Students receive their own personal account in Naviance, which they can sign on to from any computer with web access. In the freshmen year WA counselors will introduce students to Naviance, an internet-based user-friendly program. In the freshmen year students complete the Interest Survey which links a student's interests to careers and colleges. In the Sophomore year counselors will introduce students to the "Do What You Are" program which determines a student's personality type and links it to careers and colleges. In the junior year counselors will demonstrate to students how they can utilize the college search feature of the program and begin to develop a college list. In the senior year students will begin to refine their college list in Naviance and explore scholarships listed on the site. Students are also encouraged to explore Naviance's many features on their own. Parents can access Naviance through their student’s account, log in as a guest in Family Connection (password: centaur) or request a parent account be set up for them by the school counselor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Colleges actively seek students who are the first in their family to go to college. Parents and students should identify themselves as first generation to colleges. WA counselors can assist students and their families who are new to the college planning process.
A great deal of controversy has surrounded Early Decision plans. Critics complain that it forces seniors to commit to a college too early in the process and limits financial aid opportunities. Proponents cite the advantage of choosing ED because many colleges select a significant percentage of their freshman class from the ED pool of applicants. Students should only apply ED if they are certain that a school is their first choice and if financial aid is not a critical factor in the decision. By applying to several schools, students have the opportunity to compare financial aid packages before committing to a school by May 1.
Colleges offer several different options for applying, so it is important to know the choices available at the schools on the student’s list. These are the most common types:
Regular Decision (RD) – Applications must be received by a fixed date for admission consideration.
Rolling Admission – Applications are reviewed as they arrive. It is an advantage to apply as early as possible because programs may close once places have been filled.
Early Action (EA) – Applications are due by an early date (usually Oct. 15-Dec.15), and candidates receive notification of their status by January 1. An acceptance is non-binding, and students have until May 1 (the universal candidate reply date) to decide whether to accept the offer of admission.
Restricted Early Action – Candidates may only apply to one early action school, but there is no restriction on regular decision applications to other schools.
Early Decision (ED) – Applications are due by an early date, and candidates receive notification of their admission decision by January 1. Unlike EA, students are expected to matriculate at the college, as ED is a binding agreement. In rare cases due to financial or other extenuating circumstances, students may be released from this commitment. If students are deferred under ED, they may apply to other colleges without obligation to the ED school.
Early Decision II – A second round of ED in January, which allows students who were denied or deferred at their first choice school to apply in a second round ED plan.
Students and their families should visit the colleges that are close by. Admissions officers realize that students often cannot visit every college they are applying to in the fall. Many families wait to see if a student is admitted before visiting a college far away. If students cannot visit, it is important to try to make contact with colleges at college fairs, at WA, and by making sure they are on the schools’ mailing list. Many colleges send representatives to WA, and juniors and seniors may sign up to meet with reps through Naviance, these visits take place from September - November. Video campus tours are sometimes available on college websites or at www.campustours.com and www.collegechoice.com.