B-CC Seniors

Class of 2024

Counseling Office, September 2023

Applying To College

Today’s Agenda

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• Who Can Help You at BCC?
• College Representative Visits
• The Application Process
• The Common Application
• Matching Naviance With Your Common Application
• Letters of Recommendation
• Requesting Your Transcripts
• Standardized Testing
• Money Matters
• Alternatives to College

Counseling Department

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Ms. Reveron

A-Alo

Mr. Favazzo

Alp - Caste

Mr. DeMunter

Castf - Fle

Ms. Unonu

Iss - Mag

Ms. May

Mah - Nu

Ms. Henry

Nv - Sche

Ms. Showker

Schf - Tes

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Ms. Ammons

Tet - Z

Mr. Sommer

Flf - Isr

Ms. Khani

EML 1-4

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Other Members of the

Counseling Department

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Registrar: Ms. Bonner

Counseling Assistant: Ms. Campos

College & Career Coordinator: Ms. Heald

Counseling Intern: Ms. Lorens

College Tracks: Ms. Guevara &

Ms. Bolton

Parent Community Coordinator (PCC): Ms. Haza

Pupil Personnel Worker (PPW): Mr. Gysberts

ESOL Transition Counselor: Mr. Le

School Social Worker Ms. Swissman

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CollegeTracks

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Ms. Beatriz Guevara

Program Director

beatriz_e_guevara2@mcpsmd.org

Ms. Shayna Bolton

Program Coordinator

shayna.a.bolton@mcpsmd.net

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Who do we serve?

• Students who qualify for free or reduced meals (FARMS)
• Students with an under-served identity
• Students whose parents/guardians did not graduate from university in the US
• Students who do not have family support at home or whose families are not familiar with the US higher education system
• Students of all citizenship statuses

College & Career Center

Coordinator Ms. Heald

catharine_e_heald@mcpsmd.org

• College Search
• Career exploration
• Money Matters: FAFSA/Scholarships
• Testing Info: SAT, ACT, Accuplacer
• Summer workshops (see videos)
• College Fair
• College Rep Visits Class of 2024 To Do List
• Naviance/Family Connection
• Information and video tutorials

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FAFSA.GOV - Complete your FAFSA beginning in December

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CCC WEBSITE

https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/bcc-ccc-website/home

College Representative Visits

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Meet A College Representative!

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• Register on Naviance
• Get a pass from your teacher
• Visits are held in the Career Center unless otherwise noted

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College Representative Visits

Register

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How to find Virtual Visits

Once on the “Colleges” page, scroll to bottom Right

Finalizing Your List

• Try to narrow it down to 5-8 schools

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• 1-2 “Reach” schools
• 2-4 “Target” schools
• 1-2 “Safety” schools
• Do NOT put any school on your list that you would not attend if it was the ONLY school you got into!

Do your Research

Scroll down to see the SCATTERGRAM

You are here

Adding Colleges to your list

Type name of institution here

Update “Colleges I’m Applying To”

When Should You Apply?

• Early Decision: Binding contract. Be 100% certain you want to attend. Must meet financial need.

• Early Action/Priority: Non-binding. Priority for financial aid and housing. Admission decisions made by Dec/Jan.
• UMD admits 90% of their freshmen class Early Action (Nov. 1)

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• Rolling Admission: Apply within designated time frame. Receive admission decision soon after application review.

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• Regular Decision: Apply by deadline. Receive admission decision in spring.

Common Application: Apply to Multiple Colleges

• UMD- College Park
• University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC)
• Elon University
• Dartmouth College
• Cornell University
• Christopher Newport University
• St. Mary’s college of Maryland
• UVA
• Vanderbilt
• Salisbury

AND MORE!

Over 1,000 schools

Letters of Recommendation

• Core academic subject
• Ask your teacher first
• Request through Naviance
• Only current and some former B-CC teachers can be requested through Naviance

Requesting a Letter of Recommendation

in Naviance

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Registrar: Mrs. Bonner

Maureen_Bonner@mcpsmd.org

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Request Transcripts Online

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Before you request your transcripts:

• Match!
• FERPA
• B-CC Self-Reflection
• Request month prior to first deadline
• All schools must be in Naviance

Registrar’s Office

Request Transcript Online Form

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Note:

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• Form only allows ten transcript requests. If you have more than ten schools you will need to fill out an additional form
• Your request initiates your counselor Letter of Recommendation
• You MUST see Mrs. Bonner in person after you make your request (starting 9/18)

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Click Here to Request Transcript

Naviance eDocs: What is it?

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• School Documents will be sent electronically using Naviance eDocs:
• Teacher and Counselor Recommendations
• Transcripts
• B-CC School Profile
• Secondary School Report

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Standardized Testing

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• Test Dates:
• SAT – October 7th - deadline 9/7 (9/26 late deadline)
• ACT – October 28th - deadline 9/22
• FARMS students receive two fee waivers for each test

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• YOU must send your scores directly from College Board ($12/school) or ACT ($16/ school)
• Common App allows you to report AP scores (optional)
• Test Optional - Many schools continue to be test optional

Money Matters

Financial Aid !

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Complete the FAFSA by June 30, 2024

• All students should complete the FAFSA
• many scholarships require it
• Application will open in December
• Use 2022 Tax Returns
• See Ms. Heald, College Tracks, or your counselor with questions

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If you plan to attend Montgomery College

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• MC is an open enrollment school
• Apply starting October 1
• MC Guided Placement to credit-bearing courses
• Affordable
• Montgomery Scholars Honors Program
• Transfer agreements

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Alternatives to College

• Uniformed Services
• Apprenticeship/Trade School
• Certificate Programs
• Gap Year
• Work Force
• Montgomery County WorkSource Website

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STAY FOCUSED

• Many schools will request your mid-year transcripts
• Some even request first quarter grades!
• Schools expect similar performance

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A parting tip...

• Regularly check BOTH your personal and school emails:
• Communication from Colleges - They will email you and you will be prompted to set up a portal with the college
• Important info from your counselor/Ms. Heald/College Tracks
• Scholarship and financial aid alerts and deadlines
• College representative announcements

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Senior To-Do List Linked Here

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We Are Here To Help!

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Questions?

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It Is Time To Match!

Video Match your Common App with Naviance

Matching is REQUIRED!

• Create a Common App account
• Naviance email must match your Common App emaiL
• MUST USE A PERSONAL EMAIL ADDRESS
• Add at least one school
• FERPA

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