The Nuts & Bolts of theCollege Application Process

Gwenly Carrel College Counselor St. Vincent de Paul High School

COLLEGE APPLICATIONOVERVIEW

• COMMUNITY COLLEGE• CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITIES (CSU)• UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA (UC)• PRIVATE/INDEPENDENT COLLEGES &

UNIVERSITIES AND PUBLIC OUT-OF-STATE

COMMUNITY COLLEGE

• Must be HS graduate or 18 years old• No SAT or ACT required• Apply early in the Spring Semester• Associate Degrees and Vocational Certificates• Transfer Acceptance Guarantee Program

(TAG)

REQUIREMENTS FOR 4-YEARCOLLEGES

A. 2 years History/Social ScienceB. 4 years EnglishC. 3 years Math (4 recommended)D. 2 years Lab Science (3 recommended)E. 2 years LOTE (3 recommended)F. 1 year Visual & Performing ArtsG. 1 year College Prep Elective

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY(CSU)

• 23 campuses• Campuses impacted in all majors: Fullerton,

Long Beach, San Diego, San Jose and Cal Poly SLO

• Non-impacted campus may have impacted majors

• Local service campus: Sonoma State

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY

• Admission based on “a-g” courses, gpa, test scores – reading & math only

• No personal statement or letters of rec

• Apply Oct. 1 – Nov. 30 @ www.csumentor.edu

• Cal Poly SLO – early decision option, must declare major, uses 9-12 gpa

CSU Eligibility Formulas• Using SAT scores: GPA x 800 + SAT CR + Math total

• Using ACT scores: GPA x 200 + 10 x ACT Composite

Score must be 2900 or above for eligibility w/SAT, 694 with/ACT

Automatic eligibility if GPA is 3.0 and above.

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

• Nine campuses• Admission based on comprehensive review of:

- 10th-11th GPA weighted- a-g courses and rigor of curriculum- SAT or ACT score with writing- Personal statement, extracurriculars- No letters of rec- Subject Tests no longer required

SUBJECT TESTS

• A few schools require SAT subject tests – check the requirements

• UC no longer requires subject tests, but some campuses may recommend them for certain majors – check at this site:

http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/freshman/requirements/examination-requirement/SAT-subject-tests/index.html

UC Subject Test Recommendations

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

• Application available Aug. 1; submit Nov. 1-30 @ www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions

• Transcripts not sent at time of application – unless requested

• Final transcript sent to campus where student will enroll

INDEPENDENT/PRIVATE COLLEGES

• Admission policies and deadlines vary• Admission criteria varies, so check. Most:

- Require SAT or ACT- May require subject tests- Require personal statement, letters of

rec, transcripts, mid-year reports• Common Application – used by 456 schools

www.commonapp.org

OUT-OF-STATE PUBLIC COLLEGES

• Check each school’s admissions requirements, and deadlines

• May require personal statements and/or letters of rec

• Consider Western Undergraduate Exchangewww.wue.com

• Apply through campus website, few on Common App

Early Decision vs Early Action

• Early decision - binding. -Can apply to only one college Early Decision -If accepted by the first-choice college early, all other applications must be withdrawn.

• Early action - not binding. -May apply early action to other colleges. -Have until May 1 to make a decision.

• Single-choice early action -Similar to early action, but cannot apply early (either early action or early decision) to any other college. -Can apply to other colleges regular decision, but can reply May 1

SAT, ACT, AP Scores

• Send directly from College Board and ACT to ALL individual colleges, public and private.

UC – send to one campus and it will be sent to all CSU Mentor – use the code 3594 to send to all

• October test scores can be used for Early admissions.

• October and November (and even, December) test scores can be used for regular admissions. Exceptions by college.

What are my chances?

CSU Admit Rates – Fall 2015

admitted average GPA average SAT

• Chico 71% 3.2 930-1020

• San Diego 34% 3.7 1112

• Cal Poly SLO 31% 3.8 1234

• Sonoma 80% 3.2 19 -24 ACT

UC Admit Rates – Fall 2015

• Berkeley 17%• Davis 38%• Irvine 39%• UCLA 17%• Merced 65%• Riverside 56%• San Diego 34%• Santa Barbara 33%• Santa Cruz 51%

UC Admit Averages – Fall 2015

Campus SAT ACT GPA• Berkeley 2094 31 4.19• UCLA 2064 31 4.18• San Diego 2035 30 4.13• Davis 1924 29 4.07• Santa Barbara 1937 29 4.05• Irvine 1878 28 4.04• Santa Cruz 1828 27 3.88• Riverside 1746 26 3.78• Merced 1616 24 3.67

PRIVATE SCHOOLS ADMISSION RATES

admitted average GPA average SAT

• Stanford 5.0 % 4.0 22% - 800 CR 29% - 800 MATH 21% - 800 WRIT

• USD 52% 3.8 1810

• USF 60% 3.6 1750

OUT-OF-STATE PUBLIC COLLEGESADMISSION RATES

admitted average gpa average SAT

• U of Oregon 73% 3.6 500-610 CR 500-620 Math

• CU Boulder 84% 3.5 530-630 CR 550-650 Math• U of Arizona 78% 3.4 460-600 CR

490-620 Math

The College “List”

• Include a “range” of schools- reach, possible, and probable

• Selection of probable schools is as important as first choice schools!

• Apply broadly!

Before Beginning the Application

Get copy of transcript and use to enter classesActivities resume – make a list of most

significant awards, volunteer work, jobs and extra-curricular activities. Make note of time involved in activity. BE SPECIFIC and detailed.

Set up email account that will be checked!Credit card for application feeSVHS CEEB code for apps: 052-455

APPLICATION WORKSHOPS

• A-F Tuesday, Sept. 29• G-K Thursday, Oct. 1• L-S Friday, Oct. 2• T-Z Tuesday, Oct. 6

IN THE COMPUTER LAB, DURING TUTORIAL PERIOD !

WHAT IS NAVIANCE?

• Web-based program for students to access comprehensive information about colleges, meaningful data, plan and manage the application process

• A communication tool- important information alerts- college visit list and sign-ups- scholarship lists- order transcripts- request letters of recommendation from counselors and teachers

HOW TO ACCESS NAVIANCE

• Students registered using individual email address. Can reset password if needed.

• Login link is on SVHS Website - Naviance

Letters of Recommendation

• Teacher and Counselor information forms available on Naviance

• Teachers and counselors need at least 4 weeks notice.

• Winter break does not count! Jan. 1st forms need to be in counselor/teacher hands before Thanksgiving break!

Financial Aid

• Financial aid workshop will be held in November. Date TBA.

• FAFSA – Free application for Federal Student Aid now available Oct. 1, file before March 2.

• CSS Profile – many private universities require this profile. Find it online at the College Board. Fee charged.

Admissions Decisions

• Admission decisions begin to arrive in March and continue through first week of April.

• Waitlists

• More college visits…

Final Process

• May 1st – Statement of Intent to Register

• Housing Contracts- Send in as early as you can!

• Order final transcripts in June to be sent after final exams. Make arrangements for senior AP scores to be sent to admitted college also.

SOME LAST WORDS…

There is a place for you to pursue your goals after high school.

Students will need parents’ guidance and support, but they need to be responsible

for driving the process.

Stay connected and informed throughout the process with the resources here @ SVHS.

CONTACTS

Gwenly Carrel College Counselorgcarrel@svhs-pet.org 763 -1032 x137

Kathy Atkinson Head Counselorkatkinson@svhs-pet.org 763-1032 x141

Claudia Thompson Resource Specialistcthompson@svhs-pet.org 763-1032 x114

QUESTIONS?