Applying to College
Class of 2024 9/18/23 The Senior Year Lesson
Junior College Application Overview Lesson
STUDENT Lesson – Counselors will meet with Juniors during English classes in the spring of 2024 to discuss an overview of the college admission process. The PDF of the Spring 2023 presentation is here.
PARENT Lesson – View the PDF of the spring 2023 presentation here.
Be sure to check in with our College & Career Center for updates related to College Applications & visits.
**Please note major change for this year only**
FAFSA Application will open in December 2023 – follow the financial aid deadlines of the colleges you are applying to!
College Application Overview
Steps in the College Application Process: Use this form to help you work through the steps in the college application process. Information about how to request transcripts, letters of recommendation, the FERPA waiver, college essays, etc.!
College Planning Resources
Naviance – Our primary college research platform. Students can utilize their career interest and personality survey data to find “good match” schools.
My Next Move – Search by careers by industry, careers by key word, or by interests. Sponsored by US Dept of Labor.
Admissions in Washington:
- Test Optional
- Guaranteed Admissions Program – Qualify with 3.0 GPA & CADRs
- Open Admission
2-Year College/Transfer:
Get Organized:
- College Research Worksheet
- NHS College Application Checklist
- College Application Organizer
- Organize Awards and Activities in a Resume
- Build Your Own College Rankings
Other Search Engines:
Counselor Lessons
Requesting a Transcript
Transcripts for College Applications –
- Turn in a signed FERPA Waiver form . All students who wish to release your records including transcripts and recommendations to college(s) must sign and turn in this waiver. Please email the form to counseling secretary, Ms. Mai-Tram Huynh at huynhm@bsd405.org or bring in a paper copy.
- If you are applying to a Common App School, you will also need to complete the FERPA electronically on Common App. Click here for instructions on how to fill out the Common App FERPA and how to match it to your Naviance Account.
Transcripts for Coaches, scholarships, NCAA, etc.
- Please email counseling secretary, Ms. Mai-Tram Huynh at huynhm@bsd405.org.
Former Students –
- If you are no longer enrolled in the district, please contact Student Records to request your transcript.
Letters of Recommendation
Some colleges require letters of recommendation from counselors and/or teachers.
- Please VERIFY which colleges NEED a letter of recommendation before requesting a letter from a teacher
- Letters of Recommendation are more often required for smaller, private colleges, however some public universities also require them
- UW and University of California System do NOT require LORs
Teacher LORs – As soon as you determine that you will need a letter from a teacher, please:
- Talk with a teacher who you feel can write a solid letter for you. ASK the teacher if they are WILLING TO write a letter and WHAT THEY NEED from you to do so. This could be in the spring of 11th grade or the fall of 12th
- ONLY ask 1-2 teachers. Do NOT ask extra teachers
- Consider asking a teacher in the SUBJECT of your intended major
- AFTER the teacher agrees to write your letter, ADD them to NAVIANCE as a recommender
- Be courteous and THANKFUL of the teachers’ time to write for you
Counselor LORs – If you need a LOR from a counselor please follow these steps:
- List your colleges in Naviance and VERIFY that you need a counselor LOR
- Complete the LOR Packet and turn in to the counseling center 3-4 weeks before your FIRST deadline
- MATCH Common App and Naviance – Instruction Video
Financial Aid
Financial Aid Resources:
- 12th Yr Campaign Financial Aid Information & Filing Events – Sign up
- FAFSA Help – Answers to common FAFSA questions
- FAFSA & CSS Profile – 21 tips
- WASFA Help – Apply if undocumented or don’t qualify for federal financial aid due to immigration status
- Financial Aid 101
- Applying for Financial Aid: Should We or Shouldn’t We? – Brief guide
- Guide to Financial Aid Terms
- Budgeting for College
- How the Average Family Pays for College
- Financial Aid Calculator – Calculates potential awards from the Washington College Grant and Pell Grant Programs
- Financial Aid at Independent Colleges of Washington – Campus specific financial aid links
- WSAC Wash St Loan Education Site – Modules with information on specific topics
- 12th Yr Financial Aid Padlet – Many great resources
- Domestic Undergrad Need-Based & Merit Aid (2022) – Survey of several universities; useful for fin aid planning
- Financial Aid for International Non-Citizens (2022) – Survey of several universities
Scholarships:
- Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) – Nonresident tuition savings for Western students
- GearUp Wa Resources – Links to scholarship banks & listings
- WashBoard Scholarship Search
- QuestBridge – High achieving, low income (start process in 11th grade)
- Washington College Grant – For eligible Washington residents, including undocumented students
- Bellevue PTSA Scholarships – BSD PTSA offers 12 – $1000 scholarships to seniors from ea. high school
- Immigrants Rising – Scholarships and fellowships not requiring proof of citizenship or legal permanent residency
- Hispanic Scholarship Fund – Scholarships & other resources for families
- Thedream.us – Scholarships open to immigrant students with or without DACA or TPS
- Study Abroad – U.S. Department of State offers merit-based scholarships for students to study abroad from three weeks to an academic year
College Application Forms
Application Links
Interesting Articles
- Lord of the Rankings – Secret of the Rankings game
- ‘Breaking Ranks’ With ‘U.S. News’
- A ‘Fit’ over Rankings
- College Became the Default
- How to Calculate the ROI of your College Choice
- Finding Colleges that are Affordable
- Trade Schools vs Traditional College What You Should Know
- There’s Only One College Ranking List That Matters