Class of 2019 College Counseling Newsletter: November

Monthly Focus

Thank You Notes

Please take a moment to thank the teachers who wrote recommendations on your behalf. This is a significant investment on their part that they take on, in addition to all of their other work, because they are invested in your success. A handwritten note is appropriate and encouraged. On Monday, November 19, the College Counseling Office will host a Day of Gratitude. We will have treats and thank you cards available for you to come and write your thank you notes before Thanksgiving Break.

Submission of School Materials

The CCO has sent your transcript, college counselor recommendation, teacher recommendations, secondary school report, and the Gilman School profile to the early schools listed on your "Colleges I'm Applying To" list in Naviance. When you submitted your application(s), you probably received information to log in to an online portal to track your application status. Please remember that it takes colleges some time -- sometimes weeks -- to process materials. We double and triple checked that all materials were sent by the deadline, so please be patient if something is not shown as "received" right on or near the deadline; it almost certainly means the college is still processing documents. If you receive notification that something is missing and are concerned, please reach out to Ms. Sawyer and your college counselor.

Sending SAT/ACT Scores

A reminder: Gilman does not and cannot send SAT or ACT scores as a part of our school materials. Most schools require that official score reports be sent through the College Board or ACT sites. Please be sure to research what scores each school requires and submit your scores accordingly by logging into your College Board or ACT account. There are just over 100 colleges that allow you to self-report your test scores (meaning you can list them on your application but not send them from the testing agency). That list is here.

First Quarter Grade Submission

As an office, we will review all first quarter grades for seniors and will send them to EA/ED schools when we believe they will help. We also send them if specifically requested by a college. Because first quarter grades are not automatically sent for all students, please let your counselor know as soon as possible if you receive a request for first quarter grades. First semester grades, however, are sent to all schools to which students have applied and/or been admitted. Finally, if for any reason you receive notification that a school requires any additional information, please let your counselor know.

Alumni Interviews

Some schools offer applicants a chance to engage in alumni interviews which are often scheduled after the application is received. We encourage all students to participate in alumni interviews if available. At some schools, like Northwestern, for example, students will receive an email from the admission office and/or an alumni interview coordinator with instructions for scheduling an interview. At other schools, like Tufts, students must request an alumni interview through their application portal. Seniors, know how each school conducts or offers alumni interviews and be conscientious about requesting or scheduling those interviews; information regarding each institution's interview policy will be on their website. These interviews offer you a chance to articulate your educational goals and ask informative questions. Before interviews, be sure to schedule time with your college counselor to engage in a mock interview.

Need-Based Financial Aid
If you are applying for need-based financial aid, please make note of each college's aid deadline. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and CSS PROFILE both became available on October 1. All colleges require the FAFSA for consideration of need-based aid; some colleges - usually private institutions - require the CSS PROFILE. Submitting the required forms is the only way to qualify for need-based aid, which can include grants, loans, and a work-study job on campus. If you have any questions about financial aid at any one institution, it is best to contact that school's financial aid office directly.

Early Decisions Timeline

Most colleges send ED decisions in mid-December; the timing of EA decisions will vary from mid-December through late January. Please see each college's websites for their specific notification timelines. Admission decisions are mostly received electronically, so be on the lookout for emails with instructions about when and how to view your decision. Please remember to keep your college counselor updated on your admission decisions - we only know this news if we hear it from you.

University System of California Applications

There is an unique UC admissions application along with an unusual application deadline of November 30. The UC App doesn't have a main essay like the Common App. Instead, you will be asked to respond to four of eight Personal Insight Questions. You will also be required to self-report all your grades from high school. See your counselor for a copy of your transcript(s) and help in doing this. For more on applying to UC schools, please see this helpful guide.

Regular Round/EDII Applications

Many of you will be submitting further applications for Regular Decision or Early Decision II, with the most common deadlines being January 1 and January 15. We strongly encourage you not to postpone work on those RD/EDII supplemental essays as you wait to hear back from ED and/or EA schools. The window between most ED/EA notification dates and RD deadlines is very short, and not starting RD/EDII supplements until mid-December will both take considerable time away from your winter break and may impact the quality of your essays, if you are rushing through them. Essentially: hope for the best, but get to work just in case.