Parents of college bound seniors should read everything below, so that their college applications are sent as a completed packet by the college’s specified deadline. This is essential because college admission and financial aid/scholarships may be at stake!
Unless specified otherwise, students need to turn in their college applications to their counselor, complete with all of the necessary materials, by the following deadlines:
* IMPORTANT: Once school is out for winter break, the Guidance Department does not remain open and the counselors do not work. If you plan on submitting any four-year college application materials to your counselor in December, you must hand them in no later than 2 weeks prior to the break to ensure that they can be completed and mailed before school is out. If you submit these materials to your counselor any later, you run the risk that your college application will not be completed and mailed by the college’s application deadline. Please plan accordingly.
The four-year college deadlines above serve the student in three ways: 1) they allow seniors the necessary time to prepare for first semester final exams without the added stress of completing the college application process; 2) they allow time for students to enjoy the holidays; and, 3) they ensure that the Poudre Guidance Staff has adequate time to process and mail applications, and any required supplementary materials, to colleges before winter break (we process nearly 1000 college applications each year). Also, be aware that college admissions and college based scholarships and financial aid packages are often awarded to those who are both most qualified and most timely in getting their applications submitted.
IMPORTANT: Before submitting a paper application and any other required supplementary materials to your counselor, or before submitting any on-line applications to a college, it is VITAL that all materials and information be thoroughly reviewed for accuracy by the student and their parents first!
For paper (non-online) four-year college applicants: Before submitting your non-online (paper) college applications to your counselor, it is critical to ensure that all of the following items are together with the application: the application fee, any letters of recommendation, an essay and/or personal statement (if required), and any other required supplemental information that the college requests. Unless there are extenuating circumstances, if any of these materials are missing, the counselor will not take your application for processing, and this may impact whether your application arrives to the college by the deadline. We receive and process far too many applications to track incomplete application packets, so it is in your best interest to submit all of the application materials at one time to your counselor. If a counselor accepts an incomplete college application packet, the counselor will assume no responsibility in getting that application packet complete and mailed to the college by the deadline.
Online four-year college applicants:Make sure that your counselor is aware that an online application has been completed as soon as possible. Since counselors are not directly involved in the completion of the online college application, seniors and their parents should ensure that the application is accurately completed and sent to the desired college according to that college's guidelines and timeline. If an online application requires any additional materials or records from the high school, your counselor needs to know exactly which materials or records are necessary in order to complete your application packet (usually you will need to separately send: the application fee, a counselor signature and/or school report form, any letters of recommendation, an essay and/or personal statement, an official transcript, and any other required supplemental information that the college requests). Your counselor cannot help you complete your college application packet by the deadline unless they have the necessary information to do so. Finally, you will need to submit all required supplementary materials at the same time that you ask your counselor to send any school records to a college. Unless there are extenuating circumstances, if any of these materials are missing the counselor will not take your application for processing, and this may impact whether your application arrives to the college by the deadline. We receive and process far too many applications to track incomplete application packets, so it is in your best interest to submit all of the application materials at one time to your counselor. If a counselor accepts an incomplete college application packet, the counselor will assume no responsibility in getting that application packet complete and mailed to the college by the deadline.
Two-year, trade or vocational college applicants: Most of these institutions accept students on a rolling admissions basis. Deadlines will be specific to the term in which you plan to attend. Read the application carefully to see if there are any deadlines. We strongly recommend that you apply to these institutions before February so that you can obtain the best financial aid possible. To obtain the most financial aid possible, it is best to apply to FAFSA by February 15 th at the latest. To receive a financial aid package, you must have applied and have been accepted.
Finally:
Don’t delay your college application process! If students and their parents have any questions on the college application process, they are urged to call their counselor as soon as possible.
Best wishes with your college applications!
Poudre Guidance Department Staff