by Leah Schroeder ’13

With Hurricane Sandy hitting just days before the November 1 college application deadline, many universities decided to allot extensions to give students who lost power more time to submit applications. These extended deadlines applied to the submission of transcripts and recommendations as well.

Sherwood, however, did not require the extension. According to Joe Hock, the College Career advisor, the majority of students with November 1 deadlines had already had their materials sent. The remainder were finished on October 31 and November 1 by registrar Barbara Lee. As far as Hock can tell, the school has met all of the students’ deadlines. Hock was also able to send some of the remaining students’ transcripts from home while schools were closed as a result of the hurricane, using the new electronic system.

Last spring, MCPS mandated that all high schools use TCCI: Family Connections, an electronic system, as the sole means by which the school would send transcripts and recommendations. This fall was the first time that the system was utilized, giving rise to confusion from staff and faculty. According to Hock, some of the more common problems include students not entering their Common Application username and password into TCCI: Family Connections, or entering it incorrectly and forgetting to enter requests for transcripts and recommendations. Counselors have been pulling students out of class to resolve these problems and ensure that students have their materials sent on time.

“In a lot of ways [TCCI: Family Connections] was easier and simpler. It is just the fact that it is new. Once it is developed where we can simplify it for the students, simplify it for the teachers, things will run more smoothly,” said Hock. He especially appreciates that the system gives the school a confirmation code when the school receives the materials, so that if there are any discrepancies and the school attempts to claim that they have not received them, Hock has proof of otherwise.

Lesia Dunkins, the head of the counseling department, also views the new system positively. “Change is scary, especially on something that is so crucial as meeting these college deadlines. Modern technology has intervened, and we are all learning together. There is nothing that I really don’t like[about the new system], and I hope everyone else comes to love it,” said Dunkins.