Unit 4: Application Process

There are multiple ways to submit a college application. Once your student has their list of schools, they should look at the admissions pages of each school's website to determine the best method of application. Some schools have their own application through their admissions website and others are a part of a larger, standard application form such as the Common Application or Coalition Application (see Key Terms below for more information).

Your student should complete a Common Application or Coalition Application if more than one of their schools accepts the application. Some schools only accept the Common Application or Coalition Application; in this case your student will have to complete it regardless.

Each college and university has different application requirements. Most require a transcript or self-reported grades. Many require test scores and some require personal statements or letters of recommendation. Your student should follow the directions within each application to make sure they submit the appropriate materials. They can also log in to their application portal to check the status and/or contact the school's admissions department to make sure all materials have been submitted.

Application deadlines also vary from school to school. We recommend that you submit all college applications prior to November 1st. (Please note: some deadlines may be earlier than that) This way you have plenty of time to ensure you are considered for scholarships. Some schools have a later application deadline but only consider students for scholarships when they have applied for an earlier date. Applying early can't hurt! Please see the Key Terms below for an explanation of the various types application deadlines.

Colleges and Universities use grades and grade point averages (GPAs) in determining a student’s fit for admission to their school. Typically, a student either submits an official transcript to the university or they fill in each course they took and grade earned within the application. Each college application is different, so it is important for students to follow instructions within the application.

Students can access an unofficial view of their transcript in Infinite Campus at any time (located on the bottom left hand sidebar of the Infinite Campus Portal). Specific instructions on how to request official transcripts are given during the senior fall counseling lesson and during senior parent night. Transcripts are sent to colleges after seniors participate in the senior fall counseling lesson because they are given the opportunity to review their transcript for errors before sending.

District 214 schools do not report ACT or SAT test scores. It is the responsibility of the student to send test scores to all colleges to which they apply. Most colleges will use the highest composite score when multiple scores have been sent. Some colleges will combine the highest sub-scores from multiple tests (super-scoring). For this reason, it may be a good idea for students to send all scores. At the time of registration for the ACT or SAT, students may specify up to four colleges to have scores sent for no additional cost. If you would like to send scores to additional colleges at a later time, you must log into your online ACT or SAT account and pay an additional fee per school.

Some college applications require an essay, writing prompt or personal statement. Typically, students complete a personal statement unit in an English course their junior or senior year. Additional help is available through each school’s tutoring centers.

Some college applications require one or more letters of recommendation. It is important to research each school of interest’s application requirements and request the letter of recommendation at least 15 school days in advance. Many students ask in the spring of junior year to give their teacher extra time to spend on their letter. Students should ONLY request a letter of recommendation if it is accepted by the school. If the application does not require a letter of recommendation and there are no special circumstances that need to be explained, many schools will not open the letter of recommendation. If you are unsure if a school will read a letter of recommendation, contact that school’s admissions department prior to requesting it from a teacher.

Coalition Application

A standard application form accepted by members of the Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success. You can use this application to apply to any of the more than 90 colleges and universities that are members of the Coalition.

Common Application

A standard application form accepted by all colleges that are members of the Common Application association. You can fill out this application once and submit it to any one — or several — of the nearly 700 colleges that accept it. Go to the Common Application.

Deferred Admission

Permission from a college that has accepted you to postpone enrolling in the college. The postponement is usually for up to one year.

Early Action (EA)

An option to submit your applications before the regular deadlines. When you apply early action, you get admission decisions from colleges earlier than usual. Early action plans are not binding, which means that you do not have to enroll in a college if you are accepted early action. Some colleges have an early action option called EA II, which has a later application deadline than their regular EA plan. Learn more about applying early.

Early Decision (ED)

An option to submit an application to your first-choice college before the regular deadline. When you apply early decision, you get an admission decision earlier than usual. Early decision plans are binding. You agree to enroll in the college immediately if admitted and offered a financial aid package that meets your needs. Some colleges have an early decision option called ED II, which has a later application deadline than their regular ED plan. Learn more about applying early.

Rolling Admission

An admission policy of considering each application as soon as all required information (such as high school records and test scores) has been received, rather than setting an application deadline and reviewing applications in a batch. Colleges that use a rolling admission policy usually notify applicants of admission decisions quickly.

Waiting List

The list of applicants who may be admitted to a college if space becomes available. Colleges wait to hear if all the students they accepted decide to attend. If students don’t enroll and there are empty spots, a college may fill them with students who are on the waiting list.