This is an essay written by the applicant to describe themselves. It is most frequently submitted through the Common Application and includes a number of prompts, but they are purposefully vague and leave the creativity in the hands of the applicant to decide what to write about. It is best practice to use this freedom to describe an aspect of yourself that does not come through anywhere else in the application. This personal statement is not intended to be written with specific colleges in mind; rather, it is meant to be something that you would be comfortable sending to every college that you apply to. Most colleges require this essay, but some mark it as optional.

Most colleges will request 1-3 letters of recommendation. These are typically one page in length, and are written by an adult that knows the student well. Students are often required to waive their right to see the letter. It is typical to have one college counselor from the high school write a letter of recommendation and two teachers (ideally from a recently completed class). Some colleges will require less or more (e.g., a student applying to the arts may need an additional recommendation). It is common practice for a student to ask a teacher to write them a letter at the end of junior year. This gives the student time to decide what teacher knows them best while also giving the teacher time to write the letter over the summer (if they are able). Most letters are actually written in the fall semester during application season.

Most applications will include an opportunity for students to share what clubs, jobs, sports, and other activities they have been involved in. There is normally very limited space to describe these activities and a maximum number that can be listed. On the Common Application, only 10 activities can be listed, and only 150 characters can be used to describe them. When prioritizing things to include, it is best practice to mention activities that you have leadership positions in and/or have been involved in for a longer duration of time. 

This informative document describes the high school classes a student has completed and the ones they are currently taking. It is required by most colleges when making an admissions decision. When submitting or referencing a transcript, make sure that it is labeled as an “Official Transcript.” Without those words, it might not be acceptable. Information can include:

• Basic student identification information (name, DOB, graduation year, etc.)

• Title of courses, including any Honors/Advanced/AP weight

• Final grade of course

• Number of credits awarded per course

• Annual and cumulative GPA

Note that a transcript is different than a report card. Report cards focus on a single quarter/semester/year and include teacher comments. 

Most colleges will request a High School Profile be included with applications. This provides the context for what courses are offered at the high school, how GPA is calculated, how big the student body is, and other relevant information. This document can often be found on a high school’s website. 

Some colleges, but not all, will request an update on grades during senior year. This can be requested from either the student or college counselor. How official the report is, when it is submitted, how optional it is, and other factors vary greatly between both colleges and high schools. This typically is submitted in January or early February, whenever first semester grades are released.

Not every college will have a fee for application, but most will cost $25-$75 to be considered for admission. Some schools provide fee waivers to negate this cost for a variety of reasons, including visiting campus, meeting a college rep, or being on scholarships.

Standardized Testing, most typically the SAT or ACT, is an exam taken by high school juniors and seniors. On a specific test day, students across the country take the same test to create an “objective, standard” way of assessing academic ability. Scores can be sent to colleges as a way of demonstrating ability.

• Test-Optional: Approximately 80% of schools (as of 2024) do not require standardized tests as a part of student applications, which is a shift from years ago. This allows students to decide whether their test scores help or hurt their application, and make the decision about including their scores in their application based on how they performed.

• Scholarships: Some universities and third-party companies may award scholarship money based on standardized test scores. For this reason, it is best practice to take a standardized test at least once to keep your options open. "Test-optional" has more to do with admissions decisions than scholarship opportunities. 

• Superscores: If you take the test multiple times, you may (depending on the college) have the option of combining components from multiple tests to make one strongest score. For example:

  • 1. The SAT has a maximum score of 1600 points: 800 from Reading/Writing, 800 from Math

    2. On the first test, you score 650 on Reading/Writing and 620 on Math. The overall score is 1470.

    3. On the second test, you score 630 on Reading/Writing and 640 on Math. The overall score is 1470.

    4. If you take the 650 on Reading/Writing from the first test and the 640 on Math from the second test, you get a Superscore of 1490.

• Submitting Scores: The practice for sharing scores with a college will vary from institution to institution. Examples of variability include the date that scores must be received in relation to the rest of the application, whether Superscores are considered, and if official scores are required. Make sure you are aware of your specific colleges’ requirements, as this is managed by the student.

Some schools may have additional essays included as part of the application. These are typically required, but can be optional. Unlike the personal statement, which is about you and can be sent to all colleges that you apply to, these essays tend to be very specific to the college you are writing them for. Example prompts may be:

• "Why do you want to go to X college?"

• "How will you bring diversity to X college?"

• "But really, where is Waldo?" (some colleges will ask wacky questions like this to give space for your creative side to shine!)

Similar to but unique from the counselor letter of recommendation, the secondary school report is a document submitted by your college advisor. This is a place for the advisor to provide specific context for you as a student in your high school. For schools that measure class rank or share disciplinary records/honor code violations, this is where that information is shared. It is more factual than the letter of recommendation, which is more narrative. 

Some schools, particularly smaller ones, will track initiatives that you have taken to get to know the school beyond submitting an application. Examples of this can include visiting campus, emailing with admissions, attending a college representative information session, and joining mailing lists. Most schools will disclose whether or not this is something that they take into consideration.

If you have earned any award throughout high school, be sure to include them on your Common Application. These may be academic, athletic, or any other areas where you have demonstrated mastery. Whether you earned them through your high school or an outside organization, this is your chance to brag.

When applying Early Decision, you are promising to accept an offer if one is extended. In order to guarantee this, it is common practice for colleges to require a signature from the applicant, a parent/guardian, and a school counselor to confirm that these terms are understood. 

These have become less common over the years, but some schools will still take interviews into consideration. These will often be done by alumni, but may also be done through an admissions staff on campus or over video call. If a college holds interviews, they will make that known on their admissions website or extend an invitation. It rarely works to create this opportunity by requesting an interview.

Depending on your declared major, this may or may not be a requirement. Portfolios typically are a chance to display artistic and musical abilities, which can be necessary for those majors at selective schools. However, that doesn't limit who can include art in their application; remember, colleges are mainly just wanting to learn more about you. If you're applying to be an economics major but are incredible with water colors, this is a chance to show how well-rounded you are!