Guam Scholars

Guam's two main higher education options are the University of Guam (UOG), a four-year public university, and Guam Community College (GCC), offering associate degrees, certificates, and workforce training programs that can transfer into a four-year degree. On-island applications are typically submitted directly through each school's own application portal rather than a third-party platform like the Common App. Check UOG's or GCC's admissions office website for the current application, required documents, and deadlines.

Most mainland U.S. colleges and universities accept applications from Guam the same way they would from any U.S. state. Guam is U.S. territory, so students generally qualify for in-state-equivalent or territory-specific consideration at some public universities (this varies by school, so check each college's residency policy). Off-island schools are typically applied to through either their own application portal or a shared platform like the Common App or Coalition App.

The Common Application (Common App) lets you fill out one core application that covers personal info, activities, and an essay, then submit it to hundreds of participating colleges, each with their own supplemental questions. It streamlines applying to multiple off-island schools at once. Steps to get started:

• Create a free account at commonapp.org.
• Add colleges to your list. Not all schools use the Common App, so confirm each target school participates.
• Complete the Common App essay (personal statement) and any school-specific supplemental essays.
• Invite your counselor and teachers through the platform so they can submit transcripts and recommendation letters electronically.
• Review and submit before each school's deadline.

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) determines eligibility for federal grants, work-study, and loans, and most colleges also use it to award their own financial aid and scholarships. Guam students are eligible to file the FAFSA just like students in the 50 states. File as early as possible after the FAFSA opens each year, since some aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Junior year spring: take the SAT/ACT for the first time; start researching on-island and off-island schools.
• Summer before senior year: draft your Common App essay; narrow down your college list.
• Senior year fall: submit applications (many off-island deadlines fall between October and January); request transcripts early.
• Senior year winter: file the FAFSA as soon as it opens; apply for local and national scholarships.
• Senior year spring: compare financial aid offers and confirm your final decision by each school's reply deadline.