Sunset
High School
College Information
Below are resources to help students research college options, learn more about the college application process, and find resources to help them pay for college. All juniors and seniors also have access to one-on-one mentoring during the school day through the ASPIRE Mentor Program.
Sunset High School's CEEB code is 380082.
College Applications
Applications
Students submit college applications in the fall of their senior year. Check college admissions office websites to access their online applications, as well as to learn more about their admissions criteria, deadlines, and processes.
Many schools may also use the Common Application and the Coalition Application. These applications allow you to complete one application to apply to multiple schools.
- You can find more information about the Common Application here.
- You can find more information about the Coalition Application here.
Some schools may also ask that you submit application documents through SENDedu, a free, secure electronic document transfer service for counselors, teachers, student references and other officials involved in the application completion process. This service allows you to upload supporting application documents to colleges and universities safely and quickly.
Transcript Requests
To order transcripts, please contact the Counseling Office or visit the transcript request page.
If you are applying for a college through Common App, Coalition App, or Send EDU, your counselor, after you invite them, will upload your transcript.
Senior Recommendation Packet
Not all colleges require a counselor letter of recommendation, so please check the application requirements for any colleges you are applying to prior to submitting a request to your counselor.
All items in the recommendation packet must be complete and submitted to your counselor before they can begin to work on it. Please allow 20 school days to process and write a letter.
For a copy of the Counselor recommendation packet, stop by the Counseling Office or check Canvas.
Gap Year
In the field of college applications, a gap year is a year taken between high school and college. During this gap year, students engage in extra-academic and non-academic courses, language studies, volunteer work, travel, internships, sports and more, all for the purpose of improving themselves and their resumes before going to college. These academic gap years are also called Pathways, Prep-Year and Bridge-Year.
A simple google search will yield more than you ever wanted to know about gap year programs, considerations and things to ask. Do diligent research before deciding on the gap year option, including reaching out to the college or university you would like to apply to in order to find out what their philosophy is on the gap year. Many colleges will not defer scholarships offered to the student if they choose to take a gap year before starting college.
Find more information at Gap Year Association.
College Rep Visits
Students:
To view the current list of college rep visits, please check your grade level canvas page or stop by the College and Career Center.
College Reps:
In-Person visits will resume in the 2022-2023 school year. You can schedule either an in-person or virtual visit with us through Hobson's Repvisits.
College Research
With over 2,000 colleges in the United States alone, the process of narrowing down a right-fit college can seem overwhelming. Fortunately, there are many resources available to help you navigate this process.
Big Future from the College Board has a search tool to help you find a college based on your preferences.
College Scorecard from the U.S. Department of Education has a search tool that allows you to narrow down colleges based on your preferences, and then compare those schools on multiple factors such as size, diversity, average student debt, cost, graduation rates, and average salary after attending.
The National Association of College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) and The Pacific Northwest Association of College Admissions Counseling (PNACAC) host college fairs each year in the Fall and Spring. These are great opportunities to connect with admissions professionals from across the country and gather information about a variety of colleges.
The Educational Credit Management Corporation provides the Opportunities Guide, which helps high school students choose the right college, understand admissions requirements, identify types of financial aid, and more. The guide includes checklists for freshmen through senior years.
Colleges also host many preview days, tours, and other on-campus events to give students an opportunity to see their campuses in-person. For more information about these events or to schedule a college visit and tour, check with the admissions office of the college(s) you are considering.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
To be eligible for most types of financial aid, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Oregon Student Aid Application (ORSAA). These applications compile financial information and other details about students and families, which the US Department of Education and the State of Oregon use to determine financial need and eligibility for various financial aid opportunities.
- Who files the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, (FAFSA)? United States citizens and eligible noncitizens.
- Who files the Oregon Student Aid Application (ORSAA)? Oregon residents who are undocumented, or have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
- Not sure which one to file? Take the quiz.
The CSS Profile is an online application that collects information used by nearly 400 colleges and scholarship programs to award non-federal aid. Visit their site to see which colleges ask for the CSS profile.
Office of Student Access and Completion, or OSAC, awards grants and scholarships of more than $118 million to thousands of Oregon students each year. Prominent grant programs include the Oregon Opportunity Grant, the Oregon Promise Grant, the Chafee Education and Training Grant, and the Oregon Student Child Care Grant.
Institutional aid through colleges: Many universities have generous grant and scholarship programs. Check individual college and university websites for specific details and deadlines for applications.
FastWeb, Unigo, Scholarsapp, Going Merry, and Sallie Mae all compile extensive lists of scholarships and are free of charge.
Sunset's College and Career Center also maintains a list of scholarship opportunities that includes national, state, local, and Sunset specific scholarships. Stop by the CCC for the most updated list.