Hello Seniors,

Happy November 1! Monday marks a big milestone in the college admissions process. To those who are submitting applications - you got this! Good luck!  

Please keep in mind:

• It does take time for the colleges to download and match school materials. Though the registrar sends out thousands of records electronically, it does not mean the records are instantly displayed on your admissions portals as received. We advise you to allow 7-10 business days. Remember that patience is a virtue.

• Please remember that we will be covering several important and timely topics at Senior Workshop on November 5. Bring your questions. 

• If you have any questions about the submission of your school documents, please contact the school registrar, Ms. Moore at registrar@sidwell.edu and she is happy to assist you.

• Monday, November 1 is a DROP-IN DAY in CCO. Please feel free to come by if we can help you in any way! 

We are extremely proud of each of you! Congrats if you have applied or are planning to apply soon!

To help keep you on track, please take a few minutes to read the following updates and information.

November "to do" list and important dates:

• Nov 1 - Nov 5: Look at the attached college visit listing for information on colleges who are virtually visiting. Please note registration may be required. Next week is the final week of visits!

• November 5: Senior College Workshop #3. 

• November 10: Last day for seniors to complete transcript requests and submit essays and supplements for review for November 15 applications 

• November 12: Senior College Day (no classes). A good day to work on applications and attend virtual college events

• November 29: Last day to make transcript requests for final list of schools

November 5 Workshop Class

Several timely topics will be covered in workshop this coming week. This includes: first quarter grades, what to do after you submit and more! Bring your questions and we will see you there!

First Quarter Grades

This will be discussed in your final workshop class on November 5, but we want to answer this question ahead of time. There are two instances when first quarter grades would be shared with the college you have applied to. 

1. The colleges request senior grades from the student and/or CCO.

2. You decide to volunteer the first quarter grades.

In both instances the registrar will submit the grades to the colleges. Seniors can request the grades via a Google Form that will be sent out to you after the Nov 5 workshop.

Important to add is that CCO does communicate with the colleges that first quarter grades are not official grades and not included on our transcript, but they are progress grades that can result in a grade or grade/range. Additionally, if the progress report is shared, no comments are included - it is simply the course information and grade/grade range. Lastly, the mid-year report (first semester grades) will automatically be forwarded to the colleges. No request is needed for the sending of first semester grades.

Submitting your Common App and Opting to Send Test Scores

According to Common Application - some (not all) schools use the following policy to protect students who choose to apply as test-optional (but the policy applies to all applicants): Self-reported test scores will NOT appear on the PDF preview of your application. Test scores reported on the Common Application are transmitted electronically to the college when you apply and are added separately to your application file according to the preferred testing plan you select. So do not worry if you are opting to send scores but you don’t see them on your PDF when you submit your application.

Article for Seniors: 

Ten Things a Teen Needs to Think About Before They Choose a College. Read article here.

Article for Parents

7 Things to Say After Your Teen Submits a College Application. Read article here.

Reminder! You are invited to connect with a Sidwell alum!

We understand that learning about and researching colleges can be challenging during this time of COVID-19 especially when may not be able to visit the campus or meet with the students. The College Office is excited to partner with the SFS Office of Alumni Engagement to provide you with an opportunity to connect with a Sidwell graduate who attends or recently graduated from a college or university you are interested in. Please feel free to complete the following form to connect with a Sidwell alum!

SFS Virtual College Visits

Attached you will find next week’s schedule. Please plan ahead and mark your calendars. If there are any problems with the links, please reach out to Ms. Morillas for assistance at morillasj@sidwell.edu. 

Applying for Financial Aid?

For families applying for financial aid, we wanted to direct you to the two most commonly used forms: FAFSA: All colleges require the FAFSA (Free Application Form for Federal Student Aid) for need-based aid, The earliest you can file the FAFSA is October 1. CSS PROFILE: Approximately 400 private colleges also require the CSS PROFILE. The CSS PROFILE is typically available beginning October 1. Remember, each institution has different rules and requirements. It is never too early to investigate these requirements and complete the forms, as a late submission could negatively impact an admission decision.

Upcoming events and information for seniors/parents:

• 7 Tips for Applying to College During a Pandemic. Watch video here.

• Go inside the admissions process at Yale through their podcast series.

• The College Essay Guy’s free resources for essays, supplements, and applications.

• Check out Sallie Mae’s Paying for College Resource for ways to help students and families with helpful guides, free tools, and a video series.

• A series of admissions and testing webinars and recordings can be found here.

Wishing you a great weekend! Happy Halloween! 🎃

In friendship,

The College Counseling Team