1. College Knowledge Class of 2016
August 25, 2015
Ms. kayserian

2. Agenda College systems and application types
Personal statements & essays
What should I be doing now?
Requesting recommendation letters
Brag Sheet for counselor
Common Application schools
Non-Common Application schools
Upcoming events
College Knowledge Class of 2015

3. College Systems & Application Types
California Community College
California State University (CSU)
University of California (UC)
Private colleges and universities
75+ in California
THOUSANDS in United States
Simple Guidelines for Applying to Colleges

4. California Community College
112 campuses in California
Associate degrees (many lead to careers)
Transfer to 4-year school (to obtain Bachelors degree)
CSU or UC: must complete 60 semester units or 90 quarter units (equivalent to 2 years of full time studies)
Most private schools: 30 semester units or 45 quarter units okay to transfer (check with each college and major)
Articulation agreements or TAG are available for most schools- use
VERY important to plan for transferring- it is NOT an automatic 2 year plan!- use UCTAP
Apply to community college by February/March of Senior year- use

5. What are the qualifications for CCC?
Pop Quiz on CCC!
What are the qualifications for CCC?

6. California State University
23 campuses
Bachelor and Master degrees
To be eligible: 2.0 GPA, A-G courses, SAT or ACT (no Writing)
Not required: SAT Subject exams, essays, recommendation letters
Application filing period: Oct 1–Nov 30
To apply:
Many CSU’s are impacted and very difficult to get into! Like… Cal Poly SLO, San Diego State, Long Beach, San Francisco State

7. When is the CSU application due?
Pop Quiz on CSU!
When is the CSU application due?

8. Pop Quiz on CSU!
Which of the following are required for CSU eligibility?
(Choose all that apply.)
Successfully completing the A-G coursework
Minimum GPA of 2.0
SAT or ACT
2 SAT Subject exams
Teacher recommendation letter
2 short answer essays
None of the above

9. University of California
10 campuses but San Francisco is graduate only
Bachelor, Master, and Doctorate degrees
Competitive admissions with many highly selective campuses
To be eligible: 3.0 GPA, A-G courses, SAT or ACT with Writing, personal statements, list of activities & honors
Not required/accepted: SAT Subject exams (some majors “highly recommended”), letters of recommendation
Application filing period: Nov 1–Nov 30 (available Aug 1)
To apply:

10. When is the UC application due?
Pop Quiz on UC!
When is the UC application due?

11. Pop Quiz on UC!
Which of the following are required for UC eligibility?
(Choose all that apply.)
Successfully completing the A-G coursework
Minimum GPA of 3.0
SAT or ACT with Writing
3 SAT Subject exams
3 AP exams (subjects of your choice)
Teacher or counselor recommendation letters
None of the above- I can just walk into UCLA and become a student. Woohoo!

12. Private Colleges & Universities
75+ private colleges and universities in California
Thousands in US
All vary in admission requirements and application deadlines
Application requirements: official transcript, official test scores, essays, activities & honors, recommendation letters, interview, portfolio/audition
Use Common Application or Universal College Application
Early Admission Plans: Early Decision vs. Early Action vs. Restrictive Early Action
National Candidates Reply Date: May 1

13. How many colleges do I apply to?
Match Schools: one where your academic credentials fall well within (or even exceed) the school’s range for the average freshman. There are no guarantees, but it’s not unreasonable to be accepted to several of your match schools. Many students apply to around 3 match schools*.
Safety Schools: one where your academic credentials fall above the school’s range for the average freshman. You can be reasonably certain that you will be admitted to your safety schools. Many students apply to 2 safety schools*.
Reach Schools: one where your academic credentials fall below the school’s range for the average freshman. Reach schools are long-shots, but they should still be possible. If you have a 2.0 GPA, Harvard is not a reach school — it’s a dream. Many students apply to around 3 reach schools*.
*According to Princeton Review
College Knowledge Class of 2015

14. Personal Statements & Essays
One of the most important pieces of your application
One of the only ways to show your true self and personality
Follow instructions, spell check, have someone look it over
Not a typical English paper
Don’t procrastinate- doing so will send the message that you don’t care
Do it YOURSELF- your essay must be authentically you
Avoid clichés and controversial topics; you never know who will be reading your essay
Write about WHY and HOW, and it should always be about YOU
Essays that Worked

15. What Should I Be Doing Now?
Get organized with application requirements, deadlines, interviews, portfolios/auditions, essays
Request recommendation letters
Complete Brag Sheet for Counselor
Attend college related events on and off campus
Attend College Tuesday workshops
Take/retake SAT or ACT
Complete applications and write essays

16. Requesting Recommendation Letters
Required:
Counselor recommendation letter
Must complete Brag Sheet for Counselor
1-2 teacher recommendation letters from academic subjects (English, history, science, math, & foreign language)
Okay to include 1 additional letter from coach, employer, professor, club advisor, program director, etc.
UC and CSU do not accept recommendation letters
Some schools do not require recommendation letters
You may need letters for scholarships

17. Requesting Recommendation Letters
September 12: Deadline to ask your counselor and teacher(s) for recommendation letters for Early Action and Early Decision schools
October 10: Deadline to ask your counselor and teacher(s) for recommendation letters for regular decision schools

18. Common Application: Inviting Recommenders
Create an account:
Save your Common App ID
Create a college list using the “College Search” tab
Your college list will appear on your “Dashboard”
Add AGBU MDS to your Common App:
Click on “Common App” tab
Click on Education
Click on Find School then choose AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School

19. Common Application: Inviting Recommenders
Click on “My Colleges” tab then choose one of the schools listed
Click on Recommenders and FERPA and sign the FERPA Release Authorization
You must waive your right to review all recommendations and supporting documents in order for your counselor and teachers to write your recommendation letters
Click on Invite Counselor and enter the requested information to invite your counselor to be a recommender

20. Common Application: Inviting Recommenders
Click on Invite Teacher and enter the requested information to invite your teacher(s) to be a recommender
You will need addresses of your counselor and teachers
Completing these steps will trigger an to your invited recommenders with instructions on submitting their recommendation letters via the Common App Recommender website
Confirm with your counselor and teacher(s) that they received the invitation

21. Non-Common Application Schools
Complete online application on the school’s website
Follow instructions specific to that college to request your counselor and/or teacher recommendations, if applicable (remember, not all schools want recommendation letters)
If letters need to be snail-mailed, then let your counselor and/or teachers know in person and provide them with self-addressed and stamped envelopes

22. Upcoming Events
College Tuesday workshops: every Tuesday in the College Center
Essay review sessions: as needed
College Application Review Sessions: Thursdays at 12:30 in computer lab – Sign up ASAP!
Financial Aid Night: TBD
College Rep Visits
College & Coffee (for parents only)