Applying to College

You will need to create an account, so save your logins and passwords where you will be able to find them. Communication from colleges about the status of your application will come through email, so use an account that you check regularly.

Recommendation Letters

Read instructions carefully to see whether or not your college wants letters of recommendation, how many they want, and who they want to write those letters (counselor, teacher, etc). Generally, Texas public colleges and universities do not need counselor recommendations. Private institutions and colleges/universities found outside of Texas are more likely to want a counselor recommendation. When a letter is optional, consider asking for a letter from someone who leads a program you participate in, an employer, etc.

It is polite to ASK someone first if they will write a letter for you. Once they've agreed, be sure to give your recommenders 2-3 weeks notice before your letter is due. Writing a good letter takes time. You will also need to request a teacher or counselor letter in Naviance so your teacher can send it electronically.