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College Admissions Information
IMPORTANT UPDATES!
Some Important College Websites:
http://www.csumentor.edu - California State University
http://www.ucop.edu/doorways/ - University of California
http://www.cccco.edu- California Community Colleges
http://www.commonapp.org/ - The Common Application
http://www.collegeboard.com - Collegeboard SAT Registration
http://www.actstudent.org - ACT Registration
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov - Free Application For Federal Student Aid
http://www.californiacolleges.edu/default.asp - Search engine for California Colleges and Universities
http://www.unigo.com - College search engine with student reviews.
http://www.fastweb.com - Scholarship search
http://www.tuitionfundingsources.com -Scholarship search
http://www.eduinconline.com - The Common Application for Historically Black Colleges:
Volunteer and Mentor Opportunities:
• Click HERE to learn about City Year: an opportunity to work with kids or tutor or mentor in schools.
• Click HERE to learn about volunteer opportunities.
• Click HERE to find out about Bay Area Volunteer Information Center. http://www.volunteerinfo.org/
• Click HERE to learn about The Volunteer Center of the East Bay.
• Click HERE to learn about networking
Vocational/Technical Schools:
• www.technical-schools-guide.com- offers an ever-expanding list of technical classes and technical degree programs, from graphic design to computer programming.
• www.trade-schools.net- A complete comprehensive listing of trade, vocational, college and university information.
• www.vocational-schools-guide.com - large and small Vocational Colleges and class offerings.
Freshman Checklist:
• • Establish strong study habits and time management techniques
• • Become involved in extracurricular activities; join sports and clubs
• • Explore and participate in community service
• • Strengthen your vocabulary by increasing your reading
• • Find a tutor or a friend, if you need help. Check in with Bayhill teachers!
• • Remember: Freshman year grades count!
Sophomore Checklist:
September
• • Concentrate on academic preparation
• Continue to develop basic skills and extracurricular interests
• • Take challenging classes, when appropriate
October
• • Stay on top of your academics
• • Be a leader in appropriate situations
• Apply for accommodations on the SAT/ACT if appropriate
November–January
• • Start to develop learning strategies/plan for taking SAT and/or ACT in junior year
February–March
• • Keep your grades up
• • Explore summer internships and jobs
April–May
• • Attend College Fairs
• • Sign up to take summer classes at a nearby college, if appropriate
• • Volunteer or work over summer, take classes or enrichment programs
Junior Checklist:
September
• • Attend college visits at College Career Center
• • Take challenging classes, when appropriate
• • Complete Internship 80 hours for graduation
October
• • Take the PSAT
• • Make sure you are meeting the “a–g” course requirements for UC/CSU
• • Attend the Bayhill High School College Night with your parents
• • Continue attending college admission officer visits
November
• • Network with your peers, family, and friends for information on college choices
• • Start keeping a list of colleges, careers, majors that might interest you
• • Think about the learning environment you do best in
• • Practice explaining your learning style to teachers and peers
December
• • Visit Ms. Field; pick 2–3 schools and review catalogs, brochures
• • Use the internet for virtual school tours
• • Develop art portfolios, or music/drama audition ideas
January
• • Plan a strategy for getting the SAT and/or ACT scores you want
• Continue completing hours for the internship program
• • Register for the SAT Reasoning Test, SAT Subject Tests, and/or ACT (based on what your target schools require) www.collegeboard.com http://www.actstudent.org
• • Visit College Board’s college, major and career exploration tool (MyRoad)
February–March
• • Make a list of your top 15 colleges and begin investigating them
• • Plan college campus visits for your spring break
• • Meet with Ms. Field to review transcripts, senior classes, etc.
• • Visit colleges (especially California colleges)
• • Research and sign up for summer internships
• Keep your grades up
April–May
• • Visit colleges
• • Narrow down your 15 schools to 8–10 to focus on investigating further
• • Take SAT or ACT
• • Review test results; decide whether to take preparation course, if re-testing
• • Attend the East Bay College Connection Fair at Saint Mary’s College, Alameda County College Fair at CSU East Bay, and other fairs
• • Begin drafting “brag sheet” or resume to help with filling out college applications
May–August
• • Continue to collect information on your top colleges, majors, and career choices
• • Take summer classes or do something you’re passionate about. Don’t sit around!
• • Volunteer or get work experience
• • Brainstorm ideas for writing college personal statement—draft statement
• • Discuss college finances with parents
• • Take test preparation class, if appropriate
• • Continue developing art/music/drama portfolio, if appropriate
• • Review your SAT or ACT scores with counselor to determine eligibility for UC/CSU
• • Visit more colleges during the summer
• Update your neuropsychological testing. This is very important if you want accommodations in college
• Write drafts of your college essays
Senior Checklist:
August
• • Meet with parents to discuss college finances and any other help you need
• • Register for any additional testing and send scores to schools you are sure you will apply to. All SAT/ACT testing must be completed by the December test date.
• • Check transcripts to make sure they are complete and there are no errors
• • Complete your resume
• • Begin searching for scholarships
September
• • Request applications and other materials from schools that interest you
• • Attend college visits of schools you are interested in
• • Create a separate email account for all college info—check it daily
• • Make a list of people to ask for recommendations
• • Make an appointment with Ms. Field
• • Make a list of colleges you will apply to and their deadlines
• • Give teachers recommendation forms
October
• • Online application opens for Cal State Universities on Oct. 1; remember to check each individual campus for deadlines
• • Work on draft for essay in English class
• • Complete essays for early decision/early action
• • Complete any rolling admission, early action, or early decision applications
• • Meet with Ms. Field to turn in letter of recommendation requests, and mid-year report forms for private and out-of-state colleges
November
• • Online application opens for UCs on Nov. 1
• • Continue working on all applications/essays
• • Register for CSS profile (for financial aid at private schools)
• • Financial aid forms to parents (FAFSA and CSS); apply for FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) PIN # (personal ID #), for student and parent
• • Send SAT or ACT test scores to all schools that need them
• • Complete UC application early (online is best) – do not wait until end of Nov., and keep a hard copy
• • UCs and CSU “impacted” campus application deadline is Nov. 30. (Get Return Receipt certificate if using USPS, and staple to your hard copy of application.)
• Begin researching scholarship opportunities and check each college's website for alumni other scholarships
December
• • Continue working on essays/applications
• • Mail/send applications as they are due; and keep hard copy of all; keep re-checking deadlines
• • Call colleges to make sure your file is complete
• • Complete all testing and send in official SAT/ACT scores
January
• • Keep checking deadlines—most private college applications will be due sometime in January
• • FAFSA form (for your financial aid package) can be filed beginning Jan. 1
• • Send thank you notes to teachers and counselor for recommendations
• • Keep checking with colleges to be sure all applications are complete
• • Call financial aid office at colleges and make sure parents have completed paperwork
• • If you were admitted somewhere by early decision, you must withdraw all other applications
February
• • Most priority deadlines for CSS Profile are in Feb.
March
• • FAFSA deadline March 2nd
• • Cal Grants deadline March 2nd
• Keep your grades up. Senior grades do count.
April
• • Preview programs and visit colleges for an overnight
• Review all financial aid award packages and your FAFSA Student Aid Report
• • Send Intent to Register, and then notification to colleges you are not attending. (Deadline for Intent to Register is usually May 1). If deferring for a Gap Year, notify the college in writing. The UC campuses do not have Gap year programs
• • Check for any other deadlines (e.g. housing, scholarships)—some deadlines will be in early May
May
• • Send deposit for housing
June
• • Ask for official final transcript to be sent.
• Graduate!
03/29/2011 5:26 PM
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