Applying to Four-Year Colleges and Universities
Applying to Four-Year Colleges and Universities
Not sure if you need the SAT or ACT? Your school counselor can help you determine whether standardized testing is recommended based on your college and career goals.
Where to Apply
The BigFuture College Board is a great tool for researching colleges, majors, and financial aid information. The college search tool will help you find schools that match your search criteria.
Select 5-8 schools from all of the following categories:
(1-2 colleges or universities)
GPA/SAT/ACT above what is typically accepted
(3-4 colleges or universities)
GPA/SAT/ACT in line with what is typically accepted
(1-2 colleges or universities)
GPA/SAT/ACT below what is typically accepted
All highly selective schools (Ivy league + “public Ivy” league schools) should always be considered as reach schools. (ex. UVA)
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(1-2 colleges or universities)
GPA/SAT/ACT above what is typically accepted
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(3-4 colleges or universities)
GPA/SAT/ACT in line with what is typically accepted
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(1-2 colleges or universities)
GPA/SAT/ACT below what is typically accepted
All highly selective schools (Ivy league + “public Ivy” league schools) should always be considered as reach schools. (ex. UVA)
Still undecided? That's okay! Many students begin college without declaring a major or change majors during college. Your CHS counselor can help you explore options and create a plan that fits your goals.
For non-VA Schools use CollegeBoard College Search, College Scorecard, or the college/university’s website and search “Class Profile”
Beginning Your College Application
CHS specific documents to help you fill out your college applications.
Helpful information to have when filling out college applications. Your counselor submits this when sharing your transcript and your letter of recommendation (if CCAW is completed by deadline) with the colleges you list on your transcript request form.
For seniors applying to four year colleges, the Post High Planning Worksheet below must be completed and turned into your school counselor. The due date is September 30, 2025 for Early Decision/Action & December deadlines (all 2025 deadlines), the due date is October 24, 2025 for regular decision (January 1, 2026 and beyond deadlines). If you would like a paper copy, please pick up your copy in the School Counseling Office.
google doc format, must be downloaded by saving a copy to your google drive before it can be edited, it will allow you to type your answers in expandable fields)
(google doc format, must be downloaded by saving a copy to your google drive before it can be edited, it will allow you to type your answers in expandable fields)
If applying through Common Black College App or Common App or Coalition, you will login to Naviance via OneLogin and sync your Common App account with Naviance. From there, you will request transcripts for each college you're applying to. From there, your school counselor will upload your transcript as long as you add them. See your school counselor for assistance.
Common Black College App Common App Coalition
If you have taken Dual Enrollment courses through PVCC, YOU must request your transcript be sent through Parchment using the link below.
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Helpful information to have when filling out college applications. Your counselor submits this when sharing your transcript and your letter of recommendation (if CCAW is completed by deadline) with the colleges you list on your transcript request form.
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For seniors applying to four year colleges, the Post High Planning Worksheet below must be completed and turned into your school counselor. The due date is September 30, 2025 for Early Decision/Action & December deadlines (all 2025 deadlines), the due date is October 24, 2025 for regular decision (January 1, 2026 and beyond deadlines). If you would like a paper copy, please pick up your copy in the School Counseling Office.
google doc format, must be downloaded by saving a copy to your google drive before it can be edited, it will allow you to type your answers in expandable fields)
(google doc format, must be downloaded by saving a copy to your google drive before it can be edited, it will allow you to type your answers in expandable fields)
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If applying through Common Black College App or Common App or Coalition, you will login to Naviance via OneLogin and sync your Common App account with Naviance. From there, you will request transcripts for each college you're applying to. From there, your school counselor will upload your transcript as long as you add them. See your school counselor for assistance.
Common Black College App Common App Coalition
If you have taken Dual Enrollment courses through PVCC, YOU must request your transcript be sent through Parchment using the link below.
How to Apply
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- Create accounts
- Create accounts on CommonApp.org and college application websites. Visit CommonApp
- Visit Parchment
- Visit Parchment to request transcripts be sent to all the non-Common App schools where you apply. Visit Parchment Website.
- Testing
- Complete required standardized testing. Be sure to check whether or not your colleges require SAT Subject Tests! Learn More About SAT and ACT testing.
- Sending Test Scores
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Send official score reports to your schools. Official score reports must come directly from the SAT or ACT websites. Ask your College Adviser or School Counselor if you need assistance.
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Return Application Worksheet
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Complete and return the College Application Worksheet to CHS School Counseling.
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Letters of Recommendation
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Ask at least 3 weeks before the application deadline! Earlier if you can.
- Different schools ask for different numbers/kinds of recommendation letters. Read your application instructions carefully!
- Your School Counselor will automatically write you a letter of recommendation when you complete and return the College Application Worksheet.
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- Write Your Essays
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Write and re-write your application essays.
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Give yourself plenty of time to complete these, and have at least one adult review them.
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Submit your applications before the deadline.
- Don’t wait until the last day! Application websites have been known to crash.
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- Scholarship Research
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Begin your scholarship research process
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Keep an eye out for the Scholarship Update Flyer, to be distributed periodically through your English class.
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Read the Counseling Dept. Newsletter!
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Sign up on the CHS School Counseling Website
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Scholarships and other opportunities are posted here.
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Financial Aid
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Apply for financial aid by completing the FAFSA. Visit the website as soon as possible, after it opens on Jan.1st
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Monitor your emails and accounts.
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Monitor application accounts and read all e-mails you receive from schools.
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- Create accounts
Financial Aid
Complete the FAFSA 2026-2027: opens October 1
- College (and some career) financial aid offices rely on information from the FAFSA to award grants, work-study, and need-based scholarships/awards
- You will need: your social security #, 2024 federal income tax returns, W-2s, and other records of income earned
- State aid option for those ineligible to complete the FAFSA
- Used by select schools to award institutional aid
- UVA and William & Mary require the CSS Profile
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- CEEB Code: Abbreviation for the College Entrance Examination Board, which creates and supervises the administration of the SAT. You will use this code when you register for the SAT or ACT. The CEEB code for CHS is 470423.
- Common Application: An online form devised and accepted by 255 colleges, so that a student can send one application to many schools, rather than repeat basic information over and over again. See commonapp.org for more information and a list of schools who accept the Common Application.
- CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE: A financial aid form used by some private colleges and universities in addition to the FAFSA (see below). The CSS/PROFILE is more detailed than the FAFSA. Go to student.collegeboard.org/css-financial-aid-profile for
- more information.
- Decile: CHS does not rank individual students based on GPA, but categorizes them into “deciles,” ranked from 1 (highest GPAs) to 10 (lowest GPAs). Each decile represents 10% of the class. For example, students in the first decile are in the top 10% of the class, students in the second decile are in the top 20% of the class, etc.
- Direct Recommendation: A phrase used at CHS to refer to full-length letters of recommendation that are sent directly to colleges directly from a teacher or other recommender. Adults who write you a direct letter of recommendation should be those who know you best (but not family members) and can reflect on your academic or other achievements. This is in contrast to “indirect recommendations,” defined below.
- Early Action: An admission plan in which a student submits an application by an advanced deadline (typically Nov. 1) and receives an admission decision by mid-December. If accepted “Early Action”, the student has NO OBLIGATION to enroll at that school.
- Early Decision: An admission plan in which a student submits an application to their first-choice college by an advanced deadline (typically Nov. 1) and receives an admission decision by mid-December. By submitting an “Early Decision” application, a student agrees that they WILL ENROLL in that school if accepted and will withdraw applications to all other schools. This is a legally binding agreement.
- FAFSA: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Completing this form (at FAFSA.ed.gov) is the first step in applying for financial aid. For a student planning to enroll in college in Fall 2016, the FAFSA will be available on Jan. 1, 2016 and should be completed promptly thereafter.
- Fee Waivers: Some students, including those who qualify for Free or Reduced-Price Lunch, may take the SAT or ACT at no cost by using a fee waiver. Qualifying students may obtain 2 fee waivers for the SAT, 2 for the SAT Subject Tests, and 2 for the ACT. Talk to your College Adviser or School Counselor for more information about fee waivers.
- GPA: Grade Point Average. This is a numerical representation your grades from all your high school classes. It is used to determine your “decile” at CHS and is one of the primary data points used by colleges in admission decisions. Talk to your School Counselor or College Adviser about how to calculate your GPA.
- Indirect Recommendation: A CHS phrase referring to brief reflections about your performance in the classroom sent from teachers to your School Counselor. Indirect recommenders should be teachers who have positive things to say about your performance but should NOT be the same as your direct recommenders. Indirect recommendations help School Counselors write a thorough letter of recommendation to accompany your official transcript.
- Rolling Admissions: An admission plan in which colleges inform applicants of admission decisions all throughout the year as they receive applications, rather than by a specified date. Students who apply to a college with a rolling admission program typically receive their admission decision 4-6 weeks after applying.
- SAT Subject Tests: Formerly called the SAT IIs, the Subject Tests are meant to measure achievement in a particular subject (ex. Literature, US History, Chemistry, Foreign Languages, etc.) Each test is one hour in length and is scored on a scale from 200 to 800. Students may take up to 3 different Subject Tests on one test date. Some colleges require applicants to take 1-3 subject tests. Verify your application requirements and plan accordingly!
- Secondary School Report (SSR): A form some non-CommonApp schools require to be submitted with the school counselor letter of recommendation and student transcript. It is the student’s responsibility to provide their school counselor with a copy of this form. Read your school’s application instructions carefully to see if they require a SSR.