The College Application Process

Frequently Asked Questions

Class of 2020

What is our school code?
Our CEEB Code is 390-488

How many students are in the class of 2020?

There are approximately 491 students in the class of 2020.

How do I find out my class rank for my college application?

The Central Bucks School District does not report class rank.

What grading scale does our school utilize?

We are on a 4.0 scale.

Is my cumulative GPA Weighted?

Yes, we report Weighted GPA. Honors courses are weighted .25, AP Courses are weighted 1.0. Advanced courses are not weighted. 

What is my Guidance Counselor's contact information?

Mr. Walter Sandstrom (students last names A-Le)

Mrs. Melanie Jones (students with last names Lf-Z)

Guidance Phone Number 267-893-2310

Guidance Fax Number 267-893-5844

CB East 2804 Holicong Rd. Doylestown PA 18902

Could you please explain again how students can request transcripts be sent to colleges? 

The Release of Records Authorization Form (RRA) will need to signed by both student and parent/guardian and brought to guidance.  This form will be provided to students on September 5th, 2019 and after that date will be on the Guidance Website. After this form has been turned in to the Guidance office, the students will be able to request transcripts via Naviance, beginning September 10th which authorizes us to share records with colleges upon request.

If a college has rolling admissions, when is the earliest you can submit your application?

Every school will release their application on a different date.  Most colleges will release their fall 2020 application in August.  Make sure you fill out the correct application intended for students applying in the Fall of 2019, rather than the previous year.     Students may submit their portion of the application as soon as it is available on the college website.   Please be aware that colleges will not begin to consider an application until well into September, so you can use August to complete the application and any required supplemental materials thoroughly.  Students can begin to request transcripts on September 10th, 2019.  However, these requests will require a minimum of 15 school days to process.

If you apply to a school and there is a delay in getting the transcript does that put you at risk for not being accepted because they don’t have everything at once?

There is no way for a college to receive all parts of a student’s application at once.  The parts of the application will arrive at the admission office at different times.  When all parts have arrived at the admissions office, the student’s admission file is complete and it can be reviewed.  It’s the student’s responsibility to be aware of deadlines.  A college’s application deadline means all components of the application must arrive at the college on/before that date.  Even for rolling admission schools, the end of September is still considered early! 

If the college accepts student self-reported transcripts, how do I access my transcript?

You can access your unofficial transcript through the Infinite Campus portal, under reports.

If the college accepts student self-reported transcripts, do I still need to fill out a Records Release Authorization Form?

Yes!  Colleges will need information from CB East throughout the application process.  There is no other way for us to know that you applied to the college without the having the Release of Records Authorization electronically requesting the transcript via Naviance.

Do we know on Naviance if/when transcripts have been sent out?

Yes, you will be able to log into Naviance and see when your transcript has been sent to a college.

When can you start applying for regular decision?  I know the deadline is January.

You can apply as soon as the college releases their fall 2019 application.  The earliest you can request that we submit your transcript would be September 10th.   At a regular decision school, you receive no advantage in the admission process for submitting your application early.  Colleges who operate under regular decision are comparing you against the rest of the students in the applicant pool.  Everyone who applies regular decision will learn of their admission decision on the same date: usually in March/April. 

When should you apply to Penn State?

Penn State has an early action deadline of November 1^st.  Add Penn State to the list of colleges you are applying to in Naviance. However, because Penn State is a college that students self-report their transcript info, students do not need to request transcripts. 

Can you apply Early Action to an unlimited number of schools?

Yes.  The only restriction would be if the college has an Early Action Restricted policy.  If this is the case, it will be listed on the school’s application and students would not be able to apply Early Action anywhere else.  

What’s the advantage of applying Early Decision (ED)?

For a student who has a definite first-choice college, applying ED has many benefits besides possibly increasing the chance of getting in. Applying ED lets the student:

·         Reduce stress by cutting the time spent waiting for a decision.

·         Save the time and expense of submitting multiple applications.

·         Gain more time, once accepted, to look for housing and otherwise prepare for college.

·         Reassess options and apply elsewhere if not accepted.

·         Remember to very sure of an ED choice, as it is binding.

Is Early Decision binding dependent upon your financials – ie.  What if I don’t get the necessary aid package to afford the school?

There is a caveat in early decision that allows you to be released from the ED agreement if you cannot afford the cost of attendance.   If cost is an issue and will be a determining factor for you, perhaps ED is not the right option for you because you will not have the opportunity to compare financial aid offers.  Most colleges will not provide you with a full/accurate financial aid package until March/April.  If you are considering applying ED at a school, you can ask them to give you a financial aid estimate at the time you are applying. 

If you’re applying ED or Rolling Admission, what is the last SAT date you can consider taking in the fall?

We highly advise you ask this question directly to the college to which you are applying.  A general rule is, if you are applying to a school with a priority deadline or ED deadline of November 15 or earlier, the last SAT date you could take would be October 5.  If you are applying to a school with a deadline between November 15 and December 1, the last SAT date you could take would be November 2. 

When sending SAT scores does CollegeBoard send all test results if a college “super scores?”  How does that work?

CollegeBoard has a program called Score Choice.  Score Choice gives you the option to choose which scores (by test date for the SAT and by individual test for SAT Subject Tests) you send to colleges — in accordance with the college’s stated score-use practice.  If you decide not to use Score Choice, all of your scores will be sent to your recipients. You should still feel comfortable sending all scores, since most colleges consider a student’s best score.

CB East does not include any testing on your transcript.  It is the student's responsibility to have his/her scores sent directly to the institution from the testing agency.

Do you recommend sending both SAT and ACT scores?

Yes.  We recommend sending all of your testing to all of your colleges.

If a college requests SAT/ACT test scores, but doesn’t say one or the other, should we send both?  Or just SAT or ACT?

Our recommendation is that you send all of your testing to all the colleges in which you are applying.

Can you send your SAT/ACT scores to your selected colleges before you send in your application?  Or do you need to hand them in together?

You can send in your SAT/ACT scores before you submit your application for admission.  It is normal/acceptable to have pieces of your application arrive at the college at different times, as long as everything arrives by the application deadline. 

Do colleges see if a student did not take an AP test?

Not from CB East.  This is usually self reported by the student on his/her application.

What about AP test scores?  Are they on the transcript score report?  Do colleges want them?

AP Exam scores will not be listed on your CB East transcript.  AP scores are used for advanced placement and college credit, not admission.  You will send your scores to the college to which you enroll (after May 1).   That can be done during AP testing in May of your senior year, or you can log into your CollegeBoard account in July and send your scores to the college in which you’ve enrolled.

Do you have to send AP test scores?

No.  You can/should send your AP scores to the college in which you enroll.

What is the process for asking teachers for a recommendation?

We recommend students ask 2 teachers (in person) if they would be willing to write a recommendation on their behalf.   Teachers will send their recommendations directly to the college via Naviance.  Students will request teacher recommendations via Naviance.  Please see Mrs. West in guidance for a handout on this process.

What is the process for asking counselors for recommendations?

Students have to complete the "Class of 2020 Counselor Recommendation Questionaire" that is under the "About Me" tab in Naviance.  Students then have to complete the college application.  After applications have been completed and submitted, transcripts must be requested to be sent via Naviance.   Students will request counselor recommendations via Naviance.  Please see Mrs. West for a handout on this process.  Counselors will send their recommendations directly to the college.  

Can we ask teachers from middle school for letters of recommendation?

No.   You should ask a teacher from CB East to write your letter of recommendation.  It must be someone who has taught you in high school, preferably in an academic class or a class that directly correlates to the major in which you are applying.  If they are a teacher at CB East and they have tutored you, coached you, or were an advisor of your club (but never taught you in class), they will not count as a teacher recommendation.

How do you know that the teachers submitted their recommendations?

There are a few ways you can check on this.  1)  You can ask the teacher and they can log into their Naviance account and tell you the date they submitted it.  Once they submit your recommendation via Naviance, they will receive a confirmation number.  This can be helpful if a college is stating they haven’t received the teacher’s recommendation.  The teacher can give you/the college the confirmation number and the college will be able to access the recommendation.  2)  You can check in with Mrs. West; she can log into Naviance and see if the teacher has sent the recommendation.  3)  You can call the college and ask them if they have received the recommendation(s).  4)  You can log into your Naviance account and check under the same spot where you requested the recommendation.

Who is a good person to show your essay to get suggestions/feedback?  Are any English teachers open to receiving essays via email over the summer?

We recommend that you have as many possible people read/critique your college essay – including teachers, parents, friends, etc.  They should not only be reading your essay for spelling and grammatical errors, but they should also feel that the essay is really “you” (ie. they can hear your “voice” in the essay.).  Remember, your essay is something in the admission process, one of the only things, in which you have 100% control.  Make sure it is your best work and something that really gives the admissions representative a glimpse into who you really are. 

Teachers do not have to check their email in the summer, so our recommendation is not to depend on getting this feedback from a counselor or teacher in the summer.  We recommend you speaking directly to your teacher about this possibility. 

What is meant by application supplements?

Each college listed on the Common Application has the option of including a writing supplement. This is where the individual college may ask additional essay questions to gain more insight about the applicant. These are above and beyond the Common Application Essay prompts.  The main part of your Common Application will go to all Common App schools to which you choose to apply.  However, only the specific college requesting the supplement will see that student’s writing supplement, meaning your college specific supplements are not able to be viewed by the other Common App schools to which you apply.  In the supplement section colleges can ask many different kinds of short questions and writing prompts, therefore each supplement will differ. Each writing supplement, regardless of the requirements, is a chance for the student to submit additional information.  It is important to note that essay topics on the writing supplements should differ from the topic selected on the main part of the Common Application’s Writing Page.

If a common app school requires a supplement, will the common app tell you – or do you have to check the website for every school?

The common application will tell you this information.  But, we advise you check the college’s website to get specific information or directions.

Please discuss CSS Profile along with FAFSA.

The CSS Profile and FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) are two documents that colleges require if a student is applying for financial aid.  The district will host a financial aid presentation in October of your senior year to help guide you through the financial aid process.  Additionally, CB East will host a FAFSA Overview Night with our representative from PHEAA to assist you with understanding the FAFSA and new deadline changes.

Do many schools have tours and info sessions in the summer?

Yes, most (if not all) have tours in the summer.  You should call the admissions office and sign up for one in advance of your visit.  Summer is a great time to visit, but you won’t get to see the campus in session (with students around, classes in session, etc.). 

Are all the schools’ admission requirements on Naviance?

Yes, most are.  But, you need to check each individual school’s website to make sure that you are following their exact requirements.  You should not rely solely on Naviance.  The colleges’ websites are where you will find the most comprehensive, detailed, and updated information regarding their admission requirements.

Do you have to declare a major on your application?  How does that affect the process?

This depends on the college and major to which you are applying.  If you have a question regarding this, we encourage you to ask the individual colleges to which you are applying.  Some colleges have specific criteria for admission to a particular major.  In certain cases, the college could have direct admit programs, meaning if you do not get in as a freshmen, you cannot transfer into the major once you matriculate.  We see this a lot with programs such as nursing, speech pathology, engineering, and physical therapy.  This is why it is best to check with each