College Application Instructions

Naviance is an important part of the college application process at UHS. Students should use Naviance to connect their Common App account to their Naviance account, maintain an accurate list of colleges they are applying to, and request teacher recommendations. Keeping your Naviance account up to date ensures that the Counseling Center has the information needed to send your school documents and recommendations to colleges. Be sure to complete each step below carefully and keep your Naviance and Common App accounts up to date throughout the application process.

Match Naviance and Common App

If you are using Common App, you must match your Common Application to Naviance. To do so:

1. Log onto your Naviance account.
2. Click on Colleges at the top of the page.
3. Click on Colleges I’m Applying To.
4. Click on Match Accounts at the top of the page.
5. Enter your log in information for your Common App and click Match Accounts.
6. After entering your login information, your accounts should match and you should be redirected back to Naviance.

Colleges I'm Applying To

Your Common App and Naviance accounts are linked. Any schools you have listed in the Common App will automatically download to Naviance. There is no need to re-enter them in Naviance.

If you are applying to schools that do not accept the Common App, you will need to manually add those schools to Naviance. In Naviance:

1. Click on the Colleges Tab.
2. Click on the Colleges I'm Applying To tab.
3. Use the blue button to add any schools that are not listed in your Common App.
4. Be sure to indicate your application type (RD, EA, ED...).

Teacher Recommendations

1. Letters of recommendation should not be sent without a previous in-person discussion with your teacher and submission of the Teacher Request for Recommendation Form. Once these tasks are complete, you can submit an electronic recommendation request in Naviance.
2. Go to the Colleges tab.
3. Select Letters of recommendation under the Colleges I Am Applying To tab.
4. Click Request Recommendation.
5. Select the Teacher letter type.
6. Under Recommendation Name, click the drop-down arrow and select a teacher you have asked to write a letter.
7. Under Request type, select Open.
8. You may leave the additional details field empty. You provided this information already through your Teacher Request for Recommendation Form.
9. Hit Submit.
10. Repeat these steps for all teachers who will be writing you a recommendation letter.

College Meetings

1. Attend a senior seminar during Lunch & Learn the second week of school. This is a required meeting.
2. Schedule a senior meeting with your counselor. No school documents will be sent without an individual counselor meeting.
   • For Rolling and Early Applications (Oct/Nov deadlines), schedule your appointment by October 1.
   • For Regular Decision Applications (Dec/Jan/Feb deadlines), schedule your meeting prior to November 15.

1. If you are applying test-optional, you do not need to do anything.
2. If you are sending test scores, many colleges allow students to self report their scores on their Common Application. When students select this option, they do not need to send an official score report unless they are admitted and choose to enroll.
3. If a college requires official test scores, you must send them through the College Board or ACT website.
4. The UHS Counseling Center can NOT submit students' scores.

Before UHS can release your materials to colleges, you must grant us permission to do so by submitting the Transcript and Recommendation Release Form.

1. Go to Naviance and click on Read more in the bottom right corner of the Welcome to Naviance box.
2. A window will pop up and you will see links to the Transcript Recommendation Release Form.
3. Click on your counselor's name.
4. Complete and submit the form.
5. You must submit a form for EACH college to which you are applying.
6. Forms must be submitted AT LEAST TWO WEEKS PRIOR to a college's application deadline. Feel free to submit forms earlier.

Note: you may submit your application whenever you are ready. You do not need to wait for your school documents to be sent.

1. Some colleges and universities require students to complete the Self-Reported Transcript and Academic Record (STARS). If required, your application is not complete until the STARS has been submitted to the college. The STARS must be submitted by the college’s application deadline.
   Note: Some colleges require you to submit your application for admission before you can submit the STARS.
2. Click here for a list of colleges and universities that use the STARS.
3. If the STARS is required, go to the STARS Login page.
4. On the right-hand side of the page, click Create STARS Account
5. Use the same email address you used when submitting your college applications.
6. Do not use a shared or family email address.
7. Be sure to save your STARS email address and password in a safe place. You will need this information to access your account in the future.
8. Enter your information, confirm your email address, and create your account.
9. Log back into your STARS account and begin entering your information. Work through the sections in order, starting with Core Coursework, followed by grades and then test scores. It will be helpful if you have a copy of your transcript on hand when filling out the STARS.
10. If you are applying test-optional, do not report your test scores in STARS. For any test-required schools, you may either self-report your scores in the Common App or send an official report through the testing agency.
11. You do not have to complete the STARS in one sitting. Save your information before exiting and log back in later to continue.
12. Link your STARS to each college application that requires it.
    • Once you have completed your STARS, save your information.
    • Log in to the first college or university on your list that uses STARS.
    • Find the option to link/connect your STARS to that college's application.
    • Complete the linking process and save your progress in the college's application.
    • Repeat this process for each college that requires STARS.

After you have completed and submitted your STARS, check the application status for every college that uses STARS to make sure your STARS has been successfully linked and that there are no other outstanding application requirements.

• If not already done, complete the Counselor and Teacher Letter of Recommendation Request Forms.
• Parents should complete the Parent Information sheet.
• Check the admissions pages of each college you are applying to to confirm application timelines and requirements.
• Complete the FAFSA and CSS Profile (if required). If not applying for financial aid, complete the FAFSA Opt Out Form.
• D1 and D2 college athletes - register with the NCAA Eligibility Center.
• Check email regularly for messages from colleges about creating accounts, accessing portals, and next steps.