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WELCOME TO THE COLLEGE APPLICATION JOURNEY!
First of all, let us define and review a few terms we must master.
Application Deadlines are the final date to submit applications. These include:
Regular Decision: Standard deadline, usually January.
Early Action (EA): Non-binding, earlier deadline (Nov/Dec). You must send all requested documents to the university (application, final SAT scores, final Toefl or Duolingo English proficiency test, essay, supplemental essays, transcripts and letters of recommendation before November 1st. This date increases chances of admission and may provide a faster response with an admissions decision Your application’s decision can be an admission, a denial or defer (post pone until next batch of students is reviewed in January)
Early Decision (ED):Student, parent and a school official sign a binding agreement which indicates the student’s decision to enroll in the university and withdraw from every other university database,if admitted. The only way to break this contract is if the family experiences a very strong financial event which prohibits the family from being able to pay the cost of attendance.
Rolling Admission -Applications are reviewed as they arrive, with decisions released continuously.
Deferred Admission -The university admissions’ team reviewed the student’s early application, does not grant admission but does not deny the application. The student’s request is pushed into the regular decision pool.
Waitlist -The student does not get admitted in the regular pool but placed in a holding list for qualified applicants who may be admitted if space opens at the end of the admissions cycle. This is usually by the end of May, June or July after graduation.
Transcript -Official record of high school grades and courses provided by the College Counseling department.
GPA (Grade Point Average) -Numeric summary of academic performance based on a 4.0 point scale.
Standardized Tests The SAT is a standardized test that measures reading comprehension, computational ability, and stamina. It consists of two sections: a math section and a reading and writing portion.
The other well known test is the ACT, which also requires a test in science. The SAT is two hours and 14 minutes long. The ACT is less than three hours depending on the optional writing test.
Differences between SAT and ACT are mainly the following:
The digital SAT is an adaptive test, while the ACT’s digital version follows the same linear structure as its pencil and paper version.
The SAT features fewer questions in more time, averaging one minute and 22 seconds per question. The ACT provides around 42 seconds to one minute and seven seconds per question, depending on the section.
The SAT is scored on a scale of 400 to 1600, while ACT test takers receive a composite score of up to 36.
Superscoring: Colleges combine your highest section scores across multiple SAT/ACT test dates to create a new composite score.
Legacy Applicant: A student with family members (usually parents) who attended the same institution.
Letters of Recommendation -Written endorsements from TWO teachers and ONE counselor or principal.
Personal Statement / Essay - a 650 word narrative showcasing personality, goals, and fit for the school.
CSS Profile Additional financial aid form used by some private colleges to gather financial information.
Merit Aid -Scholarships awarded based on achievements, not financial need.
Need-Based Aid Financial support determined by family income and assets. Not all universities offer it.
Cost of Attendance (COA) -Total estimated cost including tuition, fees, housing, meals, books, and personal expenses.
Net Price -Actual cost after subtracting grants and scholarships.
Holistic Review -Colleges evaluate the whole student grades, essays, extracurriculars, leadership, and personal background. Universities with a humanitarian/ spiritual vision value community service
Yield -The percentage of admitted students who enroll, influencing admissions strategy.
Demonstrated Interest -Actions like campus visits or contacting admissions that show genuine interest. Attending campus visits is IMPORTANT if you plan to apply to that school.
FAFSA -Free Application for Federal Student Aid only available to students with a US social security number. It allows the US government to assess financial status of applicants and possibly award grants, loans and/or workstudy.
Need-Blind vs. Need-Aware:
â—Ź Need-Blind: Admissions decisions are made without considering your financial situation.
â—Ź Need-Aware: Financial need may influence admissions decisions.
Enrollment Deposit: A non-refundable payment to secure your spot once admitted. You must sent this deposit to the one and only college you are planning to attend.
College or University? - A college is an educational institution which provides higher education, specialized professional or vocational training, Nowadays the term “college” is used as a synonym for university.
“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all the wisdom”
Aristotle
Self-Assessment steps
Ask yourself what does my perfect fit and match university look like?
â—Ź Do I prefer a big classroom or small?
â—Ź Location and size. Do I mind/ like to travel long hours? How important is it for me to learn in a smaller space and ask questions in class just by raising my hand?
â—Ź Am I interested in studying in Honduras? United States? Mexico? Europe?
â—Ź Is my grade point average high enough to get awarded a merit scholarship?
â—‹ If yes, what universities are known to be the most generous?
â—‹ If not, what amount of cost of attendance should I have in mind when I am building a college list?
â—‹ How much can my parents contribute towards my college education?
As you get done with these questions, you have achieved a rough profile of your ideal college!
Research Colleges by using BridgeU, CollegeBoard or reliable search engines and narrow down possible colleges in the following categories:
â—Ź Reach schools -It is advisable to apply to 2-4 highly selective colleges IF and only IF you have worked extra hard in school.
â—Ź Match schools -Since all colleges share statistics on their website regarding their admitted students, your research lets you know which schools admit students with your grade point average and SAT scores. Select at least three colleges where your GPA and SAT are considered average based on previously admitted students.
â—Ź Safety schools -Colleges that recruit students at AST are fantastic options of institutions that are looking to award scholarships and admit international students. Choose 2-3 options based on your future area of interest.
Other facts to consider when rating possible universities are their majors & programs, graduation rates, campus culture, internships & outcomes.
5. Build Your Application Materials
You’ll usually need:
â—Ź Application form (Common App or school-specific, UCAS for schools in the U.K.)
â—Ź Personal essay
â—Ź Supplemental essays: colleges want to know how well has the applicant know the university where they are applying, and how they think they will contribute to the university.
â—Ź Letters of recommendation
â—Ź Transcript
â—Ź Resume / activities list
6. Write Strong Essays which have been revised and proof read by someone you trust who will not change the students’ voice. Personal essay.- Be authentic, not impressive, show growth, values, or perspective while describing a story, accomplishment or lesson learned in your life.
7. Ask for Recommendations 2–4 weeks in advance to teachers who know you well. It is always helpful to provide a brag sheet or resume. Please ask nicely, invite them through BridgeU. Remember to say thank you.
8. Once you submit an application, CHECK your EMAIL constantly. Colleges will send you information to open a portal with your name and applicant number. They will communicate with you through this portal ONLY and will let you know if you are missing documents. Parents and counselors are not copied on this information. Therefore, it is your responsibility to open the portals and check them regularly.
9. Look at virtual tours available on the college websites. If possible, visit campuses of colleges that admit you. Nothing gives you a better feel of your future alma mater than a visit.
FINAL DEADLINE send a deposit and secure your space is May 1st, unless otherwise informed. Take advantage of this free resource if you are applying to colleges in the United States.
Go to collegeboard.org
Click Sign In (top right). 3. Enter your College Board username and password. o If you forgot them, click Forgot username/password and follow the prompts. 4. Once logged in, use the dashboard to access what you need:
o My SAT / PSAT → scores, test registration
o BigFuture → college search and planning
5. If you don’t have an account, click Create Account and complete the setup (you’ll need your legal name, date of birth, and email).
Tips if you get stuck:
â—Ź Make sure pop-ups are allowed.
â—Ź Use the same name you used when registering for tests.
● Try a different browser or clear cache if pages won’t load.
Here are straightforward, step-by-step instructions to access College Board SAT registration:
1. Go to the College Board website Open a browser and visit collegeboard.org.
2. Sign in or create an account
o Click Sign In (top right).
o If you don’t have an account, click Create Account and follow the prompts.
3. Navigate to SAT registration
o After signing in, select SAT from the menu.
o Click Register for the SAT. Keep in mind you must only answer questions with an asterisk. This will save you time.
4. Choose your test date and location
o Select an available test date.
o Search for test center 91-180 or the American School of Tegucigalpa.
5. Complete accommodations (if applicable).
6. Upload a photo that you have taken of yourself with a white background.
7. Review your registration details.
o Pay the registration fee using a credit/debit card or other accepted payment method.
8. Confirm registration
o Submit and save/print your confirmation page. You’ll also receive a confirmation email.
College Board BigFuture is also useful for college search and planning:
1. Go to the College Board website. Visit collegeboard.org.
o Click Sign In (top right).
o Use your College Board account, or create one if you don’t have one. (You can browse without signing in, but signing in lets you save colleges and plans.)
2. Open BigFuture
o From the main menu, select BigFuture
o Or go directly to BigFuture from the homepage.
3. Access college search
o Click College Search.
o Use filters like location, major, size, cost, and selectivity.
4. Explore college details
o Click on a college to see admissions info, majors, costs, and student life.
5. Use planning tools
o Go to Plan for College or Explore Careers within BigFuture.
o Save colleges, compare options, and track next steps.
6. Save and revisit
o Saved colleges and plans are stored in your account for later access and next meeting with your counselor.
BridgeU is a university and career guidance platform used by AST students to explore higher-education and career options and start building a college list. Opposed to the College Board, BridgeU is a platform that works to explore and send official documents to universities in the entire world.
Using BridgeU, AST Eagles are able to:
â—Ź Explore careers and interests to better understand strengths and future options.
â—Ź Search and learn about thousands of universities worldwide including personalised university matches based on preferences and grades.
â—Ź Build a shortlist of best-fit universities and courses tailored to interests and goals.
â—Ź Manage application tasks like requesting recommendation letters, uploading documents, and tracking deadlines.
Check out these videos:Home Page - BridgeU
The Common Application (usually called the Common App) is an online college application platform used by hundreds of colleges and universities, mostly in the U.S. (and some international schools). Instead of filling out a totally separate application for every school, you apply to multiple colleges using one main application.
What it includes:
Personal info (name, address, family, etc.)
â—Ź Education & grades
â—Ź Activities & honors (clubs, sports, work, volunteering)
â—Ź Essays
o One main personal statement and some schools add supplemental essays
â—Ź Recommendations from teachers/counselors
â—Ź Application fees (or fee waivers)
Important notes
â—Ź Each college can still ask extra questions
â—Ź Deadlines vary (Early Action, Early Decision, Regular Decision)
â—Ź The Common App usually opens August 1 each year
Here are straightforward steps to access the Common Application:
1. Go to https://www.commonapp.org
2. Click “Create an Account” after August 1, 2026
3. Select “First-year student”
4. Enter your email address, create a password, and fill in basic info
5. Verify your email when prompted
6. Log in to your dashboard to start your application
The CSS Profile ( College Scholarship Service Profile) is an online financial aid application used by some colleges and scholarship programs to help them grant need-based scholarships to both non-US citizens and US passport holders. It is the form that international students can use to apply for aid since the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is only for US citizens.
Families that use the CSS Profile should be ready to share detailed financial information about their income and assets. Parents are the main providers of this information, since the student is required to answer questions about parents’ taxes and expenses. Information about both parents will be required, even if the parents are divorced or separated.
The CSS profile opens October 1st. The form can be found at https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org. The first time a student sends the CSS profile, the cost is $25. Future reports to other colleges cost $16 each. Deadlines vary by school and it is mandatory for participating universities if the student is requesting financial aid.
"For every minute spent organizing, an hour is earned."
– Benjamin Franklin
Here are step-by-step directions to set up a customized Google Doc with a separate tab for each university to organize college essays and supplements.
Part 1: Create the main document
Go to docs.google.com - Click Blank -Rename the document (top left), for example: College Essay & Supplement Organizer – Class of 2027 - Part 2: Set up basic formatting (one time) Go to File → Page setup: Margins: 1 inch Orientation: Portrait, Set standard formatting: Font: Times New Roman or Arial, Size: 12 Line spacing: Double. Optional but helpful: Insert → Page numbers
Part 3: Create the first university tab Click Insert → Tabs → New tab
Rename the tab by clicking the dropdown arrow on the tab
Example: University of Michigan
Each tab will now act like a separate section for one college.
Part 4: Create a standard template inside the tab
At the top of the tab, add the university name and format it as Title
Copy and paste this template into the tab:
MISSION STATEMENT (Paste or summarize the university’s mission/values here)
APPLICATION DEADLINES • Early Action / Early Decision: • Regular Decision
ESSAY REQUIREMENTS Essay 1: Prompt:Word Count Limit:Draft
Essay 2: Prompt: Word Count Limit:Draft
NOTES / THEMES TO HIGHLIGHT
• Values that match the mission
• Programs, majors, or opportunities to mention
Use Heading styles to keep things clean:
• Section titles → Heading 1
• Essay labels (Essay 1, Essay 2) → Heading 2
Part 5: Duplicate tabs for other universities
• Click the three-dot menu on the tab
• Select Duplicate
• Rename the new tab with the next university’s name
• Repeat for each school you’re applying to
(This keeps formatting consistent across all colleges.)
Part 6: Optional customization (highly recommended)
Color-coding
• Mission Statement → Blue
• Prompts → Gray
• Drafts → Black
• Final drafts → Green
Word count tracking
• After each draft, type:
Word Count: ___ / ___
Version control
• Go to File → Version history → Name current version
Example: NYU Supplement – Draft 2
Part 7: Sharing & collaboration
• Click Share
• Add teachers/counselors as Commenters
• Keep editing access for yourself only
Part 8: Staying organized
• Keep one university per tab
• Update deadlines once applications are submitted
• Mark completed essays with FINAL – SUBMITTED
This guide has been edited by: Ms. Yolanda Lainez de Aviles, HS College Counselor at the American School of Tegucigalpa. Mrs. Aviles has represented AST in more than 20 international conferences as a speaker and participant. She has supported the college application process of more than 2,000 Eagles in her 30 years of experience at AST.
A very special thanks goes to Ms. Patricia Giron, for her assistance compiling information shared in this guide. Thank you, Development Office, Administration and counseling team, for an amazing support, and Mr. Ricardo Frias, Communications Coordinator, for his expertise and technical assistance.
The content in this guide was drawn from the following sources:
https://www.collegeboard.org/
https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/scores/act-vs-sat.html
https://bridge-u.com/
https://www.commonapp.org/
https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org/
https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
https://support.google.com/a/users/answer/9300311?hl=en
https://blog.docswrite.com/how-to-organize-google-docs-a-step-by-step-guide
https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/scores/act-vs-sat.html
Additional information can be found in the following sites:
10 Essential Tips for High School Juniors Preparing for College Applications
A Complete College Prep Checklist: High School Junior Year - The Scholarship System
College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools
Advisor BridgeU
One-Stop Shop for College Planning: FREE Tools and Resources!