College Application Process

How to Apply:  RISD students will primarily use Common App when applying to colleges. Other options include Apply Texas and Direct to the Institution.  Applications may include many factors including your grades, test scores, extra-curricular activities, honors, and personal statements, and essays.  Your application might also be enhanced by academic and personal letters of recommendations.

When to Apply:  College Applications open August 1.  Most have a fall deadline date before winter break and extend through July. Make sure you apply as soon as possible to increase your chances of admission, scholarships, and state grants/aid. Financial Aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and is typically set by the date you were fully admitted to the college. 

Common App allows you to apply to  multiple colleges and universities both in Texas and across the United States.   *Common App is the RISD preferred application method 

• Common App accounts roll-over on August 1.  Information in the "Common Application" will remain, but the "Colleges" section will not save previous information.  Students are encouraged to wait until after August 1 to add colleges, recommenders, and counselors.

• Assign your Alpha counselor in Common App to allow them to upload your transcript into your application.

• Assign Mrs. Macy as your Advisor in Common App to allow her to support and track your progress.

• Assign Your Recommenders in Common App to allow allow them to upload your letters of recommendation into your application.

• "Direct Admission" - Common App offers students admission to colleges who align with your academic profile. Many also include fee waivers!

• "Scholarship Matching" -  Common App offers students opportunities that align with their application profile.

Helpful Guides:

• LHHS:  How to Send Transcripts & Letters of Recommendation

• LHHS:  School Information for Common App (Class of 2027)

• LHHS:  Common App Schools (deadlines, fees, free applications, TX schools, etc)

• Common App: First Year Application Guide

• Common App: First  Year Toolkit (PDF Guides)

• College Essay Guy:  Common App Guide

• You are applying as a Fall 2027 First-Year Student.  Even if you have earned college credit in high school, you are considered a freshman with college credit. After your first semester of college, the college you are at will reclassify you with the credit you earned in high school at a later date. Applying as a freshman helps you with housing and scholarships. 

• You must use a PERSONAL EMAIL address on your college applications and not the district @g.risd email you have for high school. 

• Verify your LEGAL first and last name with your birth certificate or passport.  Common App must match!

• If you have a Social Security Number please use it. This will help the college match your documents during the application cycle. If you do not have a social security number, you must know your citizenship status and indicate on your application.

• The full name of your high school for college application purposes is: Lake Highlands High School. Make sure you use the search tool in the applications to find your high school and do not type it in. Your LHHS School Code is: 441758 

• The Class of 2027 has 660 Students, as of June 2026

• RISD does not RANK students outside of the Top 10%. 

• The RISD GPA scale is 100 Point Weighted

• Seniors Graduate May 2027

• Under each college, you must choose Fall 2027 and an application type.  This is important as it displays this deadline to your counselors and letter of recommendation writers.

  • Early Action - Recommended for admission, housing, and scholarships

  • Regular, Rolling - Recommended if Early Action is not available or you missed the deadline

  • Early Decision - Binding decision, may limit financial assistance

  • Restrictive Early Action - not binding, may limit financial assistance

If you qualify for free and reduced lunch, then you qualify for an application fee waivers at ALL colleges.

• You must  complete a F/R Lunch Application first. Once verified you will be eligible for College Application Waivers. 

• In Common App, go to your Profile and then the Fee Waiver section.

• Answer “Yes” to the fee waiver statement. Enter your signature to certify your request.

• Your Alpha Counselor will approve this request within Common App.

If you took the ACT with a test fee waiver:

• You must either have taken the ACT with a fee waiver or qualify for free and reduced lunch to receive a college application fee waiver.

• You must submit your application to the college first before requesting a college application fee waiver. 

• Colleges can receive waivers by mail, email, or their school portal. 

If you took the SAT with a test fee waiver

• If you took the SAT with a fee waiver you qualify for four application fee waivers. These waivers will be delivered online to you in your College Board account; you will get them at the same time that you get your SAT scores.

• SAT College Application Fee Waiver FAQ

If you do NOT qualify for a fee waiver, search for colleges that have free applications on Common App

• College Search tab of the application and at commonapp.org/explore.

For Assistance with Fee Waivers, please see Mrs. Macy 

The Household Family Data Form must be completed by parents to verify if you're eligible for Free/Reduced Lunch.

Complete the form every year -  Here

Once verified you will be eligible for College Application Fee Waivers.