Applying to College


What is the Common Application? 


The Common Application is a not-for-profit organization that serves students and member institutions by providing an online admission application that students may submit to over 900 members. To use the Common Application, you will need to create an account.

Once the Application for Undergraduate Admission is completed and submitted, it can be sent to up to 20 participating colleges. The Secondary School Report, Midyear Report, and Final Report will be completed by your counselor and Teacher Recommendations are completed by teachers through your account.  An invitation link that you will send to counselors and teachers will allow them to submit information on your behalf. It is advised that you ask your teachers in person, whether they would be willing to write you a recommendation before sending them an invite. Also allow your teachers enough time to complete your letter. It may take at least a couple of weeks from the invite to submission.  If you have a resume or Student Activities Sheet, provide this for their convenience. Each school may have different requirements for teacher recommenders, so follow the instructions carefully. Community members may also be advisors if the school makes this an option. 

Prior to applying, the Common Application allows a student to walk though the application. See the process here.

The application opens on August 1. Therefore, during the summer before your senior year begins, start gathering information for the application. Applying early has numerous advantages; deadlines should be kept in mind for each individual school. Each school requires a fee when you submit; the number of schools that you apply to is up to you. When your have your targeted list of schools, review if they are members of the Common Application. If some of your schools are not a member, consider the other ways to submit an application. For example, the SUNY Application, Coalition for College, and/or applying directly to a college or university. This will allow you to spend less time on the busywork of applying for admission, and more time on what's really important: college research, visits, essay writing, and senior year coursework. 

Please note that SAT/ACT scores are not on transcripts unless requested by the student. If a student would like some schools to see scores but not others, it is advised that the counselor send the transcript with no scores. The student would have to contact the testing agency and have the scores sent directly from the testing agency to those selected schools, at the student's cost.

Regardless of how you apply, review your application carefully. Do not wait for your recommender(s) to complete their letters. Submit only when you are sure your application is complete and best represents who you are as an individual. Once submitted, the application is final.


applySUNY


The SUNY application process is straightforward. Use this application when you only want to attend a SUNY school. Follow the steps outlined below. Documents are accepted by 52 of the 64 colleges that are part of the SUNY system. By submitting documents once, they will be electronically transmitted to as many SUNY campuses as you designate. 


To apply, follow these easy steps:



Applying to SUNY Erie


If you are thinking of applying to SUNY Erie, apply directly to the SUNY Erie website; it is free to apply, while the SUNY App will cost you $50.00.


If you are not applying using the Common App or SUNY App, you will need to fill out a transcript request form.