Class-Year Specific Information

Great Valley High School
225 N. Phoenixville Pike
Malvern, PA 19355

Counseling Department Phone Number: (610) 889-1918, Ext 21930
Counseling Office Fax Number: (610) 889-1971

GVHS uses a 4.0 weighted grading scale.

CEEB Code: 392363 (College Entrance Examination Board. Every high school/college has a code)

Class of 2024
Start date: 8/2020 End date: 6/2024 Graduation: 6/06/2024
FYI: By policy, GVHS does not officially rank but will report decile in class (top 10%, 20%, etc.) if a college asks for rank. If you need your decile in the class, please contact the Counseling Office.

• Begin work on college essays & application.
   
• Schedule senior meeting for counselor’s letter of recommendation by calling 610-889-1918 ext. 21930;
  Complete & submit the Request for Letter of Recommendation Counselor Form prior to attending your senior meeting:
  See Student Instructions for Requesting Teacher Letter of Recommendation.
   
• Sign up for ACT and/or SAT for summer or fall tests if needed (actstudent.org or collegeboard.org)
   
• For information about College Admissions Testing, click here.
   
• Learn about Finanical Aid Resources. Visit ed.gov to create your FAFSA ID (signature to use on FAFSA Financial Aid application)

• GV Application Submissions Process + Q&A with counselors; 12th grade student/ parents /guardians (Sept); counselors will answer broad application and college related questions while providing details around the processes and deadlines; program held virtually; look for email invite.
• Virtual Practice ACT or SAT test (Sept); offered by Revolution Prep; registration information will be emailed.
• Complete the College Essay; 12th grade students/ parents/ guardians (Sept); local writing coach to provide guidance around application essay writing; program offered virtually;  look for email invite 
• Please review the college “To Do List” on the homepage of Naviance for information on how to request and submit all documents be sent to your schools.
• Financial Aid Overview open to all students/ parents/ guardians; (Sept); financial aid office representative will provide an overview of the financial aid process and terms; program held virtually; look for email invite.
• SENIOR MEETING with your counselor (Sept/ early Oct); automatically scheduled; before meeting complete & submit Request for Letter of Recommendation Counselor Form 
• GVHS Recommendation Letter Follow-Up Form (1st 2 weeks of school) - When applying to colleges, give your teacher this completed form; provided you made the request in the spring of your junior year, teachers will make every effort to upload your recommendation to Naviance no later than October 15; Teachers use our NACAC (National Association of College Admissions Counselors) approved online form, so there is no need to give your teacher(s) a college-specific form, unless the school requires one.
• Individual FAFSA Completion Assistance- by appointment only- (Nov); (12th grade student/ parents/ guardians); families will meet with a representative from PHEAA to receive individualized assistance in completing the FAFSA. Appointments held virtually. 
• College Admissions Testing  (open to all high school students/ families); (Jan); local test prep company will explain college admissions testing- differences, timeline, and other factors; program held virtually; look for email.
• Students who are using the Common App for applications must complete the recommendation waiver form in Naviance: Go to the “colleges” tab, select “colleges I’m applying to” and complete the waiver in the blue-shaded box.  You must use your Common App username and password for this waiver, not your Naviance username and password.
• RECORDS RELEASE AUTHORIZATION FORM REQUIRED (submit to Counseling Office; gives GVHS permission to send transcripts/records to colleges)
• OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT REQUEST FORM REQUIRED (in NAVIANCE) click here for detailed instructions; 
• Confirm transcript request is successful in NAVIANCE “Colleges I’m Applying To”; should say REQUESTED next to each school
• SAT/ACT scores: STUDENTS request from collegeboard.org and/or actstudent.org; process can take up to 2-3 weeks. 
• COLLEGE REP VISITS: College reps visit GVHS in the fall (Look for emails/updates in student bulletin; sign up in NAVIANCE)
• NCAA (Division I or II athletics)- request that counseling sends your transcript to NCAA and arrange for your SAT/ACT scores to be sent to NCAA. Click here for more NCAA details

• Follow deadlines & requirements for colleges to which you apply.
• Notify colleges of your decisions (yes and no) by their deadlines. 
• Sign up for AP exams; contact collegeboard.org to request AP scores are sent to college you will attend if desired; exams are given in May
• LOCAL SCHOLARSHIPS (list/applications posted approx. March 1) - scholarships worth hundreds/thousands of dollars are offered to GVHS Seniors specifically; look for email announcements.
• GENERAL SCHOLARSHIPS found via web searches & in NAVIANCE; rolling deadlines.
• SENIOR EXIT SURVEY REQUIRED (in NAVIANCE)
• It is common courtesy to follow up with a thank-you note to your teacher and to update them on your college decision.
• FINAL TRANSCRIPTS to colleges are sent automatically based on info entered in Senior Survey.

• Virtual Practice ACT or SAT test (September in the morning- TBA); offered by Revolution Prep; registration information will be emailed.
   
• Financial Aid Overview open to all students/ parents/ guardians; (September); financial aid office representative will provide an overview of the financial aid process and terms; program held virtually; look for email invite.
   
• PSAT at GVHS (October); 10th & 11th grade students only; students must be present in school on test date; no make-up date allowed; tests have been ordered for all 10th/11th grade students; NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED.
   
• JUNIOR STUDENT/PARENT NIGHTS:  
  • College Admissions Panel 10th & 11th grade students/ parents/ guardians-  college admissions representatives will share information about admissions criteria, the application process/ timeline and answer general questions; program held virtually; look for email invite.
  • College Planning Overview and Q&A with Counselors 11th grade students/ parents/ guardians; counselors will offer general college planning and timeline information (good for first time families or those who want to refresh) and answer broad questions; program held virtually; look for email invite.
     
• COLLEGE REP VISITS: Sign up in NAVIANCE to meet with college reps visiting GVHS in the fall. Look for emails/updates in student bulletin for colleges visiting. Reps visit in person and may visit via zoom as well.
   
• Learn about Financial Aid Resources - click here.
   
• JUNIOR MEETING (November):  Juniors meet with their counselors individually (parents/guardians are encouraged to attend); parents call the counseling office to schedule this meeting.
   
• Counseling Evening Hours:  by appointment only; call 610-889-1918 to schedule.
   
• Naviance Overview & College Admissions Factors  for 10th & 11th grade students/ parents/ guardians; Counselors will demonstrate Naviance features and provide information related to college admissions; program offered virtually; look for email invite.
   
• College Admissions Testing (open to all high school students/ families);  local test prep company will explain college admissions testing- differences, timeline, and other factors; program held virtually; look for email.
   
• TCHS rising Seniors Only Programs 

• Register for SAT at collegeboard.org & ACT at actstudent.org  
   
• SAT test dates are posted on the GVHS calendar.
   
• Virtual Practice ACT or SAT test (TBA); offered by Revolution Prep; registration information will be emailed.
   
• Visit colleges / vocational schools over spring break.
   
• Ask your teacher(s) in person to write a letter of recommendation. Do not ask more teachers than necessary. Each college specifies how many teacher recommendation letters they require (usually two).  Colleges request that letters remain confidential, so you should waive your right to access them. Teachers are not required to write them, so he/she may decline your request, especially if several students have already asked or they feel they cannot write a strong letter. If your teacher agrees to write a letter, complete the GVHS Teacher Letter of Recommendation  form and either email it or hand it to them in person. Your teacher may want to meet with you to discuss the recommendation, so be prepared. See the Student Instructions for Requesting Teacher Letters of Recommendation
   
• GVHS COUNSELOR Letter of Recommendation form.
   
• Complete the College Essay; a local writing coach will provide guidance around application essay writing; program held virtually; look for email.
   
• Develop a resume of your clubs, sports and outside activities.
   
• Investigate / enroll in summer opportunities in your area of interest.
   
• NCAA (Division I or II athletics) - click for details.
   
• Attend College Fairs- check online for opportunities.

• Virtual Practice ACT or SAT test (September); offered by Revolution Prep; registration information will be emailed.
   
• Financial Aid Overview open to all students/ parents/ guardians; (September); financial aid office representative will provide an overview of the financial aid process and terms; program held virtually; look for email invite.
   
• PSAT at GVHS (October); 10th & 11th grade students only; students must be present in school on test date; no make-up date allowed; tests have been ordered for all 10th/11th grade students; NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED.
   
• College Admissions Panel- 10th & 11th grade students/ parents/ guardians- (November); college admissions representatives will share information about admissions criteria, the application process/ timeline and answer general questions; program held virtually; look for email invite.

• Virtual Practice ACT or SAT test (TBD); 
   
• Naviance Overview & College Admissions Factors (January) for 10th & 11th grade students/ parents/ guardians; Counselors will demonstrate Naviance features and provide information related to college admissions; program offered virtually; look for email invite.
  "
• College Admissions Testing (open to all high school students/ families); (January); local test prep company will explain college admissions testing- differences, timeline, and other factors; program held virtually; look for email.
   
• Virtual Practice ACT or SAT test (TBA); offered by Revolution Prep; registration information will be emailed.
   
• DO WHAT YOU ARE SURVEY - REQUIRED (career interest survey in Naviance).
   
• TIME MANAGEMENT SURVEY - REQUIRED