DEADLINES! DEADLINES!

DEADLINES!
• Applications: Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision,
Rolling Admissions

• SAT/ACT Registration

• Senior Worksheet/Parent Brag Sheet

• Financial Aid

• Scholarships
 Early First Semester
Be Proactive!
• Research and visit colleges & use
NAVIANCE Family Connection!
• Develop a preliminary list of
colleges/universities
• Meet with your counselor
• Visit the college/career center
 Early First Semester
Be Proactive!
• Complete your Senior Worksheet and have your
parents complete their Brag Sheet. Submit
completed forms a.s.a.p. to your counselor.
• Work on college essays and scholarship
nomination form.
• Identify teachers/coaches, etc. for letters of
recommendation

• Participate in community service

 RESOURCE BOOKS

– Barron’s Profiles of American Colleges

– The College Board College Handbook
– Book of Majors
– Rugg’s Recommendation on the Colleges
– Colleges That Change Lives
– Fiske Guide to Colleges
 FIRST SEMESTER
• Attend college fairs

• THIS YEAR COUNTS! Continue to do

your best. Your first semester senior year
grades will be sent to colleges.
 USE SCHOOL RESOURCES
• Sign up for college visits at GMHS via
Naviance

• Read College/Career Center updates

• Request transcripts via Naviance
 COLLEGE REP. VISITS
Naviance is the only way to register for a GMHS college rep. visit
 COLLEGE REP. VISITS
Print the Confirmation page and have your teacher sign it.
This is your admission ticket.
 A BALANCED PORTFOLIO
• Once you know what colleges you are
interested in attending, create a list of
those schools.
Reach Schools – Less than 30%
Selection chance of gaining admission

Process Target Schools – 30%-60%

chance of gaining admission

Most Likely Schools – 60%-90%

chance of gaining admission
 TRANSCRIPT REQUEST
Under the Colleges tab, click on Transcripts
 REQUESTING TRANSCRIPTS
This is the only way to request transcripts for colleges, universities,
scholarships and the NCAA
TRANSCRIPT REQUESTS
REQUESTING TRANSCRIPTS FOR
SCHOLARSHIPS, ATHLETICS, ETC.
 KEY INFORMATION FOR THE
COLLEGE APPLICATION
PROCESS
Transcripts and/or counselor recommendations will be sent only
after the student makes a request through Naviance/Family
Connection for each college AND the student has met with his/her
counselor.

Allow at least three (3) weeks for the processing of the transcript
and counselor recommendation letter. Please be mindful that some
early decision deadlines are as soon as the beginning of October.

If you are applying to colleges with December 15 through mid-

January deadlines, you MUST complete all requests in
Naviance/Family Connections no later than December 1st!
 MORE KEY INFORMATION
Information you may need for your applications:
School address: George Mason High School
7124 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA 22043
School phone Number: (703) 248-5525
School Fax Number: (703) 248-5556
GMHS CEEB Code: 470795

Many of the schools you apply to allow the counselors to

send transcripts and recommendations electronically. You
MUST meet with your counselor to discuss this at the
beginning of the application process.
TEACHER RECOMMENDATION
REQUESTS
 Request in writing the recommendation
letter at least three weeks before the
due date

 Give the following to the teacher:

 A copy of Senior Worksheet and Parent brag

sheet

 The recommendation form, if applicable

 A stamped, business size envelope addressed

to the Admission’s Office of each school, if
applicable
 The due date for each school

 Many schools allow teacher recs to be sent

electronically. Discuss with your counselor.
 WHAT COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
COMMITTEES CONSIDER

• Transcript Grades: Colleges recommend that

you take the most challenging courses your
school offers in which you can be successful.

• Standardized Tests: SAT/ACT scores

• Extracurricular Activities: Stay
involved!

• The Essay: If you had two minutes to

sit down with the admissions
committee, what would you want
them to know about you?
• Letters of Recommendation: Be
sure to check each school’s specific
requirements!

• Personal Interview: Be yourself and

be prepared to answer and ask
questions!
 THE COLLEGE ESSAY

• Some college applications ask for a personal

statement while other colleges have specific
questions they want you to answer.

• One topic for your college essay may be a story

that captures a moment in time-- a day in your
life, a turning point, or a brief encounter that had
a significant effect.

• A good essay makes an applicant come alive for

the evaluator!
 DECISIONS! DECISIONS!
DECISIONS!
• Weigh the pros/cons of your admissions’
offers
• Visit schools again to help make your final
decisions
• Continue to use resources
• Continue to work hard in your classes
• Request IB transcripts for
colleges/universities
• Communicate your final decision to your
counselor!!!!!!!
 FINAL THOUGHTS…
• There are more than 3,600 colleges to choose from.
You are bound to find more than a handful of schools
you would be interested in attending.

• The statement that says, “the harder it is to get into a

school, the better the school” is a myth. It is not
true! The college application process is about finding
a good match for you. There are many factors to
consider when choosing a college.

“College is a match to be made, not a

prize to be won.” (Colleges That Change Lives)