Guiding Students Through the College Application · Guiding Students to College commonapp.org 15....

Guiding Students Through the College ApplicationScott Anderson, The Common Application (VA)

NACAC Essentials: Fort Worth

February 5, 2016

Approaching the College Application

How Common App Can Help

Common App Ready: A Powerful, Flexible Advising Tool

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Your Questions

Agenda

Showcase

their

talents

Highlight

their

goals

Tell their

personal

stories

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Understanding the College Application

The application provides context for understanding the student

Students can use the application to:

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Testing

Activities

Writing

Profile

Profile

Family

Education

Parts of the College Application

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The Anatomy of the College Application

The Profile SectionBasic demographic information

The Family SectionInformation about family circumstances and members, including their education history

• Profile

• Family

• Education

• Testing

• Activities

• Writing

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The Anatomy of the College Application

The Education Section Schools attended, current coursework, education interruptions, honors and awards

The Testing SectionSelf-reported scores for any of the following standardized tests: ACT, SAT/SAT Subject, AP, IB, TOEFL, PTE Academic, and IELTS

• Profile

• Family

• Education

• Testing

• Activities

• Writing

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The Anatomy of the College Application

Activities SectionHow students spend time outside the classroom, including work and family responsibilities

Writing SectionPersonal essay, disciplinary history, optional additional information

• Profile

• Family

• Education

• Testing

• Activities

• Writing

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What Students are Writing About

47%

22%

17%

10%4%

Background,

Identity, Interest,

or Talent

Transition from

Childhood to Adulthood

Lessons

from Failure

Problem SolvingChallenging an Idea

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How Common App Can Help

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The Common Application is a not-for-profit membership organization

committed to the pursuit of access, equity, and integrity

in the college admissions process.

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Members at a Glance

620+ Colleges from 47 states + DC

100 public universities

9 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)

33 international universities from 14 countries

More than 250 with no application fee

Not-for-Profit

Undergraduate degree-granting

Properly accredited

2014-2015 At A Glance

School Affiliation (Applicants)

73.9% Public

10.3% Independent

13.3% Religious

2.3% Charter

<1% Homeschool

Total Reach: 212 countries

and territories

90.5% US

9.5% International

3.7 million

Applications Submitted

14.3 million

Recommendation Forms Submitted

4.58 Average Submission

per First-Year Applicant

864,276 Unique

Applicants

54% Female

46%Male

32%First

Generation

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Common App in Your Area

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6.2%

7.0%

7.9%

8.1%

16.0%

Texas A&M University

UT Austin

Texas Christian University *

University of North Texas *

UT Arlington

201Unique

FWISD

Common

Applicants

from Class of

2015

According to a 2011 report, 45% of FWISD graduating seniors who matriculate to a four-year college attend one of these five:

* Common App member

The Counselor’s Toolbox

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Common App Website

Tools & Resources

Create a student test account

Requirements Grid

The Virtual Counselor

Solutions Center

Account Rollover

Common App Ready

Guiding Students to College

commonapp.org15

Middle School

9th Grade

10th Grade

11th Grade

12th Grade

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Title

LEARN

Absorb knowledge,

develop skills and

study habits

Every year of a student’s academic career provides a different set of skills and experiences that prepare a student for college

EXPLORE

Explore opportunities,

challenge yourself, try

something new

GROW

Strengthen skills and

maintain involvement

in activities

FOCUS

Focus on grades,

entrance exams,

college search, and

yourself

APPLY

Apply your

knowledge,

apply to colleges and

scholarships

The Virtual Counselor

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Ultimate goal of advancing college access

All students should feel supported throughout the college preparation and application process

Unfortunately, many students around the country – and the world – are at a disadvantage, as they lack helpful resources they can turn to for trusted guidance

The Virtual Counselor serves as an online content library filled with college-related advice for students and parents. Topics range from high school course selection to financial aid and everything in between

24.7.365 Applicant Chat Training Resources

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Solutions Center

New portal

Visual appeal

Friendly language

Piloted Applicant chat starting October 6

during peak hours as another support channel for our

applicants

More short videos for all areas of the system and beyond. Partner

webinars and new and improved Help Topics

appsupport.commonapp.org

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The Application Solutions Center helps students, parents, and counselors with questions regarding the application

recsupport.commonapp.org

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The Recommender Solutions Center answers questions for teachers and counselors regarding recommendations

Account Rollover

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Accounts created in 2015-2016 will carry over to 2016-2017 and beyond

User name, password, and Common App data will all be preserved

Counselors can introduce their students to Common App and the college application process as early as makes sense for their needs

When paired with Common App Ready, account rollover makes for a flexible, powerful college advising tool

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Comprehensive training resource covering all aspects of the application system, from account creation to submission

Ready-to-present slide decks with accompanying scripts to make your training sessions as easy as possible

Designed to fit your needs: present the slides all at once or in multiple workshops as your schedule allows

A complement to the Solutions Center training videos

commonapp.org/ready

commonapp.org #commonappready

THE PROFILE SECTION

© 2015 The Common Application

• A comprehensive training resource

• Ready-to-present slide decks

• Introduction to the Common Application

• Getting Started

• Searching and Adding Colleges

• Explanations of the following sections: Profile, Family,

Education, Testing, Activities, Writing

• Payment and Submission

What is Common App Ready?

24© 2015 The Common Application

• Schedule a workshop for your students, parents,

colleagues, or anyone else who would benefit from

learning about the Common Application

• Organize your workshop(s) around your needs by

presenting the slides all at once or in multiple sessions

• Use the accompanying guide (also recorded in the footer

notes of each slide) as your script

• Direct participants to our training videos for more

information: appsupport.commonapp.org

How to use Common App Ready

25© 2015 The Common Application

Please begin your presentation

with the next slide.

Now YOU are Common App Ready

26© 2015 The Common Application

commonapp.org #commonappready

THE PROFILE SECTION

© 2015 The Common Application

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Sign in to your account

Pro-tip: Bookmark

apply.commonapp.org

© 2015 The Common Application

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Navigate to the Common App tab

© 2015 The Common Application

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Profile Section overview

© 2015 The Common Application

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Profile Section overview

The Profile section includes:

• Personal information

• Your address

• Your phone numbers

• Background

• Languages you speak

• Your citizenship

• Scholarship Information

• Request for a fee waiver

© 2015 The Common Application

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Scholarship Information

Pro-tip: Scholar Snapp

connects students with

scholarships.

© 2015 The Common Application

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Fee WaiversOne fee

waiver will

cover all of

your

Common

App

submissions

© 2015 The Common Application

Connect with the Common App

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Blog: http://www.commonapp.org/whats-appening

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commonapp

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonApp

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/CommonAppMedia

Working Together to Support Student Success

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Parents/Legal Guardians

Teachers

Colleges

Counselors

Outside Recommenders

The Common ApplicationStudent

Q & A

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Thank You!

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We appreciate the work that you do!

For questions, comments, or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Scott Anderson

sanderson@commonapp.org

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