College Application Kickoff

Tip: The "right fit" is personal - it's about where you can thrive, not just where you can get in.

• Academic Fit
  • Majors and programs that match your interests
  • Class sizes and teaching style
  • Research, internships, or special opportunities
• Social Fit
  • Campus culture and student life
  • Clubs, organizations, athletics, traditions
  • Diversity and inclusion
• Financial Fit
  • Tuition, scholarships, financial aid
  • Cost of living in the area
  • Long-term value (graduate outcomes, debt levels)
• Personal
  • Location (close to home or far away?)
  • Size of school (small, medium, large)
  • Urban, suburban, or rural environment

• Log in to SchooLinks through your student portal.
• Go to "Colleges" then "College Search".
• Use filters (location, size, majors, cost, selectivity, etc.) to narrow options.
• Save favorites by clicking the heart emoji to build your college list.
• Explore each school's profile page (admissions data, campus life, costs, deadlines).
• Compare colleges side by side in the Compare Tool.
• See admissions statistics for BLS students by college

Big Picture: Core Steps

• Finalize your college list
• Complete and submit your applications
• Use SchooLinks to manage school documents required for applications
• Complete Financial Aid and Scholarships

Pathways to Apply: Application Platforms

• What is the Common App?
  • A single application platform used by 900+ colleges and universities
  • Lets you fill out one main application (essays, activities, personal info) and send it to muliptle schools
• Use the Common App if:
  • You are applying to 2+ Common App schools (saves time by reusing sections)
• What is a School-Specific Application?
  • An application created and hosted by the individual college
  • Often shorter or tailored to that school's unique requirements
• Use a School-Specific Application if:
  • The college does not accept the Common App
  • You're applying to only 1 Common App school and want to keep it simple
• No matter which option you choose:
  • Add colleges into SchooLinks then Colleges Applying to
  • Use SchooLinks for teacher/counselor recommendations and transcripts
  • Track all progress in SchooLinks (Common App + non-Common App)
• Deadlines Matter!
  • Regular Decision
    • Standard Deadline for colleges
  • Rolling Admissions
    • Considers each application as soon as all required materials/information has been received
  • Early Action
    • Considered nonbinding - you will receive your admission decision earlier, but you are not required to attend
  • Restrictive Early Action
    • Similar to nonbinding deadline, however, you cannot apply Early Action or Early Decision to any other college
  • Early Decision
    • Binding Decision - if you are admitted, you must attend the college

** Please check admissions websites directly for the individual colleges to clarify their application deadlines and policies. **

Possible Application Requirements

• General Information
  • Demographics
  • School Specific Questions
• Academic History
  • Transcripts
  • Self Reported Academic Record
• Written Component
  • Essay
  • Personal Insight Questions
  • Supplemental Questions
• Letter of Recommendation
  • Varies by institution
    • Teacher
    • Counselor
• Activities / Commitments
  • In-School
  • Outside of School
  • Work
  • Family responsibilities
• Testing: SAT/ACT
  • Test Optional
  • Test Blind/Free
  • Required

SchooLinks: College Application Manager (CAM)

• Track progress & requirements for each college
• Organize application materials (transcripts, letters, etc.)
• Request & send documents to colleges
• Monitor application status, decisions & outcomes
• Not an application portal - submit applications on college site or application portal
• Not for non-college transcripts - use Records Request (scholarships, NCAA, etc.)

Getting Started on CAM

• Finalize Application List and Add colleges to the CAM
• Connect your Common App Account to SchooLinks College Application Manager
• Complete fee waivers and FERPA
• Review Application Requirements for each college
• Add Recommenders, if needed
  • Complete Brag Sheet for your recommenders
• Review Counselor Documents
  • Transcript
  • School Reports
  • Letter of Recommendation

Connecting with Common App

• Video Walkthrough
• First, link your Common App account by clicking the button on the College Applications page.
• Login or create a new Common App account.
• Check the box to share data back to SchooLinks.
• Add your first college to "My Colleges" and complete the FERPA waiver.
• Use these steps to keep track of what is completed on SchooLinks and Common App.

Add Applications

• When adding an application, fill in your application details.
• Select an Application Method and Application Type/Deadline.
• Select any optional student requirements needed. Required materials will be automatically selected.
• Save your application.

Add/Manage Applications

• Student Checklist
  • Items to be completed by student
• Teacher Recommendations
  • Shows required number of recommendations with instructions
• Counselor Documents
  • Shows required documents to be uploaded by the counselor

Recommenders

• Required number of recommendations is shown along with instructions
• Students can search for teacher or enter a teacher manually
• The teacher is alerted via email of the request

College App List View

• Sort and view all applications in list
• View total & status of:
  • Student checklist items
  • Teacher recommendations
  • Counselor recommendations

Action Steps for Students

• Finalize your college list in SchooLinks
• Link Common App to SchooLinks
• Review each college's admissions requirements
  • Test Scores
  • SRAR (Student Reported Academic Report)
  • Essays/Supplemental Essays
  • Transcripts (Initial and Mid Year)
  • Scholarship Consideration
• Ask teachers/counselor for recommendations, if needed
• Update/Check-in on your application status weekly
• Attend BLS Financial Aid Information Night

Family Support

• Guardian Login Instructions (English / Spanish)
  • Ask your counselor for a claim code
• Be a Sounding Board - Ask open-ended questions and let your student talk through ideas.
• Help with Organization - Gently remind them of deadlines or keep a shared calendar.
• Support, Don't Rewrite - Encourage ownership of essays/applications; offer proofreading is asked.
• Provide Family Info - Share details only you know (parent education, FAFSA/CSS info).
• Listen More than Direct - Let your student lead; reassure and cheer them on.
• Celebrate Progress - Acknowledge small wins to reduce stress.
• Encourage Check-Ins - Remind your student to connect with their counselor and STC at their school.

Guardians Claim Codes

If you want to access your students SchooLinks, please see your school's counselor.

• Instructions for Guardians
• Guardian Account Overview
• Getting your Guardian Claim code from your student