Skip To Main Content

Logo Title

College Application Process

College Application Process:

  1. Review SAT and ACT fall dates if you need to take one or both exams again. Student is responsible to report scores if needed in Common App or officially from ACT.org or Collegeboard.org .
  2. For non-Common Application schools, create an online application account on their website and begin their application.
  3. For Common Application Schools:
    1. After August 1st - Create an account at (www.commonapp.org) and add your Common Application schools to your "My Colleges" list. 
    2. Minimally, complete the "Education" section of Common Application (section is complete when a green checkmark appears next to section name).
    3. For High School Information in the "Education" section please see Information for Common App 
    4. When logged into Common App, go to "Assign Recommenders" under the "My Colleges" tab and sign the FERPA Release Authorization portion only. (We recommend that you waive your right as that reassures colleges that letters of rec. are honest and more truthful).
    5. When logged into Naviance, in order to 'match' your Common Application with Naviance, go to the "Colleges" tab, then to "Colleges I'm applying to" section. Click on pink banner  under "Match" then enter the email address you used to register with Common Application, then click "Match".
      VIDEO: Linking Common Application with Naviance

How to have Transcripts and other high school documents sent to colleges/universities:

  1. Before applying to any college or requesting a Transcript to be sent to a college, please schedule your Senior Conference with your Counselor.  To make an appointment, please see Mrs. Lista or Mrs. Dunning in the Counseling Office.  Please know your Common App PASSWORD for the meeting.                                          
  2. Please list all colleges to which you intend to apply in your NAVIANCE account under the “Colleges I'm thinking about" section and review admission criteria to make sure you have (some) reach, (most) realistic and (some) safe schools.
  3. Be mindful of Deadlines. The Counseling Office needs at least three school weeks of time to complete your application before the college's due date.
  4. TEACHER LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION:
    1. In person, please ask only two teachers if they are able to write a letter of recommendation (LOR) on your behalf. If you already asked last spring, a reminder to those teachers after school starts is helpful.
    2. In Naviance add colleges to "Colleges I'm applying to" section.
    3. At bottom of "Colleges I'm applying to" section click on Letters of Recommendation OR from home page under "Colleges" tab/Apply to College, click on Letters of Recommendation.
    4. Assign teacher(s) to each college. Be mindful that some schools only take 1 LOR.
    5. Please note, teachers may complete letters well before a deadline or they may need more time and will submit your letter closer to or on your First Deadline.  This does not put you at a disadvantage, even if you have submitted your portion of the application. Remember that teachers cannot send your recommendation without your parent/student signature (see below Parent/Student Signature for Transcript and Records Release Form). 
    6. Please thank your teachers and remember that they are busy so it is helpful to give them plenty of notice.
      VIDEO: Teacher Letters of Rec
  5. LINK COMMON APP TO NAVIANCE:
    1. When logged into Common App, go to "Assign Recommenders" under the "My Colleges" tab and sign the FERPA Release Authorization portion only. (We recommend that you waive your right as this reassures colleges that letters of rec. are honest and more truthful).
    2. In Naviance go to the "Colleges" tab, then to "Colleges I'm applying to" section.  Look for Pink Banner (Match).  Enter the email address you used to register with Common Application, then click "Match". VIDEO: Linking Common Application with Naviance
  6. *To legally send out Transcripts, Letters of Recommendation* and School Profile, you and your parent/guardian need to:
    1. By September 1 or at least 1 month before first application deadline: Complete the Record Release Authorization (Transcript Release to Colleges) and submit form electronically (through an Office 365 form students have access to) or students can bring in to the Counseling Office. (Please give us 24 hours to process).
    2. Once the form is submitted, in Naviance under "Colleges I am Applying To" you can Click on the red circle/+ sign to "Add and Request Transcript" for each college application.
  7. PARENTS COMPLETE PARENT INPUT FORM FOR COUNSELOR REC 

Updated 08/01/2022 

Related Files