The College Application Process

Class of 2025

Congratulations on knowing where you want to apply! Now comes the next step: applying!

Each college has its own application process, with its own set of deadlines and requirements. Provide each college with exactly what they require. Please read this packet thoroughly as it outlines the procedure for sending  school forms and recommendations electronically and through the mail.  

FIVE parts of application process

1. Your Application (YOU)

2. Standardized Test Scores:  SAT or ACT  scores, SAT Subject Test Scores  (YOU)

3. School Forms: (SENT BY COUNSELOR)
   (1) Your transcript
   (2) School secondary report
   (3) School profile
   (4) School counselor recommendation form  

4. Teacher Recommendations (1-2 if needed) (SENT BY COUNSELOR after teacher uploads in Naviance)

You are in charge of making sure all the above parts to your application package arrive prior to the deadline.
There is no specific order in which materials are required.
Colleges will start a file for each student once the first piece of the application is received.

5. Financial Aid (YOU): Fill out the FAFSA form once it is released, and complete the CSS Profile if your school requires it.

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THE APPLICATION PROCESS

STEP 1: Creating a Common Application Account

1. Create an account on commonapp.org (Write down your username and password)
2. In your Common App account, go to "College Search" and search for the colleges of which you are going to apply. Click "Add" to add it to your "My Colleges" list. Double check to make sure your colleges are all listed there.
3. Click on Common App tab. In order to link the Common App to your Naviance account, you will need to complete the Education section of the application.
4. Once the Education system is complete, go to "My Colleges" and select "Recommenders and FERPA."
5. Under "FERPA Release Authorization," click "Release Authorization."
6. Read the entire FERPA release and sign and date on the last screen.
7. THIS IS THE PART THAT LINKS TO NAVIANCE. IN ORDER FOR US TO SEND SCHOOL FORMS ELECTRONICALLY THROUGH NAVIANCE, YOU MUST HAVE COMPLETED THE FERPA RELEASE.
8. One you have created an account, you can work your way through the application, saving and returning to continue as needed.

STEP 2: Linking Naviance and your Common Application

1. In your Naviance account, click on "Colleges" and then "Colleges I am applying to."
   Enter the email address you used to sign into your Common App account to match your information.
   Any Common App schools listed in your Common App account will automatically appear in your Naviance list.
   WE CANNOT SEND ANY DOCUMENTS UNTIL YOU LINK YOUR ACCOUNTS.
2. In your Naviance account, click on "Colleges" and then "Colleges I am applying to."
   Add the colleges to which you are going to apply that do not use the Common Application.
3. Now that you have added your colleges to both the Common Application's "My Colleges" list AND Naviance's "Colleges I am applying to," make an appointment to see your counselor

STEP 3: Counselor Recommendations

1. Make sure that a student brag sheet is submitted to your counselor. This sheet can be found in Naviance under "About Me", "My Surveys", and "Surveys Not Started."
2. Letters of recommendations will not be written until this survey is completed.

STEP 4: Transcript Requests

Each senior must request a transcript through the BRHS Guidance Dept. for each college or university he/she wishes to apply to.  Please complete the Becton Transcript Request Form when applying to colleges. This form should not be submitted until your application has been submitted.

STEP 5: Teacher and Outside Letters of Recommendation

1. Based on what your colleges require, ask no more than two teachers in person or through email if they would be willing to write a letter of recommendation for you.  
2. Once you have the teacher's approval, log into Naviance and fill out the "Teacher Recommendation Request Form" under "About Me" and "My Surveys". There are two separate Teacher Recommendation Request forms for you to complete; fill out one for each teacher.
3. You must make a formal request to the teacher through Naviance (after you ask for their approval in person). Making the request through Naviance allows the teacher to upload the letter electronically. You will see updates in Naviance when the letter is in process and when it is complete. Your counselor/teacher will send the letters to your schools through Naviance.
4. Under "Add New Requests," select your teacher's name from the drop-down menu. Select "All current and future colleges I add to my colleges I'm applying to" list. Please leave a personal note thanking them for agreeing to write the recommendation and give them any pertinent information regarding your applications like due dates.
5. Submit your request.
6. Repeat the process for each teacher you are requesting a letter from (2 total).
7. Click on "Update Requests."
8. If the college you are applying to only accepts one letter of recommendation, you must tell your counselor which teacher recommendation letter you would like to have sent to that school.
9. Outside recommendations are not required. Many colleges will only accept and read two teacher letters of recommendations. If a school will accept additional letters, you are able to ask an outside recommender such as a coach, religious leader or club adviser. You should provide submission directions to that individual, including the college mailing address and application deadline.

Teacher Recommendation Etiquette

Letters of recommendation are a critical part of the college admissions process. Every year faculty and staff generate hundreds of letters that present our students as truly outstanding and deserving of admissions to some of the best universities and colleges.

Please keep the following points in mind as you approach a teacher to write on your behalf:

• Students are not entitled to letters of recommendation. Writing recommendations falls outside the realm of teachers' professional responsibilities. Many teachers enjoy writing letters of recommendation, but it is important for students to know that writing one letter can take over an hour, taking time away from both professional and personal activities. You should also know many of our teachers are asked to write over 30 letters!
• Always ask for a letter of recommendation in person or through email. Do this every time you make the request. Then go to Naviance and add the new teacher request.
• Ask sooner rather than later. Please give teachers and counselors at least 3 weeks notice prior to the deadline.
• Stop by in person or send an email to say Thank You! Then follow up with a personal thank you note.
• Recommendation Request Process hard copy