How do I apply to a 4-year college?

Gathering Information

Regardless of which application you are submitting, you will likely need to gather and refer to the following information:

• Transcripts - gather your most recent high school transcript and community college transcript(s) - if you took concurrent or dual enrollment courses.

• Test scores - SAT, Advance Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), TOEFL, or IELTS exams.

• While CSU and UC no longer consider SAT or ACT test scores when making admissions decisions or awarding scholarships. Scores may be used as an alternative method of fulfilling minimum requirements for eligibility or for course placement after you enroll.

• Some privates may require SAT and/or ACT scores.

• Test scores including Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) may be used as an alternative method of fulfilling minimum requirements for eligibility or for course placement after you enroll.

• Family Financial Information - Annual income for last year and the current year (your parents’ if you're a dependent; your income if you're independent). 

• Social Security number, if you have one. This is used to match your application to things like your test score report, final transcript(s) and, if you're applying for financial aid, your Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

• Citizenship status - You must enter your country of citizenship. If your country of citizenship is outside the United States, you'll need to provide your immigration status and your visa type.

• List of activities and honors - gather a list of activities, sports, volunteer, service, or paid work experiences you have engaged with during high school

• Credit card -  If you prefer to pay by check, you can mail your payment.

Applying to a California State University (CSU)

You can apply to all 23 CSU campuses with ONE application! Below is an overview of the basics of applying to CSU:

• The CSU freshman application guide answers many of your CSU application questions.

• The application is available on October 1st. 

• While deadlines for some CSU campuses vary, you should aim to submit all applications by November 30th!

• The CSU application does not require essays or letters of recommendation.

• Each CSU application costs $70. On the application, students can apply for a CSU Application Fee Waiver. If granted, they can apply to four CSUs for free.

• Tips for entering academic information and reporting courses:

• Nothing can be left BLANK (select no or not applicable).

• Super important that students add their schools using the school CEEB code (this way the application will pull information for the A-G course list and be able to VALIDATE grades accordingly).

• A student who attended multiple high schools must add all schools attended.

• If a course was repeated (exact same course, same school, same title), students should enter the highest grade(s) earned for the course. Do not enter repeated courses twice.  If the repeated course is planned or in progress, students should enter the original grade earned, as well as the planned or in progress course as a new grade has not yet been earned.

• Courses repeated in the summer should be entered separately to report repeated grades.

• Courses taken during the summer should be reported during the upcoming school year.

• Add all current senior course grades as In Progress (for FALL) and planned (for Spring).

• When clicking on the course, pick the course name that LOOKS EXACTLY like how it appears on the transcript (should likely have “CP” at the end of the title).

• If a course doesn’t appear in the year taken, students should manually enter it.

• There is a middle school section for math and language other than English. 

• Colleges / Universities courses - manually type the name of the course as it appears on your transcript: Principles of Sociology (SOCI 1)

• Through the application you have the opportunity to apply to theEducational Opportunity Program (EOP)

• EOP provides admission, academic and financial support services to historically underserved students throughout California.

• The EOP application requires two letters of recommendation and responses to short prompts (2500 character limit for each response):

• Briefly describe your family's economic background. Include information about your financial challenges. 

• Why would you like to attend college? Discuss your career and personal goals. Are there any particular circumstances, school experiences, or persons that influenced your preparation or motivation to attend college (e.g., cultural/financial background, family, teachers, schools you attended)? Please explain. 

• Briefly discuss your academic background. Did you utilize any additional support at your high school, such as tutoring? Do your grades in high school and/or college reflect your academic ability or potential? 

• List any volunteer, extracurricular activities, or work experience in which you are or have been involved in the past two years. 

• Is there any additional information you would like EOP to consider in determining your admission to the program?

Applying to the University of California (UC)

You can apply to all 9 UC campuses with ONE application! Below is an overview of the basics of applying to UC:

• The UC application tips answer many of your UC application questions.

• The application is available on August 1st (can't submit until October 1st). The deadline is November 30th.

• Each UC application is $70. If a student is granted a UC Application Fee Waiver, they can apply to four UCs for free. The waiver is based on self-reported information regarding household size and income. If the UC application does not issue a fee waiver, students who qualify can use a NACAC fee waiver or a College Board Application Fee Waiver to cover the cost of four UC applications.

• Tips for entering academic information and reporting courses:

• Nothing can be left BLANK (click no or not applicable from the scroll-down menu).

• A student who attended multiple high schools must add all schools attended.

• There is a separate section for middle school math and language other than English courses.

• Even if a course was repeated (exact same course, same school, same title), enter ALL grade(s) earned. If the repeated course is planned or in progress, enter the original grade earned, as well as the planned or in progress course as a new grade has not yet been earned.

• Add all current senior course grades as In Progress and future courses as Planned.

• When selecting courses, students should pick the course name that LOOKS EXACTLY like how it appears on the transcript (should likely have “CP” at the end of the title).

• If a course doesn’t appear in the year taken, manually enter it (good idea to review the school's a-g course list).

• Courses taken during the summer should be reported during the upcoming school year.

• UC Personal Insight Questions - The personal insight questions are about getting to know you better — your life experience, interests, ambitions, and inspirations. Think of it as your interview with the admissions office. Be open. Be reflective. Find your individual voice and express it.  There are no right or wrong answers to these questions. They are about you and your life thus far. PIQ Instructions:

• Respond to any 4 of the 8 questions

• All 8 questions are given equal consideration in the application review process

• Responses can be up to 350 words

• Present your information and ideas in a focused, thoughtful manner. Making a list of accomplishments, activities, awards or work will lessen the impact of your words.

• Use specific, concrete examples to support the points you want to make. Focus your examples on the present and near past.

• Write about yourself. Your personal triumphs or challenges, leadership opportunities, and experiences outside the classroom and why they matter and/or have shaped who you are.

• Use your own voice. Your answers should reflect your ideas and be written by you alone. Use "I" and "my" statements in your responses.

• Additional Comment Section

• This section is at the END of the Personal Insight Section

• You should not use this to continue your responses to the PIQ, but it is highly encouraged that you do not leave blank. Try and identify another experience you have not already mentioned in your application and write about it!

• Use to clarify or expand important details about your academic history or life that may not be explained anywhere else on the application and that you HAVE NOT already mentioned in your prompts. 

• It is ok to write about 2-3 topics within this section.

Applying to colleges/universities using the Common App

You can apply to over 1,000 colleges and universities with ONE application! Below is an overview of the basics of applying via the Common App:

• Common App is a non-profit college access organization that helps students apply to college.

• Common App’s free college application tool is designed to make applying to college faster and easier. 

• With Common App, students only need to use one system to apply to multiple colleges and universities. 

• More than 1,000 colleges and universities use Common App (including 25 Historically Black Colleges and Universities - HBCUs).

• More than 325 colleges do not have an application fee.

• Nearly 250 colleges are test-optional/flexible.

• The Common App opens on August 1st.

• Each college can determine its unique requirements on the following:

• Deadlines

• Application Fees

• Personal Essay

• Courses & Grades

• Test Policy

• Portfolio

• Writing Supplements

• Recommendations

• Students attending schools that use NAVIANCE will need to match their Common App and Naviance accounts. This process enables counselors to upload transcripts and also facilitates the submission of recommendations.

Common App Fee Waivers - The counselor will be asked to complete a Fee Waiver form to affirm the student’s request for a fee waiver. Any of the following indicators of economic need make a student eligible for a Common App fee waiver:

• Eligible to receive an ACT or SAT testing fee waiver

• Eligible for the Federal Free or Reduced Price Lunch program (FRPL)

• Annual family income falls within the Income Eligibility Guidelines set by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service

• Enrolled in a federal, state, or local program that aids students from low-income families (e.g., TRIO programs such as Upward Bound)

• The family receives public assistance

• Live in a federally subsidized public housing, a foster home or are homeless

• The student is a ward of the state or an orphan

• Student can provide a supporting statement from a school official, college access counselor, financial aid officer, or community leader

Engaging Supporters - Common App has features that allow students to engage supporters who are helping them with their college applications.

• Counselors -  share their perspectives using the context of the entire graduating class. They also submit the School Report, Counselor Recommendation, verify waiver requests, mid-year report, final-year report, and transcript.

• Parents - will only need to submit a form if the student applied using a college's early decision deadline. They will fill out part of the early decision agreement.

• Teachers - give a firsthand account of the student’s intellectual curiosity and creative thought.

• Other recommenders - are usually non-academic recommenders like coaches, employers, and peers. They give insight into student interests and activities outside of the classroom.

• Advisors - do not submit any forms. They track and check in on student application progress.

Common App Essay Prompts Overview:  Each college can either require a response or leave it as an optional writing prompt. 

Common App Essay Prompts - you must respond to one of the following prompts (650-word limit)

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

4. Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma - anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.

5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more

7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

Supplemental Writing Prompts:

• In addition to the Common App Essay, some colleges have additional Writing Supplements (short response questions).

Applying to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)

• Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are nationally accredited institutions of higher education in the U.S. that were established before 1964 and primarily serve the black community. 

• HBCUs were created at a time in history when due to segregation laws African-American students were not welcomed at traditional public and private colleges and universities.

• There are more than 100 HBCUs today. Along with graduate and postgraduate degrees, HBCUs offer African American students a place to earn a sense of identity, heritage, and community.

• HBCUs provide a strong sense of community. You may opt to attend an HBCU in order to be closer to other African-American students and get more involved in African-American culture. You don’t have to be African-American to attend an HBCU.

Submitting your HBCU application:

• Your goal should be to submit your HBCU application by October 1st! Or as soon as possible. Applying early increases your chances of receiving institutional scholarships and grants!

• One way to apply to an HBCU is through the Common Application (see the Common App section above for more information). You can apply to over 25 HBCUs with ONE application including Howard, Morehouse, and Spelman.

• A second way to apply to an HBCU is through the Common Black College App where you can apply to 67 of the 100+ HBCUs with one application. 

Applying to out-of-state colleges through the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)

• The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) is an agreement through which 160+ participating public colleges and universities provide steep nonresident tuition savings for Western students. 

• Through WUE, eligible students can choose from hundreds of undergraduate programs outside their home state, and pay no more than 150 percent of that institution’s resident tuition rate. 

• Since full nonresident college tuition rates may exceed 300 percent of resident rates, WUE increases affordable higher-education choices for students, and minimizes the adverse impacts of student loan debt.

• Interested in applying?

• Start by checking your eligibility - you must be a resident of a WICHE region state or territory

• Review the list of participating WUE schools and degrees 

• Review requirements - Institutions may require a minimum GPA, exclude selected majors, have early application deadlines, and/or limit the number of students awarded the WUE rate. 

• Apply directly to the college - Contact the school’s admissions, financial aid, or scholarship office to let them know you’re seeking WUE.