Applying to College

Organizing Your College Applications

We get it. It's a lot to manage. Make a copy of this College Application Chart from the File menu and use these instructions to help you stay on track and meet your application deadlines.

Online Applications

Apply online using these sites:

- ApplyTexas website ~ can be used for any Texas college
- CommonApp website ~ used by over 900 colleges
- Coalition Application website ~ used by over 150 colleges
- College-specific application ~ many colleges offer their own application

If a college offers multiple application choices, there is no inherent advantage to one over another -- you should choose whatever option eases the process for you.

You will need to create an account, so save your logins and passwords where you will be able to find them. Communication from colleges about the status of your application will come through email, so use an email account that you check regularly.

Getting Started with Scoir and Common App

Log in or create a Common App account.
Any email address is fine.
Be sure to select Westlake as your high school.
Add at least one college, the preferred start term, and admission plan.
Go to “Recommenders and FERPA” and complete the FERPA waiver.
These steps must be completed before documents (transcripts and recommendation letters) can be sent.

Connecting Scoir and Common App

Log into Scoir.
Go to your profile.
Look for the “Connect Common App” bottom in the bottom right hand corner of your Personal Details box.
Log into Common App. (If you don’t have a Common App account yet, you will create one now.)
Authorize the connection by clicking "I agree" and click the “Connect and Continue” button.
Reminder-you must complete FERPA in Common App before connecting.

At this point your Common App activity will sync with Scoir. Once you have applied in Common App, your college will move to the “Applied” column in Scoir, your counselor will get a notification that you have applied, and we will send your transcript and other supporting documents.

Please note-any college you have added into Scoir prior to the sync will need to be manually added into Common App.

Using Scoir with Other Types of Applications (non-Common App)

Applicaitons submitted through a platform other than Common App will need to be manually managed in Scoir. Be sure to move these colleges to the Applied column after application submission so that your counselor knows that you are ready to have your transcript and other supporting documents sent.

Transcripts

When an official transcript is required with the application, you will request an Initial Transcript (grades earned through Junior year).
In the spring semester, some of you may also need to request a Mid-Year Transcript, which reflects your senior year fall semester grades.
After graduation, we will send a Final Transcript to the school you have chosen to attend.

Official transcripts are sent through Scoir.

If you are using Common App and have connected your Common App and Scoir accounts (see above), your counselor will get a notification once you're submitted your application and will then send your transcript.
If you are not using Common App, please be sure to move your college to the "Applied" column in Scoir. Your counselor will then get an email notification that you've applied and will send in your transcript.

Rather than an official transcript, some schools will want you to complete a Self-reported Transcript and Academic Record (STARS). For these schools, you can reference your unofficial transcript in Skyward to complete the STARS. You will not request an official transcript for these schools.

A $30 senior transcript fee will be assessed at the start of the year. This fee covers your initial transcript, a mid-year transcript (if applicable), and the final transcript.

Recommendation Letters

Read instructions carefully to see whether or not your college wants letters of recommendation, how many they want, and who they want to write those letters (counselor, teacher, etc). Generally, Texas public colleges and universities do not need counselor recommendations. Private institutions and colleges/universities found outside of Texas are more likely to want a counselor recommendation. When a letter is optional, consider asking for a letter from someone who leads a program you participate in, an employer, etc.

Keep in mind that it is a courtesy, not an expectation, that anyone write a letter for you. You will want to ASK politely, and give your recommenders 2-3 weeks notice before your letter is due. Writing a good letter takes time.

Counselor Letters

Requesting a recommendation letter from a counselor is done by emailing in both of the below forms with your request. These questionnaire to help us learn more about you and enable us to write a more meaningful letter.

Please type responses to ensure legibility and email the forms to your counselor.

Student Questionnaire

Parent Questionnaire

Outside Recommenders

Recommendations from people outside of Westlake High School can be requested through the application itself (not through Scoir).

Teacher Letters

Teacher recommendations are meant to give the college insight into the kind of scholar you can be. Be sure to select teachers who know you and have something insightful and meaningful to share. Teachers may ask you to complete the Teacher Recommendation Form to help them write a meaningful letter for you.

Once your teacher has agreed to write for you, you will put the request in through Scoir (My Colleges, Docs, New Request).
When the letter has been uploaded, you will receive a notification email.
Log back into Scoir and ASSIGN the letter to which colleges you'd like it to be sent to.

Essay Prompts

Get a head start on your college application essays by writing rough drafts over the summer.

Westlake English teachers also offer a summer college essay writing camp! Information is here. ------ >

College Essay Camp 2025.pdf

click logo for link

Think College is a national organization dedicated to developing, expanding, and improving inclusive higher education options for people with intellectual disability. With a commitment to equity and excellence, Think College supports evidence-based and student-centered research and practice by generating and sharing knowledge, guiding institutional change, informing public policy, and engaging with students, professionals and families.

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