Applying for College

Applying for college can seem like an overwhelming process! Use the information and steps below to help make it easier!

Step One: Do your research to determine what colleges would be a good fit for you, and then narrow down your list. The website My Texas Future has some great tools to help with this! You are allowed 2 college visits as a Junior and Senior.  You just need something from the college showing you were on the campus to turn into the attendance office at the high school. 

Step Two: Complete the application.

Students have several options to submit college applications. Some colleges use a web portal, like ApplyTexas or the Common App, and some want you to apply directly on their admissions site. It‘s important to check with each college to see which applications they accept. 

• ApplyTexas - Best for applying to vocational schools, community colleges, or universities in Texas

• Common App - Best for applying to a variety of public and private universities across the country

When To Apply: Colleges typically open their applications in July or August for the following academic year, so students can begin applying as soon as the summer before senior year. Deadlines vary based on the school. Applying early will allow students to meet priority deadlines.

Important Information About Applications: Beyond personal information, you will likely be asked to fill in specifics about academics. Click here to link the directions to access your transcript to use for your application. 

Some applications may ask for letters of recommendation and / or a counselor report.  If you are using Common App, you will want to link your Schoolinks account to your Common App account: log in to your Schoolinks account, navigate to the "Colleges" section and then "College Applications," and click "Link Common App Account." Follow the on-screen prompts to sign in to your Common App account and authorize the data sharing to complete the connection. You will also need to complete the FERPA waiver in your Common App under the "Recommenders and FERPA" section to allow counselors and teachers to send documents to colleges.  Be sure to notify your counselor if you are needing them to complete the counselor report or a letter of recommendation as they do not always receive a notification. 

Step Three: Request for your transcripts and test scores to be sent to the college. 

Admissions offices typically want the transcript to be sent directly by the high school. Email Mrs. Javior (kjavior@lvisd.org) to tell her which school(s) you have applied to, and she will send your high school transcripts. If you have taken Dual Credit or OnRamps courses, you will need to request those transcripts from the college. For Dual Credit, you can request transcripts from ASU here. For OnRamps, you can request transcripts from UT here.

SAT scores must be sent to colleges from College Board. Students can login to their College Board accounts and use these directions to request those scores to be sent. 

ACT scores must be sent to the colleges from ACT. If you have taken the ACT, you can find directions for having those scores sent on this page. 

If the college requires TSI scores, students can sign up to take the TSI at the high school, and email Mrs. Javior (kjavior@lvisd.org) to request for the scores to be sent to a specific college. 

Step Four: Pay the application fee on the Universities website. Students who qualify for free or reduced lunch may qualify for fee waivers. If you believe you may be eligible for a fee waiver, contact the admissions department of the college to inquire about who is eligible, and what they require. 

Step Five: Complete the Federal Financial Aid application and apply for scholarships. 

Step Six: Once you receive your acceptance letters and decide where you are going to attend, go to the counseling office to have your picture taken so we can celebrate with you!