Apply
Where applications are actually submitted.
- Common App (opens in a new tab)
Apply to participating colleges and manage your application in one place.
Financial aid
Applying for help paying for college.
- FAFSA — Federal Student Aid (opens in a new tab)
Apply for federal student aid and read the official federal guidance.
- CSS Profile (opens in a new tab)
Some colleges use this for their own institutional aid.
Complete it only if a college on your list requires it.
Testing & scores
Official test registration and score reporting.
- SAT — College Board (opens in a new tab)
Register for the SAT and send official score reports.
- ACT (opens in a new tab)
Register for the ACT and send official score reports.
After you apply
What usually happens once your application is in.
- Watch for your applicant portal
After you submit, a college may email you instructions for its own applicant portal — where you check documents and decisions.
There is no universal portal. Always use the link that college sends you directly.