COMMON APPLICATION
T R A N S F O R M I N G T H E WAY
S T U D E N T ’ S A P P LY TO C O L L E G E
HOW DO WE GET THERE ?
• Student Success Planning(SSP)
• Early College Awareness
Programs
• Naviance
• Evening Informational Programs
• Community Partnerships
• SAT/ACT Prep Opportunities
Field Trips
School To Career Program
College Representative Visits
Financial Aid/Scholarship
Support & Opportunities
• Individual Planning Meetings
• Developmental Guidance
Lessons
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www.commonapp.org
STUDENT SUCCESS PLANNING
• Vertical Plan for grades 6-12
• Pilot Year 2012-13
• Yearly Goals relating to: Academic, Career and
Social/Emotional Well-being
• Electronic Portfolio
• Ensure that every student has a personalized Post
Secondary Plan
EARLY COLLEGE AWARENESS
College Trips to several State Schools
Motivational Speakers
Pay It Forward: Students>Students
College Rep(s)
Internship/Job shadow experiences
NAVIANCE
• Diagnostic Tool for
College and Career
Planning
• College Searches
• Each student has their
own Password/Access
• Personality Profile (DWYA)
• Web-based for easy
access
• Developmental
Guidance/SSP Activities
• Career Interest Profiler
• Communication Tool
• College Visits
• Scholarship Information
SAT/ACT PREP
Elective Class Offerings
Practice Tests
PSAT taken by all 10th/11th graders (Oct. 16)
Programs: Revolution , Let’s Get Ready, Christian
Action Network
Fee-Waivers
Referrals
Test-Optional Info (fairtest.org)
SCHOOL TO CAREER
Ms. Rivieccio: STC Counselor
Partnership with Guidance
Job Shadow
Internship
Employment
E-Mail Blasts
Unique Opportunities
Career Fairs
FINANCIAL AID & SCHOLARSHIP
• Scholarship Program
• Naviance
• Seminars
• Ms. Laura Blackwell:
Financial Aid Counselor
• Fee Waivers
• FAFSA
• Informational Sessions
• Advocacy
WHY
The Common Application is designed to
assist students with streamlining the
process of applying to college.
COMMON APPLICATION STATISTICS
Each year, nearly 1 million
students file their applications
using the Common Application.
More than 500 colleges and
universities utilize the common
Application
www.commonapp.org
STUDENT APPLICATION
The application is the foundation of your
admission file
Your job is to make sure it is complete, accurate,
and submitted on time
The application must be the student’s own work.
Completing the application is, in part, an
exercise in following directions
COMMON APP
This is the infrastructure of your application and includes
six sections:
1. Profile
2. Family
3. Education
4. Testing
5. Activities
6. Writing
PROFILE (CONSISTS OF EIGHT SECTIONS: )
1. Personal
Information
2. Address
3. Contact Details
4. Demographics
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Geography
Language
Citizenship
Common App Fee
Waiver
FAMILY
Background on your household, parents, or guardians
Sibling Information
Contact Information
Marital Status
Occupation
Education
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EDUCATION
Information about high school
attendance
Additional school experiences
Contact details for your
guidance counselor
Your current academic record:
GPA, current courses, and
honors
Career interests
TESTING
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Information about college entrance testing
SAT
ACT
Subject Tests
AP
TOEFL- English testing for non-native
speakers
TESTING HOW ?
• On SAT/ACT testing, provide your highest scores in
each area even if scores are from different test dates.
• Answer “Yes” if you have scheduled future testing so
that the admission office can anticipate receiving
further score reports.
• Test Optional
ACTIVITIES
Brag Sheet
List Activities
Work experiences
Depth of aforementioned(hours per week/year)
Positions held
Honors
Plans to participate in these pursuits in college
WRITING
There are three sections here:
1. The Personal Essay
2. Disciplinary History
3. Additional Information
COST STRUCTURE FOR COMMON APP
• The Common App is free.
• However, Colleges may require the submission of an
application fee.
• Fee Waivers are eligible to students meeting eligibility
requirements.
• Application Fees can range from no charge to upwards of
$100 per college.
• Payment is made by using any major credit card or electronic
check. Application fees are nonrefundable.
PERSONAL ESSAY
• Students can choose from five essay
prompts
• Maximum word limit of 650 words
• Minimum word limit of 250 words
• The essay will go to all of the student’s
colleges
MY COLLEGE TAB
All colleges that accept the Common App require
a supplement unique to their school
Once student selects a school >the landing page
for each school details:
 Decision plans
 Recommender requirements
 Application fees
WRITING SUPPLEMENT
• Schools may require –or include as
optional- writing supplement or
additional short answers
• Often required by highly
competitive colleges
• Pay attention to the word count
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ADDITIONAL FORMS
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Early Decision Agreement
Teacher Evaluations
School Report
Mid-Year Reports
Final Report (Transcript)
ARTS STUDENTS
• Students with interest and talent in the arts
• Check to see if colleges require an arts
supplement
• May be a separate form of through the
Common App with Slideroom.com
SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS
• Some colleges encourage students to submit
supplementary materials
• May include: a special project, an academic paper, a
short story or a YouTube video
• Only submit if the school indicates that they welcome
or require their submission
• Let your individuality show but… follow directions
DEADLINES
• Be aware of the college deadlines
• Can vary from school to school
• Check the web-site of every college to which you are
applying
• Guidance may have specific timelines geared at
benefiting students
• Merit $
• Increase admissions opportunities
ROLE OF COUNSELOR- GRAPHIC
• Assist with identifying schools
and post secondary plans
• Help with Diagnostic Tools
• Meet with stakeholders
• Help maintain emotional
equilibrium
• Establish a plan/timeline(s)
• college reps/visits
• Explain process and monitor
progress
Assist with processing
materials
Letters of Recommendation
Financial Aid/Scholarship
support and information
Standardized Testing
Disseminate materials,
resources and
information
Every student has a plan !
CONTACT INFO
Dan Sullivan, Ed.D.
Guidance Chairperson
Norwalk High school
sullivand@norwalkps.org
(203) 838-4481 ext. 13272
THANK YOU
Gloria Tenofsky, N.E.F.
Dr. Manuel Rivera—
Superintendent of Schools
Norwalk Library
www.commonapp.org