Seniors and the college application process
BELLEVUE HIGH SCHOOL
School code: 480070
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CLASS of 2015
SENIORS and the college application process
Welcome to your senior year at Bellevue High School! This is the year that all the hours of hard work,
diligence, and rigor begin to pay off as you consider your post-secondary choices and the many options
ahead of you. Last spring, counselors met with all juniors (now seniors) in the classroom in December
to review PSAT results and work with students on our new web-based college and career planning tool,
Naviance. We met again in the classroom in both April and May to teach juniors how to navigate
Naviance when researching college options. We also discussed the senior timeline, standardized
testing, college visits, and the importance of finding “the fit”. Each student received a packet detailing
everything they needed to get started on the college planning process.
This senior packet is tailored specifically for students applying to two and four year colleges and
contains instructions for using Naviance to order transcripts, request letters of recommendation and
input data regarding where to send final transcripts. Counselors will be visiting classrooms to review
the contents of this packet with all seniors and we will be encouraging students to share this
information with their parents/guardians. This packet is available in the document library (Class of
2015) of the Naviance homepage and on the BHS website
(http://Connection.naviance.com/bellevuehs) and (http://schools.bsd405.org/bhs). The powerpoint
that counselors use in the classroom presentation will be available at both sites as well.
College representatives are scheduled to visit Bellevue High School on various dates throughout the
fall semester. Dates, times, and locations are posted on each student’s Naviance account (click on the
blue “Colleges” tab, and click on “view all upcoming college visits”). Students can register for the
college visit in Naviance, which will trigger an email reminder close to the date of the visit. We
encourage students to attend these meetings as it provides them with an opportunity to get questions
answered in a more intimate setting, often with the college representative who will be reading their
application.
Transcript processing fee: all seniors applying to four year colleges will be charged a one-time flat fee
of $10.00 to cover the cost of processing official transcripts. Students can pay this fee at our
Accounting Office. Scholarships are available to cover the $10.00 if needed (see your counselor).
Students will undoubtedly have questions this fall as they complete their college applications and they
are welcome to stop by the counseling center to meet with their counselor or send an email with their
questions. Please note that we will co-host a Financial Aid Night on December 11th for parents and
students. It will be at Newport High School in their Performing Arts Center. The time will be
announced closer to the date.
Congratulations on your hard work and we look forward to helping you in the next few months!
The BHS Counselors
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Office Hours: 7:00 – 3:00 Office Phone: (425)-456-7031
High School CEEB Code: 480070
Counselor
Email contact
Seniors (last name)
Elana Jimenez
Mary Beth Smith
Rich Brown
Kelly Troisi
Maureen Travaille
jimeneze@bsd405.org
smithm@bsd405.org
brownric@bsd405.org
troisik@bsd405.org
travaillem@bsd405.org
Last names A - De
Last names Di – Ji
Last names Jo – Mi
Last names Mo – She
Last names Shi - Z
Planning Resources
College Search
http://Connection.naviance.com/bellevuehs All BHS seniors have a Naviance account.
www.princetonreview.com Extensive college search to find a “good match”.
www.washingtoncouncil.com Washington state public university information.
www.sbctc.ctc.edu The Washington State Board for Community & Technical Colleges.
Financial Aid/Scholarships
www.fafsa.ed.gov Web version of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
www.thewashboard.org for scholarship listings, based on student-specified parameters
www.fastweb.com free scholarship search service.
www.finaid.org source for grants, loans, and scholarships.
Remember: You should not have to PAY for scholarship information.
College Testing/Test Preparation
www.collegeboard.com
www.act.org
www.mapping-yourfuture.org
www.toefl.org
Services for Students with Disabilities
www.collegeboard.com (SSD = Services for Students with Disabilities)
www.act.org Special testing.
www.salt.arizona.edu The University of Arizona SALT Program: Strategic Alternative Learning
Techniques Center. Start here to see a nationally recognized student services program model,
then contact the SSD (Services for Students with Disabilities) office at each college or university
on your list. Communicate directly with the SSD office staff and the admissions office staff.
Student Athletes
http://web1.ncaa.org/eligibilitycenter/common/
Student athletes need to register with the NCAA and submit transcript waivers to the
Counseling Center. Please give Mrs. Krikorian two copies of the signed waiver and submit a
request through Naviance for your transcripts to be uploaded to the NCAA.
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The Application Process for Two Year Colleges
Washington's two-year technical and community colleges offer a wide range of programs for students
to help them prepare to transfer to a university, get job training, gain basic education skills and take
continuing education classes. There are five technical and 29 community colleges in the state of
Washington. For more information about each college, including academic programs, admission
requirements and deadlines and financial aid programs, please see www.sbctc.edu.
In brief, there are four steps to enroll in classes as a first time college student at a community or
technical college:
1. Complete the online admission application for the community college and pay their application fee.
Classes are on a first come, first served basis. New students are admitted and assigned registration
access in the order in which their registration materials are received. Some community colleges
have instituted a late spring deadline for Priority Fall Admissions and students do not need to wait
until they turn 18 or graduate from high school to apply. For example, Bellevue College now allows
early admissions with a fall priority registration deadline of mid-May 2015. Please check college
websites for up to date information on registration details.
2. Register for and take the COMPASS exam (a math and English placement exam).
3. Make an appointment to meet with an academic advisor to choose classes.
4. Register for classes.
Note: Community colleges don’t require SAT or ACT tests and don’t require a transcript during the
application process.
Many community colleges partner with one or more four year universities to offer bachelor’s degrees
on campus. Visit the College Transfer page at the SBCTC site,
www.sbctc.ctc.edu/college/e_transfer.aspx and select University Center Partnerships.
Community and technical colleges offer a full range of financial aid programs. To be eligible for
scholarships and financial aid, families must first fill out the FAFSA (free application for federal student
aid). To complete the FAFSA, go to www.fafsa.gov.
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PUBLIC (four year) COLLEGE Application Steps
(Examples: University of Washington, Central, Western, Eastern, Evergreen, Washington State,
University of Oregon, and Montana State)
1. Access the online application through the college’s website.
2. Student orders transcripts through Naviance (except UW and UC schools). See detailed
transcript instructions on page 7, “Required Naviance College Application Steps”
3. Student requests that testing agencies send ACT/SAT score reports to colleges by ordering
score reports online at www.collegeboard.com or www.act.org. Be sure to allow 3 – 4 weeks
for processing. Scores must be received by the college before the application deadline.
4. No counselor/teacher letter of recommendation
5. Submit your online application well before the due date!
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PRIVATE (Four Year) COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY Application Steps
(Examples: Whitman, Seattle University, Stanford, Princeton)
1. Download a Private College Counselor Letter of Recommendation packet from the document
library in Naviance. Be sure to RETURN THE COMPLETED PACKET to your counselor no later
than 3 WEEKS BEFORE your application deadline.
2. Follow similar procedures for your two teacher letters of recommendation. See detailed
teacher letter of recommendation steps on page 7, “Required Naviance College Application
Steps”
3. If you are applying to private colleges via the Common App, sync your Naviance and Common
App accounts (see page 8 for instructions). All counselor and teacher letters and school forms
will be sent electronically through Naviance.
4. Student orders transcripts through Naviance. See detailed transcript instructions on page 7,
“Required Naviance College Application Steps”
5. Student requests that testing agencies send ACT/SAT score reports to colleges by ordering
score reports online at www.collegeboard.com or www.act.org. Be sure to allow 3 – 4 weeks
for processing. Scores must be received by the college before the application deadline.
6. Apply online through the Common App or directly using the private school application website.
7. Submit your online application well before the due date!
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Required Naviance College Application Steps
Log onto Naviance: http://connection.naviance.com/bellevuehs
Resources: Become familiar with the resources on the home page (tasks, document library and links)
Game Plan
 If you haven’t already completed the Game Plan, go to the “About Me” tab
 Under “Interesting Things About Me”, click on the “Game Plan”
 Please complete the survey
Colleges I’m Applying To
Last spring you added colleges you were thinking about to the “College’s I’m thinking about” list. Once
you have decided to submit an application for a particular college, move that college to the “colleges
I’m applying to” list by clicking on “Move to Application List”. For colleges that are new to your list,
add them directly to the “Colleges I’m applying to” section if you will be filling out an application for
that college.
How do I order transcripts for my college applications in Naviance?
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For ALL (public and private) colleges on your “Colleges I’m applying to” list, request official
transcripts by clicking on the “request transcripts” button above your college list. Follow the links
to request a transcript for each college.
Our secretary will then upload your transcript onto Naviance and it will be sent electronically to
your selected college(s). Remember to allow three weeks for processing.
How do I request letters of recommendation for private college applications in Naviance?
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Talk to your counselor and teachers in person and ask for letters of recommendation at least six
weeks before your first deadline.
For the counselor letter, complete and email background materials to your counselor at least three
weeks prior to your first deadline. The background questions are located in the document library
under Class of 2015, Private College Letter of Rec Background Packet. Follow similar procedures for
your teachers.
In Naviance, on the “Colleges I’m applying to” page, request teacher recommendations by scrolling
to middle of the page and clicking on “add/cancel request” under “Teacher Recommendations”
Select teachers from the drop down menu and click “update requests”.
There is no need to select your counselor in Naviance. That selection has already been preloaded
and your counselor will send a letter of recommendation and a secondary school report to your
Common App schools by uploading them on Naviance once you have requested a transcript.
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Are you applying to colleges via the Common App? Follow instructions below.
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On the Naviance homepage, watch a video at the link “matching capp.nav” to learn how to sync
your Common App and Naviance accounts.
Go to commonapp.org and set up your account and complete through the “Education” section.
Write down your Common App username and password
Return to Naviance and Sign the Common App Waiver and FERPA form and enter your Common
App username and password
Go back to Common App and apply online to your colleges
Are you applying to public colleges or non-Common App colleges? Follow instructions below.
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Go to the college website and click on undergrad admissions
Review application requirements and open an online account
Apply online
After you have submitted your college applications …follow instructions below.
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In the “my app” column of the “Colleges I’m applying to” screen, update the status of your
application.
Once colleges send you their decisions, click the pencil under “results” to update your status.
Important Notes:
 SAT/ACT scores must be sent directly from the testing agencies to the colleges. For SAT,
students should contact College Board (www.collegeboard.com) and for ACT, contact
www.act.org. There is a fee to order score reports.
 The University of Washington and the University of California schools do not require and will
not accept transcripts; instead you will be asked to transcribe your classes and grades directly
onto your application. You will still need to send your tests scores to these schools.
 For the rare schools that require paper applications, please see Mrs. Krikorian at least three
weeks before you need any school forms mailed.
 Know your due dates! Don’t procrastinate as colleges don’t accept late applications.
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SENIOR CHECKLIST 2014
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Do you still have questions on what colleges are a good fit for you? Go to your Naviance account and click
“About Me” and complete the “Game Plan” survey. Then click on the blue “Colleges” tab. Under “College
Research”, click “SuperMatch college search”. Enter criteria important to you in selecting college options
and review the related matches to determine whether or not you would be interested in applying. If you are
overwhelmed or don’t know where to start, please email your counselor or stop by and see us. We are here
to help you!

Sign up online for college entrance exam testing or retesting. SAT Reasoning and Subject test dates can be
found at www.collegeboard.com. The online registrations for the ACT (with writing) test can be found at
www.act.org.
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Check the websites of colleges/universities you will be applying to for information on admissions, academic
programs, and scholarships/financial aid information. Determine admission deadlines, and based on these
deadlines, construct a timeline for retaking SAT/ACT tests, completing essays, ordering transcripts, and
finalizing the application.
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Open an “account” for each college application that you will be completing. Instructions for opening and
completing these accounts are given on each college website.
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For each college application, you will be asked to complete a personal statement or essay or a series of short
answers to several questions. Look through these questions and draft your answers.
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College representatives visit BHS to talk with interested students. Be sure to sign up for those meetings.
Dates, times and locations are posted in Naviance and on our school website.

Does the private college or university require an interview as part of the application process? If so, contact
the Admission Office of the school and schedule the interview.
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Are you applying Early Action or Early Decision? If so, those deadlines come up fast and are typically in early
November. Be sure to return your background information for the letter of recommendation to your
counselor by early October.
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Clean up your social media accounts, especially if you are applying to private colleges! Also, make sure you
have a professional sounding email address and that you monitor it regularly. Email is the way that most
colleges will be communicating with you.
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Attend the National College Fair at the Washington State Convention Center on Saturday, October 31st from
12 noon to 4:00 pm and/or the Performing and Visual Arts College Fair at the Seattle Center’s Fisher Pavilion
on Tuesday, October 28th from 7:00 – 9:00 pm. See www.nacacnet.org for more details.
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If you are applying to private universities pick up a Private College Recommendation packet in the
Counseling Center and follow the directions inside. Please email your responses to your counselor THREE
WEEKS before your first college application deadline.
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Below is a sample resume. You may want to create a resume before applying to colleges as it will provide you
with a summary statement that you can refer to when filling out your college applications.
Name
Address
Phone #
Email
Career Goal:
High School G.P.A.:
ACT:
SAT:
Education/Classes:
(Highlight rigorous, unique classes taken)
Honors and Awards
AP Scholar, (11)
Wolverine Award for 100+ community service hours (11)
Washington All State Choir, (10, 11)
High School Activities
Bellevue High Yearbook Staff (10, 11, 12)
-Editor in Chief (12)
Bellevue High Swim Team (10, 11, 12)
-Varsity Team Captain (12)
BHS Choir (9, 10, 11, 12)
Spanish Club (9, 10, 11)
Community Activities
Meals on Wheels Volunteer (Summers, 2008-Present)
- Deliver 3-5 meals to senior citizens every Saturday throughout the year.
Church Youth Group (9, 10, 11, 12)
- Coordinated over 100 youth members for a 2-week mission trip.
Work Experience
Bellevue YMCA Summer Gymnastics Camp Instructor (2008-Present)
- 20 hours per week during the school year and 45 hours per week in the summer.
Bellevue Library (2009-2010)
- Approximately 10 hours per week during the school year.
Interests
Diving – Bellevue Club Dive Team (6 years)
Dancing – Ballet, tap, jazz (10 years)
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College Comparison Worksheet:
This form can be used to compare schools you are interested in. It is especially helpful when making college
campus visits.
COLLEGE NAME
LOCATION

Distance from home
SIZE

Enrollment

Physical size of campus
ENVIRONMENT

Type of school (2yr., 4yr.)

School setting (urban, rural)

Location and size of nearest
city

Co-ed, male, female

Religious affiliation
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Deadline

Tests required

Average test scores, GPA,
rank

Special requirements
Notification
ACADEMICS

Your major offered

Special requirements

Accreditation

Student-faculty ratio

Typical class size
COLLEGE EXPENSES

Tuition, room & board

Estimated total budget

Application fee, deposits
FINANCIAL AID

Deadline

Required forms

% Receiving aid Scholarships
HOUSING

Residence hall requirement

Availability

Types and sizes

Food plan
FACILITIES

Academic

Recreational

Other
ACTIVITIES

Clubs, organizations

Greek life

Athletics, intramurals

Other
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Fall 2014 Admission Statistics for Public Four Year Washington State Colleges and Universities
College and Website
Applicants
%
Avg
Avg SAT
Avg
Under Grad
Freshman
admitted
GPA
ACT
Enrollment
Central Washington University
4,200
83
2.8-3.5
890-1120
18-24
10,075
(www.cwu.edu)
Eastern Washington University
5,100
77
3.27
969
21
11,678
(www.ewu.edu)
The Evergreen State College
1944
86
2.73981-1210 22-28
3,851
(www.evergreen.edu)
3.48
University of Washington Seattle
31,608
55
3.67176026-32
28,745
(www.uw.edu)
3.94
2040*
University of Washington Bothell
2,500
75
3.43
1070
22
4,106
(ww.uw.edu)
Washington State University
17,148
82.1
3.27
92919-25
17,338
(www.wsu.edu)
1130
Western Washington University
9,280
84.5
3.28152022-28
14,285
(www.wwu.edu)
3.78
1820*
*includes the writing subscore
Fall 2014 Admission and Financial Aid Deadlines for Four Year Washington State Colleges and Universities
College and Website
Application
Financial Aid
Visitation programs and dates
Deadline
Deadline
(go online to register and view other tour
options)
Central Washington University
March 1
March 15
Monthly overnight visit and day visit
(www.cwu.edu)
Check website for dates-every month
Eastern Washington University
Feb 15
Feb 15
Check Website
(www.ewu.edu)
www.ewu.edu/visitewu
The Evergreen State College
Feb 1
Feb 1
Fridays
(www.evergreen.edu)
University of Washington Seattle
Dec 1
Feb 28
Check website:
(www.uw.edu)
Admit.uw.edu/visit
University of Washington Bothell
Jan 15
Feb 28
Weekdays at 3 pm
(ww.uw.edu)
Washington State University
Jan 31
Feb 15
Check Website:
(www.wsu.edu)
visit.wsu.edu
Western Washington University
Jan 31
Feb 15
Weekdays + 10/25, 4/4
(www.wwu.edu)
Discovery Days Friday afternoons
How do I apply for admission to a public college or university?

Log into your Naviance account (http://connection.naviance.com/bellevuehs) and add the university to your list. You can
connect to the application in the Naviance website or directly through the college’s website.
 Make sure you meet all admission requirements.
 Order your transcript on Naviance to be uploaded to the university.
 Ask the College Board (SAT) or ACT to send your test scores directly to the college.
How do I apply for financial aid or scholarships?
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Check Naviance scholarship list under the Colleges Tab. These scholarships are updated regularly.
The FAFSA (free application for federal student aid) is the first step to receiving aid for college and is used by most
schools and states to award financial aid and scholarships. To complete the FAFSA, go to www.fafsa.ed.gov.
Information on college-specific scholarships/awards and financial aid can be found on each college’s website.
There are many other websites that offer links to a wide range of general scholarships. Start with
www.thewashboard.org, www.fastweb.com and www.finaid.org.
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