Applying to College: Important things to know
Application Deadlines: Students are responsible for knowing their own deadlines!
Goal: For November 1 deadlines - Students should plan to submit Applications by October 20, 2024
Goal: For December 1 deadlines - Students should plan to submit Applications by October 31, 2024
ACT/SAT Scores: While many colleges are Test Optional, some programs within certain colleges still require a score. Students are responsible to know their situation. For example, many majors at the University of Cincinnati are test optional, however their nursing program requires a test score. Students must request their own score to be sent to the college. Do this early!
College Deadlines and Test Scores: A Cheat Sheet
Applying to College: Step by Step Instructions
College Application Presentation: Kings w/ Schoolinks - Powerpoint Presentation for Students & Parents
KHS College Application Google Site - Step by Step Instructions
- General Information
- Common Application
- Schoolinks (Initial Set up, Student Profile, Letters of Rec, Transcripts)
- Frequently Asked Questions
- FAFSA and Scholarships
Letters of Rec: Students should fill out their Profile in Schoolinks or upload a resume before requesting letters of rec! This gives the teachers extra detail to include in their letter.
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) Resources:
All Senior's who have completed College Applications are strongly encouraged to fill out the FAFSA in order to be eligible for federal student aid and also to be eligible for college sponsored merit scholarships.
There are 3 Important steps in this process
Step 1: Each student and one parent will need to create an FSA ID to act as your on-line signature.
See Instructions to create FSA ID here. Create FSA ID here.
Step 2: Each student must Fill out a FAFSA Application (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
See this link for a 2025/26 FAFSA Completion Guide
Create an Account here.
Step 3: A Parent or Guardian "Contributor" will be identified by each student
and that person will receive an email with directions to complete their portion of the application.
Important Things to Remember
Each FAFSA is based on the previous year's taxes.
For example the 2023 taxes will be used when filling out the FAFSA in December of 2024 for the 2025/26 school year.
The actual FAFSA Application is created in the student's name, using the student's birthdate and social security number. The student will invite their parent/guardian as a "contributor".
It's important to write down ID's and Passwords b/c the FAFSA will need to be completed each college year in order to be eligible for many Financial Aid opportunities.
Other Resources
Website: Tips to fill out the FAFSA
2025/26 FAFSA Walk thru Video
After the FAFSA is Complete
- Each college or university that your student has applied to will go out and "grab" the FAFSA information.
- Each college will use it to decide what kind of Grants, Loans and Scholarships to offer your student.
Merit Scholarships are based on grades and scores (not finances) but they will be applied in this process as well.
- Each College will then mail to you or make available on their portal your student's "Cost of Attendance" statement.
This usually happens in the February/March timing but can be delayed due to FAFSA processing timelines.
COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP 101
Helpful Sites include:
- Going Merry, Fastweb, Scholarships.com, Chegg, Studentscholarships.org and College Board
- Going Merry is highly recommended and works much like the Common App. Fill it out once and use it to apply to many scholarships.
