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Applying to College

Home → Counseling → 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:

2-Year College/Transfer:

Get Organized:

Other Search Engines:

Counselor Lessons

Requesting a Transcript

Transcripts for College Applications –

  1. 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.
  2. 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.

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:

Scholarships:

Counseling

College Application Forms

Application Links

Interesting Articles

The Bellevue School District acknowledges that we learn, work, live and gather on the Indigenous Land of the Coast Salish peoples, specifically the Duwamish and Snoqualmie Tribes. We thank these caretakers of this land, who have lived and continue to live here, since time immemorial.