DEADLINES! DEADLINES! DEADLINES!

• Applications: Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision, Rolling Admissions

• SAT/ACT Registration

• Senior Worksheet/Parent Brag Sheet

• Financial Aid

• Scholarships

• NCAA Eligibility

Early First Semester Be Proactive!

• Research and visit colleges & use NAVIANCE Family Connection!

• Develop a preliminary list of colleges/universities

• Meet with your counselor

• Visit the college/career center

Early First SemesterBe Proactive!

• Complete your Senior Worksheet and have your parents complete their Brag Sheet. Submit completed forms a.s.a.p. to your counselor.

• Work on college essays and scholarship nomination form.

• Identify teachers/coaches, etc. for letters of recommendation

• Participate in community service

RESOURCE BOOKS

– Barron’s Profiles of American Colleges– The College Board College Handbook– Book of Majors– Rugg’s Recommendation on the Colleges– Colleges That Change Lives– Fiske Guide to Colleges

FIRST SEMESTER

• Attend college fairs

• THIS YEAR COUNTS! Continue to do your best. Your first semester senior year grades will be sent to colleges.

USE SCHOOL RESOURCES

• Sign up for college visits at GMHS via Naviance

• Read College/Career Center updates

• Request transcripts via Naviance

COLLEGE REP. VISITS Naviance is the only way to register for a GMHS college rep. visit

COLLEGE REP. VISITSPrint the Confirmation page and have your teacher sign it.

This is your admission ticket.

A BALANCED PORTFOLIO

• Once you know what colleges you are interested in attending, create a list of those schools.

Selection

Process

Reach Schools – Less than 30% chance of gaining admission

Target Schools – 30%-60% chance of gaining admission

Most Likely Schools – 60%-90% chance of gaining admission

TRANSCRIPT REQUESTUnder the Colleges tab, click on Transcripts

REQUESTING TRANSCRIPTSThis is the only way to request transcripts for colleges, universities,

scholarships and the NCAA

TRANSCRIPT REQUESTS

REQUESTING TRANSCRIPTS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS, ATHLETICS, ETC.

KEY INFORMATION FOR THE COLLEGE APPLICATION

PROCESSTranscripts and/or counselor recommendations will be sent only after the student makes a request through Naviance/Family Connection for each college AND the student has met with his/her counselor.

Allow at least three (3) weeks for the processing of the transcript and counselor recommendation letter. Please be mindful that some early decision deadlines are as soon as the beginning of October.

If you are applying to colleges with December 15 through mid-January deadlines, you MUST complete all requests in Naviance/Family Connections no later than December 1st!

MORE KEY INFORMATIONInformation you may need for your applications:

School address: George Mason High School

7124 Leesburg Pike

Falls Church, VA 22043

School phone Number: (703) 248-5525

School Fax Number: (703) 248-5556

GMHS CEEB Code: 470795

Many of the schools you apply to allow the counselors to send transcripts and recommendations electronically. You MUST meet with your counselor to discuss this at the beginning of the application process.

TEACHER RECOMMENDATION REQUESTS

Request in writing the recommendation letter at least three weeks before the due date

Give the following to the teacher:

A copy of Senior Worksheet and Parent brag sheet

The recommendation form, if applicable

A stamped, business size envelope addressed to the Admission’s Office of each school, if applicable

The due date for each school

Many schools allow teacher recs to be sent electronically. Discuss with your counselor.

WHAT COLLEGE ADMISSIONS COMMITTEES CONSIDER

• Transcript Grades: Colleges recommend that you take the most challenging courses your school offers in which you can be successful.

• Standardized Tests: SAT/ACT scores

• Extracurricular Activities: Stay involved!

• The Essay: If you had two minutes to sit down with the admissions committee, what would you want them to know about you?

• Letters of Recommendation: Be sure to check each school’s specific requirements!

• Personal Interview: Be yourself and be prepared to answer and ask questions!

THE COLLEGE ESSAY

• Some college applications ask for a personal statement while other colleges have specific questions they want you to answer.

• One topic for your college essay may be a story that captures a moment in time-- a day in your life, a turning point, or a brief encounter that had a significant effect.

• A good essay makes an applicant come alive for the evaluator!

DECISIONS! DECISIONS! DECISIONS!

• Weigh the pros/cons of your admissions’ offers

• Visit schools again to help make your final decisions

• Continue to use resources• Continue to work hard in your classes• Request IB transcripts for

colleges/universities • Communicate your final decision to your

counselor!!!!!!!

FINAL THOUGHTS…

• There are more than 3,600 colleges to choose from. You are bound to find more than a handful of schools you would be interested in attending.

• The statement that says, “the harder it is to get into a school, the better the school” is a myth. It is not true! The college application process is about finding a good match for you. There are many factors to consider when choosing a college.

“College is a match to be made, not a

prize to be won.” (Colleges That Change Lives)