WHS SENIOR HANDBOOK

Woodinville High School

Class of 2026

Senior Handbook

Table of Contents

A Brief Overview of Post-High School Options        2

A Brief Description of Different College Options        3

SchooLinks (previously Naviance)        6

Finding a “Fit”        7

College Application Breakdown        10

The Common Application        13

Common Black College Application        15

UK College Admissions        16

Applying to College: The WHS Process        17

College Funding Options        20

Important Information You Need to Know        21

Important Dates        22

Application Checklist for Student        23

A Message from your WHS Counselors:

Hello Class of 2026,

We created this handbook to help guide you through your senior year, specifically the college application process. College admissions can be a bit stressful and complicated, but know that counselors are here to support you! A few things to highlight about applying to college during your senior year:

Again, we are here to help you, so please do not hesitate to ask for help.

-WHS Counselors

A Brief Overview of Post-High School Options

Four-Year Colleges/Universities

These schools offer bachelor’s degrees (along with master’s and doctoral degrees) which are usually completed in 4 years of full-time study. There is an application process for these schools and you also need to meet specific college admissions requirements in order to apply. Some schools are selective, meaning not all students who apply will get accepted.

Community & Technical Colleges (CTCs)

These schools offer associate degrees (some also offer bachelor’s degrees!) and certifications in specific trades/career industries. Washington state has 34 public community and technical colleges. Students who graduate/complete a program from a CTC may enter the workforce or apply to transfer to a four-year college/university. There is an application process to attend a CTC.

Trade/Vocational Schools

Similar to CTCs, trade/vocational schools provide education/training in a variety of areas. Students can earn certificates or degrees from trade/vocational schools.

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships, offered by employers, trade unions, and independent programs, give you the opportunity to earn money while you are receiving on-the-job-training in a particular career field. Programs typically last 2-5 years. At the end of an apprenticeship, you may earn certifications, licenses, and/or college degrees.

Military

The Armed Services (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard) offer individuals the opportunity to serve their country while learning self-discipline, leadership, and a wide range of technical skills and specialties. There are a variety of options for part-time and full-time service, including enlistment, Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), and the service academics (US Military Academy, US Naval Academy, US Air Force Academy, Coast Guard Academy).

Employment

Volunteer/Community Service/Travel/Personal Enrichment (Gap Year)

A Brief Description of Different College Options

Washington State Community and Technical Colleges

The Community and Technical Colleges of Washington system is the largest public higher education system in the state, serving almost 300,000 students across 34 colleges. These colleges can help prepare you for a career or transfer to a 4-year university. Community and technical college students may also earn an Associate Degree or complete a certificate program for Career Technical Education. To enroll at a community college, a student must be 18 years old or a high school graduate. Check out sbctc.edu for more information.

A community/technical college may be a good choice if:

Washington’s Public Four-Year Colleges & Universities

Washington’s public four-year colleges and universities (Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, The Evergreen State College, University of Washington, Washington State University and Western Washington University) are committed to meeting the college and career goals of Washington’s high school students. These institutions are the largest provider of the state’s bachelor’s degrees.

Students who aspire to attend a public four-year college or university in Washington must apply for admission. Factors influencing admissions may include high school GPA, test scores, and extracurricular activities. Minimum college admissions standards for public four-year institutions include:

Specific admission information for freshmen entering Washington's public four-year institutions:

Guaranteed Admissions Program

The Guaranteed Admissions Program (GAP) lets you know if you’ll be admitted to Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, The Evergreen State College, Washington State University or Western Washington University before you even apply! The following criteria need to be met:

If all of these are true, there is a guarantee you will be admitted to all five participating Washington four-year, public institutions. You just need to submit an application.

Independent Colleges of Washington

The Independent of Colleges of Washington is an association of 9 private, nonprofit colleges in the state. ICW's member institutions share a commitment to high-quality, academically rigorous learning, and to an education that emphasizes critical thinking, lifelong learning, ethics, leadership, and community service. The admissions standards may differ by college. Please visit the college’s admissions webpage to review the admissions requirements:

Out-of-State Colleges/ Universities

The options listed above describe institutions in the state of Washington. Outside of Washington, each of the forty-nine states in the U.S. offer their own public college options. Public colleges/universities are schools that receive direct funding from the state and they generally tend to be bigger in undergraduate population and class size than private institutions. Their tuition for the residents of their state tends to be lower than the tuition for private colleges. Because the people who reside in a particular state pay the taxes that fund that state’s public colleges, Washington students who opt to attend out-of-state colleges will have to pay an out-of-state tuition price that is higher than the in-state tuition. However, do not be deterred by this higher sticker price; many out-of-state colleges offer Washington students scholarship options (some guaranteed with a certain academic profile, i.e., GPA or test scores) that may offset the higher tuition price.

The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) is a tuition reduction program for particular colleges in 15 states of the western region of the U.S. This program can give eligible students a greatly reduced tuition price for Washington students attending out-of-state colleges that participate in the WUE program. For more information, please visit wiche.edu/wue and the financial aid/scholarship website of the specific college.

Private Institutions

In addition to the many fine public colleges in and out of Washington, there are hundreds of independent or private colleges to choose from around the country, including the 9 independent colleges in our state mentioned above. These colleges do not have direct financial support or control from the state. This means they have greater independence when designing programs, defining admission criteria, and determining the culture of the school. Private colleges and universities are quite diverse in nature, including major research institutions, comprehensive universities, small liberal arts colleges, faith-based colleges and specialized colleges. Since these universities do not receive state funding, the cost is higher than public colleges and universities. However, these institutions offer a variety of scholarships and financial aid programs.

Some private schools are highly selective while others are less selective. Visit the college’s admission website, review college catalogs, view SchooLinks data, and talk with your counselor for specific information. Private institutions consider a variety of factors to determine admission. These factors vary for each institution, but they may include:

Other Factors to Consider when Exploring/Researching Colleges

SchooLinks (previously Naviance)

SchooLinks

SchooLinks is the Washington state online platform that students use to access scholarship/college exploration, assist in college application documents, search for volunteer/internship opportunities, learn about careers and engage in vocational exploration activities.  SchooLinks can be found in your Clever Portal.

If you have never logged into SchooLinks, when you log in, you will be asked if you would like to do the “on-boarding experience." Click, "No, take me through onboarding." This is an assessment called “Find Your Path” (Career Interest Inventory). You can swipe right and left on a touchscreen (or click red X for disagree, green check for agree) and it only takes a few minutes. It will also give you a few celebrities that may be your personality doppelgänger.  This activity helps build a profile that will help you explore careers, colleges and scholarships during later activities.  Students can repeat this activity by clicking the Activities tab on the left side of the screen, then click Assessments.

Logging in to SchooLinks

  1. Go to https://app.schoolinks.com/login/k12 
  2. Click “Log in with Clever”

High School & Beyond Plan in SchooLinks - High School Graduation Requirement!

SchooLinks is also where your High School & Beyond Plan tasks are housed. The High School & Beyond Plan is a set of tasks designed to help you explore your skills and interests, discover your potential post-high school options, and determine your post-high school goal(s).

SchooLinks in Senior Year

During your senior year, SchooLinks will be used to list all the colleges you will be applying to. You can view deadlines for applications, check when materials have been submitted, access admissions officers’ contact information, and get the most up-to-date information on the college application process. It is something you will be using throughout your senior year, so it is important to login periodically.

You will still be filling out applications through each specific college; however, transcripts, letters of recommendations, and Common App forms are all managed through the SchooLinks portal.  Counselors and teachers will use SchooLinks to send your required documents so it is important that the portal is accurate and up-to-date!

Finding a “Fit”

There are thousands of colleges out there, and it is important that you find the school that is right for you. Many use the term “fit” to refer to how well an institution matches your interests, abilities, preferences, personality, financial need, etc. Looking at different aspects of fit might help you narrow down your options and figure out which colleges you would like to apply to and ultimately attend.

Academic Fit

Depending on the school, there are many different types of learning environments that are available to you. Some things to think about in terms of your preferences are class structure, calendar, majors, specialized programs, professor interaction, etc.  Below are some questions that might help you determine if a school is an academic fit for you:

Personal/Social Fit

Colleges vary dramatically in terms of the life on campus, whether it includes clubs, sporting events, Greek life, theater, or more.  There are many things that contribute to the overall culture of the school, including:

Location Fit

Colleges are located all around the country ranging from small towns to major cities.  It is important that you choose a college that is located somewhere you’d be happy to live for the next four years:

Financial Fit

Colleges can range in price depending on the institution. It is important that you and your parents discuss the amount that college will cost your family. There are many factors that will influence your decision and many times you cannot make a decision until you have seen the financial package that is sent to you after acceptance and your family’s financial profile has been applied to each institution’s tuition package. Please see your counselor and our College and Career Counselor, Ms. Tang, to help walk you through the process of financial aid, scholarship, etc. Also, check out collegescorecard.ed.gov which has a lot of data about the cost of attendance, graduation rate, net price calculator (calculates your out-of-pocket cost for a particular school), and average salary post-graduation at various schools.  

Admissions Fit

As you are researching colleges, you should look at the admissions profile at each school. This can usually be found on the college’s admission website and on SchooLinks. This is helpful as you develop your list of colleges that you will apply to. A school’s admissions profile is made up of a lot of information, but we recommend looking at the average GPA and possibly the average SAT/ACT score of admitted freshmen as well as the school’s yearly acceptance rate to get an idea of how many students are getting in, and with what scores/GPA. On SchooLinks, you can see the admission decisions of past WHS students for a specific college. Some factors to consider when determining whether or not a school is an admissions fit are:

Your college application list should include safety, target, and reach schools, as determined by average GPA, test scores for the students previously accepted (if available and required for admissions), and the school’s yearly acceptance rate.

Your college list should consist of primarily target schools and a few reach and safety schools. Please remember that safety schools should be schools that you would be happy to attend even if other options do not work out; if you have no intention of attending a safety school, there is no point in applying. To keep track of your colleges, you may use SchooLinks’s college list or the College Application Manager. Please see your counselor with any questions about your college list.

College Application Breakdown

College applications often contain different parts.  Each college’s or college system’s application might be different, so it is important that you look at each application carefully to see what is required. Below is a list of items you should be looking for as you complete your applications.

Main Application Form

Each school will have a main form that you complete with information about yourself as well as your education (school, classes and grades).  Many of the schools will have you create a username/password that allows you to complete the application and view it prior to submitting it.  Some applications can be used for multiple schools. Other schools will have their own application for their campus.

Types of applications:

Tips for Success:

Supplements to Main Application

In addition to the main application, some schools might require supplemental parts to their application.

Additional Documents

There are additional documents that you must send to colleges in order to be considered for admission. Each school is different, but here is a list of items you should be aware of:

Admissions Deadlines

There are a number of different types of admissions processes to be aware of when you are looking at deadlines for colleges. Some colleges have Early Admission options, Rolling Admissions, or Regular Decision. Below is a great description of the different options from the National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC).

Note on Early vs. Regular Deadlines:

As you consider which deadline is best for you, ask yourself the following questions:

Approximate Dates for Typical Deadlines:

Early Deadlines

October 15 to November 15

Regular Deadlines

January 1 to February 15

Rolling Admission

August 1 until seats are filled up

Financial Aid (FAFSA) Deadline

Check specific colleges

The Common Application

Check out the WHS Common Application Tip Sheet for helpful tips & information!

Many of you will be using The Common Application which hosts applications for more than 500 private and public institutions in the United States. Many of the schools will require additional parts that are specific to the school, called supplements. You can set up your Common Application at commonapp.org. When you create your account, remember your USERNAME and PASSWORD.  You will need that information to access your common application.

Starting the Common Application

  1. Go to commonapp.org  and start an application. Be sure to keep your email/log-in information in a safe place.
  2. Log into your account and fill out the EDUCATION piece of your application.

  1. Once the EDUCATION part is completed, you should sign the FERPA Release Authorization – first you need to add a college to your account
  2. Go to the College Search tab at the top of the page and enter the name or city of the school you are looking for – click the Search button
  3. If the school you are looking for comes up, click the checkbox next to the school and then click the Add button – you can repeat steps 4 and 5 for multiple colleges, or you can go on to step 6 and add additional colleges later
  4. Go to the My Colleges tab.  
  5. Under the name of the college you added, click on Recommenders and FERPA
  1. Please select whether or not you waive the right to see the recommendations that teacher(s) and/or your counselor write for you. Please select YES to this waiver.
  2. These steps must be completed before you can link your Common App to SchooLinks.  

Please note that for each school it states how many letters are required. This will be helpful when selecting your teachers and assigning letters.  

Other tips for success

Common Black College Application

The Common Black College Application (CBCA) is similar to the Common Application, however the CBCA is exclusive to HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges & Universities). Students can apply to any number of the listed HBCUs for a small price of $20. The application should only take about 15 minutes to complete.

Here is a list of colleges that are on the CBCA:

Alabama A&M University

Alabama State University

Albany State University

Alcorn State University

Allen University

American Baptist College

Arkansas Baptist College

Benedict College

Bennett College

Bethune-Cookman University

Central State University

Cheyney University

Claflin University

Clark Atlanta University

Clinton College

Coppin State University

Delaware State University

Dillard University

Edward Waters University

Elizabeth City State University

Fayetteville State University

Fisk University

Florida Memorial University

Fort Valley State University

Grambling State University

Harris-Stowe State University

Huston-Tillotson University

Jarvis Christian College

Jackson State University

Johnson C. Smith University

Kentucky State University

Lane College

Lincoln University (MO)

Lemoyne Owen College

Lincoln University (PA)

Livingstone College

Mississippi Valley State University

Miles College

Morris College

Morgan State University

Norfolk State University

North Carolina Central Univ.

Paine College

Paul Quinn College

Philander Smith University

Rust College

Saint Augustine’S University

Shaw University

South Carolina State University

Southern Univ. And A&M College

Southern University (NO)

Stillman College

Talladega College

Tennessee State University

Texas College

Tougaloo College

Univ. Of Arkansas Pine Bluff

Univ. Of Md. Eastern Shore

Univ. Of The Virgin Islands

Virginia State University

Virginia Union University

Voorhees College

West Virginia State University

Wilberforce University

Wiley College

UK College Admissions

        

The UK is becoming an increasingly popular higher education destination for students across the USA with significant increases in applications every year. A recent Bloomberg article provides additional information here.

The UK offers significant benefits for families including:

WHS Counseling is pleased to announce that we have purchased membership to a comprehensive information source on UK Higher Education. UK College Admissions has been created by a UK admissions representative with over 10 years’ experience supporting students, parents and counselors in the USA. The website contains a UK university database and a detailed video library, recorded using US specific terminology and covering a huge range of topics including:

If you are interested in exploring this UK option and would like access to this resource, please email Ms. Tang (mtang@nsd.org) to receive account access. If you would like to do a little initial research, the ‘Why Choose the UK’ video is free to access here.

We advise students and families to use a non-district device when visiting this website to have full access to content. The website contains videos hosted through Vimeo, which is blocked by the Northshore School District network.

Free Weekly Zoom Drop In Sessions

With account access, you can receive further support and have questions answered personally by the Founder and Director of UK College Admissions, Gary Coulter. He offers a 2 hour FREE weekly zoom drop in session. Pop in during the times below, and ask Gary any questions directly. Details are as follows:

Every Tuesday (year round) from 1pm - 3pm.

Zoom Meeting link - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/8959152825 

Applying to College: The WHS Process 

Watch the College Application Overview Video: Ms. Tang’s presentation (same one shared in senior English and Social Studies classes) covers three key topics for seniors:

1) Senior Handbook: what it is and how to use it

2) SchooLinks: with a demo on navigating the college application tools

3) Senior Apps & Snacks: upcoming support sessions for college applications

  1. Read and review all college application requirements and college application deadlines
  1. Some colleges have earlier deadlines for students wanting to be considered for scholarships, or those applying to audition/portfolio based majors, even when applying for “Regular Decision.” It is important that you go to the university website to get the most up-to-date information.
  1. If applying to any colleges through Common App, you must link your Common Application and SchooLinks accounts (**Note, this cannot be completed prior to August 1, 2025)
  1. Create a Common Application Account
  1. Enter High School Information
  2. Add at least 1 college
  3. Complete the FERPA Release Authorization
  1. Login to SchooLinks with Clever (can only be done after August 1, 2025)
  1. Complete Onboarding & Find Your Path assessment to get to your dashboard.
  2. From the left side bar of Dashboard, click “Colleges” then “College Applications”
  3. Set up College Application Manager by completing Personal Details, Fee Waiver Eligibility, and FERPA Waiver
  1. On the left sidebar, click on “Connect” and then link your COMMON APPLICATION and SchooLinks accounts by entering the email address you used to create your Common App account
  1. Schoolinks step-by-step article on linking Common App to Schoolinks
  1. The schools you’ve already added in the Common App should now be on your “Colleges” list in SchooLinks.

  1. Add any non-Common App schools to your college list in SchooLinks (including schools you are applying to through Coalition)
  1. In the “Colleges” section, click the “+ Add application” on top right
  2. Start typing the name of the college into the “Search colleges” box and select the college.
  3. Choose the correct options in the “Choose application status” then click “Add Application.”
  4. Once you’ve added colleges to your list, you’ll see a comprehensive list that shows the type of application, submission type, deadline, and office status.

  1. Request transcripts
  1. All transcripts submitted through SchooLinks are free of charge.

  1. Request letter(s) of recommendation
  1. For Common App schools, ALL TEACHER LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATIONS MUST BE REQUESTED DIRECTLY THROUGH SchooLinks, NOT THROUGH COMMON APP.
  2. Most state colleges/universities do not require letters of recommendation, however, private institutions usually require official transcripts with a counselor and/or teacher recommendation.
  3. You need to be aware of each college’s letter of recommendation requirements. Please check the university admissions website for specific requirements!
  4. You must add the teacher request in SchooLinks. This will not be available to you in SchooLinks prior to August 1, 2025. You will need to add your recommenders to each college where you would like their letter sent. If you do not add them to the college, they will not be able to submit.
  1. How to request a teacher LOR in Schoolinks: Tutorial with screenshots
  1. In Schoolinks, click College, then College Applications
  2. Click the pencil icon next to the application for which you want request a teacher LOR
  1. If you do not have any colleges listed, then you need to either connect your Common App to your Schoolinks account or add the application manually to your Schoolinks account
  1. If teacher LOR(s) are required by the college, then the number of LORs will be listed under Teacher Recommendations column.
  2. Click Add Recommender to make a request
  3. Search for your teacher and fill out the Teacher Information and click Add recommender

Teacher Letter of Recommendation Process

Counselor Letter of Recommendation Process

  1. Send SAT/SAT Subject/ACT/ AP scores

If you have reported on your college applications that you are providing test scores, you must go through the testing agency to send your SAT, SAT Subject, ACT, and/or APscores. Please allow 2-3 weeks for processing. Note: You do not need to send your AP scores until after the admissions decisions come out and you have decided where to attend. If you would like to save costs, please take note of which colleges require and don’t require official test scores at the time of application submission. Many colleges are now test optional or no longer using these tests for admissions purposes; check with the admissions office/college website to confirm.

  1. Submit your application

Yay! You are ready to click the submit button. Double check your application and make sure you have filled everything out correctly, completed all essays and supplements, and have the appropriate method of payment ready.

  1. Check college admission portals and emails

After submission of your application, make sure you check your email and college admission portals regularly so that you don't miss out on any communication from your colleges. Your college portals are good resources to check often to know if you’ve submitted all your required application materials.

For further questions, please feel free to reach out to your counselor via email, make an appointment, or stop by before school, after school, during options, or during lunch.

College Funding Options

Before applying to college, your family should discuss the cost of college. Many institutions have a variety of aid opportunities available to prospective students to alleviate the cost of college. These could include: scholarships, loans, grants, work-study, and exemptions. You will be provided with a financial aid package tailored to your family’s situation and what the college can offer you. It is important to look at all financial aid packages as they will vary by institution. Here are some steps to consider:

Important Information You Need to Know

WHS School Code/CEEB Code

481598

School Name and Address

Woodinville High School

19819 136th Ave NE

Woodinville, WA 98072

Phone: 425-408-7400

WHS School Profile 2024-2025

Counselor Information

Amy Strandy | Last Names A-Da | astrandy@nsd.org 

Katherine Lamb | Last Names De-Go | klamb@nsd.org

Scott Churchill | Last Names Gr-Lo | schurchill@nsd.org

Nate Hirsch | Last Names Lu-R| nhirsch@nsd.org

Sarah Brenner | Last Names S-Z | sbrenner@nsd.org

My Tang | Running Start Students | mtang@nsd.org

Senior Class Size

414 (updated 9/22/2025)

Class Rank Information

WHS DOES NOT RANK

Term You Are Applying For

Fall 2026

Date of Graduation

June 2026

FAFSA or WAFSA

  • File ASAP
  • Research the filing deadline for the college or university
  • Federal Student Aid Accounts required for you and your parent/guardian
  • FAFSA: File online at fafsa.ed.gov
  • WAFSA: File online at wsac.wa.gov/wasfa

CSS Profile

  • Required by some schools in addition to the FAFSA – check college websites to see if the CSS profile is required
  • Know each school’s filing deadline!
  • File online at profileonline.collegeboard.com 

Important Dates

Financial Aid Night

October 2025

College App Q&A Support Before & After School

TBD

Apps & Snacks

Friday, October 10

Friday, October 24

Friday, November 7

Wednesday, November 12 (after school)

 Friday, May 8

SAT Dates - Register on CollegeBoard

Test Date

Registration Deadline

August 23, 2025

August 8, 2025

September 13, 2025

August 29, 2025

October 4, 2025

September 19, 2025

November 8, 2025

October 24, 2025

December 6, 2025

November 21, 2025

March 14, 2026

February 27, 2026

May 2, 2026

April 17, 2026

June 6, 2026

May 22, 2026

ACT - Register on actstudent.org

National College Decision Day

May 1

Graduation

June 2026

Application Checklist for Student

Name of College or University_____________________

Application

Transcript, Test Scores, and other Documentation

Letters of Recommendation 

Name______________________ Date Requested______________ Deadline ______________

Name______________________ Date Requested______________ Deadline ______________

Name______________________ Date Requested______________ Deadline ______________

Financial Aid

Finishing Up

Senior Year Resources

Senior Year Resources

(Clickable links)

High School & Beyond Plan and Self/Career/College Exploration

College Application Process

Common Application Tip Sheet

NOTE: Please wait until August 1, 2025 to complete these steps. Anything completed prior to August 1, 2025 might not roll over to the 2025-2026 application cycle.

Common Application Information

My Colleges Tab

Common App Tab

Education

Courses & Grades - Not all schools require this section to be completed

Reporting Official Test Scores- research college admissions websites to see when scores need to be sent

Transcripts

Letters of Recommendation (LOR)

After Submitting Common Application

2025-2026 Common Application Essay Prompts

650-word limit, at least 250-word submission

  1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they      believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
  2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
  3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
  4. Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
  5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. 
  6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more? 
  7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. 

Tips: