Private College Checklist
Seniors: This is a step-by-step checklist for applying to Private Colleges (Lewis and Clark, Willamette, Linfield, Stanford, Harvard, etc.) Please read this carefully so that you don’t miss any steps. Reminder: If you are applying ONLY to Public/State Colleges you DO NOT need Letters of Rec and you can go to the State College Checklist.
1. LOG IN to MaiaLearning
- Go to https://www.maialearning.com/
- In the top right corner click Log In
- Click the "Sign in with Google" button
2. SYNC the COMMON APPLICATION to MaiaLearning
If you are applying to colleges using the Common App, you MUST sync it with MaiaLearning BEFORE you can request any materials, including transcripts. Follow the steps below in the order written.
PART 1: In the Common App
When you’ve synced correctly, it must look like this on your MaiaLearning Profile page. See your counselor if you have done all the steps and it’s not saying “connected” and “waived”
If you are applying to colleges using the Common App, you MUST sync it with MaiaLearning BEFORE you can request any materials, including transcripts. Follow the steps below in the order written.
PART 1: In the Common App
- Create and log in to your Common App account.
- Go to the "Common App" tab. Complete the required fields (*) in the Profile section. In the Education section, use the CEEB Code 380855 to find and select Cleveland High School. Complete the rest of the questions in that section, "Current or Most Recent Secondary/High School."
- Enter at least one college on your My Colleges tab. Go to College Search to add one if needed.
- Select one college from your list, and click Recommenders and FERPA and then Complete Release Authorization.
- Check the box next to “I have read and understood the FERPA Release...” and click on Continue.
- On the following screen, check the box "I acknowledge that every school I have attended may release all..."
- Check the box next to "I understand..." and enter your name and date. Click Save and Close.
- In your MaiaLearning account, click on your Profile (top right-hand corner).
- Click on Settings.
- In the Application Systems box, select Click to link your account.
- A pop up window will appear. Click Continue. You will be redirected to the Common App site. Log in using your Common App account username and password. In the pop-up, check the box next to "I Agree" to share your Common App information with MaiaLearning, and click Connect.
When you’ve synced correctly, it must look like this on your MaiaLearning Profile page. See your counselor if you have done all the steps and it’s not saying “connected” and “waived”
3. ADD to your LIST of COLLEGES and UNIVERSITIES
Click on Universities, then Applying (at the top of the page).
Click on Universities, then Applying (at the top of the page).
- Click “Add University” in the upper right hand corner and search by name.
- If you already saved colleges in your Considering List, you can click To Applying to move them to your Applying section.
- You MUST fill in the application details below for each college:
- Application Type: Coalition, Common App, Online App, or Other App (i.e. paper application).
- Term (will be Fall of next year in most cases).
- Application Plan: Early Decision, Regular Decision, Priority, Early Action, Rolling. Deadline will auto-populate once you select a plan.
4. REQUEST TRANSCRIPTS (at least 2 weeks before due date)
Tutorial: Requesting Transcripts in MaiaLearning
- Click on Universities, then Applying (at the top of the page).
- Move the button to the right next to Transcript Request for each of your schools.
Tutorial: Requesting Transcripts in MaiaLearning
5. REQUEST COUNSELOR LETTERS of RECOMMENDATION
- COUNSELOR LETTERS WILL BE REQUIRED FOR MOST PRIVATE COLLEGES.
- E-mail your counselor to ask them for a letter of recommendation at least 3 WEEKS BEFORE YOUR FIRST DEADLINE. Your counselor may also want you to make an appointment for an in-person interview.
- Fill out the Senior STUDENT Survey for Counselor Letter of Recommendation. On the left-side navigation menu, click Dashboard, and two questionnaires will be listed there. Select Senior STUDENT Survey for Counselor Letter of Recommendation. Be as thorough as possible in the questionnaire. The more details you include, the better the letter will be.
- You must finish your Survey within 48 hours of e-mailing your counselor and requesting your Counselor letter of recommendation. If you do not finish your Survey, your counselor cannot write your letter.
- Ask your Parent/Guardian to fill out the Senior PARENT/FAMILY Survey for Counselor Letter of Recommendation. If this is not possible, contact your counselor. The survey is located in the same location as the Senior Student Survey. On the left-side navigation menu, click Dashboard, and it will be listed on the main page. Select Senior PARENT/FAMILY Survey for Counselor Letter of Recommendation. Please ask your parent/guardian to fill this out on your MaiaLearning account within 48 hours of e-mailing your counselor to request your letter of recommendation.
- Go to the SSC and ask for 2 Teacher Feedback Forms for Counselor. Give these to two teachers NOT writing your letters of recommendation. Put the due date as 2 weeks before your first deadline.
- If you qualify for free or reduced lunch, you may qualify for a deferral/waiver of your application fees. Include this request in your e-mail to your counselor.
6. REQUEST TEACHER LETTERS of RECOMMENDATION (at least 3 weeks prior to due date)
BEFORE doing this step, ask each of your recommending teachers if they are able to write you a letter of recommendation.
Do NOT use the Common Application to request letters of recommendation from teachers. You MUST request them through MaiaLearning. Here is a 2 minute video with specific instructions. MaiaLearning has been updated but the process is the same.
BEFORE doing this step, ask each of your recommending teachers if they are able to write you a letter of recommendation.
Do NOT use the Common Application to request letters of recommendation from teachers. You MUST request them through MaiaLearning. Here is a 2 minute video with specific instructions. MaiaLearning has been updated but the process is the same.
- List all of your colleges in MaiaLearning before you request letters of recommendation.
- On the left-side navigation menu, click Universities, then Recommendations (at the top of the page).
- A list of recommenders (teachers) are on the left side of the page. Search by name or browse the list, and check the box next to those you want recommendations from. You only need 1-2 letters from teachers (check each college for the exact number). DO NOT ASK MORE THAN 2 TEACHERS.
- Use this process only for TEACHER requests. If you need a letter of recommendation from a counselor, see the information above.
- You can request letters from multiple teachers at once, or enter separate requests.
- Enter the UNIVERSITY DEADLINE for the recommendation. (Nov 1st, Dec 1st, etc.)
- Select the universities you want these recommenders to write letters for.
- Check all the boxes, teachers will send the same letter to all schools.
- Add a note of gratitude to your teacher.
- Repeat this process for both teachers.
- If you have a resume, you can upload a PDF copy to the Drag and Drop Cloud (not required).
7. ACT/SAT TEST SCORES
Order these directly from the testing organization (ACT and SAT-College Board). Check that the universities you are applying to require test scores. MOST admissions offices are waiving ACT/SAT tests results or have become test optional. If you need test scores, and were not able to test as a Junior, or would like to improve your results, check with each organization to see when they will next offer testing opportunities. More information is available on the College Exams page.
Order these directly from the testing organization (ACT and SAT-College Board). Check that the universities you are applying to require test scores. MOST admissions offices are waiving ACT/SAT tests results or have become test optional. If you need test scores, and were not able to test as a Junior, or would like to improve your results, check with each organization to see when they will next offer testing opportunities. More information is available on the College Exams page.
8. SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION through the Common App Website. Make sure you have completed all the sections for each college you are applying to. Some colleges require additional essays or other information.
Need more information about the application process? Watch this CHS video, Maia Learning Must Do’s and Epic Fails!
Need more information about the application process? Watch this CHS video, Maia Learning Must Do’s and Epic Fails!