College

AP Exam Scores
College Board allows you to search for specific colleges to determine which AP tests and scores will translate into credit at their school.

ACC Courses
These sites may help you determine whether your college will transfer your ACC course credits. If not, your best bet is to contact the      college directly.

• • Texas Core Curriculum - search by institution and see what credit counts for core curriculum

  • ACC college & university transfer information guides

CLEP Exams
CLEP exams cover intro-level college course material in 34 subjects and more than 2,900 colleges and universities grant credit to students with qualifying scores. Key facts about CLEP exams:

• • CLEP exams are available year-round at more than 2,000 CLEP test centers

  • Subjects include College Algebra, College Composition, and Spanish

  • Free online courses are available to help students prepare for the exams

  • Exams typically take 90-120 minutes to complete

  • Students can receive their scores immediately after the exam and can earn 3 or more credits with one qualifying score // Search transferability by institution

• College for All Texans is one of the most comprehensive resources for students and parents.  It includes links and information about preparing for, applying to, and paying for college or technical school.

• Try Mapping Your Future for financial aid, school searches, and career-planning information

• Get Schooled has college prep tools, college tour resources, and information about application essays for current high school students.

• And of course, use Naviance for college search tools, scholarship searches, and the ability to save information to your account. (Open Leander Launchpad and find the Naviance tile to log into your account)

Research Colleges:
Find the Best Fit for YOU powered by College Board /Big Future
Naviance -- Log into your Naviance student account (must access from LISD LaunchPad)-->Colleges-->SuperMatch College Search

2023-24 Assured Admissions Chart

QuestBridge - for high-achieving, low-income students

*See the Additional Planning Resources at the top of this page. 

• Make a list of colleges you are considering

• Check application & due date requirements

• Keep track of your application logins & passwords

• College admissions policies vary by campus - reach out to admissions reps if you have questions. They are here to help!

Students can begin filling out college applications as early as July 1 of senior year. Some schools will allow students to apply directly through their website. You can also access applications on these platforms:

ApplyTexas.org - Texas public universities

CommonApp.org - Texas universities, out-of-state and private universities. View the CommonApp guide here.

1. Determine which essay and/or short answer questions are required for your schools.

2. Where do you have choice about the essay or where can you recycle essays for efficiency?

3. Brainstorm, outline, and write your essay. Don't put this off!

4. Ask someone you trust for honest feedback.

Tips:

• Pay attention to word-count limits

• Short answers = get to the point, don't turn this into a story

Resources:

• Essay Prompts (Apply Texas, Common App, Coalition with tips on overlap)

• University of California Application personal insight questions - directions & guidance

Essay Review & Feedback opportunities:

• Senior Workdays during Grizzly Time

• Contact your English Teachers

• With Mrs. Kennedy by appointment

1. Determine if Letters of Recommendation are required/optional and if so, are there restrictions as to who writes these (counselor, core academic teacher, or can it be anyone?). 

2. Decide who you will ask to write your letter and ask them as early as possible (no less than 4 weeks prior to your application deadline).

Instructions - Counselor Letter of Recommendation

• Referring to the university's website, confirm a counselor letter of recommendation is required for admission.

• Talk with your counselor and ask if they are able to write a letter of recommendation for you. 

Instructions - Teacher/Advisor Letter of Recommendation (can also be used for outside recommenders)

• Ask your teacher if they are willing to write you a letter of recommendation. 

• Help your selected recommender out and include this Request for a Rec Letter document.  Your recommender probably knows you well, but any extra you provide will only strengthen the letter.

• Add your recommender's information to the applications/portals to generate emails allowing  your recommender to submit the letter electronically. (ex: Common Application or directly to institution - reference the Quick Guide below for further details)

• Allow your recommender 3-4 weeks to write the recommendation.

Submitting Letters of Recommendation

Reference this Quick Guide to Submitting Letters of Recommendation and feel free to share with your recommenders. Note that for some schools you may not be able to generate a link to your recommenders until you have 1) submitted your application 2) set up your applicant portal and 3) input your recommender's contact information to generate an emailed request/link.

All Glenn Transcript requests go through Parchment.com

First time logging into Parchment?

1. Go to your school issued email account and search "parchment"

2. A series of emails will be listed from our school registrar

3. Choose one of those emails and click the big green button in the middle 

4. Go through the steps to finish setting up your account and then you can have your transcript sent directly to you and/or any school(s) you are applying to

Note: Some colleges require Self-Reporting of Academic Records (SRAR). If your college requires this, it will be listed on your application checklist.

Dual Credit students - here are the instructions for sending your ACC transcript

GHS does not send SAT or ACT scores. Students must order official scores from your account:

SAT - Collegeboard.org

ACT - ACT.org

Many colleges are currently test optional. Learn more about test optional here.

After you submit your application, you will receive an email confirmation with details to set up your applicant port. Each college calls this something different, for example UT = My Status, Texas A&M = Howdy Portal, etc. This is where you will log in to:

• Verify required and optional pieces of your application have been received

• Upload supplemental documents such as resume and possibly input recommenders' information to generate emailed requests

• View your admission decision

• View and accept/edit your financial aid award letter

FAFSA - this is your first step to financial aid! 

• Begin filling out the FAFSA December of senior year 

• Completed independently of college apps - you can fill out the FAFSA before you finish all your applications

Scholarships - make sure to check your college's scholarship application and requirements

• Some colleges have separate scholarship applications, others may include the app within Apply Texas

• Private scholarship applications will be posted in the Class of 20XX Google Classroom and the GHS Scholarship page as they become available

CSS Profile - required for some private institutions (in addition to FAFSA)

Resources

• Studentaid.gov - comprehensive resource for financial aid

• How financial aid works

• Types of financial aid

• FAFSA myths

The final transcript can be ordered through Parchment prior to graduation by selecting "hold for grades" when you order.  Final transcripts are typically not finalized until mid to late June. All orders will be processed at that time.

Dual Credit students - be sure to order a transcript to be sent to ACC along with the college you're attending; otherwise ACC will place a hold on your account (which may mean a hold on transferring your ACC credits). On that note, be sure you have sent your most recent ACC transcript to the college you're attending to ensure those credits are evaluated for transfer.

To get credit or placement for your AP exam scores, you have to request an official score report be sent to the college you are planning to attend.

Instructions

Most colleges require vaccination against bacterial meningitis. If you need a copy of your immunization records from LISD, the only way they can be obtained is by submitting a records request to student.records@leanderisd.org.

When making a records request, please note the following:

1. A photo identification will be required for all record requests.

2. If the student is under the age of 18, their parent/guardian must make the request for the immunizations.

3. If the student is over the age of 18, the student must make the request for the immunizations, as the right to access the information transfers to the eligible student from the parent/guardian.

*** Please note: the campus nurse or staff cannot provide you with a copy. ***