College Application Tracking Sheet

• Start thinking about college early
• Please be aware that in some cases colleges request your discipline information. 
• Counselors will meet with seniors in the fall 10 days after the start of school to check in about college apps, etc.
• This can be a very complicated process so be sure to work closely with your counselor and be aware of application deadlines ! Use your application tracker that was given to you during the College and Career Readiness Day.
• You will need to complete your application in a timely manner and as thoughtfully as possible. 
• You may need to request documents from the counseling office , teachers and counselors, depending on the schools that you are applying too. These could include Transcripts, Letters of Recommendation, School Profile and Secondary School Report. 
• Please give individuals working with you on your application at least three weeks to process your requests. This includes teachers for letters of recommendation.
• Not all schools require additional documents and not all students will want or need a letter from their counselors. 
• If documents are required by colleges, they are confidential and considered part of your application.

Most universities will require an official high school transcript in the application process. All colleges and universities that participate in the online Common Application will require an official high school transcript. If you are unsure, please check the school’s website.

All transcripts for colleges and/or scholarships must be requested in Naviance. We will process transcripts every Monday so get your requests in at least 2 weeks before your deadline.

1. Log into your Naviance account (Login to Naviance on your Student Portal through Clever ID) SPS Student Portal
2. Under Colleges: Apply to College: Colleges I am Applying to.
3. To add a college(s), click on the (+) on the right. Type in the college name, pick application type and click (add), and request transcript (green button).
4. Choose “Initial” type for transcript, remember we do not send ACT and SAT scores.
5. Finally, click request & Finish.

It is your responsibility to send official SAT, SAT II (subject tests), and/or ACT score reports to each college. Very few will require either the SAT or ACT due to COVID. To order official score reports, go to SAT College Board for SAT and ACT Student for ACT. Read more about Tests and Assessments.

Most schools participate in the online Common Application If not on the Common Application, you can connect to their online application through Naviance. Pay close attention to their directions and if they require a Mid-Year Report and recommendation from your counselor, be sure to invite us to do so using the college’s online system.

Need help with CommonApp or Coalition? Common App Ready

• Solid Academic Core (rigor, grades, trends), Test Scores, Activities, Essays, Recommendations, Enthusiasm for school, and Perseverance.
• Check out these resources to help with your College Essay:
  • College Essay Guy
  • College Essays

• Do your best! Select classes that balance rigor and GPA. Develop organizational skills and time management.
• Join a club or sport. Explore! Find what activities excite you.
• Start your High School and Beyond Plan in Naviance: Start drafting your resume, Strengths Explorer.
• Start reading/researching about colleges or programs.

• Maintain or raise your GPA.
• Follow your interests. Be active in a few clubs or sports: depth over breadth
• Continue reading/researching.
• Complete AchieveWorks Personality or other assessment and update your resume in Naviance.
• Do something interesting during the summer.

• Maintain or raise your GPA.
• Take the PSAT/NMSQT at school in the fall (October).
• Attend Financial Aid Night.
• Schedule/take SAT at school in the spring if your high school give a school day test. If not, you can sign up on your own or wait to take it fall of your senior year.
• Begin to think about leadership opportunities.
• Complete the SuperMatch college search and update your resume in Naviance.
• Continue reading/researching.
• Check out some college presentations–register through Naviance.
• Go to on campus visits, if possible. It’s best to do this when they are in session.
• Attend college rep visits and attend the National College Fair (November).
• Try to finalize college list (10 max): Reach school(s), match school(s), and a back-up school based on their freshman profile. Plan on at least one in-state school.
• Spring: Think about which teacher(s) you would like to ask for a letter of recommendation.
• Do something interesting during the summer.
• Write essays in summer before 12th grade.

• Get organized with where you are applying and what each school needs.
• Finalize resume in Naviance.
• Attend Financial Aid Night, especially if you didn’t junior year.
• Ask your letter of recommendation writers and give them your college list and resume. Private, independent schools often want school counselor as well as a teacher.
• Try to do some leadership in activities or clubs you’ve been involved with.
• Edit all essays in the fall.
• Attend college rep visits and college fair.
• Apply for financial aid (FAFSA/WASFA) in the fall. Some schools use the CSS Profile as well.
• Send test scores and transcripts to colleges.
• Apply to colleges: Common Application, Coalition, school-specific website. Give them exactly what they want.
• Consider applying for the Seattle Promise Scholarship.
• Fight to get off the waitlist.
• Apply for scholarships throughout the fall, winter, and spring.
• Decide where to go to college! National College Decision Day is May 1.