College Counseling Update for Seniors & Families | November 2019
Congratulations to the majority of seniors who have submitted at least one application so far!

Now all seniors - regardless of whether they applied early - must have their college lists finalized by December 18th in our SCOIR online system. This ensures MHS can send supporting documents on time. Seniors should also be ready to submit their remaining applications themselves during winter break.

So how, exactly, are all the requirements submitted, by whom, and how do we know they are received on time?

In order to successfully submit and confirm an application has been received, seniors must:

  1. Make sure their SCOIR college list and deadlines are correct, or we can't guarantee supporting documents will be sent on time to the right schools. 
  2. Submit and pay for each application through the Common App or other application system (if payment is an issue, see below for payment assistance)
  3. Submit financial aid applications (FAFSA, CSS PROFILE) and additional documentation if required by your schools.
  4. Send their own official test scores (SAT, ACT, TOEFL), unless the college allows "self-reporting," or allows applying test-optional.
  5. Follow up with colleges' online "Applicant Portals" (See below).

Miss Hall's College Counseling Department supports student applications by:

  1. Using each student's SCOIR list of colleges and deadlines to electronically send recommendation letters and a transcript reflecting all coursework and grades through junior year (including records of other high schools attended).
  2. Helping double-check and doing light proofreading of any part of the student's application they wish to be reviewed (including financial aid).
  3. Assisting with payments and billing of application and score report fees if students don't have access to a credit card (or if they qualify for a fee waiver).
  4. Helping students manage submission of their test scores during one-on-one meetings.
How Do We Know Colleges Receive Required Documents?
Colleges primarily communicate through email. Therefore it is essential that students regularly check, read, and take action on emails received from the colleges to which they apply.

Within 24-48 hours after submitting an application, most colleges will email students asking them to log in to their individual online web portals (they all have different names for this). These portals are how colleges notify students about their application status. They'll almost never communicate personal information in the main body of an email, text, Common App, snail mail, or phone call (especially with a parent). They expect students to be responsible for managing this process. 

When you log in to each college's portal, you'll probably see a list of items that the college has not yet processed - this doesn't necessarily mean they haven't been sent or received!!! Many colleges take up to two weeks to process data that's already been sent - they will see the original time stamp of when items were submitted so if you (and we) submitted on time, there's no need to worry. 

Ms. Virden and Ms. Hatch Blauvelt are here to support you in many ways. Let us know if we can help guide you or interpret confusing language in a college's emails and websites that students are in charge of checking. 
College Finance: Slides & Audio
Click to hear an audio recording of Ms. Hatch Blauvelt's 45 minute presentation on financial aid for U.S. students.

Click here to see the slide show from the program.

Other resources



Next Week's Newsletter
What to expect and how to support seniors as colleges start releasing early admissions decisions.

Final Friendly Reminder:
The best source of information is usually each college's website, or calling or emailing their Admissions or Financial Aid Offices!
You can email me at [email protected]

See past newsletters on the College Counseling Website .