Understand how applications work. See:

Steps to Apply which shows the three or four parallel processes. Test scores are optional for most colleges.

College Deadline Types infographic regarding Early Action, Early Decision, Regular Decision, and Rolling.

College Application Components infographic to show how all application elements start with you.

Organize your applications

Checklist for Application Tasks (make a copy and customize it to you) will help you focus & track your efforts.

Customizable App Tracker (make a copy & edit) will help you keep all details in one place.

College Application Packet 2022-2023, which contains the above items and many other resources.

Realize that Naviance is Necessary

All students applying to college (4-year or 2-year) will use Naviance as their application manager. Naviance is how we know:

where you are applying;

when you are doing so;

what materials you need

AND, most importantly Naviance is HOW we actually send your materials, so if you do not set it up just how you want, we cannot send school materials for you.

Here's how to access Naviance

Go go Classlink in your Google k12 account

FInd & click on Naviance Student. The other Naviance option will not work for students.

It should login directly to your Naviance account via your Google k12 account.

If you see a login page with fields for a username & password, ignore that and click Single Sign On.

Watch videos about each part of the process

College Application Basics Fall 2020

Add Colleges to Naviance

Introduction to Coalition and Common Applications

Letters of Recommendation How-To

How to Apply to 4-Year Colleges As a Running Start Student

Match Common App and Naviance Accounts (Naviance video)

For Two Year Colleges

Fill out the FAFSA or WASFA Financial Aid application
Students heading for two-year college should fill out the FAFSA or WASFA (figure out which one) during the fall (after October 1) or winter of their senior year.

Shorewood holds a Financial Aid Night in the fall of senior year and provides guidance to families about the process.

The FAFSA or WASFA make you eligible for federal and state financial aid to help pay for college.

More Info
- See our FAFSA page for an explanation of the form and process
- Go to FAFSA.ed.gov to set up an account and fill out the FAFSA
- See our WASFA page for more about who will use the form
- Go to wsac.wa.gov/wasfa to set up a WASFA account and fill it out
Apply to the College

If you are already doing Running Start, you will fill out a form in the spring that will flip you from a RS to a regular student. Stay tuned for instructions from Running Start Counselor Ms. Engle.

If you are NOT Running Start, apply to the college using this presentation to guide you:

How to Apply to Shoreline Community College (and other community colleges)

Have your Social Security number handy if you have one

All Washington Community and Technical colleges use the same application, so the presentation will work for all in-state 2-year colleges
Do Naviance Steps for 2-Year Colleges
Log into Naviance
1. Go to student.naviance.com/shorewoodwa
2. Select Student
3. Select Single Sign On
Do the following steps
1. Go to Colleges I'm Applying To (NOT Colleges I'm Thinking About)
2. Add your college using the big pink plus at the top right and searching for the least common word in the college's name
3. Go to edit in the line of the college name and:
  1. select that you applied
  2. that you are accepted
4. At the bottom of your list, select the College I'm Attending
5. Using the +Request Transcripts button at the top right, request your final transcript (this will be activated in early spring)
screenshot showing Add and Request Transcript buttons at the top of your Applying To list

screenshot showing how to indicate you have applied and are accepted

use the edit button in the same line as the college name to access

screenshot showing how to indicate which College you will attend

this is at the bottom of your Applying To list
Follow Through with Your College

Look up and follow your college's procedures:

Shoreline Community College New Student Checklist

Edmonds New Student Checklist for applying and more detailed Edmonds New Student Checklist for registering

North Seattle First Time in College steps

or, look for your college's new student checklist

You will get a new email address when you apply. Be sure you start checking it!

Determine Application Type
To figure out the type of application your schools use, do both of the following:
1. Add schools to your Colleges I'm Applying To list in Naviance and look at the icons using the key below. If there is a "?" you have a choice and need to decide which choice you will make and indicate that in Naviance.
2. Check each college's website. The sequence is usually Admissions > Apply > First Year Application.
The application section of a college website will tell you not only if the college has its own application or uses the Common Application or another platform. The website will also tell you all of the fine print about application elements. Since college applications vary so much, it is imperative that you read and follow the instructions on each college's website.
Complete Common App if needed
If you have Common App Schools, create a Common App account

Go to CommonApp.org and start an account. You can start an account the summer before your senior year. If you start it in June or July, you will have to save it and then roll it over when the Common App officially opens on August 1. Start entering information. You will have to do some tasks in the Common App before you can match your Common App account with your Naviance account. If you have Common App schools, the accounts must be matched in order for us to send documents in on your behalf.

Match the Common App with Naviance only after your Senior Year Has Begun. Here's a video from Naviance walking you through the process: Match Common App & Naviance

Complete the match before you request any letters of recommendation in Naviance.
1. Under the Common App tab, fill in at least Profile, Family, and Education to start your applications in Naviance. Under Education, fill in Shorewood High School and your counselor. After you do this much, you can come back later.
2. Add your schools (those that use the Common App) under the College Search tab. You can add more schools later. To do the match, add at least one.
3. Under the My Colleges tab, go to Recommenders and FERPA.
4. Complete the FERPA waiver. Clicking yes and 'signing' the waiver electronically allow the Common App and Naviance to communicate with each other and to send your letters of recommendation to your colleges. By completing FERPA, you waive your right to see the letters of recommendation written on your behalf. Doing so is standard and shows integrity on your part.
5. DO NOT use the Recommenders function in the Common App. Doing so will disable the letters of recommendation function in Naviance for your account and for any other student requesting the same teacher.
6. Go into Naviance to complete the match. On the Colleges I'm Applying To page click the bright pink stripe and when prompted, then follow the steps. You will have to enter the email address you used for the Common App and your birthdate.
If none of the schools you are applying to use the Common App, then you do not need a Common App account. Check the list on CommonApp.org or look at the icons in your Naviance application list. If none of the icons has a CA in the computer, you do not have any Common App schools.

Step by step instructions for the FERPA Waiver with screenshots: FERPA and the Common Application

Notify Your Counselor

If you have Common App schools, email your counselor to notify them of your deadline(s). All Common App schools require a Counselor Letter of Recommendation and a Counselor Academic Evaluation. You do not have to request these through the Letters of Recommendation tool. You do need to fill out a Counselor Brag Sheet (type your answers) and give it to your counselor at least three weeks in advance of your deadline.
Complete Other Application if Needed
Some colleges use other systems for their applications

You may be applying to a college that requires you to use another application platform.
- California State Universities use Cal State Apply
- University of California schools use the UC Application
- Many colleges (53) in Texas use Apply Texas
- About 100 colleges use the Coalition Application. UW used this application for about 6 years but as of summer 2022, is only taking applications via the Common Application.
These general application platforms DO NOT match with Naviance like the Common App does. However, you must still list it in Naviance, and you may have to do more legwork:
1. Request any items needed (transcripts, letters of rec) in Naviance well before your deadlines.
2. If your college needs something other than a transcript or letters, let your counselor, Mrs. Hurley, and Ms. Stephens know which items are needed.
3. In a few cases, we may have to send materials in hard copy. If this is the case, provide Mrs. Hurley with a stamped, addressed envelope as well as a clear summary of what your college requires.

Add Schools to Your Colleges I'm Applying To List
Add schools to your Colleges I'm Applying To List in Naviance
1. Go to Colleges Tab
2. If you have schools in your Colleges I'm Thinking About List, go into that list and move the schools to your application list. Click the boxes on the left to select and then choose the move option from the dropdown below your list
3. If you don't have any schools listed, select Colleges I'm Applying To and then +add schools.
4. Use the lookup tool to be sure that you have the correct name and location of the college.
5. Keep adding schools until you are finished. You can always add more schools.
6. As you add schools, you can also request transcripts. Note the options beside each school. Your request will activate requests for both an initial an a midyear transcript/
7. Be sure you click Add Colleges at the bottom of your list so that Naviance saves your list.
8. If you have Common App schools, match your accounts in Naviance by: 1) clicking Match Accounts on the hot pink bar at the top of your Applying To list; 2) entering the email address you used for the Common App; 3) clicking match. See Common App section below for details.
9. If you do not have Common App schools, then you can get that hot pink bar to go away by: 1) clicking Match Accounts, then 2) clicking not needed in the blue box.
You must do this step. If you do not list schools in the Applying To list, we do not know that you are applying to those schools and will not send materials on your behalf. Having schools listed in your Thinking About list OR telling your counselor does not substitute for having them in your Applying To list.
Select Application Deadlines

Select Application Types
Each school will load with a default of the Regular Deadline. If you want to apply Early Decision or Early Action, or another type, select in the drop-down. Remember that you can only apply to one school Early Decision. You may apply to multiple schools Early Action if you wish.
Note that you must verify all deadlines on the college website; Naviance often lists all possible deadline names rather than only the deadlines for that particular school.
Some schools have programs or scholarships that require a different deadline, often called a priority deadline, than what is preloaded into Naviance. If you need a date override, ask Mrs. Stephens or Mrs. Roma. Priority deadlines are not restrictive like Early Decision.
If your four-year college has a Rolling Deadline, Shorewood would like to set the date for February 1. Contact Mrs. Stephens or Mrs. Roma for a date override.
Select Application Method (Common App, Direct to Institution)
Select How You Will Submit Your Application
Look for the icons in Naviance:

Some schools do not have options, and other schools have several.
Choose:
- Common App* or
- Direct to Institution. In Naviance, this option is for both Coalition App colleges and Direct to Institution applications, where you fill out an application that is only for that particular school.
If you have several Common App schools, it will be easiest for you to select Common App for all the schools that have it as an option.
Important: The ? red question mark means you need to do something! If one of your schools has the Unknown icon with a question mark, you need to select the type. We cannot send the school materials without this selection.
Request Transcripts
Request Transcripts
Find the Transcript Request one of two ways:
1. Colleges tab > Apply to Colleges from dropdown menu > Manage Transcripts
2. Colleges I'm Applying To > Request Transcripts on the top right just above your list
In the Transcript Dialog:
Select add request. When you request your initial transcript, that will also trigger a request for a midyear transcript, which most colleges require.
Notes:
- If you request your transcript in summer or fall of your senior year, then it will be your transcript through the end of junior year. Your midyear transcript will be sent after Semester 1 grades post in early February.
- If you request a transcript after Semester 2 has started, the transcript will include Semester 1 courses and grades.
- The University of Washington Seattle and University of California schools do not require transcripts with initial applications, so you do not need to request them for UW Seattle or any of the UC school. Most other schools, including UW Bothell, do require transcripts.
- Transcripts can also be requested when you add colleges to your application list.
- If you are a Running Start student, you will have to request transcripts from SCC (or the community college you attend). See SCC Official Transcript Requests.
Formalize Letter of Recommendation Requests
Request Letters of Recommendation in Naviance only after you have talked with teachers. Ask only if you need letters; many schools do not require them.

For complete instructions, see the Letters of Recommendation page.
Formalize the Requests in Naviance for Teacher letters only
It is best to formalize the requests in Naviance only after your senior year has begun just in case Naviance summer updates to the Letter of Recommendation interface affect already-uploaded letters.
1. Before you request letters in Naviance, you must match your Naviance and Common App accounts. See below for instructions. You will have to do a few things in the Common App first and then match through Naviance.
2. If you do not have colleges in your Naviance Applying To list, put the colleges there right away. You must complete this step. Having colleges in your Thinking About list does not allow application steps.
3. In Naviance, go to the Colleges tab, select Apply to College from the dropdown, then select Letters of Recommendation.
4. In the Letters of Recommendation tool, click +Add Request. Naviance knows if and how many letters each college needs.
5. Select the teacher, which will ‘ping’ the teacher with your request and create the portal for them to upload their letter for you. If your teacher is not in Naviance, let Mrs. Stephens know and she will create a Teacher account.
6. Specify whether the teacher is to do letters for "all of your applications" (this is easiest and most common) or selected applications. We recommend that you not combine these functions. It works best if you only do one method ("all applications") or the other (select which teachers for which schools).
7. Email your teacher to let them know that you have entered the request into Naviance, and let them know your earliest deadline.
8. Follow up with your teacher as the deadline approaches.
Communicate with your Counselor for Common App Schools
Nearly all Common App schools require a Counselor Recommendation. You will not need to select the counselor in Naviance. However, you do need to:
- With weeks or months notice, ask your Counselor if she/ he will write a letter for you. Ask counselors after the school year begins.
- Fill out a brag sheet and when you email your counselor with the answers, include the date of your earliest deadline.
Review Naviance Application List
Review your Application List
Be sure that:
1. All of your schools are in the list.
2. You have selected how you will submit the applications. If you see any icons with a ? (see below) you must select whether you will apply Common App or Direct to Institution. You cannot leave it unresolved.
3. The deadlines are the ones you want. If they are not, then select the correct ones, or, if you don't see the deadline you want or any deadlines at all, ask Mrs. Stephens or Mrs. Roma to override the dates.
4. Transcripts are requested.
5. Letters are requested, if needed.
Match Naviance to Common App (necessary if you have Common App Colleges)
Match the Common App with Naviance only after your Senior Year Has Begun

Complete the match before you request any letters of recommendation in Naviance.

Here's a video to walk you throug the process: Match Common App & Naviance
1. Under the Common App tab, fill in at least Profile, Family, and Education to start your applications in Naviance. Under Education, fill in Shorewood High School and your counselor. After you do this much, you can come back later.
2. Add your schools (those that use the Common App) under the College Search tab. You can add more schools later. To do the match, add at least one.
3. Under the My Colleges tab, click on any of your colleges, then go to Recommenders and FERPA.
4. Complete the FERPA waiver. Clicking yes and 'signing' the waiver electronically allow the Common App and Naviance to communicate with each other and to send your letters of recommendation to your colleges. By completing FERPA, you waive your right to see the letters of recommendation written on your behalf. Doing so is standard and shows integrity on your part.
5. DO NOT use the Recommenders function in the Common App. Doing so will disable the letters of recommendation function in Naviance for your account and for any other student requesting the same teacher.
6. Go into Naviance to complete the match. On the Colleges I'm Applying To page, click on the "Match" button in the hot pink banner across the top of your list. Then, fill in the email address you used for the Common App and your birthdate, and match the accounts.
If none of the schools you are applying to use the Common App, then you do not need a Common App account. Check the list on CommonApp.org or look at the icons in your Naviance application list. If none of the icons has a CA in the computer, you do not have any Common App schools.

Directions for the FERPA Waiver: Download FERPA and the Common Application for step-by-step instructions.

Notify Your Counselor

If you have Common App schools, email your counselor to notify them of your deadline(s). All Common App schools require a Counselor Letter of Recommendation and a Counselor Academic Evaluation. You do not have to request these through the Letters of Recommendation tool. You do need to fill out Counselor Brag sheet (find on the College Applications page (type your answers) and give it to your counselor at least three weeks in advance of your deadline.
Keep Naviance Updated
Update Naviance When
- you have submitted your application to a school
- you hear about your acceptance/ deferral/ denial
- you decide to not follow through with an application
When you submit an application to a school or when you hear about your acceptance/ deferral/ denial, go into your Application List. Click on Edit near the right side of your spreadsheet and select the Outcome of the application, meaning what you heard back from the college.

If you decide to delete one of your applications before you complete it, select the box next to that college's name, and then click Delete Application below the list. DO NOT do this unless you are absolutely certain that you are not going to continue with that application. If you are not able to delete a college and did not apply, contact Mrs. Roma or Mrs. Stephens to take it off of your list.
When you decide: Select the College Attending

After you decide and have updated the outcomes of all of your applications, select the school you will be attending using the dropdown at the bottom of your list.
Last Step: Order Final Transcript

The Final Transcript request option will be activated in spring of your senior year. You will not be able to order it during the fall or winter.

After you have decided which college you will be attending, updated the outcomes of all of your applications, and selected your choice at the bottom of your list, then:

• Click on Manage Transcripts at the top of your list

• Order a Final Transcript to be sent to the ONE college you will be attending.

Do not order multiple final transcripts for multiple colleges.

If you need an additional final transcript for college athletics or the military, see Mrs. Roma as she will send those directly to the agency.

Decide whether to send scores

As of November 2020, nearly all colleges are test optional. For fine print on what that means, look at each college's website. Most students will need to decide whether to send their scores on a case-by-case basis.
If you have scores, then you want to figure out if the scores will give you an advantage or not. If you have been unable to test, don't worry about it. You will be fine!

For colleges that have a lot of Shorewood applicants, look at the Scattergrams in Naviance.
Look up a college in Naviance > Admissions > scroll down to the Scattergrams. The little blue circle will show how you compare with previous Shorewood applicants. If your averages are better than the dotted line that indicates the average scores from Shorewood, then submit. If you are below that line, then don't submit.

For colleges with few Shorewood applicants, go to a tool like CollegeData.com.
Search for a particular college, select Admission, then scroll down to score ranges. If you are on the high end of the ranges, send the scores. If you are not, don't.
Look up how each college wants the scores

Accepted reporting methods vary by school. Check the fine print on each college's website and refer to:
Where Can you Self-Report SAT & ACT Scores? Compass Prep list. Check each college's website for its preferred method of submission.
Please note that you will have to provide official test score reports when requested and during the enrollment process.

Never lie about scores or anything else on college applications. You will be found out and any acceptance will be rescinded.
Official Score Reports (some schools)

Have your Test Scores Sent
Shorewood does not send test scores. For most schools, you must have the testing agencies send your scores. See below for a list of the few schools that accept unoffical scores.
Allow at least three weeks for official score reports.
If you requested that scores be sent when you took the SAT / ACT (you can choose up to four free reports when you register for a test), then be sure that the colleges have your scores. You may not need to pay to have a separate score report.
If you did not have your scores sent automatically, you must order score reports from the testing agencies. They will send scores directly to the colleges.
To send your scores, see Sending SAT Scores and/ or Sending ACT Scores. You must log into your account(s) to be able to send the scores. It costs about $12 to send scores to a school. Note: If application or score report fees are a problem, talk to your counselor.

College score reporting policies vary. Some colleges want to see all of your scores from all of the times you have taken a test, and others let you choose the highest score to send. When you order score reports on CollegeBoard.org, the scores will load according to the college's policy.
SAT: see SAT Score Choice FAQs and SAT Score Use Policies by Institution
ACT: on the ACT Help page, select Scores and then scroll down to read the FAQ about the choices you have for score reports.
Unofficial Reports (some schools)

Unofficial Reports
A few colleges accept unofficial scores directly from the student. Accepted reporting methods vary by school. Check the fine print on each college's website and refer to:
Where Can you Self-Report SAT & ACT Scores? Compass Prep list. Check each college's website for its preferred method of submission.
Your college may let you simply fill in the scores on your application, or they may want a screen shot or the PDF report from the testing agency. Following the college's instructions is an excellent way to demonstrate that you care about their particulars. Submitting things in ways they do not want you to is not a great indicator.

Even if you are able to submit unofficial report, you may have to provide official test score reports when requested and during the enrollment process.

Never lie about scores or anything else on college applications. You will be found out and any acceptance will be rescinded.
Send Scores through Coalition App

If you are applying using the Coalition Application, you can send your scores along with your application. This step is new for the fall of 2019.

When you go to the SAT/ ACT section of the Profile section in the Coalition App, you will be asked "If you would like to send your SAT and SAT Subject test scores to colleges via MyCoalition, you may begin that process on the Send Test Scores page." click the link for the page, and you will first be prompted to link your College Board account with your Coalition account, and then you can go through the process to order official score reports for your colleges.

If you have a College Board fee waiver, you can send scores to an unlimited number of colleges, even schools that aren’t members of the Coalition at no cost.

FAFSA
Most families will fill out the FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
- Only use the site fafsa.ed.gov.
- The application opens October 1 of every year, and must be filed every year for a student to be eligible for aid.
- Fill out the FAFSA that corresponds with the college start date. The Shorewood Class of 2021 will fill out the 2020-2021 FAFSA starting the fall of 2019.
- You will use the prior prior year tax information. For the 2021-2022 FAFSA, families will use 2019 tax information.
For more information on how Financial Aid and the FAFSA work, see other pages on this site:
Financial Aid

FAFSA
WASFA

Some students will fill out the WASFA instead of the FAFSA.

The WASFA is for public and private, not-for-profit colleges in Washington State only, not colleges in other states.

Refer to the image below to determine which form you should file:

If you are not certain, go to readysetgrad.wa.gov/wasfa and click Start a New WASFA. The form begins with several questions and when completed, you will be told to either to proceed with the WASFA or to file the FAFSA instead.

The WASFA also opens on October 1 of every year.
CSS Profile

CSS Profile

Some schools use the CSS Profile in addition to the FAFSA.

The profile is completed through the College Board. Families will use cssprofile.collegeboard.org to find out more and to file the form.

To figure out if your school requires the CSS Profile, check both the site linked above for the most updated list and each college's website. Look under the Financial Aid section to find out the required applications (FAFSA / WASFA only or FAFSA and CSS Profile) and the deadlines.

View/ download:

College Application Components pictured above

College Deadline Types pictured below

Pertinent Documents

See College Application Documents & Links for more resources.

Deadline Types

PDF of the Deadline Types diagram pictured above

CollegeDeadlineTypes.6.2020.pdf 77.69 KB (Last Modified on September 23, 2020)

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Naviance College Application Process Reference Guide

Includes Naviance screen shots to walk you through various tasks.

College Application Process Reference Guide.Naviance.8.2018.pdf 1.42 MB (Last Modified on August 19, 2018)

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List of Test Optional Colleges

The most authoritative list on colleges' testing policies. More than 1800 colleges are now test optional or text flexible.

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Common App/ Naviance Account Matching

If you have Common App colleges, you must match that account with your Naviance account. Here's a video showing you how.

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Colleges That Allow Self-Reporting of SAT / ACT Scores

Each college name is a link to the college's website. Investigate the details of how each school wants you to submit the scores.

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Having trouble with Naviance steps on your Chromebook?

If something in Naviance isn't working like it is supposed to and you are using your Chromebook, try clearing the cache and cookies. Here's how:

On your computer, open Chrome.

At the top right, click More (the three vertical dots).

Click More tools then select Clear browsing data.

At the top, choose a time range. To delete everything, select All time.

Check the boxes next to Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files

Click the blue Clear data button at the bottom.

For some issues, you may have to enable pop-ups.

Understand how applications work. See:

Organize your applications

Realize that Naviance is Necessary

For Two Year Colleges

Fill out the FAFSA or WASFA Financial Aid application

Apply to the College

Do Naviance Steps for 2-Year Colleges

Follow Through with Your College

Fill out Shorewood FERPA Waiver

Apply to Your Colleges

Determine Application Type

Complete Common App if needed

If you have Common App Schools, create a Common App account

Match the Common App with Naviance only after your Senior Year Has Begun. Here's a video from Naviance walking you through the process: Match Common App & Naviance

Step by step instructions for the FERPA Waiver with screenshots: FERPA and the Common Application

Complete Other Application if Needed

Some colleges use other systems for their applications

Complete Naviance Steps

Add Schools to Your Colleges I'm Applying To List

Add schools to your Colleges I'm Applying To List in Naviance

Select Application Deadlines

Select Application Types

Select Application Method (Common App, Direct to Institution)

Select How You Will Submit Your Application

Request Transcripts

Request Transcripts

Formalize Letter of Recommendation Requests

Formalize the Requests in Naviance for Teacher letters only

Review Naviance Application List

Review your Application List

Match Naviance to Common App (necessary if you have Common App Colleges)

Match the Common App with Naviance only after your Senior Year Has Begun

Directions for the FERPA Waiver: Download FERPA and the Common Application for step-by-step instructions.

Keep Naviance Updated

Update Naviance When

When you decide: Select the College Attending

Last Step: Order Final Transcript

Send Score Reports if Needed/ Wanted

Decide whether to send scores

Look up how each college wants the scores

Official Score Reports (some schools)

Have your Test Scores Sent

Unofficial Reports (some schools)

Send Scores through Coalition App

File Application for Financial Aid

FAFSA

WASFA

CSS Profile

Pertinent Documents

Deadline Types

Naviance College Application Process Reference Guide

List of Test Optional Colleges

Common App/ Naviance Account Matching

Colleges That Allow Self-Reporting of SAT / ACT Scores

Having trouble with Naviance steps on your Chromebook?