Please be advised that this is general information that may or may not be applicable to the specific institution to which you are applying. Each college/university sets their own specific requirements and procedures. Contact the admissions department of the institution to which you are applying regarding their exact requirements and procedures.The first step in the process is to complete an application for admission. A writing prompt or essay may be included in the application as a requirement for consideration. You can find out which application the college/university accepts by visiting their website.
The Common Application - Over 700 colleges and universities use the Common Application (Common App) to streamline the application process. Students complete one Common App online that can be sent to any of the colleges/universities that accept it.
Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success
- Over 100 colleges and universities use the Coalition Application to streamline the application process. All schools in the Coalition have been approved based on their access and affordability for students.
School-Specific Online Application:
- Some colleges/universities give students the option to apply through their school-specific electronic application, rather than using the Common App or the Coalition App.
- These school-specific applications can be found on the respective website.
After completing and submitting your application, you will need to send supplemental materials to each admissions department, depending on their specific requirements. These materials may include:
SAT/ACT Scores: In order for these scores to be considered official, they must be sent directly from collegeboard.org or act.org to the school to which you are applying. These scores are not reported on your transcript. Visit the respective site, log into your account, and place your order. Please be advised that scores can take up to two weeks to be processed.
Transcripts: Many schools now ask students to self-report their grades and they do not require an initial transcript. However, if the school to which you are applying needs an official transcript for their admission decision, follow the steps provided on our Requesting Transcripts page.
Letters of Recommendation: If the school to which you are applying requires a teacher letter of recommendation, please follow the directions on our Requesting Letters of Recommendation page. Pay close attention to the number of recommendation letters desired by each institution. Also be aware of the subject area from which the teacher is writing (STEM, art and humanities, etc.).
TOEFL/iBT Test Scores: If you are applying as an international student, the school to which you are applying may require TOEFL/iBT scores. Be sure to research the exact requirements of each institution.