Applying to colleges via Direct Apply is quick and straightforward—just a few simple steps!
1) Add programs
First, go to the Universities tab from the menu on the left. Use the filters above to narrow down your search results and find your preferred university. Once you've identified a suitable university, click on Apply.
You will then be directed to the university's profile page, where you can add the program you are interested in.
For more information on how to Search and Apply for universities with Direct Apply, please refer to this article.
2) Fill out application forms
Navigate to the Applications tab in the side menu and click on the Complete Application button to start filling out the application form.
To help students complete their applications more quickly, a new 'Get Started' step has been added to the DA form:
You can upload your passport during this step to automatically pre-fill applicable fields in the application form, speeding up the process. Alternatively, you can choose to skip this step and fill out the form manually.
You can review all pre-filled data, make any necessary edits, and complete the remaining sections before submitting your application.
If you have already uploaded a passport previously, the system will automatically pre-fill the applicable fields to give you a head start.
Once you have uploaded the documents, or if you prefer not to upload them at this time, you can proceed to fill out the form manually. An application form will appear with some fields pre-filled based on the information provided in your profile. You can also track your progress using the color-coded status bar.
The form is divided into several sections:
1. Profile
This section includes Applicant information, Applicant Details, Permanent Home Address (not in the USA), Emergency Contacts, Visa Processing, and Financial Responsibilities.
2. Education History (Academic Background)
Here, you will need to fill in details such as School Transcripts, Secondary / High School, Post-Secondary School, SAT / ACT Exam Results, and any Academic Gaps.
3. Agreements
This section covers Personal Statement and Disciplinary History.
4. English Language Skills
In this part, you'll record any English language tests you have taken.
5. Declarations and Permissions
This is the permissions confirmation page where you acknowledge and agree to the necessary declarations.
For Direct Send Direct Apply (DS-DA) applications, please note that the application form can vary significantly depending on the region and university.
For details on the UK-DA form, please refer to this article.
Once you have uploaded all documents and completed all the required fields, a green checkmark will appear on the side, indicating that the form has been completed.
3) AI Review
After completing the form, you will move on to review your application details. We now have Saige to assist you during this review process. You can view Saige's suggestions and any issues or discrepancies identified in the information you've entered.
4) Submit for Counselor Review
If your school has enabled the counselor review step, you will submit the application for Counselor/School review first.
Your counselor will receive a notification and can either approve the application or return it with comments.
If your counselor has provided comments indicating that revisions are needed, you will see the "Revision Required" status on your application. You can then click "Revise Application" to make the necessary changes.
After making revisions, you will need to resubmit the application for counselor/school review. Once all corrections are completed and your counselor approves the application, it will be officially submitted.
5) Pay application fees (if required)
Not all universities on Direct Apply offer an application fee waiver, and some colleges require you to pay an application fee.
For more information on the Direct Apply fee waiver, please check this article.
6) Track the application
After submission, the application status will update as the university reviews it. Status labels such as Under Review, Conditional Offer, Unconditional Offer, and Rejected will appear on the application card. For a full explanation of status labels, see What do the different types of application results mean?
If a student needs to make changes after submitting, contact Chat with Cialfo some fields can be updated by the support team depending on whether the university has already reviewed the application.
Need More Help?
Our Client Support team is available via Live Chat 24 hours a day, Monday through Friday, so you can get help anytime during the work week through Chat with Cialfo.
If you’re unable to find a solution in our help articles or need further assistance, you can contact the Cialfo Support team via Live Chat or email us at [email protected].