Last spring, WHS announced that they will be making the move from Naviance to Scoir, comprehensive platforms that help aid in the college process and guide students towards schools that are best suited for their passions, starting in the fall of 2023. The WHS Guidance Department announced that Scoir will replace Naviance indefinitely unless any unanticipated problems arise.

As the second semester looms on the horizon, WHS juniors have been invited to create a Scoir account and begin the process of finding the college that is the right fit for them. According to WHS Director of Counseling Falynn Balassone, “About half of [WHS juniors] have already created an account. [We] resend the invitation every three days to the other half.”

Balassone explained that the guidance department will begin acquainting freshmen and sophomores with Scoir once the entirety of the junior class has created an account. As all students create their personalized Scoir accounts, they will first be given a survey to ascertain their personal interests. They will then be guided to the universities that best fit these interests.

Balassone elaborated on the various advantages that Scoir holds over Naviance, including the more user-friendly nature of the site. “Scoir has all the same features as Naviance plus some, along with an app making it easier to use,” said Balassone.

A specific additional feature Balassone was excited to recognize was the heat map, a new tool that gives students an immediate look into how likely it is that they will be admitted into a certain university. These heat maps use the data of former WHS student GPAs and test scores to gauge the probability of a current WHS student earning admission.

WHS junior Alex Ebel stated, “It’s helpful to know if you have a legitimate shot at [being admitted] before you apply.”

The transfer away from Naviance comes to the relief of many WHS juniors who had previously been disappointed with the services provided from the college planning software. Many students felt that while Naviance got the job done, there were some shortcomings that plagued the platform. “There are times where I think Naviance misguides you,” said WHS junior Andrew Raber. “They make you feel as though test scores and GPA are all that matter without taking into account how valuable extracurricular activities are in the college admissions process.”

The switch to Scoir has benefits for both students and teachers. WHS has long struggled with the process of submitting teacher recommendations to colleges due to the difficulties of linking Naviance accounts with the Common Application, an undergraduate admissions website that is required for over 1,000 colleges across the United States.

Scoir removes the middle man from this process, as it allows teachers to submit student recommendations directly to colleges on the Common Application. Balassone noted that it was “always a challenge” to get teachers aligned with Naviance, and that Scoir will be helpful for “all groups involved.”

For many, the college admissions process can be overwhelming and cause stress to applicants each year. Balassone noted that the move to Scoir is particularly beneficial to those who may be facing these pressures by themselves. “It’s especially great for a student who maybe doesn’t have as much support at home with the application process, or needs a resource to help provide a starting point,” said Balassone.

It is imperative that WHS juniors create an account as they consider what schools they want to apply to. With these accounts, students are now provided with a new, all-inclusive resource to aid them in the college admissions process. All juniors should make sure to check their school email and get their accounts started.