1. 4-year University/College
The Counseling Department Welcomes Cathedral’s Class of 2018

2. 4-Year College/University MINIMUM Application Requirements
Graduate High School
Meet specific GPA requirements
Meet A-G requirements
Take the SAT and/or ACT
Try your best to meet specific SAT/ACT scores
Meet all testing and all application deadlines
When asked, submit an OFFICIAL transcript

3. Official vs. Unofficial Transcripts
Unofficial transcripts can be printed or copied by:
Students
Parents
Counselor
Official transcripts can be printed by:
School registrar…nobody else!!!
Signed, embossed, and sealed
Registrar needs at least 2 weeks
Registrar requires an addressed (WHERE IS IT GOING?) and stamped envelope

5. Naviance is a web-based resource for students and parents that encourages and supports post high school career and college planning
Family Connection is specific to our school
Family Connection is linked with Naviance Succeed, a service that is used in School Counseling
Only a very small number of colleges do not use Naviance. Thus, if an application is to be considered complete, students must keep their Naviance account up-to-date.
What is Naviance?

6. How Can I Use It? Career Planning College Planning Success Planning
Learning Style Inventory, Interest Inventory, Personality Inventory, Resume Building
College Planning
College Search, Application Process, College Major Exploration, Scholarship/Financial Aid Resources
Success Planning
Personalized Goals and Tasks, Journal Entries, Student Planner

7. Getting Started
Have your school user name (student ID #) and password (student ID # plus two zeroes) available
Go to the Cathedral website and click on the link at the bottom right hand side

11. Take the personality quiz and find your personality type.
Begin building your resume.
This will help when you ask teachers for recommendation. letters

12. California’s Four Systems of Higher Education
University of California (UC)
California State University (CSU)
Private Colleges & Universities
California Community College

13. Having Trouble Deciding Between CSU and UC?
California State University
University of California
23 campuses
9 campuses

14. General Similarities and Differences Between CSU and UC
Minimum GPA: 2.0
SAT/ACT required
Personal statement NOT required
Letters of recommendations are NOT required
Various majors offered
Medium - large campuses
Application open October 1st UC
Minimum GPA: 3.0
SAT/ACT required
Personal statement IS required
Letters of recommendations are MAY BE required
Various majors offered
Typically larger campuses
Application opens August 1st

15. Snapshot Statistics Statistics on SAT/ACT are available online
The information below is based off of the admitted freshman profiles from fall 2015
Statistics on SAT/ACT are available online
CSU’s Local Campuses
All UC Campuses
School
Avg.
Weighted GPA
% of Admits
San Bernardino
3.17
55%
Los Angeles
3.18
62%
Northridge
61%
Fullerton
3.48
48%
Long Beach
3.5
35%
San Diego
3.6
37%
Cal Poly Pomona
3.87
School
Avg.
Weighted GPA
% of Admits
Merced
3.67
64.6%
Riverside
3.78
56.0%
Santa Cruz
3.88
51.1%
Santa Barbara
4.05
32.7%
Irvine
4.04
38.7%
Davis
4.07
38.2%
San Diego
4.13
33.9%
Los Angeles
4.18
17.3%
Berkley
4.19
16.9%

16. UC’s Eligibility by Other Means
UC guarantees a spot at one of their campuses for any of the following criteria that is met
Eligibility in the Statewide Context
Meet A-G
Be part of the top 9% in California
Eligibility in the Local Context
Be part of the top 9% in local high schools
Eligibility by Examination Alone
Must meet specific scores on SAT/ACT
Look at university website to determine score

17. Private and Out of State Universities & Colleges
They will have their own admission
requirements and deadlines
Research individual school’s
websites for specific information
Private/Independent
California Colleges
Quick Facts:
77+ members
Approx. 50 in SoCal
86% receive financial aid
Out of State

18. California Community College
Approx. 112 campuses in 72 districts
Convenient locations
Affordable when compared to a 4-year college or university
Have partnerships with UC and CSU for smooth transferring after general education is completed
55%-60% of CSU graduates and 28%-30% of UC graduates started off at a CCC
Be aware that times have changed. There are deadlines to meet. Students need to start applying in February. Students must meet with a counselor, take placement tests and have an academic plan in order to receive priority registration.

19. Alternative Path to a 4-year College/University
What if you don’t get into the colleges or universities you apply to?
What if you don’t want to go to straight to a 4-year college/university?
Alternative path:
4-year
college or university
California Community College
High School

20. Why Go to a CCC First? Very affordable when compared to a 4-year
Hundreds of instructional programs
Wide variety of student support programs
Complete general education classes
Discover possible majors suitable for you
Option to transfer into a 4-year as a junior
Easier to get admitted as a junior vs. a freshman
End goal can still be met in 4-years

21. Things to Consider When “Shopping” for College
Which of the 4 systems interest you?
Listen to announcements regarding college visitors
If possible, start visiting campuses that interest you
Consider admission statistics
Desired Location…close to or far from home?
Tuition costs and/or cost of living
School culture and demographics
Weather/climate
Degrees offered, majors offered,
academic programs, athletic programs

22. Speaking of Athletic Programs…NCAA
Are you and athlete and plan to
continue in your sport during college?
Register to take the ACT, SAT or
both and use the NCAA Eligibility
Center code “9999” as a score recipient
Complete NCAA-approved courses
Earn a minimum required core-course GPA
Earn a required SAT or ACT sum score
Division I and II both have 16-core classes
Talk to your counselor to check your status!
Be sure to have athletic transcript release form on file with Mrs. Soliz

23. Financial Aid Start shopping for ways to help pay for college
Grants
Free money
Scholarships
Work study
Students work on campus which adds money to their financial aid packet which helps pay for college
Loans
Pay back with interest

24. FAFSA News
On Sept. 14, 2015, President Obama announced significant changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) process that will impact millions of students. Starting next year, students will be able to do the following:
Submit a FAFSA® Earlier: Students will be able to file a 2017–18 FAFSA as early as Oct. 1, 2016, rather than beginning on Jan. 1, The earlier submission date will be a permanent change, enabling students to complete and submit a FAFSA as early as October 1 every year. (There is NO CHANGE to the 2016–17 schedule, when the FAFSA will become available January 1 as in previous years.)
Use Earlier Income Information: Beginning with the 2017–18 FAFSA, students will report income information from an earlier tax year. For example, on the 2017–18 FAFSA, students (and parents, as appropriate) will report their 2015 income information, rather than their 2016 income information.

25. Important Websites www.csumentor.edu
www. fafsa.ed.gov

26. Things Every Junior Needs to Consider
Take all tests seriously
PSAT
SAT/ACT
Work towards being academically competitive
Plan ahead and always consider deadlines
Take Honors/AP classes
Recognize your ability, talents, and limitations
Colleges like to see students challenging themselves
Extra points help increase can help improve your GPA
AP test scores of 3 or higher may earn you elective or subject college credit
For more information on AP credit, visit
and follow the AP links to “AP Credit & Placement”

27. Be realistic as to the colleges that fit your abilities
Be realistic as to the colleges that fit your abilities. All colleges and universities have eligibility indices based on a formula of test scores and GPA.
Do your homework. Research potential colleges. Take a virtual tour. Look at their “Quick Facts” or “At a Glance” webpage to see average costs,incoming freshman GPA and test scores.
Apply to approximately 12 colleges. Rank them as safe, target, reach. Our safe schools are CalState LA, CalState Northridge and CalState Dominguez Hills.
Private schools are going to be able to offer you more and more. California public universities have cut back on admissions and those accepted have higher GPAs than past years.

28. Learn how to use Naviance
Learn how to use Naviance. First of all, you should have completed a resume in English class. This will help teachers write letters of recommendation for you. Second, continually update the list of colleges to which you are applying.
Parents and students need to work together when applying, completing financial aid forms and accepting offers of admission. Decisions should be made together so that when asking and answering questions of counselors and colleges both student and parents understand.
Families need to understand that while the counselors can and will assist with college and financial aid applications, calling and speaking to colleges and agencies can only be done by the student. Their identities are being protected and students can only speak on behalf of themselves.

29. Important Websites www.csumentor.edu
www. fafsa.ed.gov

30. Questions?