Venice High SchoolCounseling Basics for Junior Class

•Graduation requirements•Colleges•Testing•Starting the college search•Timelines for 11th and 12th grade

CSU and University of California Requirements:

SUBJECTS HIGH SCHOOL CAL STATE* UC*

ENGLISH 4 YEARS 4 YEARS 4 YEARS

MATH 2 YEARS (INCLUDING 1 YR ALGEBRA 1 or Algebra B)

ALGEBRA 1

GEOMETRY

ALGEBRA 2

ALGEBRA 1, GEOMETRY,

ALGEBRA 2

4TH YEAR RECOMMENDED

SOCIAL STUDIES

WORLD HISTORY/GEOG

US HISTORY

GOV’T/ECONOMICS

2 YEARS INCLUDING 1 YR US HISTORY OR 1 SEM US HIST AND 1 SEM AMER GOVT

2 YEARS INCLUDING

1 YEAR WORLD HIST/GEOG AND 1 YEAR US HIDTORY OR 1 SEM US HIST AND 1 SEM AMER GOVT

SCIENCE 2 YEARS

1 YEAR PHYSICAL SCIENCE

1 YEAR BIOLOGICAL SCI

2 YEARS LAB SCIENCE

(BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, GEOLOGY, PHYSICS, PHYSIOLOGY, BIOTECH, ETC.)

2 YEARS LAB SCIENCE

(BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, PHYSICS PREFERRED)

FOREIGN LANGUAGE

2 YEARS FROM 2 SUBJECTS

2 YEARS SAME LANGUAGE

2 YEARS SAME LANGUAGE

3RD YEAR RECOMMENDED

VISUAL/PERF ARTS

1 YEAR 1 YEAR

CAREER TECH NOT REQUIRED NOT REQUIRED

*must have grade of C- or better

CSU and University of California Requirements:

SUBJECTS HIGH SCHOOL CAL STATE* UC*

PE 2 YEARS NOT REQUIRED NOT REQUIRED

ELECTIVES 90 CREDITS 1 YEAR FROM: English, Soc. Studies, Adv. Math, Science, Foreign Lang., Vis/Perf Arts

1 YEAR FROM: English, Soc. Studies, Adv. Math, Science, Foreign Lang., Vis/Perf Arts

TOTAL 240 CREDITS 15 CLASSES MINIMUM

(10 MHS credits=1 unit)

15 CLASSES MINIMUM;

22-24 RECOMMENDED

STUDENTS MUST ALSO PASS THE CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOL EXIT EXAM (CAHSEE) IN ORDER TO GRADUATE

MUST EARN GRADES OF C OR BETTER IN ALL CLASSES

Know your options• Community College (www.cccco.edu)$1,000/year

-Economical, Transfer Agreement Contracts available, certificate programs

• Vocational/Tech Schools, cost varies

-Practical training for specific jobs, Certificate programs, short term

• California State University (www.csumentor.edu)-$8820-$17,462/year

-Focus on teaching, classes taught by professors

-Goal to offer admission to top 33% of CA grads

• University of California (www.universityofcalifornia.edu)-$20,000-$22,800/year

-Focus on research and preparing students for grad school

-Goal to offer admission to top 12% of CA grads, ELC program top 4%

• Private Schools, $23,000-$50,000/year

-Vary in size, selectivity, location, cost, etc.

• Out-of-state public schools, out-of-state tuition fees

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY• Chico

• San Diego*• Cal Poly San Luis Obispo*

• Sonoma*

• Long Beach*

• Fullerton*

• Channel Islands

• Fresno

• Humboldt

• Cal Maritime Academy

• Monterey Bay

• Cal Poly Pomona*

• Sacramento

• San Francisco

•San Jose•San Marcos•Stanislaus•Bakersfield•Dominguez Hills•Los Angeles•East Bay•Northridge•San Bernardino

*Impacted campuses- higher index

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY• Eligibility Index

-GPA X 800 + SAT (V&M)

-2900 is min eligibility for non-

impacted campuses

• SAT code: 3594 for all campuses

• Apply for housing ASAP

• Some campuses require

transcript w/application

-(wait for them to request)

• CSU will not be using the

writing portion of SAT

• Oct SAT test date last date

for LB, CPSLO & SD •Rolling admissions•Re-routing option•Sign up for CSU mentor email•Admission status check (562)985-2500

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

• Berkeley

• Davis

• Irvine

• Los Angeles

• Merced

• Riverside

• San Diego

• Santa Barbara

• Santa Cruz

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA• Eligibility calculator

• www.universityofcalifornia.edu

/

• Eligibility vs. Selectivity • UCB/UCLA 50% of 4.0 students

are denied admission

• Comprehensive Review

• Eligibility in the Local

Context (ELC)

• Apply broadly

• No letters of

recommendation required

• Transcript not required w/

application

PRIVATE AND OUT-OF-STATE

• Requirements vary

• Deadlines vary

• Letter of Recommendations

-Counselor recommendation

-Teacher recommendation

• Official transcripts required

• Early Action, Early Decision

• Rolling admission

TEST INFO• PSAT

• Scores used for National Merit

Scholar program

• SAT Reasoning and Subject

Tests• Sign up at

www.collegeboard.com

• ACT• Sign up at www.actstudent.org

TEST INFO

SAT Subject tests • UC requires 2 tests in 2 different subjects

• Prospective math, science and engineering majors are

encouraged to take math. Check with schools for other

recommendations.

• Literature

• Foreign Language

• Biology

• Chemistry

• Physics

• US History

• World History

• Math 2

REMEMBER:

“College is a match to be made, not a prize to be won!”

RESPONSIBILITIES

•STUDENT- set priorities, research colleges, request letters of recommendation, organize, fill out applications, write personal statements, contact w/admissions offices

•PARENTS- ‘coach not quarterback’, give input, write checks

•COUNSELOR- give input & guidance, letter of recommendation, sounding board  

Where do I start?

Step 1: Identify priorities• Make sure your measures of success are not dependent on things

outside your control.

• As a family, identify values and goals for the college search

process. Who is driving this search? How much time and money

is the family going to devote to the search?

• Identify values and goals for the college experience—location,

cost, size, possible fields of study, etc.

• Accept the fact that there is more than one school that will be a good

fit for your child.

• Accept the fact that you will not be able to thoroughly research all

colleges everywhere. Be realistic.

Where do I start?

Step 2: Narrow School Choices• Do research, compare pros and cons

• Group Schools by chance of being admitted (reach, probable,

safety). Look at the data and be brutally honest with yourself.

• Prepare final list by fall of senior year (ideally 6-10 schools)

Step 3: Visit Schools• Take campus tour, attend class, meet w/admissions counselor,

stay in dorm, eat cafeteria food, talk to students and professors

• If you can’t visit the campus in person, students should attend

when college reps make campus visits or attend informational

evenings and college fairs.

Where do I start?

Step 4: Get Organized• Compile list of required forms, recommendations

and deadlines

• Add important dates and deadlines to the

calendar

• Establish storage, both physical and electronic

for forms, documents, etc.

ADMISSIONS TIME LINE 11th Grade

• Take the PSAT (Oct)

• Keep grades up

• Get involved (clubs, sports, community

service, etc.)

• Build relationships with teachers and

counselors

• Repeat courses with grades lower than C

• Make preliminary list of colleges & begin

visiting campuses

• Take SAT, ACT, SAT subject tests in spring

• Visit college reps in Career Center

• Athletes register with NCAA clearinghouse

What counts most with Admissions Directors?

1. Grades in College Prep Courses

2. Admissions Test Scores

3. Grades in All Subjects

4. Senior year classes

5. Class Rank

6. Essay/Personal Statement

7. Work/Extra curricular Activities

8. Counselor Recommendation

9. Teacher Recommendation

10. Interview

11.Ability to Pay

Getting Involved

College Admissions officers want to know how students spend their time and how they have taken advantage of the opportunities available to them. Showing initiative is important.Students have many ways to spend their time:

SportsHobbiesFamily ResponsibilitiesCommunity and/or Religious OrganizationsVolunteer ServicePaid Work

Students cannot do all those things all the time. Colleges are looking for students to demonstrate how they have used these activities to develop life skills, as well as personal and professional goals.

WEBSITES & RESOURCES

University of California www.universityofcalifornia.eduCalifornia State Universities www.csumentor.edu California Community Colleges Website: www.cccco.edu NCAA Clearinghouse: www.ncaaclearinghouse.netThe Common Application www.commonapp.org Free Application for Federal Student Aid www.fafsa.ed.gov  College Planning Websites:

www.mycollegeoptions.comwww.princetonreview.comwww.myroad.com   (Free if you take the PSAT)

Financial Aid Search: www.fastweb.com

ADMISSIONS TIME LINE 12th gradeGrade 12- Senior YearSept/October

Take (or retake) SAT, ACT, SAT subject

tests (Oct. is last acceptable test date for

many early action/early decision schools)

• Finalize list of colleges (6-10) .

• Review online applications

• Work on college essays

• See counselor early for recommendation

• See college reps in the College/Career

center

• Keep an eye out for scholarship

applications

• Complete CSS profile at

www.collegeboard.com

ADMISSIONS TIME LINE 12th Grade Grade 12- Senior Year

Nov/Dec

• Take any remaining planned SAT or ACT

tests

• Complete UC and CSU Applications by Nov

30.

• Complete all applications by Dec 20 and

enjoy winter break!

• Keep an eye out for scholarship

applications January

• Fill out FAFSA (January) & CSS Profile (Oct

1)

• Keep grades up!

• Do not drop classes. A college application

is a contract.

ADMISSIONS TIME LINE 12th GradeGrade 12- Senior YearMarch/April

• Acceptances start coming!

• apply for housing

May

• May 1 SIR = Student Intent to Register–

confirm your admission and sign up for

orientation.

• Arrange to take any necessary

placement exams for English and math

classes.

• Request that a final transcript be sent

after graduation.