Skip to main content

College Resources

The College Office uses Google Drive to share information relating to the college application process. All juniors can access a College Resource folder that contains:

  • HSMSE College Admissions Guide
  • HSMSE Financial Aid Handbook
  • Junior and senior year timelines
  • HSMSE SRAR Guide
  • Junior Journey presentation
  • College Corner Newsletters

QUICK LINKS

APPLICATION PLATFORMS

Common App
Most colleges and universities accept the Common App, and students can apply to up to 20 schools. Most advisors recommend limiting applications to no more than 20 schools, but students can use the Coalition App to submit additional ones if necessary.

Coalition App
There is no limit to the number of applications you can submit through the Coalition App, however only about 150 schools accept the application. The Coalition App was designed to make college accessible to lower-income and first-generation students and includes support for students starting in ninth grade.

QuestBridge
QuestBridge connects high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds (regardless of race, geography, or academic interest) with full four-year scholarships to some of the best colleges and universities in the country. The HSMSE PTA provides prospective QuestBridge students with support in applying to the program. Dates and reminders are sent out to juniors during the spring semester.

NEW YORK PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES

FINANCIAL AID

HSMSE students should refer to the HSMSE Financial Aid Handbook for detailed information about the financial aid process.

FAFSA

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is the federal government's financial aid program. All students and families seeking aid should fill out the FAFSA application.

New York State Tuition Assistance Program Aid (TAP)

TAP is for students applying to colleges in New York State. This should be completed after submitting your FAFSA because much of the required information will be populated from FAFSA. The maximum TAP award is $5,665 a year. To file your application, students and parents must each create a FAFSA ID.

CSS Profile

The CSS Profile is a College Board application used by some colleges and scholarship programs to award non-federal aid to prospective students. The deadline to complete the CSS Profile varies; be sure to check the deadline date for each school that requires the application. Find more information on the CSS Profile List of Participating Colleges, Universities, and Scholarship Programs.