Senior Class of 2011 Presentation Fall Semester

1. Senior Class of 2011 Presentation Fall Semester October 2010 Guidance Advisors: A - L: Mrs. Aguiniga M - Z: Ms. Lambert Welcome Class of 2010! Introduce ourselves Today we are going to cover several topics. High School Graduation Status Senior Year Overview Senior Year Calendar Post High School Options Applying to College Guidelines Letters of Recommendation (only for Private colleges) Creating Your List of Schools College & Career Center Transcript Review Graduation & Transcript Facts To-Do List Welcome Class of 2010! Introduce ourselves Today we are going to cover several topics. High School Graduation Status Senior Year Overview Senior Year Calendar Post High School Options Applying to College Guidelines Letters of Recommendation (only for Private colleges) Creating Your List of Schools College & Career Center Transcript Review Graduation & Transcript Facts To-Do List

2. Senior Year Overview Make sure you’re covered –graduation, post-high school plan, college entrance, personal enrichment College Application Process Deciding where to apply Understanding what’s required A timeline for completion Senior course rigor and grades do matter Control what you can and trust in the process Respect the privacy and sensitivity of others The college admissions process is not a competition or game to be won The process is a quest to find an individual match and place that best fits who you are and meets your needs This is a busy, focused year for students. First, attending, passing, and learning in all of your classes to help ensure you graduate from high school. Second, really understand why graduating is important to “YOU”, Third, having a post-high school plan – What are you going to be doing after graduation? There is no good or bad plan – there are different plans. Do you see yourself working, working and going to school, at a 2-year college, living in dorms on the campus of a 4-year college? What is your goal and how will you get there? How can we help you get there? Let us know, come in to talk with your Guidance Advisor, if you haven’t already. This is a busy, focused year for students. First, attending, passing, and learning in all of your classes to help ensure you graduate from high school. Second, really understand why graduating is important to “YOU”, Third, having a post-high school plan – What are you going to be doing after graduation? There is no good or bad plan – there are different plans. Do you see yourself working, working and going to school, at a 2-year college, living in dorms on the campus of a 4-year college? What is your goal and how will you get there? How can we help you get there? Let us know, come in to talk with your Guidance Advisor, if you haven’t already.

3. Transcript Demographic information Are all courses listed? Is your GPA correct? Are you missing any units for graduation? See your Guidance Advisor Problems? Incorrect info? See Ms. Keh Note CSIS ID (also called State ID) at bottom left side of your transcript—needed for UC and CSU applications

4. Graduation and Transcript Facts A minimum of a D- is required to earn 5 units towards graduation; minimum of C- is required for college eligibility. Failed classes earn no units and are included in the high school GPA. Repeated classes and grades earned are placed on the high school transcript. Original class grades are not removed from the high school transcript.

5. Post-High School Education Options Vocational/Technical Schools Community Colleges CSU System UC System Independent (Private) Colleges and Out-of-State Public Colleges/Universities

6. Option 1: Vocational/Technical Schools Examples Cogswell Culinary Academies FIDM Entrance requirements vary; usually high school graduation and application/portfolio Cogswell in Sunnyvale – digital arts, fire science, engineering – game demo night this Wednesday at 6:30 in the Dragon’s Den at the campus Culinary Academies – California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, Professional Culinary Institute in Campbell Cogswell in Sunnyvale – digital arts, fire science, engineering – game demo night this Wednesday at 6:30 in the Dragon’s Den at the campus Culinary Academies – California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, Professional Culinary Institute in Campbell

7. Option 2: Community Colleges Examples: West Valley De Anza Foothill Career Programs Transfer Program Regular Transfer Transfer Agreements Timeline for Application: March to August Entrance Requirements: Math/English Placement Tests REFER TO HANDOUT IN NEWSLETTER LISTING COLLEGES AND PROGRAMS OFFERED Early admissions in the Spring during this process you apply, take placement tests, register for classes – you are pre-enrolled getting first choice of classes and a spot – so crowded (De Anza this fall) taking a class in the summer is encouraged – this is usually an orientation class required by the community college and you register for the class during early admissions Transfer to a 4-year college UC/CSU are taking upper division transfers only this means a junior in college or have completed 59 transferable units at the community college not less TAG – Transfer Admission Guarantee www.assist.org – resource for learning about transfers, which courses at the communtiy college level will transfer www.cccco.edu for a list of all the California Community Colleges and their programs Research transfer requirements they vary from college to college ex: San Diego State 100% of transfer classes must be taken at a local san diego community college Talk to the community college’s TRANSFER CENTER 60% of CSU graduates started at community collegeREFER TO HANDOUT IN NEWSLETTER LISTING COLLEGES AND PROGRAMS OFFERED Early admissions in the Spring during this process you apply, take placement tests, register for classes – you are pre-enrolled getting first choice of classes and a spot – so crowded (De Anza this fall) taking a class in the summer is encouraged – this is usually an orientation class required by the community college and you register for the class during early admissions Transfer to a 4-year college UC/CSU are taking upper division transfers only this means a junior in college or have completed 59 transferable units at the community college not less TAG – Transfer Admission Guarantee www.assist.org – resource for learning about transfers, which courses at the communtiy college level will transfer www.cccco.edu for a list of all the California Community Colleges and their programs Research transfer requirements they vary from college to college ex: San Diego State 100% of transfer classes must be taken at a local san diego community college Talk to the community college’s TRANSFER CENTER 60% of CSU graduates started at community college

8. Option 3: CSU System Examples: San Jose State University San Diego State University Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 23 campuses throughout the state Application Timeline: Oct 1 –Nov 30 Entrance Requirements: Completion of A-G coursework with grades of C or higher Qualifying GPA* SAT Reasoning or ACT* http://www.csumentor.edu/planning/high_school/cal_residents.asp (website page for in-state undergraduate eligibility index) MORE INFO ON APPLICATION & ADMISSIONS PROCESS: Wednesday, October 13th @ 6:30 PM at Branham High Cafeteria REFER TO APPLICATION WORKSHOP FLYER IN HANDOUT PACKETREFER TO APPLICATION WORKSHOP FLYER IN HANDOUT PACKET

9. Option 4: UC System Examples: UC Berkeley UC San Diego UC Santa Cruz UC Davis 10 campuses throughout the state (9 undergraduate campuses) Application Timeline: Nov 1 – November 30 Requirements: Completion of A-G coursework with grades of C or higher SAT Reasoning and/or ACT with writing http://www.ucop.edu:8080/eligibilitycalc/begin.jsp (link to undergraduate eligibility calculator) UCSF graduate campusUCSF graduate campus

10. Option 5: Independent (Private) Colleges and Out-of-State Public Examples: Santa Clara University Stanford University University of the Pacific Every college/university makes its own rules on eligibility and admission Application process online to most of these colleges: www.commonapp.org

11. Senior Year Calendar September 10 Registration deadline for October 9 SAT September 11 ACT Test date September 17 Registration deadline for October 23 ACT October 1 UC/CSU application period begins (UC can not be submitted until November 1st) October 8 Registration deadline for November 6 SAT October 9 SAT Test date October 13 CSU application workshop – 6:30 PM Branham High School Cafeteria October 23 ACT Test date October 25 College Night at Prospect High School in room 30. Representatives from SJSU, West Valley College... November 1 Submit UC application November 5 Registration deadline for December 4 SAT and December 11 ACT November 6 SAT Test date November 30 Application deadline for CSU and UC (must be submitted by 11:59.59 PM) December 1 – January 15 Private Applications due (general timeframe) December 4 SAT Test date December 11 ACT Test date December 13 “How to Pay for College” class visits January 1 FAFSA Submission begins January 20 Financial Aid Workshop West Valley Theater March 2 FAFSA submission deadline March 1-31 Admissions decisions mailed to students April 1 – 30 Student Financial Aid Reports available to students online April 30 Intent to Attend must be submitted by 11:59.59 PM to college of choice

12. General Guidelines for Applications Apply early at best; Meet all deadlines at minimum Proofread all application materials for accuracy, legibility, completeness and clarity Ask someone to review your information Use an appropriate email address All correspondence should be formal in nature. (i.e. don’t use lowercase)

13. Creating Your List of Schools Continuing Research College and Career Center Internet Attending College Information Meetings Visiting Campuses Currently 5 to15 Final List: 3 to 8 schools you would be HAPPY to attend Probable (Safety) Target (Competitive) Long Shot (Stretch or Reach) Watch for postings on School Loop News, Bulletin, Guidance Webpage, College & Career CenterWatch for postings on School Loop News, Bulletin, Guidance Webpage, College & Career Center

14. College and Career Center Parent Volunteers College research College admissions personnel visiting our campus and the Bay Area Scholarship information Career Search Panther College Club Workshops HANDOUT ½ SHEET SURVEY Parent Volunteers On Campus during lunch T-Th – table in Quad to answer your College and Career questions College Research Will help you research Colleges: majors offered at which campuses, application process, essay writing techniques…and more College Admissions Visits Even with severe budget constraints limiting High School Outreach, several Admissions officers are visiting Prospect students during Study Hall – upcoming visits are: 9/29    11:40 am           San Jose State University                   10/6     11:40 am           Colorado State University                   10/14   11:40 am           Saint Mary’s College                   10/26   11:40 am           Chapman University See the Guidance Secretary for a Study Hall pass. Scholarship Information There is a lot of free money out there if you are willing to take the time to apply. The College & Career Center has put together a list of Scholarships is available. There is a Scholarship binder in the Guidance office where you can get information about specific scholarships. There is a list posted on the Prospect Guidance Webpage with links to the scholarships websites. Some Scholarships are also posted on School Loop News. College Search Parent Volunteers available to help with Job Search and Career Path Local Job Opportunities Summer Jobs On-Campus Job Interviews (last year Jamba Juice came to Prospect and interviewed students) College & Career Center Workshops Scholarship search – goal at workshop for each student to complete an application to one or two scholarships to start. Resume Writing – where to start?, what information to include?, sample resumes, … Job Interview Skill Development – learn tips on how to interview for a job, from how to present yourself to a potential future employer, what type of questions to expect and how to answer the questions for the best results...HANDOUT ½ SHEET SURVEY Parent Volunteers On Campus during lunch T-Th – table in Quad to answer your College and Career questions College Research Will help you research Colleges: majors offered at which campuses, application process, essay writing techniques…and more College Admissions Visits Even with severe budget constraints limiting High School Outreach, several Admissions officers are visiting Prospect students during Study Hall – upcoming visits are: 9/29    11:40 am           San Jose State University                   10/6     11:40 am           Colorado State University                   10/14   11:40 am           Saint Mary’s College                   10/26   11:40 am           Chapman University See the Guidance Secretary for a Study Hall pass. Scholarship Information There is a lot of free money out there if you are willing to take the time to apply. The College & Career Center has put together a list of Scholarships is available. There is a Scholarship binder in the Guidance office where you can get information about specific scholarships. There is a list posted on the Prospect Guidance Webpage with links to the scholarships websites. Some Scholarships are also posted on School Loop News. College Search Parent Volunteers available to help with Job Search and Career Path Local Job Opportunities Summer Jobs On-Campus Job Interviews (last year Jamba Juice came to Prospect and interviewed students) College & Career Center Workshops Scholarship search – goal at workshop for each student to complete an application to one or two scholarships to start. Resume Writing – where to start?, what information to include?, sample resumes, … Job Interview Skill Development – learn tips on how to interview for a job, from how to present yourself to a potential future employer, what type of questions to expect and how to answer the questions for the best results...

15. To-Do List Ensure Transcript is complete and accurate Have a plan to satisfy high school graduation requirements and post high school plan requirements Complete List of Colleges October 1st begin completing UC/CSU applications (submit CSU application) Request Letters of Recommendation