Senior Application Form

Student's Full Name

📌 Best Practice: Enter your full legal name as it appears on school records.

Write your full legal name exactly as it appears on your school records. This helps ensure accuracy when colleges or programs match your records later on.

High School Graduation Year

✅ Best Practice:

Enter the year you'll officially graduate high school (for most seniors, that's the current academic year).

💬 Insider Tips:

• Unsure? Count forward four years from your freshman fall.
• 🎓 If you've repeated or accelerated a grade — or switched between school systems — just note the correct expected year. Colleges understand non-traditional paths.

High School Name & Location

📌 Best Practice: Enter the full name of your school, including "High School" or any program title, plus the city and state.

💬 Insider Tips:

• Copy it from your report card or transcript to make sure spelling and details are consistent.
• 🌍 If you attend an international or online school, include your country or program platform.

High School Name & Location

📌 Best Practice: Enter the full name of your school, including "High School" or any program title, plus the city and state.

💬 Insider Tips:

• Copy it from your report card or transcript to make sure spelling and details are consistent.
• 🌍 If you attend an international or online school, include your country or program platform.

Student Email

📌 Best Practice: Use a personal email you check often (not your parent's).

💬 Insider Tips:

• Use a personal email you can access long-term (not a school one that might expire).
• If you share devices or email with family, ask a counselor to help you create a private account for school and college communication.

Parent/Guardian Name(s) and Email(s)

📌 Best Practice: List all parent/guardian contacts clearly with one email per person.

💬 Insider Tip:

• Include both parents if they share college updates.
• If you live with one guardian, note that here.

Current GPA (weighted or unweighted)

📌 Best Practice: Enter your most recent GPA exactly as shown on your transcript.

💬 Insider Tip:

• Weighted GPAs include Honors/AP bonus points.
• Counselors use this to align your college list balance.

Honors, AP, IB, or dual enrollment courses completed or in progress

📌 Best Practice: List advanced courses by subject and grade level.

💬 Insider Tip:

• Colleges look for rigor and consistency.
• Include summer or community college courses too.

How would you describe your academic performance and growth over high school?

📌 Best Practice: Reflect briefly on improvement, effort, or consistency.

💬 Insider Tip:

• Mention specific habits that helped (study methods, time management).
• Growth and recovery from past challenges show resilience.

Have you completed your SAT/ACT and AP/IB testing?

📌 Best Practice: Select all that apply—SAT, ACT, AP/IB, or none.

💬 Insider Tip:

• Colleges consider your best overall performance ("superscoring").
• Test-optional is still a valid and strategic choice.

Provide your most recent test scores and dates

📌 Best Practice: List your official or self-reported results and approximate dates.

💬 Insider Tip:

• Include your highest section scores if applicable.
• This helps decide whether submitting scores adds strength to your file.

Are you planning to retake any standardized tests?

📌 Best Practice: Explain briefly if you plan to retake or finalize your testing.

💬 Insider Tip:

• Senior fall is usually the last test window that counts.
• Retakes are worth it if you're within 30–50 points of your target range.

Have you completed or scheduled any final test prep?

📌 Best Practice: Select what applies—completed, in progress, or not needed.

💬 Insider Tip:

• A quick refresh on key sections can boost your confidence.
• Our partners at Advantage Testing offer top notch tutoring services for all grade levels and goals

Have you finalized your college list, or are you still exploring options?

📌 Best Practice: Choose the response that best fits where you are in the process.

💬 Insider Tip:

• If you're still finalizing, we'll help identify balance and affordability.
• It's okay to refine your list even late in fall.

Which types of colleges are you most drawn to (size, location, environment)?

📌 Best Practice: Describe what kind of setting feels like a good fit.

💬 Insider Tip:

• Think about how you learn best—small seminars or large campuses.
• There's no single "right" type; focus on comfort and opportunity.

Top schools you're considering and why

📌 Best Practice: List your top choices and what you like about each.

💬 Insider Tip:

• Mention programs, values, or support services that stand out.

"University of Miami for marine science and research access."

Would you like us to review or refine your college list?

📌 Best Practice: Select "Yes" if you'd like help balancing reach, target, and safety schools.

💬 Insider Tip:

• A balanced list saves time and stress later.
• We'll factor in GPA, test plans, and financial fit.

Early Application Strategy

✅ Best Practice:

Be strategic about early applications. Early Decision is binding, Early Action is not. Consider your financial aid needs carefully.

💬 Insider Tips:

• Early Decision should only be used for your absolute top choice school.
• Early Action is a great way to show strong interest without commitment.
• Remember: you can only apply to one Early Decision school, but multiple Early Action schools.

Essay Writing Timeline

✅ Best Practice:

Be honest about your essay progress. Starting early gives you time for multiple drafts and feedback.

💬 Insider Tips:

• If you haven't started, don't panic — but it's time to begin soon.
• The personal statement is the most important essay — it goes to every school.
• Supplemental essays are school-specific and show you've researched each institution.

Essay Topics & Themes

✅ Best Practice:

Share your initial ideas for essay topics. This helps us understand your story and provide guidance on which themes will be most compelling.

💬 Insider Tips:

• Good essay topics often come from moments of growth, challenge, or realization.
• Think about experiences that shaped who you are today — not necessarily dramatic events, but meaningful ones.
• Your topic should reveal something about your character, values, or perspective that grades and test scores can't show.

Do you have any questions or concerns about college applications?

✅ Best Practice:

Write freely — no question is too small. This helps us personalize your plan.

💬 Insider Tips:

• 📅 Bring up any worries (early deadlines, essays, testing, finances). Proactive communication prevents stress later.
• The more honest you are here, the better.
• First-gen students: you don't have to "figure it out alone." Ask every question — that's how you learn.

Which activity has been most meaningful to you and why?

📌 Best Practice: Include school clubs, sports, arts, and community work.

💬 Insider Tip:

• Colleges value consistency more than quantity.
• Mention any leadership or initiative you've shown.

List recent leadership roles, volunteer work, or jobs

📌 Best Practice: Include your title and what impact you made.

💬 Insider Tip:

• Leadership includes starting something new or mentoring others.

Have there been any gaps or changes in your activity involvement? Please explain

📌 Best Practice: Be honest about breaks and what you focused on instead.

💬 Insider Tip:

• Life changes, health, or school workload are valid reasons.
• Emphasize how you grew from these challenges

What do you hope colleges understand about who you are?

📌 Best Practice: Summarize 2–3 qualities with a brief example for each.

💬 Insider Tip:

• Tie qualities to actions (not labels).
• Think: curiosity shown through X; resilience shown through Y.

What kind of legacy or impact do you want to leave in high school and in college?

📌 Best Practice: Describe the community change you want and how you'll pursue it.

💬 Insider Tip:

• "Impact" can be small but consistent (mentoring, service).
• Link your past actions to your future plans.

What kind of support do you need most as you finish the college process?

📌 Best Practice: List the top 2–3 areas (e.g., timeline, essays, financial aid).

💬 Insider Tip:

• If FAFSA/CSS or costs worry you, say it here.
• We'll match resources and timelines to your needs.

Have you faced any challenges that admissions officers should understand when reviewing your application?

📌 Best Practice: Briefly share context + what you did to adapt.

💬 Insider Tip:

• Focus on growth, not details of hardship.
• Use the Additional Info section later for any needed nuance.

If yes, please describe (optional)

📌 Best Practice: 2–4 sentences: situation → impact → response → lesson.

💬 Insider Tip:

• Keep names/private details out; center your response.