College Night for Seniors Class of 2016 For Students & Parents! Las Lomas High School Counseling Department and College/Career Center

Welcome Senior Students and Parents UNDERSTANDING SENIOR YEAR  Senior Year Mythbusters Dealing with Stress and Senioritis  Parent’s Role Promoting resilience  Naviance  College Systems Overview

Mythbusters

Freshman Grades Don’t Count. Senior year is easy! I can do my senior project in a week. Scholarships are only for 4-year colleges. No one cares about senior grades. I can’t afford a 4-year college, so I’ll go to a Community College. No one from LL gets into UC schools. Applying early increases chances of getting into college. My parents can fill out my college application. Common Myths…

Naviance Family Connection

What is Naviance Family Connection?  Personalized college/vocational program searches  A useful tool in the college application process Note!! Important updates!! You must load all the colleges you are applying to in your Naviance account.  All supporting application documents from Las Lomas (transcripts, letters of recommendation, etc.) must be sent through Naviance. Counselor and teacher recommenders will submit supporting documents through Naviance, when requested to do so.  Students will still submit applications by following the instructions set forth by each college. Student applications will not be submitted through Naviance.

Naviance Family Connection Official Transcripts  Submit requests through your Naviance account  Pay for requests through the LL Web Store Letters of Recommendation 4 weeks advance notice required! Speak, in person, with potential recommender/s to request a letter Teacher Recommendation  Complete survey on Naviance and teacher to notify  Follow-up with a “Thank You” note and the news of where you will be attending Counselor Recommendation  Complete 3 surveys on Naviance and counselor to notify Need help logging on? See Ellen Smith in the College/Career Center.

College/Career Center College Representative Visits – see full schedule of local college fairs, information sessions and college reps visiting LLHS on Naviance Social Media Check out Facebook, Twitter and blogs for colleges you are interested in Be careful of what you post on Facebook – Colleges and Employers are looking! California Scholarship Federation (CSF) Honor Society Assistance with college applications; info about specialty schools and apprenticeships and gap year programs Lending library of college related and career materials NCAA Clearinghouse

Financial Aid / Cost to Attend College Financial Aid Seminar – Oct. 7pm LLHS Theatre  Financial Aid may be available/FAFSA is applicable at all accredited schools FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) Workshop – January 19, 7pm LLHS Theatre FAFSA Free to apply!  Apply online January 1, 2016 – March 2, 2016 California Dream Act Free to apply!  Apply online January 1, 2016 – March 2, 2016 Cal Grant Free to apply!  Pick up GPA verification form in College/Career Center  Submit to Counseling Office Jan. 1, – March 2, 2016 CSS Profile Selected private universities will require this profile. Fee charged (fee waiver may be available)

Financial Aid / Cost to Attend College Colleges may have own forms and priority due dates Fee waivers for college applications may be available Look at the college’s Net Price Calculator Have a discussion about what your family can afford

LIFE AFTER LAS LOMAS Where do Las Lomas students go after graduation?

College Systems Overview Community Colleges California State Universities (CSU) Universities of California (UC) Private/Independent Universities Public Out-of-State Universities College Fair at Dougherty Valley High, Oct. 28, 6:30-8:30 pm

Community Colleges

Associate Degree & Vocational Certificate Programs are offered Transfer programs to 4-year colleges.  Using can help you prepare.  UC transfer planner guide: campuses ! have dorms on site! No SAT or ACT required for any Community College Apply EARLY in the Spring semester  Complete online application  Take assessment tests  Complete orientation class (if required) Must be a high school graduate or 18 years old to attend

Community Colleges Diablo Valley College (DVC) DVC Night - Spring, 2016, 7:00 PM, LL Theatre DVC application workshops at LLHS in the spring English & Math Placement Exams will be offered at LLHS  Specific date TBA (March/April 2016) DVC Special Programs: Disability Support Services (DSS) Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) English as a Second Language (ESL) Check in the College/Career Center for information on other California Community Colleges.

Four Year Colleges

What’s the magic recipe to get into a good college? Prepare Yourself Challenge Yourself Search Yourself Be Yourself Show Resilience Applying to college is an act of personal integrity

Applying to College Apply and submit all documents on time! Classes which meet college admission requirements are on the “a-g” list by year Pass all your senior courses with a C or higher! Stay organized!  Create a file for college info and a calendar of senior year deadlines  Keep printouts of your application and other communications, plus a file of your passwords

SENIOR YEAR DOES MATTER! Grades & course selection do make an impact on your acceptance! Last day to drop classes: October 23 rd Keep up senior grades or acceptance can be rescinded! Reduce stress by being organized! Find a system that works for YOU.

Student Checklist Before You Begin Your Application Make Sure You Have:  High School/College Transcript  Use to correctly enter your classes and grades  Do not report classes and grades by memory  Test Scores  Send your SAT/ACT, Subject Exams if applicable, directly from the testing agency(College Board or ACT)  OK to apply before all tests are completed  Activities & Awards  Make a list of most significant awards, volunteer work, paid work and extra-curricular activities.  Make note of time involved in activity. BE SPECIFIC! Use details of what you did!  Essay/Personal Statement  Student is the star! Show your voice!

After you apply…. Check your often!  Make sure your address reflects how you want the colleges to see you. Check your campus web portal and corresponding account. Student must notify all colleges if courses listed on the applications change, or if a semester grade is a “D” or “F.” Check early for housing! Housing application dates and procedures vary by campus.

A-G Subject Requirements UC and CSU Systems A: 2 yrs History/Social Science B:4 yrs of English C: 3 yrs (4 recommended) Math D:2 yrs (3 recommended) Laboratory Science E: 2 yrs (3 recommended) Language Other than English F:1 yr Visual & Performing Arts G: 1 yr College Preparatory Elective

California State Universities (CSU)

 Bakersfield  Channel Islands  Dominguez Hills  East Bay *  Cal Maritime  San Francisco*  Stanislaus 23 campuses CSUs NOT impacted for first-time freshman in 2016 Impacted means there are more applications received than there are available freshman spots at that campus, resulting in increased competitiveness. * Local area CSUs: East Bay and SFSU

California State Universities (CSU) Non-impacted campuses may have impacted programs Nursing, Criminal Justice, Business Check on for complete listwww.csumentor.edu Visit to determine impacted majors/campuseswww.calstate.edu/impactioninfo.shtml To find all degrees/programs available by CSU campus visit

California State Universities (CSU) Admission based on “a-g” courses, GPA and SAT or ACT test score. CSU does not review “writing” portion of the SAT/ACT. No essay or recommendations required or accepted Application period Oct.1- Nov.30, 2015  Fee $55* per campus. Fee waiver available. Visit to apply & get info on all CSU’swww.csumentor.edu

California State Universities (CSU) Send transcript only when the campus requests it. Failure to submit transcript or SAT/ACT scores will result in admission denial. Confirm acceptance ASAP. No later than May 1 st. Cal Poly - Early Decision Option (except for Art and Music Majors) Only CSU to use 9 – 12 GPA Eligibility Index Table: Additional admissions information sity/freshman_admission_requirements/Majors_Admission_Standards.aspx sity/freshman_admission_requirements/Majors_Admission_Standards.aspx

California State Universities (CSU) CSU College Night for high school students and parents  Thursday, September 24, 2015, 6 – 8:00 p.m.  Oakland Marriott City Center, 1001 Broadway, Oakland The majority of CSU campuses do not accept coursework the summer after graduation to complete admission requirements. The EPT (English Placement Test) and/or ELM (Entry Level Math) placement tests may be required in the spring of senior year.  After admission, check from the college for more information Meet all deadlines!

University of California (UC)

University of California (UC) System 9 Undergraduate campuses  1 Graduate campus (UCSF) Admission based on comprehensive review of:  “a-g” courses & GPA  SAT or ACT score SAT Subject Tests not required, may be recommended  Personal statement No change in prompts  Extracurricular activities & honors/awards  Letters of recommendation only upon request

Comprehensive Review Campuses Look For  Strong grades, test scores & course preparation  A robust educational experience Access Students Within Context  Educational environment  Available resources and opportunities The Full Application  Not just the personal statement  Not just grades and test scores Full list of comprehensive review factors:

Personal Statement - Essay Unlike an English essay – use “I” statements Treat as an interview Reader doesn’t know you Responses are not graded Use your own voice Answer the question!

University of California (UC) System Application available now; Submit Nov. 1- Nov. 30, 2015 Send a transcript only when requested by the college.  You will need to submit a final transcript after graduation. Admissions Index Calculator: -residents/admissions-index/index.html -residents/admissions-index/index.html Apply online at: apply/apply-online/ apply/apply-online/ Fee to apply $70 per campus Help Desk and

University of California (UC) System Online UC college fair:  Thursday, October 8th 11 am - 8 pm  video/online chat schedule/ucday schedule/ucday

Independent/Private Universities

77 campuses in CA Admissions criteria--check with each individual campus!  Most require SAT or ACT  Subject Tests may be required  Most require essays, letters of recommendation, and transcript upon application  Extracurricular activities, work experience, and honors/awards may be considered Common Application  Links with Naviance Family Connection  Secondary School Report = Counselor Letter of Recommendation  Common Application deadlines vary

Independent/Private Universities Early Decision/Early Action/Rolling Admissions Helpful websites: Compare college costs and financial aid offers college/compare-financial-aid-and-college-cost/

Out of State Public Universities Check individual admission policies and deadlines SAT/ACT are usually required Essay and/or letters of recommendation may be required or considered Extracurricular activities, work experience, and awards/honors may be required or considered College/Career Center will host admissions representatives on our campus  Sign up to meet these reps! Consider Western Undergraduate Exchange  Tuition scholarship program for public colleges/universities in the western states

Need Help With Your Applications?  Tuesdays October 6 thru November 10 application help from the counseling staff 6 th & 7 th periods in the College/Career Center  Application tips:  Government and Econ are one semester classes.  For UC and CSU apps, Econ is in the drop down menu for college-prep electives.  Current semester classes should be listed as “In Progress”; spring semester classes as “Planned.”  Apply Broadly!

CONTACT INFORMATION Counselor (A-El)*Amelia Whalen ext.2126 Counselor (En-K)*Hanalee Washburn2124 Counselor (L-Pi)*Kara Bloodgood2127 Counselor (Pl-U)*Marilyn Lewis-Hampton2123 Counselor (V-Z + ELL Stu)*Valerie Wright-Smith2125 RegistrarBeth Chastain2119 College AdvisorEllen Smith2117 Testing CoordinatorAllison Ridenhour2116 * Seniors check Naviance for counselor