Commack School District

Excellence in Education

This page is updated regularly with information that will help parents and students prepare for the College Planning process.

Key documents:

The College Planning Guide - a start to finish 'how-to' on the college application process
Important Information for Juniors - upcoming dates to be aware of
Class of 2025 Cheatsheet - College Application Questions & Answers
College Process Checklist - steps to complete over Junior and Senior year.
Junior College Planning Night Presentation - overview on the college process.
College Process Calendar - timeline to reference.

The National Association for College Admissions Counseling is hosting several large virtual college fairs. Click here to register and learn more.

Click here to learn about ROAM informational virtual events.

Winter/Spring of Junior Year Checklist:

Sign up for SAT/ACT
- SAT/ACT Prep Courses
  - Princeton Review
  - Khan Academy
  - Castle Learning
Research Schools
- Naviance
  - Create list of prospective schools - “Colleges I’m Thinking About”
- College Data
- College Board
- Colleges’ websites
- Campus visits (spring of junior year through senior year)
- US News & World Reports
Explore Careers
Attend Common Application Workshops in the spring
Create Common Application Account
- Commonapp.org - same professional personal email listed in Naviance
Counselor Letter of Recommendation: Complete and provide the following to your Counselor by the last day of school - See video
- Student Autobiography
- Parent Feedback
  - Provide your Counselor a parent perspective
- Sample Activity Resume
  - Summarize all work experience, volunteer service, extracurricular activities, awards/certificates and athletic achievements obtained during your high school career
Teacher Letter of Recommendation: Request 2 teacher letters of recommendation in person and via Naviance (spring, before the end of grade 11)
- Provide the teacher with the ‘Request for Teacher Recommendation’ form and responses to three of the questions listed on the form.
Submit CSIP Validation Forms - by the end of junior year
Apply for Scholarships
Student Athletes
- Register on NCAA Eligibility Center (NCAA.org)
- Read Recruiting Tips

Summer Checklist:

Create Common Application Account if you have not already done so!
Begin College Essay
- Common App has specific essay prompts
- Colleges may have separate and/or additional essays they require
Begin working through college application(s)
- Common Application whenever possible
Attend College Application Summer Camp at CHS in August (Dates to follow)
Attend College Essay Writing Workshop at CHS (Date to follow)
- Admissions Reps will review completed essays
Add colleges to Common Application account
Complete FERPA on Common Application
Complete Matching Process
- Log on to Naviance
- Select the “Colleges” tab, then “Colleges I’m Applying To.” The Common Application Account Matching screen is displayed at the top of the page
Verify transcript, mailed home in August/on the portal - See video
- Verify CSIP is complete (“S”) for each year
  - Exception of 2019-2020 school year: grade-W
Apply for Scholarships