College Resources

Senior Application Process

Click here for the Senior Application Process

September 2022 Issue - First one of the 2022-23 school year!

Volume 1 (2021-22 School Year)

Ms. Tang, College & Career and Running Start Counselor, has created the College & Career Center Scoop, a monthly newsletter to inform all students, families, and staff about all things related to college and career. Click the links above to find out the Scoop!

College Timeline

9th Grade Freshman Year

10th Grade Sophomore Year

11th Grade Junior Year

11th Grade Checklist Powtoon PPT Presentation Military Academy Checklist

	WHAT
Fall	Set your goals: Work on specific goals to help you stay motivated and forced for the upcoming year. Remember, "Your Junior Transcript gets you accepted into a college."
Fall	Scholarships: Continue to search for scholarships! Click here for more scholarship information!
Fall	College and Career Fair: We will host a school-wide "College and Career Fair" so "EVERY STUDENT" has an opportunity to connect with college representatives, apprenticeship programs, military branches and employers! Click here for a list of colleges and programs that will be attending! *(Due to COVID restrictions this in-person event will not occur in 2021)*
Fall	College and Career Night: We will host a "College and Career Night" with 20 break-out sessions! Click here for break-out topics! (Due to COVID restrictions this in-person event will not occur in 2021)
Fall	College Supermatch: Go to your Naviance account to search for schools you're "Thinking of applying to" and click the "heart." When a college visits our school (and you've clicked the "heart") you will be notified.
Fall	PSAT/NMSQT: Take the PSAT test (Oct), which will help prepare you for the SAT and then review your results (Dec). Your CollegeBoard scores can be linked with a Khan Academy account to personalize a test prep program for the SAT.
Winter	Senior Classes: Think about what classes you will need for graduation, career pathways and college admissions requirements. Counselors will be meeting one-on-one with EVERY student!
Spring	College Visits: If you can, visit a college during mid-winter break or spring break. Many colleges and universities have virtual tours. Virtual Tours
Spring	Letter of Recommendation: Ask your teachers and counselor if they will write a letter of recommendation for you. Check your college admissions' website to confirm a letter is required. Fill out the Letter of Recommendation form (Brag Sheet) if a letter is required and send it to your counselor/teacher. LOR sheet can be found in Naviance in the "Documents Library".

12th Grade Senior Year

12th grade Timeline for students12th grade Timeline for parents 2020-21 Senior Presentation

WHAT

Fall

Set Goals: Work towards specific Goals that will help you stay motivated and focused throughout the year! Remember, Your Junior transcript gets you accepted into a college and your Senior Final Transcript allows you to attend a college in Fall!

Oct

College and Career Fair: We will host a school-wide "College and Career Fair" so "EVERY STUDENT" has an opportunity to connect with college representatives, apprenticeship programs, military branches and employers! Click here for a list of colleges and programs that will be attending!

Nov

College and Career Night: We will host a "College and Career Night" with 20 break-out sessions! Click here for break-out topics!

Sept

Re-take your SAT and/or ACT: You are smarter and more capable than last school year! Some schools Superscore, meaning they take the best scores from each test. If you take by August, scores Could be available for college application (check college admissions requirements for deadlines). If you think you may qualify for a fee waiver, see your counselor

Sept.

Letters of Recommendation (LOR): Find out if you need LOR for the schools you're applying. Typically, only private schools (Common Application) require LOR from Counselors. Ask your teacher or counselor (if needed) "Face-to-face" and then follow-up with an email. Turn around time is 2 weeks.

Sept.

Finish your college essay: Revise and edit, ask a teacher (face-to-face) if they are willing to review!

Finalize College Lists: Get your list of 4-6 schools that you'd like to apply attend next Fall. Check colleges' website for admissions requirements and application process.

Check DEADLINES: You snooze you loose!

Reach School - You feel you'd never get into, but want to try
1st Choice School - Where you want to attend
2nd Choice School - Where you'd attend if you do not get accepted into "1st Choice School."
Fall Back School - A school where you're 100% sure you'll get in.

Naviance and Transcripts: You must add ALL colleges and request transcripts in Naviance. If you do not complete this process, your transcript will not be sent.

ACT/SAT: You will need to request your scores through ACT through ACT.org and/or SAT through collegeboard.org.

NOW - Next AUG

Scholarships: Continue to research scholarships. Remember Institutional Scholarships have different deadlines than the College Application. So check the DEADLINES!! You don't want to "Snooze and Loose!"

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SCHOLARSHIPS, PLEASE CLICK HERE!

Holistic Review

Many schools are moving to a “testing-optional” status this year and using a holistic review of applications. What is a “holistic review” of a college application?

Rigor: strong level of academic achievement demonstrated by grades
Taking advantage of College Prep courses (AP, CHS)
Taking full advantage of senior year
Demonstrating a positive grade trend
Review your college websites for school specific expectations
Some schools are not requiring standardized scores at all
Letter of Recommendations (if required by the college you're applying to)
College Essay/Personal Statement

ACT/SAT

ACT/SAT

TEST-OPTIONAL MEANS TEST-OPTIONAL

Per NACAC (National Association for College Admission Counseling), the COVID-19 pandemic has created uncertainty among students and families about nearly all aspects of the college admission process, including the role of standardized testing.

Due to the cancellation of SAT and ACT testing dates, more than 1,450 US colleges and universities announced they are moving to a test-optional policy, and more will surely follow.

Learn more on the NACAC website.

How do I choose the right college or university?

2-Year Colleges and Universities
4-Year Colleges and Universities

2-Year Colleges and Universities

2-year Community and Technical Colleges

Over 1000 across the US

Everyone can attend!
Semesters (Fall/Spring)
Quarters (Fall/Winter/Spring)
No ACT or SAT required
Typically Smaller class sizes
Must take an assessment test
Less tuition than 4-year college or universities
Offers transfer degree programs
Offers vocational certification programs
Offers 4-year college degrees on campus.

Local Community Colleges

Bellevue Community College

Cascadia Community College

Edmonds Community College

Everett Community College

Lake Washington Inst of Tech

Shoreline Community College

Whatcom Community College

4-Year Colleges and Universities

4-Year Colleges!

Must be accepted
Semesters or Quarters
Must take ACT or SAT (for most)
Class sizes can be upward to (400+)
Tuition varies (public and private)
Offers 4-year degree programs

Local Universities

Central Washington University

Digipen

Eastern Washington University

Evergreen University

Gonzaga

University of Washington

University of Washington (Bothell)

Washington State University

Western Washington University

Whitworth University

College Visits

Visiting a College?
How to Sign Up and Attend a College Visit at WHS

Visiting a College?

Here are some questions you might want to ask when you visit a college.

Academics

—How much time do students typically spend on homework?

—How much writing and reading are expected?

—What is the average class size of introductory classes?

—How widely used are teaching assistants on your campus?

—What is the average class size of upper-division courses?

Academic Perks

—What opportunities are there for undergraduate research?

—How many students participate in undergraduate research?

—Is there a culminating senior year experience?

—Do you have an honors college?

—Do you have a learning community or other freshman experience?

Financial Aid

—What is your average financial aid package?

—What is the typical breakdown of loans versus grants?

—What percentage of financial need does the school typically meet?

—What is the average merit award?

—What percentage of students receive college grants?

—What is the average college debt that students leave with?

—What work-study opportunities are there?

Graduation Track Record

—What is your four-year graduation rate? For my major?

—What is your five-year graduation rate?

—What does it take to graduate in four years?

—What percentage of freshmen return for sophomore year?

Academic Support

—What type of tutoring program do you have?

—How do you provide academic advice to students?

—Do you have a writing center and how do I access it?

—What kind of learning disability resources do you have?

Outside Opportunities

—How many students at the college get internships?

—What percentage of students study abroad?

—What type of career services do you have?

Student Life

—What kind of dorm choices are there?

—What percentage of student live on campus?

—How long are dorm accommodations guaranteed?

—How many students live on campus?

—Do most students go home on the weekend?

—What percentage of the study body belongs to a sorority or fraternity?

—What activities are offered to students?

—What clubs do you have on campus?

How to Sign Up and Attend a College Visit at WHS

STEP ONE: NEW NAVIANCE LOGIN INFORMATION FOR ALL STUDENTS

We are excited to announce that accessing NAVIANCE is going to be easier this year! Naviance is now part of the Clever Portal. Please log in to your Clever account, you will see the new Naviance icon/button under Learning Resources. When you click on the Naviance icon/button you will go directly into your Naviance account.

STEP TWO: Once you are signed in to Naviance -

You will find a WHAT’S NEW section on the bottom right of the page.
Click on SHOW MORE for a complete list of college visits.
Click on MORE INFO & REGISTER in order to sign-up for a college visit.
Then write down the visit on your planner or personal calendar.
On the day of the visit, log-in to Naviance and the virtual link will be active at the scheduled time.

How and when do I apply?

Types of Applications

Types of Applications

Applying to a Community College or Technical College can be done by visiting the colleges website!

Applying to a 4-year in/out of state public/private colleges will differ. Please visit the colleges website for application process and notate Application DEADLINES!!

Types of Applications

Common Application

Coalition Application

Universal Application

Colleges Website