Good evening everybody. Thank you for coming out tonight to our parent university college planning process. Um it's really really critical time here. I know we have a lot of juniors and seniors in the audience. We also have some sophomores and freshman here which are great. Uh so regardless
of where you are in the process this night is is really really important. So, we're going to lay out a framework for you of what you should be doing at each grade level as you go through the college application process. Being current, a senior, I'm right in the middle of it. And you would think as a
principal that hey, I am right on track. All my deadlines are met. College applications are in already. Nope. Okay. So, we are still, hey, is the essay done? Did you meet did you meet with your guidance counselors? Did I fill out the FAFSA paperwork? Did I make sure
that the uh grades are up to date. So all those things are as a parent, it's an overwhelming process and and my best recommendation for you is just to take one day at a time and let your students own the process, right? Because that's going to tell you something about how
committed they are to this. Right? When you think about the college application process, whether you've gone to college or you've had a family member that have not gone through the process, make sure they own it. Okay? I went through the college application process and I remember my parents telling me, "Hey, you're responsible for this, you're
responsible for that." And they guided me along the way. But if we're going to as parents send them off to college, we need to make sure that they can at least fill out the forms, right? That they need to get done because that's going to be very telling about their commitment of where they are in the process. So, as a parent and as a principal, uh that's
my best recommendation for you. You know, this weekend is going to be spending at an open house for me filling out having him fill out the college making sure everything is ready to go. Um, so it's an exciting time where whatever grade level you're in, the
junior parents, uh, this is really the start of it for you as you begin the process of of looking at colleges and thinking about where your children want to go. And from the freshman and sophomore level, um, just trying to to build out a framework what that looks like. So, our our outstanding guidance counselors are going to outline this for
you. We'll try and keep this to to under an hour. I know some of you need to get home to watch the Yankees. Uh, So, we'll try and make this as uh as purposeful as possible for you. So, without further ado, I'm going to turn it over to our guidance counselors. Um feel free to to
ask as many questions as you want and enjoy the evening. So, thank you very much for being here. I'm going to turn it over to our first speaker, Miss Lexi L. Hi, everyone. Um so this is a breakdown of the
counselors and our case loads. Um I just set up meetings with each grade level throughout the year with seniors being first which we just finished up with. Um so access to this all over our website.
So postgraduation options whether you're a freshman or senior there are a lot of different options to explore. So we just want to acknledge that although we're talking about college tonight, there are a lot of paths that we can consider and do talk to students about in their senior and junior meetings and even
before that um fouryear college, twoear colleges, tech schools, we have a lot of relationships with some tech schools in the area um specifically Lincoln last year. So we have great connections and we keep forming them. Um the people
also talk to the military or the workforce. Um we also have really great connections with the military. They're constantly around. So if anyone has any specific questions regarding the military, you can feel free to reach out to me as well. So score we transition to a new
platform. Last year was not this year score. So it does the same job. It's just a way for us to communicate all of your documents, all of your college applications. It's a platform to explore whether it's a four-year college, trade, anything that you want to do post high
school. Um, it's a big communication hub. So, as a senior, this will be the place where we're getting notified that you are putting your applications in or what schools you're interested in and then we're going to take all of your documents and we're able to utilize that
to communicate to colleges or transcripts. Mr. I want to steal but it's a great incarceration. So while I talk about grade so what can you be doing in grade n and many seniors and
upper classmen here I think if you are able to communicate to your underassman you are some of our best resources um some people have the impression that maybe it doesn't matter and I think from experience a lot of you can probably acknowledge that it does our best recommendations would be getting
involved with clubs in any organizations these want to see leadership opportunities and anything that you take advantage of. But it's also quality over quantity. So make sure you're finding the right fit for you um in your path. Start community service activities.
National Honor Society is just one and you know even club is one of many service clubs that you can reach out to get service opportunities. Um hope is something that was recent. Um we do a lot of food tracks in school. get involved in any way you can
build your resume which is something that we recommend you start building whether you keep it in Google whether you put it on score which we can show you later or whether you're keeping it on Google keep track of everything and anything that you do because any senior
right now can tell you that they are scouring everything they've ever done experience um and last but not least pay attention to your course progression Sometimes your can impact you for your future. You know you want to be a nurse. You're going to try to take those more
science based classes. Obviously we're going to try to make sure we are going to make sure that you're meeting all your graduation requirements but we also want to make sure that you're taking classes that are required to you. So we will have plenty of conversations with you about your schedule and don't be afraid to reach
out to your now as we transition to grade 10. grade 10, you should be doing the same things consistently with from grade n is joining clubs. Maybe you found a new club that you like that you want to get involved with, but this year you're
going to kind of want to it up. You want to take the PSAT. Um, you want to start to explore different careers. I think it's really hard to make decisions about the rest of your life as a 16-year-old. However, the one thing you do have control over is that you can do a lot of research and
explore all your options. You can to have conversations with us as sophomore year. We do go into your classrooms and do um some tasks with you for exploration. Um but it is helpful just to like keep it on your radar and ensure that you're keeping up with your
post high school. Um and I also recommend spending your summer productively. Some students take jobs, some students volunteer. I would recommend over summer you do anything that can help build your resume. Um it could be seem small but it could be
pretty because this overcon years of high school. Um, so in grade 11, you're really going to want to start taking the PSAT this year. is going to be on October 22nd. Um, it's going to be happening during the school
day. So, I believe the registration may be still open or closing the year or tomorrow. You're going to also want to start taking the SATs. So, I know there are some schools out there that are optional, but now as the years progressing, the optional options
becoming more mandatory. Um, as ML said before, you really want to start taking on some leadership roles to boost your skills as well as your resume. You're going to want to start visiting colleges, trade schools, and you know, registering for those information
sessions. I actually take um some juniors as well as seniors on a field trip to a trade school last year. Went to Institute in Wayne and it was a great time for those students who maybe isn't the route for them. Um and you're really going to want to start building your relationships with the teachers to write
your letters of recommendation. So, said that we do meet with our class sizes. Um but when we are in our junior meeting, there are some things that we discuss. So discussing the importance of visiting schools, you may be dead set on
a school and you step foot on campus and you're like, "Oh, wait a minute. Maybe this isn't for me." Um you know, talking about the SATs or taking the ACTs. Um start thinking about who you're going to be asking to write those letters of recommendation for you. Um, it's important that you ask two teachers and
it also depends on the route that you want to go down. So, if you want to be a nurse, it would probably be in your best interest to ask a science teacher or, you know, a math teacher in that realm. As counselors, we also write a letter letter recommendation for you. So, just keep that in the back of your mind.
You're also going to utilize the discover section and to research and create a balance list for schools. Score is a great tool to have and it gives you kind of an idea of that would be more beneficial for you. You're going to follow those colleges and um it'll go
over to the my colleges section in score which we'll go over later on. Um and you're going to want to keep track of your academic activities in your personal profile in score as well. And in that meeting, we do give you the college essay topics that also can be found on them is to start thinking about
what you're going to write and feel comfortable producing throughout that year. So, What are collegees looking for? So, they're basically looking for everything that you're producing as well as your high school coursework, your standardized test scores, the things that you're involved in both inside and
outside of school, if you have any honors or any awards that you have accomplished throughout your life. You know, that's super important to add. Those letters of recommendation are crucial. So, again, make sure that you are picking the right teachers that would boost your application. your
grades as well as your GPA are also very important from every year. So, just take that into account. Um, your application essays, depending on the schools, they also may require a personal statement and more personalized questions depending on the programs as well as the
school that you're going to. So, make sure you keep a close look at those questions. And some schools and programs actually give you an interview option. So, that is completely optional to the school, but it's a great way to start, you know, opening those doors for you to
be comfortable in that kind of setting. Um, so when it comes to creating your college wish list, it talks about more like a target, reach, and a safety school. So target schools are where your academic credentials fall within more of
that range for you. Um, the reach schools are where your credentials for the entrance may be a little bit more competitive, depending on your credentials, where a safety school the most likely we would be accepted. Score has a great tool where it actually gives
you what would qualify as a reach safety target school. So, we can go over that a little bit later on, but Miss Patrick's also going to talk about what to expect for grade 12. Good evening. Grade 12, the application
process is a very tedious one, but the more organized you are, um, the And even when we have your junior meeting, we'll have discussions with you about what's to come asking those teachers. But even creating a map account, the most common application that's used when you apply to schools
can benefit greatly. Um, another thing to keep in mind for visiting schools. Um, as juniors and seniors, you're allowed three excused absences from school if you have a college visit. If you just show us proof of going on a tour or registration that
you're going to visit the school, the student. So, we do a lot of that opportunity. We also have college fairs. Um the sophomores will be invited to the college fair in the spring. They'll be sophomores and juniors and then in the um fall it is juniors and seniors. So, take advant of those opportunities to
get to see those schools because the admissions reps that come to are the admissions counselors that read your applications. So, it's important to have those conversations get to know you and to create that communication. Another thing about senior year is
usernames and passwords and deadlines. So, I know kids keep a lot of things on their phone. Um, I know they all use their Chromebook and they just store things in their Chromebook. We always using personal emails throughout this process. So, just be mindful to keep those usernames and password somewhere
because anytime you apply to school, nine out of 10 times they're going to prompt you to create a portal account which is essentially like a real time. So, that's how you check the application status. Um, see what's missing whether it's academic finally related. So just things to keep in mind, but again when
we have your junior senior meetings, this will all be spoken about. Um senior year sometimes seniors do take the SAT or ACT. Um we offer it here. This year was offered in September. I think that's
September. We offer October and March. So keep in mind those for juniors the SAT in the spring pretty quick. Um I would say April and May and probably June are the most popular test dates. So just be mindful you want to get ahead of
that and that all happens through the students college board account which if they taken the PSAT here they will have created a college board account to check their scores. So they should have something in place and if they have any confusion always reach out to the counselor. Obviously you're going to
begin filling out your applications. Um it's all online that's the most common application as I said before sometimes schools for example Georgetown they have their own application they don't use the com so sometimes you run into a situation where the student a school
excuse me is not on the com now they are finally this year actually um you always want to visit schools and attendation sessions um I think visiting schools goes a long way often times students will wait till they apply if the school to see if they're accepted
excuse to visit the school. But getting an idea of the surrounding area is crucial. See what you're going to be around, what's around there. I went to Coopertown, New York, and I passed school, which is State University, New York, and there was absolutely nothing. So, I know
personally for me, like there's Dunkin Donuts, but sometimes when you're thinking about college and what you're going to do, it's just good to keep in mind the surrounding area. And Google Earth is a great tool, too. Um, you'll always meet with your counselor. As Miss said, we just senior meetings. Parents
are invited. Um most most parents attend. It's all virtual. Um but that also gives you a time to kind of figure out where you're at in the process and when you go home you can help your student out. Um grades. Um sometimes seniors I guess they say it's real. Um
but grades do matter. Um colleges see their first three years of high school on their transcript that we submit. But if they use the common app, which all kids do, um their midyear report is sent to those colleges that they apply using the common application, which is an automatic submission. So they do see
their major grades and their GPA is updated at the major point. So something to keep in mind for seniors that although it be easy year, you still have to try and keep that consistent because college, hey, are there any change in the
schedule from what they report on? You know, how are they doing? Are they keeping consistent with how they performed in the previous years of high school grade 12 timeline? Um, junior year said you will ask two teachers to write a letteration for you.
have that discussion in your junior meeting. Um, you also want to make sure your list is balanced with targetation safety schools. You want to finalize that list. Take advantage of those days to go visit weekends. There's a lot of open houses, especially in the fall. Um, visit schools, see if you like it. Take
notes when you're there and that will help you finalize your list. We have a financial aid night. Um, I know financial a CSS profile. in the application process, but on October 16th this year, it will actually be via Zoom, but Edward will
present. Um, that is definitely one night that I plan to attend a wealth of information, very knowledgeable, and we'll go through the tips and tricks of all the financial aid applications. So, definitely keep that in mind. Scholarships, um, we do provide the
students with a list of scholarship opportunities websites. Typically, you create a profile and scholarship that applicable for you. Um the scholarship free money to fill it out but students typically might have to write a little bit of writing portion. Sometimes they've already written something so
they can do that. Um something to keep in mind um for them to constantly check out also for seniors as scholarship that we offer throughout the community and seniors are notified that usually mid January. So that application information will be sent out to them. um score. We
also will be having schol and then the only uniform thing about college is May 1 is when you have to decide if you're going to enroll in the college that you want to go to. Everything else there's different deadlines, different GPA requirements, different SAT scores. Um but May 1 is
always the students have to decide by their final decision. As counselors, our responsibility in this process for the students is to send their supporting documents, their high school transcript. We have a school profile which details our grading
system, the programs that we offer at the school and we send their letter recommendations from ourselves and the teachers. The students responsibility is to complete their applications, request their letters. Um, some schools require a school like Penn State
Ruckers to name a few requires their transcript. This will all be explained to you when you're in the thick of the application process, but that's one to keep in mind. Um, anytime you're submitting your scores through college board, you have to send an official
score from college board to the college that you're applying to. This year, it's $15 per score. Sometimes it can add up. Um ACT um same thing submitted through your ACT
account. College essay most often students this is an assignment in their English class. This is usually the one thing that students kind of are hesitant about the most stressed about kind of writing it. It's only 650 words. Um this summer would be
a good time to the prompts usually don't change. Um usually released in the usual change though, but over the summer just jotting down some pros that you may relate to and then kind of doing
a draft and trying to get that essay. But that's the difference between our responsibility responsibility score um score for the kids actually was a pretty seamless transition it seems like for the students. Um I know this
class about it already um when So, it's a platform that we use to send the supporting documents. Students have to update their score with all the schools they're applying to so their supporting documents can be submitted to the correct places. Um, this is what look like if you look on the left,
this is what the student will see. And then they'll have their college checklist. You can tell that they submitted their application early action um and they submitted their optional application essay on the right. That's what we see. I believe the students can also
when they they have to request their teacher through their score account and that's how they upload all their information on their students account. But they can see when updated it goes from requested and if it says created that means the teacher uploaded their letter but this is there's always a time
stamp with a date of when it was submitted to the college. So if anything does come up uh we have a reference point for us to look at. Um I think this year I But see, you don't have to apply. You
don't have to wait for the school to send your supporting documents out. The student can apply whenever they want to apply on the application they fill out will include how they're applying to the college. And once that happens, they can submit their application. We will always meet the students deadlines, but I know
they share particular seniors are very anxious, but they can apply at any point in time. The school documents and the college will always come second. So something to keep in mind when you're getting into this process that students can apply whenever they want and then we
will support the deadline indicates how they're applying to the college. Um they can research colleges um the programs they offer. a little bit to see their data where they fall academically as compared to other
so it's a great tool to utilize parents will be invited to join so you'll have the same view as your students so you can take a look utilize I promise it is very user friendly so don't worry I'm going to turn over to March to finish
Hi, I'm Mario to see you. Um, so I'm basically just going to follow up with everything that was said today and just kind of wrap up some more important information. Um, I know we already kind of hit on college visits, but we can't stress enough how
important it is to visit school. Um, if you know me, which I know everybody here is But like I went to TCJ. Mr. Haz went to TCJ. We're both alone. Um but I was never going to apply to CCJ. It was off
my list. I was like, I don't even want to go there. And my mom and I were like, let's just take a visit. We went to visit and I instantly fell in love. And I was like, this is the school that I feel comfortable at. I feel like I really can fit in here. I see people that are similar to me. Um so I cannot
stress enough how important it is to visit the school. And I know It was stated that sometimes we wait to visit the schools after we apply and get accepted to the school. And that I understand that if you're applying to schools like on the west coast or if you're applying in the south like that
makes a lot of sense because it's you know it's expensive. Um but if you have the option and the opportunity to visit the schools that are close by, it is so so so important to do that and it really really makes a difference. Um on the flip side, I went to visit other
colleges and I was like I really here and I thought I love it. So definitely take advantage of that opportunity and these um absences that we give out as well. Um when you're doing the college visit, it's also important that you want
to do like oh my god. It's a tour where it's like specifically through the school um because you want to show your demonstrated interest. So every time that you're at the school and you're interacting with the school, if you're emailing them, if you're on campus,
whatever you do, when you come to the college fairs, you fill out information about them, you're showing the school that you have demonstrated interest in that school and they're keeping track of that. So if you do a college visit, it's an official tour. It finally came to me. Um, you want to give an official tour
because they will keep track of that as well. If you do an unofficial tour, email the admissions counselor and just say, "Hey, I was here today. I really liked this part of the campus just so they can keep track. Um, when you're on your official tour, make sure you ask questions about majors that
you're interested in. Um, something that I try to recommend to my students, if you're going in undecided and you don't know what you want to do, you want to make sure you're going to a school that has a lot of options for majors because you don't want to have to end up transferring to another school in the
middle of your college process. Um, so just keep that in mind. Um, Miss Patrick already said, "Pay attention to the surrounding area." Right? When she's up in her in the city school, she's like, "This is not for me. It's too rural. It's too far away from everything." But maybe that's what some
people like. So, just again, that's why visiting is so important. Um, make sure you visit the residence halls. I know sometimes they don't have that on the college floor um because maybe they're being cleaned or they don't have the opportunity to see it. If
you can get back to the campus and see the residence halls, that's really important, too. You're going to be living there. That's where you're going to spend most of your time besides if you're in the library or in classes. Um, so make sure you feel comfortable. Um, definitely review the tuition prices.
Um, and that's another great thing to talk about with your families at home. You know, if you know you have a certain budget for college, maybe you don't want to go visit certain schools because you know that immediately you aren't even going to be able to go there. don't want to get your holes up in that
way. Just make sure you're having those conversations at home as well. And definitely visit a school in the spring and fall. That's when it's so pretty and the trees look really nice and you know all that school, but you also see the campus is alive. Like you see all the
students on campus. You can absolutely visit the schools in the summer. You can visit on race. That's totally fine too. when you go in the spring or the fall when school is in session, you get a really, really good idea of what campus life is going to look like for you. So, I know I spent a lot of time on this
slide, but I just can't stress enough how important it is to visit the schools. And I know a lot of people skip that part of the process just because maybe we run out of time and we don't feel like it, we just don't have, you know, we're doing 100 extracurricular activities, but if you can fit it in, I
really, really talk a little bit about testing already, but just to break down a couple things, um, our SAT versus our ACT tests. So, um, we did talk about, which I think is coming up also test optional, but um, your SAT you're going to be taking in
reading, writing, and math. It's scored up to 1600. It's offered multiple times per year, which you've already at another building in a different high school when you sign up. It's not going to affect your scores like PTHs is full, you can take it at Butler.
If they're offering it, you can take it in Fair. Um it doesn't affect your scores at all. Um the ACT, same thing. They have sections of math and reading. Um there's optional now science and writing. On the ACT, it was always
recommended that if you're going into a science field, if you're interested in majoring in a science field, that you would want to take the ACT just because it had the science section on it. something to just keep in mind, but you really can just take one or the other.
Um, your score on the ACT is 36, so it's a totally different scoring. And it's also offered multiple times a year. You sign up for both of these tests on two different websites. So, you're signing up for SAT on the College Board, you're signing up for ACT on ACT.org. So, just
keep that in mind as well. Um, and whichever one you want to take, it really just depends on what you're interested in and feeling in that particular moment. I probably would recommend SAT for most of you. But if again if you're doing some kind of
science, check out ACT. Take both. Maybe you have a better score in one than the other. You can send that score to the colleges instead. So um speaking of test optional, I think I've gotten this question in pretty much all of my senior meetings at least this
year is if it's test optional, is it truly test optional? Should we send our scores even if it says test optional? Um, you do not have to send your scores if the college is test optional. You can. And just what I've been recommending to my parents and students
in my meetings is if your SAT or your ACT score is at their average range or higher than the average range for that school, go ahead and send it. It's going to give you a little boost on your application. If the average range is an 1100 to,200 and you got Cool.
Send it. Why not? Like, show them that you did a great job. Um, if your score on the SAT or the ACT is below their average range and you don't feel comfortable sending it, it's test optional. You do not have to send it. It's truly test optional. Um, what we
hear from the admissions counselors a lot is that they're not out to get you. It's not like, I gota we thought it's test optional, but haha, we want to see who would hand in their scores. It's really test optional. So just feel comfortable in that fact that you do not have to send it and as said earlier
there's a lot of schools that are test optional still postco we saw a lot of schools move into test optional range um some are coming back to test required so also pay attention to what programs you are applying into some programs in specific schools will be test required
so just because the school's test optional doesn't mean that that program in the school is test optional that makes sense So, just pay attention to what you're applying to. And then we have a lot of future events coming up. I think um one thing that I
really love about our counseling department here is that we try to get all these different events out to parents and students and just make sure that they have all the information they possibly can. Um so we have a financial aid night which was stated before at 7 o'clock. It's going to be virtual. Um
that is going to be awesome. I know FA and financial a lot from my senior meetings. If you have questions about that, that's a great place to gather all that information. We do a college admissions panel where there's different colleges, different admissions counselors from different
colleges will come and answer questions. It's like a Q&A. Um, and last year we had Lehi, we had Montlair, we had TCJ, um, and Oh, okay. Sorry.
Um, sorry. So, we had all of them last year and um, so the college admissions panel is a great place to gather more information. If you are a junior um or even a sophomore, that's a great place to
start. If you're like, I have questions, what should I be thinking about? What should I be looking into? Come to the admissions panel. Um prior to the admissions panel on the same date from 5 to 7 p.m., we are hosting a FA workshop. So, somebody from KSA, which is the FA
company that helps in New Jersey, he's going to come and just he'll be in the cafeteria. If you have any questions about filling out the FA, you can come in and fill that out with him. That would be for only seniors, only senior parents. You fill out the FA when your
child is a senior. You don't fill it out prior to that. Um, and then of course, like what we love to do is immediate decision day. So, we did this last year and they were different days last year. We're changing it this year into one day. So any
seniors who are interested in applying to the schools that are up there or if you already apply CCM Patter all have representatives here and if you apply to one of those schools and you'd like to be interviewed by them and get
your immediate decision to whether you're accepted to that school or not, you just sign up. So probably send something out as we get closer. You sign up for that. as a senior and then immediately on the spot they will tell you if you are accepted and that will be on December
10th media center. So great opportunity if you apply to any of those schools keep that in mind because that's going to be pretty quick. Um and then of course we have our school counseling college application website. This is a QR code to it if you would
like to scan it. You can get all of this information on our website and a lot more As always, if you have questions, if you ever need anything, you are more than welcome to reach out to any of us. We are all more than happy to help. Um, but
we're just going to show you score really quickly just so that you kind of get a feel for what score looks like and how it kind of can connect to your com and all those things that you're doing. So, Hi. So, we were trying to get involved with
we count. So, this is Penny Panther. Um, so when you went on to score, this is what your typical student view looks like. Um, whether you're grade 9 through 12. Um, there are different assignments that make you assign for grade level. So, you just kind of have to be aware of
that. This is your typical um view. Um I'm going to show you on right now how to first of all view her profile. Um so, if I can view her profile here,
um all of her information will be here. Um if you're a senior, you probably have already seen this, but you can connect your common app to score the which means that every time you apply, we get notified that your application
was sent and therefore we can send over your supporting documents um and we sign something called which um you see your letters of recommendation. We get more into that in your junior and senior year so I won't go too much into that show. Um but this allows you to put all of
your information in. Penny has a wonderful GPA. for Patrick. Um, you can put your own personal information in your achievements. This is a great place to track stuff over your four years. So, taking advantage of
all this information, um, you can find college preferences, which this is things we'll do with the students in the classroom. So, we'll take um, I guess tasks with them or little assessments with them that they can find career paths and colleges.
Um, this is kind of the same that we do with them. Um, and then we have a drive. We also read this in the junior and senior meeting, but it's just the point of be showing you this is that it's all in one centralized location. So, your counselor brag form for
instance, this is Miss Patrick student. Her brag form is on here um as well as the teacher form. So, everything is accessible on score to access. So, this is this is Penny. she tends to
get a little more involved but fine. Um, so I'm going to show you now how to find schools on so Penny I guess wants to go to a four-year school and if I click on fourear school it will give me I think every four school in the country which
is not not Penn's thing. So if Penny wants to become psychology major you can type in any major of your choice. Um, and you can type in all of the identifying information. So, school size, which Penny, she would do probably
high school. Um, city, suburb, you can click as many of these as you want. Um, and there's a bunch of different filters. Keep her in the northeast. You can click on multiple of these.
And you can think about how selective the colleges I have now, but there are a few colleges on here and can follow them. Mor, but I can save this college to view. Um,
but if I wanted to know more about this college, I can just click on college like I would be and it would show me all this identifiable information. I a lot more. It's pleasant. It's like booking um and a little very organized. So, if I
scroll down the ad 65% you can find the average SAT, ACT, the tuition, which is scary for most. Um it gives you a map. I the first thing I do when I look at colleges with some students is they bring up a map and I
was like there's no target nearby. You got to put a little further but look up they have your major. So you can look up business, you can look up any really any identifiable major that you want and they can get very specific. Um
admissions they will give you the deadlines which if you saw on the Instagram I made a tip on deadlines and paying attention to deadlines. Um and I do tell you the application fees. So keep in mind that there are
application fees every time you put an application. It also gives you information about cost and um again very pricey. So pay attention to that and utilize this to ensure that you're paying attention to cost and then student life. you'll be
able to you know put in any information about what you know is most applicable to you when you're researching a college whether it's sports the demographics but the part we like most that we have states is the scatter
so these average GPA are not correct by any means or their just because there's a wide range of GPS um however there is this information DHS and their acceptance rates. But when you scroll down,
they have the same scatter. who's accepted who, but you can see what their GPA or SAT, whether not they were denied. Um, I'm not sure why Penny's not showing up. Typically, you're a star on the scatter. So, that's
how you identify yourself as a star. to talk about. So this section we can see that we have selected and followed that school. If we go through and we add multiple schools
on this list in the my colleges section they will filter in through the following section. So as you can see Penny has multiple schools in her following section that she is interested in potentially applying to. If you see
on the bottom it says target school reach or likely those are the AI tools that are given in score that can give you a better understanding of what could be a reach target or safety school. If you see over here in the applying
section this means that these tools are on Penny's common app. So the importance is linking both accounts at the same time because that's how we also get notified that you have submitted your applications. If there are schools that
are not on the common app that you apply to, you can simply click on it and drag it over to the applying section. This again is something that we will go over in your senior meetings, but this is something just to keep in mind. Once your accounts are linked and you have
hit the submit button on common app, those schools that you have applied to will automatically filter over to the applied section. That's how your counselor gets notified that you have submitted your applications. We get emails and notifications that say
we get to go through and submit your supplemental items on your behalf. So it is very important to utilize this feature. also spoke about the scatteragram options, but if you do click on it in this view and scroll down, you are able
to see the scattering in this view as well. Again, I don't know why the star isn't popping up, but there's also other options to see that as well. So, um it's very important to utilize score. It's very user friendly and I know it may be a little daunting because we did switch from a platform that maybe everybody was
familiar with, right? score is great and um it is a great option for our students as well as our parents. Um and that's a little bit about score. M okay so just one other thing quickly for
seniors and in your junior meetings as well talk about letters of recommendation which they were already mentioned earlier tonight. First of all, you want to ask your teachers who are writing you a letter in person before you do anything on school. You want to make sure that they agree to write you a letter of recommendation and they feel
comfortable enough to write one for you. So, for example, let's say that I ask somebody to write me a letter and they say absolutely I would love to write a letter. I would come on to school. Then after that, you're in the my tab here still. you go to do and you just scroll
right down to where it says letters of recommendation and you add a request. So let's say I'm ask allows them to know that you have requested them through score. So now they know that they can upload their letter. The teachers cannot upload a letter unless you request them on score.
So, they need to be requested at this point. You do not have to request your counselors for school. We are already writing all of you a letter. We're already uploading the letters. You don't have to worry about us. It's just for the teachers. Once they have submitted it, you'll be able to see on your end in
this this box once we recommended once once we request it. Hi, you'll you'll be able to see it says um Mr. H and then it will say to you if it's created the draft or if it's just been submitted or if it's been
requested. Um so you can monitor that on your end as well. Of course we monitor as well to make sure if your deadline is November 1st and we're approaching that and nobody has submitted your letter yet. We'll make sure that everybody has that in before your deadline. But just so you know, you you'll see everything
right here on the letters of recommendation. Once you request them from the teachers, you're done. Hands are done. You don't have to worry about it anymore. We take over. That's what we send. You do not have to request them through Common App. You don't have to request them anywhere else. It's just
done. Before we close out, I know this was a lot of information and could be very overwhelming and that's what your students counselors are here for to lean on during this process. It's again a lot of information in a short period of
time. So if at any point you have questions even you know after tonight you can reach out to your students counselor and they will be available for you to answer those specific questions for your student. And I just wanted to thank our team for
being here tonight and putting on this presentation. I know it's a ton of information, but you couldn't tell they're hugely passionate about this stuff. Um, so they're readily available anytime. So give them a call, send an email, but give a round of applause
for a little bit. Any questions? What grade do the students get access? So because it's new this year, we've started to prioritize the seniors to get them all on board first. So we've kind of trickled our way down. So as the counselors are having their senior meeting, junior meetings, sophomore
meetings, freshman meetings, um they'll start introducing score. So you'll be getting the emails out, invite invitations, we'll first introduce to students um typically and then they'll invite you to join as well. So it's the first year we're rolling it out. We're
also going to roll it out with eighth graders. We haven't staff yet, but that's our next step. Yes, that's a great question. So, since the students sign something to wave their rights to read any letters of recommendation, it would be beneficial
if that person would send it directly to their counselor and we submit on their behalf as an additional recommener. So, the purpose questions. Thank you very much.