You have decided that a four-year college is where you would like to end up following high school. There are many components to the application process that you must keep in mind. We will be going over everything in Junior and Senior Guidance Seminar, but here is a general calendar to keep in mind, as you kick off the process:
Junior and Senior College Calendar
AT A GLANCE
**CEEB Code for NHS – 221475**
IMPORTANT GENERAL INFORMATION
ALL Applications should be completed through the “Common App” or via the college website.
ALL ACT/SAT scores are sent to the college by YOU:
SAT: www.collegeboard.org
ACT: www.act.org
Refer to these websites for the most up to date testing information, including dates and registration deadlines.
ALL Transcript Request Forms must be submitted to your counselor in person one month prior to the deadline.
Students are responsible for confirming that Teacher Recommendations have been uploaded to Naviance by teachers before their earliest deadline.
Remember, you can find all the information presented in Guidance Seminars in Google Classroom
Your counselor is available for you and your family as you go through the process; remember to sign up or email your counselor with all your questions!
If you have financial needs please speak to your counselor because fee waivers may be used to cover the cost of SAT/ACT testing and college applications. You must qualify, but speaking to your counselor is the first step.
JUNIOR YEAR
January - August
TO DO:
Consider what schools you are planning to apply to
Consider the Mass Transfer Program for transferring community college degrees to 4-year state schools
Use your Naviance College Search Tools, College Board Big Future Search Tools to develop your list of schools
For Historically Black Colleges and Universities, visit: HBCUConnect.com
For schools known for being welcoming toward LGBTQ+ Students, visit: Campuspride.org
Visit campuses during the spring of your junior year, over the summer, and into the fall of your senior year (Campus Visit Forms may be found on the NHS Guidance Website or in the Guidance Office). You must fill out and return the form to the main office, in order to have an absence marked as excused.
Consider registering for SAT or ACT or explore test optional schools
SAT - Collegeboard.org
ACT - ACT.org
Prior to your junior year ending, speak to a teacher in-person and request a letter of recommendation. They will likely ask you to provide a resume, have a discussion, or complete the questionnaire on Naviance.
After August 1, you may open up a Common Application Account. Please follow the directions below:
Make sure you are on NPS Network or on your home network (not NPS Open)
Choose Apply Now and then select Create New Account
Select “I am a First Year Student” and click continue
Enter Personal email address
Choose a password that you will remember and will meet CA requirements
Registration information
Enter First/Last Name
Enter your phone number (or home phone number)
Mailing address
Enter date of birth
Select if you are from a European Union country (yes/no)
Choose the year you plan to start college
Review sharing/communication permissions for CA (check/uncheck boxes)
Review and check box for terms of use and privacy policy
Click Create Account
*****After you have created your Common Application Account, please click on the link below for the Common App Boot Camp, and it will walk you through the Common App section by section, and teach you how to fill it out:
SENIOR YEAR
SEPTEMBER
TO DO:
Consider registering for SAT or ACT if you have not already done so or explore test optional schools
Early Decision/Early Action applicants – see your counselor
Sign up for colleges that are visiting NHS via Naviance
Visit colleges, interview when possible
Remember that YOU are responsible for keeping track of DEADLINES
Keep in mind that you may be required to fill out a SRAR or Courses and Grades Section (on the Common App) depending on the four-year schools you choose. Not every school requires it, but if they do it will take additional time to complete. Also, if you are applying to a school with a plan of being recruited for athletics, you should be taking the necessary steps to build your NCAA Profile as well. Here are some resources for all of these items:
COURSES AND GRADES SECTION ON COMMON APP
*List of colleges that require self-reporting of classes and grades for the Common App
You will not be able to complete this section unless a school on your “My Colleges” list requires it.
Note: Students must enter course name exactly as it appears on the transcript
ex: Intro to Business & Mgmt 21 → not spelled out fully
SRAR
SRAR Website: Click here to enter the SRAR Website
Some colleges require, or recommend, using the SRAR where you must input your transcript’s courses and grades by hand.
You still must request to submit an official transcript.
Below is the message you will receive from Common App from the schools that require SRAR:
"Application Completion Information: Once you submit your application, you will receive an email within 24-48 hours with instructions on how to submit the self-reported academic record."
A video to explain how to fill out the SRAR: SRAR Youtube Video
****There are many tutorial videos on Youtube, and on the SRAR website itself.
NCAA Eligibility Center
Lastly, if you applying to schools with the hope of playing for a Division I or Division II team, please keep in mind that you will likely be expected to have your academic record certified for your prospective coaches through the NCAA Eligibility Center. Here is the website for that: NCAA Eligibility Center Website
OCTOBER
TO DO:
After October 1, you may complete your FAFSA and send your financial aid application to the schools you are considering
We have a Financial Aid Presentation each year in October that you are welcome to attend
Additionally, Mefa.org is a great resource for your financial aid questions
Community Service – complete hours and turn in paperwork. It will be on your Term 1 report card!
Sign up for colleges that are visiting NHS via Naviance
Revise college essay and check for any supplements
Work on your Common App
Submit transcript request forms for November deadlines
Send standardized test scores (if you are not applying test optional)
Register for AP exams if you plan to take them
See Mr. Strother with any questions
NOVEMBER
TO DO:
Early Decision/Early Action applicants – be aware of deadlines
Meet with your counselor
Work on applications
Submit transcript request forms for December deadlines
Regular decision applicants:
Revise college essay and check for any supplements
Work on Common Application
DECEMBER
TO DO:
Jan. 1st deadlines occur over winter break. Submit “Transcript Request” form no later than the first week of December
Meet with your counselor
Work on applications
Send standardized test scores (if you are not applying test optional) to regular decision schools
Submit transcript request forms for January deadlines
JANUARY
TO DO:
Note application deadlines
Local Scholarship Applications will become available at the end of January
FEBRUARY
TO DO:
Work on local scholarship applications
MARCH
TO DO:
Update your counselor about college decisions
APRIL
TO DO:
Notify your counselor of ALL decisions. Bring any questions our way. We need ALL decisions, so that the Naviance Scattergrams may be updated for the next graduating class to use.
Wait to hear from all schools before making a decision
Attend accepted student days or visit schools before committing
MAY & JUNE
5/1 – Typical National Decision Day - select your school by this date and file the appropriate deposits for school AND housing to save your spot
AP exams – check test date on NHS school calendar per subject
See Mr. Strother with all questions pertaining to AP Exams
Please inform your guidance counselor OR Ms. White of your FINAL college choice so final transcripts can be sent out after graduation. If you change your mind on a particular college, please inform us of that change.
If applicable, after you have decided on a school, you can request a meeting with its Department of Disability Support Services to discuss accommodations - bring a copy of your most recent IEP or 504 plan.
GRADUATION!!!
Get ready for next steps - Freshman Orientation, Course Selection, and Move-In Day!!!!