Venice High School Counseling Basics for Junior Class Graduation requirements Colleges Testing Starting the college search Timelines for 11 th and 12 th grade

CSU and University of California Requirements: SUBJECTSHIGH SCHOOLCAL STATE*UC* ENGLISH 4 YEARS MATH 2 YEARS (INCLUDING 1 YR ALGEBRA 1 or Algebra B) ALGEBRA 1 GEOMETRY ALGEBRA 2 ALGEBRA 1, GEOMETRY, ALGEBRA 2 4 TH 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 3 RD YEAR RECOMMENDED VISUAL/PERF ARTS 1 YEAR CAREER TECH NOT REQUIRED *must have grade of C- or better

CSU and University of California Requirements: SUBJECTSHIGH SCHOOLCAL STATE*UC* PE 2 YEARSNOT REQUIRED ELECTIVES 90 CREDITS1 YEAR FROM: English, Soc. Studies, Adv. Math, Science, Foreign Lang., Vis/Perf Arts TOTAL 240 CREDITS15 CLASSES MINIMUM (10 MHS credits=1 unit) 15 CLASSES MINIMUM; 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 ( $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 ( -$8820-$17,462/year -Focus on teaching, classes taught by professors -Goal to offer admission to top 33% of CA grads University of California ( -$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 SAT (V&M) 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 Admission status check (562)

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Berkeley Davis Irvine Los Angeles Merced Riverside San Diego Santa Barbara Santa Cruz

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Eligibility calculator 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 ACT Sign up at

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 11 th 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:  Sports  Hobbies  Family Responsibilities  Community and/or Religious Organizations  Volunteer Service  Paid 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  California State Universities  California Community Colleges Website:  NCAA Clearinghouse:  The Common Application  Free Application for Federal Student Aid  College Planning Websites:    (Free if you take the PSAT)  Financial Aid Search:

ADMISSIONS TIME LINE 12 th grade Grade 12- Senior Year Sept/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

ADMISSIONS TIME LINE 12 th 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 12 th Grade Grade 12- Senior Year March/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.