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Important things to remember:
The following list includes items that could be required; however, you might not be asked to submit everything on this list to every college.
You, the student, are responsible for checking the college’s individual website for requirements/checklists prior to meeting with your counselor. You also need to follow the school’s policy for submitting applications, including all supporting documents.
Consider using an Application Organizer to track application requirements at your schools of interest.
What may be included in the college application?
Personal and educational data
Honors and awards
Extracurricular, personal and volunteer activities
Employment, internships, research and summer activities
Essays, both short answer & longer personal essays
Letters of Recommendation (if applicable; not always required)
Disciplinary information (we do not submit this information)
Application fee
Electronic Signatures (where you type your name)
Audition/portfolio (if applicable for certain majors)
What supporting documents might be needed to complete the application?
Official Transcript
ACT/SCT scores*
Counselor Forms
Midyear Report/Transcript
Letters of Recommendation (ONLY if required by the college/university)
* It is the student’s responsibility to have their test scores sent to the colleges which they are applying. Many colleges/universities are also allowing students to apply Test Optional. A list of these institutions can be found here: https://fairtest.org/test-optional-list/
When in doubt, call the Admissions Office directly for the colleges/universities you will be applying to, to confirm application requirements.
Types of College Applications
Note: Some colleges/universities will offer multiple options from the list below, while others will use one option exclusively. If a school utilizes multiple options below, they do not care which option you choose. There is no benefit to selecting one type of application over another - they offer options to be as accommodating to students as possible.
School-Specific Application
These types of college applications are housed directly on the schools' website, or their own application platform. These types of applications tend to be shorter/quicker for students to complete; however, students many need to repeatedly input demographic & extracurricular information (for each separate application).
Common Application (Common App)
The Common Application is a not-for-profit organization that serves students and colleges & universities by providing an online admission application that students may submit to over 950 colleges & universities. This allows a student to complete one application for numerous institutions, along with individual school supplements.
Definitions of Admission Options in Higher Education
Please view this chart to get a better understanding on the various admissions options in higher education.
Definitions of Admission Decisions
Accepted: A student has been offered an opportunity to attend an institution for the upcoming college school year.
Denied: A student has not been offered an opportunity to attend an institution for the upcoming college school year. The student must wait until the following application season to reapply.
Deferred Decision: The college or university determines that more information is needed to make a final decision about a candidate’s application. Often the decision is delayed until seventh semester grades and/or a new test score are received.
Waitlisted: When there are too many qualified applicants for a particular institution, some students may be waitlisted (usually in April). Students may remain on the waitlist for a final decision, but should choose another school to commit.
Deferred Admission: This plan permits a student, once accepted, to postpone attendance for up to one year, in order to pursue other plans.
Letters of Recommendation
Many college applications request one or two recommendations from teachers, counselors, or other adults who know you well. If the college that you are applying to requires letters of recommendation, please use the guidelines below. Please do NOT request letters of recommendation until you know they are needed – check college websites first.
Who should I ask?
Colleges & universities often request letters of recommendation from an academic teacher (sometimes in a specific discipline) and/or your counselor. It is best to ask a teacher who you have had in a class for at least one semester and, if possible, who taught you during your junior or senior year. Choosing a teacher from a core academic area (English, Math, Science, Social Studies, or World Language) is preferred. Colleges want a current perspective from someone who knows you well. Do not use a coach/club sponsor who cannot speak to your academic achievements and classroom potential in place of an academic teacher.
When should I ask?
Make sure you give your recommendation writer at least 3 weeks before the letter is due to write and send your recommendation; however, the earlier you ask, the better. Some teachers like to have the summer to write recommendations, so if you know that you will be applying to a school that requires letters of recommendation, you may want to ask teachers before the end of junior year.
Teacher Recommendations
First, reach out to your recommender(s) directly; then invite them through SchooLinks (this process will be activated & explained in detail during September of senior year)
Give teachers the specific college names and corresponding deadlines
Thank your teachers for taking the time to write you a letter of recommendation!
Counselor Recommendations
Counselors will give students instructions on how to share relevant information for a counselor letter of recommendation in the fall of a student's Senior year.
Thank your counselor for taking the time to write you a letter of recommendation!
Helpful Tips
Don’t be shy. Teachers & counselors are happy to help you, as long as you respect their time.
Provide teachers and counselors with deadlines for each recommendation that you are requesting, especially noting the earliest deadline.
On the application form, waive your right to view recommendation letters. This gives more credibility to the recommendation in the eyes of the college.
Follow-up with your recommendation writers a week or so prior to the deadline, to ensure recommendations have been submitted, or to see if they need additional information from you.
Write Thank You notes to your recommendation writers, and later, tell them where you’ve decided to go to college.
College Essay
Out of all the components of a college application, the essay portion is probably the most time-consuming. It is also one of the most powerful components of an application, as you have the opportunity to show a side of yourself that might not otherwise be seen in the application. You may come across two different types of essays in the process: the personal essay and supplemental essays. No matter the prompt, the endgame is always the same; the essay should be about YOU!
The personal essay is the most universal essay. There may be a required prompt or you may get to choose one. The Common App has personal essays embedded in the application and you are able to choose which prompt to answer.
Some colleges may not want a main personal essay and may ask you a different question related to your major or why you want to attend the institution. Other schools may have upwards of ten short supplemental essays. You can find what a college requires on their admission website, but often times you will not know all of the writing that is required until you start the application.
"Choosing a College Essay Topic" by Sarah Myers McGinty (The College Application Essay)
Common App Essay Prompts (Common Application)
Tips for Writing a Great Essay (Univ. of Michigan)
The College Essay Guy (External Link)
Essays That Worked (Johns Hopkins)
College Essay FAQs
What should I write about?
The essay ultimately needs to be about you and there should be some nuggets of information about you that is learned from the essay that cannot be found elsewhere in your application. Therefore, the options for how to get there seem almost limitless, which is daunting. Try a few of these brainstorming activities to get your creative juices flowing. Ethan Sawyer, aka The College Essay Guy, has great FREE resources on his website not only for brainstorming, but for writing an essay and to read samples. Check out his website here.
Should I have someone proofread my essay?
Yes, absolutely! You can have multiple people read your essay, but remember, sometimes too many cooks in the kitchen results in too much feedback. The essay still needs to have elements of you and your writing in it. Your College & Career Counselor can proofread your essay. Please contact the College & Career Counselor at your school to schedule an appointment. Some students ask a close family friend or trusted adult to read their essay as well as they can tell you what they learned about you from reading your essay. Another tip: read your essay aloud to yourself.
Can I use humor in my essay?
Be cautious about using humor in a college essay. If you are not naturally funny, your college essay may not be the best place to start experimenting. Also, remember there will be various types of people reading your essay at different institutions. These people do not know you and may have varying opinions on what is funny and what is not.
Can I write about another person who has shaped me in my essay?
Yes, but be sure the essay's focus is still on you. A good general rule of thumb is to keep the information about the other person to around 1/4 to 1/3 of your essay. The remainder of the essay needs to be about you. Colleges want to accept you to their college, not your hero.
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