College Application FAQs

The Common Application (www.commonapp.org) allows you to send the same application information to up to 20 schools so you don’t have to do it more than one time. Some schools require additional essays or have different policies regarding recommendation letters, so be sure to check for that on Common App.
If your school is on Common App, send it through that platform!

If it is not on CommonApp (HBCUs, CA & TX schools), go to the school’s website and apply there. I do not suggest submitting applications through SCOIR. If you are applying to multiple HBCUs, consider making an account on the Common Black College Application.

Read more about Common App

• • When asked for class rank, list N/A. We do not do class rank. We have A-F grading on a 4.0 weighted scale.
  • Class size for the Class of 2025 is 170.
  • Our CEEB Code is: 151654 (also referred to as your high school code)
  • It is okay to use your weighted GPA on your applications unless it specifically says “unweighted.” Our GPA is on a 4.0 scale (both weighted and unweighted).
  • If the application asks for AP and honors, the dual credit classes also qualify and are weighted like AP courses..
  • Do NOT use your BCHS gmail for applications- it does not work for email outside of BCHS.
  • When the Common App asks for your teacher recommenders’ information, fill out everything but their email, because we will send the letters through Scoir.
    • How to use Common App with Scoir
  • Counselor Information: Be sure you put the College Counselor down as your counselor, and not your other academic counselors here at BCHS. You can put this in the Common App when it asks for your counselor:
    Abbey Saurine
    Bishop Chatard High School
    5885 N. Crittendon Ave.
    Indianapolis, IN 46220
    317-785-2401 (phone)
    asaurine@bishopchatard.org (email)
• Have a credit card number available to pay for the application. Fee waivers are available for 21st Century Scholar or Free/Reduced lunch participants.
• Remember your login passwords. Try to use the same ones for each application.

Yes. Applying to college costs money. Some schools are free or free for a limited time but expect to pay $30-100 per application ($40-50 is the average). If you are a 21st Century Scholar or on Free/Reduced lunch participant, see Mrs. Saurine for a fee waiver. SAT/ACT fee waivers are also available to those to Free/Reduced lunch participants.

• Early Action is non-binding and gives you fullest consideration for scholarships and admissions. The deadline for these is Nov. 1. We recommend non-restrictive application plans such as early action. Indicate your application pathway on applications and in Scoir
• Early Decision: If you are applying for Early Decision, that is a binding contract. Please see Ms. Saurine before you decide to apply for Early Decision because there is a contract to sign.
  • View ‘What’s the difference between early decision and early action?’
  • Student’s Guide to College Waitlists & deferrals

Essays are not required for all applications. These were written in the student’s junior English class. Specifics for essay topics will be on the individual application. Remind your students to take their time and dedicate some time to writing a great essay with absolutely no grammatical or spelling errors! Students can always ask their English teacher or counselor to proofread college essays.
Read more tips

Colleges have a variety of test score requirements in their application process. It is very important that students check directly with each college so they know the policy for each application they are sending.

It is a student’s responsibility to send scores from the testing service. You can do this through your CollegeBoard and ACT accounts. The majority of colleges require this.

****Note – If a student is retaking the SAT/ACT in the fall and has already applied to colleges in August, he/she needs to send new scores directly to those colleges. Students are in charge of getting their scores to colleges. Additionally, if a student submits an application indicating they are applying test-optional to a school and then later receive a SAT/ACT score they would like to submit as part of their application, they need to tell the college they no longer want to apply test-optional.

Take advantage of the ‘free score sends’. When you register to test, you can sign up to have your scores sent for free to 4 colleges. If you do this, the college will get your scores. You may also log in to your account and send your scores after you take the test, but there is a fee (about $15/school).

If a student qualifies for an SAT/ACT waiver (free/reduced lunch), he or she also qualifies for college application fee waivers. These fee waivers will be in Scoir for students to sign so they can be sent to the appropriate colleges to waive that fee. See the college counselor, Abbey Saurine, with any questions.

****Note – If a student is retaking the SAT/ACT in the fall and has already applied to colleges in
August, he/she needs to send new scores directly to those colleges.

• Short answer, yes.
• Consider telling the school on your application if you are taking the October SAT so they know to expect more scores.
• However, if your college wants OFFICIAL scores (sent through College Board) by Nov. 1 and you wait until late October to send any scores, your scores might miss the Nov. 1 deadline. You can still send them, but some schools might not take them. Self-reported scores should be fine for the October test.
• For students who already have a round of test scores to submit when you apply, you can submit these with your application, and then if the October scores are better you can submit those after the deadline for consideration. Remember though that you don’t know if your new scores will be better until you get them back so if you don’t like your original scores, that is something to consider.
• Always contact Ms. Saurine if you have questions

Mostly, yes. However, some schools won’t let you toggle back and forth between test optional and submitting test scores. CHECK the school’s website. Every school is different.

This depends on the school. I suggest submitting your scores if you fall in the middle 50%.

Transcripts are sent through SCOIR by the BCHS counselor. To request transcripts, go to the “My Colleges” tab in SCOIR and add the schools you are applying to via the Common App to the “applying” column in Scoir. Once you submit your application through the Common App, move the college to the “applied” column. Upon doing that, your counselor will be notified that transcripts need to be sent to those schools and will send them.

DOING THIS IS IMPORTANT

Read SCOIR Directions for Transcripts

College coaches often ask for copies of current transcripts as part of their eligibility screening process.

Students should complete the BCHS Record Release Form and send it to Mrs. Saurine to begin the process.
Open Record Release Form

Dual Credit Courses
The student needs to request transcripts for their dual courses directly from the University that offered the course.

• For Accounting: Vincennes U.
• For W131 and P155: IU*
• For THL216:Marian U.

* If you will be attending IU, you do not need to send transcripts there, but be sure your classes are on file during your first-year scheduling meeting.

AP Course Scores
AP scores for classes taken during your senior year won’t be available until June/July. If you designate a specific school on your AP exam booklet, they will automatically receive all of your AP scores, including past scores. Otherwise, you can request them through your College Board account and use your ‘free score send’ when the score is available

View AP Score Instructions

Letters of recommendation are an essential part of your college application. Other than your college essay, it is one of the only ways colleges can understand who you are as a person outside of your grades and test scores. BCHS sends letters of recommendation through SCOIR.
Take these steps BEFORE you ask a teacher/mentor for a letter of recommendation:

1. Fill out your “letter of recommendation survey” in Scoir: Under the “Me” button on your main dashboard, there is a “Surveys” tab in the drop-down tab. Be sure both of these surveys are completed BEFORE you request any letters of recommendation!
2. Continue to add any extracurriculars or activities to your Scoir profile under “Activities and Achievements”: Recommenders can see your extracurricular activities and the colleges you plan on applying to, so the more of that you have filled out, the better!
3. Complete the FERPA Waiver in Scoir: There is a FERPA Waiver and release you will need to complete in Scoir before you can request letters of recommendation. This shouldn’t take you more than a minute! Waiver Instructions

Whenever you are asked to sign a FERPA waiver, I highly suggest you do so. It shows the college that you have nothing to hide. You’ll be asked to sign a FERPA form on Scoir in your profile and in the Common Application under “recommenders and FERPA.”

1. Be sure you actually ASK the teacher for a letter of recommendation: Don’t assume that a teacher is willing/able to write you a letter. Select a teacher with whom you had a good rapport, in whose class you participated a lot, in whose class you got a great grade, or possibly in the subject you’re interested in majoring in.
2. Give at least 3 weeks’ notice before the letter is due (more if possible). Teachers will have their Scoir accounts set up and open for requests by mid-August.
3. Once you contacted your teacher, request your letter of recommendation through Scoir.

If someone from outside Bishop Chatard is writing a letter of recommendation for you (like a coach), he/she can send the letter directly to the college admissions office, or have them email it to Mrs. Saurine to add to your Scoir profile. You, as the student, cannot send the letters to colleges.

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is a nationwide application that calculates the Student Aid Index, used to determine federal, state, and institutional financial aid and sometimes scholarships for a college student. This is a yearly form.

• There is no fee for completing and submitting the FAFSA.
• The state of Indiana requires all seniors to complete the FAFSA. It is necessary to be eligible for Indiana and Federal Student Aid. See Mrs. Saurine for a waiver if your family doesn’t intend to complete the FAFSA.
• The FAFSA Application for the Class of 2025 seniors is scheduled to open October 1, 2024. It is best to complete it as soon as you can.
• You and your contributor both must have a FSA ID to complete the form. (Allow 5 days to activate — see area below
• Use the data retrieval tool for your 2022 taxes. (highly recommended) If your income has changed drastically from 2022 to 2023, or if you have special circumstances, please contact each college or university for assistance.
• Both the student AND any contributor need to provide CONSENT for IRS documents to
  be used by the Department of Education
  • This is really important
  • If you do NOT provide consent, student will not qualify for aid
• If you are selected for verification or have follow-up questions regarding your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the two best resources are INvestED (free local service, 1-888-476-2006, customersupport@investedindiana.org) and the government (1-800-433-3243, https://studentaid.gov/).

Open FAFSA Application FAFSA Checklist & Record Sheet

Both the student and “contributor(s)” need to create a FSA ID at least 5 days prior to your FAFSA application.! Be sure your email and SSN are correct the first time to prevent the hassle of recovering your account.

• How to Create your FSA ID
• FAFSA Checklist — including items you’ll need to complete your FAFSA
• Go to Studentaid.gov to create your FSA ID starting in December/late December

1. Scholarships
   • They can be need-based or merit-based
   • When you receive a financial aid package from a college, make sure you know if the scholarships are renewable each year
2. Student Employment in College
   • Federal Work Study (you might qualify for this through the FAFSA. This is not a grant/scholarship, it is a job)
   • Companies emphasize the importance of internships when looking at hiring recent college graduates
3. Loans
   • Federal Direct Loans (Rate: 5.5%)
     • Automatically qualify for this when you file the FAFSA
     • There are annual limits for this loan
     • They can be both subsidized and unsubsidized **
       **Subsidized loan: interest does not add onto the loan while they are in school. Unsubsidized: interest is added onto the loan while they are in school
   • Federal Direct PLUS Loan (Rate 8%)
     • Parent’s loan for the student
     • Eligibility impacted by adverse credit
   • Private Loans (Rate: Varies)
     • Student and Cosigner’s loan
     • Eligibility based on credit score and income

Tracking down opportunities for paying for college or career training can be daunting. Check out how BCHS can help and other Indiana and nationwide resources.

1. Visit the BCHS ‘Paying for College and Career’ page: A curated list which often has Indiana specific opportunities
2. Visit our Roadmap page: Look at the Senior year on this page for a large list of resources.
3. Contact Ms. Saurine. She is there to help you find a path to your dreams!
4. Use the following excellent Indiana resources:
   • INvestEDIndiana.org/scholarships
   • Central Indiana Community Foundation Scholarships
5. Look in these places
   • Consult FREE National Search Sites
   • Individual College/University
   • Local/Community Foundations
   • Businesses & Employers
   • Church and Civic Engagements