Class 2023 College Checklist
Nolan Catholic High School
SPRING OF JUNIOR YEAR - May & June
Use Naviance Student to research colleges and begin making a college list!
- Research careers, colleges and universities using Naviance. Think about what is most important to you in a college - price, location, field of study? See tutorial links below.
- Add colleges you are interested in to the "Colleges I'm thinking about" list in Naviance.
- Do you have a safe school, good fit school, and a reach school or two? If you're unsure, use the Compare me and Scattergram tools in Naviance, look at the school's website for admission trends, or ask your counselor to determine competitiveness.
Safe, Good Fit, or Reach School? NAVIANCE CAN HELP YOU! (GPA's have been updated as of June 1, 2022)
- SAFE SCHOOL: Your grades and test scores are above average for these schools.
- GOOD FIT SCHOOL or MATCH: Your grades and scores are average for these schools.
- REACH SCHOOL: Your grades and scores are below average for these schools.
Use Naviance to help you determine your admissibility!
- COMPARE ME (open college list, see compare me button in upper right corner)
- SCATTERGRAM (open college list, click on college name, open admission tab)
GPA = Cumulative Weighted GPA at the end of your Junior year!
SAT Test Score = highest combined EBWR + Math
2. LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
Letters of Recommendation - Follow the Process!
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO ?
- 1st - Complete the FERPA Release in Naviance (about me > surveys)
- 2nd - Complete the Letter of Rec Questions in Naviance (about me > surveys)
- 3rd - Create a RESUME for your writers using Naviance (about me > resume)
- 4th - ASK 2 teachers and/or counselor to write a letter of recommendation for you.
- 5th - When the above 4 things are done, complete this GOOGLE form HERE.
WHO, HOW, WHEN?
DO YOU NEED LETTERS OF REC?
✓ YES! Letters of recommendation can strengthen your application and many scholarships require at least one.
WHO SHOULD YOU ASK?
✓ A TEACHER who taught you Junior or Senior year in a core subject—English, math, science, social studies, science, or world language.
HOW MANY RECOMMENDATIONS?
✓ A letter of recommendation from 2 TEACHERS!
HOW DO YOU ASK?
✓ In person! “Would you be willing to write me a positive letter of rec?”
WHEN DO YOU ASK?
✓ Ask 4 weeks prior to your deadline!
3. SAT and/or ACT -- MAKE A TEST PLAN
SAT Test Dates 2022-2023 school year
REGISTER at Collegeboard.org
ACT Test Dates 2022-2023 School Year
4. REVIEW COLLEGE APPLICATION RESOURCES
College Counseling Newsletters!
- Monthly To Do List for students and parents
- Financial Aid and FAFSA information
- College news and events
- New information each month
- SCHOLARSHIPS!
NetPrice Calculator -- How much will a college cost?
"Safe means admissible and affordable!" Video tutorial HERE!
SUMMER BEFORE SENIOR YEAR - July & August 2022
Update Naviance
- Add all the schools to which you're applying to Naviance, "Colleges I'm applying to" list.
- How will you submit your application? Which application are you using? Common Application or Direct to the Institution (choose this for ApplyTexas).
- Application Type? Which deadline will you use, Early Action, Early Decision, Regular Action?
2. COLLEGE APPLICATIONS
Which college applications are you using? Common App? Apply Texas? Other?
Aug 1- Common Application
- Create a Common Application and begin the application. Application opens August 1!
- Match your Common Application and Naviance -- see video for instructions HERE
- Update Naviance "Colleges I'm applying to" list -- add application type and application deadline.
Common Application 2022-2023 Updates
Common App welcomes over 50 new colleges and universities for the 2022-2023 application season! Including:
- Texas A&M University (TX)
- The University of Texas at Austin (TX)
- Stephen F Austin State University (TX)
Tarleton State University (TX)
- McMurry University (TX)
- Hardin-Simmons University (TX)
- Abilene Christian University (TX)
Common Application - Tips and Best Practices to Complete each Section
- Use your legal name.
- Enter your social security number if you are interested in financial aid, merit scholarships, or federal or state loans or grants.
- Use an email that you check often.
- Common App Fee Waiver - if you're not sure if you qualify --ask your Guidance Counselor.
Common App - Education Section
- Date of Entry: August 2019 (unless you transferred to Nolan Catholic)
- Graduation Date: May 2023
- Counselor contact information: Mrs. Johnson, sjohnson@nchstx.org; Dr. Quarles, squarles@nchstx.org; Mrs. Martin, nmartin@nchstx.org, Mrs. Perales, tperales@nchstx.org.
- Counselor title: Counselor
- Phone number: 817-457-2920 (do not add the extension)
- Colleges and Universities: If you are currently taking or have taken a Dual Credit Class add Tarrant Community College.
- Grading Information
Class Rank Reporting: None
Class Size - 169
GPA Reporting Scale - 100
GPA Weighting - Weighted - Current or Most Recent Year Courses
List Senior year courses from most academic to least.
Course title should be clear to someone who does not attend Nolan Catholic - Honors - Example would be Honor Roll or National Honor Society
JULY 1 - ApplyTexas
- Create an ApplyTexas account and begin the application.
- Application opens July 1 for most Texas schools.
- Application open Aug 1 for University of Texas at Austin & Texas AM.
- Update Naviance "Colleges I'm applying to" list -- add application type and application deadline.
3. SAT OR ACT?
4. TRANSCRIPT REQUESTS
Request a Transcript via Naviance
You must request a transcript be sent by your Guidance Counselor to each school you are applying to!
- Naviance > Colleges I'm apply in to > request transcript link at the top of the page.
- Choose INITIAL TRANSCRIPT (grades through the end of Junior year)
Fall of Senior Year
1. College Applications, Transcripts, Letters of Recommendation
- Add all colleges to which you are applying to Naviance's "Colleges I'm applying to list"
- Submit applications for Early Action and Early Decision consideration by the deadline!
- Send ACT or SAT scores if required. Talk to your counselor if you're unsure whether you should send scores
- Request a Transcript be sent to each school you've applied to. (Naviance > Colleges I'm applying to > Request Transcript)
- Transcripts will be sent to colleges when a TRANSCRIPT REQUEST has been submitted via Naviance.
- Letters of Recommendation will be sent to all colleges (per each school's guidelines) in your "Colleges I'm applying to" list once a TRANSCRIPT REQUEST has been completed.
Please note! The application deadlines do not apply to these supporting documents (transcripts and letters of recommendation) but counselors will do their best to meet all deadlines.
2. Financial Aid and Scholarship Forms
- FAFSA! OPENS OCTOBER 1, 2022.
This is required to be eligible for Federal Aid (loans, work study, grants), State Aid, and MOST Scholarships! - CSS Profile -- do any of your schools require this additional financial aid application form?
Winter and Spring of Senior Year
1. College Applications
- Submit college applications for Regular Action and Rolling Decision timelines.
- Complete a TRANSCRIPT REQUEST for each school you've applied to.
- Check emails for admission decisions for Early Action and Early Decision applications that were submitted.
- Check emails and college application portals for Financial Aid and scholarship awards.
2. Scholarships
- Apply for scholarships -- see the monthly newsletter for scholarship opportunities.
- Search for scholarships!
3. May 1 is College Decision Day!
- Update Naviance with your college decision!
- Complete Senior Survey