College Planning

• Application:

You’ll likely have to fill out a general application for each school you want to attend. These tend to cover information like a list of extracurricular activities and parent or legal guardian information.

• Academic transcripts:

Your transcripts—from high school and other academic institutions you might have been enrolled in, like community college—show colleges what classes you’ve taken and the grades you got in them.

• Letters of recommendation: 

Many colleges require two or three letters of recommendation from trusted adults in your life. These typically come from teachers or counselors who can speak to your academic abilities, but they can also come from club or team coaches, employers, volunteer organizers, or others who can discuss your various strengths.

• Personal statements and essays:

Colleges want to take into consideration who you are beyond your grades and test scores. The personal statement (or college essay) gives you the opportunity to show a more rounded picture of who you are.

• Standardized scores:

Taking a college entrance exam, like the SAT or ACT, used to be standard, though a growing number of schools have stopped requiring scores. That being said, even when they're optional, submitting your scores can help detail your college readiness.

• Financial information:

Some schools will request information on your or your family’s financial situation to see if you qualify for scholarships. The deadline for financial information might be later than the application deadline, though it’s good to double-check. You’ll want to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at the very least.