2014/2015 Riverwood Counseling Staff

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1 Riverwood International Charter School 5900 Raider Drive * Atlanta, GA Class of 2016: Welcome to the College Planning Process! In this packet, you will find a number of resources designed to help you stay on track and be prepared throughout the college application process. Inside This Packet: College Planning Timeline for Juniors Comparison of SAT and ACT SAT/ACT Testing Dates and Info for 2014/2015 College Board/ACT Testing Accommodations Info GPA Reference Sheet HOPE Scholarship Information College Credit Now: Dual Enrollment/AP Info NCAA Eligibility Information Guide for Visiting College Campuses Campus Visit Checklist College Planning Timeline for Seniors Quick Guide to Application Types Transcript Request Process Parchment Information Naviance Information Financial Aid Checklist To parents and students: Please read this packet in its entirety prior to attending your Junior conference, and bring with you any questions you may have about this information. Please know that we are here to assist you with this process and we are always happy to answer questions/clarify information. We look forward to working with you and your family during this exciting time! 2014/2015 Riverwood Counseling Staff Melissa Perlmutter, Counselor, A-Do Angel Jones, Counselor, Dr-Ka Sally Page, Head Counselor, Ke-Rh Ann Wilson, Counselor, Ri-Z Roxie Garber, College & Career Center Coordinator Olivia Gonzalez, Community Liaison Allison Loy, Graduation Coach/RTI Stephanie Flores-Publicover, 504 Coordinator Shila Pattni, Registrar/Records Coordinator Deb Carstens, Counseling Professional Assistant Shawnette Miller, School Social Worker Kimberly Myerson, School Psychologist Jeremy Kopkas, IB Coordinator Perlmutter@fultonschools.org Jonesangel@fultonschools.org Pages@fultonschools.org WilsonA@fultonschools.org Garber@fultonschools.org GonzalezO@fultonschools.org LoyA@fultonschools.org Publicover@fultonschools.org Pattni@fultonschools.org Carstens@fultonschools.org MillerS1@fultonschools.org Myerson@fultonschools.org Kopkas@fultonschools.org

2 College Planning Timeline for Juniors FALL/WINTER Attend your Junior Conference with your family Finalize a testing plan for the SAT, ACT and SAT Subject Tests. Refer to testing dates in this packet and on the testing websites. SPRING Visit schools that you are interested in. Take a tour, go to an informational meeting, sit in on a class and try to get a feel for what it would be like to go to that school. If you visit a school you are extremely interested in, consider making an appointment for an on-campus interview, if available. Send a thank you note after your visit. Start thinking about teachers that you would like to ask to write you a recommendation. USEFUL LINKS (Common Application) (SAT) (ACT) (Naviance) (GA Career Information Center Gacollege411.org (College/Career Planning; HOPE information; Dual Enrollment Information) (Scholarship database) (Scholarship database) (Colleges That Change Lives) (College Athletes) (Princeton Review) (Kaplan Test Prep) (Study Works Test Prep) SUMMER If you know the essay prompt for any of your applications, start working on a draft of your college essay. Compile your resume, audition portfolio or other evidence of your talents for college admissions or scholarship applications. Continue to visit schools. Narrow your list of potential college choices. Begin to research scholarship opportunities. Make a Common Application account on commonapp.org and fill it out. The application should be available early August. Determine if you are going to take the SAT/ACT in Fall of Senior year and register for the tests. LOOKING AHEAD... Make sure you are aware of all requirements and deadlines for the colleges/scholarships you are interested in so you don t miss out on any opportunities. Many colleges have Early Decision/Early Action deadlines on November 1st, November 15th and December 1st. UGA s Early Action deadline is October 15th. Many colleges have Regular Decision deadlines on January 1st, January 15th and February 1st. Students can apply for financial aid by filling out the FAFSA form beginning January 1st of Senior year.

3 Comparison of the SAT and the ACT

4 Test Date COLLEGE ADMISSIONS TESTING SAT/ACT Dates Registration Deadline SAT Reasoning SAT Subject Tests* ACT September 13, 2014 August 8 X October 11, 2014 September 12 X X October 25, 2014 September 19 X November 8, 2014 October 9 X X December 6, 2014 November 6 X X December 13, 2014 November 7 X January 24, 2015 December 29 X X February 7, 2015 January 9 X March 14, 2015 February 13 X April 18, 2015 March 13 X May 2, 2015 April 6 X X June 6, 2015 May 8 X X June 13, 2015 May 8 X Please refer to the following websites for additional SAT/ACT information and test registration. - SAT Reasoning, SAT Subject information - ACT information Riverwood High School Code: *Please check the SAT Subject Test calendar, as not all subjects are offered on every test date. **Fee waivers are available for students who receive free/reduced lunch. See Ms. Garber in the Counseling Office.

5 Requesting College Board and ACT Accommodations: If your child has an IEP or 504 plan, and receives testing accommodations at Riverwood, we can assist with submitting a request for accommodations to the College Board (SAT, SAT Subject Tests, PSAT, AP) and ACT. If your child receives accommodations at school, he/she does not automatically receive accommodaitons on the College Board exams and the ACT. Students must apply for and be granted accommodations on these tests by the testing agencies. Please be aware of the following process: College Board: Contact Melissa Perlmutter, Counselor, for the required forms you will need to complete (perlmutter@fultonschools.org). If your child has an IEP, you may also speak with the Case Manager. Return the required forms to Melissa Perlmutter by at least two weeks prior to the deadline for the test your child is planning to take (see below). However, the earlier, the better. Provide a copy of your child s most recent IEP or 504 plan; evidence of the date of the first IEP/504 plan; and copy of any psychological testing and/or medical documentation. Once students are approved for College Board accommodations, they will receive them on all future College Board exams. Simply having a disability is not enough to qualify for accommodations. Having a history of receiving accommodations at school is usually an important part of their decision process. In general, the College Board looks for the following to determine if accommodations are granted: Student has a documented disability Participation on the exam is impacted The requested accommodation is needed The accommodation(s) are received on school tests. For more questions, please go to: /2015 Test Dates Deadline for receipt of all documentation October 11, 2014 August 22, 2014 October 15, 2014 (PSAT) August 27, 2014 November 8, 2014 September 19, 2014 December 6, 2014 October 17, 2014 March 14, 2014 January 23, 2015 May 2, 2015 March 13, 2015 May 4-15, 2015 (AP Exams) February 20, 215 June 6, 2015 April 17, 2015

6 ACT: In order to request ACT Accommodations, please do the following: Complete the appropriate form based on your student s needs. If you are unsure of which form to complete, you may contact Melissa Perlmutter (perlmutter@fultonschools.org) or the ACT directly. disab/ Most student needs will be met through the National Extended Time application. If you are utilizing the National Extended Time application, you must register to take the test before applying for accommodations. If you are using a different form, please contact Melissa Perlmutter before registering for the test. Schedule a time to meet with Melissa Perlmutter, Counselor, at least two-three weeks prior to the deadline (listed on the forms). We will need you to provide a copy of the application form (there is a portion for parents/students to complete and a portion for the school to complete); your student s test ticket; information about your child s initial diagnosis; and evidence of reconfirmation of the diagnosis within the last three years (ie: initial psychological report/iep or 504 plan; recent psychological testing or medical information). If you have questions about necessary documentation, please contact Melissa Perlmutter. We will probably have some of this information on file at school. Please be aware that you will need to apply for accommodations every time your child wants to take the ACT.

7 Grade Point Average (GPA) Reference Sheet There are MANY different definitions of GPA. It is best to refer o each individual college/ scholarship organization to understand how they calculate GPA in order. Here are a few definitions: Cumulative Numeric Average (CNA): Fulton County calculates cumulative numeric averages for students by adding up all grades in all classes and dividing by the total number of classes taken. This numeric average is on a 100 point scale. Remember, failed grades, summer school grades and online grades are all included all courses listed on the transcript are averaged together. Please remember that Fulton County adds 7 points to the final passing grade for each Honors, AP, IB and college course taken; therefore, the CAN is a weighted average. Academic GPA: Fulton County does NOT calculate GPAs on a 4.0 scale. The best place to start is to contact each college to find out how they calculate GPAs. Some will include all courses taken, others will include academic courses only. Some will use your weighted grades, others will remove the honors points before calculating GPA. To calculate GPA, most schools use the following conversion scale: A=4.0; B=3.0; C=2.0; and F=0. For academic GPA, assign a 4, 3, 2, or 0 for each academic course (courses in Math, Science, Language Arts, Social Studies and World Language), add them together and divide by the total number of academic courses (each semester of a class counts as one course). This produces an estimated academic GPA. Fulton County counselors cannot calculate GPAs for you. HOPE Scholarship GPA: The GPA for the HOPE Scholarship is calculated by averaging all academic courses (Math, Science, Language Arts, Social Studies, World Language) taken in high school, including failed courses. Be aware that non academic IB and AP elective courses are not included in HOPE calculations (ie: AP Art, IB Business, IB Theatre). Grades from high school classes taken in middle school are not calculated in the HOPE GPA. All courses are averaged together and students need to earn a 3.0 GPA to be eligible. Please be aware that all honors points are removed before the calculation and.5 weighting is added back in for AP, IB and college courses (not honors classes). A = 4.0; B=3.0; C=2.0 and F =0. If it is an honors, AP, IB or Dual Enrollment course, remove the 7 points before converting to the 4.0 scale and then add back.5 (ie: an 85 in an AP class is an unweighted 78 = 2.0. Because it is an AP class, it becomes a 2.5; the max is a 4.0). Please note: A 2.99 GPA does not qualify you for HOPE, and you are not eligible for HOPE until the day you graduate, as second semester senior grades are included. All calculations are done by the GA Student Finance Commission.

8 HOPE Scholarship Information Georgia's HOPE Scholarship is available to Georgia residents who have demonstrated academic achievement. The scholarship provides money to assist students with their educational costs of attending a HOPE eligible college in Georgia. Eligibility: To receive HOPE Scholarship funding, students must: Graduate from a HOPE-eligible high school with a 3.0 grade point average in CORE courses (Math, English, Science, Social Studies, World Language) Maintain a 3.0 GPA while in college Meet HOPE's U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizen requirements Meet HOPE's Georgia residency requirements Be enrolled as a degree-seeking student at an eligible public or private college or university or technical college in Georgia. A list of HOPE-eligible colleges and universities can be found at GACollege411.org Register with the Selective Service (if applicable) Not be in default or owe a refund on a student financial aid program. Be in compliance with the Georgia Drug-Free Postsecondary Education Act of *A new rigor requirement has been added for HOPE Eligibility. Students in the Class of 2016 must pass at least three courses from a list of academically rigorous courses to meet HOPE Requirements upon high school graduation. Award Amounts: The money provided to HOPE Scholars varies: The HOPE Scholarship award varies and depends on the type of institution you are attending and your specific hours of enrollment. To determine your HOPE award amount, review the chart found here: Application Procedure: As long as you are HOPE-eligible upon graduation, and complete the FAFSA, you will receive HOPE funds. Where to go for help: Contact the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend, or talk with the Georgia Student Finance Commission gacollege411@gsfc.org; Call them toll-free at: GSFC (4732); In Metro Atlanta: (770) Zell Miller Scholarship Program Students must meet all requirements for the HOPE Scholarship PLUS: Graduate from an eligible high school with at least a 3.7 GPA in core subjects (as calculated by the GSFC) AND receive a score of at least 1200 combined critical reading and math score on a single administration of the SAT or an ACT composite score of 26, OR: Graduate from an eligible high school as valedictorian or salutatorian; Maintain at least a 3.3 GPA in college to remain eligible for the Zell Miller Scholar Program; Payment Guidelines are the following: For Georgia public universities/colleges or GA Technical colleges, tuition is fully paid For eligible Georgia private colleges, $2,110/ semester received for 15 hours For more details, please go to: Zell_Miller_Scholarship_Program_Overview.aspx. gram_overview.aspx

9 College Credit Now: AP, IB and Dual Enrollment Information There are a number of ways in which students may earn college credit while still in high school: Advanced Placement (AP) Courses: Advanced Placement courses allow students to take college-level courses and potentially earn college credit and/or achieve advanced placement in college. AP courses better prepare students for college as they become accustomed to the demands of university-level work. Students are enrolled in AP courses throughout the school year, and AP Exams are taken during the first two weeks of May (at Riverwood). AP Exams are scored on a 1-5 scale; individual colleges determine the score needed to earn credit in specific courses, but most schools give students credit if they earn a four or a five (some also give credit for a score of three). Currently, Riverwood offers the following AP Courses: AP Calculus AB AP World History AP Comparative Government (.5 credits/one semester) AP Microeconomics (.5 credits/one semester) AP American Government (two semesters for 9th graders) AP Psychology AP 3D Design AP Environmental Science AP Biology AP Statistics AP United States History AP American Government (.5 credits/one semester) AP Macroeconomics (.5 credits/one semester) AP Music Theory AP 2-D Design & AP Drawing Portfolio AP English Lit/Comp AP Physics I International Baccalaureate (IB) Courses: Riverwood is an International Baccalaureate (IB) School. This program is a highly rigorous and academically demanding program. Students may apply to be an IB Diploma Candidate (meaning they fulfill certain course requirements in all academic areas at the IB level) or an IB Certificate Candidate, meaning they take certain courses at the IB Level. All IB courses have examination requirements, with certain exam scores resulting in potential college credit. Dual Enrollment: Through Dual Enrollment programs, 11th and 12th grade students may take approved college classes, allowing them to get an early start to their college careers. Dual Enrollment students earn concurrent credit toward both their high school diploma ad college degree. There are a few dual enrollment programs in Georgia: Accel: A program where students may take one or more core, academic courses at a local college, to receive both high school and college credit for the course(s). Move on When Ready: A program where students take a full load of classes at the college level, to receive both high school and college credit for the courses. Students may take core academic classes and required elective classes. Under this program, students do not take any classes at the high school. Dual HOPE Technical Grant: A program where students take one or more core or technical classes at a technical college to receive both high school and college credit for the course(s).

10 Dual Enrollment Accel/Move on When Ready/Dual Hope Grant Information Frequently Asked Questions What To Do First? Course Selections Course Load Schedule meeting with counselor before March 1 st to review academic requirements and graduation requirements and how your DE year would play out.. Talk to parents about transportation, responsibility and costs required. *Apply by March 30 and submit required documents by May 1. (FCS deadline.) Send AP exam test results to college. Any Core Academic Course (Math, Science, Social Studies, Eng., World Lang.) Min. of 1 class at college. May take full load at college and high school courses. Must take a min. of 3 classes at HS if not full time at college. Schedule meeting with counselor before March 1 st to review graduation requirements and how your DE year would play out. Talk to parents about transportation, responsibility and costs required. *Apply by March 30 and submit required documents by May 1. (FCS deadline.) Send AP exam test results to college for placement purposes. Core Academic and required electives (Career Tech, Fine Arts, Pers. Fitness, Health, etc) as needed for graduation. Only takes full load (4 classes per semester) at college. NO high school courses. Credits Earned One 3 or 4 hour course earns 1 full high school credit. Students must still take 2 semesters of English. (FCS requirement.) Costs Covered GSFC pays 100% of tuition in fall and spring. Student responsible for fees and books. Student must complete Accel form online for tuition payment to college before start of each semester. Academic Requirements Residency Requirements Riverwood Registration Scheduling Considerations Additional Considerations 3.0 GPA and SAT/ACT scores vary. GPC: 970 (min CR=480 and Ma=440) SAT and 20 ACT (min Eng=20 and Ma=18) Legal resident of Georgia. Register for a full schedule at Riverwood. Schedule will be adjusted as needed in Aug. Register at college early for more scheduling options. Riverwood Master Schedule not final until August. May run into conflicts, especially with non-popular Riverwood courses. College courses not considered as rigorous as AP and IB courses by colleges. College grading is from far fewer exams, assignments and projects than high school classes. Students totally responsible for the application process, registration, report cards, etc. Parents NOT involved nor contacted due to attendance, grades, etc. College classes typically held 2x per week. More work expected between classes. Not at school all day can lead to feelings of being disconnected from friends and senior activities. Can participate in sports and clubs though. Grades are converted to the HS transcript using this scale: A=95 plus 7 honors points=102 B=85+ 7 honors points=92 C=75+7 honors points=82 D=70+7 honors points=77 F=60 One 3 or 4 hour course earns 1 full high school credit. Students must still take 2 semesters of English. (FCS requirement.) DOE pays 100% tuition and fees in fall and spring semesters. Student must pay costs of books. Must complete paper MOWR form with counselor and submit to college for payment. 3.0 GPA and SAT/ACT scores vary. GPC: 970 (min CR=480 and Ma=440) SAT and 20 ACT (min Eng=20 and min Ma=18) Legal resident of GA and must have attended an accred. public high school the fall & spring semesters prior to enrollment in MOWR. Should register for a full schedule at Riverwood. Schedule will be deleted and replaced with 4 college classes in August. Recommend early registration at college for more scheduling options. College courses not considered as rigorous as AP and IB courses. Grading is from far fewer exams, assignments and projects than high school. Students totally responsible for the application process, registration, report cards, etc. Parents NOT involved. College classes typically held 2x per week. More work expected between classes. Not at high school at all. Must be ready to let go of remaining high school experience. Can participate in sports and clubs though. Grades are converted to the HS transcript using this scale: A=95 plus 7 honors points=102 B=85+ 7 honors points=92 C=75+7 honors points=82 D=70+7 honors points=77 F=60

11 Pros and Cons of Dual Enrollment Pros Cons Get a head start on college degree could result in tuition savings if attending private college or a college out of state. Provides opportunity for students to experience college to a smaller degree while still residing at home. Provides full college experience including ability to join clubs, use library, etc. One semester college course fulfills full year high school requirement. Can take courses not offered at high school. Not all colleges out of GA and private colleges accept DE credits. Rigor could be an issue with competitive colleges like UGA and GA Tech. Some students miss being at high school all day long. (Friends, senior events, etc.) Not all students have the maturity, responsibility and organizational skills to be successful. Fees range from approx $200-$400 per course and books cost between $100-$300 per course. Dual HOPE Technical Grant: Dual HOPE Technical Grant: Allows students to attend a technical college and take core college courses and/or technical courses. THERE IS NO GPA REQUIREMENT. Tuition is paid for at least partially by the HOPE Grant, Accel or Move on When Ready. Assistance with books and fees may also be available from the technical college. Approved core college courses are guaranteed to transfer to any University System of Georgia institution and to private colleges that are members of the Georgia Independent College Association (GICA). Technical courses will transfer to any college within the Technical College System of Georgia.

12 10 Steps to Dual Enrollment at GPC 1. Talk to your parents/guardians about the Dual Enrollment program. Talk about transportation to and from on-campus classes and money for books and fees. 2. Meet with your high school counselor regarding your plans (January/February). 3. Meet minimum admission requirements: Rising HS junior or senior 3.0 GPA in core courses, as calculated by GPC SAT scores, 970, composite; ACT, 20 SAT critical reading 480, Math 440 OR ACT English 20, Math 18 Residency: Must be a legal resident of GA (for at least 12 months) 4. Apply to GPC online at Complete the application by March 30 and pay your $20 application fee. 5. Submit required documents (parental consent, official HS transcript, immunization records) and have test scores sent (SAT or ACT test scores, AP test scores [if applicable]) to GPC by May 1 (Fulton County deadline). 6. If admitted, you will receive an acceptance letter from GPC s admissions office. You can check your admission status online at: 7. After being admitted, complete the online orientation for new Dual Enrollment students. 8. Consult with your high school counselor about the courses you need to graduate and how to arrange your high school schedule. 9. Once your courses have been approved by your high school counselor, contact our office and the Dual Enrollment Coordinator at your campus will help you register for your classes. 10. After July 1st for Fall and November 1st for Spring, apply to the ACCEL (via GAcollege411.org) or MOWR programs, to request funding to pay for classes. (ACCEL and MOWR funds are not available for Summer courses. The Summer application deadline is April 1.)

13 NCAA Eligibility In order to play sports in college, students must be cleared through the NCAA Eligibility Center. The following pages present details regarding student eligibility. Or more information, go to the NCAA website:

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18 Getting the Most out of a College Visit Being on a college campus - even for a short time can tell you a lot about the school and how well you might fit in there. Below are some tips for how to get the most out of visiting college campuses. Things to Consider Before You Visit: Try to visit a range of colleges so you can really get a feel for what you like/don t like Good times to visit: Any school breaks during 11th and 12th grades Summer before 12th grade *You can miss up to three days during each of 11th and 12th grades for college visits. Make sure to complete a college visitation form (in the College & Career Center) before your visit. Check out the admissions office website to see what opportunities are available for prospective students prior to your visit. Things to Do During Your Visit: Go on a campus tour and participate in an information session Visit a class! Many colleges invite prospective students to sit in on a class or two. Sometimes this needs to be prearranged. Contact the admissions office or check the website for specific info. Overnight Visits Many colleges arrange for prospective students to stay on campus with a student host. You can eat in the dining hall, visit classes and spend the night in a dorm. Meeting with an Academic Department or Professor If you have specific questions about a major, try to meet with someone in the department. Make sure to arrange this in advance. Meeting with a Financial Aid Counselor Ask about grants, scholarships and student loans. On-Campus Interviews If you are visiting a school that offers interviews, and you are very interested in the school, make an appointment ahead of time for an interview. Sell yourself and come prepared with strong questions. Send a thank you note following your interview. Making the Most of Your Visit: Don t get too emotionally involved with your tour guide These students love their college and are trained by the admission office to be honest, but to say positive things about the school. Their views may not be the most objective. Pay close attention and ask questions of the tour guide Why did you choose this school? What do you like best? What do you like least? What courses have you Enjoyed the most/least and why? What are the big issues on campus right now? Things to consider and observe while you are on tour: What are students doing in between classes? Do students look happy? Are people friendly? Read a stu dent newspaper...check out flyers promoting meetings and events...look at the dorms and classrooms...eat the food! Talk to people! If there is something you want to see that was not on the official tour, ask!

19 Campus Visit Checklist To help you determine the right college for you, fill this sheet out for every school you visit/research. College Name: City: State: Size: Tuition Amt: Room/Board Amt: Application Types/Deadlines: Financial Aid Options: To Do Checklist: Rate It! On a scale of 1-5 Talk to professors Talk to students (5 being the best), rate the following: Visit the library Visit dorms Tour campus Read bulletin boards People Social Life Sit in on a class Check out recreational facilities Classes Dorms Eat at a cafeteria Check out student activities Town Campus Talk to admissions office Tour the city/area around campus Food Read the college newspaper Check out computer labs Eat off-campus (where students go!) Picture yourself living there Ask a Student: What is the best part about this school? The best thing about this school: What is the worst part? What is a typical day/week life? What do students do on weekends? The worst thing about this school: How are classes structured? Why did you choose this school?

20 College Planning Timeline for Seniors August/September Use a planner/spreadsheet to keep track of college-related dates Finalize list of colleges you are applying to Ask teachers to write letters of recommendation. Provide needed materials and due dates. Review list of college reps visiting Riverwood (on Naviance, Riverwood website, posted outside counseling office) and sign up to attend sessions with colleges you are interested in. Visit college campus if possible; tour online. Register for the SAT/ACT if you would like to retest this fall or if you have not tested yet. Begin to fill out admissions applications Complete Senior Survey on Naviance so counselors can write your recommendations. Set up a Parchment Account (for transcript submission). Work on/complete application essays. October/November Continue to visit potential colleges, if possible. Continue meeting with college reps at Riverwood. Consider attending a college fair. Prepare final drafts of application essay(s). Take the SAT or ACT, if applicable. Check all application deadlines and submit materials on time. Stay organized! If applying to UGA Early Action, deadline is October 15. Request transcripts on Parchment, and counselor recommendations, at least ten school days prior to deadlines. Follow-up to make sure all early action or early decision application materials have been received. Remind teachers of early deadlines for recommendations. December Take the SAT or ACT, if applicable. Request transcripts (through Parchment) and counselor recommendations for any regular decision applications. For January 1st deadlines, requests must be made by December 1st. January/February Continue to submit materials to meet application deadlines. Request mid-year reports (if applicable). Confirm that all of your application materials have been received by each school to which you applied. Write thank you notes to teachers who wrote recommendations on your behalf. April Maintain organized files of all admissions correspondence you receive. Make sure you accept an offer of admission before May 1st (or school s deadline) and send in any required deposits and paperwork. May Take AP and IB Exams (if applicable) and request your scores are sent to the college that you will be attending. Request your final transcript, through Parchment, for your selected school. Graduate and celebrate your accomplishments!!!

21 Quick Guide to Application Types/Plans There are a number of different admissions plans that colleges and universities offer to students: Rolling Admissions: Schools that use a Rolling Admissions plan generally begin accepting applications in the fall, and they make admissions decisions on an ongoing ( rolling ) basis. Students can improve their chances of acceptance by getting applications in as early as possible. Since these schools fill their incoming spots over the course of a couple of months, the longer you wait to submit your application the less space they have available and admissions standards may increase. Regular ( Deadline ) Admissions Many schools set a specific deadline for applications to be submitted. A common deadline is January 1st or January 15th (but this varies from school to school, so make sure you are aware of each school s actual deadline!). All application materials must be received by the admissions office before the set deadline. No decisions will be made regarding applicants until after the deadline has passed and the admissions office has had the chance to review all applications. Therefore, the timing of your applications submission does not impact your admissions decision as long as it is submitted prior to the deadline. Early Decision (ED) Schools that offer an Early Decision option require that these applications are submitted very early - usually by November 1st or November 15th. Students can only submit an ED application to one school. The benefit of applying ED is that you will receive an admissions decision in mid- December or early January. ED applications are binding students are agreeing in advance that if the school accepts them, they will withdraw applications from any other schools and attend their ED school. Students are required (as part of the ED application) to submit an ED agreement form (contract). Because these applications are binding, it is important that students only apply ED if they are 100% sure that this is the right school for them. Early Action (EA) Some schools offer an Early Action option, which provides the same benefits as ED applications (early submission date, early notification of admissions decision) without a binding contract. Students have no obligation to attend an EA school and may submit multiple EA applications. ***Make sure you carefully review the information regarding application plans/deadlines for each school you are applying to in order to make the best decision about when and how to submit your application.

22 **If you forgot (or lost) your Naviance Registration Code, please contact your counselor!

23 Transcript Request and Counselor Recommendation Process Submit your application to the college or university you are applying to. Create a Parchment Account (see the following directions). Request transcripts through Parchment. If applying to schools using the Common Application, make sure to create your Common App account first and then enter your Common App ID # when requested in Parchment. If your school requires a counselor recommendation, make sure to complete your Senior Survey on Naviance. If you apply to schools through Common App or another online system, make sure to correctly enter your counselor s name and when requested. Follow up with your counselor to ensure that she received the link to your recommendation form. If your school requires you to submit a paper copy of the counselor recommendation/secondary school report form, complete a Counselor Recommendation Request Form and provide it to your counselor (along with the form to be completed, an addressed envelope, etc). Follow up with your counselor to make sure it is completed.

24 Riverwood International Charter School Counselor Recommendation Request Form **This form should be used when a hard-copy recommendation letter/form is required. This form is not needed for Common Application or other online recommendation requests.** Before submitting this form, make sure you do the following: Submit your college application (directly to the school) and request your transcript on Parchment. Complete your Senior Recommendation Survey on Naviance Attach the hard copy counselor recommendation form/secondary school report form to this request. Provide an envelope (addressed to the college/scholarship organization) with postage. Do not write your return address on the envelope. Ensure you are submitting this AT LEAST 10 days prior to the deadline. ********************************** ** Student Name: Date of Request: College/Scholarship: Address: Deadline: Counselor Name:

25 Parchment Information Parchment is the website that Riverwood students use to request transcripts. Every time you apply to a college or scholarship, you will need to send them a transcript this must happen through Parchment. Please see the following document for information about how to create a Parchment account. It is crucial that the name you use on your Parchment account matches exactly to the name you have on the school s information system (eschool), or the process will not work correctly. Make sure you include your middle name on your account. You can use Parchment to request transcripts for any college, university, scholarship, or organization. You can even use it to request transcripts after you graduate from high school. Most transcripts are sent for free (there is only a charge if Parchment has to mail your transcript instead of sending it electronically.

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28 12th Grade Financial Aid Checklist September/October/November Research scholarship opportunities and request application materials. Visit See if the colleges to which you are applying use the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE and register (if applicable). Find out your HOPE GPA (from gacollege411.org or from your counselor) if you are considering attending a public college/university in Georgia. If your GPA is close to a 3.0, make sure your senior year grades are as high as possible to help ensure you maintain/earn HOPE eligibility. December Work with your parents/guardians to gather the financial documents and materials necessary for filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can use last year s tax returns for now. January Apply for a Federal Student Aid personal Identification number (PIN) at Keep your PIN in a safe place where you can refer to it later. Complete and submit the FAFSA form ( to apply for state, federal and institutional grants and loans. Ask your parents or guardians to file their federal income tax return(s) as soon after January 1st as possible so that you can update the FAFSA with the most current information. Find out your HOPE GPA (from gacollege411.org or from your counselor) if you are considering attending a public college/university in Georgia. If your GPA is close to a 3.0, make sure your senior year grades are as high as possible to help ensure you maintain/earn HOPE eligibility. February/March After you have submitted your FAFSA, you will receive your Student Aid Report (SAR). Check it for any errors and return it if you need to make corrections. Follow directions in all financial aid correspondence that you receive in a timely manner. Continue to complete and submit scholarship applications. April Review and compare the financial aid packages offered in the financial aid award letters sent by the colleges that accepted you. Contact financial aid representatives at each school where you have been accepted to discuss any questions or concerns regarding your financial aid package. Organize all correspondence that you receive regarding financial aid in a safe place. May Work with your parents/guardians to apply for loans if necessary. Review all bills for tuition, room and board and other correspondence from your school s financial aid office. Follow all directions carefully and meet all deadlines. Find out your final HOPE GPA (after second semester senior grades are posted).