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2025-26 Senior Family Night Presentation

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Click here to access the College Planning Quick Guide.

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Start your Common App here!

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apply to college with common app | your future starts here

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Apply to college with Common App | Your future starts here

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Common App is a nonprofit organization of 1000+ colleges and universities that simplifies, informs, and supports your college application journey.

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Check out the FHS College and Career Center Padlet that has all the resources you need to help plan for the year ahead.

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How to create a College List

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Once you've made a list of colleges you're interested in, narrow it down to the colleges that are a good fit and where you plan to apply. You'll need a minimum of six colleges on your list, including 3 reach, 2 match, and 1 safety. This will ensure your college list is balanced.

Reach: Your SAT score, ACT score or estimated GPA is lower than the average score range of last year's first-year class-but don't let that stop you! Colleges consider a range of factors during the admissions process.

Match: Your SAT score, ACT score or estimated GPA is solidly in the same score range as last year's first-year class.

Safety: Your SAT score, ACT score or estimated GPA is higher than the average score range of last year's first-year class.

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Do you want to know how to make a college list? A list can help you find colleges that will fit you best once you understand your options, needs, and goals.

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Missing a deadline can mean missing out on a spot at your desired college. Keep track of Early Decision, Early Action, and Regular Decision deadlines. Use a calendar or planner to stay organized.

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Crafting a Compelling Personal Statement

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Crafting a Compelling Personal Statement

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Your personal statement is your chance to shine. Share your story, your challenges, and your successes. Be authentic and let your personality come through. Proofread multiple times and ask for feedback.

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Most college applications include essay prompts. Common topics include your background, a significant challenge you've overcome, your career aspirations, and what you can contribute to the college community. Be mindful of word limits.

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We are happy to announce that the Common App essay prompts will remain the same for 2024-2025.

Our decision to keep these prompts unchanged is supported by past research showing that overall satisfaction with the prompts exceeded 95% across our constituent groups - students, counselors, advisors, teachers, and member colleges. Moving forward, we want to learn more about who is choosing certain prompts to see if there are any noteworthy differences among student populations and incorporate feedback into future decisions.

While some schools are beginning discussions with juniors and transfer students about college options, it's important to clarify that this doesn't mean students need to start writing their essays right away. By releasing the prompts early, we hope to give students ample time for reflection and brainstorming. As you guide students with their planning, feel free to use our Common App Ready essay writing resource, available in both English and Spanish.

For students who wish to start exploring the application process, creating a Common App account before August 1 ensures that all their responses, including their personal essays, will be retained through account rollover.

Below is the full set of essay prompts for 2024-2025.

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

4. Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

We will retain the optional community disruption question within the Writing section. Over the next year, we'll consult with our member, counselor, and student advisory committees to ensure we gather diverse perspectives and make informed decisions.

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common app announces 2024–2025 common app essay prompts

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Common App Announces 2024-2025 Common App Essay Prompts

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The Common App essay prompts offer diverse topics, inviting students to share personal stories, challenges, growth, and meaningful experiences.

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The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is crucial for receiving financial aid. Gather necessary documents such as your Social Security number, tax returns, and bank statements before starting the application.

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Look for scholarships offered by colleges, private organizations, and community groups. Websites like Fastweb, Scholarships.com, and the College Board's Scholarship Search can help you find opportunities.

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Top College Scholarships for High School & College Students 2023

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Find the best college scholarships for high school and college students, Black & African American, Hispanic & Latinos, Women, First Generation, Texas, California, Easy, No Essay, Nursing, STEM, and Merit scholarships

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Are you logging your service hours?

How Do I Access x2Vol?

x2Vol:  Students track their service learning hours through x2VOL, which can be accessed through Naviance by following these steps:

1. Go to the Naviance login page.

2. Log into your account.

3. Click on the Careers tab and select “x2VOL.”

4. If you have never signed into x2VOL, follow the prompts and complete your profile.

5. x2VOL Dashboard is where you will Add Hours, Find Opportunities, View Groups & Goals Progress.

6. Students need a minimum of 40 approved hours

to earn the service cord and 50 approved hours to

earn toward the civics and science seals. See

more information about FCPS diploma seals here.

7. Hours begin on July 1 in the summer before

freshman year and end in the spring of senior

year.

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How to Start Your College Application Journey

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How to Start Your College Application Journey

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Begin by researching colleges that interest you. Make a list of application deadlines and requirements for each school. Consider factors such as location, size, majors offered, and campus culture.

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Do you need a letter or recommendation from your counselor?  Read these directions...

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Do you need a letter or recommendation from your counselor?  Read these directions...

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If you require a school counselor letter of recommendation for a college or scholarship application, please complete and share (via Google) the Counselor Letter of Recommendation Questionnaire with your school counselor by September 30, 2025. You must email your school counselor to let them know you’ve shared the Google Doc with them and would like a letter of recommendation.

Please note, this form is required if you need a counselor letter of recommendation.

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Meet with Ms. Collyn Alford, NOVA Outreach and Recruitment Coordinator, to learn about all the opportunities to Transfer With Ease or Prepare for an Exciting Career after graduating!

Be sure to check in with your teacher for attendance before coming.

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NOVA Visit Schedule 2025-26 Fairfax HS UPDATED Dec 2025.docx (1) (002)

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Did you get to see the Rising Senior Presentation in the spring? If not, here is link to check it out now!

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"I just wanted to say a big THANK YOU to you for creating such a wonderful scholarship program. Without Matchlighters and my amazing counselor, I would have never been able to complete and compose such great essays that help me get admitted to Harvard, UPenn, Duke, JHU, Rice, and UCLA! I still cannot believe what happened this past month and all of that incredible news would not have been a reality without the Matchlighters program. I want to personally thank you for putting the effort in organizing this program and helping me match up with my counselor."

- Khoa, Matchlighters Scholar

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Dive into our updated collection of free, step-by-step guides to deciding your college essay structure, how to start your essay, what college essay topic to pick, how to write a personal statement or supplemental essay, and so much more.

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Summer message for rising seniors!

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Many colleges use application portals like Common App, Coalition App, or their own online system. Familiarize yourself with these platforms and begin your applications early. The Common App allows you to apply to multiple colleges with one application.

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✅ Students should track their hours in x2VOL. See: Instructions on how to input hours

✅ Students are able to earn a diploma in the Commonwealth of Virginia without completing service hours

✅ 40 hours = black service learning cord to wear at graduation

✅ 50 hours with additional criteria  = apply for The Board of Education’s Seal of Excellence in Civics Education

✅ 50 exclusive hours related to science service with additional criteria = apply for The Science & Environmental Seal

✅ Students who do not complete yearly service hours or who complete fewer than 40 hours over the course of high school will still be able to graduate

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Accepted students can arrange to start college a year later with an approved admission deferral.

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19 Questions College Financial Aid Officers Wish Parents Would Ask

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Asking these critical questions can help save time, energy, money and disappointment.

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Students meeting specific requirements for graduation and demonstrating exemplary performance may receive diploma seals for recognition. Section 8VAC20-131-51 of the Standards of Accreditation establishes the requirements for diploma seals. VDOE provides the following seals to local school divisions.

Governor's Seal

The Governor's Seal is awarded to students who complete the requirements for an Advanced Studies Diploma with an average grade of "B" or better, and successfully complete college-level coursework that will earn the student at least nine transferable college credits in Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge, or dual enrollment courses.

Board of Education Seal

The Board of Education Seal is awarded to students who complete the requirements for a Standard Diploma or Advanced Studies Diploma with an average grade of "A" beginning with the ninth-grade class of 2006-2007 and beyond.

Career & Technical Education Seal

The Board of Education's Career & Technical Education Seal is awarded to students who:

earn a Standard or Advanced Studies Diploma and complete a prescribed sequence of courses in a career and technical education concentration or specialization that they choose and maintain a "B" or better average in those courses

or pass an examination or an occupational competency assessment in a career and technical education concentration or specialization that confers certification or occupational competency credential from a recognized industry, trade or professional association

or acquire a professional license in that career and technical education field from the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The Board of Education shall approve all professional licenses and examinations used to satisfy these requirements. Visit The Path to Industry Certification for the current approved licenses and examinations.

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Seal

The STEM Seal shall be awarded to students who earn either a Standard Diploma or an Advanced Studies Diploma and satisfy all Math and Science requirements for the Advanced Studies diploma with a “B” average or better in all course work, and

successfully complete a 50 hour or more work-based learning opportunity in a STEM area, and

satisfy all requirements for a Career and Technical Education concentration (a concentration is a coherent sequence of two or more state-approved courses as identified in the course listing within the CTE Program Area Guide), and

pass one of the following:

a Board of Education CTE STEM-H credential examination, or

an examination approved by the Board that confers a college-level credit in a STEM field.

Seal for Excellence in Civics Education

The Seal for Excellence in Civics Education Seal is awarded to students who earn either a Standard Diploma or an Advanced Studies Diploma and meet each of the following criteria:

Complete Virginia & United States History and Virginia & United States Government courses with a grade of "B" or higher.

Have good attendance and no disciplinary infractions as determined by local school board policies.

Complete 50 hours of voluntary participation in community service or extracurricular activities, such as volunteering for a charitable or religious organization that provides services to the poor, sick or less fortunate; participating in Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts or similar youth organizations; participating in Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC); participating in political campaigns, government internships, Boys State, Girls State or Model General Assembly; or participating in school-sponsored extracurricular activities that have a civics focus. Any student who enlists in the United States military prior to graduation will be deemed to have met this community service requirement.

Seal of Biliteracy

The Seal of Biliteracy is awarded to students who earn a Board of Education-approved diploma and:

Pass all required End-of-Course Assessments in English reading and writing at the proficient or higher level

Demonstrate proficiency at the intermediate-mid level or higher in one or more languages other than English as demonstrated through an assessment from a list approved by the Superintendent of Public Instruction. American Sign Language qualifies as a language other than English.

Please visit the Seal of Biliteracy webpage for more information, including the list of assessment options for meeting the foreign language proficiency requirement.

Seal for Excellence in Science and the Environment

(available only to students who entered ninth grade in 2018-2019 or thereafter)

The Seal for Excellence in Science and the Environment is awarded to students who enter the ninth grade for the first time in the 2018-2019 year and thereafter, and meet each of the following criteria:

Earn either a Standard or Advanced Studies Diploma

Complete at least three different first-level board-approved laboratory science courses and at least one rigorous advanced-level or postsecondary-level laboratory science course, each with a grade of “B” or higher

Complete laboratory or field-science research and present that research in a formal, juried setting

Complete at least 50 hours of voluntary participation in community service or extracurricular activities that involve the application of science such as environmental monitoring, protection, management, or restoration.

Other Diploma Seals or Awards

Local school divisions may award other diploma seals or awards for exceptional academic, CTE, citizenship or other exemplary performance in accordance with criteria defined by the local school board. The design, production and use of those seals is the responsibility of the local school boards awarding the seal.#2024

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This guide will show you how to log our service hours in X2Vol.

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Supplemental Essay Advice

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Your Senior Yearbook Portrait

8/4            8:30 am - 3:00 pm    Atrium

10/14 - 10/16    3:00 pm - 8:00 pm    Hallway 23

12/1 - 12/4       3:00 pm - 8:00 pm    Hallway 23

1/14 - 1/16       3:00 pm - 8:00 pm    Hallway 23

For your yearbook submission, your school has requested a vertical, head-and-shoulder portrait in your choice of yearbook attire below.

Yearbook Attire – Option 1: Formal Black Drape
Please arrive wearing a thin-strapped tank top. Drapes will be provided for your use.

Yearbook Attire – Option 2: Formal Tuxedo
Please arrive wearing a plain white T-shirt. Tuxedo shirts, bowties, and jackets size 38 through 56 will be provided for your use. Please make alternative arrangements if another size is required.

Yearbook Attire – Option 3: Black Button Down Shirt or Solid Black Sweater

What to Bring

Please arrive wearing your yearbook portrait attire with time to touch up your look before your session begins. If you are signing up for an extended sitting with additional outfits, please bring them wrinkle-free and ready to wear. Cap and gown will be provided for your use (if applicable).

Props (jackets, sports and hobby equipment) may be brought to personalize your extended sittings.

To ensure you look your best, feel free to bring a brush, comb, facial powder, and touch up makeup.

For sittings outside of normal school operating hours, students may be accompanied by one adult during the session. Cell phone use will not be allowed within the photography session by any student or guest for any reason.

Additional Information

Scheduling your session as soon as possible will ensure that you secure a spot in the yearbook…

Your school has specific yearbook deadlines for senior portrait submission and your senior portrait schedule is based on those deadlines. By signing up early, you’ll have the advantage of more options and flexibility in choosing the image that best represents you.

After your photoshoot (approximately 2 weeks), you will be emailed a link to a secure online gallery to view and purchase your images!

Sittings at Your School

Location: Hallway 23
EXCEPT 8/4 – Atrium

Fairfax High School
3501 Lion Run
Fairfax, VA 22030

Sittings at Our Studio

Annandale Volunteer Fire Department
John Fox, Jr. Memorial Hall
7128 Columbia Pike
Annandale, VA 22003

Prices may vary due individualized attention and services provided at the studio.

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For your yearbook submission, your school has requested a vertical, head-and-shoulder portrait in your choice of yearbook attire below.