College Support

College Application Checklist

1. Complete at least one Colorado college application

2. Request Transcript

3. Complete the College Opportunity Fund

4. Create your FSA ID (or show verification)

Fee Waivers for Financial Hardship Year-Round

Almost all colleges and universities have application fee waivers for financial hardship

during the entire year. As such, if you are struggling to pay an application fee and wish

to submit your admission application before (or after) Free Application Day$, click on

this link for instructions or contact the admission office at the college/university you want

to apply to for more information.

● Application basics

● Essay basics

● Overview of the application process

● Strategies to reuse previous application parts

Common Data Sets

What are Common Data Sets?

"The Common Data Set (CDS) initiative is a collaborative effort among data providers in the

higher education community and publishers as represented by the College Board, Peterson's,

and U.S. News & World Report. The combined goal of this collaboration is to improve the quality

and accuracy of information provided to all involved in a student's transition into higher

education, as well as to reduce the reporting burden on data providers.

This goal is attained by the development of clear, standard data items and definitions in order to

determine a specific cohort relevant to each item. Data items and definitions used by the U.S.

Department of Education in its higher education surveys often serve as a guide in the continued

development of the CDS. Common Data Set items undergo broad review by the CDS Advisory

Board as well as by data providers representing secondary schools and two- and four-year

colleges. Feedback from those who utilize the CDS also is considered throughout the annual

review process.

The CDS is a set of standards and definitions of data items rather than a survey instrument or

set of data represented in a database. Each of the higher education surveys conducted by the

participating publishers incorporates items from the CDS as well as unique items proprietary to

each publisher. Consequently, the publishers' surveys differ in that they utilize varying numbers

of items from the CDS" (Common Data Set Initiative)

CDS allows you to easily look up certain pieces of information, helps you compare colleges on

particular points, and even provides some detailed demographic breakdowns of admissions and

enrollment statistics for those who are interested.

Simply do a Google search for the CDS of whatever colleges are of interest to the student.

Big Future

Part of the College Board suite of information. Students can research schools and careers, find

planning tools by grade, and scholarships.

Strategies for reusing parts of previous application