College Application Process

Please review the following information for the college application process. You will find important information regarding transcript requests, ACT/SAT scores, processing time, letters of recommendation and more.

TRANSCRIPT REQUESTS

Learn more here. Mid-year and final transcripts are not automatically sent. Students need to request their transcripts on the website. One request per transcript is required.

ONLINE APPLICATIONS

The majority of colleges encourage students to apply online. It is their preference because it helps the applicant submit a more complete and correct application. UW System no longer prints or distributes paper copies of the UW System Application for Admission.

A PDF version of the application is accessible on the application website for applicants who must use a paper application. Once you’ve completed your online application and paid the non-refundable application fee, check to see if there is a “Counselor Form” or “Secondary School Report”. If so, please print off that form and bring it to the Counseling Office for your school counselor to complete. 

ACT/SAT SCORES

It is the student’s responsibility to submit ACT and SAT scores to the colleges he/she is applying to. Most colleges require an “official” ACT/SAT score. In order to submit an “official” ACT or SAT score to the college, go online to www.actstudent.org (for ACT) or www.collegeboard.com (for SAT scores). If you know the college will accept an unofficial ACT score from your high school, include that request on the Transcript Request Form. If we have an ACT score on file for you, we can include a copy of it along with your high school transcript, upon request!

• Teacher Recommendation Forms/Letters of Recommendation – If required. (Note: It may take the teacher/counselor two weeks or more to complete the recommendation for you, so allow that extra time in addition to the 4-5 days the Counseling Office needs for processing.) We will NOT hold transcript requests waiting for letters of recommendation. If you MUST submit your transcript to the college prior to those letters being done, you will have to provide the teacher with an envelope already stamped and addressed to the college so they can send it in separately. Please note, if you plan to ask a teacher or counselor for a letter of recommendation, in advance you should fill out the “Personal Data Form” which you can pick up in the Counseling Office or print it off from the AWHS Counseling Office Webpage. This form will give the teacher or counselor enough information to write a good recommendation letter. Please be sensitive to the fact that some teachers receive many requests to write letters of recommendation. For any type of recommendation that you need from a school counselor, you will need to complete, sign and return a “School Counselors Recommendation Acknowledgement Form”, also available on our website.

Apply as early as possible as schools and states have their own deadlines. Contact the school for exact deadline dates.