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Applications & Finances → 입학 지원 및 재정

FAFSA Checklist | CSS Profile Checklist

Prepare, navigate and save money on the college application process

College Applicant Intensity Levels

There are levels of intensity young people have applying for college. for example, some will just do the minimum, complete FAFSA & apply a few colleges, some will have resumes, reference or endorsement letters etc.

Level 0: Basic Applicant - Essentials Only

Exert minimum effort to meet basic requirements:

Level 1: Standard Applicant

This is where most students land — doing what’s expected for competitive admissions

What Is a Personal Statement?

The personal statement is the main essay in the Common App or Coalition App. It’s typically 500–650 words and goes to every school you apply to through that platform.

It answers prompts like:

“Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful…”
“Describe a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure…”

What Are Supplemental Essays?

These are school-specific essays that go beyond the personal statement.

Examples include:

  • “Why do you want to attend our university?” (aka the Why Us essay)
  • “Describe an extracurricular activity that’s meaningful to you.”
  • “How will you contribute to our campus diversity?”

TIP: Reuse and adapt essays across schools — but customize them

Level 2: Strategic Applicant

These students treat college apps like a campaign. They’re aiming for top scholarships, selective schools, or specialized programs.

Level 3: All-In Applicant

Goes all out — often aiming for elite schools, honors programs, or specialized scholarships

Best for: Ivy League, top-tier publics, competitive merit aid, specialized programs

Estimated Application Costs

Here’s an estimate for a student applying to 21 colleges using the following platforms:

Cost Breakdown

(Estimated cost for applying to 7 schools on each platform)

Item Quantity Application Fee per School Estimated Total
FAFSA 1 submission $0 $0
Common App platform Free $0 $0
Common App college fees 7 schools ~$60 $420
Coalition App platform Free $0 $0
Coalition App college fees 7 schools ~$60 $420
CSS Profile first school 1 $25 $25
CSS Profile additional schools 6 $16 $96
Estimated Grand Total: $961

States with Centralized Public University Application Platforms

These platforms simplify the process for students applying to multiple public universities within the same state.

States with Centralized Public University Application Platforms

These platforms simplify the process for students applying to multiple public universities within the same state.

State Platform Name Coverage & Notes
California UC Application University of California system (UC Berkeley, UCLA, etc.)
California Cal State Apply California State University campuses (CSU Fullerton, etc.)
Texas ApplyTexas Most public universities in Texas
New York SUNY Application State University of New York campuses
Georgia GAfutures Public colleges + HOPE Scholarship tracking
North Carolina CFNC College Foundation of North Carolina; includes public universities
Wisconsin UW System Application University of Wisconsin campuses
Idaho Apply Idaho Free app for Idaho public colleges
Alaska UAOnline University of Alaska campuses

Additional College Application Platforms & Methods

Platform/Method Description & Use Case
Direct-to-Institution Applications Many colleges (especially public universities) have their own portals.
Examples: UC Application, ApplyTexas, Cal State Apply.
Institutional Portals Some private colleges prefer or require students to apply directly through their own website.
Statewide UC Application (University of California system)
Cal State Apply (California State University system)
ApplyTexas (Texas public colleges)
SUNY Application (New York public colleges)
QuestBridge – For high-achieving, low-income students applying to elite colleges with full scholarships
NACAC Fee Waiver – Not a platform, but a form students can use to request fee waivers for direct applications
Common Black College Application (CBCA) – One application for 60+ Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); $20 flat fee
International Platforms South Korea – Use university portals or Study in Korea
England – UCAS (UK)
Canada – OUAC (Ontario)
Australia – Apply directly to universities or via UAC (NSW)
Japan – Apply via university sites or JASSO guidance
Germany – Use Uni-Assist for many schools

Top Platforms for Applying to South Korean Universities

Platform / Method Description
Study in Korea (Korean Government Portal) Official gateway for international students. Offers university search, scholarship info (like GKS), and application guidance.
Korean University Information System (KUIS) Centralized portal used by many universities for tracking applications and deadlines. Often integrated with school-specific portals.
Direct University Portals Most Korean universities (e.g., Seoul National, Yonsei, KAIST) have their own online application systems. You apply directly through each school’s site.
Qogent Global A third-party service offering hands-on help with South Korea applications, including tracking and deadline management.
Global Scholarships Korea Guide Offers a step-by-step walkthrough for applying to Korean universities, including tips on fee waivers and document prep.

Pro Tips

Helpful Links

Common App & Coalition App

Common App & Coalition App are free online platforms that let you apply to multiple colleges with a single application — they have different member schools & features; short list as follows:

To apply to 5–10 schools takes approximately ~15–30 hours per platform

Why Use Both?

  • Expands access to selective and military-friendly schools
  • Helps students maximize scholarship and GI Bill opportunities
  • Supports dependents, veterans, and active-duty students with flexible options
  • Access to top-tier (Ivy League) schools with strong support for military-connected students
  • Streamlined process for tracking deadlines and materials

Common Application (Common App)

Member Schools: 1,000+ colleges and universities worldwide; several Ivy League schools

Purpose: Streamline application process so you can fill out your info, activities, essays, and recommendations once, then send to multiple schools

Features:

  • Built-in teacher recommendation requests
  • Links to financial aid resources
  • Widely accepted by public and private institutions, including many outside the U.S.

Cost:

  • $0 (free to use)
  • Application Fee Per-College: typically $25–$90 per school
  • Fee Waivers available via FAFSA or counselor
  • Sending Test Scores: students must send official SAT/ACT scores separately; costs $14–$15 per report unless using fee waivers

Best For: Students applying to a range of schools who want the widest reach with one application

Coalition Application (Coalition App)

Member Schools: Less than Common App (~150 schools), but highly selective; includes Ivy League schools

Purpose: Increase access for underrepresented, first-gen, and lower-income students

Features:

  • Coalition Locker: online portfolio you can start using as early as 9th grade to store essays, projects, videos, and other materials
  • Strong financial aid commitments and easy fee waivers

Cost:

  • $0 (free to use)
  • Application Fee Per-College: typically $25–$90 per school
  • Built-in eligibility tool
  • Sending Test Scores: students must send official SAT/ACT scores separately; costs $14–$15 per report unless using fee waivers

Best For: Students who value early preparation tools, want to showcase more than grades/test scores, or are targeting Coalition member schools

Essays

Common App

  • Main personal essay (650 words max): Required for nearly all schools
  • Supplemental essays: Many schools ask for extra short answers or essays (topics like “Why this college?” or “Describe a challenge”)

Coalition App

  • Personal essay (500–650 words): Required by most member schools
  • Supplemental essays: Also common, depending on the school

Bottom Line: On both platforms, you’ll need at least one strong personal essay — and possibly several more

Common 5-Paragraph Essay Template

  1. Hook + Setup: Grab attention with a vivid moment, quote, or reflection; set the stage for your story
  2. Challenge or Turning Point: Describe a meaningful experience, obstacle, or decision that shaped you
  3. Growth or Insight: Show how you changed, what you learned, or how your perspective evolved
  4. Connection to Future: Tie your experience to your goals, values, or what you’ll bring to college
  5. Closing Reflection: End with a strong takeaway or emotional beat that leaves a lasting impression

What Admissions Officers Want

Admissions officers want authentic storytelling, not rigid structure. So instead of:

“In this essay, I will discuss leadership, resilience, and curiosity…”

They’re looking for:

“The first time I stepped into the robotics lab, I didn’t know I’d end up leading the team to nationals…”

Taxes (Refunds)

American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC)

IRS AOTC Overview
IRS Education Credits Q&A

Key Benefits

  • Maximum credit: $2,500 per student, per year
  • Refundable portion: Up to $1,000 even if you owe no taxes

How It’s Calculated

  • 100% of the first $2,000 in qualified education expenses
  • 25% of the next $2,000 (=$500)
  • If you pay $4,000 in tuition and required materials, you get the full $2,500 credit

To claim the AOTC, file IRS Form 8863 — titled Education Credits (American Opportunity and Lifetime Learning Credits)

Eligibility for Parents

  • The student is a dependent (under age 24 + full-time student for at least 5 months of the year)
  • The student only needs to be half-time or more (typically 6+ credit hours) for one semester, quarter, or term that starts during the tax year
  • The student is in their first 4 years of postsecondary education
  • The student is enrolled at least half-time
  • The parents’ MAGI is under $90,000 (single) or $160,000 (joint)
  • Partial Credit: $160,001–$180,000
    No Credit Above: $180,000
  • The student must not have a felony drug conviction at the end of the tax year

How It Works for Multiple Students

  • Parents can claim up to $2,500 per eligible student, per year

What Parents Need to Claim AOTC

  • A 1098-T Tuition Statement issued from the school (usually by January 31)
  • Receipts for required books and supplies

Qualified Expenses for the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC)

Category Examples You Can Claim
Tuition & Enrollment Fees Tuition for credit courses, mandatory enrollment fees, technology fees (if required)
Required Books Textbooks listed on the syllabus, lab manuals, digital course materials
Required Supplies Art supplies for studio classes, scientific calculators, sketch pads (if listed as required)
Required Equipment Laptops, tablets, software (only if required by the course or institution)
Online Access Tools Homework platforms (e.g., Pearson MyLab, Cengage), eBooks with access codes

*MAGI stands for Modified Adjusted Gross Income

Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) & Retroactive AOTC Refund Claims

Adjusted Gross Income (AGI): Total income minus allowable IRS deductions and adjustments, plus tax-exempt interest and excluded foreign income.

AGI stands for Modified Adjusted Gross Income.

Note: Tuition alone for a full-time student (12–15 credit hours) can easily meet/exceed $4,000 in one semester.

Retroactive AOTC Refund Claims (3 years)

Parents can retroactively claim AOTC by filing an amended tax return for any of the past three tax years, as long as you were eligible and didn’t already claim it.

How It Works

  • The IRS allows you to file Form 1040-X to amend a previous return
  • You must include Form 8863 with the amendment to claim the AOTC
  • You can only go back 3 years from the original filing deadline (usually April 15 of the following year)

What You’ll Need

  • Form 1098-T from the school for each year you want to claim
  • Receipts for tuition, required books, and supplies
  • Proof the student met all eligibility criteria (dependent, enrolled half-time, etc.)

Example: If you didn’t claim AOTC for tax year 2022, you have until April 15, 2026 to file an amended return and get that credit/refund.