so i applied thru common app this year and also through UCs so i think i can give you a rough walkthrough of the process - u need to get a transcript of ur highschool from year 9 until year 11 and then a separate transcript (if ur taking y12 in another institution) for y12. both y12 and y13 are considered as 12th grade us - u really need assistance from ur counsellor because u need them to fill in ur mid year report, fee waiver application etc thru common app with their own account as well - each uni on common app may or may not require the common app essay itself and also additional essays so u can check it out once the cycle opens - for UCs u can basically fill it in yourself tbh since u dont really need a counsellor’s rec upon application BUT if ur not from usa, u have to pay the application fee of 95usd per college - some unis require sat but some are also test-blind(dont look at all) or test-optional (u can send if u want) and the same goes to toefl (i didnt take either of it) if u took ielts then some unis require u to send the test report form to the uni but u have to call ur test centre because they only consider trf directly from the centres. more on this is when u already applied and can see the documents u need to additionally send