Applying to College
The College Application Process
How do you get started applying to college?
There are two options when considering how to start applying for college, Directly to the Insitution or The Common Application. A student only needs to submit one application and does not need to do an application through both avenues. Read below to determine how to apply, the difference between the two and which one might be best for you!
Directly to the Institution
How to Apply: Go directly to the college website Admissions Page, create an account and submit an application for a First-Time Undergraduate Degree Seeker.
Example: https://msudenver.edu/admissions/
Why Apply: It is easier to apply directly to the institution than using the Common Application because there are several steps that a student does not need to do when applying directly. This is also an easier avenue if a student is applying to 3-5 colleges.
The Common Application
How to Apply: Go to https://www.commonapp.org, create an account and add colleges to complete their application. Many colleges will have supplementary essays, require other information and letters of recommendation as needed.
Why Apply: If a student applies for more than 5 colleges and universities within the Common App Network, they are recommended to use Common App. Students considering University of Colorado Boulder would use the Common App to apply for admissions.
Check out schools within the Common App Network
**Please meet with your High School counselor or College and Career Adviser before starting the Common App
Which college should I apply for?
In order to determine which college to apply for, one should look into a college's range of GPA and SAT Scores on the Admission Page. This range is important because students that fall into this range are competitive for admissions and scholarships within the college. For those that do not meet one of the ranges of GPA, SAT or ACT, it is recommended that a student works on a personal statement and letters of recommendation from teachers!
Check out Colorado Public Universities GPA and SAT/ACT Ranges here.
When to Apply for College
All colleges will have deadlines for their applications to be either Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision, or Rolling Decision. The following are definitions of admission options to determine which type of college application is best for you. The rule of thumb would be to have all your applications submitted before Thanksgiving Break
After Submitting an Application
Go to Naviance to submit a Transcript Request, request a Letter of Recommendation, and Complete ICAP.
Login Information
- Using a Chromebook - Log into the chromebook using your google credentials (aurorak12.org email and password). Click on the tab that says Clever at the top, find the Naviance Icon and click on it.
- From your school's Naviance login page, click the blue "Log in with Clever" button and user your google credentials to log in to Naviance.
Transcript Request
Login to Naviance> Click the 'College' Tab> Select 'Colleges I'm Applying to'> Click on the Add Function in the top right corner> Fill in College Information
Send an email to your Counselor and/or College and Career Coordinator after submitting the Transcript Request
Letters of Recommendation
Login to Naviance> Click the 'College' Tab> Select 'Apply to College' > Click 'Letters of Recommendation'> Add Request
The Western Undergraduate Exchange
What is WUE? WUE is given to residents of a WICHE state where students can be eligible to request a reduced WUE tuition rate of 150% of the resident rate at 160 participating institutions in the West. WICHE states include: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Summary of Participating WUE Institutions by State
WUE Tuition Savings at Participating Institutions
Eligibility: To be eligible for WUE, students must be a resident of a WICHE state (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands).
Your residency alone does not guarantee you the WUE rate. Some colleges and universities also have additional criteria such as ACT/SAT test scores or high school GPA. WICHE does not set the qualification criteria for WUE applicants, nor do we process applications or participate in the student selection process.