Thinking about going to college? Not sure where to go or where to start?
One of the services of the College & Career Center is to help students search schools which may be a good match for them in terms of majors, size, location, services, extracurriculars and finances. Some services we offer include:
Conferences with students and/or parents
College and financial aid computer searches
College representative visits to Sherwood
Information about college fairs
NCAA information
Financial Aid workshops at Sherwood
Links to virtual college tours and presentations
College & Career Center notes via Naviance emails
To search and compare colleges, College Score Card is a great resource.
These students thought they could not go to college because of the obstacles they faced...cost, grades, responsibilities, feeling overwhelmed. Sound familiar? Visit this website to hear their stories: www.youcango.collegeboard.org.
American College Application Campaign’s College Research Worksheet
Downloadable guide to help students understand match, fit, and cost when researching colleges and identifying to which colleges they want to apply. (from act.org)
The SHS College Application Packet is the go-to document for applying to colleges at SHS. It is a step-by-step guide on how to apply and includes everything that you need to complete. Please refer to this document to get started on college applications. It is recommended to save or bookmark to use as a reference.
Depending on the institution, you may apply via the Common Application for some and directly on college websites for others. See college application sites below for more information. It is strongly suggested that as you make a list of institutions you would like to apply to, organize them by application deadline. Complete the earlier deadlines first!
JUNIORS should get familiar with these College Application Process forms the summer prior to their senior year!
Meeting date/time is TBD
www.commonapp.org/ - explore nearly 900 colleges and universities using Common App.
2025 - 2026 Common App Essay Prompts - Click Here
www.commonapp.org/apply/first-time-students - application guide for first-time college students.
Common App Activities Section - short slideshow guide
www.commonapp.org/plan/for-families - tips & resources for families to help their students along the journey to college.
www.commonblackcollegeapp.com/ - apply to over 60 Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs) for one fee. HBCUs offer all students, regardless of race, an opportunity to develop their skills and talents. Click here to learn more about HBCUs through campus life videos.
Scholarship opportunities for eligible students.
Please note: Howard, Bowie State, and Hampton Universities are currently not the Common Black Application.
Check their website for the latest list of participating schools.
Some colleges have their own application process and/or online application for students to submit. It is important that students review the application process for each school they interested in applying to. The process is typically outlined on the school's official website. For example, Montgomery College has their own application. Reach out to Ms. Davis or your counselor if you have any questions or need assistance.
Many colleges accept the majority of their applicants by early or priority deadlines. Early action or priority deadlines are encouraged for students who hope to be considered for merit scholarships awarded by colleges. See below to learn more. Be sure to check with each college to determine all deadlines and/or if there are separate applications to be completed for scholarship consideration.
Non-Binding Application Options: Students are not restricted from applying to other institutions and have until May 1 to consider their options and confirm enrollment.
Early Action (EA) or Priority: students apply early and receive a decision well in advance of the institution’s regular response date.
Students interested in the University of Maryland, College Park should apply by the Early Action deadline of November 1st!
Regular Decision: students submit an application by a specified date and receive a decision in a clearly stated period of time.
Rolling Admission: institutions review applications as they are submitted and render admissions decisions throughout the admission cycle.
Binding Application Options: Students are responsible for determining and following restrictions.
Early Decision (ED): students make a commitment to a first-choice institution where, if admitted, they definitely will enroll. The application deadline and decision deadline occur early.
This is regardless of cost, financial aid, and/or other factors. Once committed, you are expected to attend.
Counselors will review these this type of application with students and parents/guardians to ensure understanding.
Priority Deadline - This is a set deadline for applications whereby students who are accepted are given PRIORITY consideration for admission, housing, scholarships, and other aid.
This program is intended to allow degree-seeking MARYLAND residents to enroll at certain out-of-state institutions in undergraduate programs of study not offered at a MD public college/university and to pay in-state tuition. This is a cooperative tuition-reduction agreement among Southern Regional Education Board states, of which Maryland is one.
If PUBLIC institutions in your home state do not offer degree programs in your field of study, it may be possible to arrange a waiver of out-of-state tuition to attend a cooperating PUBLIC institution in another participating state. These programs may change yearly.
During the pandemic, colleges have introduced more flexibility and choice into the admissions process. Many have decided to adopt a “test-optional” policy regarding college entrance exams, either temporarily or permanently. If a college or university has a test-optional admissions policy, that means they allow all or some applicants to decide whether to submit SAT or ACT® scores as part of their application. (from CollegeBoard)
Please note:
Understanding test-optional policies can help you make informed decisions about whether to take the SAT, the ACT, or both.
Some schools only exempt students who meet minimum grade or class rank criteria; others use test scores solely for placement purposes.
Be sure to read each college’s policy carefully so you understand what you need to do to qualify for admission, scholarships, financial aid, etc.
Naviance has many helpful tools to assist students searching for colleges, including SuperMatch College Search. Click on 'Colleges Home' in your Naviance account.
bigfuture.collegeboard.org/ - College Board's site; research and filter by location, major, and more.
www.reachhigher.org/students/ - resources to support students as they work on completing their postsecondary education.
https://collegewiserunway.thinkific.com/ - free resources and courses to help high school students prepare for college admissions.
https://www.niche.com/colleges/search/best-colleges/ - Explore college rankings by major to find a college that's right for you.
www.mdgo4it.mhec.maryland.gov - wealth of info and resources to assists high school students plan and prepare for college in Maryland.
www.collegeresults.org - examine colleges' graduation rates, and see how those rates have changed over time; compare graduation rates of similar colleges serving similar students; learn about colleges' track records in graduating diverse groups of students.
scholarships.com - college matchmaker; search based on a number of criteria
www.fairtest.org/university/optional - colleges & universities that do not use SAT/ACT scores for admission. Note: always double check with the institution's official site to confirm their admission requirements.
www.onlinecolleges.net - database of online colleges & universities
www.collegeaffordabilityguide.org - using analysis based on 10,000,000+ data points from thousands of schools, use this website to research some of the most affordable colleges in the country.
CollegeCovered.com - a FREE resource to help students and families plan and pay for college.
You can also visit the following websites to go on virtual college tours and see recorded presentations to learn about schools you may be interested in:
www.strivescan.com/virtual/ - virtual presentations for students to explore college opportunities; hear from admissions counselors; gain important college knowledge exploring 400+ presentations and information sessions; 500+ colleges and universities.
explore.cialfo.co/webinars - view recordings of university presentations and/or take video tours of campuses.
www.campustours.com - great information plus interactive Maps and Virtual tours.
College Admissions 101 - presentation by Foundry Admissions
Developing Resilient Teens - Presentation by Foundry Admissions
www.montgomerycollege.edu/ - click to learn more about Montgomery College. MC offers more than 130 programs of study, providing a relevant education that prepares students to become active contributors to the workforce or transfer to a four-year degree program.
Benefits of Attending Community College - click to see a Google Slides presentation and learn about the benefits of attending a Community College, specifically Montgomery College.
The Articulation System for Maryland Colleges and Universities (ARTSYS) - ARTSYS is intended to aid the transfer of students from Maryland community colleges to the University System of Maryland institutions and other participating institutions. Explore how credits from Montgomery College can be transferred to Maryland's four-year colleges and universities.
The Montgomery Scholars Program is a selective-admission two-year interdisciplinary honors program designed for high school graduates as the first step in completing a four-year degree.
Montgomery Scholars will launch their college studies at a fraction of the cost of most four-year schools. The College will award merit scholarships to each student admitted into the Scholars program. These Montgomery Scholars scholarships cover the cost of full-tuition and fees, for two years of study at Montgomery College (30 credits per year at the in-county resident tuition rate).
Common App Overview - Video Presentation
2024 International College Fair - Register Here!
Students apply directly to the university offering their chosen major, and on the application, they simply select USG as their preferred campus location. The professors, curriculum, and degree are provided by the home university (it does not say USG on your diploma!), but students at the USG campus benefit from small class sizes, increased scholarship opportunities, and an array of customized on-site services and student life - leading to a more personalized, cost-effective, and time-saving path to degree completion.
USG's innovative and pioneering partnership approach to higher education is designed to connect local college students to outstanding career opportunities, while providing regional employers with a highly educated, skilled workforce. Only the upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses are offered on the USG campus, fostering a supportive environment of students focused on completing their degrees and advancing their careers*.
*Students start their college career at Montgomery College (or another community college) and transfer to USG to earn a four-year bachelor's degree from one of 9 Maryland Universities.
www.collegegreenlight.com - connecting first generation and underrepresented students to caring colleges, generous scholarships, and life-changing counselors and mentors.
www.imfirst.org - an online community celebrating first-generation college students and supporting those who will be.
mydocumentedlife.org/ - Up-to-date information & resources for Undocumented Immigrants.
www.mdod.maryland.gov - State of Maryland DOD website. Resources for students with disabilities.