If you are experiencing issues such as incompletable CAPTCHAs or an error message that says something akin to "Please Try Again Later" when filling out the application, please try the following troubleshooting steps:
Use a Private Browsing Window
All modern browsers should have a way to enter Private Browsing Mode, which is typically a special browsing window that does not save browsing history, cookies, or cached files from the session, nor does it use existing ones. Essentially, it can be used to access websites that may not function correctly due to existing cookies or cached files, as it prevents the use of stored browsing data.
- In Google Chrome, you can enter Incognito Mode by pressing Ctrl + Shift + N at the same time.
- In Mozilla Firefox, you can enter Private Browsing by pressing Ctrl + Shift + P at the same time.
- In Microsoft Edge, you can enter InPrivate Browsing by pressing Ctrl + Shift + N at the same time.
Alternatively, if these key combinations do not work, you can typically enter Private Browsing Mode by clicking the three horizontal bars in the top-right corner of the browser and selecting the option for Incognito, Private, or InPrivate browsing, depending on your browser.
Restart Your Computer
Sometimes, all your computer needs is a quick restart to fix common issues. You can perform a restart by using the System Menu, sometimes called the Start Menu or Home Menu, and selecting the Restart option. Alternatively, you can shut your computer down by holding the power button to turn it off and pressing it to turn it back on.
Update Your Browser
It may be helpful to ensure that your browser is up-to-date. Here's how you can check for updates:
- In Google Chrome, open a new tab and navigate to chrome://settings/help
At this page, Chrome should automatically check for updates. If an update is available, it will be installed automatically. Click Relaunch to finish the update if prompted.
- In Mozilla Firefox, open a new tab and navigate to about:preferences
Scroll down to Firefox Updates under the General section. Then, click on Check for Updates. If updates are available, install them and restart Firefox.
- In Microsoft Edge, open a new tab and navigate to edge://settings/help
At this page, Edge should automatically check for updates. If an update is available, it will be installed automatically. Click Relaunch to finish the update if prompted.
Clear Your Browser Data
Old or corrupted browsing data can sometimes prevent websites from functioning properly. Clearing this data can fix certain issues. Begin by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Delete at the same time. This should work for most browsers. If done correctly, a Clear Browsing Data or similarly named window will appear. Set the Time Range to All Time and make sure the following options are checked:
- Cookies and other site data
- Cached images and files
Click Clear Data or OK to confirm. Close and reopen your browser after clearing the data.
Sign Out and Back In
Sometimes, simply signing out and back in can resolve session issues in browsers that support user accounts. Begin by clicking the Profile Icon typically found in the top-right corner of your browser. Then, select Sign Out or Manage Profile Settings and sign out. Close the browser completely and reopen it. After reopening it, try signing back in with your school account. Then, try using the website again.
Reset Browser Settings (ADVANCED USERS)
WARNING: Before attempting this, be aware that this can permanently remove settings such as your Home Page, Search Engine, and Extensions.
If nothing else works, it may be a good idea to reset your browser settings as if it was freshly installed. This should not delete personal files, but may removes settings and extensions that might be difficult to restore.
- In Google Chrome, open a new tab and navigate to chrome://settings/reset
- Click Restore Settings to their Original Defaults.
- Click Reset Settings to confirm.
- In Mozilla Firefox, open a new tab and navigate to about:support
- Click Refresh Firefox... on the right side.
- Click Refresh Firefox again to confirm.
- In Microsoft Edge, open a new tab and navigate to edge://settings/reset
- Click Restore Settings to their Default Values.
- Click Reset to confirm.