So You Want To Go To College? Now What?

Here is a chronological checklist of how to prepare!

9th and 10th grade

Get good grades! Complete your A-Gs and try to take a few AP and honrs classes.

11th and 12th grade

• Register and take the SAT and ACT exam
• SAT and ACT is required for more 4-year universities. It is NOT required for COMMUNITY COLLEGE
• You should take your SAT and ACT at least once at the end of your junior year and again at the beginning of your senior year
• Go to www.collegeboard.com to register for the SAT
• Go to www.actstudent.org to register for the ACT
• If you qualify for free lunch, see your counselor for a FEE WAIVER to waive the fee for the exams.
• Make sure you SEND SCORES to the college and universities you plan to apply to when you register for the test
• For ACT and SAT, if you send to one UC school, your scores will automatically be sent to all UCs.
• For the SAT, if you send to “California State University Mentor”, your scores will automatically be sent to all CSUs.

• Research colleges and universities
• http://Bigfuture.collegeboard.com   
• Click on “Explore Careers”, then “College Majors”, and enter what you would like to study in college
• Explore the description of the major and research colleges and universities which offer the field of study
• www.assist.org – explore the site!
• Click on MAJORS to search UCs and CSUs that offer your desired field of study
• Click “CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT THIS MAJOR ON THE CAMPUS WEBSITE” to learn more about the major and the campus
• www.cappex.com
• Search for the college and universities you are interested in.
• Click the ADMISSIONS tab and take a look at the ADMISSIONS SCATTERGRAM to see your chances of gaining admissions to that particular school.

12th graders

• Apply for Admissions!
• CSU applications are available on www.csumentor.com starting Oct 1. Deadline is November 30th.
• UC applications are available on admissions.universityofcalifornia.edu starting Oct 1. Deadline is November 30th.
• Out of State and Private Colleges and Universities have varying deadlines.  
• Community College applications are available Spring Semester. The best time to apply is January – March of your senior year!
• Southwestern College Application http://www.swccd.edu/
• Grossmont College http://www.grossmont.edu/admissions/
• San Diego Community College District https://applyonline.communitycollege.net/studentappview.cfm
• Send 1st semester senior year transcripts  to the colleges and universities you’ve applied to
• Counselors are available afterschool to help with college apps.

• Apply for Financial Aid
• Visit www.SUHicounseling.com often for scholarship updates
• Register on sites like www.Fastweb.com and www.scholarships.com for more opportunities.
• The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) opens October 1. The deadline is March 2. This is the application for LOANS, GRANTS, and WORK STUDY >>> www.fafsa.ed.gov
• Counselors available afterschool to help
• SUHi’s Financial Aid Night – January every year – see counselor for date
• Bring your parents! FAFSA process will be explained in detail.

• Wait for Admissions Notices
• Check your email at least once a week for communication from the schools you’ve applied to!
• Pay attention to deadlines!
• Send requested forms and documents in a timely manner!
• UCs and CSUs Intent to Enroll deadline is May 2 (private and out-of-state deadlines vary)

QUESTIONS? SEE YOUR COUNSELOR!  CAN’T FIND THEM? FILL OUT A “COUNSELOR REQUEST FORM” AND WAIT PATIENTLY PLEASE =)