College Applications
College Applications
There are multiple ways for a student to apply to a 2-year, 4-year, technical program, or trade school.
Depending on where you are looking to apply, one option may be better than another, or a combination.
An Institutional Application is one that is specific to that school and can typically be located on the college/universities website, typically indicated by an “Apply Now” button.
This application is often best used when applying to community colleges as they are often free to submit. Can also be used if only applying to one or two schools.
If utilizing this type of application, the student must inform their school counselor so that their, initial and eventually final, high school transcript can be sent to the admissions office and attached to their application.
The SUNY Application is an online application that allows students to apply to multiple State University of New York(SUNY) campuses and submit supporting documents all in one place.
This is a great option for students who are only interested in, or applying to many, SUNY colleges/universites.
Every fall, SUNY allows students to apply to up to five SUNY schools for free.
This years dates are October 19th – November 2nd, 2026
Please be aware that not all SUNY schools accept the SUNY application. There is a list that details this information.
When completing the SUNY Application, students are asked to enter in their school counselors contact information which will notify the counselor. This allows them to upload your students high school transcript directly to their SUNY application to be shared with the colleges/universities.
The Common App is one of the largest online college/university applications in the country. It allows students to complete one application that can be sent to multiple schools.
This application option is best for students who are looking to apply to a combination of in-state, out-of-state, public, and/or private instiutions.
Not all colleges/univerisities accept the Common App. However over 1,000 schools do. If when searching for a school in the application, it does not yield any results, that means the school does not accept the Common App and you will need to utilize a different application method.
Students utitlizing the Common App will be prompted to enter their school counselors contact information. This will notify the counselor allowing them to upload your students high school transcript and any other required information/documents directly to their application to be shared with schools.
Students can apply to up to 20 schools using the Common App.
The Coalition for College is an organization that partners with Scoir to allow students to complete one online application that can be sent to multiple schools.
The Coalition for College focuses on supporting low-income, under-resourced, and first-generation students
Approximately 150 colleges and universities participate in the Coalition Application. Though there is not limit to how many of these schools you can apply to.
If utilizing this application method, please be sure to inform your school counselor so that they can send/upload your high school transcript.
QuestBridge is an organization that supports high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds.
Known for their QuestBridge National College Match program, the application connects students with full four-year scholarships to at least one of their 55 participating institutions.
Criteria for this program is specific:
- Students who earn primarily A’s in the most challanging courses offered
- Students who demonstrate strong writing abilities and intellectual curiosity
- Come from a household earning less than $65,000 annually with minimal assets
- Demonstrate resilience, integrity, and motivation to succeed
If utilizing this application method, please be sure to inform your school counselor so that they can send/upload your high school transcript.
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An Institutional Application is one that is specific to that school and can typically be located on the college/universities website, typically indicated by an “Apply Now” button.
This application is often best used when applying to community colleges as they are often free to submit. Can also be used if only applying to one or two schools.
If utilizing this type of application, the student must inform their school counselor so that their, initial and eventually final, high school transcript can be sent to the admissions office and attached to their application.
-
The SUNY Application is an online application that allows students to apply to multiple State University of New York(SUNY) campuses and submit supporting documents all in one place.
This is a great option for students who are only interested in, or applying to many, SUNY colleges/universites.
Every fall, SUNY allows students to apply to up to five SUNY schools for free.
This years dates are October 19th – November 2nd, 2026
Please be aware that not all SUNY schools accept the SUNY application. There is a list that details this information.
When completing the SUNY Application, students are asked to enter in their school counselors contact information which will notify the counselor. This allows them to upload your students high school transcript directly to their SUNY application to be shared with the colleges/universities.
-
The Common App is one of the largest online college/university applications in the country. It allows students to complete one application that can be sent to multiple schools.
This application option is best for students who are looking to apply to a combination of in-state, out-of-state, public, and/or private instiutions.
Not all colleges/univerisities accept the Common App. However over 1,000 schools do. If when searching for a school in the application, it does not yield any results, that means the school does not accept the Common App and you will need to utilize a different application method.
Students utitlizing the Common App will be prompted to enter their school counselors contact information. This will notify the counselor allowing them to upload your students high school transcript and any other required information/documents directly to their application to be shared with schools.
Students can apply to up to 20 schools using the Common App.
-
The Coalition for College is an organization that partners with Scoir to allow students to complete one online application that can be sent to multiple schools.
The Coalition for College focuses on supporting low-income, under-resourced, and first-generation students
Approximately 150 colleges and universities participate in the Coalition Application. Though there is not limit to how many of these schools you can apply to.
If utilizing this application method, please be sure to inform your school counselor so that they can send/upload your high school transcript.
-
QuestBridge is an organization that supports high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds.
Known for their QuestBridge National College Match program, the application connects students with full four-year scholarships to at least one of their 55 participating institutions.
Criteria for this program is specific:
- Students who earn primarily A’s in the most challanging courses offered
- Students who demonstrate strong writing abilities and intellectual curiosity
- Come from a household earning less than $65,000 annually with minimal assets
- Demonstrate resilience, integrity, and motivation to succeed
If utilizing this application method, please be sure to inform your school counselor so that they can send/upload your high school transcript.
Key Words & Phrases
There are different types of applications and it is important to know which one is best for you.
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- An offer of admission to a college/university often one you did not actually apply to
- Based on data or information entered
- Typically non-binding
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- An early college application process
- Typically due early-mid November
- Not all schools have this application option
- Students recieve an early response from admissions on their admission decision
- Non-binding: students do NOT have to commit to that college/university
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- An early college application process
- Typically due early-mid November
- Not all schools have this application option
- Students recieve an early response from admissions office on their admission decision
- Applying Early Decision is a binding agreement meaning you MUST attend that college/university if accepted and withdraw all other college applications
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- Standard non-binding application
- Deadlines are typically in January-February
- Admission results released by late spring
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- Not all colleges/universities have this option
- There is no “set” date to apply by
- Applications are reviewed and decided upon as they are recieved