Senior College Checklist

 

n      Narrow down colleges to a manageable number - about five to seven

 

n      Visit each of the colleges to which you will apply

 

n      Decide on whether or not you will apply electronically and whether or not you will use the Common Application. Check out the Common Application web site (www.commonapp.org) to see if the 2011-2012 application is ready. Create an online account and save time by completing as much of the application as possible over the summer between junior and senior year. Review the essay topics and begin to draft your essays over the summer.

 

n      Make a chart naming all the colleges to which you will apply and list all application requirements and requests, deadlines, etc. on this chart for handy reference. Make note of whether you are able to submit your application electronically or if you must use paper applications.   Also note whether or not you intend to use an institutional application or the Common Application. This is important information to share with your counselor. Your counselor will request to see your chart during your senior appointment.

 

n      Please be aware of all deadlines both at the colleges and at the guidance office. If you are applying to a school with a January 1^st or January 15^th deadline you must complete essential information in Naviance, personally connect with your counselor, submit the $5.00 one time fee (if not already submitted) as well as all required guidance forms no later than Friday December 2^nd to guarantee mailing before winter break in December.  

 

n      If standardized testing is required at the colleges to which you are applying, send your scores well in advance of the colleges’ stated deadline.

 

n       It is your responsibility to make certain that all requested materials arrive at each college before the colleges’ stated deadlines.

 

n      Make an initial appointment with your counselor to review your post-secondary plans and address questions/concerns before Friday, November 4th.

 

n      YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE TO SEND YOUR STANDARDIZED TESTING SCORES TO THE COLLEGES DIRECTLY FROM EITHER THE COLLEGE BOARD OR ACT. DOVER-SHERBORN DOES NOT SUBMIT YOUR STANDARDIZED TESTING. (Reminder: Standardized testing results are not documented on your high school transcript.) Use the spaces provided for this on your SAT/ACT application or use the “extra score report” option available at www.collegeboard.com

 

n       Stop by the Guidance Office if you have any questions about the required tests or the reporting of your standardized testing scores to colleges

 

n      Sign a Transcript Release form and give to your counselor if you have not already submitted this form. We are unable to submit documents to colleges without it.

 

n      Do some research on writing college application essays. ASK SOMEONE TO PROOF READ YOUR ESSAY FOR ERRORS!!!!! Follow directions and stay aheadof all deadlines!!!

 

n      Remember, teacher recommendations are YOUR responsibility to coordinate. Please provide clear directions to your teachers about college admissions deadlines.

 

 

When you have a completed application be sure that you check the followingBEFORE submitting it to the college/university:

 

1.     Make a copy of your entire application and keep it in a safe place- just in case…

 

2.     Make sure your parents’ have signed the application form if it requires a parent signature.

 

4.     Make sure that you have included payment and if by check, make sure that YOUR NAME AND YOUR IDENTIFICATION NUMBER appear on the face of thecheck.

 

5.     If using the common application to apply to colleges, MAKE SURE that you check

with each college for supplemental forms that must be completed in addition to the

common application.

 

6. Complete all necessary information in your Naviance account (read, Naviance for Seniors, in the Document Library)

 

 

WHAT TO BRING TO GUIDANCE: When you are ready to file an application, there are several items that colleges request from your Guidance Office.    In order for the Guidance Office to submit these items, you must notifiy your counselor in accordance with the established guidance office deadlines, complete the necessary information on your Naviance account, and submit a $5.00 processing fee** (one time only) for materials, postage, etc.

 

Dover-Sherborn High School submits the following materials with every application request: 

 

A Dover-Sherborn Secondary School Report* form

A copy of your high school transcript (with first quarter grades or first semester grades)

A copy of your descriptive letter-counselor recommendation

A copy of Dover-Sherborn’s School Profile

 

 

When application materials are mailed from the Guidance Office via “hard mail” (the United States Postal Service) from the Guidance Office, a return postcard-verifying receipt of the materials is enclosed. This allows the college to mail it back to the Dover-Sherborn Guidance Office. The guidance secretaries maintain a card file of these returned postcards to help verify receipt of materials submitted via U.S. mail. 

 

We suggest that you also consider enclosing a self-addressed post card with your personal application when documents are submitted through the U.S. mail. This will serve as notification to you that the college has received your documents and other materials such as teacher (or other) recommendations.

 

PLEASE NOTE: It is critical to complete “the end of year senior graduation survey” in Naviance prior to graduation. Completing this form provides essential information for the guidance office to submit your final records to the college of your choice. 

 

 

·        Return the updated-corrected copy of transcript with the appropriate identification number (Social Security or other)  and necessary forms to your counselor in early September

·        Complete an activities resume to submit with each application

·        Meet all testing requirements for each college

·        Submit testing scores directly through College Board or ACT

·        Make an initial senior year appointment with your counselor before 11/04/11

·        Notify your counselor of all deadlines and whether you are submitting electronic applications or paper applications

·        Complete essential information in your Naviance account, and submit the one time guidance processing fee of $5.00

·        Submitting all necessary personal application materials to each college

·        Follow-up with your teacher about the status of his or her recommendation

·        Verifying with each college that the college has received all essential pieces of your application BEFORE the college’s stated deadline date!

·        Completing the Naviance Senior Survey in the spring of senior year

 

 

·        Reviewing post-secondary plans with every senior during fall of senior year

·        Preparing a descriptive student letter as appropriate

·        Submitting all guidance information to each college as directed by student