College Application Procedures
Currently, the best practice, and quickest way, for applying to colleges and universities is online. In speaking with college representatives, it is highly recommended for students to visit the desired college's website and apply online. Information from college sources indicate that applications online are received immediately, less prone to mistakes and processed faster. Paper applications are still available in the Guidance Office, but only on a limited basis.
Online applications are filled out and submitted on the college's website. Most online applications will require a username and password, chosen by the applicant. This will allow applicants to save and return to the application, if necessary. Follow the application's directions completely. All information, unless stated otherwise, needs to be completed. When specified (i.e. counselor page, recommendation forms, etc.), print the required pages and hand deliver them to the appropriate people. The high school ACT/CEEB code is 143785. Some colleges and universities waive or reduce the application fee if students apply online. Online applications requiring a fee are generally paid with a credit card. Paper applications that require a fee are paid by check or money order. All paper applications MUST be signed by the student. Parents should review the application for accuracy.
Return completed applications, signature pages and/or print-outs from online applications to the Guidance Office. If there are no print-outs from an online application, you are still required to complete a transcript request form. THIS IS A MUST! To complete a transcript request form (available online and in the Guidance Office), the request must have your signature, the date of the day you bring your application to the Guidance Office and the school(s) you wish transcripts to be sent to. On the line with the name of the school, please write "online" if you applied online. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE ANY APPLICATIONS OR TRANSCRIPT REQUEST FORMS ON THE DESK IN THE GUIDANCE OFFICE. Give the completed application and/or transcript request form to a member of the Guidance Office with the necessary paperwork (i.e. completed teacher/counselor recommendations, completed teacher/counselor recommendation pages from an online application, personal statements, essays or any other information that needs to be included with the application). We cannot send any transcript unless the transcript request form is signed. Incomplete applications will be referred back to the student before processing.
Once the application is given to the Guidance Office, it is checked for completeness and given to the student's counselor for final processing (attaching any necessary counselor recommendations, official transcripts, ACT scores, etc.). The application will then be mailed. Postage will be paided by SACHS. Please do not put a return address on any envelope that is turned in with an application.
Please be aware of the deadline for the application you are turning in. We will mail the completed college application packet for you as expediently as possible. Times run higher during peak college application deadline periods Please get the completed application back to us as soon as possible to avoid delays. With the volume of applications that we receive in October and November, a five (5) day buffer from the time you turn in your application is necessary in order to get applications out in a timely fashion. We cannot be held responsible for postmarks on any application that we mail in which we have not been given a five (5) day lead time during peak application periods.
Any questions about the college application process should be directed to the Guidance Office.
