AEHS Rising Senior Parent/ Caregiver Information May 2025

Rising Senior Parent / caregiver Information Session

Class of 2026 - May 7, 2025

Agenda

What to Think About When Applying to College

Class of 2026 General Information

Q & A with current AEHS Seniors

Important Dates

College Application Process

Senior Class Information

Class of 2026 Sponsor

Ms. Dever

Prom Senior Dues

$70-75 due by April 30, 2026 After Prom, dues will become an obligation What’s covered: Senior Sunrise & Sunset Wall Painting & Unity Day Senior picnic (graduation rehearsal) DAR Constitution Hall Graduation programs, flowers, etc

Date, location - TBDTickets expected to cost ??? Cost of Prom tickets and senior dues can be offset by class fundraiser.

Senior Class Meeting

• Date: Wednesday, October 16th (TENTATIVE)
• Collect superlative votes
• Handout/collect cap & gown orders
• Panoramic picture (seniors should wear RED)
• Fundraiser kickoff

Senior Portrait

Use THIS link for more information and to schedule your senior portrait

Yearbooks

Sale start the 1st day of school Price goes up throughout the year, so buy early. Cost is $65, discounted from $80 Senior recognition ads are available for parents to purchase

Reach out to Mr. Fisher

AP / IB Exams SSL Hours

IB Questions ? E-mail: Ms. Orregio

AP Questions ? E-mail: Ms. Prillman

75 hours needed to meet graduation requirements. Certificate of Meritorious Service given at 240 SSL hours earned by first Friday in April of 2026.

SSL Questions? Email: Ms. Esch

Registration due November, 2025. Look for IB/AP exam registration information in September, 2025. It will be mailed home and distributed to students.

Important Dates

Last day of school for seniors

First D ay of School

financial aid night

June, 2026

Oct. 1, 2025

May 22, 2026

Sept. 17., 2025

August 1, 2025

August 26, 2o25

August 26, 2o25

First Day To Submit Application Google Form

fafsa opens

Common App Opens

Graduation

College Application Process

The process

step 1

step 3

step 2

Create your Common Application - even if you are not applying to any Common Application Schools

Complete Self Reflection Questions using the Google Form. Click the circle!

Sign the FERPA Waiver in the Common Application

Teacher Letters of Recommendation

You should have already asked 2 teachers to write your letters of recommendations- provide them with requested documentation If the college will only accept one letter, you will only be permitted to select one teacher, follow the requirements listed for each school Teacher recommendations can only be added in Naviance after colleges have been added to your list via transcript request Click on the Colleges Tab in Naviance and select “Colleges I’m Applying To”. Scroll to the teacher recommendation, and use the drop down box to select the name of the teacher. A list of schools you have requested transcripts for will appear, and will tell you exactly how many letters of recommendations will be needed for that school If they need to mail the recommendation, provide teacher with an addressed stamped envelope

IMPORTANT: it is recommended students request teacher letters now, and no later than 30 days prior to colleges' deadlines

THANK your teachers for the extra effort on your behalf- he/she is using free time for you!

Counselor Letter of recommendation

Some Colleges and Universities require letters of recommendation to come from the student’s counselor, or a student may want to request that one of their letters come from their counselor. If your school requires a counselor recommendation, you must fill out the Self Reflection Questions before submitting a transcript request. Your Self Reflection Questions give your counselor extra information about you - your extracurricular activities (sports and clubs), your leadership experience, your job experience, and any personal challenges you may have faced.

Self Reflection Questions

Google Form HERE

How to request your Transcripts

All schools a student is applying to must be added to their “Colleges I'm Applying to” in Naviance Student must indicate how they are submitting their application: Common Application, Direct to Institution or Mail Coalition schools should be added as “Direct to Institution” When students are done with all Naviance actions, they must complete the Albert Einstein High School Current Student College Application Submissions Form to indicate to their counselor all steps are complete and counselor can submit their documents. This form must be completed no later then 4 weeks prior to application deadlines.

WATCH THE HOW TO HERE

FORM LINK HERE

How are you applying to college?

You must select how you are applying to each college. Pick either via Common App or Direct to the institution.Students should select Add Application and Request Transcript

Application Resources

Click logo for the AEHS Senior Post-Secondary Planning Guide

College Applications

Common App vs. Coalition

Applications & Essays

• University of Maryland College Park is on both Coalition and Common App!
• In Coalition, Do NOT enter Teacher/Counselor emails. Please type “None”
• Common Application must be matched to your Naviance Account

• Make sure you complete all required parts
• Read through the application completely before you start, and answer the questions honestly and completely
• Have someone proofread the entire application before you submit
• Check your Naviance account to ensure that all required documents have been received. File matching takes time- it will say initial materials submitted when everything has been sent

Who does what - Student responsibilities

Application

Essay(s)

Any Supplements

Application Fees

SAT / ACT Scores

Student Sends

Who does what - Student responsibilities

Request Teacher Letters of Recommendation

Request Transcript through Naviance

Sign up for college visits at AEHS through Naviance

Student Requests

Who does what - Teacher responsibilities

Write Letter ofRecommendation

Upload Letter ofRecommendation to Naviance

Who does what - Counselor responsibilities

Complete and send secondary school report forms

Send Transcript

Write & Send Letters of Recommendation

Send School Profile

SAt / act testing information

Test Optional-If you have test scores and you would like to submit them, they will be considered Test Not Considered- Even if you send standardized test scores, the school will not consider them Test Recommended- While you do not HAVE to send test scores, it will be viewed unfavorably if scores are not submitted Test Required- Applications without a test score will not be considered

Colleges are focusing on other as pects of application

• Essay
• Resume
• Transcript
• Recommendation Letter

Colleges may require additional essays or other new components of their application

Fafsa & scholarships

The Federal Student Aid (FSA) website defines scholarships as: “Scholarships are gifts. They don't need to be repaid. There are thousands of them, offered by schools, employers, individuals, private companies, nonprofits, communities, religious groups, and professional and social organizations.”

Merit Based

• Earned by meeting or exceeding certain standards
• Can be awarded based off academics, or a combination of academics & special talents, traits, or interests

Need Based

• Awarded based off financial need (usually determined by University/College/Career School when reviewing submitted information from FAFSA

Use THIS form to request any transcripts needed for scholarships, Military, or others!!

Financial aid

If you are a U.S. Citizen or resident, you can apply for federal financial aid (FAFSA) If you are a Non-U.S. Citizen, and non-resident, but have lived in the state of Maryland more than 3 years, you can apply for Maryland State Aid (MSFAA) Applications are completely free Parent/Guardian tax returns are needed to complete both applications from two years prior (Example: Seniors this year used tax returns from 2023) Complete either application for the academic year that you will be starting college (Example: current seniors completed the 2025-2026 academic year application)

What to think about when applying to college

important factors to consider

Dive rsity & Campus Life

Activities & Sports

Location & Size

Freshman Retention Rate

Major

Housing & Other Facilities

Disability Services

Graduation Rate

Cost

More important factors to consider

Interview

Personal Essay

Quality of Academic Program

Demonstrated Interest - college dependent

Extracurriculars

GPA

SAT / ACT Scores - test optional?

Community Service

How many colleges should you apply to?

While there is no magic number, between 3-9 is usually enough. It should be a combination of reach, match, safety & Maryland schools.

• Reach School - A college that you have a chance of getting into, but your test scores and/or high school grades are lower than the scores on the school's profile.

• Target School - A college that you are pretty likely to get into because your test scores and/or high school grades fall right into the middle range when you look at the school's profile.

• Likely School - A college that you will almost certainly get into because your test scores and/or high school grades are well above average when you look at the school's profile.

• In-state School - at least 1 Maryland school for in-state financial aid opportunities.

Decision Definitions

early decision?

If you plan to apply Early Decision (ED) please see your counselor before submitting your application

THe College application timeline

00:00

Social Media reminder

- First impression involves more than just an essay, transcript and test scores. - Attention given to what is posted on Twitter, Facebook, SnapChat, Instagram (FINSTA), etc. - 47% of Admission Officers check social media profiles- can positively or negatively affect view of you - Holistic and authentic view of who you are - Email should be professional - not MCPS

Final Thoughts

Senior Year is IMPORTANT Maintain course load and grades until the end of the year! Colleges DO care about senior year!

THANK YOU!

AEHS Counseling Department

Q & A with current seniors