College Binder

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12			{Your Name Here}'s
13			College Binder
14			2025-2026

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1	Ready to Apply?
2				Your first (of many) college checklists…
3	Application
4		College App Spreadsheet		Use this workbook to research every school; Do not skip this step!	Summer
5		Transcript		Download a copy when it's available on Skyward	July (and again in September)
6		Current Schedule		Print schedule from Skyward when finalized	August
7		Test Information		Collect all score reports; be prepared to submit to schools in the fall (it can take 2-4 weeks for a college to receive and process)	Summer; As you take them
8		Essay(s)		Look at school requirements/topics (search college websites, Common App, Apply Texas, etc.)	Summer
9		Resume		Finalize over the summer	Summer
10		Previous College Credit (if applicable)		Request transcript from Dallas College/SMU	August
11		Naviance Steps 1-3		Add Schools and Request Transcripts (Mrs. Cramer won’t send until Step 4, so it doesn’t hurt to add them)	August
12		Naviance Step 4		Bring fee to Mrs. Cramer; she will start sending in late-August/early-September but you can pay before then	When ready to send transcripts
13		Naviance Step 5 (if applicable)		Ask teacher(s) in person if they would be willing to write a letter of recommendation	Spring of Junior Year, early fall of Senior Year
14		Naviance Step 5 (if applicable)		Add teacher request in Naviance; some teachers will also ask for supplemental information	after July 1
15		Naviance Step 6 (if applicable)		Counselor Recommendation Request	after August 1
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17			Financial Aid You will need this information for yourself and your parents if you are a dependant
18				Social Security Number/Drivers License Number/Alien Registration Number
19				Federal Tax Information or Tax Returns (including W-2s)
20				Records of Untaxed Income (including child support, interest income, and veterans non-educational benefits)
21				Record of Investments (other than primary home)
22				Cash, Savings, and Checking account balances

	A	C	D	E
1	How To Complete the 6 Steps in Naviance- Class of 2022
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7	These steps are active links in Naviance, please log in to complete this process.
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9
10	Step 1: Add Colleges to “Colleges I’m Applying to” list
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12		Go to “Colleges I’m Thinking about” list
13		Select school, and click on “Move to Application List”
14		To remove a school from your “Colleges I’m Applying to” list, email Mrs. Cramer
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16
17	Step 2: Match Common App to Naviance (FERPA Waiver & Matching)
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19		Create a Common Application account (even if you are not using Common App to apply to any schools)
20		Add a school to your list (if you are not using Common App for applications, you can choose any school)
21		Click on Recommenders and FERPA
22			o This will prompt you to add a high school, select Highland Park High School and complete the first section (ends with change in progression question); return to the Recommenders and FERPA page
23		Click on Release Authorization
24		Read and sign (this is an electronic signature)
25		Go into Naviance under “Colleges I’m Applying to”
26		There will be a red box that references Common App Matching
27		Log in with the email you used to create your Common App
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29
30
31	Step 3: Transcript Request Process
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33		In Naviance, add school to your “Colleges I’m Applying to” list (See Step 1)
34		Confirm Delivery Type (Common App or Direct to Institution; direct to institution is anything other than Common App)
35		Confirm Application Type (Early Action, Early Decision, Regular Decision, Rolling, etc.; this will affect the deadline)
36		Confirm Deadline
37		Request Transcript
38
39		If your school has already been added to your "Colleges I'm Applying to" list
40		Go to "Colleges I'm Applying to" list
41		Click on "Request Transcripts"
42		Click on the "Inital" button (Mrs. Cramer will send whichever transcript is current)
43		Select colleges under the "Where are you sending the transcript/s" dropdown menu
44		Click on "Done"
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48
49	Step 4: Pay for Transcripts
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51		Bring payment to Mrs. Cramer ($5 per transcript, cash or check only)
52		Have conversation with Mrs. Cramer regarding delivery type, deadlines, etc.
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56
57	Step 5: Request Teacher Recommendation Letters (if needed)
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59		Go to “Colleges” home page in Naviance
60		Click on “Teacher Recommendations”
61		Select teacher name
62		Select “all colleges” or “specific colleges” depending on your need
63		Please be intentional when requesting these letters. Schools that have maximum document limits will block documents submitted beyond that limit. (i.e. if you request 3 letters but your school has a 2-letter max, the teacher who submits last will not be processed)
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65
66	Step 6: Counselor Letters of Recommendation (if required)
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68		Locate the “Counselor Letter of Recommendation Request Form” in Naviance
69		Follow instructions on form
70		Complete and Submit form to Mrs. Cramer
71		Remember to give your counselors at least 3 weeks from your first deadline
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74
75	Special Circumstances
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77	University of Texas
78		1. Although documents can be sent through Naviance; they may appear in your MyStatus as “self-uploaded” documents
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80	Texas A&M
81		1. Complete the SRAR in the A&M system instead of requesting a transcript
82		2. If you are in the top 10%
83			a. Complete the SRAR in the A&M system,
84			b. Request a transcript with Mrs. Cramer through Naviance, bring transcript fee, and
85			c. Send a request to Mrs. Cramer (cramerm@hpisd.org) through your AIS portal
86				i. Please note- it will take 72 hours to receive your portal access; then I still need time to process your request; all documents are due to A&M by December 1
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88
89	Georgetown
90		1. Enter your counselor’s and teacher’s information to send them access to your application
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92	Apply Texas Application
93		1. Utilize the Naviance system as normal, selecting “direct to institution” as the delivery type.
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95
96	Transcripts not always required
97		Please note that there are many schools that do not want transcripts until the end of senior year. Some schools will simply disregard the transcript. Others may look unfavorably upon the application due to the lack of adherence to their instructions. For any school/program, there are always exceptions, so Mrs. Cramer will send any transcripts that are requested and paid for. It is your responsibility to research what documents are needed for your particular school/program. Mrs. Cramer is happy to help you research these requirements.

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2	College Applications
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4	General Information	School 1	School 2	School 3	School 4	School 5
5	Location
6	Web address
7	Size
8	College Rep name
9	College Rep's email
10	College Rep's telephone
11	Portal Username/Email
12	Portal Password
13	Other
14	Applying	School 1	School 2	School 3	School 4	School 5
15	Application Used (Apply TX, Common App, Institutional, etc)
16	Deadline Type (Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision, Rolling, etc)
17	Application due date
18	Scholarship due date (if separate)
19	Application Fee
20	Date application submitted
21	Accepted?
22	Accept or decline by date
23	Other
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25	Supplemental Documents	School 1	School 2	School 3	School 4	School 5
26	Transcripts (Official, Unofficial, Self-Report)
27	Test Scores (Official, Unofficial, Self-Report)
28	Teacher Letters of Recommendation (# required)
29	Counselor Letter of Recommendation (required?)
30	Essay requirements
31	Resume requirements
32	Other
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34	Requirements	School 1	School 2	School 3	School 4	School 5
35	SAT minimum score
36	ACT minimum score
37	Other tests (i.e. SAT Subject Tests)
38	GPA minimum
39	Personal document requirements
40	Community/volunteer work
41	Other
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43	Academics/Placement	School 1	School 2	School 3	School 4	School 5
44	Academic Quality (Ranking/Prestige/Reputation)
45	Academic Major Choice
46	Accept AP credit
47	Honors program available
48	Academic Faculty
49	Academic Facilities
50	Job or Grad School Placement Assistance (post-grad)
51	Other
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53	Finances	School 1	School 2	School 3	School 4	School 5
54	Yearly tuition (non-resident)	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
55	Books/supplies	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
56	Room and board	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
57	Transportation	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
58	Medical	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
59	Personal	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
60	Estimated total	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
61	Financial aid info
62	Scholarship info
63	Student employment info
64	Financial aid office location
65	Financial aid office telephone
66	Other
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68	Non-Academic Student Activities	School 1	School 2	School 3	School 4	School 5
69	Athletic Opportunities
70	Extracurricular Opportunities and Social Life
71	Other
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73	Campus Visits	School 1	School 2	School 3	School 4	School 5
74	When
75	Contact person
76	Contact's phone number/e-mail
77	Accommodations
78	Did you get 'that' feeling? Did it feel 'right'?
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80	Surrounding Area	School 1	School 2	School 3	School 4	School 5
81	City, state
82	Population
83	Median income
84	Average rental cost (2 bedroom)
85	Top 5 county employers
86	Average weather
87
88	Notes:

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1	College Admission Glossary
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3	What’s a transcript? What's the difference between early action and early decision? When applying to college, you are bound to come across unfamiliar terms. This glossary can help you make sense of all the information you’re sorting through.
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5	ACT
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7		A standardized college admission test. It features four main sections: English, math, reading and science — and an optional essay section.
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9	Admission Tests
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11		Also known as college entrance exams, these are tests designed to measure students’ skills and help colleges evaluate how ready students are for college-level work. The ACT and the College Board’s SAT are two standardized admission tests used in the United States. The word "standardized" means that the test measures the same thing in the same way for everyone who takes it.
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13	Articulation Agreement
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15		An agreement between two-year and four-year colleges that makes it easier to transfer credits between them. It spells out which courses count for degree credit and the grades you need to earn to get credit.
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17	“Best Fit”
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19		The college search is not about getting into the best college. There is no school that is best for all students. Some students do best at large public universities; others excel in small liberal arts colleges; still others want to study far from home. If you want to make the most of college, don't just apply to the big–name schools or the ones your friends are excited about. Do your own research to find schools that are the best fit for you.
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21	Campus Interview
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23		This is a personal, face-to-face interaction between an admissions applicant and an institutional representative (admissions officer, alumnus, faculty, etc.). Interviews are rarely required.
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25	Campus Visit/Tour
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27		A service by the college admissions office for prospective students, allowing them to visit various campus buildings, meet key institutional personnel, and get a firsthand look at campus life.
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29	Candidates Reply Date Agreement (CRDA) (also see “Notification Date”)
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31		An agreement many colleges follow that gives applicants until May 1 to accept or decline offers of admission. This agreement gives students time to get responses from most of the colleges they have applied to before deciding on one.
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33	Class Rank
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35		A measurement of how your academic achievement compares with that of other students in your grade. This number is usually determined by using a weighted GPA that takes into account both your grades and the difficulty of the courses you’ve taken.
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38	College Application Essay
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40		An essay that a college requires students to write and submit as part of their application. Some colleges offer applicants specific questions to answer, while others simply ask applicants to write about themselves. Colleges may refer to this as a “personal statement.”
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42	College Credit
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44		What you get when you successfully complete a college-level course. You need a certain number of credits to graduate with a degree. Colleges may also grant credit for scores on exams, such as those offered by the College Board’s AP Program® and CLEP.
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46	Common Application
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48		A standard application form accepted by all colleges that are members of the Common Application association. You can fill out this application once and submit it to any one — or several — of the nearly 700 colleges that accept it.
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50	Deferred Admission Decision
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52		A category of admission used in conjunction with early (action, decision, notification, or acceptance) plans to indicate that a student has not been admitted early but will remain in the applicant pool for reconsideration during the review of applications for regular admissions.
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54	Deferred Enrollment
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56		Permission from a college that has accepted you to postpone enrolling in the college. The postponement is usually for up to one year.
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58	Demonstrated Interest
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60		This includes a student’s expression of his or her desire to attend a particular college through campus visits, contact with admissions officers, and other actions that attract the attention of college admissions personnel. While not all institutions use this as a factor in accepting students for admissions, studies have shown that more than half of schools do consider demonstrated interest in their admissions decisions
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62	Early Action (EA)
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64		An option to submit your applications before the regular deadlines. When you apply early action, you get admission decisions from colleges earlier than usual. Early action plans are not binding, which means that you do not have to enroll in a college if you are accepted early action. Some colleges have an early action option called EA II, which has a later application deadline than their regular EA plan.
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66	Early Decision (ED)
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68		Students make a commitment to a first-choice institution where, if admitted, they definitely will enroll. The application deadline and decision deadline occur early.
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70	Financial Aid
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72		Money given or loaned to you to help pay for college. Financial aid can come from federal and state governments, colleges, and private organizations.
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74	Gap-Year Programs
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76		Year-long programs designed for high school graduates who wish to defer enrollment in college while engaging in meaningful activities, such as academic programs, structured travel, community service, etc.
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78	Grade Point Average (GPA)
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80		A number that shows overall academic performance. It’s computed by assigning a point value to each grade you earn. See also Weighted Grade Point Average.
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82	Legacy Applicant
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84		A college applicant with a relative (usually a parent or grandparent) who graduated from that college. Some colleges give preference to legacy applicants (also called “legacies”).
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86	Major
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88		A student's concentrated field of study.
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90	Minor
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92		A student's secondary field of study.
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94	Need-Blind Admission
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96		A policy of making admission decisions without considering the financial circumstances of applicants. Colleges that use this policy may not offer enough financial aid to meet a student’s full need.
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98	Notification Date (also see “Candidates Reply Date Agreement”)
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100		The date by which applicants who are accepted for admission are expected to notify the institutions of their intent to enroll and make enrollment deposits. That date is often on or around May 1st.
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102	Open Admission
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104		A policy of accepting any high school graduate, no matter what his or her grades are, until all spaces in the incoming class are filled. Almost all two-year community colleges have an open-admission policy. However, a college with a general open-admission policy may have admission requirements for certain programs.
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106	Placement Tests
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108		Tests that measure the academic skills needed for college-level work. They cover reading, writing, math and sometimes other subjects. Placement test results help determine what courses you are ready for and whether you would benefit from remedial classes.
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110	Priority Date or Deadline
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112		The date by which your application — whether it’s for college admission, student housing or financial aid — must be received to be given the strongest consideration.
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114	“Reach School”
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116		A college or university that you have a chance of getting into, but your test scores, GPA and/or class rank are a bit on the low side when you look at the school's profile. The top U.S. colleges and top universities should always be considered reach schools.
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118	Registrar
119
120		The college official who registers students. The registrar may also be responsible for keeping permanent records and maintaining your student file.
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122	Rolling Admission
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124		An admission policy of considering each application as soon as all required information (such as high school records and test scores) has been received, rather than setting an application deadline and reviewing applications in a batch. Colleges that use a rolling admission policy usually notify applicants of admission decisions quickly.
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126	“Safety School”
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128		A college or university where you clearly meet the admission requirements: minimum GPA, test scores, etc. It’s important, though, that the school also be one that you would want to attend, should you not gain admission to more selective colleges.
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130	SAT
131
132		The College Board’s standardized college admission test. It features three main sections: math, reading and writing, which includes a written essay. Learn more about the SAT.
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134	SAT Subject Tests
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136		Hour-long, content-based college admission tests that allow you to showcase achievement in specific subject areas: English, history, math, science and languages. Some colleges use Subject Tests to place students into the appropriate courses as well as in admission decisions. Based on your performance on the test(s), you could potentially fulfill basic requirements or earn credit for introductory-level courses.
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138	School Report
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140		Some college checklists will show "School Report" or "Counselor School Report". In most cases, this is not a Counselor Recommendation Letter. It is a form that is automatically sent with your Transcript in Naviance. Check with Mrs. Waite if you have any questions.
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142	Sophomore Standing
143
144		The status of a second-year student. A college may grant sophomore standing to an incoming freshman if he or she has earned college credits through courses, exams or other programs
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146	Transcript
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148		The official record of your course work at a school or college. Your high school transcript is usually required for college admission and for some financial aid packages.
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150		Summer Transcript: Available between now until September of Senior Year (most colleges do not want these)
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152		Fall/Initial Transcript: Available between September and January of Senior Year (most college will need this)
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154		Mid-Year Transcript: Available between January and May of Senior Year (not all colleges will need this)
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156		Final Transcript: Available in June (the one school that you will attend will need this)
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158	Transfer Student
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160		A student who enrolls in a college after having attended another college.
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162	Undergraduate
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164		A college student who is working toward an associate or a bachelor's degree.
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166	Universal College Application
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168		A standard application form accepted by all colleges that are Universal College Application members. You can fill out this application once and submit it to any one — or several — of the more than 3,044 colleges that accept it.
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170	Waiting List
171
172		The list of applicants who may be admitted to a college if space becomes available. Colleges wait to hear if all the students they accepted decide to attend. If students don’t enroll and there are empty spots, a college may fill them with students who are on the waiting list.
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174	Weighted Grade Point Average (GPA)
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176		A grade point average that’s calculated using a system that assigns a higher point value to grades in more-difficult classes. For example, some high schools assign the value of 5.0 (instead of the standard 4.0) for an A earned in an AP class.
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178
179
180	Compiled from:
181
182	https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-in/applying-101/college-admission-glossary
183
184	https://www.firstinthefamily.org/highschool/Downloads_files/Glossary%20of%20College%20Application%20Terms.PDF
185
186	NACAC

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4	Welcome to Senior Year!
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6	How to use:	Download first, then edit as needed
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8	How to print:	This workbook is formulated to print directly from GoogleSheets.
9		When printing, select "Landscape" and "Fit to Width" for it to print correctly
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15		Who's Who?
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17	Counselor	Student Alpha- by last name	Email
18	Mrs. Janay Hunt	A -- Cl	huntl@hpisd.org
19	Mrs. Julie Tallant	Co -- Go	tallanj@hpisd.org
20	Mrs. Amy Lam-Hamer	Gr -- King	lamhama@hpisd.org
21	Mrs. Carolyn James	Kinh -- Mo	jamesc@hpisd.org
22	Mr. Ronny Winford	Mu -- Scho	winforr@hpisd.org
23	Ms. Shawna Jandrew	Schr -- Wang	jandres@hpisd.org
24	Mrs. Mindy McMinn	Wani -- Z	mcminnm@hpisd.org
25	Mrs. Brooke Scott	Registrar	scottb@hpisd.org
26	Mrs. Meegan Cramer	College Admissions Assistant/Naviance Support	cramerm@hpisd.org

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J
1	Test Planner
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3	ACT
4	Test Date	Composite Score	Submitted to {school}	Submitted on {date}	English	Math	Reading	Science	ELA	STEM
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10	SAT
11	Test Date	Total Score	Submitted to {school}	Submitted on {date}	ERW	Math	Essay
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17	Click HERE to register for ACT
18	Click HERE to register for SAT

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K	L	M
1	FAFSA completed:
2	CSS Profile completed:
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4							Supplemental Documents
5	Scholarship Name	School/Organization	Auto-Consider or Separate Application	Deadline	Date Submitted	Website	Essays	Resume	Test Scores	Recommendations	Other	Amount	Notes
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31	**Highland Park Education Foundation Scholarships typically open in early February and are due in early March. Watch for an email from Mrs. Cramer for further instructions.

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1	Helpful Links/FAQ
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3	Naviance
4	Common App
5	ommon App Requirements Grid (2024 Update)
6	Apply Texas
7	FAFSA
8	CSS Profile
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10
11	Click HERE to register for ACT
12	Click HERE to register for SAT
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14
15	Interesting Articles/Videos
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17	Ten Steps to Surviving the College Application Process
18	A "Fit" Over Rankings: Why College Engagement Matters More Than Selectivity
19	The Right Way to Choose a College
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21
22	FAQ
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24	I'm not getting Mrs. Cramer's emails- what do I do?	- Update email address in Naviance (this will not impact log-in ID)
25		- Update email in Skyward
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27	What is the grading scale at HPHS?	We are on a 4.0, weighted grading scale.
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29	How do I sign up for a RepVisit?	- Log into Naviance
30		- Click 'Colleges'
31		- Click 'College Visits'
32		- Click 'Register'
33		- Work with teacher regarding class work that you'll miss
34
35	Are Application Type and Delivery Type important in Naviance?	YES!
36		- The Application Type (Regular Decision, Early Decision, Rolling, Priority, etc.) tells Mrs. Cramer and your teachers when to submit
37		- The Delivery Type (Common App vs. Direct to Institution) tells Naviance how to submit
38			*Incorrect delivery types have jeopardized a student's admission on more than one occasion. Please check these carefully!!
39
40	When/How do I sent my Mid-Year Report?	January of Senior Year
41			- Transcripts will become available for review (in Skyward)
42			- A survey will be available (in Naviance) for you to list the schools that require a Mid-Year
43			- Once reviewed and finalized, Mrs. Cramer will use the survey data to send
44
45	When/How do I send my Final Transcript?	April/May of Senior Year
46			- A survey will be available (in Naviance) for you to list the school that you will be attending
47		June after Graduation
48			- Mrs. Cramer will send the final transcript once it is available based on the survey data