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College

3 Easy Steps to Completing Your College Application

  1. Submit your application (via CommonApp, the University Website, OR Coallition) 
    • Letters of Recommendation(s)
    • Essay(s)
    • Application Fee
  2. Request your transcripts (if your application is not on CommonApp)
  3. Request your official test scores

 

The College Search

Students may find this College List Template helpful in their college search process.

1.  Get on a campus or many campuses. Visit! Find information for campus visits on a college’s admissions webpage

2. Get in the college database. Go to the college admissions webpage and there will be a place for you to ask for information. This displays "demonstrated interest."

3.  Attend a local college fair at LCC in the fall. Typically in October. Watch for more information!

4.  Attend any OHS college lunch time visit. The guidance office will have the dates when each college will  visit. Make your presence known and ask questions.

DO NOT CHOOSE COLLEGES FROM ANY RANKINGS! They are not to be trusted. Remember you are a unique individual looking for your own best fit, not the rankings fit. Look outside the box. There are thousands of colleges in the US. If everyone applies to the same "NAME BRAND" schools their selectivity increases due to more applications. This has nothing to do with quality. Do not fall prey to this please. Also I do not recommend College Confidential.

Select colleges with a clear understanding of how your academic profile fits the academic profile of the college. Everyone needs to have a realistic understanding of whether they fit a college's expectation or not (financial fit, social fit, cultural fit, etc...).

If you are applying to multiple colleges then make a calendar or spreadsheet of all requirement and due dates. Scholarship due dates may be different than college admissions due dates.  

Letters of Recommendation(s)

Some colleges/universities may require one or more letters of recommendation. It is important to send the exact number of letters of recommendation that the school asks for: no more, no less. Make sure to check to see if you need to submit letter(s) of recommendation before requesting them from teachers.

If you do need any letters of recommendation, they should come from 11th grade core academic teachers. Remember to ask for these letters at least one month ahead of your deadline! Be prepared to provide a brag sheet and/or a Letter of Recommendation Student Information Form.  Here are a few options, feel free to choose the format you prefer:

Common App Brag Sheet

OHS Senior Brag Sheet

How to create a Brag Sheet

 

Essay

Several colleges request that you compose an essay about yourself. Most essays have a maximum of 500-650 words. This essay is critical when it comes to showing a college admissions representative who you are not just academically, but as a unique individual. There are several great resources available about writing a great college essay. Please email your counselor for access to these!

Test Scores & Transcripts

It is your responsibility to send ACT and/or SAT scores to a college. If you are retaking the ACT and/or SAT in the fall, you can still send in your college application before the college receives your score! Check out our testing resources!

 

If you apply to colleges through COmmon App, your counselor will automatically upload your transcripts. For all other schools, you must request your transcripts by clicking the link below.

Request your transcripts from parchment.com