Letter of Recommendation and Transcript Request Guidelines

College/Career Center (CCC) Mrs. Julie Honda (A – K): [email protected] Ms. Rosa Mejia (L – Z): [email protected] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Letter of Recommendation and Transcript Request Guidelines via your Naviance portal Open Your Naviance Portal:  

Go to http://connection.naviance.com/santamonica Username: firstname.lastname; password: samo ID (PLEASE DO NOT TYPE AN EMAIL). If you have two last names, username: first.last “space” 2nd last (ex. Victor Viking Samo is “victor.viking samo”)

Complete your Brag Sheet    

"about me" tab Under the "Surveys to take" section on the left side Click on "Brag Sheet" and “save” at least ONCE AN HOUR to properly save your work Teachers and Counselors will have access to it after you click “save and I am finished”

Update Test Scores   

“about me” tab, Under “official things” box, click “test scores” Click “edit” and update accordingly

College List You are responsible for maintaining and updating your college list in order for Counselors and Teachers to submit official documents (i.e., letters of rec, transcripts) to colleges. Update your college list as soon as it changes and communicate this update to your teacher(s) and counselor(s).

For those applying to Common App Colleges and FERPA (two-part process) Instructions below are via your Common App account 1. Create your Common App account at www.commonapp.org and fill out the “Education” section COMPLETELY (found under the “Common App” tab), 2. From the “dashboard” tab, click on a college and next to “assign recommenders” click “Incomplete” 3. The FERPA Release Authorization will open: o read statement, check off box next to “I have fully read…” and click “continue” o read statements, check off box next to “I authorize every school…;” click circle next to “I waive my right to…;” check off box next to “I understand that my waiver…;” type in your name and date, click “manage recommenders” 4. For more information on FERPA, go to the “ferpa” page on the left side of your Naviance portal homepage Instructions below are via your Naviance portal 5. Go to your “colleges” tab, click on “colleges I’m applying to” 6. In the light blue box titled “Common App Account Matching,” type the EMAIL ADDRESS YOU ARE USING FOR THE COMMON APP ACCOUNT in the “Common App Email Address” box 7. Click “Match” and your college list will be updated based on your Common App info

Brag Sheet deadlines: Early Decision/Action: 10/1; Regular Decision: 11/1; Rolling Decision: 12/2 Transcript Request deadlines based on application deadline; check page 2

For those applying to Non-Common App Colleges 

You will manually add UCs, CSUs, Community Colleges and any other non-Common App colleges o From your “colleges I’m applying to” page, click “add to this list” o Click “look up” and select college accordingly o In the “Type” section, select from the drop-down menu (i.e., Regular Decision, Early Decision)  This is crucial in submitting official documents in a timely manner

Counselor and Teacher Letters of Recommendation, Secondary School Reports Some colleges require Counselor recommendation letters and/or a Secondary School Report (SSR). Most will require at least one teacher letter of recommendation. Make sure to request your letter IN PERSON first!  Go to your “colleges” tab  Click on “colleges I’m applying to”  Towards bottom of page, click on “add/cancel requests” under “Teacher Recommendations.”  Select your teacher(s) and Counselor using the drop down menu under “Add New Requests,” add personal message (optional)  Click on “Update Requests”  Once letter is written, Teacher(s) and Counselor will upload and submit  Please note, per FERPA, you will NOT have access to letter(s) of recommendation

Transcript Requests Transcript fee is $3 each – CASH only. Payments will be processed Mondays thru Wednesdays before school, lunch and after school ONLY. In order to meet college application deadlines, follow transcript request deadlines below. Please note transcripts will NOT be processed during Winter Recess; PLAN AHEAD! Application Deadline November 1 – December 1 December 15 – January 15

Transcript Request Deadline October 23 December 10

UCs and CSUs do not require transcripts unless requested Delivery/Submission Type Some schools may require paper submission, and thus, letters and transcripts must be mailed. On your college list:   

means college is a member of the Common Application and accepts electronic documents means college accepts electronic documents but does not use Common App means college DOES NOT accept electronic documents (i.e., University of Texas - Austin) - you must provide required forms as well as stamped and addressed envelopes to your counselor and teachers. Submit the following: o Teacher Letter of Recommendation i. Legal-size envelope (stamped and addressed to each college; Samohi return address) ii. Form for each college you are applying to, if applicable o Counselor Letter of Recommendation i. 9” x 12” envelope (stamped and addressed to each college; use Samohi’s return address) ii. Secondary School Report or similar form, with waiver signed

Brag Sheet deadlines: Early Decision/Action: 10/1; Regular Decision: 11/1; Rolling Decision: 12/2 Transcript Request deadlines based on application deadline; check page 2