SANDPOINT — As college application deadlines approach, Sandpoint High School seniors are receiving support through a program that lightens the load of applying for college. 

Apply Idaho, a free application platform, is partnering with the high school to assist seniors in sending their personal, academic and application information to several in–state Idaho colleges in one step. 

During their English class period, students could choose to have SHS teachers and counselors guide them through each step. SHS Post-Secondary Transition Counselor Jeralyn Mire said the process for most students only took 25 minutes. 

Mire said she has seen how the program has provided relief for students with already busy schedules. 

"For some of our students, they just felt like, 'OK, I've done it,'" said Mire, "They knew they wanted to do it, and they'd been meaning to, but now it's done." 

"We're so glad that they took advantage of it and that they claimed one of their spots that they had at an Idaho institution to be able to go for post-secondary education," Mire said. 

This year, the optional workshop proved to be successful, with 80% of SHS seniors submitting applications through Apply Idaho, compared with 35% of students statewide. 

Although seniors who used Apply Idaho still have additional steps to complete their college applications, Mire said they're more inclined to finish them because they have already started the process. 

"Whether it's a two-year or four-year associate of applied science or a bachelor's, they claim their spot, and they now just have to follow up with the emails," Mire said. 

For students who are unsure if college is the right direction for them, Mire said it's easier to decide against attending after applying than to change their minds later and face a looming application deadline.

"At least they know they have a really solid option," Mire said. 

Soon, students will have the opportunity to learn how to use Scholarship Idaho during their English period, a free, online portal that allows students to apply for several state-managed scholarships through a single application. 

"We partner with the English department, and they allow us time to come in and actually help the students build their account," said Mire. 

SHS Landon Day submitted an application through Apply Idaho, a task he said made the college application process less intimidating. He's even received emails from Idaho colleges he submitted his information to. 

"It definitely seems doable, and now that we've actually applied and got some results back, it's good to see," said Day.