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See your college acceptances today!


Seniors can see where they're accepted before ever starting an application. Direct Admissions uses your academic record to show you where you'll get in. Don't worry if you don't see your dream school on your list, you can still apply through the regular process.


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Send letters of recommendation and essays

Tips for making your application shine 

What are letters of recommendation? 

When you apply to a college or university, it’s common for the school to ask for one or more letters of recommendation. Not every college asks for letters of recommendation, but they can be a great way to boost your application.   

Your teachers, school counselors, coaches, community leaders, supervisors, and religious leaders use these letters to describe their experiences with you. They can also help admissions officers understand who you are and how you may impact the campus. 

If applying to a specific academic program, letters of recommendation can be especially important. For example, they can make a difference in an admissions decision to a competitive nursing or engineering program. 

Using a brag sheet to help your recommenders 

When you ask a counselor, teacher, or other adult for a letter of recommendation, it helps to give them a brag sheet. As you may have guessed, a brag sheet is where you brag about your best qualities and accomplishments. 

Because counselors and teachers write dozens of letters for students, brag sheets help them keep track of each student’s special qualities. Include anything you’d want someone to mention about you when they’re talking to a college admissions team or scholarship committee. 

You don’t have to write a brag sheet from scratch. You can use fillable templates from the Common App, even if you’re not applying to schools through the Common App. 

Other tips for letters of recommendation  

  • Avoid asking for a letter from well-known or influential people who don’t know you well. It’s important for the writer to be able to give specific examples to expand on your academic and extracurricular strengths. 
  • Don’t ask to see the letter before it’s sent or ask what the person wrote after its submission.  
  • If a school advises you not to submit additional letters of recommendation, then don’t. You don’t want to give the admissions officers extra materials that are not requested.  
  • Give your recommenders at least a two-week period to craft a strong letter and be sure to thank them for their time. 

College essays

If you are interested in selective colleges or universities, they probably want you to send an essay or personal statement. This is an chance for you to make a difference at decision time. Your essay reveals something important about you that your grades and test scores can't – your personality! It can give admissions officers a sense of who you are and showcase your writing skills.  

What are the essay prompts? 

Colleges require different essay prompts, so make sure to check their application or website for the correct writing assignments. If you're applying to colleges through ApplyTexas, then you'll see the following essay prompts: 

Essay A: Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today? 

Essay B: Most students have an identity, an interest, or a talent that defines them in an essential way. Tell us about yourself. 

Essay C: You’ve got a ticket in your hand. Where will you go? What will you do? What will happen when you get there? 

Tips for crafting your best college essay 

  • Write about something that’s important to you – it could be an experience, a person, a book, or anything that has made an impact on your life. Make it personal to you and showcase who you are. Avoid writing too much about someone else and stay on topic. 
  • Open strong – a strong opening paragraph that captures the readers’ attention is important. Make the admissions staff reading your essay curious about what they'll read next.  
  • Start early and write several drafts – take time to ask yourself questions: Is the essay interesting? Does it reveal something new that isn’t already in my application? Do the ideas flow logically and address the prompt? 
  • Proofread – correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling are essential, so proofread several times after you’ve finished. Then ask a teacher or even an admissions officer to give it a quick read.