Common Application Workshop Presented by the MHHS Counseling Department October 14, 2014

Common Application Workshop Presented by the MHHS Counseling Department October 14, 2014

Founded in 1975, online since 1999 Currently used by over 500 colleges & universities For member colleges & universities, it provides one application website to manage applications, recommendations, supplemental materials, and application fees

Login: www.commonapp.org Single landing page for all users

Login: www.commonapp.org Home of all support resources

Login: www.commonapp.org Live social media feeds

Getting Started Disable all pop up blockers Ensure that your browser has JavaScript activated and cookies enabled All email from technical support will be sent from application_help@commonapp.net. Also, check that appsupport@commonapp.net is added to your email address book, to help ensure spam filters don't block messages to you. Be sure to check all your SPAM before you delete it from now on, just to be safe.

The Application Three Major Sections: Dashboard My Colleges Common Application Sections of the Common Application: Profile Family Education Testing Activities Writing Tabs help students navigate through the application to complete various tasks.

College Search Click on the college name in blue for information on the school and admissions

College Search The college search tool also provides information on Deadlines Application requirements and recommendations Link to College Navigator with much more information

College Search College Navigator Example

Dashboard The Dashboard keeps track of: Deadlines (once you select an admissions plan and term on the College Member Page) The parts of the application that are in process or submitted

My Colleges My Colleges gives you more information regarding the school and admissions requirements. Decision Options: Early Decision is a binding option, where applicants receive a decision regarding their candidacy much earlier than other applications. In exchange, the applicant if admitted will immediately accept that offer of admission and withdraw their applications from other institutions. Early Action is a non binding option, where applicants receive a decision regarding their candidacy much earlier that other applicants, but with no obligation to enroll or withdraw their applications from other colleges.

My Colleges The My Colleges tab is where you: Answer questions asked by specific school Assign recommenders Submit Common App Complete and submit Writing Supplements You will submit each application individually.

My Colleges Check for essay questions on all part of a College s Page. Some schools will ask for essays on their Questions section and some will ask for them on a separate Writing Supplement section. Make sure you answer all questions.

Common App The Profile Tab collects basic information on: Name Address Birthdate Citizenship Demographics Languages Fee Waivers Left navigation menu displays main pages within the Common App.

Common App The Profile Tab collects basic information on: Name Address Birthdate Citizenship Demographics Languages Fee Waivers

Common App: Profile The Profile Tab collects basic information on: Name Address Birthdate Citizenship Demographics Languages Fee Waivers Additional questions appear if you answer prompts in a certain way * Green check marks indicate completed sections Red asterisks indicate required questions

Common App: Profile Each page contains several sections but displays only one at a time.

Common App: Profile Instructions & Help Center displays articles relevant only to the task at hand

Common App: Profile The Demographics section is an example of an entirely optional section.

Common App: Education

Common App: Education If you have taken any college courses, you will also have space to enter this information. Note: If you check off Transcript available, make sure you will be able to (and want to) send the transcript.

Common App: Education Class rank and GPA are not required questions Mission Hills does not rank or provide percentiles. Graduating Class Size: 587

Common App: Education When entering your high school classes, enter your most impressive first. 1. AP classes in your chosen academic field 2. Other advanced courses 3. Honors classes 4. Other academic classes 5. Electives

Common App: Education Make sure to enter all your Honors! Free Tip: Think outside the box: Honors can also be honor roll, recognition in a particular class, an academic athlete award, an artist award, science fair, etc.

Common App: Education It is better to select a potential interest than undecided Select the highest degree you would consider and that matches your academic intentions

Common App: Testing The Testing section collects information on standardized tests including: ACT SAT SAT Subject Tests AP & IB Tests TOEFL State or National Leaving Exams

Common App: Testing AP & IB scores are never required for college admissions. Include only high scores.

Test Optional/Flexible Colleges Once an application is submitted, a student can return to the app and edit it for future submissions to other colleges. Student can return to the testing page and change testing response to No, I do not wish to self-report OR keep the response as Yes but elect to report a different set of tests. Answering No or electing to report a different set of tests will hide but not erase any tests a student may have entered previously. Any tests/scores entered into a previously submitted application can be retrieved by changing the testing response back to Yes.

Common App: Activities Make sure to take advantage of the available space to provide as much information about your activities as possible. Pick 10 most important (Top Down approach) Pay attention to formatting and how you describe your activities.

Common App: Writing Minimum 250 words Maximum 650 words Essay Prompts

Common App: Writing The Required Explanation section only appears if you have answered Yes to any questions requiring further explanation. Tip: Keep it brief & positive

Common App: Writing Use the Additional Information section if you need to, but use it wisely. Potential Uses: Brief explanation of academic circumstances Additional test scores, honors, activities Links to relevant videos, websites, profiles

My Colleges-Recommenders Applicants can invite teachers and counselor to provide recommendations (counselor will complete secondary school report and upload official transcript) Don t forget to click the assign button beside the name of your teacher so the school will receive the online recommendation written by the teacher. Optional non-academic recommender form available for some schools

My Colleges-Recommenders FERPA Release Authorization

Requesting Letters of Rec Pick up a Letter of Recommendation Packet in the counseling office Fill it out, make copies and give it to the person you are asking to write you a letter. Ask Nicely Make sure you ask teachers/counselor if you may add their contact information to your application. Tell them to expect an email from the Common App on your behalf. Remember to THANK THEM! Really think about WHO will give you the best recommendation!

Requesting Letters of Rec Packet can be picked up in the Counseling Office Remember to give Counselor/Teacher at least 2 weeks notice!!

Submitting your Common App One-step process for each college: Submits Common App, Member College Questions, and Payment together Writing Supplement is submitted separately We encourage you to Print your application and have a counselor review it PRIOR to submitting.

Fee Waivers Found in the Profile section of the Common App tab Qualifications

Changing your Application What if you need to make changes to your application? After submitting application to one or more schools, students can return to the application to make changes. Unlimited edits are allowed, except for the Writing section. Only three submitted edits are allowed to the personal statement.

Transcripts Counselors will complete secondary report and upload official transcripts after receiving invite email from Common App (student must enter counselor email into recommender section) If you completed a course at Palomar or another institution, you must request that the institution send an official transcript directly to the schools at the time you apply At the end of the school year, you must arrange to send your FINAL, Official Transcript from MHHS, as well as any other education institutions you have attended (ex: Palomar) Transcript requests are done in the Counseling Office

CSS Profile CSS Profile Many colleges require both the CSS Profile and the FAFSA application to determine your financial aid/scholarship eligibility. The deadlines for the CSS Profile vary from school to school (Please check each school s financial aid website for specific details). Complete the CSS Profile at: https://student.collegeboard.org/css-financial-aid-profile The fee for the initial application and one college or program report is $25.00. Additional reports are $16.00 A limited number of fee waivers are granted

Helpful Information Counselor Contact Info: Cherryl Baker (A-Co): cherryl.baker@smusd.org, (760) 290-2749 Angela Segal (Cr-He): angela.segal@smusd.org, (760) 290-2750 Sara Montooth (Hi-Me): sara.montooth@smusd.org, (760) 290-2749 Kathleen Goldstein (Mi-R): kathleen.goldstein@smusd.org, (760) 290-2754 Adriana Rios (S-Z): adriana.rios@smusd.org, (760) 290-2756 CEEB Code: 053868 Counselor Fax #:760-290-2685 Graduation Date: June 17, 2015 Remember: 4.0 GPA Scale, 587 students in Sr. Class Overall weighted GPA listed on transcript, NOT CSU/UC GPA!!

Things to Remember As with ALL college applications and scholarships, Deadlines are VERY IMPORTANT and vary. Make sure you keep track of when things are due. Be organized! We are here for you. Please come see your Counselor, or stop by the College and Career Center if you have ANY questions.