COMMON APPLICATION WORKSHOP www.commonapp.org
HOW TO APPLY www.commonapp.org Remember username/password The navigation menu appears on the top of the screen. Students can move through the application by clicking through each of the sections. You can add colleges on the College Search tab Once you have added colleges, you will see them displayed on the Dashboard and be able to review requirements specific to each of them on the My Colleges tab.
PART ONE: DASHBOARD The Common App dashboard is the central location to monitor your applications, including deadlines, requirements, and progress. Dashboard icons give a visual indication of the status of your progress. Green checkmarks signify that work has been submitted to that college, while yellow circles indicate work that is ready for submission or is still being worked upon. The Application Dashboard will display all of your colleges and the status of your work for each major admissions component: Common Application, application fee, college Writing Supplement, and Recommendations. From here, you can get a quick overview of your progress, and jump directly to the work you want to complete. Students should refer to the Dashboard page to confirm that all required items have been submitted properly and by the deadline. DEADLINES VARY GREATLY for admissions and scholarship consideration
DASHBOARD Yellow dots indicate that items have not been submitted. Status indicators show application progress
DASHBOARD- WRITING REQUIREMENTS TAB Click on the Writing Requirements tab to understand what different colleges expect of you when it comes to long, essay style responses. Use this tab as a planning tool so you can stay on track with your applications.
DECISION OPTIONS Early Decision is a binding option, where applicants receive a decision regarding their candidacy much earlier than other applicants. 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 than other applicants, but with no obligation to enroll or withdraw their applications from other colleges. Rolling Admissions An admission policy of considering each application as soon as all required information (such as high school records and test scores) has been received, rather than setting an application deadline and reviewing applications in a batch. Colleges that use a rolling admission policy usually notify applicants of admission decisions quickly.
PART TWO: MY COLLEGES The 'My Colleges' screen is where you will complete work for each college to which you intend to apply. You must first add a college to your My Colleges list before you will be able to use this screen (use the College Search screen to add colleges to your list). Assign Recommenders through this tab (teachers/counselors) Shows college deadlines and application fees Click on the name of the college to see collegespecific questions and writing supplements (pay attention to word limit)
MY COLLEGES The My Colleges tab details both Application Fee and Recommender Assignment requirements. ***Check to see how many letters of rec are needed and from whom.
PART THREE: COMMON APP
COMMON APPLICATION Be sure to enter in the high schools that you have attended and Palomar if you took a class there. Use overall GPA listed on transcript for cumulative GPA. *This is different than the CSU s/uc s!* GPA is either weighted with AP classes, or unweighted without AP classes Graduating class size is 640. GPA scale is 4. Class Rank- choose None (District does not rank). When entering in test info indicate # of tests. Report highest scores as requested. If you are taking a test in the future (Oct/Nov) put that date on your application. Must send ACT/SAT scores to every school directly from College Board and ACT. Report AP and SAT Subject exam scores. Honors and extracurricular activities/work exp. Short answer/personal essay (choose one prompt)
ACTIVITIES, AWARDS, EXTRACURRICULAR For activities and awards be sure to include EVERYTHING- list up to 10 activities in order of importance to you Clubs (list leadership positions) Sports Church activities Community service Awards and honors (from coaches or if a team makes CIF) Use words like: mentor, taught, led, organized, responsible for, etc. You want to represent LEADERSHIP, IMPROVEMENT, DEDICATION within the activities section and your essay. Work: list responsibilities for your job and what you do with your earnings Ed. Prep Programs: summer programs like Upward Bound, COSMOS, and other ones like AVID.
SENIOR YEAR COURSES Senior Schedule: Enter in 1 st semester and 2 nd semester courses as listed on transcript. You will also list ALL senior year classes (including non-a-g courses). 12 th grade (non-ap) English title: CSU Expository Reading and Writing 12 th grade history (non-ap) title: Government (AS 2 HSS) Course scheduling system= Semester Select Full Year after course title. If you are planning on dropping/adding a class, indicate either first semester or second semester If you listed a course on your application and then drop it, you MUST notify the admissions office at each university to which you applied. All acceptances are conditional; MUST earn C or better
ASSIGNING RECOMMENDERS- (UNDER MY COLLEGES TAB) The Assign Recommenders tab is located in the My Colleges area of your account, and becomes active once you have provided the necessary information on the Education screen of the Common App. Applicants can invite teachers and counselor to provide recommendations (counselor will complete secondary school report and upload official transcript). Most institutions require multiple teacher recommendations. To determine how many are required for your selected institutions, review their requirements on the My Colleges page. After a teacher or counselor is added to a student's list of recommenders, an email is sent to that school official with instructions about using the online system. Don t forget to click the assign button beside the name of your teacher so the schools will receive the online recommendation written by the teacher.
ASSIGNING RECOMMENDERS CONT D *Use Help Center for questions (on right)*
REQUESTING LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION ASKING nicely for Letters of Recommendation- packet available in the Counseling office. Must give at least 2 weeks notice- 10 School Days! No packet = no letter of rec!!! Make sure you ask teachers/counselor if you may put contact info in and to expect an email from Common App.
REQUESTING LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
SUBMISSION PROCESS
SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION Students should refer to the Dashboard to confirm that all required items have been submitted properly and by the deadline. It is your responsibility to preview your application prior to submitting it to ensure all your information is entered correctly.
SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION You have two ways to submit the application: From the dashboard, click on the name of the school and click submit. Or, from the My Colleges tab, click on the school name and select "Submission - Common App". Either way, The first step is a print preview. If you are satisfied with the preview, please click continue on the bottom and you will be routed to the schools payment page. Once the payment has been completed you need to sign, date, and submit. Once the application has been submitted, you will be able to submit the writing supplement (check submission status through Dashboard) If you are not satisfied with your PDF preview, click on the X in the top right corner to close the preview and abandon the submission. The application will not be submitted until you sign, date, and click submit in step 3.
FEE WAIVERS You can request a fee waiver on the Profile screen in the Common Application Fee Waiver section (under Common App tab). You must meet at least one of the following indicators of economic need: You have received or are eligible to receive an ACT or SAT testing fee waiver. You are enrolled in or eligible to participate in the Federal Free or Reduced Price Lunch program (FRPL). Your annual family income falls within the Income Eligibility Guidelines set by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. You are enrolled in a federal, state, or local program that aids students from low-income families (e.g., TRIO programs such as Upward Bound). Your family receives public assistance. You live in a federally subsidized public housing, a foster home or are homeless. You are a ward of the state or an orphan. You can provide a supporting statement from a school official, college access counselor, financial aid officer, or community leader.
TRANSCRIPTS Counselor will complete secondary school report and upload official transcript after receiving invite email from Common App (student must 1st enter in counselor email). 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 SMHS, as well as any other educational institution you have attended (Palomar). All transcript requests go through the Registrar in the counseling office (Ms. Brahy).
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 online at http://student.collegeboard.org/css-financial-aidprofile The fee for the initial application and one college or program report is $25.00. Additional reports are $16.00. Fee waivers- if you qualify, fee waivers are granted automatically (based on info entered on the Profile app)
COUNSELOR CONTACT INFO Ms. Lori Nguyen lori.nguyen@smusd.org 760-290-2219 Ms. Erika Yi erika.yi@smusd.org 760-290-2263 Ms. Kristi Harlig kristi.harlig@smusd.org 760-290-2314 Ms. Janet Paul- janet.paul@smusd.org 760-290-2220 Ms. Lisa Stout- lisa.stout@smusd.org 760-290-2259 Ms. Lisa Berry lisa.berry@smusd.org 760-290-2227 Mr. Ruben Escobar ruben.escobar@smusd.org 760-290-2252 Title: School Counselor CEEB code: 050883 Counselor fax # 760-290-2278 Graduation Date: June 22, 2016 REMEMBER: 4.0 GPA Scale, 640 sr. students Overall weighted GPA listed on transcript, NOT CSU/UC GPA!!