Application tips and strategies
Here are some tips to help you navigate the RSCO application process and explore your options.
Application tips and strategies
Here are some tips to help you navigate the RSCO application process and explore your options.
How Do I Maximize My Chance of an Offer?
While no single action guarantees placement, follow these helpful tips to submit your strongest application.
Pay attention to deadlines
Don’t miss out on an opportunity because of a late application or missed deadline.
Apply during the on-time application period (by February 7, 2025). This is the best way families can increase their chance of an offer!
There will be limited options for late applications based on waitlist size, so be sure to apply on time to maximize your options and chance of a placement.
After you receive a placement notification, be sure to respond by the deadline, including completing student registration. Missed deadlines will result in automatic declines!
Apply by February 7, 2025
Apply during the on-time period to increase your chance of a placement offer. In mid-March 2025, the extended application period will open on a limited basis.
Maximize Your Priorities
Many schools and programs consider priorities based on an applicant’s connection to a school or program during the placement process—including enrolled sibling, staff, pathways, and more. To increase the likelihood of a placement, it is important to know your priorities and make sure they are flagged in the Family Profile of your RSCO account.
Check the priorities on each Student Profile to ensure that all your priorities are listed.
Make the school with a placement priority your first choice to activate the priority. This will give you the best chance of a placement.
Applying for twins or siblings in the same grade range? Select the same schools in the same choice order on every application to increase the chance that they will be placed together.
Interested only in CTECS? Apply only to CTECS technical high schools to activate the CTECS-only priority.
Only interested in Open Choice? Apply only to the Open Choice program to activate the Open Choice Only priority.
Know the Placement Rules
The “One Offer Rule” means applicants are eligible for only one placement offer for the 2025-26 school year.
Once your child receives an offer for any of the schools you apply to, they are removed from all other waitlists and are ineligible for any other placement offer for the 2025-26 school year. Be sure to select only schools or districts your child would like to attend. You do not have to apply to the maximum number of schools/districts.Choice order matters with schools and districts.
Generally, your best chance of a placement offer is your first-choice school or district. However, your child could receive placement at any school or district on your child’s application, so be sure to select only schools your child would like to attend.No preference between programs.
When you apply to CTECS, magnet schools, and/or Open Choice, you can’t indicate which program you prefer. If you’re interested in only one program, limit your selections to that program.
Apply by February 7, 2025
Apply during the on-time period to increase your chance of a placement offer. In mid-March 2025, the extended application period will open on a limited basis depending on waitlist size for each program, school and grade. Not all programs, schools and grades will continue to accept applications during this period.
