Applying to College

Common App is one of the tools you can use to apply — A few of the application websites available

Steps to Complete Your College Application

1. Discuss your college list with your counselor

2. Ask one or two teachers for recommendations and, if they say yes, fill out this brag sheet

3. Complete a recommendation request on SchooLinks

4. Complete the college application (using Common App, a college website, Common Black College App, etc)

5. Pay for the application or request a fee waiver in SchooLinks. Click here to review fee waiver eligibility criteria-- not all students automatically receive a fee waiver.

6. Link your SchooLinks account with your CommonApp account, or manually add non-Common app schools to your College Application Manager Page. Directions here

8. If using your test scores to apply, order test scores to be sent from College Board (SAT) or ACTstudent.org

9. Check emails to make sure you haven't forgotten any pieces of the application

Important College Application Links

Common Application College Search
Common Black College Application--CPS often gets fee waivers for this application
Coalition for College Application--portfolio-based alternative to Common Application
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Application
Loyola University Application--Loyola awards five full financial aid awards to Senn students each year
Northeastern Illiniois University Application

Personal Essay Supports

There are a number of articles providing essay advice, but here are Tufts and Virginia

The New York Times has exemplary essays that they publish yearly.

DePaul has a Prezi guide to the college essay.

DePaul has free online essay editing for high school students.

Story2 has an essay builder that focuses on writing narrative essays

Here are a few sample essays from Senn students: Sample One and Sample Two

Resume Template

Senior Brag Sheet--Complete and share with 1-2 teachers and your counselor