College Section
The College Section is your go-to resource for navigating the college admission process with your family. From prepping for and submitting applications to enrolling and beyond, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
You’ll also gain a clear understanding of how your GPA, test scores, extracurricular activities, and course choices influence your chances of admission to different colleges.
These pages provide personalized recommendations for “Smart Colleges”—schools where you’re likely to excel based on your academic profile —and a roadmap of steps to take to ensure you’re fully prepared for your senior year and the journey to college.
Get ready to embark on your college path with clarity and confidence!
Frequently Asked Questions
To make the most of the college prep page, start by familiarizing yourself with its content. It covers crucial aspects of college admission, such as your grades, test scores, activities, and high school classes. Additionally, you’ll find information about Financial Aid and making Smart College Choices, which will equip you to make informed decisions. By understanding all of these elements, you’ll be well on your way to crafting a solid plan for college.
PSAT and SAT scores are only available for students who took a test before February. If students took the SAT in school, those scores will be available in the student’s CollegeBoard account. In the Fall, the PSAT will be offered for students in grades 9-11, and the SAT will be offered for students in grade 12.
1. Go to: www.clever.com
2. Username: studentIDnumber@students.k12.dc.us ; Password: (is the student’s birthday): mmddyy
3. Click on the Naviance Icon to be brought to your Naviance page
The Smart College List is a sample list of colleges that have a strong track record of student success and that are popular among students at your high school. The colleges listed do not represent the complete list of options for any given student. Check out our Naviance video to learn more about how to research colleges at http://bit.ly/naviancesupermatch.
College Glossary
| TERM | DEFINITION |
|---|---|
| Cost of Attendance | The total amount that a student will pay toward tuition, books and supplies, housing, fees and other expenses for college. |
| CSS Profile | The total amount that a student will pay toward tuition, books and supplies, housing, fees, and other expenses for college. |
| DC Financial Aid | A secondary financial aid form (in addition to the FAFSA) required by some colleges & universities to determine eligibility for institutional financial aid. |
| Dual Enrollment | Program in which DCPS students can take free, challenging college courses that are not offered at their home high school, while earning college credit that can be transferred to many postsecondary institutions |
| FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) | A form completed by current and prospective college students to determine their eligibility for federal student financial aid. Colleges and scholarship organizations also use the FAFSA to award aid. |
| Financial Aid | Any grant, scholarship, loan, or paid employment offered to help a student pay for their college expenses. A completed FAFSA is required to determine eligibility for federal financial aid as well as aid from many colleges and scholarship organizations. |
| Naviance | Platform used by DCPS students for college and career planning and applications. |
| Out of Out-of-Pocket Expenses | Costs that a student is responsible for paying that are NOT covered by scholarships, financial aid, or loans. Out-of-pocket expenses must be paid each semester. |
| SMART Colleges | Institutions at which you have a higher likelihood of being successful and graduating based on your academic profile. |
| Superscore | For students who have taken the SAT or the ACT multiple times, this is the combination of a student’s highest test score on each section of the test, across multiple dates. |
| Test-Optional | Test-optional schools do not require that you submit any kind of testing or assessments, like the SAT or ACT, to apply to the university or college. You may choose to submit your scores only if you feel it will help your application. Some schools may encourage you to submit additional materials but do not require you to do so. |