Apply to College

Common App

Do these instructions apply to you?

DO follow these instructions if:

You plan to apply to numerous 4-year universities
One of the universities you are applying to requires you to choose the Common App

Do NOT follow these instructions if:

You plan to attend a 2-year community or technical college (not Running Start) and later transfer to a university
You plan take a gap semester or year after high school graduation
You are only applying to one or two universities, and you are able to apply on the college website

Step #1 Create and Pair Accounts

STEP #1 Create Your Common App account, sign Your FERPA waiver & pair your Naviance and Common App accounts

Visit the Common App website at Commonapp.org.
On the Common App website, select Create Account then First Year Student 3.
Using your personal email address (not school) follow the prompt to create your Common App account. Make sure you are completing the correct version of the application, as there may be more than one. The current year Common Application becomes available August 1st before the start of your senior year.
Select the Common App tab at the top
Enter your Profile Information accurately using correct spelling and capitalization
From the side navigation, select Education. Add Edmonds Woodway as your current high school. EWHS uses Naviance eDocs partner system
Select College Search at the top. Add the name of one college you are applying to
Select My Colleges at the top
Select Recommenders and FERPA from the side menu
Select Complete Release Authorization
Select the "I waive my right..." option and two check boxes *
Scroll down and make sure to Sign and Submit your waiver
Log into Naviance using the Single Sign On option and your student login credentials
Select Colleges at the top of your Naviance homepage
Select Colleges I'm Applying To
Select Match Accounts in the red banner
Sign into the Common App pop up window using the correct email
Select I Agree and Connect

*The student must select this option to grant permission to EWHS to send any student requested documentation such as transcripts and letters of recommendation to their Common App colleges. EWHS staff will not be able to provide any required or requested documents to any Common App college without a student signed FERPA waiver.

Step #2 Letters of Recommendation

STEP #2 Letters of Recommendation (only if required by the college)

IMPORTANT: Teachers and counselors use their personal time to write thoughtful recommendation letters for students. Students are required to submit all teacher letter of recommendation requests in Naviance a minimum of four weeks before the college application deadline.

Determine if any of the colleges you are applying to accept or require recommendations, and whether recommendations need to come from teachers, your counselor, or both. Students are strongly encouraged to connect with Mrs. Christensen before October of their senior year to review their college list and confirm their recommendation letter needs to avoid any errors.
After determining what type of letter the college requires, follow the specific instructions below:

Teacher Letter of Recommendation - from an EWHS staff teacher

Ask the teacher first. If approved, request the document in Naviance using the following instructions. Do NOT invite EWHS teachers within your Common App.

Log into Naviance. Click the Colleges tab. In the Apply to College column, click Letters of Recommendation. Click Add Request. Select the teacher name from the menu. Select which colleges should receive the letter. Click Submit Request.

If you later add another college to your Common App which requires a letter, repeat the previous step.

Counselor Letter of Recommendation - from your EWHS guidance counselor

Email your counselor to request a recommendation.

Reply promptly to your counselor's request for personal information and at least 4 weeks before your application deadline.

Teacher Letter of Recommendation - from Non EWHS staff (Running Start/Retired)

Contact Mrs. Christensen in the Career Center for instructions.

Outside/Other Letters of Recommendation (employers/coaches/mentors)

Request any non teacher/counselor letters within your Common App account (not Naviance). Log into your Common App account. Click the My Colleges tab. From the left navigation menu select the name of the college. Select Recommenders and FERPA. Select Invite Recommenders, Invite Other Recommender. Provide your recommender's name and email. Click Add. Your recommender will receive an email with instructions for uploading their letter to your Common App.

Request non-EWHS letters directly in your Common App account. Click My Colleges tab. On the left, click the name of the college. Select Recommenders and FERPA. Select Invite Recommenders, Invite Other Recommender. Provide you recommenders name and email. Click Add.

Step #3 Complete Application Requirements

STEP #3 Finish the Common App Requirements

Log back into your Common App to complete each section of your college application.

Upload all required writing submissions/essays. This will take some time and you will be able to log in and out of your application, adding information.
Ensure you complete all required elements of your Common Application. Application requirements will be different for each college on your Common App.
Continue to add any additional colleges.
Monitor your individual application deadlines.
Submit and any fees to each college before their deadline.
If needed, request your transcript
- Log into Naviance
- Select Colleges I'm Applying To
- Select Request Transcripts
- Select Initial, Request, and Finish

Your application must reach the college before their specified application deadline. Be aware of the date, time, and time zone. You should not hold your application any longer than necessary. Your application needs to be submitted before transcripts and recommendations can be sent, which can arrive after the deadline.

Direct to the college

Go to the college website and click the Apply button.
Complete the application by following the instructions. Upload any required essays.
Submit the application before the deadline. Be aware of the date, time and time zone.

Log into Naviance. At the top, click Colleges, then Colleges I’m Applying To. Click the Add button. Select the college you are applying to. Select which deadline you are meeting. Select Direct To Institution. Click I’ve Submitted My Application. Choose whether the college needs your transcript or not. Repeat for any additional colleges.

Community & Technical Colleges in Washington

After Submitting an Application

Monitor Admissions Results via Email/Portal

Check your Email/Create College Application Portals

Once you submit your application to a college, you should receive a confirmation from that college. This may be a pop up message or an email. Check your junk folder. It is very important that you read the message and follow the instructions for your next steps.

Often, you will need to create a prospective student account portal for each college. This portal is where you monitor your application progress, respond to any requests from the college, receive information about special programs or scholarships, and where you will eventually learn if you have been accepted. If you are accepted, you will receive your financial aid offer and instructions for accepting or declining the offer of admission in this portal.

Update Naviance with Acceptance Results

Decline Offers to Colleges Not Considered

Weigh your Options and Decline Offers to Colleges Not Considered

If you are accepted to a college that you no longer plan to attend, please log into your portal and decline the offer of admission, or email the admissions rep. This is a painful time for students who are stuck on waitlists. By informing colleges that you do not want the spot they are holding for you, you are relieving someone else of their stress. Be kind to your fellow humans.

Set Attending College and Request Final Transcript

Request your Final Transcript in Naviance

Set Attending College & Request Final Transcript

As soon as you make your final decision where you will attend college, you will need to confirm your intention using your applied student portal and likely submit a deposit. Make sure you indicate where you are attending in Naviance and request your final transcript, which will be sent on or about July 1.

Log into Naviance and go to your Colleges I'm Applying To list, scroll to the bottom
Use the pulldown to select the college you plan to attend, if it is not listed, complete step #4
Click Update
Click Manage Transcripts
Click the Add sign
Select College Application Transcript
Select Final Transcript
Indicate which college, click Done, click Request and Finish

Testing For College Admission

When registering for the ACT or SAT tests, the student must enter Edmonds-Woodway HS's CEEB code (standardized ID code). EWHS code is 480344.

Testing Links

www.ACT.org: Links to ACT sites for students, parents, educators. Test preparation, test registration, calendar, applying to college.
www.CollegeBoard.org: PSAT/SAT preparation, interest test, other college/career related resources.
http://testprep.princetonreview.com: Princeton Review test preparation resources
www.khanacademy.org/test-prep: Khan Academy test preparation resources
www.Number2.com: Additional source for free test preparation
https://www.kaptest.com/ Kaplan test preparation courses

Most colleges in the U.S. will be either test-optional or test-blind and not require SAT and ACT scores. Double check with each college you are applying to, and refer to the Fair Test website.

Test Financial Aid and Free Resources

If you have limited finances and cannot afford the test fee, please see your counselor for a fee waiver! Using a fee waiver to take the SAT Exam will also get you four free fee-waivers for college applications and access to free applications for colleges using the Common App.

The EW Library has SAT and ACT Test Prep guides which can be checked out for free.

Sign Up Early!

11th Grade College Application Preparation

September-December

The college application window officially begins August 1st before your senior year, and many college applications deadlines occur in November, including UW. The timeline to prepare for college application begins in 11th grade, not senior year!

Plan for the PSAT: If you plan to take the PSAT, the deadline to pay for it is in the first few days of school. The PSAT is optional for all students. Please refer to the EWHS College & Career Canvas PSAT Module for more information.
Understand Early Deadlines: If you are planning to apply to a very competitive university or program, you will need to prepare during your junior year and complete most tasks the summer before your senior year, to take advantage of the earliest deadlines, which increase your odds of admission.
Understand College Admission Rates: This is probably the most important data point when it comes to your odds of being admitted to a college. Go to the college's website and search Common Data Set. Select the most recent year. Scroll down to Section C: First-Time, First Year (Freshman) Admission and you will see the number of applications the college received and the number of applicants it admitted. You can do the math yourself and find out a college's acceptance rate. The lower the number, the lower the odds of acceptance.
Find Your Why: Why do you want to go to college? What do you hope to achieve from your college experience? This is the crucial information you will use to identify the colleges you will apply to, your anticipated area of study, write an effective essay, establish your college budget, etc. Use this to make a “Needs & Wants” list of college characteristics.
Learn About Application Requirements: You must go to each college’s website to learn what is required to apply and when it is due. You must go to the FAFSA website for information about financial aid, etc.
Build Your Resume: During first semester, focus on college/career research and continuing to build your resume by participating in activities that reflect your interests.
Prepare for the College Essay: Many colleges and scholarships require personal essays as part of the application process. You can simultaneously take your writing to the next level and explore your reasons for wanting to attend college by completing some of the many exercises available on College Essay Guy throughout junior year. Go to each college’s website for their essay prompt(s)/requirements.
Track Accomplishments and Activities: Use the Resume tool in Naviance, or another program to keep track of all your accomplishments and activities. Creating your resume during junior year accomplishes many things. A resume uploaded to Naviance is an 11th-grade graduation requirement. Additionally, you will use the items on your resume to complete the extra-curricular section of your college applications. Furthermore, your resume should be a source of self-reflection. Use it to evaluate the strength of your college application for selective colleges. It can help you evaluate yourself as you search for colleges that are a good fit for your values and goals. If your resume is thin, participate in activities this year to boost it.
Attend Local and Virtual College Fairs: There are multiple virtual fairs each year, as well as a large in-person fair in Seattle and a smaller one at Seattle University in the spring. There is also an in-person national Christian college fair held locally. Do not miss the Edmonds-Woodway Regional College Fair, held in our own gym in April.
Attend College Visits: We also host college representatives during the fall in the Career Center. Junior year is theideal time to start attending these visits. Listen to the presentations and observe what questions the seniors, who are further along in the process, are asking. In Naviance, “favorite” colleges you are interested in. This will set up a system to automatically notify you when the college has a representative on the EWHS campus. This also allows your counselor and Mrs. Christensen to see which colleges you are considering.
Get Familiar with Naviance: This software is our primary online college planning resource.
Complete your High School & Beyond Plan Activities: Not only is it a state graduation requirement, the purpose of the High School & Beyond Plan is to provide you with information that will help you reach your post high school goals. Junior year activities include learning how to apply for financial aid for college, career exploration, and a resume.
Create a Short List of Colleges: Goal: A short (4-5) list of colleges you will apply to by the end of April. Use this school year to research colleges and develop a list of colleges you will apply to. Browse college websites, use the college research tools in Naviance, attend college fairs/visits, watch videos, read this guide, and look for information in the EWHS College & Career Canvas.
Research Colleges on List for SAT/ACT Requirements: Check on a college's website, then decide whether or not you will need to take an SAT or ACT college aptitude test. This will mostly depend on how academically rigorous your list of colleges is. Many students DO NOT need to test. The ideal timeframe to take one of these tests is after you have completed Algebra 2, but no later than spring of junior year. The tests do fill up, so you will want to reserve your seat months in advance. Students who test by the spring of 11th grade will be able to use their scores to help decide which colleges are a good academic fit and which they are likely to be admitted to. This also allows time to retake the test during the summer if you want to try to improve your score. All testing should be complete before September of your senior year, as you will be too busy with schoolwork and college applications. There is an SAT/ACT Module in Canvas with more information or talk to Mrs. Christensen.
Build Relationships with Teachers: Establish positive relationships with your 11th-grade core academic subject teachers. Some colleges will require you to submit letters of recommendation from these teachers.
Attend a Financial Aid Presentation: Gain basic knowledge about paying for college.
Explore the Common Application Website: Read about the requirements. Become familiar with the essay prompts, which generally don’t change from year to year.
Start Visiting Regional Colleges: This is an excellent time to start visiting regional colleges. Be sure to make the most of your campus visit. Schedule tours and experiences in advance and ask questions that are unique to that college. If you cannot visit out-of-state colleges of interest, visit schools in the Pacific Northwest to get a feel for size and fit. Look at public and private, large and small colleges. Visit college campuses during school breaks. Even if you aren’t interested in attending that college, there is a benefit to getting a feel for different campuses.
Enroll in the EWHS College & Career Canvas Course: Explore all the various information contained in the Modules. Follow on Instagram for updates.
Sign up for the Washington Guaranteed Admission Program (WAGAP): Sign up in Skyward during 11th grade. Students who sign up, earn a 3.0 GPA and meet all college requirements are guaranteed admission to six public universities in the state of Washington.
Consider Registering for the ASVAB Career Exploration Program: This is the most extensively studied and accurate assessment of your career aptitudes. It is also an excellent opportunity to practice standardized testing without any pressure to achieve a specific score. See Mrs. Christensen if you would like to take the assessment, which is typically held in March.

January

Schedule a Meeting with Mrs. Christensen: Bring your list of colleges. We will look at your transcript, SAT/ACT scores (if available) and your resume. This will allow you to evaluate your odds of admission to the colleges on your list and make changes as necessary. If you plan to apply to any Ivy League or very selective admissions (less than 20% acceptance rate) colleges, you will be required to schedule a meeting with Mrs. Christensen during second semester. These institutions have additional time intensive requirements for the high school such as letters of recommendation and must be coordinated far in advance.
Refine your List of Colleges: By April, you should have a list of 4-5 colleges you are planning to apply to.
Sign Up for SAT/ACT Testing: Do not wait any longer to reserve your seat if you plan to take an SAT/ACT test.
Begin Searching for Scholarships: Check out Scholarship Search in Naviance to begin finding scholarships you might be eligible to apply for next year. You could even write some of the essays this year, so they are all ready to submit next year when you are a senior. This would also be a great way to practice your essay writing skills for your applications, AND lighten the workload of senior year!

February

Upload Resume to Naviance: If you haven’t met the state graduation requirement of uploading your resume to Naviance, create one now. You can also use it for your college and scholarship applications as well as summer jobs and internships.
Register to Attend Virtual Spring NACAC College Fairs
Complete More Essay Preparation: Use College Essay Guy. These exercises will also help you identify your personal values, which helps you identify best fit colleges.

March

Evaluate Odds of Acceptance: Continue to honestly evaluate your odds of being admitted to each college on your list. You can generally find this information by searching for the admitted student profile on each college's own website, or using Scattergrams in Naviance. Compare your GPA and test scores to the mean scores of previously admitted students. Use your resume to consider whether you also have achievements or characteristics the college highlights as important.
Categorize College Lists: Begin to divide your list of colleges into “safety” or those that admit students below your academic achievements, “target” about the same as you, or “reach”. Note: any college with an acceptance rate below 25% is considered a reach school for every student.
Consider Test Blind Colleges: If testing isn’t your strength, look for colleges that are test blind or put less emphasis on academic achievement.
Create an Application Tracking Spreadsheet: Create a spreadsheet and begin planning for your applications, and essay writing. You will do your research on each college’s own website. Go to the Admissions Department webpage and look up the application requirements. On your spreadsheet, list each college. List whether they use the Common App, their own application, or if you can choose. List all deadlines. If there are essay requirement(s) list the prompt. List any information that is specific to your anticipated major or personal situation. List test requirements. Continue to add and remove colleges. Your goal is to have a solid, reasonable list by summer.
Parachute Clause: If the thought of essays is overwhelming, focus on the thousands of great colleges that are not selective and admit the majority of students who apply. Some colleges waive the essay requirement if you avoid the Common App, apply directly to the college, and have a high enough GPA. The WA Guaranteed Admissions Program is a great option for students who want to avoid the pressure of an intensive college application process.

April

Attend the EWHS College Fair: It occurs in the gym! Meet with representatives from over 50 colleges and support organizations to get your questions answered! It is perfectly appropriate to approach a college rep and tell them that you do not know what questions to ask. They are professionals and their job is to educate prospective students on what makes their college special or unique.
Learn about Financial Aid: Parents and students should visit www.studentaid.gov to educate themselves about financial aid and the role of the FAFSA form. Discover how much government financial assistance you will realistically qualify for with the FAFSA Estimation Tool. *Parent participation recommended
Learn Attendance Costs: Search Cost of Attendance on your prospective college websites to learn what it will likely cost to attend that college. Do this for each college before you put in all the work of applying, because there is no sense in applying to a college you can’t afford to attend. One of the biggest mistakes families make is overestimating the amount of aid the student will receive. Out-of-state public colleges do not typically offer more need based aid. Selective schools typically only provide aid to students who satisfy an institutional priority.

May-June

Decide Where to Apply: Now that you can compare price, your odds of admission, and the time involved in completing each application, refine your list of colleges and decide where you will apply. Research each college’s application requirements on their own website. Make an action list.
Talk with Seniors: Find students who are about to graduate about their application experience. Find out what worked for them and what they wish they had done differently.
Continue to Develop Resume: Secure summer enrichment activities, volunteer service, travel and work experiences.
Make a Final College Application Plan and Timeline: Remember to consider your fall school schedule in your plan. Decide how many college applications you can realistically manage well. Decide which deadlines you will meet. Make a realistic plan for completing all of your essays and application materials. Review your plan with Mrs. Christensen.
Consider Initial Conversations with Teachers if Necessary: You may speak with a teacher about writing a letter of recommendation now, to gauge their willingness, but you may not officially request a letter until fall when you have a clear picture where you will apply. There is a specific timeline and process to follow.

Summer Before Senior Year

This is when the work starts! You have two primary tasks to accomplish over the summer 1. Finalize the list of colleges you will apply to, so you know what you need to do and when you need to do it. 2. Write any essays you will be required to submit.

Evaluate Odds and Make a Plan: Using the spreadsheet you started in March, evaluate your workload and compare it to your odds of being admitted to each college. Now establish your personal timeline for completing your essays. If the workload is overwhelming, consider removing any college that you are unlikely to be admitted to, or unlikely to attend if you were admitted. Do not create more work for yourself. If you did not already create a college application spreadsheet in March, do it now.
Write Essays: Summer is prime time to work on your personal and supplemental essay(s). These essays are deeply personal and will require a lot more time than students anticipate. Do not assume that you will be able to write an excellent essay at the last minute. If you use the Common App, you will be required to submit a personal statement essay. Write your rough draft, then re-work that rough draft throughout the summer before your senior year begins. This essay adds your voice to your application package. It deserves special attention and needs to be your own work. The specific essay prompts are located on college websites and the Common App.
Find Essay Resources: Don’t know where to start your essay? The biggest mistake you can make is not doing anything. Go to The College Essay Guy website. It is filled with ideas, exercises, examples, virtual workshops, advice, and information.
Consider Early Action: Consider taking advantage of Early Action (not binding) deadlines, and plan accordingly. Meeting an earlier deadline can boost your odds of admission and relieve most of your senior year of the stress of college applications!
Discuss Colleges Costs with Family: Have an open discussion with your family regarding the cost of a college education. The college application process can be made much simpler if you are not wasting time applying to colleges you can’t afford to attend if you are accepted. This is also the time to discuss whether you will apply to any out-of-state colleges. There may be added expenses associated with travel and many colleges limit financial assistance to non-resident students.

August 1st - NO SOONER! (electronic platforms will roll over for the current year on August 1st.

Your application information must be kept correct in Naviance throughout your senior year. Colleges require the high school to send documentation to support your applications (school profile, school report, letters of recommendation, transcripts). You will request these items in Naviance.

When school starts, see Mrs. Christensen or your counselor for any application questions.

Important: If you will need a letter of recommendation from an EWHS teacher, make sure you read the senior College Application Guide for specific instructions on how