In the top right corner click Log In
Click the "Sign in with Google" button
Log in using your school email credentials.
On the left-side navigation menu, click Universities and select Applying from the top selection bar.
If you previously added colleges to Considering List, you can scroll to the bottom of a college and click on Move to Applying to move this school to your Applying List.
Once on the Applying List section, click on the blue +Add University tab.
Begin typing in a college's full name (i.e. Portland State University not PSU)
Select the correct school and select the gold Add tab at the bottom.
You MUST fill in the application details below:
Application Type: Common App, Online App, Coalition App, or Other App (i.e. paper application)
Term (i.e. fall 2024)
Application Plan: Regular Decision, Priority, Early Action, Early Decision, Rolling. Deadline will auto-populate once you select a plan.
Leave “status” blank and do not change/edit “internal deadline”
Please note, if teacher recommendations are required, it will be indicated here. Instructions for requesting teacher recommendations are below.
Note: You must request all documents you need from counselors and teachers through Maia: transcripts, letters of Recommendation, Common App forms. See instructions below.
If you are applying to a college or colleges which require letters of recommendation, you should only request two teacher letters of rec. We recommend the letters be from one Language Arts or Social Studies teacher and the other from a Math or Science teacher. These should be teachers who know you and will be able to write about you in a positive way.
You should first ask the teachers verbally or through email whether they would be willing to write a letter for you. Do so at least 30 days before your deadline. Once a teacher has agreed to write a letter for you, follow these steps in Maia Learning:
On the left-side navigation menu, click Universities and select Recommendations from the above choices.
A list of recommenders (teachers) is at the top left of the page. Search by name or browse the list, and check the box next to those you want recommendations from.
Use this process only for TEACHER requests. If you need a letter of recommendation from a counselor, see instructions below
5. In the next box, select the universities you want these recommenders to write letters for.
You must identify the date you need a recommendation by. In Date Picker, select the WEEKDAY that is nearest the application deadline for which you are applying AND that does not fall over a school closure. For example, if your application is due Monday, November 30th, select Friday November 20th as the Date Picker.
Add a note to your teacher/counselor thanking them
6.. Repeat this process as needed with different universities and different recommenders.
Tip: Do NOT request teacher recommendations through Common App. If you did this, please delete "manage recommenders" from your common app account.
Let your counselor know ASAP that you will need a recommendation. You must request a counselor recommendation at least three weeks before the application deadline.
Set up an appointment with your counselor for an interview.
Complete the Counselor Recommendation Survey in Maia Learning.
Students access surveys from their Maia Learning Dashboard under the Surveys. Click on the Counselor Recommendation Survey Class of 2026.
Click "Start" to begin survey,.
As you answer each question, click "Next" to move to the next question, or click "Finish Later" to save your work so that you can continue responding later. You must provide an answer to each question before you can click "Next". After the first question, you can also click "Previous" to return to earlier questions.
You can continue to edit your survey answers until the due date, or until you click "Finish and Close" on the last question. Clicking "Finish and Close" submits your answers as final, and you will no longer be able to edit. If you'd like to continue working on your responses, click "Finish Later" instead.
Once you have submitted your final responses, the survey will be marked as completed
Important Notes:
You must request letters at least 2 weeks in advance of the date you need it by.
If you need a letter of recommendation from your COUNSELOR, you must 1. Complete the survey (see steps above) and 2. you must notify your counselor that you need a letter (via email). If you do not complete a survey, your counselor will not be able to write you a letter of recommendation.
1. Under Universities, click on your Applying List to see the schools you plan to apply to
2. Check the box next to Request Transcript
Important Note: If prompted to enter a date, select the WEEKDAY that is nearest the application deadline for which you are applying AND that does not fall over a school closure. For example, if your application is due Monday, November 30th, select Friday November 20th.
Shortcut Steps: Universities > Applying List > Request Transcript > Submit Application
If you are applying to colleges using the Common App, you MUST sync it with Maia BEFORE you can request any materials, including transcripts. Follow the steps below in the order written.
PART 1: In the Common App
1.Create & log in to your Common App account at commonapp.org
2. Complete the required fields in the Profile section.
3. In the education portion, use our CEEB Code 380840 to find and select Benson Polytech High School
4. Search for and enter at least one college on your Colleges list. Use the magnifying glass to search for colleges by name.
5. Select one college from your list, scroll down, click Recommenders and FERPA, and then Complete Release Authorization.
6. Check the box next to “I have read and understood the FERPA Release...” and click on Continue
7. On the following screen, check the box "I acknowledge that every school I have attended may release all...".
8. Check the box next to "I understand..." and enter your name and date. Click Save and Close.
Shortcut Steps: Select one college from your list > Recommenders and FERPA > Complete Release Authorization > Check the box next to “I have read and understood...” > Continue > Check the box "I acknowledge that every school..." > Check the box next to "I understand..." > Name, date, Save and Close.
PART 2: In Maia
1. In your Maia Learning account, click on the Profile Pic Icon in the upper right corner
2. Click on Settings and select the link Click to link your account under Common App
3. A pop-up window will appear. Click Continue. You will be redirected to the Common App site. Log in using your Common App account username and password. In the pop-up, check the box next to "I Agree" to share your Common App information with MaiaLearning, and click Connect
Shortcut Steps: Profile > Application Systems > Click to link your account > Continue