BMR COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR NAVIANCE Included below are the procedures for sending applications and records to colleges from BMR High School. In order to insure that each student s applications are processed effectively and efficiently, students should follow these guidelines. Please see your guidance counselor if you have any question about this process. Naviance is an online program consisting of several tools used for researching colleges and exploring careers. These applications will be used to promote college and workplace readiness. Naviance provides students with the framework to direct their own education, establish long and short-term goals, and plan for post-secondary success. Naviance: Colleges I m Applying To List How do you organize the schools you are applying to? Adding colleges to the Colleges I m Applying To list in Family Connection/Naviance is how all students will let school staff members (guidance and teachers) know which colleges they are sending applications to this year. Staff will only have access to this information if they are writing your letter or recommendation. This step MUST be completed. To add an active application, the student should complete the following steps: 1. Click the Colleges tab. 2. Click Colleges I m Applying To 3. Click Add to This List. 4. Click Lookup. 5. Find a college her or she is applying to and click the link with the college name. 6. The college is added to the College column. The student should continue adding colleges until they are all complete. 7. Indicate the type of application, if a transcript is needed, and whether the application has been submitted. 8. Click Add Colleges. As a reminder: When applying to colleges you will see three types of application forms submission required by the college under Colleges I m Applying To. An icon will show up next to the school indicating what type of submission they will accept (electronic or paper). Means it is a Common App School, and you are choosing to apply to that school using the Common Application electronic submission. Means it is a school that accepts electronic submission. Typically this means you need to create an account with the college and submit your application through the college. All required forms from the school will be submitted electronically. Means it is a school that only accepts application by paper via US Postal Service. Bring all required secondary school report forms to Guidance Office to be mailed.
How do you request letters of recommendation from Faculty? What do you need to give them for forms? Teacher Recommendations Teachers can provide valuable information and insight on students that will assist colleges in getting to know you. Carefully consider teachers who you feel know you well as a student. On average, most students will request two (2) teacher recommendations. Too many recommendations actually make the college admission officer s job more difficult. Two strong teacher recommendations and one from your Guidance Counselor are sufficient and valued by the admissions officer. Recommendations are most helpful when teachers can describe you as a student in their class, your academic talents, and contributions in the class. Make sure to check each college admissions requirements. Some schools require a recommendation letter from certain subject areas. (i.e. English teacher) Teachers will be sending recommendations electronically through Family Connection/(Naviance). Requests should be made no less than one month prior to the first application deadline. It is courteous to write a personal letter to the teacher requesting a letter of recommendation as well as sending a thank you note when completed. Confirm which teacher will write recommendations. Steps for Teacher Recommendations: A. Request teacher recommendation through Family Connection/(Naviance): 1. From the Colleges I m Applying To list, go to the Teacher Recommendations section. 2. Click the Add/Cancel Requests link. 3. Choose a teacher from the drop-down menu 4. Enter a personal note, optional. 5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for up to four teachers. 6. Click the Update Request button to complete the request. B. Provide each teacher with a pocket folder that includes: 1. A list of the schools you are applying to and the application deadline. 2. A copy of your Activity Resume and any other helpful information. 3. Any Teacher Report Form from the college with the generic information filled out for the teacher (your identifying information and any waiver statement.) Please do not give forms to teachers without your information completed. You DO NOT need to provide Common Application Teacher Forms; these will be completed online. C. In the event that a teacher recommendation needs to be mailed (required by the college, scholarship, etc.), please provide the teacher with the following: 1. A stamped envelope addressed to the college admissions office for each college recommendation to be sent. For the return address, print the teacher s name, lightly write your name in pencil on the envelope.
Teacher Name Blackstone-Millville Regional High School 175 Lincoln Street Blackstone, MA 01504 College/University Name Office of Admissions 123 Main Street City, State 12345 NOTE: It is the student s responsibility to make the request and to provide the necessary information to the teacher so that the teacher can mail out the recommendation directly to the schools UNLESS otherwise directed by the college. Check the college s application directions. How do you submit all the parts of your College Application? Application, Transcript, Test Scores Procedures for Submitting College Applications Applications may be submitted in a number of formats: paper copy of the college s own application, Common Application (used for more than one participating school), and electronic filing. Requesting Transcripts: Students request transcripts through Family Connection (Naviance) each time an application is submitted, regardless of the form of application. Applications and/or transcript request must be completed TWO WEEKS before specific college deadlines. The Guidance Department will not guarantee meeting application deadlines that are submitted late. There are different ways a student can request initial transcripts: 1. By selecting Request in the Transcript column while adding a college to the Colleges I m Applying To list 2. By clicking the Request Transcripts link after adding the college to the Colleges I m Applying To list 3. By clicking the Transcripts link on the Colleges tab, in the Resources section. Note: If you need a transcript for the NCAA, you must submit the request through the NCAA website.
Specifics for Application Options Applications Filed Electronically (not Common App School) Remember to proof these applications carefully prior to hitting submit. Also print a hard copy prior to submitting for your records. Be sure each school has been added to the Family Connection (Naviance) under Colleges I m Applying To College application fee is usually processed online using a credit card. Student should be aware that colleges confirm electronic files very quickly. The college will usually issue a note at that time regarding needed transcripts/forms. PLEASE DO NOT PANIC! If you have completed the release, we will process your transcript. Remember that regular mail will take longer to be received and acknowledged by the admission office. Verify individual college requirements for Teacher Evaluation or Secondary School Report Forms. If required, complete student information and download a copy to be given to the teachers and /or counselors. Applications Filed Using Common Application: Common Application provides the opportunity to use the same form for a number of schools. A list of participating schools and the application form is available at www.commonapp.org. If a student applies to a Common App college, the Common App waiver on Family Connection must be completed before you can submit any documents. If there are Teacher Evaluation Forms, these should be submitted electronically. Students who are applying to Common App colleges should complete the following steps: 1. Register on commonapp.org 2. Indicate yes or no on the FERPA agreement. 3. Complete the Common App waiver on Family Connection using the Common App login information (username and password). You must know your Common App username and Password to link the two programs together. Note: Students need to register for Common App after August 1st because the system is reset and no user accounts are retained from the prior year. Submission Through Naviance After payment has been received by the Guidance Office, documents will be sent electronically through Naviance. This includes all Common Application schools as well as an extensive list of non-common Application schools. Counselors will complete the School Report Form as well as write the student letter of recommendation. The Guidance Secretary will upload the student transcript and the School Profile. Teachers will also send their letters of recommendation through Naviance. Once documents have been sent, they will be marked as sent under the colleges I m applying to section.
How to Tell Whether a College Can Receive Documents Electronically When you look at your list of colleges you are applying to in Naviance, there is a column titled Submissions. If the icon that appear in the submission column looks like either of the following the Guidance Office will be able to submit transcripts and recommendation letters electronically provided the student is applying online using the Common Application (if the school is a common Application member) or the college is a non-common Application member but is set up to receive documents electronically through Naviance. If the icon looks like a postage stamp, the college is not able to receive documents electronically through Naviance. Students must provide their teachers stamped and addressed envelopes to those schools in order for them to mail your letters of recommendation. (You do not need to supply stamped /addressed envelopes to the Guidance Office.) Please note: If a college is a Common Application member but you are not applying to them using the Common Application, the Guidance Office will also not be able to submit documents electronically. Hard Copy Applications Bring entire completed application to the Guidance Office. This includes the student application, essay, application fee (in the form of a check payable to the college to which you are applying), and the transcript fee. If there is a School Report Form or Counselor Form required by the college, that form must also be attached with all completed student personal information, waiver information and student signatures. Be sure each school has been added to the Family Connection (Naviance) If a school requires teacher recommendations, these are included in one packet rather than sent by the teacher, unless noted otherwise. Please inform us who will be bringing a recommendation and remind the teacher. On all forms, complete the student personal information, waiver information, and sign where required. Please print and bring a copy to the Guidance Secretary.
Test Scores Students are responsible for requesting that their official test scores be sent from College Board (SAT or Subject Tests) or American College Testing (ACT). Colleges require scores come from these agencies to be considered official. This should be done as soon as schools are decided upon. Students testing this fall should do at least four (4) of the schools they may be applying to as these four score reports are included with their test registration. Scores can be requested online at www.collegeboard.org or at www.act.org. Application Deadlines Carefully identify application and financial aid deadlines for all colleges. Review the college s information regarding application options and admission plans. Please refer to the information sheet provided by the Guidance Office on Admission plans (Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision, Rolling Admission, etc.) if you have questions, please see your counselor. Early Decision / Early Action Applications: Students who wish to apply under either of these plans should make an appointment with their counselor in September. Early Decision applications that are due on November 1st must be completed no later than October 5th. Regular Decision / Rolling Admission Applications: are generally submitted after first term grade close. Any student who has a January 1st deadline must submit necessary requests and material to Guidance by December 1 st to allow processing prior to the holiday break. Hints and Tips for the Application Process. Know your numbers: You will be asked these number many times during senior year. BMR CEEB Number (School Code): 220160 Guidance Department Phone Number: 508-876-0106 BMR Fax Number: 508-876-1035 BMR Address: 175 Lincoln Street, Blackstone, MA 01504 Your Social Security Number: i.e. 123-45-6789 Set up a file system. Some students have found that setting up a folder for each college they are applying to helps keep things organized. Utilize a college application chart to track requirements, tasks, and deadline. Identify all application and financial aid deadlines. Decide which application forms will be used (Common Application, the college s own application, hard copy vs. electronic filing). Make copies of a blank application to use as a draft in order to avoid mistakes on the original copy. Complete the college application carefully and neatly, and follow specific instructions provided by each college. Remember that you are making a lasting impression!
Read all directions carefully! Don t be caught completing with a blue pen when it clearly stated, use black ink or type. Utilize the college s website, catalog, and admission materials for guidelines and answers. Proofread your application for errors. Make sure all question are answered and required sections are completed. Make copies of your completed forms. If you apply electronically, print a copy for your records, be sure to request your transcript, and clarify that you applied electronically. Essays, resumes, and separate pieces of your application should clearly be identified with your name. Some schools will also ask that you include your social security number and/or birth date on these pieces. Checks included with your application should clearly list your name and social security number in the memo. This is especially important if you use a difference last name than the check writer. If you have questions, see your counselor. When you are ready for us to process your application for mailing, make sure that you have all the materials needed before you bring it to the Guidance Office. With the exception of applications filed online, this includes the check for the application fee made out to the college as instructed on the application. We will not accept your application or transcript request in pieces.