NORTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL
Senior Parent Meeting
➢Mr. Jimmy D’Andrea, Principal
➢Ms. Ericka Singleton, Assistant Principal & 12th Grade Liaison
➢Ms. Jodi Edmunds, Resource Counselor
➢Mr. Jeff Flach, Counselor
Welcome to Senior Year!!!
Agenda• Welcome
• Important Information and Dates for Seniors
• Navigating Senior Year
➢ College Application process
➢ SAT/ACT/ACCUPLACER
➢ Transcripts/Process/Timelines
➢ Resources
• Questions
Your Questions Are
Important to Us!www.NorthwestJags.org
• If you have a question or inquiry pertaining to a concern
specific to your child/children, please email your child’s
counselor directly.
• If you have a general question about senior year processes
or procedures, please capture those questions in the
Google form, linked here:
https://forms.gle/BJeDvXugk77UQz149
• This presentation and an FAQ document will be posted on
the Northwest website.
170 School
Days Until
You Begin
Your Future!
2020-2021 Administrator/Counselor Teams
Senior Events
➢ Senior Portraits- Week of September 21st @ Northwest
➢ Victor O’Neil Studios will be emailing sign-up link, additional details.
➢ Tentative: Junior/Senior Prom @ The Fillmore - Friday, May 14th
➢ After-Prom @ NWHS immediately following Prom
➢ Graduation - TBD
Senior Year Expenses
➢ Junior/Senior Prom w/After Prom Ticket- $75
➢ After-Prom Ticket- $10
➢ AP Exams- $94 per exam ($40 per exam due in October)
➢ Cap and Gown Package- $65-$75
➢ Yearbook or Supplement- TBD
Important Reminders
• Financial obligations must be cleared/paid to the Business Office in
order to purchase tickets to any future school event and/or to
obtain a high school diploma.
• SSL Hours* –
• 75 minimum needed to graduate.
• Deadline for SSL hours is Friday, April 9, 2021.
• Be aware of graduation requirement status! Make an appointment
with your child’s counselor as needed to review progress toward
graduation.
• *MSDE may make adjustments to SSL requirement
NAVIGATING
SENIOR YEAR,
COLLEGE APPLICATIONS,
& LIFE AFTER NORTHWEST
Agenda
• Counseling Department Staff
• Graduation Requirements
• Post-Secondary Options
• College Application Procedures
• Naviance Student
Class of 2021 Counselors
A–Ber: Mr. Jeff Flach
Bes-Deb: Ms. Tamela McCarthy-Redd
Dec-Go: Ms. Christine Kravitz
Gp-Kak: Ms. Nancy Blanco
Kal-Map: Ms. Athena Cois
Maq-N: Mr. Austin Freeman
O-Ros: Ms. Sammy Buck
Rot-Thn: Ms. Christina Kim
Tho-Z: Mr. Sean Stewart
Middle College & Early College: Ms. Jodi Edmunds
Counseling Department StaffMs. Rochelle Davis - College Career Information Coordinator
• The NWHS College Career Information Center has information and resources to help with college research, career planning, and financial aid/scholarships. Access the Center resources remotely on the web @
• montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/northwesths/careercenter
• Approximately 150 college and career admission representatives meet with Northwest students each year. See the list of scheduled appointments in Naviance.
Ms. Jackie Scholl & Ms. Jackie Carpenter - Registrar’s Office
• The Registrar’s office processes all requests for transcripts.
Graduation requirements*
Earn 22 Credits
• 4 English
• 4 Math
• 3 Science
• 3 Social Studies
• 1 PE
• .5 Health
• 1 Technology
• 1 Fine Art
• 2.5 Elective
• Program Completer
Testing
Requirements*
Science (MISA)
English 10 (PARCC)
Algebra 1 (PARCC)
Government (HSA)
*subject to change per MSDE
Earn 75 SSL hours
• Check out the MCPS website for information on SSL opportunities and to access forms: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/ssl/
• Students must earn hours from an approved activity or site.
• NWHS’s SSL Coordinator:
Ms. McCarthy-Redd
Post-Secondary Options
2 Year College
Military
Gap Year
Employment
4 Year College
2 Year College Bound
Montgomery College:
Complete MC online application @ montgomerycollege.edu
Work with MC Advisor regarding placement for Fall 2021.
More information can be found on the MC website:
montgomerycollege.edu
Are you considering a 2-year college, Vocational or Trade School?
Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship
Attend an in-state post-secondary school
Awards up to $5,000 annually*
FAFSA application required
Minimum 2.3 high school GPA
Parent household income requirement
Credit enrollment requirement
*award recipients must sign a service obligation agreement
mhec.maryland.gov
Military Bound
Take the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude
Battery) for career exploration and/or military enlistment
with Northwest on February 9
Permission forms will be on the web in November!
Get in touch with a Recruitment Office!Recruiters for Northwest students have
contact info in Naviance.
montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/northwesths/careercenter
Quick Links – Career Exploration
When considering a student for admission, colleges will
evaluate:
Transcript
GPA, Courses & Grades
Testing (many schools will be Test Optional for fall 2021)
SAT I, SAT Subjects, ACT and/or Accuplacer Scores
Essay(s)
Extracurricular Activities/Service
Letters of Recommendation
Possible Interview
4 Year College Bound
Transcript
Weighted GPA
Unweighted GPA
SAT Testing
MCPS is working closely with College Board and local
health officials to provide opportunities for fall 2020 test
administrations, if/when conditions allow.
Many colleges are “test optional” for the Class of 2021.
The College Search
Search and research colleges
Target Schools
Safety Schools
Reach Schools
Sign up for virtual college rep visits via Naviance
Look at websites, communicate with college reps, virtual
college fairs, and consider campus visits.
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET TO COLLEGE? Top five Maryland colleges for Northwest seniors
UMD College Park UMBC Towson Salisbury Montgomery
College
Undergraduate
enrollment 30,000+
Undergraduate
enrollment
11,000 +
Undergraduate
enrollment:
19,000+
Undergraduate
enrollment:
7,600+
Three campuses.
Rockville campus
estimates 21,000+
enrollment.
Montgomery
College has an
open admissions
policy.
Priority deadline:
November 1
Early Action
deadline:
November 1
Early Action
deadline:
December 1
Early Decision:
November 15
Early Action:
December 1
Test Optional for Fall
2021 applicants. This
includes admission
review and merit based
scholarship
consideration.
Test Optional
for Fall 2021
applicants.
Test Optional for
Fall 2021
applicants. Scores
are encouraged
for merit
scholarship
consideration.
Test Optional for
Fall 2021
applicants. Scores
are encouraged
for merit
scholarship
consideration.
College acceptance
is guaranteed to the
high school
graduate
Go to the college website. Determine how to apply and
prepare for deadlines.
• Application Types: Common App, Coalition App, Electronic/School
Specific, or Paper/School Specific Application.
• Application Deadline Types: Regular Decision, Early Action (Priority),
Restrictive Early Action, and/or Early Decision.
Start working through the application. You will include basic
information about yourself, your high school, your classes and
extra curricular activities. This is also where you may be asked
to complete short answer questions and essay prompts.
When you have finalized your list of schools that you
plan to apply to, make sure they are in the “Colleges
I’m Applying To” section in Naviance.
• Sign-in → My Favorites → Colleges I’m Applying To →
Plus Sign (Pink)
• Once you have done this, you are able to request teacher
recommendation letters through Naviance Student (Step 7).
Step 3: Link accounts
When applying through Common App, Coalition App
or Edocs, you will have to link your account(s) to
Naviance.
• Step by step directions are shown in a video on the home
page of your Naviance student account.
• Sign-in → Welcome Northwest Seniors → Read More
(button) → “How to match your Common App account”
Step 4: Complete FERPA Waiver
• FERPA is a federal law that protects the privacy of a student’s
education records.
• In regards to college, a parent must authorize the school to send a
student’s transcript as this is part of a student’s confidential
record.
• Submit the Authorization to Release Records Form to Ms. Carpenter
and electronically sign the privacy notice in Naviance waving your
right to see your recommendations.
• It is HIGHLY recommended that you check “yes” and waive your
right to see/access recommendations.
Step 5: Request Transcripts
• Return the completed
Authorization to Release Records
form to Ms. Carpenter by email
& complete the transcript
request google form.
• To find online: Northwest
website → Counseling Tab →
Registrar’s Office and Transcript
Request → Link
Step 6: Send SAT or ACT Scores
You will send this directly
from College Board or ACT
to each college.
NWHS does not send
official scores.
Step 7: Request Letters of Recommendation
• Each college determines the number of recommendations needed so check the college
website carefully.
• Complete your self evaluation survey in Naviance if you haven’t already. This is your brag
sheet. Include all information that will help us “make you real” to the college admissions
officer reading your application.
• Ask teachers that you would like to write a letter on your behalf. Follow up with an email
request through Naviance.
• Allow teachers and your counselor at least 3 weeks to complete the recommendation letter.
• Log into your Naviance account to view video/steps to request.
Your application is complete when the
college receives…
The Application
Test scores (if required)
Transcript (school info)
Letters of Recommendation (if required)
Tuesday, October 137:00 PM
Registration details will be coming soon
How & When to Apply for Financial AidLoans Scholarships Financial Aid Programs
FINANCIAL AID SEMINAR
Information
presented
will be
relevant to
you and your
parents.
FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid
Naviance | Student
Receive periodic emails and notifications regarding scholarships, special opportunities, & more.
Complete a career interest profile, explore various careers, salaries, education and training needed.
Generate lists of colleges that may be a good match based on your GPA & test scores.
See when College Reps visits are available and sign up to attend.
Track your transcript requests.
http://connection.naviance.com/northwest/
Naviance | Student
The College Search
Sign up for
Virtual College
Representative
Visits at NWHS
Find
Your Fit
The
SuperMatchSearch
Scattergrams
QUESTIONS?www.NorthwestJags.org