College Application Process Checklist
  1. Obtaining Applications
    • Determine whether you will apply Early Decision, Early Action, Rolling Admissions or Regular Admissions for each school

    • Request applications by phone, mail or on-line

    • Request the college supplement for colleges using the Common Application

    • Read all material carefully paying special attention to:
      • Deadlines

      • What the college requires of you (test scores, letters of recommendation, financial aid forms, activities resume, etc.)

      • Which forms need to be given to your SBHS counselor

      • Essays and short answer questions

    • Keep each application in a separate folder or large envelope

  2. Requesting Letters of Recommendation
    • Decide which teachers / coaches / advisors you will ask for recommendations and discuss this with them in May or June of your junior year (your Guidance Counselor will write one automatically)

    • Obtain "Request for Letter of Recommendation" from your counselor or from the SBHS website, fill out and give one to each person who will write a recommendation for you. Some teachers may want a copy of your activities resume

    • Provide a copy of each college-specific recommendation form

    • Provide each teacher with a stamped, neatly addressed envelope (with the College Admissions address) for each college you are applying to and using SBHS for the return address

    • Provide a due date for each recommendation

    • Teachers will mail their recommendations directly to the colleges

  3. Sending College Admission Test Scores
    • Have your test scores sent to each college that you are applying to

    • Go to www.collegeboard.com for SAT and SAT II Subject Tests

    • Go to www.actstudent.org for ACT

    • Colleges will only accept official test scores sent by the testing agency

  4. Staying Organized
    • Consider using an Excel (or similar) spreadsheet to track the status of your college applications including transcript, recommendations, test scores, resume, essay, etc.

    • Write important dates and deadlines on a calendar for each application including transcript requests, admissions, testing, teacher recommendations, financial aid, etc.

  5. Application Considerations
    • For schools which use Rolling Admissions or Early Action, submit the completed application as soon as possible. Applications should be submitted prior to sending transcript requests to Guidance.

    • Early Decision:
      • Keep track of deadlines and ensure that all required information is submitted by the due date.

      • If any of your second choice schools have Rolling Admissions or Early Action, consider applying to them at the same time as the one Early Decision school.

  6. Completing/Submitting Applications
    • Photocopy or download each application to use as a rough draft and for your records.

    • Read all directions. Fill in each application completely and carefully.

    • Give yourself sufficient time to write and edit essays and short answer questions.

    • Make sure you have a parent / guardian proof read the application including essays and short answer questions.

    • Your application should be neat, accurate and complete.

    • Consider including a resume of your activities.

    • If using a paper application, sign the application, complete and attach any supplementary forms and include a check for the application fee.

    • If applying online, sign the application, complete any supplementary forms and pay the application fee using a credit card.

  7. Requesting Transcripts
    • Use a Transcript Request Form available from SBHS Guidance to have your counselor send your transcripts directly to each college.

    • Submit one form per college. Fill out completely and include 3 stamps along with each form.

    • If the college requires any additional materials (counselor form, secondary school report), be sure to fill out the student portion of these forms and submit to your Guidance Counselor along with the transcript request.

    • Give forms to your counselor. Allow 10 working days for your counselor to process and submit transcript to college. Subsequent requests will require 5 working days to process.

  8. Financial Aid
    • Complete FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1. Both student and one parent / guardian must get a pin number. Refer to www.fafsa.ed.gov for more information.

    • Complete CSS Profile or other financial forms required by some colleges by the due date

    • Research and apply for local and national scholarships, grants, or prizes listed on Naviance or use the financial aid and scholarship website links included in " College Books and Websites" on the SBHS Guidance website.

    • Research how to obtain student loans, if needed.

  9. Finishing Process
    • Track the status of your application, transcript, test scores and letters of recommendation on each college's website to ensure that all pieces have been received.

    • If offered or desired, schedule an on-campus or alumni interview.

    • Notify your counselor if a college is requesting a Mid-Year Report. (Give counselor a neatly written stamped envelope addressed to the college admission department along with the required forms for each school).

    • Keep counselor informed of all acceptances and denials, as well as any changes in your post-high school plans.

    • Notify each college which admits you whether you are accepting or refusing the offer of admission. Be aware of notification deadlines.

    • Inform your counselor as soon as you have made your decision about which college you will attend. This is essential information for Guidance, in order to have your final transcript sent at the end of senior year.

    • Send your deposit, housing request and any other required information as soon as possible (but no later than May 1) to the college you will attend.

    • Print a copy of all submitted items for each application.

    • Write a thank you card for each person who wrote a recommendation for you.
Don't allow letters of denial to get you down.
Be happy about the schools that send acceptances!!

Get ready for the next chapter in your life!!