POTTSGROVE
Applying to College
Common App + Naviance
A step-by-step guide for students and families
ONE APPLICATION
+
NAVIANCE DOCUMENTS
=
A COMPLETE FILE
Pottsgrove High School Counseling Department
START HERE
Common App lets you reuse your core information
Complete shared information once
Profile • Family • Education • Activities • Honors • Essay
1
Add participating colleges
Build your My Colleges list.
2
Finish each college's questions
Requirements and supplements can differ.
3
Submit to each college separately
One list does not mean one submission.
Important
Common App does not automatically request your transcript or recommendation letters.
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BEFORE COMMON APP
Prepare these four things before you apply
1
Personal email
Do not use your Pottsgrove school email.
2
Full legal name
Use the name that appears on school records.
3
Parent Release of Records
Return it to Mrs. Crowell. This form does not request transcripts.
4
Recommendation Brag Sheet
Complete it in Naviance under Surveys from My School.
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INSIDE COMMON APP
Build the application in two connected areas
MY COMMON APPLICATION
Profile and family
Information shared across your applications
Education and testing
Complete carefully and proofread
Activities and honors
Complete carefully and proofread
Personal essay
Complete carefully and proofread
MY COLLEGES
✓
College-specific questions
✓
Writing supplements
✓
Application plan and deadline
✓
Fee or approved fee waiver
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REQUIRED FIRST
Complete Education and FERPA before matching
1
Add at least one college
Your Common App list must not be empty.
→
2
Complete Education
Finish the education portion of Common App.
→
3
Complete FERPA
Read the release carefully before answering.
Only then can Common App and Naviance be matched.
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Match Common App with Naviance
This connection allows Pottsgrove to send school documents.
1
Open Naviance Student
2
Click Colleges
3
Choose Colleges I’m Applying To
4
Click Match Accounts
If the accounts are not matched, Pottsgrove cannot send Common App documents.
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TEACHER RECOMMENDATIONS
Ask first—then request recommendations in Naviance
1. Ask the teacher personally
Give the teacher time and wait until they agree.
2. Complete your Brag Sheet
Teachers use it to write a stronger, more personal letter.
3. Send the Naviance request
Colleges → Apply to College → Letters of Recommendation → Add Request
4. Choose where the letter goes
Select all colleges or only specific colleges, as appropriate.
CHECK EACH COLLEGE
How many letters are required?
How many will the college accept?
Pennsylvania state universities generally do not require letters. Penn State does not accept them.
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OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS
A college on your list is not a transcript request
REQUEST EVERY TRANSCRIPT IN NAVIANCE
1
Click Colleges
2
Look under Apply to College
3
Select Request Transcripts
4
Choose the colleges and submit
ALLOW AT LEAST 5 DAYS
Request documents well before the college deadline.
TEST SCORES
Pottsgrove does not automatically include SAT or ACT scores on the transcript.
Release form ≠ transcript request
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FINISH STRONG
Submit each college—and then check its portal
✓
Finish all required sections
✓
Complete college questions and supplements
✓
Review the application PDF
✓
Confirm the plan and deadline
✓
Pay the fee or use an approved waiver
✓
Sign and submit to that college
After submitting: create the college applicant portal and confirm every required document has arrived.
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Your final checklist
□
Parent Release of Records returned
□
Brag Sheet completed
□
Common App Education + FERPA completed
□
Common App and Naviance matched
□
Teacher requests sent through Naviance
□
Transcripts requested through Naviance
□
Each application submitted separately
□
Applicant portals checked
Questions? Contact your Pottsgrove school counselor.
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