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4-year College Application Process

Timeline	Action Items
Summer:	Research colleges, build college list, start Common App personal essay, create FSA ID
Sep–Oct:	Finish personal essay and write supplemental essays, prepare scholarship & financial aid plans, complete FAFSA/CASFA
Oct 7–9:	Submit apps during CO Free Application Days
Nov–Dec:	Submit Early Action/Decision apps, finalize recommendations and essays, apply for scholarships
Jan–Feb:	Submit Regular Decision apps, continue applying for scholarships, submit Letters of Continued Interest if waitlisted
Mar–Apr:	Compare offers, go on second‑look visits, accept waitlists or offers
May:	Submit deposit, decline other offers, and get excited to graduate!

 

Step 1 - Research and plan

1. Use SchooLinks to explore

2. Log-in to college website(s) directly    

   • Begin to weigh out your options for each college 

   • Understand college deadlines and admission requirements

   • Consider virtual tours and campus visits

   • Think about "fit," academics, size, location, campus life, cost, major programs, etc. 

3. Build a list of colleges you want to apply to. Balance your list with schools that are a "reach," that are a good match for your qualifications, and "safety" schools

4. Decide how to apply and write your personal essay

   • Individual applications - on the college website(s)

   • Common App “CA” - (one application to multiple schools) - required essay prompts available 8/1

Step 2: Apply

4 year colleges - Apply well before the application deadline 

The Common Application takes weeks to complete. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE!!

Use these instructions to help you complete your Common App and necessary steps in SchooLinks

1. Colorado Free Application Day is Tuesday, October 7th - Thursday, October 9th, 2025

   • Instructions for Free App Days - obtain waiver codes for each CO college for use 10/7-10/9
2. Apply to MORE than one college - especially if some are more difficult to get into (aim for at least 3 to 4 colleges)
3. ‘Early application’ option - the college will make a decision quicker or you are placed in regular decision
4. Colleges vary in how they process applications. Pay attention to whether they have rolling admissions (they make admission decisions as applications come in) or if they decide all at once after the deadline. Be strategic about when you apply!
5. Your transcript will be sent to college(s) through SchooLinks
   • Colleges MUST BE in your "College Applications" list in SchooLinks. Use these instructions if you need help.
   • You should allow ONE WEEK processing for transcripts to be sent
6. Request Letters of Recommendation (LOR) through SchooLinks. 
   • Ask in-person first and be sure to communicate deadlines when asking
   • Request LORs in SchooLinks 
   • Fill out the Brag Sheet in SchooLinks to help your letter writer(s)
7. SAT testing and reporting - your scores are on your CollegeBoard account.    
   • Want to retake the SAT?  CollegeBoard SAT registration
   • All Colorado public four-year colleges and universities are test-optional. The applicant can decide if they want their test score to be considered in the admission process, though some colleges recommend sending scores if you have a lower gpa. Test Optional Chart.

Step 3: Financing College

1. Scholarships
   • Horizon will email scholarship opportunities out through SchooLinks. 
   • Check search engines through SchooLinks, work places, and colleges websites
     • There are many ways to search for scholarships. Some places to start could be: fastweb.com, scholarships.com, goingmerry.com, and BigFuture by CollegeBoard.
   • NEVER give money to get money! 
2. Financial Aid 
   • FAFSA 2026-27(College year): Open in October 2025; use your 2024 tax returns 
     • Both students and parents must create an FSA ID (required to submit). Create your IDs before October
     • Use “Who’s My FAFSA Parent?” tool if needed
   • CASFA: Colorado’s application for state aid (students who don’t qualify for federal aid still may qualify for state support)

STEP 4: Athletes 

1. Speak with your counselor. Make sure they know you're interested in playing college sports.
2. NCAA Eligibility Center to register (not a recruiting site; registers your academic eligibility)

 

Adams12 has switched from Naviance to SchooLinks (on your dashboard).  To search colleges, go to SchooLinks Icon> Colleges > School Search > change “school type” filters as needed

Check application deadlines on college websites. You'll typically apply after the 1st semester of senior year in HS.

Here's a list of some 2-year and technical schools to get you started on your search.

• Front Range Community College 
• Community College of Denver  
• Emily Griffith Technical College 
• AIMS Community College
• Red Rocks Community College
• Community College of Aurora 

1. Request your transcript to be sent to the college(s) through SchooLinks
   • Your application should be COMPLETED first AND ready to be submitted or already submitted
2. Scholarships
   • Horizon will email scholarship opportunities out through SchooLinks. 
   • Check search engines through SchooLinks, work places, and colleges websites
     • There are many ways to search for scholarships. Some places to start could be: fastweb.com, scholarships.com, goingmerry.com, and BigFuture by CollegeBoard.
   • NEVER give money to get money! 
3. Financial Aid 
   • FAFSA 2026-27(College year): Open in October 2025; use your 2024 tax returns 
     • Both students and parents must create an FSA ID (required to submit). Create your IDs before October
     • Use “Who’s My FAFSA Parent?” tool if needed
   • CASFA: Colorado’s application for state aid (students who don’t qualify for federal aid still may qualify for state support)

You will need to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, or ASVAB. This is a multiple-choice test used by the U.S. Military to determine a person's aptitude for various military jobs. Horizon usually administers the ASVAB in November to juniors and seniors. Watch your email or speak with your counselor if you are interested in taking the ASVAB at Horizon. You must pre-register. 

Prepare to take the ASVAB - you can take practice tests to increase your score. Your job depends on it!

Contact a recruiter for next steps.

Recruiters generally visit our campus on the 1st Wednesday of each month during lunch. Find them in the Student Center. 

Recruiting Center in Thornton

Address: 550 E Thornton Pkwy #130, Thornton, CO 80229 Phone: (303) 451-1566

Army: (303) 217-9637

Air Force: (720) 985-7201

National Guard: (720) 584-3672

Marine Corps: (303) 451-1738

Navy: (303) 452-7419

GI Bill - find information about GI Bill benefits for qualifying veterans and their family members

Tuition Assistance Program - links to information about tuition assistance programs for each branch of service

 

Research requirements for apprenticeship, training, and hiring programs. 

• Colorado Dept of Labor
• Connecting Colorado
• Labor Market Information
• Colorado Apprenticeship Programs (watch for the Apprenticeship Fair emails)
• Registered Apprenticeship Programs Directory