The College
Application Process
What you need to know……
Counseling Department
A – Cont
Conway - Flint
Flores - Khan
Kho – Nol
Now - Scott
Seal - Z
Ms. Molly Jang
Ms. Denine Gudnitz
Ms. Ruth Ragsdale
Mrs. Katie Spicer
Ms. Tara Vaglica
Mr. Ravon Austin
Mrs. Donte Gassaway-Fields – Registrar
Mrs. Heidi Garland – College/Career Infor. Coordinator
Mrs. Roxanne Plumber – Administrative Assistant
College Application Process…
Components of the four year college application packet
• Application
• Recommendation Letters
• Application fee
• Test Scores
(From academic teachers and
counselor)
(SAT or ACT)
• Essay(s)
(If required by the college)
• Transcripts
• Secondary School Report
(Form submitted by counselor)
Adhere to deadlines!
Student Responsibilities
 Complete and submit the
application, essay, and
application fee directly to the
college through Family
Connection.
 Request recommendation letters
from your teachers.
 Request official transcript, school
profile, secondary school report
and counselor recommendation
from Mrs. Gassaway-Fields. She
will send all documents to the
college.
 Request SAT/ACT scores be sent
to colleges by directly contacting
the testing organization on-line.
Before Requesting Transcripts
1. Log into your Common App account. If you do not have an
account, you'll need to create one.
2. Under the "Common App" tab, complete the entire “Education"
section so that it has a green checkmark (This is necessary since
the Common App must know the high school you attend).
3. Go to “My Colleges.” If no colleges are listed, go to "College
Search" and add at least one college to which you'll be applying.
4. Click one of the colleges and then “Assign Recommenders."
5. Click the FERPA Release Authorization, giving Magruder
permission to send your transcript. Follow the instructions and
click these items:
• I authorize every school that I have attended to release all requested records…
• I waive my right to review all recommendations and supporting documents…
• I understand that my waiver or no waiver selection above pertains to all
colleges….
How to Request Transcripts
• Fill out the paper Transcript Request form and return
it to Mrs. Gassaway-Fields if your are submitting
transcripts and recommendations by mail or online.
• Pay your transcript fee to Mrs. Gassaway-Fields. The
first 3 transcripts are free; additional transcripts are
$3 each.
NOTE: You must determine how each one of your
colleges accepts documents that need to be submitted.
You can find this information by looking at your Family
Connection/Naviance account under the “Colleges I am
applying to” tab.
How to Request Transcripts
If by mail:
• Provide a 9X12 envelope; addressed to the college
admissions office or scholarship program, with simply
your name in the return address space, along with 3- first
class stamps (or equivalent postage = $1.32) affixed to the
envelope. Do not put your own return address on the
envelope.
If by eDoc
or Common Application:
• Submit the completed Transcript Request form to Mrs.
Gassaway-Fields.
How to Request Counselor Recommendation
• Complete “Senior Thinking About Yourself” form
(found under the “About Me” tab on the left side of
the screen).
How to Request Teacher Recommendations
• Speak to your teacher to confirm that they are willing to write
your recommendation letter.
• In Family Connection/Naviance, add your teacher to the
Teacher Recommendation list under the “Colleges I am
Applying to” tab.
• For teachers not submitting recommendations electronically,
provide college-addressed business size envelope with
appropriate postage. Write your name only in the upper left
corner and the college deadline in the lower left corner.
• Send your teacher(s) and counselor(s) a
THANK YOU note or email! 
College Application Processing Timeline
COUNSELORS HAVE 20 SCHOOL DAYS TO COMPLETE
YOUR RECOMMENDATION LETTER FROM THE DAY THAT
YOU SUBMIT ALL NECESSARY PAPERWORK TO THE
REGISTRAR!...
COL. ZADOK MAGRUDER HIGH SCHOOL
Donte Gassaway-Fields - Registrar
Registrar office hours
Monday - Friday (Before school, lunch & after school)
2015-2016 TIMELINE FOR REQUESTING TRANSCRIPTS
College Deadline
Magruder Deadline
November 1, 2015
November 15, 2015
December 1, 2015
December 15, 2015
January 1, 2016
January 15, 2016
February 1, 2016
October 5, 2015
October 19, 2015
November 3, 2015
November 17, 2015
November 24, 2015
December 10, 2015
January 4, 2016
Transcript fee (cash or checks made payable to Magruder H.S.)
First 3 transcripts are free; each additional transcript request is $3 each.
Upcoming SAT and ACT tests
SAT
October 3
ACT
October 24
November 7
December 5
December 12
How To Register:
• Go to www.collegeboard.org to register for the SAT.
The SAT test costs $54.50
• Go to www.actstudent.org to register for the ACT.
Make sure you sign up for the test WITH WRITING.
The total cost for the ACT is $54.50.
Accuplacer Test
(For all two year community college bound
students)
• The purpose of the Accuplacer is to determine
placement in Math and English in college.
• The Accuplacer is knowledge based and untimed.
• See Mrs. Garland in the College & Career Center for
more information.
The College and Career Center
A great resource for:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Researching majors and colleges
Career exploration
Standardized Test Options
College Process
Scholarships
Financial Aid/FAFSA
College Visits
Over 75 Colleges and Universities nationwide send
Admissions Representatives to MHS annually
Visits are scheduled
September-November, 2015
The College visit schedule is on the Career Center
Website under Family Connection
All students are sent weekly visit updates
through their Family Connection email account
Visits take place in the Career Center
Upcoming MHS Financial Aid &
Scholarship Programs
• Financial Aid & Scholarship Lunch Seminars:
November 20, December 4, January 8 @
11:15 am - 12:00 in the MHS Career Center
• Financial Aid Opportunities at Montgomery
College: November 6 @ 11:00-11:40 am in the
MHS Career Center
FAFSA (Free Application For Federal Student Aid)
• All students applying for Financial Aid MUST
Complete FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov
• FAFSA is NEED Based Only
• Filing Dates: January 1 - March 1, 2016
• Use 2014 Income Tax Returns
• Tax information can be updated after filing
your taxes
• UMCP Priority deadline for filing FAFSA is
February 15, 2016
Scholarships
• Make sure to apply for all available scholarships
offered directly through the colleges
• Apply for FAFSA beginning January 1, 2016
through March 1, 2016 (MD State Deadline).
• Visit the College & Career Center Website and
Visit the Career Center for additional Merit/Need
Based Scholarships
• Negotiation for the best financial packages is
Recommended and Encouraged after acceptance
Thank you for coming!
Questions?