Apply Idaho

One Application, All Idaho Schools, Free!

Idaho's State Board of Education created Apply Idaho so that Idaho students can apply to 10 Idaho colleges and universities with only 1 application for free. You can use Apply Idaho to apply to all of the schools pictured below except BYU-I, who require their own application.

After you have submitted your Apply Idaho application, please see CHS's Registrar Jamie Berry to send your transcript! Your application is not complete until you have sent your transcript!

Idaho Schools Admissions Requirements

Here are links to the Admissions Requirements of all Idaho Colleges and Universities:

Common App

One Application, Over 900 Colleges & Universities! If you are interested in applying to schools all across the nation, the Common App is a great fit for you! By completing the application, short essay prompts and counselor recommendation, you are able to apply to multiple schools at once. Unlike Apply Idaho, the Common App is not free. However, you may qualify for a fee waiver. Talk to your Counselor to learn more.

Out of State Admissions Requirements

Here are links to the Admissions Requirements of common out of state schools:

College Applications Tips

Use proper grammar and punctuation. You are not texting your friends. Make sure you are filling out the application correctly and properly, using your full legal name.

Be accurate. Be honest about who you are and what you've accomplished. This includes information about GPA, extracurricular activities as well as making sure you provide your full legal name.

Understand what supplemental materials will be required. Many schools require additional materials with the application. Be sure to read thoroughly and gather all the extra materials and submit them as soon as possible, as your application may not be complete until the college has the extra materials.

Pay attention to deadlines. Each school application deadline is different so be sure to pay close attention. Financial aid and scholarship deadlines are different than application deadlines as well. We recommend creating a timeline of due dates so you don't miss them.

Short Answer/Essay Tips

Colleges and universities want to create a diverse Freshman class with different interests, backgrounds and experiences. Your college essay is your chance to show the college your authentic self through your writing. It's important to start your college essays before your senior year to ensure plenty of time to revise and complete your final version.

Don’t be afraid of the word limit. Write out your answer without worrying about the length and then go back and delete any unnecessary information. Underline the stand-out points and trim the rest.

Don’t use unnecessarily large words. Not only will you come off as pretentious at best and ignorant at worst, but it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to keep the same tone throughout your response. After all, wouldn’t it be easier for you to read a paragraph that addresses “how to write concisely” rather than one about “how to circumvent the superfluous use of language?” Craft your response so that your reader can easily understand your point without resorting to a thesaurus.

Answer honestly. If you are asked to discuss one of your favorite things, don’t feel ashamed to tell the truth. Colleges want to get to know you. A “cool” answer isn’t as interesting as your honest, unique one.

Supplement your résumé. Talk about things that aren’t mentioned anywhere else in your application to show off a different side of your personality.

Describe your personal growth. When discussing an activity or event in your life, ask yourself what you learned or took away from it. Colleges like to understand how you’ve been changed by your experiences and see that you possess self-awareness.

Be specific about each institution. If asked why you want to attend a particular school, make sure to reference any times you visited the campus, met with admissions counselors, or spoke with current students or alumni. Talk about programs that interest you and how you think they will benefit you in the future. Tell your readers why the idea of being a student at their institution excites you. College admissions officers can spot generic answers, so do your research if you don’t know a lot about the school. Talk about each school as if it is your top choice, even if it’s not. Under no circumstances should you say that a particular school is your “safety.”

This is your final shot to express how you will be the perfect addition to the college of your choice. Maybe you got a bad grade in a class, explain what happened here in your own words. Pay attention to sentence structure, grammar, spelling and punctuation. Write from your heart!

I've Submitted My Application... Now What?

Submit your transcript! Whether you use Apply Idaho or apply directly to a school, you need to send them your transcripts. Talk to Century's Registrar Jamie Berry to have her send your Century transcript to every school you apply to. If you have taken Dual Credit classes, you are also required to send your college transcript as well. You can send college transcripts through the National Student Clearinghouse. Make sure you have your ISU and/or CSI student numbers at the ready!

Check your email! Email is the best way that colleges will contact you! Be sure to check it frequently!

Keep in Mind: More applications are rejected than admitted. It will be okay! There are many factors at play when colleges admit students, some of which are out of your control. Not getting accepted into a particular school doesn't determine who you will become in your life! This is why we encourage students to apply to multiple schools. Remember: You are a Diamondback above any other.

I've Been Accepted to College... Now What?

If you’ve received acceptance offers from more than one college, that's amazing!

Your hard work has paid off, and now you get to choose which college is best for you.

Compare Financial Aid Awards. This is an important step for many students. The Compare Your Aid Awards tool lets you compare up to four offers side by side. Talk to your family about which colleges work best financially. You should make decisions about financial aid, such as whether you should take a student loan or work-study job, together.

Make Your Decision. You don’t have to decide overnight. Many colleges don’t expect your final decision until May 1, however be sure to know when the deadline is so that you have some time to make up your mind. Just be sure to submit your decision prior to the deadline because colleges are serious about the reply deadlines. If you don’t send your deposit in time, you risk losing your spot.

Respond to the college you’ve decided to attend. Once you’ve decided which college you want to attend, inform the college that accepted you about your decision. Many colleges require that you make a deposit to save your spot. This is separate from financial aid forms that you have to accept from the schools. Make sure to send or respond to your college with any necessary items they need.

Respond to the colleges whose offers you're declining. Send a brief note to the other colleges to thank them and turn down their offers. This frees up places for other students.