Visit AISD's College and Career Readiness page for checklists and other important information.
AVID College & Career Readiness Resources
This guide contains updated and accurate text for the AVID District Website's College Search, Testing, Financial Aid, and Application pages.
1. College Search & Exploration
The College Board’s modernized exploration tool helps students discover colleges based on location, major, campus culture, and financial aid options. Students can build a custom college list, estimate costs, and connect their SAT scores directly to search parameters.
A state-backed resource specifically designed for Texas middle and high school students. It allows students to explore career clusters, align high school endorsements with degree paths, and research Texas public and private universities.
A data-driven search engine that provides clear insight into graduation rates, average annual costs, typical post-graduation salaries, and student loan debt for any college in the country.
2. College Application Platforms
Created as a collaborative effort between the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and participating institutions, ApplyTexas remains the primary centralized portal for public universities, community colleges, and several private institutions across Texas. While historically popular, many major Texas public institutions (such as UT Â鶹¹û¶³´«Ã½, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech) now also accept the Common Application, giving applicants more flexibility.
The Common App is fully digital and serves over 1,000 member institutions worldwide—spanning public, private, highly selective, and open-enrollment schools across all 50 states, including major universities in Texas like Rice, SMU, Trinity, and most public flagships.
Offered by EDU, Inc., the Common Black College Application allows students to apply to over 50–60 participating HBCUs for a single fee (typically between $20 and $35). Note that a few highly selective HBCUs (such as Howard, Spelman, and Morehouse) operate outside this portal and use the Common Application instead.
3. College Entrance Exams & Practice
The SAT & Official Practice
- SAT Info & Registration: High school seniors and juniors can manage test dates, request fee waivers, and send score reports through their College Board account.
- Official Practice: Free, personalized SAT preparation is available directly through Khan Academy, which syncs with previous PSAT/SAT scores to target individual areas for growth.
The ACT
- ACT Info & Registration: Find test centers, check test dates, apply for fee waivers, and access career planning tools.
- ACT Test Prep: Free practice resources, including full-length practice tests and official question banks, are available on the ACT site.
TSIA2 (Texas Success Initiative Assessment)
Essential for Texas Students: Public colleges in Texas use the TSIA2 to evaluate college readiness in Reading, Writing, and Math. Exemption can be granted via specific SAT/ACT threshold scores. High school counselors can assist students with on-campus testing schedules.
4. Financial Aid & Scholarships
Texas Financial Aid Graduation Requirement
Under Texas House Bill 3, all Texas high school seniors are required to complete a financial aid application (FAFSA or TASFA) or submit an official opt-out form in order to graduate.
- FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid): The primary federal application used to determine eligibility for federal and state grants, work-study programs, and federal loans. Available to U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens.
- TASFA (Texas Application for State Financial Aid): Designed for Texas residents who are not eligible to complete the FAFSA (including undocumented and DACA students) to access state-level financial aid.
- FSA ID Setup: Both the student and one parent/guardian must create a Federal Student Aid account (FSA ID) before filling out the online FAFSA.
Scholarship Search Engines
- : Features a massive, regularly verified database of local, regional, and national scholarships.
- : Matches student profiles to vetted scholarship opportunities and niche awards based on background, interests, and academic performance.
- Going Merry: A streamlined scholarship platform where students can apply to multiple awards using a single, unified profile.
5. AVID Student Essentials
WICHE / Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)
Allows Texas students looking to study out-of-state in select Western states to qualify for reduced tuition rates at participating public institutions.
College Application Fee Waivers
Students eligible for free/reduced lunch or who test with an SAT/ACT fee waiver qualify for application fee waivers across ApplyTexas, Common App, and individual university portals. Speak directly with your AVID teacher or High School Counselor to activate these.
Letter of Recommendation Requests & Resume Builder
AVID students should utilize their AVID Senior Portfolio and Student Activity Sheet/Brag Sheet to give recommenders at least 2–3 weeks' notice before college application deadlines.