College Application Process

College Application Tools

The Common App: Most students will apply to all of their colleges using the Common App, which more than 1,000 colleges use. The Common App opens on August 1 before senior year.

The Common Black College App: One application for all HBCU's

California State University Application One application for all Cal State schools

The Coalition App: 170 colleges use the CoalitionApp. It usually opens by August 15.

Individual college websites: Students may also apply directly to a college on their college website.

**Maia Learning: All students are required to create a MaiaLearning account to request transcripts and letters of recommendation from teachers for their college applications.

Deadlines

Pay attention to deadlines!
Consider applying for colleges by their Early Action deadlines, which can be as early as November 1. Applying Early Action demonstrates that you are responsible and very interested in attending their school. Students find out their admissions status before winter break.
Regular Decision deadlines are usually in early January.

How to create a strong, evidence-based application

College Essay Guy: 5 Ways parents can support their teen with the college process
Elise Pham: 5 Secret Tricks Ivy League Admissions Officers Told Me Personally - This is a great video that shows what an excellent college application should look like.
Elise Pham: AI vs. Real college essay - College essays are critical to getting in AND ALSO for getting college based scholarships. Take them seriously and ask Amy for help!

Letters of Recommendation

Many colleges and scholarship applications ask for letters of recommendation from teachers and/or community members.

Plan ahead! Ask your recommenders - in person or with a personal email - at least 3 weeks before the application is due.
Complete a Brag Sheet and share it with your recommenders. This will help them write a good letter for you.
Add your recommenders to Maia Learning. Your recommenders will upload their letters to Maia Learning and your counselors will share their letters with all of your colleges after you submit your applications.

More College Application Tools from GetSchooled

SAT Scores - Click here to send your SAT scores to your colleges

STARS Report

Some colleges require that students submit a STARS report. STARS, is a system for high school students to electronically submit their academic records directly to participating colleges and universities. It serves as a self-reported version of an official high school transcript, where students enter their courses, grades, and other academic information. This system helps streamline the admissions process by providing colleges with a quick overview of an applicant's academic history.

Common App suggestions for Jefferson Students

On the Common App, students will encounter a text box that invites students to share additional information if necessary. This allows for students to share information not shared in other parts of the application that may provide a fuller picture of a student's context.

Jefferson students who have taken PCC Middle College classes should consider copying and pasting the following paragraph to this text field (students should correct the information in bold to accurately reflect their own transcripts):

"I attend Jefferson Highschool Middle College for Advanced Studies. We partner with Portland Community College, not only to take dual credit classes, but to also take college classes on the college campus (Middle College). My PCC Middle College classes are each 4 college credits. They articulate on my high school transcript as 0.67 credits. Jefferson students are also instructed to add Middle College classes onto the common app as elective credit. Middle College and dual credit classes are the only highly rigorous classes offered to Jefferson students, and I have taken them at every given opportunity."