Planning & Applying for College

The term college includes technical colleges, two-year community colleges, vocational or trade schools and four-year colleges and universities. There is not one type of college that is best for everyone, so it is important to take your time and explore your options. You can search for colleges using the College Board search tool. 

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Use the drop-down menu below to learn more about different types of colleges.

With so many options to consider, the college planning process can feel a bit overwhelming. As a first step, you’ll want to learn as much as you can about different colleges, majors, and scholarships. One easy way to expand your knowledge is to receive information straight from colleges or scholarship programs interested in connecting with you.

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The cost of attending a school varies by type of school, location, and more. Each college estimates the cost of attendance by adding together the cost of tuition, fees, housing, transportation, books and supplies, and other living expenses.

The cost of college can be overwhelming, but there are many different resources to help you pay for college. People often use multiple sources of financial aid to pay for college, including grants and scholarships, loans, and work study jobs. 

Learn more about paying for college, applying for financial aid, and types of financial aid available

All colleges have an application. Typically, you can submit a vocational, technical, two-year or four-year college and university application online and sometimes in-person or by mail. There is a common application that is used by hundreds of colleges in the U.S., this application is convenient because you can send it to multiple eligible schools. There is also a shared application for many community and technical colleges in Washington.

Most schools ask for your official transcripts from high school and college if you have earned college credit. They may also want:

• Test scores from the SAT or ACT college entrance exams
• A personal statement or essay as a way for the college to get to know you and why you are interested in the school
• A resume or list of activities you participated in like clubs, sports, jobs, etc.
• Letter(s) of recommendation from a teacher, counselor, coach, etc. who can speak to your qualities, character and capabilities

Some schools may also have an application fee, but you may be eligible to receive a fee waiver if you meet certain criteria. Ask your school's college and career counselor for more information.

College Academic Distribution Requirements (CADRs) is a set of core high‑school coursework requirements used for admission to Washington State public universities.

• English - 4 yrs
• Math - 3 yrs
  • Algebra
  • Geometry
  • Algebra II
• Social Sciences - 3 yrs
• Lab Science - 3 yrs
• World Language - 2 yrs
• Fine, Visual or Performing Art - 0.5 yrs
• Academic Elective - 0.5 yrs
• Sr. Year, Math-Based Quantitative Course - 1 yr
  • Intermediate algebra (or higher), stats, chemistry, or physics
• A well-written personal statement and activities log

Note: generally, special education courses do not qualify as CADRs. For a special education class to be classified as a CADR, the course must be fully aligned with grade level learning standards for the course represented.

College admissions essays are an important part of your college application and gives you the chance to show colleges and universities your character and experiences. This guide will give you tips to write an effective college essay.

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These schools offer associate's degrees and certificates, including for specific trades. Washington state has 34 public community and technical colleges.  

These schools can be a smart choice for students wanting to reduce the cost of a four-year degree, acquire skills that help them find higher paying jobs or obtain higher education close to home. 

Application process

Below are some of the general steps to applying for a two-year college, but it may vary. Please look at the website of the college(s) you're interested in for information specific to that school or contact their admissions office. 

• Apply online, by mail, or in-person. 
• Submit an application for financial aid, the FAFSA or WASFA. 
• Take a placement test at the college. Some colleges also accept transcripts  or other information to determine placement. 
• Schedule an academic advising appointment at the college.

There is a shared application for many community and technical colleges in Washington.

These schools offer bachelor's degrees, usually completed in four (4) years of full-time study. Private schools typically charge a higher tuition, but can offer a significant amount of scholarships to make attendance affordable. 

Application process

Below are some of the general steps to applying for a four-year college, but it may vary. Please look at the website of the college(s) you're interested in for information specific to that school or contact their admissions office. 

• Submit an application for financial aid, the FAFSA or WASFA
• Read the admission requirements for each specific school you're interested in attending
• Begin their application
• Request letters of recommendation from a teacher, counselor, coach, etc. who can speak to your qualities, character and capabilities
• Request official transcripts from your high school and college if you completed college credit in high school
• Send your SAT or ACT scores
• Write and edit your personal statement essay and any other pieces the college requires
• Complete and submit your college application. Make sure you receive a confirmation email that your application was successfully submitted, if not then contact the admissions office to make sure they received it.

There is a common application that is used by hundreds of colleges in the U.S., this application is convenient because you can send it to multiple eligible schools.

The Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States (AMCSUS) was founded in 1914 and serves as an advocate for the nation’s premier military colleges and schools. learn about private military boarding and day schools, military colleges, and public military charter schools.  

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