College Application Process – Four-year colleges

Applying and getting into colleges can be a tricky process, but with a little forethought and preparation, it can be made very painless. You’ve already done the majority of the work doing your best in high school, and now it is time to show it off to any institutions you are considering applying to.

Some colleges/universities use the Common Application, some have their own application, some use both and some use the Coalition Application. Some even use all three! You need to know which application you are going to fill out so you can be prepared. The school’s website or information in Naviance will tell you which application(s) colleges/universities use. The rule of thumb is, if a college/university uses both the Common Application and their own application and/or the Coalition application, use the Common Application if you are already applying for admission to other schools on the Common Application.

No matter which application you fill out,  if the college(s) to which you are applying require a transcript from CHS, you will request transcripts and letters of recommendation through Naviance.

Something to note: Some colleges do not require a transcript when you apply. These are called self-report schools. You will enter all your classes, credits, and grades on the application. In that case, you do not need to request a transcript from us. Some colleges will allow you to upload your own transcript on the application. If you need an electronic copy of your transcript, contact CHS registrar, Gisselle Trappett, at trappett_g@4j.lane.edu. 

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The Common Application

What is the Common App? Instead of students needing to complete a separate college application for each college, students can complete one application and send copies to all Common Application colleges to which they wish to apply. More than 700 colleges and universities accept the Common Application.

IMPORTANT: Students must request transcripts and letters of recommendation in Naviance, not on the Common Application. For Churchill to send those documents, your Common Application must be matched to your Naviance account. 

If you have not already, the following steps must be done before you can match your Common App with Naviance:

• Create a Common App account on Common App.
• Find and add CHS to your Common App.
• Add at least one college on Common App.
• Sign the Common App FERPA Release Authorization 

To apply on the Common Application, click here. 

Need help with the application?  Common Application Step-by-Step Video

 To complete the match:

1. Log into Naviance
2. From your homepage, click on Colleges then Colleges I’m Applying To
3. You will see a pink banner at the top of the page indicating you need to match your Common App account
4. Click Match Accounts (light pink button).
5. A new tab or window will open on the Common App website
6.  Enter the email and password you used when you created your Common Application account
7. Click sign in
8. Click the I agree* check box
9. Click Connect
10. A notification will display that  you will be redirected back to Naviance

Here’s a step-by-step video to complete the match, https://www.screencast.com/t/gxEQkElyo1

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The Coalition Application

Note: Churchill does not use Scoir the platform that provides the Coalition application but you can sign up on your own. To find out how to use the Coalition Application, go to https://scoir.helpdocs.io/article/t6ng8d9vhi-creating-an-account.

Apply on the Coalition Application here

See the instructions below to learn how to request transcripts for colleges that use the Coalition Application.

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How to Request an Official Transcript

(For colleges that have their own application or colleges that use the Coalition Application)

Step #1: Go to the Churchill Website (https://chs.4j.lane.edu/) and hover over “STUDENTS.”

 Step #2: Under “STUDENTS” hover over “CAREER AND COLLEGE” and then click on “Naviance.” This should redirect you to the Naviance login page.

 Step #3: Click on the backpack that says “Student” and log in to your Naviance account.

 Step #4: Click on “Colleges” at the top and then click on “ ♥ Colleges I’m Thinking About”

 Step #5: Click “Add colleges to the list” and select lookup by “Keyword.”

Step #6: Look up your colleges by name (ex search: University of Oregon). Click the box by the college you would like to select and then click “Favorite” on the right side of the page.

 Step #7: Now looking at the “Colleges I’m Thinking About” page, click the box by the college you want to select. Then click “Move to Application.”

 Step #8: Select the application deadline applicable to you and how you will submit your application. Then, click “Request Transcripts.”

 

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How to Request a Letter of Recommendation

To request a letter of recommendation from a Teacher:

1. Complete the Letter of Recommendation Information Form which you can find on the Forms & Documents page.
2. You will also find the form on the Documents/Forms page. 
   
3. Request your letter via email and provide the completed Letter of Recommendation Information Form
4. Put your request in Naviance. Click here for video instructions.
   1. From your Naviance Homepage, navigate to Colleges > Letters of Recommendation
   2. Click Add Request.
   3. Select a teacher from the drop-down menu.
   4. Choose the colleges to which you want the selected teacher to send their letter of recommendation.
   5. Write a personal note to the teacher. Saying thank you for the time is always nice!
   6. Click Submit Request.

Important: Some colleges do not require teacher letters of recommendation or only allow a certain number. Do not request teachers to write letters of recommendation if the college does not require them or prohibits letters of recommendation. If you need letters of recommendation for scholarships, contact the college to find out how they would like to receive those letters. 

To request a letter of recommendation from a Counselor:

1. Request a transcript in Naviance. This will serve as a request for a letter of recommendation from your counselor for those colleges that require them.
2. Email the completed Letter of Recommendation Form which you can find on the Forms & Documents page.

Note:

Be considerate of deadlines!  Request your transcript at least 2 weeks before the school’s deadline. Teachers and counselors need 2-3 weeks’ notice to complete lengthy forms, or to write a letter of recommendation that will stand out. 

Plan ahead. A January deadline requires you to request transcripts and letters of recommendation at least 3 weeks BEFORE Winter break.

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Requesting Final Transcripts

To request a final transcript, you must first select Accepted as the result for your application.

To select Accepted:

1.    Log into Naviance

2.    Select Colleges at the top of the page

3.    Select Colleges I’m Applying to

4.    Find the college you will attend

5.    On the right side of the page, click on edit (it has a pencil icon next to it)

6.    Click on the drop-down menu under Result

7.    Choose Accepted

Now you can request your transcript: Here’s a handy video to walk you through the process

https://www.screencast.com/t/X4WK0KNZN.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• A transcript is not considered final until your graduation date is included. Although we cannot give you an exact date when your grad date will be added to your transcript, typically it is not until the week after school gets out for all students. In this case, the week of June 20th – 24th.
• We leave for the summer also. Please request your final transcript now so there won’t be a delay. 

We do not include SAT, AP, ACT scores, or LCC credits on your transcript.

• To have your SAT or AP scores sent log into your CollegeBoard account: https://www.collegeboard.org/ and follow the directions to request your scores.
• To request your ACT scores, log into your ACT account at https://my.act.org/account/signin?location=https://my.act.org and follow the directions to request your scores.
• You can request a Lane Community College transcript on their website: https://www.https://www.lanecc.edu/administration/enrollment-services/ordering-transcripts

NOTE: Community colleges typically do not require final transcripts. They cannot be requested through Naviance. Should you require a final transcript to be sent to a community college, email our Registrar, Gisselle Trappett at, trappett_g@4j.lane.edu. In your email please include your full legal name, student number, the community college name, the name of the office to which the transcript should be sent, and the college’s mailing address.  If the college will accept an electronic copy of the transcript, include the email address.

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SAT and ACT Deadlines (National)

SAT and ACT Registrations are now open! If you want to take the SAT OR ACT don’t wait to register!

Register here.

SAT Deadlines

SAT Test Date*	Registration Deadline	Deadline for Changes, Regular Cancellation, and Late Registration**
Oct 5, 2024	Sept 20, 2024	Sept 24, 2024
Nov 2, 2024	Oct 18, 2024	Oct 22, 2024
Dec 7, 2024	Nov 22, 2024	Nov 26, 2024
Mar 8, 2025	Feb 21, 2025	Feb 25, 2025
May 3, 2025	Apr 18, 2025	April 22, 2025
June 7, 2025	May 22, 2025	May 27, 2025
*Students, click here if you need to borrow a device from College Board, you must register and request their device earlier than the registration deadline—at least 30 days before test day. **Late registration is available worldwide. Additional fees apply.

Upcoming ACT Test Dates (National)

*No test centers are scheduled in New York for the July test date.

Click Here for more information and to begin the registration process for the ACT.