<p>Our school ended up with 3 NMSF this year, which is great for us. We usually have one or two, but haven’t had a finalist in several years. Maybe this year…One of the semi-finalists is a girl who lives across the street from us. She’s really sweet, so I’m happy for her. The other two are my son’s gaming buddies. No surprises, but happy for all of them. The list was in the paper - I was amazed at how many NMSF some of the suburban schools had - 30 or 40 each. Amazing! We just don’t have that kind of competitive atmosphere at our school, and I like it that way.</p>
<p>AMA- we have Naviance and they don’t use it for LORs or GC recs. they snail mail them. We get to pay $5 each, plus the stamps.
Went to senior parent night tonight. I wanted to scream; they knew far, far less than even the least informed among us know… Trust me here. In the first place they spent about 30 minutes combined extolling the virtues of the community colleges nearby. I have no issue with these, but seriously- those were not the 20% of the senior parents in attendance. So then we broke into small groups. Here we discovered how to have the kids ask for LORs and transcripts. We were told they don’t know any schools except the very selective ones who want the writing portion of the SAT and its pointless. That would be, uh, both our state flagships, to which I’d bet 25% of the class apply- plus all the Ivys…and studies show the writing part is the best indicator of college success… Then, on to subject tests. They are generally optional, we were told. Worry not about them… And by the way, community college is great…and you had best be sure your kid is doing most of the questioning and such, because if they aren’t, they should consider (wait for it) community college! Did I mention the new GC went to the local community college? In the end, I learned nothing. I did however help some confused people as we walked out.
Oh, and last year the old GC wrote D’s rec and a few others and leftbthem for the new perosn. I asked the GC if she had them? She has a box of stuff, she said. She has not looked at it. It’s in a safe place. I can email her and she will check. Thank goodness my youngest child has a GC from another county high school which is top notch. I do believe he is getting another senior to deal with, because clearly we aren’t going to get answers here.</p>
<p>So I’m going to ask you guys my two unanswered questions which were not answered though I did ask.
- With the common app, which my child has not yet started, I keep hearing that you cane give different versions to different schools. How does this work? Once you log in to the CA, can you save different versions? This is the thing we will work on this weekend…
- Secondly, just out of curiosity, why are AP test not interchangeable with subject tests if you have some you want to send? Think about it- the college board writes both. The curriculum at all schools is going to vary slightly so no matter which test you take, you will have learned, or had emphasis placed upon some things while another school looked at other topics… So neither test is taken by kids with exactly equal knowledge of the material… yet both are ‘standardied’ tests which give an idea of a child’s mastery of a topic… If an AP is not offered or was not taken, a subject test could be taken, but why not let them submit their choice? So much less stress for the kids, I think.</p>
<p>89wahoo … This makes me happy we don’t have Navience at D’s school. I think it would be a nightmare. Unfortunately, I think our Senior night will be about the same next week. Scratch that. I doubt they’ll spend more than 10 mins on college info. It’ll be an hour of prom, grad bash & senior picnic info. (none of which happen until the second half of the school year).</p>
<p>On a happier note, I’m glad you were able to help some of the poor, unfortunate souls who were befuddled by the whole evening!!</p>
<p>I can’t find the post new threads can someone please message me a link? I would like to start a post for Questbridge applicants without any SAT or ACT score by the upcoming season 28th deadline…</p>
<p>Ama308-the schools will see whatever the GC sends,nothing more. If your school sends all scores though, they will see that. Our school sends transcripts, GC report and LOR through the Common App/Naviance. Also, it isn’t really what the school sends so much as it is what the college accepts. Not all school accept electronic documents so those have to be sail mailed.</p>
<p>89wahoo–each college asks a little different information on the Common app so kids have to go through each app and make sure they answer all the questions. If you wanted to have a different essay for each school you could upload different essays or I THINK you submit the apps you want one way, make changes and submit the other apps.</p>
<p>AP/SATII’s-there is a spot on the common app to list both so that is ok. Several schools we looked into use SATII’s for placement (foreign language, math mostly). Those same schools did not accept AP credits in your major and only as elective credits for 4, 5 in subjects outside of your major-actually not even “credit” but exemption from taking that elective class. Keep in mind that you don’t actually have to take the AP class to take the AP test and get credit for that “class”–which is why a lot of better colleges are not offering credit for the AP’s any more. </p>
<p>carimama-Naviance is actually very handy. You input the schools where you are applying, they show deadlines, progress of your submissions (if they have your transcripts, LOR’s, etc.). It links with the Common App so everything can be sent together/tracked together. How each school uses this is different though.</p>
<p>Ama38, our school uses Naviance. Through Naviance, the school sends transcripts, LORs, and mid-term and final progress reports (they will send electronically wherever possible, but some schools, at least 3 years ago, still required paper). It is the student’s responsibility to submit the application through the Common App or the school, as well as all test scores. Oh, and if the student has dual enrollment somewhere, it is his/her responsibility to have that transcript sent separately, as the HS transcript just says “College Class,” but not what it is or what the grade might be. And of course, everything requires payment.</p>
<p>We just switched to naviance this fall. My DD is waiting for her tutorial today so we can start sending applications. </p>
<p>89-Yes, you can create different versions for common ap. I believe the limit is 10, however it isn’t recommended to personalize since you usually do this via supplements.</p>
<p>My DD is headed for a diversity weekend at Harvey Mudd today. She really enjoyed Dartmouth’s program so I hope she likes this one as well. I downloaded all college supplements so she can start on plane ride. Her AP English teacher said they will focus on college essays for a week so the timing is perfect.</p>
<p>Everyone have a great day!</p>
<p>SWIZZLE:We have our Senior parent night tonight; but what I recall from a meeting last spring about LOR’s—Naviance only allows for two LOR (other than the guidance counselor) to be uploaded; however, if you have another LOR, you give that teacher (or coach or whomever) a paper version and have them snail mail it. You have to supply the self-addressed (of the school) envelope and the stamps. If I hear differently, I’ll let you know!</p>
<p>Feeling a little better about things today. </p>
<p>Have a meeting today with my DS and his GC. Hopefully then I will get my questions answered about how the application process works at his school (requesting LOR, transcripts, etc). Also yesterday got a phone call from my DS’s Transitions teacher ( a course for seniors to help with the application process, essay writing etc.) in response to an email I sent to her. Wanted to make sure she was aware of some EA deadlines he has of Nov 1st. She said he is coming along fine with his applications, etc. Open House is next week so I will be able to find out more info that night, too.</p>
<p>ConfusedMom how great that your HS offers the transistions course I wish our school had something like that!</p>
<p>Drmom123 if you have the option to get more LORS, couldnt you just send the invite through the CA for the other two and have them upload electronically that way?</p>
<p>Wahoo Once you submit an app to one school, you cant change the app to them; however, you can change the app and submit a revised version to other schools. So presumably you could change it each time for each school. I dont see a way to save different versions to go back to them. You can see a pdf of each application you submit though, so in a way, they are saved. </p>
<p>I dont understand the SATII/AP thing either. I do know that the SATII covers the equivalent of HIGH SCHOOL material whereas the AP covers the college course. I understand that some dont have the AP course available to them. That doesnt explain why those that have taken the AP also have to submit and SATII seems a little backwards. Maybe they want apples to apples comparison, but most likely they just want to make more money.</p>
<p>LOR’s - almost all of D’s colleges want 2 academic LOR’s and one from the GC. She gave the envelopes/resumes to her teachers a week ago, and got an e-mail from U Rochester already that they had received one. That was fast! She had asked the teachers last spring if they would be willing to write one, so maybe he started earlier? I also love the fact they they let her know it had arrived.</p>
<p>mamabear1234–I would double check that. According to the U of R’s site they want one LOR and one Counselor report.</p>
<p>“Step 5.Send us your high school transcript showing at least 3 years of grades; your official SAT or ACT scores*; and a letter of recommendation from a teacher or guidance counselor.”</p>
<p>Again, 3 LOR isn’t even required for Ivy’s.</p>
<p>Yes, I did say ALMOST - U of Roch is the exception - check Swarthmore, Haverford, Pomona, Wash U, U Chicago, Northwestern, Carleton, Bowdoin, Colby, Wesleyan!</p>
<p>Haverford - You should ask school officials to send:
School Report with most current Transcript (including 1st quarter grades if applying ED), School Profile and Counselor Report
Two Teacher Evaluations (English, Math, Science, Social Studies or Foreign Language).</p>
<p>Swarthmore - Secondary School Report
Guidance Counselor Recommendation
Two Academic Subject Teacher Evaluations (pdf). </p>
<p>Pomona - Secondary School Report <a href=“also%20available%20through%20the%20Common%20Application%20Web%20site”>pdf</a>
Two Teacher Evaluations/Recommendations <a href=“submitted%20via%20Common%20Application%20or%20mail”>pdf</a></p>
<p>Believe me, I have checked!</p>
<p>89Wahoo: if you’d posted about your senior night last week, I’d have sworn we were at the same HS 
I was counseling on the side using my smart phone. We didn’t get the community college spiel, but had credit recovery info and NCAA req’s explained over & over. Dude!</p>
<p>Ended up going to the college thing last night. It was fine. D talked to the Brown rep & found out that once you submit your app, they’ll set you up for a local alumni interview. She got a little stressed with all the common app talk, but then was talking about her plan to knock off a few more apps over the weekend.</p>
<p>S2 pushed the button on his Common Apps last night - 4 schools down! Now just 3 music conservatories left. They all have their own applications and have prescreens to submit, so those probably won’t get done until November. Just has to deliver paper LOR forms to counselor on Monday and we’re done for a while! </p>
<p>We have a senior night next week. I’d like to go for the cameraderie and the dinner (catered from my favorite restaurant) but I’m afraid that none of the info will pertain to S2. Not my first rodeo! Plus I know that they are going to recruit people to help with fundraising and planning for Grad night and I want to stay as far away from that as possible. None of my kids ever go to Grad Night anyway (too lame!).</p>
<p>RobD & 89Wahoo - I think I attended the same senior night last week. Except so many of the people asking questions seemed completely clueless as well. About half of it was a discussion about the differences between EA, ED, RD and Rolling. ED II seemed to put everyone over the top! I asked D if her eyes were rolling at the questions, and she said no - she was totally asleep during the discussion. 
Good use of time!</p>
<p>D goes on 3 OV’s the next few weekends. I think she is excited but nervous about the trips. She doesn’t know what to expect. I am hoping that it helps her clarify what she wants from a college. Right now she is just all over the place.</p>
<p>Ama - as far as I know, colleges do not have access to Naviance information. Our Naviance is “linked” with the CA for LOR purposes which means teachers use Naviance to write their LOR and it’s then sent to the CA. I think maybe for transcripts too. The hs kept stressing that the paper transcript request had to match the “colleges I’m applying to” list on Naviance.</p>
<p>Mommydearest - since Naviance and CA are linked, the option on the CA to invite teachers is turned off explaining that his school uses Naviance for that.</p>
<p>MommyDearest: good question! I don’t know the answer to that one.(extra LOR’s being submitted through the common app as opposed to Naviance) I’ll ask that tonight at Senior Parent night—</p>