St. Francis High School | College Preparatory

COLLEGE SEARCH AND APPLICATION PROCEDURES

COLLEGE SEARCH AND APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Begin early. Use the resources available in the school such as: the Guidance page of the St. Francis website, especially the Websites for College Information, Internet college search programs, Naviance Family Connection, & college guide books

Create a list of prospective colleges in the “My Colleges” section of the Naviance Family Connection Program. Do a graph or analysis for each school to determine your chances of being accepted to that school.

Finalize your application list to 6 to 8 schools. Make sure you have on your list some “safety/back up” schools from both an admissions and cost perspective.

Most students send applications online.

Many colleges (but not most public universities) accept the Common Application which can be accessed at https://www.commonapp.org

Obtain address of admission office on college website or through the college profile in the Naviance Family Connection https://connection.naviance.com/sfhs-wheaton

Contact the college directly to request other necessary information such as view books, financial aid, and scholarship information.

St. Francis will use eDocs in the Naviance Family Connection program to send electronic forms, letters and transcripts to any college that participates in eDocs or Docufide.

Colleges which accept electronic documents are marked with a computer screen logo in their Naviance profiles and on your Naviance application list.
Only a few colleges do not accepts electronic documents.

Complete the steps below before requesting any transcript requests or letters of recommendation (note that only students, not parents, can complete some of these steps in Naviance. A parent can only complete these steps if logged in as the student).

You must go into your account in Naviance and go to Colleges I am applying to.

Make sure your application list is complete and accurate.
You may need to move colleges from your “thinking about” list to your application list.

If you have any colleges that accept the Common Application , go to the column titled, “Applying Via Common Application?” and if it says “Unknown” that means the college takes either the Common App or their own application.

It is essential that the Naviance system knows which one you used.
Click on “Unknown” and update to Yes or No.
Make sure you click save/update at the bottom of the page.

If you applying to any colleges via the Common Application , you must go into Naviance/Colleges I am applying to and complete the Common Application FERPA waiver.

Complete the waiver
Enter your Common Application user name and password. Make sure this is correct!! DO NOT GUESS on this.
Your Naviance account must match with your Common Application Account. If you receive an error message, you will need to redo the waiver.

If you are applying to any college using the Common Application , you must put the colleges on your destination list in the Common Application website

If your college requires letters of recommendation then AFTER YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE ABOVE STEPS, you must complete the REQUEST FOR TEACHER RECOMMENDATION FORM that you print from the Student Services website.

See the teacher in person, politely ask if the teacher if he/she would be so kind and to do a letter for you and give him/her the form.
Do not ask more than one counselor and two teachers to write letters (i.e. DO NOT request three or more different teachers to write letters. This is unnecessary and frowned upon by colleges).
Have one or two teachers complete all your letters for all of your colleges and scholarships
Colleges prefer letters from instructors of core subjects such as English, Math, Science, Social Studies or World Languages. Letters from non-school officials should not be sent to colleges unless there are special circumstances.
Submit your request at least three weeks prior to your deadline
Make sure the form includes a complete list of college destinations.
If, at a later point, you add more colleges to your list, you need to give the teacher a new form listing the additional colleges.
Note that it is our school policy not to release copies of teacher or counselor letters to students.
Most letters will be written so they can go to any school (not college specific).
If you don’t need letters then don’t request them!

You must go into your account in Naviance and go to Colleges I am applying to.

At the bottom of the page is the online Teacher Recommendation request. Do this as well. You can include a note with special instructions or a simple thank you.
Note that you must do both the online and the paper request.
Write a thank you note to your teacher when you know the letter has been sent

If you only need one letter, we strongly recommend that you request a letter from the College Counselor, Mrs. Rigney.

If you are using the Common Application, a counselor letter is required for the Counselor Secondary School Report form. Mrs. Rigney will contact the teachers that you believe will speak positively about you.
They will provide input for her letter and she will provide a comprehensive letter that discusses your academics, activities, and personal qualities.
Make this request to Mrs. Rigney at least 3 to 4 weeks in advance of when it needs to be transmitted.

Complete the application in a timely fashion. Be aware of application deadlines and Standardized Testing or document requirements (i.e. SAT Subject Tests, letters of recommendation, counselor forms, etc). Read every word of the directions before you write anything.

Complete the application neatly and correctly.

Remember, this application represents you to that college. It is all the college has to evaluate you; make the most of it.
Proofread for spelling or typing errors.
Make certain you have completed all fields or the online application.

If you need to make a personal statement on the application or include an essay, complete a rough draft and have it evaluated by a counselor or English teacher first.

Never write a sentence or paragraph directly on the application without first doing a rough draft on scratch paper and carefully proofreading it.
Always get feedback from adults on your essay.

If you did not automatically send your ACT/ SAT test scores to the college when you registered for the test, go online to the website for ACT/College Board, and complete an online request for them to send an official copy of your scores directly to the college.

St. Francis DOES NOT include a copy of your ACT and SAT scores on your transcript. Colleges will only receive your scores if you request submission through ACT or The College Board.
If you are applying for a scholarship or program that does not accept electronic ACT scores, you must note a special request for a paper copy on your transcript release form. Check with Mrs. Henning to make sure we have a paper copy if you need to make this request. We do not have paper copies of SAT scores—only ACT.

When applying online (preferred method), remember that sending the application electronically does not complete your application process. Once the online application is complete and correct, send the application electronically and print a copy of the confirmation for your records.

Pick up an "Application Checklist/Transcript Release Form" from the Guidance Office or print it from the school website.
Carefully review the checklist and complete the transcript release form with the correct address of the college at the bottom. Sign the form at the bottom.
You must complete a transcript release form for each and every college to which you are applying. (Exceptions U of I, Iowa, Iowa State, and the U of California schools which will require you to complete the Self- Reported Academic Record or re-create your transcript on your application; however, it is critical that these colleges are on your Naviance application list).
There is no fee for transcripts. The cost is included in your graduation fee.
If a letter of recommendation from a teacher or from Mrs. Rigney has been requested, note that on the transcript release form in the appropriate section. Make sure you have made your request several weeks in advance of your desired mailing date.
If you are using the Common Application, check that item on the form. This is very important.
Bring this completed transcript release form to the Guidance Suite and drop it in Mrs. Rigney’s mail box in the outer office area.
You do not need to complete all transcript requests at the same time—submit as you apply.
Transcript release forms must be submitted to Mrs. Rigney at least 2 to 3 weeks prior to any deadlines.
Your transcript, letters (if required) and forms (if required) will be sent via eDocs through Family Connection by Naviance unless the college does not accept electronic documents. If that is the case, they will be printed and mailed.
Check the status of your documents in your Naviance account.
Follow up with your teachers to ensure that your letters and forms have been sent. This is the student’s responsibility. Mrs. Rigney’s will not do this for you.
Do not request letters and transcripts for colleges unless you are certain that you are applying to that school.

Please process all transcript requests through Mrs. Rigney, not the Main Office, so she can record and track your paperwork.
When you are accepted or denied at a college, update the results in Naviance by clicking “edit” under the actions tab in your application list. Then go to “results” and click on accepted, denied, waitlisted, etc.