BASIC information

• College Process Infographic

• Completing Your College Application Step-by-Step

• Grade Level Checklists

• College Application Terminology

• Early Action Deadline vs. Early Decision Deadline Explained

• Guide to the College Admission Process 

• Event Presentations from district and campus

all about testing - TSI, SAT, ACT

Many students take the SAT for the first time during their junior year of high school. It is often recommended that students consider retaking the SAT or registering for the ACT, especially if they are stronger in math and science.

In addition, before starting college, all public Texas universities require students to meet the TSI (Texas Success Initiative) requirement in order to enroll in on-level Math and English courses. Students who do not meet the TSI standard will be placed in remedial courses during their freshman year.

Students can meet the TSI requirement in several ways:

• Achieving qualifying scores on the SAT

• Achieving qualifying scores on the ACT

• Successfully completing Texas College Bridge

It is highly recommended that students prepare for the exam they are taking. You can find additional:

• • • Testing Information & Study Resources page

research

Want to research universities and colleges based on location, cost, admission requirements, and student life? Try out these search engines that will help you navigate through thousands of institutions across the United States.

1. Help narrow down a student's college selection choices by recording college requirements using the College Tracker

2. See the cost of college, programs offered, admission requirements, etc.

   • • Big Futures (College Board)

     • Niche

     • Apply

     • The Princeton Review

3. Visit each college website for further assessment

DISTRICT & CAMPUS EVENTS

3. • • District Events & KCHS Rep Visits

COLLEGE VISITS

Per the Texas Education Agency,  students may take up to 2 days in their junior year and 2 days in their senior year to visit colleges.  In order for these absences not to count against a student's exemption status, students must present attendance with an original letter from the college on letterhead with an original signature.

3. • • Virtual College Tours - over 1000 colleges

     • The Art of Colleges Virtual YouTube Tours - over 100 major colleges

     • College Dorm Tours

When applying to colleges, you may need to submit additional documentation. These documents may include:

1. Social Security Number

2. Class Rank Letter- located in Skyward under Portfolio, includes weighted/unweighted GPA,  class rank # out of how many students

3. Unofficial High School Transcript - used for completing application/SRAR (free and emailed to you) 

4. Unofficial College Transcript(s) from each College - Dual Credit students

5. SAT, ACT, TSI, AP, Texas College Bridge  -score sheet or certificate for all that are requested by the university

6. Additional optional items:

   • • Brag Sheet - Take time to complete the brag sheet to help complete your college application or as a support document for those writing a letter of recommendation for you

     • Resume

     • Letter(s) of Recommendation

     • Application Fee Waivers - If you qualify for free or reduced lunch benefits, email kindelicato2@kleinisd.net

COLLEGE PROCESS CHECKLIST

Utilize this checklist to monitor your progress through completing your college application.

APPLICATION WEBSITE PORTAL

Students can apply for admission to universities by utilizing various application types. There are 3 application website choices: Apply Texas, Common Application, or university-specific applications. Please check with the universities to which you are applying to determine which application type they utilize. Now that you are about to begin the application, use the Brag Sheet or Resume in the previous step to help complete the college application(s).

1. APPLY TEXAS - applytexas.org

• Apply for admission to any Texas public university, community college, and private college.

• Application fees are waived per the State of Texas October 13th - 19th

2. COMMON APPLICATION - commonapp.org

• Explore more than 900 colleges and universities

• Application guide for first-year students

3. UNIVERSITY-SPECIFIC APPLICATION

• Used only for a particular school and available on the school's website

ESSAY RESOURCES

Each university has the discretion to require essays and/or short response questions as part of its application process. If a student is highly interested in being admitted to a particular university or into their preferred major, it is strongly recommended that they complete all essay sections, even if they are listed as optional.

Additionally, students should plan to submit their application and essays at the same time to ensure their application is reviewed as complete. Here are some helpful resources for essay writing:

• • Common Application Prompts

  • The College Essay Guy

  • The College Essay Guy Live Courses and Workshops

  • How to Write an Outstanding Personal Statement for College: A Crash Course

LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION

Most universities do not require letters of recommendation. However, if you are very interested in being admitted to a university or a specific major, it is encouraged to submit at least two strong recommendation letters.

Tips for Requesting Recommendation Letters:

• Choose wisely: Ask a teacher, counselor, or mentor who knows you well and can speak positively about your strengths

• Ask early: Give your recommender at least two weeks’ notice to complete the letter

• Provide a Brag Sheet or Resume to help your recommender highlight your accomplishments, goals, and character

• Submission process:

  • Some applications allow students to request recommendation letters directly through the application portal. Recommenders will receive a secure link to upload their letter.

  • If the recommender is from your high school, ask if the letter can be placed on official school letterhead before it is uploaded to the college portal.

Once a student has completed their application either through Apply Texas, Common App, or a university-specific application, the student will need to request that their test scores, letters of recommendation(s), and transcripts be sent electronically to each college. 

• SAT or ACT - Share your score sheet by going to the College Board or Act.org website if needed

• Official KCHS High School Transcript - Scribble website

  • • Regardless if you use Apply Texas or Common App, all students will need to request a high school transcript through Scribble website. 

    • An official transcript is sent within 5 schools days of each request. Keep in mind that it can take up to 4 weeks for the college to show that the transcript has been received in the student portal. Every college processing time is different.

• Official College Transcript(s)- Dual Credit transcripts can be requested through the college's student portal

SELF-REPORTING ACADEMIC RECORD (SRAR)

Some college applications require an additional document to be completed called the self-reported academic record (SRAR). This document comprises a comprehensive list of every course you have taken in high school and the grades received. It is critical that you complete this document accurately. When completing the SRAR, students should have a copy of their unofficial transcript at hand (you can access this in Skyward under the Portfolio section), as you will need to list the classes and grades you took EXACTLY as they appear on your transcript.

Tips for Completing the SRAR:

• List every class you earned credit for, including extracurricular classes

• List the classes exactly as they appear on your transcript - use your transcript to enter your coursework!

• Make sure you list the class/grade in the correct semester

• Make sure you list the correct credit count

• SRAR Frequently Asked Questions

• SRAR Videos- Instructions sponsored by Texas A&M  University

Students will need to monitor their email once their application has been submitted. Colleges will send an email inviting the student to create a student account in the college's portal. It is important to check your SPAM or Junk box to ensure that the email is received. Once an account has been set up, it is the student's responsibility to check each college portal weekly to learn the following information:

• Admission acceptance

• Incomplete applications notifications

• Document submission request that the college has not received yet including test scores, LOR's, transcripts, etc.

• Dorm registration

• Scholarship and grant offers