College and University Information

The Common Application

If you are using the Common Application you will need certain information to complete the student portion of the application. Email or stop by the counseling office if you don't know the correct response to a prompt. Don't guess!

Our high school CEEB code is 231255.
We report GPA, we DO NOT report class rank
Your GPA and class rank are determined using a “WEIGHTED” system.

It is important to have your Guidance Counselor complete the Secondary School Report/Mid-Year Report/Final Report and to have your teacher(s) complete the Teacher Evaluation. Invite teachers to complete the evaluation by entering their name and e-mail address into the Common App (under the section SCHOOL FORMS). Common App will send your teacher(s) and counselor an e-mail prompt requesting that they complete the report/evaluation on-line. Our recommendations do not have to arrive at the same time that your application does.

OTHER APPLICATIONS

If you’re applying to colleges/universities that don't use the Common App, they may have a Counselor Recommendation page that you will need to print and take to your counselor to complete. However, all transcript requests are sent online.

Letters of Recommendation

Not all colleges require a counselor letter of recommendation. However, if you are applying to a college or university that requires a counselor letter of recommendation, please download and complete the Student College Questionnaire and/or a Resume with Activities & Awards sheet (see attachment below for example) and send it to  your guidance counselor via e-mail or submit it in person.

If you're applying to colleges via the Common Application, please see THE COMMON APPLICATION tab.

College Essays

The essay is a critical component of any college application. It offers you an opportunity to make your personal voice heard, to separate yourself from thousands of other applicants. There are many resources to assist you as you write your essay. Below are just a few.

College Board Essay Writing Resources
EssayEdge (samples to start you thinking)
College Essay Tips

FINANCIAL AID

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the federal application for financial aid. It is also used to apply for aid from other sources, such as from the state or school you will be attending. The FAFSA is required for most college aid applications. It is available starting December 2023.

Remember to apply early before funds run out! Check the resource links below to view additional resources for filling out your FAFSA.

FAFSA Resources

Scholarships

Throughout the year, the DHS Counseling Office receives notice of available scholarships. Check the Scholarship Board outside the Counseling Office for information on scholarships available to our students. Many opportunities will be posted throughout the year! You can also check out scholarship opportunities by going to the websites of your prospective colleges/universities. They will have them listed with filing deadlines.

Local Scholarships are posted in the spring. Generally, local businesses and organizations notify DHS of the scholarships available for that graduating class. The local scholarship packet and applications will be distributed to all seniors at their class meeting in late March/early April. All applications completed by students are copied and forwarded to the businesses and organizations sponsoring the scholarships and then they will select the recipients. Subsequent to reviewing your application (which often includes an essay explaining why you would benefit from the scholarship), they may elect to conduct personal interviews with the students before making their final decision.

Helpful scholarship websites:

Fee Waivers

"Most Demanding Curriculum"

DHS has offered Advanced Placement (AP) courses since the 1990s, but starting with the graduating class of 2014, we also offer an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme. Both AP and IB classes are part of a criteria some college applications use known as "Most Demanding Program."

DHS counselors are often asked whether they recommend AP or IB courses. It really comes down to what the individual student needs and/or wants. Please review the A.P. and IB considerations in below as you plan your high school courses and think about college applications. The Canvas link below is a dashboard for all things AP and IB: courses, deadlines, calendar, etc.

Canvas - AP/IB Dashboard

Program Designations

In terms of college admissions, it often doesn't matter which route students choose. Typically, college applications ask guidance counselors to indicate whether a student's academic program is "Most Demanding," "Very Demanding, "Somewhat Demanding," etc. when compared with what else is offered at the school. These are the standards for students to earn the "Most Demanding" designation at DHS:

DHS students who've earned credit in six AP courses that DHS currently offers, in addition to four years of a world language, will earn the "Most Demanding" designation.
Students who complete the full IB Diploma Programme, will also earn the distinction of "Most Demanding."
Students who take a combination of 6 IB (HL) courses and AP courses, plus the fourth year of a world language, will also earn the "Most Demanding" designation.
It is important to note that unless a student falls into a special category (recruited athlete, underrepresented minority, VIP, legacy, etc.), often times the students within the "Most Demanding" category are the ones that get serious consideration at the most competitive colleges such as the "Ivy League" schools.

If earning the "Most Demanding" designation is important to you, please check with your high school counselor to make sure that your course selection meets the criteria. In either case, before you commit to either route, be certain that you understand what the complete IB program entails in terms of course selection, time commitment, etc. Your high school counselor or the IB coordinator at DHS can explain how IB works.

University Credit Transfer Policies

Another consideration is the fact that credit transfer policies differ from university to university.

Some colleges award college credit for IB (HL) courses and IB (SL) courses. However, some colleges only give college credit for IB classes taken at the "Higher Level." IB diploma students take three classes at that level and the rest at the Standard Level ("SL").
Some colleges give credit only for IB exam scores of 7 (the top); some give credit for lower scores. Again it depends on the individual college.

DHS counselors have this credit transfer information for all Michigan colleges and Big Ten schools. For other out-of-state schools, counselors can assist students with retrieving that information from the college webpages. As more and more high schools are adding an IB program, some colleges (most out-of-state) are offering significant scholarship money to students who complete the full IB Diploma.

The Overall High School Experience

For many AP and IB students, earning college credit is not necessarily a priority. Many students are focusing primarily on having an engaging high school experience and on impressing admission officials in the process. If a student is shooting for the Ivy League schools, and/or other hyper-competitive colleges, generally she isn't necessarily looking to arrive with credits under her belt. Nor does she intend to rush through college in three years (even though it might save Mom and Dad some money).

Scheduling Constraints

Students must also consider which choice of program might affect other options in the school day. For instance, do scheduling constraints mean that IB students may have to drop a desirable elective such as band, orchestra or choir? DHS counselors will do everything possible to help students fit everything in, whether that means a zero hour, on-line coursework, or a Personal Curriculum is necessary.

When students are deciding whether AP or IB is best for them, they need to remember that Dexter High School is fortunate indeed, to offer students a challenging high school experience that will also "look good" at college admission time, whether they opt for AP or IB.

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