October 16, 2026
Upcoming College Visits
REGISTER IN SCHOOLINKS
To register to attend a visit, students simply click the Events tab in their SchooLinks account, then scroll to the event they wish to register for. They then report directly to the CCRC (B105) or location listed at the beginning of the period, sign in, and we will mark their attendance as excused. As a reminder, students are still responsible for making up any missed work and should check in with their teacher prior to the event if at all possible.
Important College Application Reminders and Frequently Asked Questions
Don't Delay! Systems Crash and Weekend Support Won't Be Available.
We strongly recommend submitting your applications before deadlines and not procrastinating, but this year this is particularly important as November 1, a very common deadline for Early Action, falls on a Sunday. It is in your best interest to have everything submitted before October 31 if at all possible! Don't let Halloween be extra scary this year!
🔻🔺FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT COLLEGE APPLICATIONS🔺🔻
Where can I find information about MHS to complete my CommonApp?
The Virtual CCRC has an amazing resource that can help you! Use the CommonApp FAQ for MHS students, found in the Senior Room to find answers to the questions you might have!
Do I submit every application individually?
Yes! If you are using the CommonApp, or if you are applying through the school's own website, you will be submitting every application individually! You can make adjustments to the CommonApp (to the testing section, for example) to change responses school by school. Make sure to review the final PDF carefully to ensure that you're submitting exactly what you want to!
Can I submit my applications before my letters of recommendation have been completed?
Yes! If you are finished with an application, please go ahead and hit “submit.” Teachers and counselors have until the application deadline to finish their letters. If your letter of recommendation is sent after your other materials, that is not a problem--it will just get added to your application file. The only time that this could impact your application is if you are applying to a college that has a Rolling Admission deadline and you want to ENSURE that your letter is read. In that case, it may be best to have the letter submitted first.
How many times do I have to add my teacher letter request?
You must go to your college application list in SchooLinks and make sure you enter your recommender for EACH college–many seniors have only added their recommender to one of their colleges. The letter will only be sent to colleges where it has been assigned in SchooLinks–if you are applying to five schools, then you would need to add your teacher's name five separate times.
Note: there will be some schools where SchooLinks will inform you the college does not accept letters; therefore, you will not be able to assign a recommender for that school.
When do I have to submit my SAT/ACT Test Scores?
If you want a college to consider your test scores, it is important to know if the college is okay with self-reported scores or if the college requires the official score report from ACT/SAT. The best way to find this information is on each college’s website. I recommend Googling the name of your college + application requirements. If you have trouble finding this information on the college websites, Compass Education Group has compiled a searchable list that details whether or not a college accepts self-reported test scores..
If the college you are applying to requires official scores, you do NOT need to wait to submit your application before sending your scores from ACT/SAT. If you are applying to schools with a Nov. 1 deadline, you should go to www.act.org or www.collegeboard.org and send your scores ASAP to ensure they are received by your deadline.
What if a college is test optional? Should I send my score? Or not?
While every college may answer questions about sending scores differently, using the middle 50% range of accepted student scores is the general guideline. If a student is unsure of whether or not to send a score to a college, they should check the college’s website for guidance or reach out to that college’s admissions office.
What happens after I submit my application?
Watch your email for a link to a portal, particularly if you have additional required components (like University of Illinois' self-reporting!) and follow up! Check to see if you have missing documents, but keep in mind that processing of transcripts and letters of recommendation on the colleges' side can take some time. If you have checked in SchooLinks (see the how-to below!) and see that your documents have been sent, it may just need some processing time if they aren't yet showing as received. You can also move your applications to 'Submitted' and update responses in your SchooLinks account!
🔻🔺REVIEWING YOUR SUBMITTED MATERIALS🔺🔻
NOTE: In order for MHS to send your transcripts, letters of recommendation, and other school documents you MUST first add the college to SchooLinks! Read on to ensure this has been completed accurately for your needs.
Did you know that it’s easy to check in your SchooLinks account to see if your application materials have been submitted by MHS? This includes teacher letters of recommendation, transcripts, school reports, counselor letters of recommendation, and other optional materials that you have requested!
It is YOUR responsibility to confirm that your materials are submitted, so if you notice that materials are missing as you are approaching your deadline, PLEASE follow up with your teacher/ counselor/ MHS staff member to provide them a gentle reminder to submit your materials prior to your deadline. If you are having difficulty with these conversations, come find Mrs. Rusk in the CCRC (B105) and I’m happy to help you out!
How To See Your Materials Submission
In your SchooLinks Account:
1. Navigate to College and select College Applications
Ensure that your CommonApp has been connected and/ or your materials have been requested
WARNING: Be sure that your application type is correct!!! If you applied through the college’s own application on their website and did NOT use the CommonApp, you must put the request through by adding the individual application (top right). The system will send your materials to the pathway you request, and if you did not apply through the CommonApp and we send the materials there the colleges will not see them!
If you started an application in CommonApp and later changed to applying through the website or another portal and submitting that way, you MUST remove the college from the CommonApp entirely!
2. On the left side of your screen at the top, toggle from Board to List view
Column 1: School
Shows the schools you are applying to
Column 2: Student checklist
This is your own reminders that you have set for yourself
Column 3: Teacher recommendations
This will show the progress of your requested teacher recommendations.
Column 4: Counselor documents
This will show ALL counselor documents, including if a midyear report or final transcript will be needed. Keep in mind that the midyear reports will be sent in late January and the final transcripts will be sent after graduation, so those will not be complete at this time!
Column 5: Due Date
This is the due date that you have selected for your application.
Column 6: Status
This is the status of your OWN application, as you have updated it.
The icons under the list view will appear as red exclamation points if a required document has not been requested, an orange clock if you have requested them but they are not submitted yet, and a green checkmark if they have been submitted. From this view you can also click the pencil on the far right side for any institution to see the details about when documents were requested or when they were submitted.
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
Completing the FAFSA, Alternative Aid Application, or a waiver, is an Illinois State graduation REQUIREMENT!
Class of 2027: As a reminder, the 27-28 FAFSA is open! Keep in mind that each contributor (student and one or both parents or stepparent, depending upon circumstances) will require their own Studentaid.gov ID, available here.
Every Wednesday, our ISAC representative Denver Keske is available in person at MHS to work with our students and parents, right here in our CCRC! She is also available virtually at many other times. Please see the ISAC Room in the MHS Virtual CCRC to find her scheduling links!
Remember that about 270 undergraduate institutions also require the CSS Profile, which opened on October 1. It is crucial that our students not miss their financial aid deadlines, which will vary by institution and application round.
If you haven’t yet, we strongly encourage you to look at the resources in our Paying For College virtual room. In this space you can also access our FAFSA page for helpful information on completing your FAFSA. We also have access to past presentations (if you missed them) in our Resource Library.
Please review THIS DOCUMENT for more information about this Public Act. Check out our FAFSA Mandate FAQ to find some answers to frequently asked questions.
Other Events Happening Soon
View Our Additional Resources
Recordings of past virtual events for the CCRC and slides from in-person daytime events are all available in the Resource Library of the MHS Virtual CCRC!
ALSO, don't forget to follow the CCRC Instagram Page!
The CCRC Instagram account provides students and parents with updates about all of the events happening in the MHS CCRC. You can find information about workshops, college visits, scholarships, career programs, and more!
Follow us now: https://www.instagram.com/mhsccrc/
CCRC Calendar of Events 2026-2027
Register for these events in your SchooLinks account. (TIP: Change to "Schedule View" on mobile.)
MHS Virtual CCRC
Schedule a meeting and find all of your college planning resources!
Fall 2026 Resource Roadmap
Find checklists, a comprehensive list of events with descriptions, and more!