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In 2024, Issaquah School District's high schools, including Liberty, started participating in the Washington Guaranteed Admissions Program (WAGAP).

WAGAP guarantees you'll be admitted to all six participating Washington four-year, public institutions, as long as you meet the minimum criteria for the program:

• You have a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher

• You have completed or are on track to complete all the College Academic Distribution Requirements (CADRs)

The six participating Washington four-year, public institutions: Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, The Evergreen State College, Washington State University, Western Washington University,  and University of Washington-Tacoma.

Use the WAGAP Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about this great program!

Colleges offer students different application deadline options to choose from. The type and deadlines will vary from school to school. Keep in mind that the college might have different deadlines for honors programs, financial aid forms, and/or scholarships.  

Early Decision (ED)	Early Action (EA)	Regular Decision	Rolling Admission
Apply early, find out early Apply ED to only one school Binding: Obligated to go if admitted & withdraw other applications No chance to compare financial aid offers	Apply early, find out early Can apply elsewhere Not binding: Can still choose another school	Apply by deadline & find out in spring (March/April) Deadlines vary Commit by May 1	Application open until college meets capacity Apply when you wish; may be priority deadlines Find out in a few weeks

 

 

 

You will most likely complete your college applications online, either through the Common Application or a school's website. Many applications open August 1.

 

Common Application	System Application	Direct Application
Apply to 1000+ Common App member colleges through this online college application platform.  Helpful guides: AXS Companion for step-by-step guidance; Or, the 2023-34 Collegewise Guide to the Common App	A single application that applies to an entire system of schools. UC Apply (9 schools) Cal State Apply (23 schools); CalState Freshman Application guide SUNY (64 schools)	Specific to an institution, check the school's website. Note: If a school is on the Common Application, there is no benefit to applying directly through that school's website.

SAT/ACT Testing Policies

Colleges' policies can and do change. Right now, many schools are test-optional or test-blind, but this is only guaranteed through a specific timeframe. Other colleges have made their policies permanent: Washington’s public universities no longer require the SAT or ACT. Prudent students should monitor individual admissions websites to learn about test requirements for the year they will start college. 

Knowing the testing policy for your schools will help you best determine if you should take the SAT or ACT. Keep in mind, even if a school does not require scores for admission, they may be needed for specific majors/programs or scholarships.

Test-optional	Test-blind (test-free)	Test-required
Test scores are not required, but may be submitted. There is no penalty for not submitting scores.  It is generally recommended  you submit your scores if they are above a school’s 50th percentile.	Test scores are not required, and will not be considered even if submitted.  ~ 80+ schools are test-free, including the UC and CalState systems and WSU.	Test scores are required and you must submit them if you want your application to be considered.

SAT/ACT Timelines

Most students take their first test in the fall or spring of junior year, although some prefer summer of sophomore or junior year. The specific month you choose depends on your other commitments and how much you want to prep. Good test prep can take at least 1-2 months. 

The SAT is offered 6 times a year. Liberty typically hosts the SAT for interested juniors during a school day in March. 

The ACT is offered 7 times a year. 

 

The Liberty Counseling Department handles all activities related to student transcripts. Visit their transcripts webpage or talk with the Counseling Secretary if you are not able to answer your questions using the information below.

Official versus unofficial transcripts

If you are asked to provide a transcript, look to see if it needs to be official or unofficial. Both types contain the same information. However, an official transcript needs to be sent directly from your school to the requestor. A document that is received directly from a student applicant cannot be considered official.

Ordering a transcript

Liberty High School uses an online system called Parchment for both official and unofficial transcript requests. Visit Parchment to create an account and/or place an order for a transcript. You are eligible to receive 5 transcripts at no charge, with a $5.25 fee for each additional transcript.

For Common App college applications: Use Parchment to order ONE official transcript to be sent directly to The Common Application (First Year Applicants).  This single transcript can be used for ALL of the colleges you apply to using the Common App.

For non-Common App college applications: Find out what their requirements are (official/non-official). If they require an official transcript, use Parchment to send it directly to the college. For unofficial transcripts, follow the process below.

For Unofficial transcripts: Use Parchment to send it directly to yourself. Alternatively, if you don't want to use Parchment, your college and career specialists can provide an electronic copy of an unofficial transcript, if requested.

Mid-year reports 

Some colleges require applicants to provide a mid-year report, sometime after a student has submitted an application for admission. A mid-year report is a transcript including 1st semester Senior year grades. A final-year report also includes 2nd semester Senior year grades. 

If asked to provide a mid-year report, students should first WAIT UNTIL SKYWARD SHOWS THEIR 1ST SEMESTER GRADES. Don't worry if the college has been asking you for this report for a while, they understand you need to wait for your grades first. The process for providing a mid-year report is the same as the one used to apply to the college. Follow the “Ordering an official transcript” directions above.

Final reports

A final report is a transcript including 1st and 2nd semester Senior year grades. Students only need to provide this report if the college they've chosen to attend asks for one. 

If asked to provide a final report, students should use Parchment to place an order for their transcript to be sent DIRECTLY TO THE COLLEGE (even if they applied through the Common App). It's best to submit these orders before the school year ends, for fastest delivery. When placing the order, you’ll be asked “When do you want this sent?” Choose “Hold for Grades”, so the transcript will wait to generate after June grades are posted to Skyward. 

Many colleges do not require letters of recommendation during the application process. Do not ask counselors or teachers for recommendation letters unless they are needed. Colleges will not read letters you submit if they don't ask for them. 

To request a letter of recommendation:

1. Ask your counselor/teacher if they will write a recommendation for you, how much time they require (at least 10 days before the deadline), and what reference materials they'd like from you

2. Initiate a recommendation request through the online application portal you're using

3. Send an e-mail to your counselor/teacher with their requested reference materials. Liberty counselors want the following:

• A completed Brag Sheet

• A draft of your application essay

• A copy of your current resume

Counselors and teachers will upload letters directly to the link you provide them with or through the online application portal (e.g. Common App) once invited by you.