Navigating College Applications with CaliforniaColleges.edu

A Guide for Parents & High School Seniors

CSU, UC, and Community College Applications

Why CaliforniaColleges.edu?

• Central hub for exploring colleges in California
• Connects directly with CSU, UC, and Community College applications
• Provides tools for career exploration and financial aid

CaliforniaColleges.edu is California’s official college and career planning platform. Lessons and tools help students discover goals for life after high school, make plans to achieve them, and launch their futures. It’s free for California 6th - 12th grade students, their parents, and educators.

Looking for information about CaliforniaColleges.edu and how to get an account? Learn more here.

Next Steps

Getting Started

• Students log into Clever
• Parent Registration

Exploring Colleges & Majors

Applying to CSU

• LOG IN through CLEVER
• Launch CSU Application Step by step Guide
• Import high school coursework and grades
• Adding Dual Enrollment courses page 24
• 22 campuses, 1 application for all
• SAT/ACT: not needed
• No letters of recommendation
• Application Filing Period:
• October 1 - December 1, 2025
• Fee waiver embedded in CSU App

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SDUSD-CSU San Marcos Compact

• Benchmarks:
• Students must be continuously enrolled in SDUSD from at least 9th grade w/exceptions for unhoused, foster youth & military dependents.
• Completion of all A-G coursework required through CSU system
• Meet minimum CSU eligibility requirements
• Graduate w/cumulative 3.0+ gpa
• Students must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or CA Dream Act Application (CADA).

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Applying to UC

• LOGIN through CLEVER
• Launch UC application Step by Step Guide
• Enter personal insight questions
• Submit academic history automatically
• How to add Dual Enrollment/Mesa courses
• Submit one application for multiple UC campuses
• Application Filing period: Oct. 1st – Dec 1st
• SAT/ACT: not needed
• 4 Insight Questions
• Fee waivers: 4 campuses: UC determines eligibility

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CA High School Graduates meeting minimum A-G reqs not admitted to any UC campus to where you applied, you'll be offered a spot at another campus if space is available, provided:

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You rank in the to 9 percent of California high school students, according to our updated Statewide Index, or�

You rank in the top 9 percent of your graduating class at a participating high school. We refer to this as Eligible in the Local Context ELC).

Personal Insight Questions (PIQ)

• Applicant must respond to 4 of the 8 questions, no more and no less
• All questions are equally weighted, not one is worth more than another
• Maximum of 350 words per response
• Questions selected should be the ones that are most relevant to the applicant’s unique experiences and individual circumstances
• Follow Directions carefully: UC asks students to respond to questions in Q & A format: UC Instructions for completing PIQ
• Adults: don’t edit out student’s voice
• UC cautions DON’T use Artificial Intelligence to answer PIQs

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Applying to Community College

• LOGIN through CLEVER
• Launch Community College Step by Step Guide
• Support for transfer planning to CSU/UC
• Transfer Curriculum in Cal-GETC
• Assist.org Establish an appropriate path toward transferring from a public California community college to a California university UC/CSU.
• How to track your college applications

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Private & Out of State Universities

Private & Out of State Universities

www.commonapp.org

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Historically Black Colleges & Universities HBCU Common Black College application

Private and Out of State: Research schools and become familiar with individual admissions requirements as deadlines will vary greatly

XELLO: Send Transcripts and common app forms

• LOGIN through CLEVER
• College Application Management System
• Request letters of recommendation
• Transcript: add all private and UC/CSU/CC
• Transcripts, letters of recommendation & common app forms

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Xello Information

Transcript in PowerSchool

• Log into PowerSchool to review previous courses completed or attempted.
• Courses taken at another school: SDCCD Mesa/City

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Student PS Portal see your Unofficial Transcript

PS Navigation:

Transcript

Student State ID on transcript

Letters of Recommendation

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• Requests for recommendations are to be submitted 10 working days prior to due date
• Recommender needs to be added to the college you are submitting letter to, in Xello. 
• Match Common App in Xello
• A Brag sheet is a way for you to help your counselors and teachers write letters of recommendations on your behalf. 

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Senior Brag Sheet:

• Fillable Brag sheet in College Corner
• Download, complete, save as PDF
• Upload to Xello for recommender or email directly

Financial Aid

• CCGI Provides: reminders for deadlines & Tracks financial aid status

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• California Student Opportunity & Access Program (Cal-SOAP)
• Financial Student and Parent webinars and event information
• Apply for FSA ID
• Understanding Financial Aid link to more information
• San Diego Foundation Application
• Application Open: January 2026
• Application Deadline: Wednesday March 5, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. PST
• CSU Scholarship: Merit Scholarship Typically requires FAFSA application even if you don’t qualify for federal aid
• UC Scholarship: Regents Scholarship Blue and Gold Scholarship: Typically requires FAFSA application even if you don’t qualify for federal aid

Scholarships

• Scholarships are monies granted to you: don’t need to repay
• Xello – Search for scholarships
• Scholarship Search online
• Family, Friends, & Employers may have scholarship applications
• PHHS Counseling website Scholarship list
• San Diego Foundation Application
• Application Open: January 2026
• Application Deadline: Wednesday March 5, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. PST

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Save the Date

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• College Club: College Club Interest Link
• 10/8/25 Wednesday Begins
• Location: Library
• Time: Every Wednesday during Student lunch
• Sign up for College Rep Visits at Henry
• College Application Workshop
• Date: November 17-21,2025
• Time: Student Lunch
• Location: Library
• Counselors can review your application
• Finalize and submit

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Counselor Contact Information

Frequently Asked Questions

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