Special Edition - College & Career
September 2020
Inside this Issue:
2. College Applications
3. Transcript Requests
- How to request transcripts via Naviance
- Self Reported Academic Record (SRAR)
- Initial vs. Mid Year vs. Final
4. Naviance - Link
5. Requesting Letters of Recommendation via Naviance
6. Common Application - Link
7. Common Application - Senior Class Demographic Information
8. Common Application Video
9. Linking Common Application to Naviance
10. Application Submission Type
11. College Fair and Admissions Panel Information
12. Financial Aid
- Virtual Financial Aid Night
- Borrowing for Higher Education Webinar
- FAFSA Completion Event
13. PHEAA Additional Resources
14. Contact your Counselors
Virtual Career Expo - Invent & Advance Your Career!
The virtual event is scheduled for Wednesday, September 16, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on the ZOOM platform.
Connect with recruiters and employers from diverse fields throughout our region — including healthcare, information technology, manufacturing, retail, human services, the oil and gas industry, and much more. This year, we are hosting the event entirely online.
Join us for a virtual career expo, as we invite more than a dozen local employers to connect with job seekers through Zoom video, audio or text chat.
Prior to the event, you will receive an email with a link to potential employers virtual booths in order to talk to them via video chat, audio or text. In addition to job seeking sessions, Penn Commercial will be offering a virtual breakout session on job training and continuing your education. Blueprints will be hosting two breakout sessions to discuss interview and resume tips as well.
Job Fair – Companies That Are Hiring (Virtual Booths)
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Career Training and Education Webinar Presented by Penn Commercial
11: 00 a.m. – 11:20 a.m. Medical Programs: Practical Nursing, Medical Assistant and Phlebotomy
11:25 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Spa and Salon: Toni & Guy and Esthetics
11:50 a.m. – 12:10 p.m. Tech Programs: CADD and Information Technology & Security
12:10 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. Trade School Programs: HVAC, Welding, Electricians and CDL
Preparing for Your Job Search - Webinars
12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Resumes and Resume Writing
2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Preparing for the Job Interview
College Applications
Do you know your College Application Deadline Date?? You better write it down!!
Transcript Request
How to Request Transcripts via Naviance
From "Colleges I'm Thinking About"
Step 1: Log in to Naviance Student
Step 2: Navigate to Colleges > Colleges I’m Thinking About.
Step 4: Click Move to Application List.
- Drop-down menu (select the accurate responses):
- Application Deadline
- How will you apply? (common app or directly)
Step 5: Select "Initial" Transcript
Step 6: Since we do not include test scores on our PTHS transcripts, leave the boxes under "What additional materials, if any, do you want included?" blank. Standardized test scores (SAT, ACT, AP Scores, SAT Subject Tests) must be sent directly from your account in College Board (https://www.collegeboard.org/) and/or ACT (https://www.act.org/).
Step 7: If you have already sent in your application, select the checkbox labeled I’ve already sent my application. If not, leave it unchecked.
Step 8: "Submit and Request Transcripts"
From "Colleges I'm Applying To"
1. Click the Add button (+ sign).
2. From "Which college are you applying to?" use the drop-down or type the name of the desired college and select from the matches.
3. From "App Type" click the drop-down to identify your answer.
4. From "I’ll submit my application?" click the drop-down to identify your answer.
5. If you have already sent in your application, select the checkbox labeled I’ve submitted my application. If not, leave it unchecked.
Self Reported Academic Record (SRAR)
Some schools are now requesting students complete a self reported academic record. This is essentially the same as sending over your transcript. Students will enter all of their High School courses from 9th-12th grade, with the final grade they received in the course. Some schools might also ask for you to report your 8th grade year. Before doing so, call the admissions office. It is often that they are ONLY looking for the Math and Foreign Language course students had taken in their 8th grade year.
**These are schools that the counseling office DOES NOT send INITIAL transcripts to however, FINAL transcripts will be sent if you decide to attend.
Commonly Applied to Schools that Utilize Self-Reporting of Grades:
1. PSU
2. Pitt
3. Ohio State
4. WVU
*** These are not all schools that have the SRAR in their application. Make sure you are reading ALL the instructions in the application.
If you are submitting the Common Application for Penn State and University of Pittsburgh, you MUST submit your Common Application first. The schools will then send you an email to complete your SRAR. Check your spam/junk folders!!
Initial vs. Mid Year vs. Final Transcript Request
Initial
Initial transcripts are requested at the very beginning of the College Application process. Typically August-November/December if a student is applying for the Rolling Admission, Early Decision, or Early Action deadlines.
Mid Year
A school can request your mid year transcript. This includes your Semester One grades (Q1 & Q2) of Senior Year. Not all schools will request to see these. If the school wishes to have these grades, they will send you an email or a letter indicating they do and where to send the transcript.
Final
You will only request your final transcript for the school you have committed to and plan to attend. This will occur at the very end of your senior year and will be sent by your counselor once the grades are finalized.
Letters of Recommendation
How to request letters of recommendation via Naviance
Teachers will need to upload and send your letters of recommendation through Naviance once they are written. You will have the capability to request them in your senior year.
In August, it is important that you request your teachers in Naviance with a note reminding them of your request and Naviance being the location they upload your letter.
Below are the steps you will need to take to request your teachers in Naviance:
1. Log in to Naviance Student
2. Navigate to Colleges > Colleges I'm Applying To
Step 1: Select the Letters of Recommendation Link.
(Note: remind your teachers of your application deadline and don't forget to say thank you!)
Class of 2021 Demographic Information for Common Application
Class Size: 373
Date of HS Entry: 8/2017
Date of HS Graduation: 6/2021
GPA Scale: 4.0
GPA Weighting: Weighted
Class Rank: NONE
Scheduling System: Semester
FERPA: My Colleges Tab > Waive your right
Match to Naviance Account
Common Application Overview
Linking Common Application to Naviance
If you are applying through the Common Application System you must link your Naviance and Common App accounts. This allows all supporting material to be sent to colleges. If you do not link your accounts we cannot submit Transcripts, Teacher Rec Letters, Counselor Rec Letters, or the supporting academic information and School Profile.
1. Navigate to Colleges > Colleges I'm Applying Too
2. Click on: Match Accounts to the right of the screen
3. Type in your email used for the common application system
4. Click on the Submit button
5. If you receive an error message you must ensure you have done the following:
- Add your school information under Education
- Add a College to your CA Portal c. Complete your FERPA waiver
Application Submission Type
Colleges/Universities are accepting applications various different ways. Students can decide how they would prefer to complete the application process. However, the student must mark the submission type in Naviance correctly and accurately so their counselor can send the student's transcript to the appropriate channel. If a student applies through the Common Application, they must link their Common App to Naviance.
Common Application: many schools accept applications through the Common Application. Students utilize this by opening an account on commonapp.org and completed all pieces to the application.
Coalition: some schools also accept applications through the Coalition. If this is the case, please see your counselor and talk with them about the application process. You would mark in Naviance "directly to institution.
College Fair and Admissions Panel Information
SAVE THE DATE - South Hills Virtual College Fair
Northeast Publics Universities Admissions Panel
Join us for a special virtual event on Thursday, October 8, at 7:00 PM. Northeast Public Universities Admissions Panel, with Binghamton University, University of Delaware, Stony Brook University, University of Maryland, University of Pittsburgh, Penn State, University of Connecticut, and Rutgers will present virtually.
Learn about each university’s academic programs, student life and the application process. You’ll be able to provide questions to be answered in advance of the event and hear them answered live.
Financial Aid
Virtual Financial Aid Night - presented by PHEAA
**It might take a few minutes to download.
Borrowing for Higher Education
Following up on the highly successful "Covering The Gap" webinar series, PHEAA now offers a series of one-hour webinars focused more specifically on the borrowing aspect of higher education finance. A significant percentage of students find that grants, scholarships, work-study, savings, PA529, and other funding sources are insufficient to meet the total cost of attending postsecondary school. In an ideal situation, borrowing would not be necessary; yet, considering the lifelong value of a higher education, borrowing can be a smart investment. Linda Pacewicz and Dan Wray of PHEAA's PA Forward Private Student Loan Program will provide an in-depth look at federal and private education loans, to include calculating the amount to borrow, understanding loan terms and conditions, navigating the application process, keeping an eye on debt levels while attending college, and effectively managing debt after graduation. The discussion will also provide a glimpse into the world of credit decisions. Please register below to join us for one or more of these informative presentations. Active participation is encouraged via Q&A!
FAFSA Completion Event - October 13, 2020
Daytime Event: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM - One-on One FAFSA Completion Help via phone or webex - Must contact Jayeann Harr at jharr@pheaa.org or 412-904-8545 to schedule a 45 minute session
Evening Event: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM - FAFSA Overview via webex - click link below to register
Evening Event Duration: 2 hours
Evening Event Description: Join PHEAA for a Virtual FAFSA Webinar from the comfort of your home! The FAFSA is used to determine if students qualify for almost all forms of need-based financial assistance and families should submit their FAFSA as early as possible after October 1 to ensure meeting earlier financial aid deadlines that may be required by selected schools. The presentation is designed for college-bound seniors and their parents and will provide an in depth review of the application process. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions in the Q & A section at the end of the presentation. You must register at the link below in order to participate.
To assist you in better understanding the financial aid process, listed below are links to PHEAA publications on the financial aid process. Additional publications are available on the PHEAA web site and hard copies can be ordered online.
Tips:
Create an FSA ID prior to the event: Fsaid.ed.gov
Create ID for parent and student (only 1 parent needs to create an ID)
Both student and parent will need to verify a code through email and text to create the ID
Have 2019 Tax Returns Available
PHEAA Additional Resources
PT Counseling Office
Class of 2021-2023: A-Di
Class of 2024 and Beyond: A-C
Ms. Courtney Riggle; rigglec@pt-sd.org
Class of 2021-2023: Dj-Kl
Class of 2024 and Beyond: D-Hh
Ms. Alyssa Simmons; simmonsa@pt-sd.org
Class of 2021-2023: Km-M
Class of 2024 and Beyond: Hi-Mh
Mrs. Heather Prinsen; prinsenh@pt-sd.org
Class of 2021-2023: N-Sk
Class of 2024 and Beyond: Mi-Se
Mr. Jeff Sudol; sudolj@pt-sd.org
Class of 2021-2023: Sl-Z
Class of 2024 and Beyond: Sf-Z
Mrs. Leyna Steffen; steffenl@pt-sd.org
Dean of College and Career Readiness