Embarking on a college or university journey is more than just acquiring a degree; it's a strategic investment in your future career. Through rigorous coursework, hands-on experiences, and networking opportunities, you'll develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills highly sought after by employers. Access to cutting-edge research, industry-specific training, and career services will equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to excel in your chosen field. Beyond academics, campus life fosters personal growth, leadership development, and lifelong connections, laying a solid foundation for a successful and fulfilling professional path.
College applications are the forms and materials submitted by prospective students to gain admission to a college or university. They typically include information about the applicant's background, academic record, extracurricular activities, and personal essays. The application process varies by institution, but generally involves filling out online forms, providing transcripts and test scores, and potentially submitting letters of recommendation.
Mercer Island High School and Bellevue High School present our "Case Study and College Fair" for rising seniors. Exclusive to Mercer Island High School and Bellevue High School, this annual event allows families to learn more about the college application process. During the Case Study workshop, participants are provided with college applications from fictional high school seniors, and then work with actual current college admissions officers to evaluate those applications. Learn what colleges and universities are really looking for in an application! Don't miss this valuable workshop!
Meet with college admissions representatives from across the country at our College Fair after the Case Study workshop. Learn more:
Mercer Island High School Academic Counselors play a critical role in ensuring MIHS provides a safe, caring environment and that students have the necessary mindsets and behaviors to advance academic achievement outcomes.
“Ready Washington” is a coalition of more than 20 state and local agencies, associations, and advocacy organizations that believe every Washington student should graduate high school prepared for a successful future – on the education and career path they choose – and offers tools and resources to support them on that path. The "Family Conversations About the Future" tool provides guidance for families to have conversations about students’ plans after high school.
MIHS Career Pathways Hub Self-Guided Financial Aid worksheet
Navigating financial aid for colleges/universities can feel overwhelming. Review our self-guided, worksheet of financial aid tips and actions to get prepared!
FAFSA: Free Application for Student Aid
Apply for federal grants, work-study, and loans for your degree or certificate program with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form for each year you're in school. Your school uses your FAFSA data to determine your federal aid eligibility.
WAFSA: Washington Application for State Financial Aid.
It's a financial aid application used by students in Washington State who are not eligible to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This typically includes undocumented students or those who are not eligible for federal aid due to their immigration status, but it can also be used by others who prefer to not file the FAFSA.
Washington College Grant
Washington College Grant (WA Grant) gives eligible people more money for more types of education like certificate programs, job training, apprenticeships, or college. WA Grant is one of the most generous financial aid programs in the country. The amount you receive depends on family size, income, and the cost of your school or program.
CSS Profile
The CSS Profile is an online application used by colleges and scholarship programs to award non-federal institutional aid. CSS Profile allows families to provide a more complete picture of their financial circumstances than the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) may provide alone. Hundreds of institutions use CSS Profile as a common application for nonfederal financial aid, reducing the number of times a student may need to fill out institution financial aid applications at multiple institutions.
Scholarships
Scholarships are a form of financial aid, often referred to as "free money," awarded to students to help cover their education costs. Unlike loans, scholarships do not need to be repaid. They can be based on various criteria, such as academic merit, financial need, or other specific qualifications.
The private, not-for-profit colleges and universities that are members of Independent Colleges of Washington provide a post-secondary experience for students across the state. These institutions are committed to delivering a well-rounded education to their students by cultivating their unique talents in a setting that best meets their needs — academically, developmentally, and socially.
Member colleges include: Gonzaga University, Heritage University, Pacific Lutheran University, St. Martin's University, and Seattle Pacific University.
The Washington Guaranteed Admissions Program (WAGAP) allows MIHS students to learn if they will be admitted to Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, The Evergreen State College, University of Washington Tacoma, Washington State University or Western Washington University before they even apply! The following criteria must be met:
Going to college out of state may mean paying up to three times more than attending a school or university in your home state/territory*. The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) was established in 1987 to make college more affordable and accessible to students in the West.
Through WUE, students from the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) region* can choose from hundreds of undergraduate programs across the West and pay no more than 150% of the institution’s resident tuition rate.
Today, more than 170 public colleges and universities offer reduced tuition rates through WUE to qualifying students. Participating schools offer these discounted rates to help students avoid the full cost of pursuing higher education outside their home state and minimize the impact of student loan debt.
*Residents of the following states and territories are eligible to apply for WUE: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawai’i, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, as well as American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam.
The College Tour is a TV series that tells the story of colleges and universities around the world. Each episode of The College Tour focuses on a single college or university. From campus life, academics, housing, sports, activities, and much more - each student-driven segment provides an inside look at what it’s truly like being a student at the featured college or university.
More than 100 colleges in the United States are identified by the US Department of Education as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Learn more through the MIHS/Bellevue High School webinar:
Students who wish to be student-athletes in college/university must meet the requirements of the NCAA if they are going to play at a Division I or Division II school. It is recommended that all high school athletes hoping to compete in college register during their 9th grade year.
The NCAA Clearinghouse is an organization outside of the NCAA which performs academic record evaluations to determine if a prospective student is eligible to participate at an NCAA Division I or II college/university as a first year student-athlete.
Registration includes completing a:
Student Release Form (SRF)
*paying the registration fee ($50)
Completing the online registration
A High School NCAA Transcript Release Form must be signed/acknowledged in RSVP Skyward
High school students with a passion for the fine or performing arts may choose to pursue an education that nurtures their creativity and talent. For those committed to careers in music, dance, theater, visual arts, or design, there are specialized schools and conservatories dedicated exclusively to arts education. These institutions offer focused training, mentorship from industry professionals, and immersive environments that prepare students for the competitive world of the arts while also supporting their academic growth. Learn more through these resources:
Pre-college programs are summer programs offered by colleges and universities designed to introduce high school students to college life and academic rigor. These programs can help students decide if college is the right fit for them and give them a head start in preparing for the demands of college coursework.
With tens of thousands of institutions and hundreds of thousands of programs, finding the perfect university can feel challenging. QS Top Universities analyzes billions of data points and distills the information into relevant resources. QS Top Universities is best-known for their rankings – comparing more than 1,500 universities and 15,700 academic programs spanning 104 locations.
