Welcome
Parents
Senior Parent Meeting:
The College Application Process
September 8, 2016
AGENDA
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Introduction
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Nuts and Bolts of the College Application
Process
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Mr. Colby Moss, Regional Admissions Officer,
University of Georgia

Questions
Where you/your student should be….
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Attended 11th grade College Night
Attended College Fair
Compiled tentative list of colleges
Visited colleges
Explored colleges thru Family Connections and other
college websites
Took at least one SAT/ACT
Familiarized themselves with college application and
requirements
Identified teachers who may write recommendation
What comes next?
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Finalize list of colleges
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Meet with College Reps who visit QO
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Be aware of college application
deadlines
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SAT/SAT II/ACT
Finalize List of Colleges
Safety vs. Target vs. Reach
SAFETY
TARGET
REACH
Little chance of rejection
but would be happy to
attend
Likely accepted based
on matching qualifications
Less likely acceptance
Based on matching most
(but not necessarily all)
criteria
Pick 1 or 2
Pick 3 or 4
Pick 1 or 2
Finalize list of colleges and know their
deadlines
Early Decision
Students apply in October/November and learn of
the decision in December or January. The
acceptance is binding – if you are accepted, you are
expected to attend the school.
Early Action
Similar to Early Decision except the admission
offer is not binding.
Early Notification
Students must file their application by December
1st in order to receive an admissions decision by
February 1st.
Rolling Admission
Applications are evaluated upon receipt and
applicants are quickly notified of the decision.
Applications are considered until spaces are filled.
Submitting your application is strongly encouraged.
Regular Admission
Admission deadlines are typically in January or
February and student are notified in April.
QO Deadlines
DEADLINES FOR COLLEGE APPLICATIONS
To ensure that your applications are postmarked to meet deadlines, follow the
schedule below (there will be no exception to the dates listed) .
Application Deadline
Registrar Deadline
October 15
September 26
November 1
October 10
November 15
October 24
December 1
November 3
December 15
November 21
January 1
December 5
January 15
December 19
February 1
January 9
February 15
January 23
March 1
February 6
What Factors are important for
the Admissions Process?
Colleges look at the WHOLE person!
SAT/SAT II/ACT
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Student applying to a 4-year school must take an
SAT or ACT (w/writing) before application deadline
Scores must be sent directly to the college from
SAT/ACT. QO does not send them.
No need to pay more money to choose best score:
Most colleges ‘super score’ for admission, but not
academic scholarship.
SAT II = Subject Test - check with school if
needed for admission
Deadline for late registration for October 1st SAT
is September 20th!
Deadline to register for October ACT is September
16th!
Counselor
Student
Parent
Provides guidance
and support
•
Researches possible colleges
• Applies to colleges
online
• Initiates the letter of
recommendation
process
• Advises about
researching colleges
•
Advocates for students
through letters of
recommendation
College
Admissions
Process
Who does what?
Registrar
Sends student
transcript, school
profile, and counselor
letter of recommendation
• Maintains deadlines
•
Career Center
Teachers
Advocates for
students through
letters of
recommendation
Naviance/Family
Connection
• College scholarship
applications
• Financial aid material
•
Using Family Connection:
College Search and Application Program
Web based: Access from home
or school!
 Students are able to see the
likelihood of an acceptance to a
college based on past QOHS
graduates.
 Seniors have received a
password. Go to the Career
Center for password help.
 Program used by MCPS for
electronic submission of
college applications
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Step 1: If applying to a Common Application
school, student must create a “Common
Application” account at www.commonapp.org
Step 2: Log into your Family
Connection Account
Watch this video if you are
applying to a Common App
school
All students applying to four year colleges
must complete “FERPA” (privacy notice)
Step 3: Add “Colleges that you are
applying to”
Select the colleges and type of
decision/deadline
Common Application school: all material
from Registrar and teacher
recommendation is sent electronically
Student must provide a 9 ½” x 11”
envelope stamped and addressed for the
Registrar, and a stamped business
envelope for the teacher. All materials
are sent by mail
Non-common application school that
accepts material electronically
You will be requesting transcripts through
the Registrar by hard copy
Step 4: Request Teacher
Recommendations through Naviance
Request recommendations from
teachers minimum 3 weeks prior to
the deadline
Students should speak to
their teachers prior to
submitting an electronic
request for a
recommendation
For colleges that do not use
Naviance, students must give
their teachers stamped,
addressed envelopes
Step 5: Meet with the Registrar at
least three weeks prior to the
college deadline
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Bring the yellow “Transcript
Request /Authorization to
Release Pupil Records Form”
listing each school to Ms.
Gregg at the Registrar
Office
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No transcript fees
Transcript
Request Form
You only need to fill this out
ONCE
IMPORTANT
Submit applications online by
the deadline
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It is the student’s
responsibility to
get the application
in on time!
(electronically, or by
mail)
The University of Maryland
Application
Priority Application Deadline: November 1
Regular Application Deadline: January 20
Website: www.admissions.umd.edu
Step 6: Request SAT/ACT
scores
Complete an on-line request for SAT
or ACT score reports to be sent
directly to the colleges
www.sat.collegeboard.org/scores
www.actstudent.org/scores/send/
A few words about MC…
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Application process for general admission:
– MC is an open enrollment school, students only need to
submit an application
– Applications submitted online by March 1 will have their
application fee waived
– Students who have not taken an SAT/ACT or who have and
did not receive a 500 on the Critical Reading and Math of the
SAT or a score of a 21 on the Reading, English and Math
section of the ACT will need to take the Accuplacer for class
placement
– All students who submit an application by March 1st are
eligible to take the Accuplacer (if needed) at QO in April
MC Continued
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Application process for the MC Scholar Honors program:
– To be eligible, students should have a 3.0 or better gpa
– Official high school transcript (required)
– Official college entrance exam scores: either SAT or ACT scores (required)
– Essay submitted with application (required)
– Two (2) Teacher/Counselor recommendation forms (required)
– Placement testing, if applicable (required)
– Official Advanced Placement scores, TOEFL scores, SAT II subject test
scores (optional)
– Resume (optional but recommended)
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Transfer agreements
– MC has articulation agreements with all of the Maryland Public
colleges/universities as well as a variety of other schools
– Students who are unable to get into a particular college upon completion of
their high school diploma have another opportunity to apply through the
transfer process
Keynote Address
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Mr. Colby Moss
Regional Admissions Officer
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University of Georgia
THANK YOU!