Oregon Goes to College is a statewide resource, part of Oregon GEAR UP's initiative, designed to help Oregon students, families, and educators navigate the path to college. It pulls together information from a variety of sources into one easy-to-use hub, with grade-by-grade checklists, worksheets, and templates for tracking activities and applications, and guidance on exploring careers, choosing a college, applying, and paying for it. It's built specifically with Oregon colleges and financial aid options in mind, so the information is relevant no matter where in the state you're starting from.
The Common Application (Common App) is an online platform that lets you apply to over 1,000 colleges and universities with a single application. Instead of filling out a separate form for every school, you create one profile - including your personal info, activities list, and essay - and send it to multiple colleges at once. Most schools also have supplemental questions specific to them, so plan for some extra writing beyond the main essay.
FAFSA: Opens October 1, 2026
Did you know that the FAFSA is required for all colleges, some trade schools, and scholarships? Please complete this as early as you can after it opens.
