September  Complete/ Submit your Student Information Packet to your counselor  Referral/Credit Recovery Options – Bridge Program, Graduate Success Program, Centennial  Personal Statement review w/counselor  Explore CSU & UC Options  Explore Private College Options  Set Up Common Application account  Community Service Hours  Career Exploration  SAT Registration/Testing  ACT Registration/Testing October  Late Night Wednesdays – college applications  Community Service Hours  Career Exploration  SAT Registration/Testing  ACT Registration/Testing  Personal Statement review w/counselor  Explore CSU & UC options  Explore Private College Options  CSU Applications  UC Applications  Private College Applications November  Late Night Wednesdays – college applications  Community Service Hours  Career Exploration  SAT/ACT Testing  CAHSEE Exam  Supplemental Essays  Private College Applications  CSU & UC applications due Nov 30 th December  Private College Applications due for many schools offering substantial financial aid packages  Late Night Wednesdays – college applications  At Risk Senior Conferences  Community Service Hours  Career Exploration  SAT/ACT Testing January  Late Night Wednesdays – FAFSA Workshop  FAFSA available January 1 st  Private College Applications due  Semester Finals  Community Service Hours  Career Exploration February  Late Night Wednesdays – FAFSA Workshop  Senior Checks w/counselor to determine high school graduation track  CAHSEE Exam  Credit Recovery Opportunities  Community Service Hours

Overcoming Obstacles 1) What if I’m taking A-G classes and I have a bad 9th or 10th grade schedule? Possible Solutions: Make sure you are taking English, Math, Foreign Language, History, and Social Studies starting in 9th grade. 2) What if I’ve run out of classes at my high school? Possible Solutions: Find a way to continue at a local community college. Find a parallel path. i. Start a new language ii. Take electives-such as Psychology or Anatomy 3) What if I don’t like my teacher, my classes and I am getting low grades? Possible Solutions: Remember, colleges don’t see problems with teachers. They just see your transcript, so get a tutor, seek help from the teacher. Try to switch to another section. Do not give up. Push yourself.

Overcoming Obstacles 4) What if I am not in a college prep academy? Possible Solutions: Go talk to your counselor to add the right classes. PE doesn’t count for college admissions. Use your summers to take the additional classes. Use community colleges 5) What if I don’t take school seriously in 9th or 10th grade? Possible Solutions: It’s never too late. Colleges look for upward progress Retake classes you got Ds in. Use the summers to advance. If it’s too late, community colleges are a great possibility. 6) What if my first language isn’t English and I’m having trouble with my English classes? Possible Solutions: Remember, the more you read and write the better. Find an English teacher at your school who will tutor you. Find a tutoring center in your neighborhood. Read, read, read books that you like and that push you. Take acting or debate classes. They help with speaking and confidence.

ACT TEST DATES Test DateRegistration Deadline(Late Fee Required) 14-Apr-129-Mar-12March 10 – 23, Jun-124-May-12May 5 – 18, 2012 SAT TEST DATES Test DateRegistration Deadline(Late Fee Required) 5-May-126-Apr-1220-Apr-12 2-Jun-128-May-1222-May-12

The SAT is broken into 10 sections: 3 Critical Reading sectionsCritical Reading 3 Mathematics sectionsMathematics 3 Writing sectionsWriting 1 Unscored section (and you will not know which one this is!) The average overall score (50th percentile) in the United States for 2011 was a 1500: Critical Reading: 497Critical Reading Math: 514Math Writing: 489Writing Breaking Down the SAT