NORTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL - College Application Process Class of 2022

NORTHWEST HIGH
SCHOOL
College Application
Process
Class of 2022

Objectives:
Students will be able to identify criteria used to
evaluate students in college admissions.

Students will be able to outline how to send transcripts
and letters of recommendation to colleges.

Northwest Counselors
A–Ber: Mr. Jeff Flach
Bes-Deb: Ms. Tamela McCarthy-Redd
Dec-Go: Ms. Christine Kravitz
Gp-Kak: Ms. Nancy Blanco
Kal-Map: Ms. Athena Cois
Maq-N: Mr. Austin Freeman
O-Ros: Ms. Sammy Kakoullis
Rot-Thn: Ms. Christina Kim
Tho-Z: Mr. Sean Stewart
Middle College & Early College Grade 11: Ms. Sue Bunting
Middle College & Early College Grade 12: Ms. Jodi Edmunds

Counseling Department Contacts
for College Resources & Transcript Requests
Ms. Rochelle Davis - College Career Information Coordinator
•The NWHS College Career Information Center (Room 126) has
information and resources to help with college research, career
planning, and financial aid/scholarships.
•Visit
 the Career Center webpage @
montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/northwesths/careercenter

Ms. Jackie Scholl - Registrar
The Registrar’s office processes all requests for transcripts.

4 Year College Bound
When considering a student for admission, colleges will
evaluate:
 ► Transcript
 ► GPA, Courses & Grades
 ► Testing (many schools will be Test Optional for fall 2022)
 ► SAT I, ACT and/or Accuplacer Scores
 ► Essay(s)
 ► Extracurricular Activities/Service
 ► Letters of Recommendation
 ► Possible Interview

The College Search
 ► Search and research colleges
 ► Target Schools
 ► Safety Schools
 ► Reach Schools

 ► Sign up for virtual college rep visits via Naviance
 ► Look at websites, communicate with college reps,
 virtual college fairs, and consider campus visits.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET TO COLLEGE?
 Top five Maryland colleges for Northwest seniors
 Salisbury Montgomery
 UMD College Park UMBC Towson
 College
Undergraduate enrollment Undergraduate Undergraduate Undergraduate Three campuses.
30,000+ enrollment enrollment: 19,000+ enrollment: 7,600+ Rockville campus
 10,000 + estimates 30,000+
 enrollment.
Priority deadline: Early Action Early Action deadline Early Decision (binding):
November 1 deadline: & Honors College: November 15 Montgomery
 November 1 December 1 Early Action: December College has an
 1 open admissions
 policy.
Test Optional for Fall 2022 Test Optional for Test Optional for Fall Test Optional for Fall College
entering freshmen. This Fall 2022 2022 entering 2022 entering freshmen. acceptance is
includes admission review entering freshmen. Scores are Scores are encouraged guaranteed to the
and merit based freshmen. encouraged for merit for merit scholarship high school
scholarship consideration. scholarship consideration. graduate.
 consideration.

Steps
 for
 College
 Application
 Process …

Step 1: The application
Go to the college website. Determine how to apply and
prepare for deadlines.
 • Application Types: Common App, Coalition App,
 Electronic/School Specific, or Paper/School Specific Application.
 • Application Deadline Types: Regular Decision, Early Action
 (Priority), Restrictive Early Action, and/or Early Decision.
Start working through the application. You will include basic
information about yourself, your high school, your classes and
extra curricular activities. This is also where you may be asked
to complete short answer questions and essay prompts.

Step 2: Colleges I’m Applying to
When you have finalized your list of schools that you plan to apply
to, make sure they are in the “Colleges I’m Applying To” section in
Naviance. If you are applying to colleges using the Common App
platform, once you add colleges to your dashboard, they will
automatically appear in Naviance Colleges I’m Applying To

• Sign-in My Favorites Colleges I’m Applying To 

 • Once you have done this, you are able to
 request teacher recommendation letters
 through Naviance Student (Step 7).

Step 3: Link accounts
When applying through Common App, Coalition App
or Edocs, you will have to link your account(s) to
Naviance.

• Sign-in Welcome Northwest
 Seniors Read More (button) 
 “How to match your Common App
 account”
• Step by step directions are shown
 in a video on the homepage of your
 Naviance student account.

Step 4: Complete FERPA Waiver
• FERPA is a federal law that protects the privacy of a student’s
 education records.
• In regards to college, a parent must authorize the school to send a
 student’s transcript as this is part of a student’s confidential
 record.
• Submit the Authorization to Release Records Form to the counseling
 office and electronically sign the privacy notice in Naviance waiving
 your right to see your recommendations.
• It is HIGHLY recommended that you check “yes” and waive your
 right to see/access recommendations.

Step 5: Request Transcripts
• Return the completed
 Authorization to Release
 Records to the counseling office
 & complete the transcript
 request google form.
• To find online: Northwest
 website Counseling Tab 
 Registrar’s Office and
 Transcript Request Link

Step 6: If needed, send SAT or ACT Scores
You will send scores
directly from College
Board or ACT to each https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/scores/sending-scores/how-to-send
college.
NWHS does not send
official scores.

 https://act.org/

Step 7: Request Letters of Recommendation
 ● Each college determines the number of recommendations
 needed so check the college website carefully.
 ● Complete your self evaluation survey in Naviance if you
 haven’t already. This is your brag sheet. Include all
 information that will help us “make you real” to the college
 admissions officer reading your application.
 ● Ask teachers that you would like to write a letter on your
 behalf. Follow up with an email request through Naviance.
 ● Allow teachers and your counselor at least 3 weeks to
 complete the recommendation letter.
 ● Log into your Naviance account to view video/steps to
 request.

Your application is complete when the
 college receives…

 ❏ The Application
 ❏ Test scores (if required)
 ❏ Transcript (school info)
 ❏ Letters of Recommendation (if required)

Naviance Login
 Northwest Website 
 Scroll down to see
 “Quick Links” Menu on
 the left hand side 
 select “Naviance”

 If you don’t remember your
 username/password, then you can use the
 Single Sign on Feature (next slide)

Naviance Single Sign On (SOS)
 Login to your school Scroll down until
1 gmail account 2 Click open the 3 and click on the
 mcpsmd.net Google waffle
 Naviance Icon.

 No separate sign on ID or
 password needed.

QUESTIONS?

With time remaining, let’s find:
 On Naviance:
❏ The “Colleges I am Applying to” List
❏ Common App Matching
❏ Teacher Recommendation Requests
❏ College Rep Visits Sign up
 On the Northwest Website:
❏ Authorization to Release Records Form
❏ Google Transcript Request From