College Application Process

STEP 1) Complete the CTC Link Application for all WA State Community and Technical Colleges.   The CTC Link Application is free for all students. 

Seniors: If you plan to attend SVC in the fall and you already applied to SVC/EVCC using the CTC Link Application (for College in the High School or Running Start) follow these directions.

STEP 2) Send Transcripts

STEP 1) Complete the College Application ~ Application Types

• Common Application: 1000 + colleges use 1 application.  Common App Fee Waiver Information can be found here.   

  • You MUST match your Common Application to your Schoolinks Account.

• Direct to Institution Application: Apply to a specific college using their application.  Visit the college website to learn more.  If you need a fee waiver, email pzimmer@mvsd320.org

Note: Essays may be required: The College and Career Center Staff can assist with essays.  Review this presentation on how to write an effective college essay.

STEP 2)  Send Transcripts

STEP 3) Letters of Recommendation may be required.  

• • Students will request letters of recommendations for colleges in Schoolinks.

• Prior to requesting the letter, students should contact the teacher/counselor and ask them to write a letter of recommendation.  Students should also provide teachers/counselor with this Letter of Recommendation Information Form.

• Please note: Students can submit a request to a non-district staff by adding that staff manually with their email.  Non-district Staff can click a link in the notification email to create and account and access the request.  Directions for out of district recommendations.

STEP 4) Test scores (as needed):  Arrange to have your SAT and/or ACT scores sent directly to colleges.  Note, SAT/ACT test requirements have changed.  

STEP 5) Final Transcript: Once you have committed to attend a college, you can request a final transcript to be sent to your college from Schoolinks.

• Direct Admit:

  • Earning admission into college and then into a specific major is often a two-step process; first, students have to earn general admission into a college, and then after enrolling, declare a major.  Direct Admit is granting general admission and admission into a specific major at the same time.  For instance, UW's Engineering Program is now "Direct Admit".

• Regular Decision:

  • The deadline for regular decision applications is usually between November 1st and February 1st. Students hear back sometime from mid-March through mid-April. You must reply by May 1st.

• Rolling or Modified Rolling:

  • The college makes their admission decision as they receive applications. It can often be better to apply as early as you can with these types of schools. You must reply by May 1st.

• Early Decision:

  • Early decision is binding so you can only apply to one school early decision and must attend if accepted. The only way to get out of attending your early decision school is if you can't afford to attend. Colleges usually have an EFC (Expected Family Contribution) calculator on their website; the colleges assume that you're okay with that EFC calculation. So, if your family's finances don't change, then you are still binded by early decision. You might also see Early Decision II or III for some schools. This is a way for some colleges to pick up more early applicants who decide to apply ED later or (probably more commonly) applicants who get rejected from their first early decision school.

• Early Action:

  • Early action programs have earlier deadlines and earlier decision dates, but they are not binding (you don't have to go if you get in). Just like with rolling admissions it is often better to get your application in earlier rather than later. Sometimes schools consider applications 'priority' applications if the student applies before a certain date for rolling or early action. You may apply to other schools. You must reply (if accepted) by May 1.

• Restrictive Early Action/ Single Choice Early Action:

  • Applying restricted early action means you can't apply early decision to any school, or early action at other private institutions. You don’t have to commit if admitted and are free to apply regular admission anywhere. Restricted early action is used by Harvard, Princeton, Stanford and Yale among others. Make sure to check the website of the school you are applying to restricted early action as the specific rules vary among schools. You must reply by May 1.