College Planning
Naviance
Bellevue School District is pleased to offer our families access to Naviance. It is a web-based college and career research and planning tool for students, parents, and counselors. With the support of their school counselor, students set up a password-protected account, providing a personal e-mail address as part of the registration process. Once registered, students can access their account from any device. Naviance can help students to:
- Create a four-year plan
- Explore careers
- Identify personality and learning styles
- Research colleges
- Prepare for SAT and ACT
- Receive notifications and emails from counselors
- Learn about acceptance rates with Scattergrams
- Research scholarships
- Work on their resume
ACT & SAT:
The ACT and SAT are standardized tests used for college admissions decisions and awarding merit-based scholarships. Most students take the ACT and/or SAT in the spring of their junior year, then retake in the fall of their senior year with the intent of improving the score. Students are responsible for registering for the test and sending any test scores. Register early to help ensure a convenient testing date and location and include any college or university you want your scores sent to when you register. You can also send scores at a later time. If you receive testing accommodations at school, you may be eligible for accommodations on the ACT or SAT. Contact your school counselor for more information.
Please contact the specific school’s admissions office directly for standardized testing requirements
Helpful links:
- ACT
- SAT
- ACT vs SAT: Which Test is Right for You?
- Free Khan Academy/SAT Prep
- Free The College Board’s Practice Tests
- Free ACT Test Prep
Letter of Recommendation
Students applying to a private college or private university often need a Letter of Recommendation from their school counselor. For those applications, certain areas will also need to be completed by the school counselor in Naviance. In addition, school counselors are commonly asked to write a letter for students applying for a scholarship in which one or more Letters of Recommendation is required.
Please give the School Counselor a minimum of three weeks before the due date to complete all associated tasks (e.g. review student academic record, review teacher evaluation information, etc.) and write a thoughtful letter of recommendation. For more details on the steps required to request a letter from the school counselor, go to BPS Letter of Recommendation Task List.
College Prep and Testing Timeline
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College Application Deadline Types
For the best approach to understanding how a school on your college list handles early applications, go to their individual admissions websites and/or call admissions offices directly.
- Regular Admissions – Usually between November and January. The admissions board reviews all applications and sends out acceptances and rejection letters on the same date.
- Rolling Admissions – Applications are accepted, evaluated and decided upon as they are received. Applications are accepted until the college fills all spots.
- Early Action I and II – Usually November 1 or 15. Non-binding, meaning you may apply to multiple schools early and are not committed to attending one until “decision day” on May 1.
- Early Decision I and II – Usually November 1 or 15. Binding, meaning if accepted, you are obligated to attend and must withdraw all other applications.
- Restricted Early Action – Usually November 1 or 15. Non-binding, and a student may not apply to any other private school’s early program, except non-binding rolling admission programs, a public college or university whose admission is not binding, private colleges regular decision programs, and Early Decision II program, if notification of admission occurs after January 1. Students have until May 1 to decide.
Student Athletes