• Admission Counselors can now go to https://CounselorCommunity.com to schedule a campus visit with our high school. 

    Researching Universities

    • Start first with a self-assessment...use SchooLinks
    • College Matching sites:
      • www.collegeboard.com
      • www.petersons.com
      • www.princetonreview.com
    • Files with school information are located in the Counseling Office. 
    • Visit, visit, visit! - Please note that freshmen and sophomores will not receive excused absences for college visits, only juniors and seniors, and there is a limit (contact Ms. Whiting).
    • Attend college fair
    • Categorize the colleges you are considering into the following 3 categories:
    Reach/Dream Schools: These are colleges that you would love to attend, but statistically, there’s not a great likelihood you’ll be accepted.
    Match Schools: These are colleges that are a good “match” for you. Your profile aligns with students who are typically accepted, and you would like to attend these colleges. 
    Safety Schools: These are colleges that are based on your individual profile, where you will be accepted.

    WHEN SHOULD I APPLY?

    • The fall of the senior year for admission 
    • All seniors are required to apply to a minimum of three universities/colleges.
    • The deadline for submission of ALL college applications at DeBakey is NOVEMBER 1, 2026.
    • Online college applications:
    • We ask that seniors use SchooLinks to add college applications and link their SchooLinks account with CommonApp.
      • www.applytexas.org - schools will still need to be listed on SchooLinks
      • www.commonapp.org

    APPLYING FOR ADMISSION

    The process of applying for admission varies from one college to another. It is the applicant’s responsibility to know the steps to follow for a particular school. University admissions officers and your counselors can help you with this. Simply stated, applying means sending an application form, high school records, and entrance exam scores to the college. Application procedures, forms, and deadlines vary with each college.

    WHAT TO DO WITH THE APPLICATION

    • Complete your part of the application
    • Ask for teacher/counselor recommendations if required (allow three weeks)
    • Write your essay/essays if required
    • Enclose your application fee or pay online
    • Fee waivers are available in the counselor’s office for students on free or reduced lunch.

     

    THE APPLICATION PROCESS: Step-by-step instructions for the COMMON APPLICATION.

     

    COST OF COLLEGE

    • The cost of college should not impede you from applying.
    • The listed tuition/fees are not necessarily what you will be paying to attend a particular college.
    • There are many resources to help you pay for college, including:
    • Merit scholarships
    • Financial needs scholarships
    • Grants
    • Work Study
    • Loans