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2 HOW TO GET A TRANSCRIPT FOR YOUR ~ COLLEGE AND SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS AFTER YOU HAVE COMPLETED APPLICATIONS TO THE SCHOOLS OR SCHOLARSHIPS YOU HAVE SELECTED, YOU MUST REQUEST AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT FROM YOUR COUNSELOR. THIS IS DONE BY FILLING OUT THE OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT CARD THE "ORANGE CARD". ANY FORMS THAT ARE PROVIDED FOR THE SECONDARY SCHOOL OR THE COUNSELOR SHOULD BE GIVEN TO YOUR COUNSELOR, ALONG WITH A COMPLETED TRANSCRIPT REQUEST CARD AND $5.00 IN CASH. YOUR COUNSELOR WILL THEN FORWARD YOUR OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT AND ALL OF THE REQUIRED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS. Colleges now require SAT scores to be sent directly from the College Boord to the college. They ore not included on your transcript. It is your responsibility to request the College Boord to send your scores to the colleges and scholarships to which you ore applying. ALL SCH9.0LS:AND SCH9LARSHIPS REQUIRE AN OFFICIAL SCrtOOL TRANSCR~PT. AN. OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT IS ONE THAT HAS BEEN SIGNED BY A SCH OOL OFFICIAL AND EMBOSSSED WITH THE SCHOOL SEAL. IN ORDER TO BE OFFICIAL, THE TRANSCRIPT MUST BE SENT DIRECTLY FROM ARCHBISHOP WOO[>. TO THE SCHOOL OR SCHOLARSHIP TO WHICH YOU ARE APPLYING. A SUMMARY OF TRANSCRIPT BASICS 1. All requests for transcripts must be submitted to your counselor in the appropriate office. 2. Please allow at least three (3) weeks or fifteen (15) full school days for processing. For example: If the application is due November 15th, the application MUST be submitted before October 25th. 3. All applications require an official transcript (one that is mailed directly from Archbishop Wood and includes the school seal). Your counselor must send this and you may request it by: a. Filling out a Transcript Request Card (orange card) for each application. b. Including the $5.00 processing fee (cash only) for each transcript, and it must accompany the transcript request card. 4. If the college where you are applying requests mid-term and final grades, please tell us so we can send them. There wi II not be an additional charge for this. 28

3 YOUR ROAD TO INDEPENDENCE STARTS HERE The college admission process can be exciting and scary. It is a time for learning and growing. Most of all, it is beginning your journey toward independence. One of the keys to success is personal responsibility: that's why YOU, not your parents, should do the following: 1. YOU should register for the SA Ts online being mindful of deadlines. 2. YOU should be doing your college applications. 3. YOU should fill out your transcript request cards and give them to your counselor. 4. YOU should be calling or ing the colleges with your questions. 5. YOU should be ing or stopping by to ask questions and seek help from your counselors. The college application process is an important time to start being independent while you still have the support of your parents and your counselors. Please remember you are always welcome to stop in during your lunch or after school to ask for information or help. 29

4 IMPORT ANT REMINDERS YOUR SAT SCORES WILL NOT BE ON YOUR TRANSCRIPT. WHEN YOU REGISTER FOR THE SAT'S BE SURE TO INDICATE WHERE YOU WANT YOUR SCORES TO BE SENT. THE FIRST FOUR SCORE REPORTS ARE FREE, SO DON'T MISS OUT ON THAT OPPORTUNITY. 1. Do not wait until you get your SAT score before you apply to colleges. 2. When you create an account and PIN to apply to a college or register for the SATs be sure to write it down and remember it. 3. When you request your transcript be sure to include the required forms. These would include such things as the secondary school report and counselor's forms. This is partic~larly important when using the Common Application. 4. Bring in your applications as you complete them. This is better than bringing them all in at one time. You will feel a great sense of accomplishment when you bring in that first application. 5. Please be aware of deadlines and allow 15 full school days for us to process your application. 6. In order for a transcript to be "official" it must be sent directly from Archbishop Wood to the school or scholarship to which you are applying. 7. You should apply to Penn State by November 1. Penn State Abington will waive your application fee if you visit the campus and apply when you are there. a. Applications to schools in the State University System should be sent by October 15. To save time use this website: 30

5 It's application time. On your desk are a number of envelopes containing application forms, financial aid forms, instruction sheets and related materials. At first glance, that pile of application materials may appear foreboding. Like all other aspects of the school to college transition, the application phase can produce some anxious, confusing and stressful times. Coming at the beginning of the senior year, it competes with your efforts to sustain or accelerate your academic efforts and enjoy an extracurricular and social life. You can maintain control by doing the following: 1. Gather all of the forms, instruction sheets and support materials that are needed to apply for admission and financial aid to the colleges that you are interested in attending. Have everything that you need before you embark on the application submission journey. If the college will accept the Common Application (distributed by the National Association of Secondary School Principals), you may wish to consider that option and use this form for multiple applications. 2. Review all of the applications and create a checklist of what needs to be done, who does it and when it needs to be completed. Consider setting two sets of deadline dates: those required by the college(s) and those that you hope to meet in your personal timetable. Noce: If you are applying to a college under an Early Decision or Early Action/Notification plan, the application timetable will be accelerated. Check the college viewbook or with an admission counselor to determine the deadline dates for these special plans. 3. Complete the form(s): a. Read the entire application form before completing any of the sections. b. Make copies of the forms and use the copies as worksheets. c. Follow each direction exactly and provide all of the information that is requested. Don't feel compelled or forced to fill in every space on the form. Answer the questions that are relevant to your application. d. Provide accurate and concise answers. e. Prepare a neat application, typing or printing your responses. Edit your responses. 4. Make cenain that the required materials accompany the application, including: Essays - Review the essay topics and instructions and devote sufficient time to produce your best work. Academic records and transcripts - Colleges will want copies of your official academic record and transcript to suppon your ~pplication. Direct this request through your counselor, registrar or records officer. Recommendations - A couple of indepth recommendations from people who know you and your abilities and achievements are better than many from those who have a casual familiarity. Provide guidelines and timetables and don't wait until the last minute to request your recommendations. Test scores - Schedule your SAT, ACT and related testing sessions to allow time (normally six weeks) for score repons to get to the college for proper consideration. Interview -If the college requires a personal interview, it is your responsibility to see that it fits into the admission timetable. Other materials -The college application lists the information they need to evaluate your application. Don't send extraneous materials (e.g., videos. term papers, newspaper clips). Most likely, they won't be reviewed. 5. Know the deadline dates and send your applications to the college(s) on time. Procrastination will be your greatest enemy at this stage of the college admission process. Develop an application submission checklist and timetable and stick to them. Should questions arise, consult with your counselor or the college admission/ financial aid officers. COLLEGE RESOURCE GUIDE NUMBER 20 ~ EDUCATION NOW, P.O. BOX 2832, SPRINGFIELD, VA REPRODUCED UNDER SPECIAL RIGHTS GRANTED TO INSTITUTION OR AGENCY BY THE PUBLISHER 31