Welcome to the CRLS Senior College & Career Planning Night

New Counselors

• Professional Background- all have prior experience in high schools
• Reduced caseloads = more time with your counselor
• Collaboration between former and current counselor
• Sharing notes from 11th grade
• Guidance letter of recommendation

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Important Resources

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• Senior Website

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• Join Google Classroom
• Ask your student to

invite you

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We are here to help!

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• We are with your student every step of the way!
• Build an individual post-secondary plan
• Break down steps of the process
• Suggest good fits
• Check-ins
• Help manage stress

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This will be on the senior website for you to reference whenever needed!

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What To Do After CRLS?

• Every student has to make their own plan
• There is no “right” path to take

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Military?

College?

Employment/Gap Year?

Career Training/

Union?

Unsure about 4 year schools?

• Many programs offer on the job training with college credits that students can transfer
• Job-Corps, Year-Up, JVS, Cambridge Works, Next Up
• Mass Transfer
• Start at community college, guaranteed admissions to state universities, guaranteed transfer of credits, discounted tuition rates
• FREE Community College
• Experience
• Internships, City Year, Gap Years

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4 Year College Application Process

General Timeline

Types of Applications:

Admission Trends by Application Type

Can applying early improve admissions decision?

Most college report that 40 % - 60% of incoming class are accepted from their early applicant pool

Is applying early right for me?

• Maybe?
• Do what is best for the student
• Check individual college acceptance rates
• How did last year go? Is it better to wait and have first semester grades be considered?
• Could the application and essay be better with more time?
• Can the student balance senior year classes on top of an early deadline?
• If it is too stressful, maybe wait for regular deadlines?

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What are colleges looking at?

• Transcript
• GPA (1^st qtr, mid-year, and final grades)
• What does the student bring to campus?
• Extracurricular Activities
• well rounded student

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Other components we will cover more in depth:

• Essay/Personal Statement
• Recommendations
• Standardized Testing (mostly optional)

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Standardized Testing

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Test optional - always confirm on college website

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• SAT or ACT
• Dates: October, November, December

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Possibly Required

• TOEFL/Duolingo - For English Language Learners who have been in the country fewer than 5 years.

Do I send my scores?

Are colleges REALLY test optional?

Most college report that 40 % - 60% of incoming class submit their scores when applying

Sending Scores

• Listing scores on the Common App is optional. If a student chooses to enter them, all schools will see scores.
• Policies can vary - check each college’s website
• Guidance Counselors do NOT send test scores.
• Most colleges will calculate your best scores (Superscore)

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Application Process

• www.commonapp.org
• Application
• Essay
• 650 words maximum
• Supplement section
• Application Fee
• If you qualify for SAT fee waiver, you are eligible for application fee waivers through Common App

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Essay/Personal Statement

• Student’s chance to express creativity and to show personality
• Common App lists prompts
• Make sure you have someone review essay
• Must be the STUDENT’s voice
• Essay Help
• Cambridge School Volunteers
• Teachers
• Guidance (content)

Recommendations

• 2 Teacher Recommendations - 11/12th grade academic teachers
• Guidance
• Complete Brag Sheets at least a month prior to first deadline
• Speak with teachers ASAP and periodically
• Make everyone aware of deadlines - Naviance

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• Outside Recommendations –NOT required and often not allowed
• Student responsibility to send to each school

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• Parent Brag Sheet

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• Recommendations, transcripts, and the school profile are all submitted through Naviance.

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Naviance-The link to us all

• What is Naviance?
• Student, counselor, parents have access to this account
• Best way for parents to stay in the loop between student and counselor
• Students will be required to maintain their college list
• Guidance sends recommendations and transcripts through Naviance. *List must be accurate*
• Email Counselor if you need access to Naviance/linked to previous students

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Finalizing a College List

• Visits
• College & Career Fair - 9/30/25
• College visits to CRLS – Naviance
• Reach, Match, Likely choices
• Realistic list that meets student’s academic profile
• How many schools should I apply to?
• Avoid the name game – focus on matching

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Building a good list of schools (8-12)

What is a good academic fit?

Is this school a Reach, Match, or Likely for ME?

What do I need know about financial aid?

• Use the Net Price Calculator on each college website
• uAspire is here to help

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Decisions, decisions…

• April 1^st-National Decision Day for Colleges
• One month to decide between accepted colleges
• April 15^th financial aid packages
• 2 weeks to compare financial packages
• May 1^st: Deposit to college with intention to attend

How caregivers can help

• Monitor their stress levels (and yours)
• Sign off on Early Decision Contract (if applicable)
• Be prepared for application costs/deposit
• Financial aid forms - FAFSA & CSS Profile
• Get a State Photo ID
• Name should match all official documents

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**Let your student take ownership of this process**

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Questions?

Thank you!

CRLS Guidance

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