Extended Deadlines

Common App has been crazy this year, and this past weekend has been no different. Check out this blog post by examiner.com on schools that extended their January 1 deadlines because of issues with the Common App.

http://www.examiner.com/article/colleges-contend-with-common-app-problems-by-extending-january-deadlines

-ms. miller-pecora

College Recommendation Letters

Many of you have been sending in lots of college applications and I'm so proud and excited for you! You're researching schools and majors, going on campus tours, and asking a TON of questions (I love it, honest!).

I just want to remind you all, that even though you have pressed the big SUBMIT button, your application is NOT finished! Almost every school you apply to will be looking for some further documentation. Here is some info and tips on everything you'll need to send in.

Transcripts

• CUNY: As long as you put your OSIS # in the application, they automatically receive your transcript. The perks of applying to a public school from a public school!
• SUNY: Once you fully submit your application (with payment), your name and application info will pop up on the SUNY CounselorConnect, which is checked every day. We upload your transcript immediately.
• A sidenote: Even though we do upload your transcript, you DO have to fill out the Student Online Academic Report (SOAR). I know it's a lot of information, but it is a required part of your application. 
• Common App: CommonApp has a Counselor Portal very similar to the SUNY one, which means once you submit your application, your name pops up on the list and your transcript is uploaded. The difference, however, is that your transcript is not submitted until your entire Counselor School Report is submitted. More info on that in the Recommendation area. 
• Other schools: There is no definitive process for the rest of the schools (non-CUNY, non-SUNY, non-CommonApp); each school will have a different method. Many schools use SendEDU.org (ex: NJIT, Wentworth, St. John's, just to name a few); these schools will tell you to bring a Document Request Form to your Counselor. It will also ask you to put in my name and email information - this does not mean it will automatically be sent to me! You still need to bring in the document request form in order for me to upload all of your information to the school and complete your application. There are a few schools left who do not have any electronic upload option; these schools will give you an address to  mail to and an application ID number to attach to the information. Please bring in that information.

Recommendations:
Some quick info about your letters of recommendation before giving school specific info. Choose the people you request letters from wisely. I strongly suggest you get one from your shop teacher, as they have been with you 2 periods a day for the last 3 years. They know you and your work better than most other teachers. After that, think of teachers whose classes you've done exceptionally well in. Outside of school, think of mentors, internship or volunteer supervisors with whom you've done a lot of work that you are proud of. Do not exceed THREE recommendation letters, unless a school specifically asks for it.

• CUNY: The CUNY General Freshman Admission application does not *require* letters of recommendation, however they would be a great supplement to your application, as many students do NOT submit them. If you are getting recommendations for other schools, you might as well send them in with your CUNY application! The Macaulay Honors application does require two recommendation letters. You are able to electronically send a request - but please follow up with the people you have sent requests to.
• SUNY: Similar to the CUNY app, most SUNY schools do not *require* letters of recommendation, but they add to the big picture of who you are as a student and as a person. The SUNY CounselorConnect is able to accept TWO recommendation letters, so make sure they are from the people who can most accurately speak about your strengths and accomplishments.
• CommonApp: CommonApp gives you the option to electronically request recommendations from teachers/supervisors/etc. Please follow up in person with these people. Hard to believe but some people do not check their email as often as you! The best way to get your recommendation done as soon as possible is to personally ask your recommenders. 
• Your CommonApp submission is dependent on your actual application, your transcript, your rec letters, your essay and the school report. The school report is filled out by me, your Guidance Counselor. This report can NOT be submitted without a Guidance Counselor recommendation. Stop in and see me if you have filled out a CommonApp.
• Other schools: Every school outside of these three forms will be different. Some will specifically say no recommendations, some will say recommendations are not required (similarly to CUNY - send them in!), some will ask for one, two, or three. Do NOT send more than what the school is asking for. Think of the amount of paperwork they are reading as it is! They do not want to read extra. On that note, they may not even read extra ones you send in. Request hard copies of recommendation letters from your recommenders.

   The Essay:

• You have all heard how important the essay is to your college application. It gives you a chance to speak about *you* and give a better picture of who you are as more than just the numbers on your transcript. Mrs. Marsigliano is amazing at helping with college essays. Also, don't hesitate to speak to your English teachers for help with your essay!
• CUNY: Just like the recommendations - not required, but would help your application out.
• SUNY: Required on almost all school's supplemental applications. 
• CommonApp: Required step in the application
• Other schools: Some schools will ask for an essay, other schools will not. Similar to the recommendation letters - if it is not *required*, send it in. If they say no essay, don't send it in. Most schools will require an essay as part of the application. 

Secondary School Report: 
A Secondary School Report (SSR) is filled out by your Guidance Counselor (me!). It is a simple form which asks for your rank and GPA and course load information. Almost all schools ask for one to be filled out. The SSR also asks for a Guidance Counselor recommendation. You must come see me after filling out any applications because we need to speak and I need to know as much about you as possible to write an accurate (and glowing!) recommendation letter. It is incredibly important that you come see me as soon as possible as your application will not be complete until the SSR is submitted.

• CUNY: Does not require or request a SSR.
• SUNY: The SSR is automatically requested in the SUNY CounselorConnect portal and is immediately submitted when your transcript is submitted.
• CommonApp: As stated earlier, the CommonApp School Report requires a Counselor Recommendation in order to be completely submitted. Please come see me if you have filled out a CommonApp and I haven't contacted you yet.
• Other schools: As with everything else mentioned above, every school outside of these forms will be different. Almost all will request an SSR. Make sure you completely read through your application confirmation page. They may give you links to forms for you to print out and bring to your Counselor. Read all of your application requirements FULLY!!

Supplementals
Supplemental material will be asked of you from some schools. All SUNY apps are finished when the supplemental applications are complete. For most SUNY schools, the supplemental is your essay and senior courseload. For schools that focus on art, architectural or graphic design, you may be asked to complete and submit a portfolio.  Pay close attention to what is asked of you after you press the SUBMIT button!!

As always, come chat with me if you have any questions!

-Ms. Miller 

College application forms

THE COMMON APPLICATION

Almost 500 colleges and universities participate in the Common Application. Participating schools do NOT make any distinction between their own application and the Common Application. When you use the Common App, you completely only ONE application form for as many schools as you are applying to. Using the Common App streamlines the process.

•          Not every school accepts the Common App. Please see the full list of participating schools at www.commonapp.org
•    Different application fees still apply to each different school. Research the schools you are applying to and be sure you are paying the correct fee OR that you are using the correct fee waiver.
• Most colleges on the Common App require a SUPPLEMENT to the application. You’ll be notified upon submission if specific schools require supplemental information and what that information is. This is a *necessary* part of your application!! Meaning: if you don’t complete and submit the supplement, your application is not reviewed.
• Request that your teachers complete the Teacher Evaluation Form and recommendation letter *online.* This makes the process of sending and tracking your application documents much easier.
•  Complete the art and/or athletic supplements only if you would like or art evaluated or if you plan to play on a team.

·         ***Enter your application choices on Naviance!!!***

·         The Common App Support Center is very helpful, quick and reliable. Don’t hesitate to ask questions!

SCHOOL SPECIFIC FORMS

If a college you are applying does not participate in the Common App, you must apply using the school’s specific application online.

·         Some school-specific applications allow everything to be uploaded online (transcript, teacher evaluation forms, recommendation letters, school report, etc.). If your application materials CANNOT be uploaded online, you must bring hard copies to your Counselor to be filled out and sent in the mail to your school.

SUNY APPLICATIONS

If you are applying to a SUNY (State University of New York) school, you may use the SUNY application or the Common App, if it is a participating school.

• Go to www.suny.edu/student to complete the application forms. Start with the application worksheet (sample on page 11) to help you get all your information together.
• There is a $50 fee for EACH SUNY College you apply to.
•  Use the SUNY Online Academic Record (SOAR) to submit your high school courses and grades, as well as your SAT and ACT test scores to participating campuses. To begin your SOAR, click “Start my SUNY Online Academic Record” under the “SUNY Online Academic Record” section of the SUNY portal.
• Print out the School Counselor Form and bring it to your Guidance Counselor to be completed and sent out. 
• You can check the status of your application at www.suny.edu/appstatus.

CUNY APPLICATIONS

Applying to CUNY (City University of New York) is completely online. There are no paper applications available. It is very important you know and input your OSIS # on your application; your official transcript will be sent to the UAPC (University Application Processing Center) via your OSIS #. SAT and ACT scores can be sent from the College Board website or from the college office. To apply to CUNY:

• Create a CUNY Portal Account at www.cuny.edu.
• Review and complete the Freshman Application Worksheet (sample on the page 13)
•  Login to the CUNY Portal, and fill out and submit the Admission Application – select Undergraduate Application.
•  **Enter your OSIS # in section 2 of the application. **
•  Pay your application processing fee or enter your fee waiver code.
• Print your application summary package to keep.
•  Input the colleges you have applied to into your Naviance account.
• You can apply to up to 6 CUNY schools and pay ONE single application fee: $65.

Macaulay Honors College

·        The following campuses are part of the Macaulay Honors College:

o   Baruch College, Brooklyn College, City College, Hunter College, John Jay College, Lehman College, Queens College, College of Staten Island

·        You must list the order of Macaulay Honors College campuses you are applying to in order of preference.

You will receive an admission decision first as a General Admission February 1^st. A decision of admission for the Macaulay Honors College will be received by March 15^th. 

-Ms. Miller

Naviance

Hello McKee Seniors!

Ms. Miller here! I wanted to send you all some info on using Naviance (http://connection.naviance.com/ralph) to help you with your college search and application process. I want to encourage you to sign back into your Family Connection account. This site has been updated with new information, including details from last year’s graduating class that may be helpful to you in your college and career planning. Seriously, this site is awesome and really useful if you haven't made your final decisions yet on where to apply.

If you have forgotten your account password, there is a link on the Family Connection main page that you can click to reset your account. That link is in the box labeled “Sign In for Returning Users.” If you have forgotten the e-mail address you used to register, or need further assistance, let me know.

ALSO, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!!
IF YOU ARE APPLYING TO COLLEGES USING *THE COMMON APP*, YOU MUST LOGIN TO YOUR FAMILY CONNECTION!!

Family Connection simplifies the process the counseling department and teachers follow to send Secondary School Reports, Mid-Year Reports, and recommendation letters to Common Application member colleges. You can help make sure your forms and recommendations are delivered promptly by entering your CommonApp.org user name and password on Family Connection.

*We cannot send anything electronically to Common App until you follow these steps:*
- Sign into Family Connection.
- Click My Colleges in the About College area of the navigation bar.
- As you complete the privacy waiver, enter your CommonApp.org user name and password. If you've already completed the privacy waiver, scroll to the bottom of the page and enter your CommonApp.org user name and password in the space provided.
- Click the Submit button.

After doing this, you can request Counselor and teacher recommendations through Naviance (though I recommend you personally ask everyone you want recs from, also.).

Over the next week, you'll probably receive a bunch of Naviance emails from me with information on surveys, colleges, scholarships, and other info. Don't put me in your spam folder, please!

Email me back if you have any questions or need more info about ANYTHING. Or come see me in my office, Room 307, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays (all day), and Fridays (until 12).

-Ms. Miller

College info

College application deadlines are fast approaching. Please be aware of the following dates. Students, start getting your applications together! Parents/guardians, support your children in this process. Make sure they're getting everything done on time!

CUNY Freshman General Admission :       February 1

            Macaulay Honors Program : December 1 @ 6:00pm

The City College Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture :                             January 1

SUNY Freshman General Admission : December 1

            Early Action : November 15

Private Colleges General Admission : December – January

SUNY and Private Colleges will each have their own different deadlines. However, it is incredibly important for you to get your application in EARLY – there are many items that you need to put together on your own and that the school needs to put together for you. Don’t wait until the last minute to get everything together!!

STUDENTS: Please update your Naviance account – if you have not made one, see Ms. Starkey for your registration code ASAP. Use Naviance to let us know what schools you have applied to.

*IMPORTANT*

Since we are a Naviance school, your Common App automatically links up with your Naviance account. That means this is the *only* way for us to electronically submit your transcript and other information. Updating your Naviance information will also help us to match you to appropriate schools and scholarships if you're having trouble searching!!