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COVID-19 & the College Application Process
COVID-19 & the College Application Process
General Considerations
NCAA Information
Note: If you have specific questions or concerns, please reach out to your student's school counselor
Note: If you have specific questions or concerns, please reach out to your student's school counselor
When Do College Applications Open for 2021-2022?
When Do College Applications Open for 2021-2022?
Most college applications — including the Common Application and the Coalition for College — will open on August 1, 2020, for students who plan to start school in fall 2021. That said, students may begin working on or complete the general application components at any time before this date.
Private colleges and universities, such as Brigham Young University and Georgetown University, can vary in their open dates but generally become available in August or September.
While most schools require similar application components, different admission options allow you to submit your application by different deadlines. The four basic options are early action, early decision, regular decision, and rolling admission.
Regardless of when you apply, you'll need to submit a college essay (or several depending on the school), recommendation letters, official high school transcripts, and standardized test scores.
Letters of Recommendation
Letters of Recommendation
Ask teachers and counselors for recommendations at the end of your junior year or start of your senior year so you can obtain these documents quickly; this is especially important if you're applying early action or early decision. You'll usually need around one to two letters depending on your schools.
Start a "High School Resume" - A list of all clubs, completed volunteer opportunities, examples of student leadership, or jobs. This can start as early as 9th grade. When a student requests a counselor or teacher for a letter of recommendation, they can share their High School Resume and a Brag Sheet. Students should see their school counselors for a school template of their Brag Sheet.
Official Transcripts
Official Transcripts
Get a copy of your official high school transcript so you can self-report your grades and classes on your application. You'll likely need to send official transcripts to your schools, too. CCPS uses Parchment to submit transcripts electronically to colleges. First you will need to submit a transcript release form to your School Counseling department, then you will receive a registration code and directions on how to send your transcripts to each college. You need to submit a request for each college you want to apply to, and you can also request an unofficial self view which you can print and send in with scholarship applications.
Standardized Test Scores
Standardized Test Scores
These typically consist of your SAT/ACT scores and any other exam scores required for admission, such as those from SAT Subject Tests. Not all schools require the SAT/ACT, so check with your schools about whether you'll need to submit any score reports. Note that you may be able to list your unofficial scores on your application without having to send in official scores until after you've been admitted.
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