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Planning
For College
Planning for college should begin as early as the eighth
grade because that is when you need to decide whether or
not you are going to follow a college preparatory track.
A college preparatory track should include:
4 years of English and Literature
3 to 4 years of Math (including advanced algebra and trigonometry)
2 to 3 years of Foreign Language
2 to 4 years of Laboratory Science
2 years of History and Social Science
3 years of Electives from the above list
16 year-long academic subjects
This schedule demands that you take at least four college
preparatory classes in every year of high school. This still
leaves room for you to take additional electives in music,
art, year-book, etc. Check out the recommend-ed course schedule
on this folder and start planning now.
If you are interested in engineering, math, science or computers,
take all the math and science you can. If your strengths
are history, writing, literature or the arts, take extra
classes in these subjects. It is always a good idea to take
extra foreign language courses. Your school counselor will
help you plan your schedule according to your strengths
and interests.
Your Senior Year
How To Apply For Financial Aid
SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER
Complete the CSS PROFILE registration form in the
fall of your senior year (see your counselor).
DECEMBER
Obtain the FAFSA form from your school and have
your parents complete it in January.
JANUARY
Remind your parents to prepare their income tax
return early, since a photocopy must be sent to most colleges
to which you apply for financial aid.
FEBRUARY
Tell your counselor that you want to apply for
the Cal Grant, and have your school officials submit the
Cal Grant form in February.
8th GRADE
n Tell your parents and counselor that you plan to attend
a selective four-year college or university.
If you are not taking algebra or a foreign language, be
sure your ninth grade schedule includes these subjects.
If you will be attending a year-round school in the ninth
grade, make sure that you are assigned to a track that offers
college prep classes.
Strive to make A’s and B’s in all of your subjects,
and do at least one hour of homework every night.
Ask your counselor about academic enrichment programs in
your school or at local colleges (e.g., MESA, Med Cor, Upward
Bound, AVID, GEAR UP, Cal Soap).
MYTH #1
“You have to be rich to attend a private university.”
Wrong! Sixty percent of the students attending private colleges
in California receive need-based financial aid. The average
family income of students attending high-cost private colleges
in California is actually below the average family income
of students attending lower-cost University of California
campuses.
9th GRADE
Remind your counselor that you want to attend
a selective four-year College or university and that you
need to schedule college prep courses. Take algebra or geometry
and a foreign language in both semesters.
If you attend a year-round school, make sure that you are
in a track that offers college prep subjects.
Maintain “A” and “B” grades in all your
subjects, and do at least one hour of homework each night.
Form a study group with friends who also plan to go to college.
Create a personal resumé file. Save items such as:
o Copies of report cards
o Diplomas and certificates presentes to you
o A list of awards and honors you receive
o A list of all school and community activities you join
o A list of offices you hold in these organizations, and
o A list of jobs you hold (Volunteer or paid)
Update your file each semester.
Begin visiting local community colleges, state
universities and an independent college or university with
your family and friends. Prior to your visit, call the admission
office for information about a free campus tour and request
printed materials.
Participate in academic enrichment programs.
10th GRADE
Review your ninth and tenth grade class schedules
with your counselor to make sure your are taking all the
college preparatory classes needed for a selective four-year
college or university.
Maintain “A’s’ and “B’s. Do one
to two hours of homework every night.
Continue to form study groups.
Update your personal resumé file at the end of each
semester.
Continue to visit local colleges and universities with family
and friends.
Participate in academic enrichment programs and special
summer workshops and camps for music, science, engineering,
writing, filmmaking, theater, language and others.
11th GRADE
Check with your counselor to be sure you are on
track to take the college prep subjects needed for a selective
four-year college or university.
Maintaining ‘A” and “B” grades is especially
important in the junior year, and you should be doing a
minimum of two hours of homework each night.
Register for the PSAT. The results will give you and your
counselor an idea of
MYTH #2
“Students should know exactly what they want
to study before they apply to college.”
Not necessarily. You may have to make a career decision
earlier if you plan to attend a specialized college of engineering,
music, etc. but most colleges and universities encourage
you to take a broad range of subjects to help you decide
on a field of study. So it’s OK to enter college “undecided”
MYTH #3
“You must find the ‘perfect’ college.”
The perfect college probably doesn’t exist. The best
way to select the right school for you is to research three
or four colleges that meet your criteria, and then visit
each one.
Your strengths and the areas you need to improve as you
prepare for college admission.
If you are taking Advanced Placement subjects register for
the AP exams in Spring. Scoring well on these exams will
enable you to earn credit for college-level courses.
Attend college fairs and presentations by colleges who visit
your school.
Most schools and libraries have computers to help you search
for college and university information. All college counseling
offices have college catalogues, guidebooks and directions
for researching your college options.
Create a file on your favorite colleges. Ask for literature
about admission, financial aid and your proposed major.
Your counselor can provide contact information about admission
offices.
Visit colleges that interest you. Call ahead to book a campus
tour and a presentation about academic programs, admission
and financial aid.
Try to meet with admission, academic, student organization,
and athletics staff.
Prepare questions about the school and have a transcript
or list of courses and have a transcript or list of courses
you have taken since ninth grade.
Think about when and how often to take the SAT I or ACT.
Your school counselor can help with this decision. Taking
the SAT I or ACT in spring or summer lets you get your results
and meet wtth a counselor to see if you should re-test in
the fall. Register for these exams a month in advance of
the test date (see twelfth grade checklist).
Update your resumé file. Investigate summer programs,
workshops and camps in your community or college. Some programs
offer scholarships.
See a counselor about taking the SAT II in completed junior
year subjects.
From May to July be prepared to receive mail from many colleges.
Over The Summer
Read the college mail you receive. Return reply
cards to schools that inter-est you. They will send you
viewbooks, catalogues and applications.
Visit your “short list” colleges.
Prepare for the SAT I or the ACT by reading books and manuals
with testing tips and sample questions. Workshops on how
to prepare for these entrance exams are also offered. Check
with a counselor to find out which work-shops are credible.
Financial aid may be available for workshops.
MYTH #4
“Telling a univeristy that you are applying
for financial aid may hurt your chances for admission.”
Not true. Selective colleges do not let a family’s
financial ability enter into the admission decision.
12th GRADE
Review your recent and current class schedule
with your college counselor to be sure you have taken or
are taking the college prep classes required for admission
to selective four-year colleges and universities.
Maintain “A” and “B” grades and continue
to form study groups. Do your homework each night. Your
twelfth grade grades are still very important.
Visit your short list schools again. Meet their admission
counselors if possi-ble. Attend college fairs and sit in
on the presentations of the admission repre-sentatives who
visit your schools.
Check frequently with your college counselor or career center
director for information about scholarships awarded by your
school, local companies and communtty groups.
In early September, register for the SAT I and the ACT.
Your counselor will provide registration forms and informa-tion
on fee waivers. Register a month or two before the test
date.
By the end of October, make a final list of the schools
to which you will apply for admission.
Contact these schools for their applications (including
financial aid and scholarship information) and materials
on your intended field of study. Your counselor has addresses
and phone numbers.
Make a file for each school and a checklist of the required
admission items: transcripts, application fees, recommendations,
essays, test scores, etc. As each item is mailed, check
it off.
Pay special attention to deadlines. Mark them down on your
personal calendar.
Get information on fee waivers from your school counselor
if the application fee is a financial burden to your family.
Practice filling out your application on a photocopy of
the application or schol-arship forms. Many colleges and
univer-sities have electronic applications that can be filled
out and submitted online.
Apply early! Be sure you meet the deadlines for applying
to your short list schools, as well as deadlines for merit
scholarships and financiai aid. December is a crucial time
for “early consideration” applications, merit
schol-arships and state university deadlines.
What To Do Next
Make a photocopy for your files of all the forms
you send to the colleges.
Wait for your acceptance letters from the colleges and universities.
Generally, these arrive in March and early April. If you
followed the suggested dates for applying for financial
aid, you may hear about your eligibility for finan-cial
aid around the same time.
Be sure to maintain “A” and “B” grades
in your final high school term. Colleges ask you to provide
a final transcript of grades once you graduate from high
school. These will be received in summer by the college’s
admission office.
Use the month of April to compare your acceptance letters,
financial aid and/or scholarship offers. Revisit a campus
to clarify any issue. Do it!
MYTH #5
“Admission officers consider only grades and
test scores when considering an applicant.”
Not true. Selective colleges are also interested in the
rigor of the subjects taken, the competitiveness of the
school, and upward or downward trends in grades.
The essay, as well as extracurricular and leadership activities,
talent and personal character are also very improtant. As
word of caution! Accomplistments in extracurricular activities
and leadership activities cannot make up for a poor academic
record.
Mail your commitment deposit check to the college or university
you plan to attend by the May 1 Nationai Candidates Reply
deadline.
Proceed with the application for university housing if you
plan to live on campus. Watch these deadlines carefully.
Write or call the colleges to which you were admitted, but
will not be attending, and inform them where you will attend.
Take AP exams, usually given in May, for any AP subjects
you took in your senior year.
Have your high school mail a final transcript to the college
you plan to attend as soon as your graduation date is entered
onto your high school record.
Participate in any summer orientation programs for freshmen.
These pro-grams are designed to provide additional placement
testing and academic counseling.
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