Albert Einstein High School
Counseling Services Department
LIFE AFTER
HIGH SCHOOL
Information for seniors applying to
college and/or scholarships!
COUNSELING SERVICES
ALBERT EINSTEIN HIGH SCHOOL
11135 Newport Mill Road
Kensington, Maryland 20895
Phone: 301.929.2220 Fax: 301.962.1074
Spring/Summer 2014
Dear Einstein Seniors,
Senior year will be the busiest and most important year of your high school career. Make sure that
you complete all necessary courses and earn the required student service learning hours to graduate on
time. Work hard to achieve the best possible grades and avoid temptation to “cruise” through the second
semester!
This packet contains the information and forms you will need to complete when applying to college
or vocational schools. Please read each section carefully. It is important to start early, take time to ask
questions and keep an application checklist handy to stay organized. We are here to help you; if you need
assistance please see the appropriate staff member.
Your COUNSELOR:
 Ensures you have all the necessary courses to graduate (you must earn the credits!)
 Gives advice on researching and investigating post-secondary education
 Can provide information about potential schools that may be a good fit for you
 Supports and advocates for you through letters of recommendation
The COLLEGE & CAREER INFORMATION COORDINATOR:
 Provides research material and programs for college searching
 Arranges for colleges to come to Einstein to speak with students
 Offers assistance with college and career searches
 Advertises scholarship opportunities
 Posts TONS of information on the list-serve and Naviance.
The COUNSELING SECRETARY:
 Processes application materials
 Provides student transcripts and collects fees
 Sends mid-year and final transcripts to colleges upon request
The STUDENT:
 Completes applications, adding schools to the common application.
 Completes the FERPA consent on Naviance.
 Searches for scholarships.
 Keeps up good grades, ALL year!
Best wishes for a very successful school year!
Sincerely,
Albert Einstein High School Counseling Services Department
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COLLEGE ADMISSION OPTIONS
There are several college admission options. Please become familiar with each of them prior to
submitting your college application. Regardless of the option you choose, it’s best to submit
your application(s) by Thanksgiving. This will give you the best chance for admissions and the
most opportunities for getting scholarships and other financial aid.
1. EARLY DECISION: A plan in which a student applies in November and learns of the
decision in December or January. This is suggested only for students who are
academically very strong, know positively which college they want to attend, and agree to
matriculate to the school that accepts them early. This is a binding agreement.
2. EARLY ACTION: This differs from early decision in that students are not required to
accept admission or withdraw other applications if accepted by the college early.
Students may apply to more than one college early action.
3. EARLY NOTIFICATION: A program in which a student files his/her application by
December 1 in order to receive an admission decision by early February. Student has
until May 1 to decide whether or not he/she will attend the college.
4. ROLLING ADMISSION: A program in which applications are evaluated upon receipt and
applicants are notified quickly of the admission decision (3-4 weeks). Applications are
considered until spaces are filled. Submitting your college application early is
encouraged.
5. REGULAR ADMISSION: A program used by most schools. Typically, January 1st is the
deadline for applications and the student is notified before the first week of April.
6. OPEN ADMISSION: Most community colleges offer open admission. All students who
apply are accepted, but must take a placement test prior to scheduling classes. The test
scores are used for college course placement purposes.
ADHERE TO ALL DEADLINES!
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COLLEGE TRANSCRIPT REQUEST PROCEDURES
Before requesting a transcript:

Complete the College/Scholarship Recommendation Self-Evaluation in Family
Connections by October 1. Your counselor will use this self-evaluation to write your
recommendation letters.

Complete the steps on the Applying to College Electronically form (attached, page 6).

Complete and submit college applications and fees online.

Send SAT scores (www.collegeboard.com) and ACT scores (www.actstudent.org) directly
from the testing websites.
Einstein’s high school code is: 210677
 Einstein does not send official test scores
At least 4 weeks before college application deadline:

Request transcripts by completing the Student Transcript Request Form and give it to
the Counseling Secretary.
Transcript fees: first 3 are free; additional requests are $3.00 each
 For MAILED transcripts:
 9x12 envelope addressed to each college
 do not include a return address

Request recommendations from your teachers in person.
 Complete the Classroom Reflection for Teacher Recommendation form
(see attached, page 7))
 Follow up with a thank you note after the letter is written
Other important information:
 MID-YEAR (February) transcripts will be sent electronically. For mailed transcripts,
provide letter-size (4”x9”) envelope, addressed to each college.

FINAL transcripts will be mailed (mid-July). You must provide a letter-size (4”x9”)
envelope, addressed to the college you will be attending. These final transcripts will not
be sent electronically, we MUST have an addressed envelope.

If you took college level courses at Montgomery College while in high school, ask MC to
mail your college transcript to the school you plan to attend.
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APPLYING TO COLLEGE ELECTRONICALLY
www.connection.naviance.com/einstein
We will be sending transcripts, recommendations (both counselor and teacher), school reports and
the school profile electronically. We will continue to mail the same information to colleges that do
not accept electronic files. Students must first add schools to the common application before
forms can be sent.
Naviance is a great place to research colleges, sign up for college visits, look for scholarships and
view how Einstein graduates fared at getting accepted into specific colleges.
Follow the steps below so that we can process your transcript requests:
1. Log into Family Connections. There is a direct link to Family Connections on the Counseling
Services home page; the last tab under College/Scholarship Information says Family Connections.
 All seniors should have a Family Connections account. If you cannot remember your log in
or password please see the College/Career Information Coordinator or your Counselor.
 Students (and parents) will receive important information, via email, concerning college open
house dates, scholarship opportunities and other important senior year information via
Family Connections. It is VERY important that we have your most updated email address
(students and parents).
2. Complete the FERPA consent. Once you have logged on to Naviance, you must first complete
the FERPA consent. We cannot send any transcripts or recommendations to colleges until you have
completed this document.
 You must have a Common Application username and password to complete this step. (If
you do not have one yet, visit, www.commonapp.org to create an account.) Under the
“colleges” tab, click on “colleges I’m applying to.” You must have your Common Application
username and password to complete this form.
How do you know if the colleges you are applying to accept electronic files?
 When you have added your colleges to the “colleges I’m thinking about” section you will
notice some colleges have a computer next to their name, under the “Delivery type” column.
If you see a computer then you do not need to submit envelopes for those schools. If
there is an orange square (a postage stamp), then you must submit envelopes because
the school does not accept electronic submission of forms.
Einstein High School Code (or CEEB): 210677
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Senior Timeline and Checklist
Summer
___ Continue with college searches
___ Update your resume
___ August, look at applications and begin working on essays
Fall (August-October)
___ Finalize your college list!
___ Time is running out! Visit your prospective colleges before it’s too late.
___ Deadlines are approaching! Make decisions on early action and recommendation letters.
___ Your last chance to take the SAT, ACT, or SAT subject tests!
___ Complete your college applications! Add schools to your common application.
___ Make an appointment with your counselor to ensure all your colleges receive what they
need.
___ Finish your personal essay, one of the most crucial parts of your college application.
Winter (November-February)
___ Check college websites for scholarship information and deadlines.
___ Complete your FAFSA as soon as you can to ensure you get the most money for college.
___ Cross everything off your post-application checklist.
___ Continue your hunt for scholarship money.
Spring (March-May)
___ Make your final college decision!
___ Verify your financial aid is in order before you set foot on campus.
___ Final transcripts and housing deadlines: Your last admissions checklist.
___ Complete your final AP tests before summer!
___ Cross everything off your graduation checklist and graduate!
Summer (June, July)
___ Your last ever high school summer job awaits.
___ Get the lay of the land by attending your college’s summer orientation.
___ Apply for student housing and get matched with a great roommate.
___ No time to waste, prepare for your college academic career now.
___ Get ready for a new world of student organizations, on-campus living, and college life.
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You will only need to submit this form to the Counseling Secretary one time.
No records will be sent without the completion of this form. Detach from
packet and submit to Counseling Secretary with other required items.
Student Transcript Request Form
Allow 4 weeks for your transcript request to be processed.
Name:
Last
First
Middle
Address:
Home Phone #:
Parent/Guardian Name:
**SAT and ACT scores must be sent directly to colleges from
College Board or ACT
Public law 93-380 requires parent or guardian’s signature (or student’s if 18 years of age)
before records can be released. We are not permitted to release any information without
written authority.
I hereby authorize release of this information:
Parent/ Guardian Signature (REQUIRED)
Print Name
Date
*Fee for official transcripts: First 3 are free, additional requests $3.00 each
OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS TO COLLEGES MUST BE MAILED BY THE SCHOOL
Waiver of Right to Review Counselor Recommendation:
I hereby waive my right to review the secondary school report and counselor recommendation.
Student Signature_____________________
Parent Signature_________________________
Senior Bulletin Board Permission:
I give permission for the Counseling Department to display my child’s senior picture and the college
they are attending on the Counseling Services bulletin board on Main Street.
Student Signature_____________________
Parent Signature_________________________
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Student Name: _________________________________
Teacher: _____________________
Class: _______________________
Classroom Reflection for Teacher Recommendation
1) I believe that the best piece of work (paper, lab, oral presentation, etc.) that I did for your class was:
2) The assignment(s)/topic(s)/unit(s) that engaged me the most was/were:
3) My fondest memory of your class was:
4) My proudest moment in your class was:
5) What I found most challenging about your class was:
6) I believe that I grew as a student in your class because:
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