Applying to College
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 Naviance
4. Complete the college application (using Common App, a college website, Common Black College App, etc)
5. Pay for the application or complete a NACAC fee waiver (see docs at bottom of page)
6. Add college to Naviance's Colleges I'm Applying To list
7. In Naviance, mark application as complete & request an initial transcript (see docs at bottom of page)
8. 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
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
Senn Senior Classport is the place to share Learn. Plan. Succeed. evidence
Please make sure the following are uploaded in the Senior Classport in Google Classroom
- PDF of your FAFSA Student Aid Report
- College Acceptances
- College Scholarships
- Military Paperwork
- Evidence of Other Pathways
Naviance Recommendation Guide
Video Guide to Matching your Naviance and Common Application accounts
Click here to find step by step instructions to make sure your Common App and Naviance are in synch.
Adding Colleges and Requesting Transcripts using Naviance
Resume Template
Make a copy of this document if you'd like a basic resume template
Senior Brag Sheet--Complete and share with 1-2 teachers and your counselor