College Application Process

2-Year College Application Guide

An Overview of the Application Process

  • Step 1: Research schools, majors, and programs
  • Step 2: Select a school
  • Step 3: Submit an online application through the school’s website
  • Step 4: Request your transcripts and add to Naviance
  • Consider attending at Instant Admit Day at Columbia (if available)

Local 2-Year Colleges

4-Year College Application Guide

Junior Year

  • Step 1: Start Researching Schools in Naviance
    • Use the “College” tab to Navigate to “SuperMatch College Search.”
    • Consider the following factors: Size, Location, Majors, Cost, Clubs, Activities, Graduation Rates, Admissions Rates.
    • Use Naviance Scattergrams to identify “Likely, Target, and Reach” schools.
    • Click the “Heart” icon to add schools to the “Colleges I’m Thinking About” section of the “Colleges” tab in Naviance.
    • Colleges Visiting the Guidance office throughout the year will be listed under “College Visits.”
    • Other tabs under “College” are also wonderful options for learning and searching.
    • The “Career” tab contains information about careers for students looking to investigate their career interests as well.
  • Step 2: Visit the Colleges You Are Considering
    • Each college’s admissions webpage has information about visit opportunities – from small group visits to Open Houses and other opportunities.
    • Make sure you also check out the town and surrounding areas – this will be your home for the next 4 years!
  • Step 3: Complete your Student Perspective, Parent Perspective and Resume
    • Return your completed Student Perspective, Parent Perspective and Resume to your school counselor by June 1st of your junior year.
    • These are required in order for your counselor to write a strong letter of recommendation.
    • Please click here to make a copy of the Student and Parent Perspective forms
  • Step 4: Request Teacher Recommendations
    • Identify two teachers to write you a college letter of recommendation. Colleges prefer recommendations from core academic teachers or content areas directly related to your intended major.
    • Ask these two teachers (preferably in person) to write you a college letter of recommendation by the end of the year.

Senior Year

  • Step 1: Create Your Common App Account and Add At Least One School
    • Create a Common App account after August 1st of senior year.
    • Use an email address that you check regularly for your username.
    • Navigate to the “College Search” tab and add one or more schools to your application.
  • Step 2: Complete The Common App FERPA
    • Confirm you have at least one college listed in the “My Colleges” section of your Common Application account. If not, navigate to the “College Search” tab and add a college.
    • Confirm you have listed Columbia High School as your current school by signing into your Common App account, clicking the “Common App” tab and then navigating to the ”Education” subtab. If not, click find school and add Columbia High School as your current school.
    • Complete the Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) release authorization in the “My Colleges” tab of the Common Application by clicking on the name of one of your listed schools and selecting “Recommenders and FERPA.”
    • The FERPA allows your counselor and teachers to send your college letters of recommendation and transcript to the schools you apply to on your behalf. Colleges prefer that students waive their rights to review any letters of recommendation and we strongly encourage you to do so.
  • Step 3: Matching Your Common Application to Naviance
    • Log in to Naviance.
    • Click on the “Colleges” tab and select “Colleges I’m applying to”.
    • Click the “Match Accounts” button (usually in a pink banner).
    • Enter the exact email address used to create your Common App account.
    • Verify your birthdate and click “Match Accounts”.
    • Verify Status: A green banner should appear confirming the accounts are matched.
    • Confirm that all the colleges you are applying to are listed on the screen.
    • Any colleges you applied to using another application (online, individual school application) must be added manually.
  • Step 4: Adding Teacher/Counselor Recommendation Requests to Naviance
    • Teacher Recommendations:
      • Add teachers through Naviance who agree to write you a recommendation. In Naviance go to Colleges >> Letters of recommendation >> Add Requests >> Select teacher from drop down menu >> Mark which schools you would like their recommendation sent to >> Submit Request. Repeat for additional teachers.
      • Complete the Teacher recommendation form. Hand a copy to each teacher. This is due 1 month prior to your earliest deadline.
    • Counselor Recommendation and Transcript:
      • Complete the Transcript & Recommendation Request Form. Return to your counselor to notify them of schools and deadlines. This is due 1 month prior to your earliest deadline. This form can be picked up in the Counseling Office.
  • Step 5: Complete and Submit the Common App
    • Complete the “Common App” tab by working through each of the following sections: Profile, Family, Education, Testing, Activities, Writing, Courses & Grades.
    • Complete the supplemental questions for each school listed in your “My Colleges” tab.
    • Do NOT add recommenders in Common App.
    • Review and submit your application for each school in your “My Colleges” tab of the Common Application.
  • Step 6: Final Thoughts
    • Keep your senior grades up and take challenging coursework.
    • Midyear and final grades will be sent to your colleges.
    • Athletes: make sure you complete the NCAA clearinghouse portal if you are planning to complete at the NCAA Division 1 or 2 levels.