College Information
- College Planning Process
- Standardized Testing
- ACT SAT AP Test Dates
- Financial Assistance
- Scholarship Information
- College Athletics
- College Matriculation List
College Planning Process
The following list of Frequently Asked Questions, developed in collaboration with parent representatives from the Guidance Advisory Council, offers assistance to both students and their parents as they navigate together through the college exploration and application process. School counselors work to support juniors and senior students as they discover their post-secondary options and plan for life after high school graduation. Each student is unique, making this process for each young adult also unique. There is no “one size” fits all response to any query and our list of questions and responses is intended to assist in a general fashion. It is not expected that students and parents make sense of the college exploration and application process alone. School counselors and guidance support staff are available to you via telephone, email and in-person meetings to help address your questions. If you are unable to find an answer to a question on the guidance web page or in the Documents Library of Naviance, please know you are welcome to contact the guidance department directly so we can assist you with your question.
Tools & Resources:
- What is the Common Application?
- What is the process regarding teacher recommendation letters for application to colleges? When are these letters written?
- When do School Counselors write Descriptive Letters for each student? If each Guidance Counselor helps manage over 200 students, how can they possibly know each student well enough to write a recommendation?
- How do a student’s transcripts get forwarded to a college of choice? Can a student review his/her transcripts before they are sent?
- Do teachers or school counselors review college essays with students…before submission?
- Do school counselors conduct “mock” interviews? If so, how does this work? When should a student do the mock interviews? Do most colleges/universities require an interview as part of the application process?
- Can parents meet with school counselors about the post-secondary planning and the college process?
- Do college representatives visit DSHS and, if so, how do students access these sessions?
What is the Common Application?
Years ago, high school students submitted a unique application to every college that they were considering. In 1975, the Common Application was created by 15 private colleges that wished to provide a common, standardized first-year application form for use at any member institution. Applicants may use to apply to any of more than 900 member colleges and universities in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as in Canada, China, Japan, and many European countries. The online application form is preferred by most colleges and universities.
Once completed, the Common Application for Undergraduate Admission can be sent to any number of participating colleges. This allows students to spend less time on the busywork of applying for admission, and more time on what's really important: college research, visits, essay writing, and senior year coursework.
Check any college’s website to determine if the college/university accepts the Common Application.
Please Note: Many colleges have supplemental questions and/or essays, or require additional information, for admission. Please check each college for information on supplement requirements.
What is the process regarding teacher recommendation letters for application to colleges? When are these letters written?
Juniors: In the spring of Junior year, students are advised to speak with two teachers about writing college recommendations for them. These letters are primarily academic recommendations and students are encouraged to ask teachers whom they have had for year-long courses, preferably during Junior year.
Seniors: In September, students should confirm their recommendation requests with the teachers. Students then enter the teachers’ names into Naviance. Teachers can then access the relevant forms and deadlines in Naviance.
Please Note: Some colleges require only one teacher recommendation and may only read the first recommendation received. Students are encouraged to consult each college’s policy and to speak with their school counselors about developing a plan for selecting teacher recommendations.
Please Note: Teachers are not required to share their letters with the students.
When do School Counselors write Descriptive Letters for each student? If each Guidance Counselor helps manage over 200 students, how can they possibly know each student well enough to write a recommendation?
Each student’s college application is supplemented by the Dover-Sherborn Secondary School Report (completed in lieu of any other Secondary School Report forms) and a personal letter written by the student’s school counselor. This descriptive letter is a comprehensive report that includes teacher feedback, input from the student, information from student records and reports, plus the counselor’s personal knowledge of the student. Counselors take great efforts to present the fullest portrait possible for each student. Parents/guardians are welcome to provide their insights in writing via the “Parent Guardian College Input Form”.
How do a student’s transcripts get forwarded to a college of choice? Can a student review his/her transcripts before they are sent?
An official DSHS transcript includes a student’s final marks from Grades 9, 10 and 11, as well as a weighted cumulative GPA for the first six semesters of high school. The Guidance Office is responsible for forwarding this transcript to each college of choice. As soon as first quarter grades from senior year are available, each college on record with the Guidance Office will receive an updated copy of a student’s transcript. In February, another updated copy of the transcript, with first semester senior year grades and the seventh semester GPA, will be submitted to all colleges of choice. Finally, a copy of the student’s graduation transcript will be submitted to the college that the student will attend after graduation.
Please Note: DSHS does not document a student’s high school activities on the high school transcript. All academic awards, activities, sports, volunteer work and part-time jobs as well as leadership positions should be listed on the student’s application. Many colleges will review a student’s Activities Resume if included as a supplement to the application.
During the spring of Junior year, students receive a “Guidance Information Release Form” that needs to be signed by the student, giving permission to release the transcripts. The form is due to the guidance department in early fall. During the summer following Junior year, students also receive a copy of their official transcript via Aspen. Students are encouraged to review their transcript for demographic and academic accuracy. If changes are required, the student is advised to make the changes in colored pen on the document and return the corrected copy to his/her school counselor in September to allow sufficient time for changes to be made.
Do teachers or school counselors review college essays with students…before submission?
Do school counselors conduct “mock” interviews? If so, how does this work? When should a student do the mock interviews? Do most colleges/universities require an interview as part of the application process?
Yes, school counselors conduct mock interviews for Junior and Senior students. Students are encouraged to schedule a mock interview appointment with a school counselor (other than their own) through the guidance secretaries. The Q&A session will include questions that a student may get during an interview with a college admissions officer or an interviewer-alumnus. At the end of the mock interview, the school counselor will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the student’s interviewing style.
Can parents meet with school counselors about the post-secondary planning and the college process?
Absolutely! School counselors are available to meet with students and/or parents/guardians throughout the academic year. Counselors are best prepared to discuss post-secondary planning beginning in the spring of Junior year and recommend that parents schedule these appointments during April, May and June. Feel free to schedule a session with your child’s school counselor that best meets the needs of all attending the meeting.
Do college representatives visit DSHS and, if so, how do students access these sessions?
Yes, a wide range of colleges visit DSHS every year. The colleges tend to provide an overview of their institution and answer questions from students. Because these sessions are very well-attended, only Seniors are admitted to the meetings. Seniors must RSVP at least a day in advance of the meeting on Naviance in order to attend a college’s meeting. It is the student’s responsibility to also obtain advance permission from a teacher, if he/she will miss a class.
Important dates in the planning process:
- What if a student wants to apply Early Decision or Early Action? Is there a different process?
- Where can students and parents find a timeline and checklist for the college planning process?
- Is the planning process for a foreign college/university different than for a US college/university?
What if a student wants to apply Early Decision or Early Action? Is there a different process?
The policies for applying Early Decision and/or Early Action vary by college and it is recommended that interested students review each college’s policy regarding Early Decision and Early Action. Before applying to a college, it is important to understand the differences between Early Decision and Early Action.
- Early Decision plans are binding. Early Decision students are contractually obligated to attend the college that accepts them. The only exception to this is if the college does not provide a sufficient financial aid package. Students are only allowed to apply to one college for Early Decision, but they may apply to other colleges using the regular admission deadline. If a college accepts a student through the early decision option, the student must withdraw all other applications.
- Early Action plans are not binding. Students are allowed to apply to more than one college with Early Action. And, students may choose to accept an Early Action offer when it is given or wait until later in the spring to notify the college of their decision.
- Single-Choice Early Action is a relatively new option offered by some colleges. Students are limited to apply Early Action to one college when choosing this option. Students apply to one college Early Action and may also apply to other colleges under regular decision plans. Students do not have to decide whether to attend the single-choice Early Action college until the regular decision deadline.
Dover-Sherborn students who wish to submit an Early option application must notify their counselors of their intentions to apply Early, complete the information as requested in Naviance, and submit a processing fee by the end of September of Senior year in order to meet all college deadlines.
Where can students and parents find a timeline and checklist for the college planning process?
Students and parents can find a timeline and checklist under their respective year of graduation side tab of the Guidance webpage or by clicking the links below. There is important information regarding the college planning process including timelines and checklists for Freshmen, Sophomore, Junior and Senior years.
Freshmen Year College Planning Timeline
Sophomore Year College Planning Timeline
Is the planning process for a foreign college/university different than for a US college/university?
Application requirements vary for each college/university and application deadlines may vary from the deadlines of US colleges. It is possible that students could be required to submit additional application materials, including proof of language proficiency or results of additional qualifying testing (the SAT’s are only applicable when applying to US colleges). Most, if not all, foreign universities have a website with a student application section. Students can also email/write to the university for an Application Packet.
Applying to a foreign college/university has other differences, such as, requiring a passport and possibly a travel visa, potential need for inoculations, cultural considerations, verification of accreditations, etc. For more information, contact your child’s school counselor.
Standardized Testing
ACT SAT AP Test Dates
To View ACT Test Dates & Fees, click the link below:
2024-2025 ACT Tests:
To View SAT Test Dates, click the link below:
2024-2025 SAT Tests
To View AP Test Dates, click the link below:
AP Testing Dates, May 2025
Financial Assistance
Scholarship Information
College Athletics
College Matriculation List
Click below to view the lists of college matriculations:
2024 College Matriculation List
2023 College Matriculation List
2022 College Matriculation List
2021 College Matriculation List
2020 College Matriculation List
2019 College Matriculation List