Princeton Review www.review.com
itransfer.org www.itransfer.org (a website for Illinois school transfer students)
http://connection.naviance.com/bataviahs
Financial Aid Websites: FAFSA on the web www.fafsa.ed.gov - All colleges use this to assess financial need. No charge for this service.. Also has a FAFSA 4caster to help determine financial aid eligibility. Illinois Student Assistance Commission www.collegezone.com - Four hundred thousand sources of scholarships and loans – FREE! Also has Illinois Mentor which allows you to coordinate with your counselor. Scholarship list on NAVIANCE at connection.naviance.com/bataviahs Fast WEB www.fastweb.com – FREE! Great source of scholarship info!!
CSS Profile www.collegeboard.org – only required by certain schools. A fee is charged. Financial Aid Information Page www.finaid.org – General information on scholarships, scams, and financial aid programs Hispanic Association for Colleges and Universities www.hacu.net/hacu/Default_EN.asp - click on “Student resources” Smart Money www.smartmoney.com/college/ - Series of articles for parents about understanding financial aid: good for different income levels Thurgood Marshall Fund www.thurgoodmarshallfund.org - Scholarships for African Americans Federal Student Aid-www.studentaid.ed.gov 10
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Financial Aid
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Batavia High School Volume 1, Issue Volume 1 1, Fall 2016Fall 2016
3 Ways to get Funding for School 1. Scholarships—are based on merit and/or need. 2. Grants—do not need to be repaid and are based solely on need. 3. Loans—money you borrow and then repay with interest. Interest rates can vary depending on market rates and where the loan came from.
Scholarship Procedures
Search online though various websites. Check with family members’ places of employment. Check with community organizations. The BHS Counseling and Advising Office puts together a Scholarship List that lists every scholarship that we receive information on. All of these scholarships are listed on Naviance!
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GETTING INTO THE FINANCIAL AID SYSTEM
There are three different financial aid forms parents may need to submit, depending upon the college or university to which their children apply.
FAFSA (the Free application for Federal Student Aid)
In order to determine eligibility for any financial aid – even those items which are not need-based, such as the Unsubsidized Stafford Loan! – a family must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly known as the FAFSA. The FAFSA cannot be filed prior to October 1st, 2016. The Electronic Application Process Go to www.fafsa.ed.gov Establish an account and you will be assigned a Personal Identification Number (PIN). It is extremely important that you keep this PIN handy as you will need it to log into your account. After you complete the FAFSA: Central Process System (CPS) downloads received information daily Consider using the WEB pre-application worksheet before you go online and complete the FAFSA. It will speed the process significantly! The Student Aid Report (SAR)—comes in the mail about two weeks after you complete the FAFSA. EFC – Expected Family Contribution—tells you how much of your education the government determines you have to pay without loans.
Federal Financial Aid Programs Federal Pell Grant—up to $5,500 in grants given to families who qualify based on need. Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan—need-based low interest loan program for needy families. Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan—a non-need based low interest loan program. Federal Direct Plus Loan for Parents—parents borrow up to the cost of attendance minus financial aid. Parents are responsible to repay the loan. Federal Work Study—students work on campus and the money is either deducted from a student’s tuition bill or is paid to the student to cover miscellaneous expenses State Financial Aid Programs Monetary Award Program (MAP)—State of Illinois grant program. Covers only tuition and fees at ISAC approved schools. College Scholarship Service
The financial aid application service of the College Board -- a national, not-for-profit membership association whose mission is to connect students to college success and opportunity. Many of the member colleges, universities, graduate and professional schools, and scholarship programs use the information collected on PROFILE to help them award nonfederal student aid funds. There is a fee associated with this service.
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College Application Essays
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Batavia High School Volume 1, Issue Volume 1 1, Fall 2016Fall 2016
For many students, writing a college essay is the most difficult part of the college application process. However, understanding just how much the essay can help you and learning strategies for writing successful essays can help to take the pain out of the essay writing process. This Writing Can Take Various Forms… There are several different types of writing samples required by colleges: Open-Ended Essay: This is the question included on the actual application. These questions tend to be ambiguous, creative and often brain draining. (“If you were an alien life form, what kind would you be and why?”) Personal Statement: This is a short essay in which you describe your interest, hobbies, educational and career goals. The University of Illinois requires students to complete an essay which defines academic and extra-curricular talents. This type of essay tends to be very specific and focused. Student-Initiated Essay: Believe it or not, sometimes you may choose to add an essay to your application. Why? Well, if you’re on the admission “bubble”, a letter may strengthen your application. You might be asking a school to wait until your 7th semester grades are available before they admit you. Perhaps there has been some experience or event which a college needs to know more about as they examine your application – for example, an illness or family trauma. Why Write the Essay Anyway? Basically, the essay serves four main purposes: Subjective data: Your essay will allow a school to learn information about you they can’t find in all the test scores, grade points and ranks on the rest of your application. Writing sample: Your essay will let a school view firsthand your ability to write simply, coherently, and logically. Values clarification: What you choose to write about will reveal what’s important to you. Colleges will learn what matters to you from your essay. Abstract ability: Most of all, essays show colleges how you think. School-required essays tend to be intellectual exercises – colleges want to observe just how abstractly you think and how able you are to make analogies and inferences about the world around you. Regardless of the type of essay you write, remember that your goal is simple: you want the college to admit you! Who’s Going to Read These Essays, Anyway? Remember who your audience is: a college admission officer who is making a decision about your admissibility to a school. This officer probably reads upwards of 200 essays a year. Make yours outstanding! 13
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College Application Essays
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Batavia High School Volume 1, Issue Volume 1 1, Fall 2016Fall 2016
How can you make a favorable impression? You want to get across the following messages: You have the ability and desire to be successful in college. You have a genuine desire to attend a particular college. You’ve done some research and know this college well. You have the ability to think clearly, logically, and abstractly. You can write an engaging essay which will differentiate you from the many other students also writing an essay. It’s your job to engage your reader. So Where Do I Begin? The hardest part of writing the essay is deciding what to write about! The overall topic is easy: YOU!! But which part of “you” will be the focus of each essay can be very difficult. Students often feel they don’t have “anything” to write about. Usually, the exact opposite is true: you have too much to write about! You can’t possibly tell your entire life story in one essay, so you need to choose to write about those experiences which have helped to form your character and intellect. Hint: Most of us learn life’s lessons in everyday events. You need not have found a cure for cancer or saved another’s life to find that your life has meaning. Spend some time thinking about what makes you special – and then think of an experience which highlights that particular facet of your character.
Some suggestions to help you get started: Look at your application as a whole. Spend some time answering the following question: what do I want a college to know about me that they won’t know from the rest of my application? Don’t spend time repeating information you’ve already revealed to a school: write about something that will add depth to your application. Define your purpose. What’s the point of writing: to explain a weak sophomore year, to highlight extra-curricular activities, to display creativity and intellectual spark? Good writing is good writing, and good writing demands a well-defined purpose, or thesis statement. Be aware of your limitation. Before you begin, read the essay question carefully. Are you being asked to “list,” “define,” “compare and contrast”? Also note how long your essay can be – writing 1500 words when only 300 words are expected can weaken your efforts. Concentrate on the Surprise. What is it about you that would surprise an admission office? Focus on what is unique about you and write about that. Think about a personality trait, or an experience, or your family situation, or a world view that sets you apart from other high school seniors. Hint: If you can’t think of what makes you unique, spend a few days asking your parents, siblings, friends, co-workers, teachers to describe you in three words and keep a journal of their responses. Finding out how others perceive you may help you gain better
self-awareness.
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College Application Essays
Batavia Hi gh Sch ool
Batavia High School Volume 1, Issue Volume 1 1, Fall 2016Fall 2016
Admission Officers Read Up to Fifty Applications Each Day, So. . . . . . here are some strategies to get the job done right. Get your point across quickly and easily. Remember, longer is not necessarily better! Structure your essays logically – guide your reader from point to point, using strong, significant transitions. Design an introduction that grabs your reader’s attention and tells the reader what’s to come. Invite your reader into your essay.
Use a desirable tone: be friendly, confident, enthusiastic, and respectful. Don’t gripe or grovel!
Some Stylish Strategies After you’ve written your rough draft (and it may take you two or three attempts to get a solid rough draft), it’s time to focus on elements of good style. Keep these elements in mind: Use examples and details to make your point. Don’t just tell your reader about an experience; make him/her experience it with you. Write in first person. After all, you’re the topic of the essay! (Just be careful not to start every sentence with “I”!) Be sure you develop your thesis. Make sure that you accomplish what you set out to do. Use your own voice. Your essay should sound like you. Use words that sound like you, in a tone that conveys your level of interest and awareness. Have someone proofread. Find an English teacher, or go to your counselor, and ask someone to read over your essay for both content and style. This does not mean, however, that someone other than you should write your essay. If you know that spelling is a weakness or if you’re not sure that you’ve make your point successfully, be sure to share your draft with someone who can assist you.
If you give yourself enough time, stay focused, and relax, you’ll find that writing the college essay can go a long way to strengthening your application. Happy writing!
*Used with the permission of: Susan K. Biemerct Adlai Stevenson High School Lincolnshire, IL 15
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Campus Visits
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Batavia High School Volume 1, Issue Volume 1 1, Fall 2016Fall 2016
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a visit to an actual campus is worth an entire book. Although college view books and websites are crucial during the initial stages of exploration, the college visit lets you know what life at the school is really like. The most important thing to keep in mind while visiting a college campus is your list of criteria. 1) First and foremost, complete the SuperMatch College Search on the “Colleges” tab in Naviance. This will generate a list of colleges and universities that are a great match for you! 2) For students unsure about size and campus location, there are a number of schools within a half days drive of Batavia that are representative of almost every type of college or university available. University of Illinois, Urbana is a large public university located 2 1/2 hours south. Students interested in an urban campus can visit DePaul University, UIC, Robert Morris University, Loyola University & Roosevelt University and many others in Chicago Another stop in the Chicago area is the University of Chicago in Hyde Park, a mid-sized university in an urban setting.
Very nearby are Wheaton College and Aurora University, both small, suburban liberal arts schools. In the Bloomington / Normal / Peoria area, a student can visit Illinois State University, a large public university, Illinois Wesleyan, a small liberal arts college, and Bradley University, a mid-sized private university. To see rural campuses, head west. West of Batavia is Augustana College, a small liberal arts college located in Rock Island, Knox College, a small liberal arts college located in Galesburg, and just a bit farther is Western Illinois University, a small public university in Macomb.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT? There are three distinctly different college visits. Each depends on the point at which you find yourself in the selection process. Spring of your junior year is the best time for initial visits. We encourage parents to accompany students on these visits when colleges are in session. Spring vacation is an especially good time because most colleges have their break much earlier than ours. Many families will tie college visits to their summer vacation plans. While there is nothing wrong with checking out a college if you are in the area, a second visit when school is in session is a must if it is a school in which you have a high interest. During senior year, October 7th is a great time to visit as school is not in attendance that day.
Each year more than 200 college representatives visit BHS to meet with prospective students. Juniors and seniors may take advantage of this opportunity to talk to an admissions counselor. The College Rep. schedule is posted on Naviance and in the Counseling and Advising Office. Students need to have a pass in order to leave class to attend the College Rep visit. Please sign up through Naviance the day before the visit. In order to make this visit productive and informative, students should be prepared to ask questions about their concerns and interests. 16
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Questions to Ask on a College Visit
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Batavia High School Volume 1, Issue Volume 1 1, Fall 2016Fall 2016
The following questions help provide a basis for becoming a wise consumer in your discussions with college admissions personnel, instructors and students on campus. 1.
How many students are there at your institution? How many are graduate students? What is the male / female ratio?
2. What is the makeup of the student body (i.e. from what states, commuter versus residential, religious backgrounds, cultural diversity, most popular majors.)? 3. What is the housing situation? Where can freshman live? What are the residence halls like? What percent of the students live on campus? What about meal service? 4.
What percent of the students return for their sophomore year? Remain to graduate? In how many years?
5. What are the strong majors at your college? Do you have the major(s) I am considering? What percentage of the students are in that major? How difficult is it to change majors? 6.
What are the sizes of the classes at each level? Do professors or graduate students teach them? Is faculty accessible?
7.
What opportunities are there for research, independent study, and study abroad? Are there internships or co-ops available?
8.
What kinds of clubs and activities are there? Are there fraternities and sororities on campus?
9.
Do you have an honors program or special academic programs such as a Residential College?
10. How extensive are the services in the job placement office? What is the placement rate in medical or law school? Do you have career and counseling services? 11. Is the athletic program large and diverse? Are you known for a particular sport? What division of the N.C.A.A. or N.I.A.A. are you in? Are there athletic scholarships? How popular are intramurals? 12. Are there special facilities in my interest area (i.e. radio station, computer access)? 13. What are your admission standards? What kind of student are you looking for? What percentages of applicants are admitted? 14. What are the tuition, room and board, and total cost (in my program) at this school? 15. What kind of financial aid is available? What scholarships are offered? 16. What arrangements must I make to visit your campus? Are there special visitation days or programs for high school students? 17. Are there admission deadlines that I need to be aware of? 18. Does your college require that transcripts be sent in the middle of the year? 19. What differentiates this school from another similar one? (you might even want to name other colleges you are considering) 20. What kind of personal qualities do students tend to have? How can I tell if I would fit in? 17
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DEFINITIONS OF ADMISSION OPTIONS IN HIGHER EDUCATION
