Class of 2027

Post-Secondary Planning

FHS Counseling Dept.

Resources

Unofficial Transcripts are in Your PowerSchool Portal

You will need this when completing applications!

When you graduate from high school, there are 3 main options:

• Seek employment
• Apprenticeships

• Airforce
• Army
• Coast Guard
• Marines
• Navy
• Space Force

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• Trade School
• Community College
• CSU
• UC
• Private
• Out-of-State

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Employ

• SacJobs – Sacramento’s regional job board: https://sacjobs.com
• The Sacramento Bee Jobs – Local listings across industries: https://jobs.sacbee.com

• ZipRecruiter – Sacramento Listings https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Jobs/-in-Sacramento,CA
• Indeed – Sacramento Jobs: https://www.indeed.com
• SimplyHired – Sacramento Jobs: https://www.simplyhired.com

Enlist

Key Steps

• Contact a Recruiter: Get specific details for your desired branch (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Space Force, Coast Guard). - See Ms. Cederstrom our College & Career Advisor for schedule of when military is on campus
• Take the ASVAB: This test determines your aptitude for different military jobs - On Campus!
• Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS): Undergo a comprehensive medical and physical evaluation. This serves as the final gateway to ensure applicants are fully qualified before officially joining

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College Options

• 116 Campuses
• All high school graduates are accepted
• Understand transfer agreements (TAG Agreements)

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Click here for more info

• 9 Undergraduate research colleges
• Highly competitive

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Click here for more info

• Large endowments may help with financial aid packages
• May have specific affiliations
• Small classes

• WUE (Western Undergraduate Exchange) Scholarships

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Click here for more info

• 22 Campuses

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Click here for more info

REMINDER

Courses and grades during your senior year are very important to college admissions!

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Don’t drop courses during senior year. ANY schedule changes from what was initially reported on your college application must be reported in writing to every college you applied to

College Admission Terms Explained

• Early Decision (ED): is an accelerated process in which students complete and submit their applications in October or November. Early decision is binding. A student may apply to only one college early. If accepted, a student must withdraw all other college applications.

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• Early Action (EA): Early action is also an accelerated college application process in which students complete and submit their applications in November. Early action is not binding -- students are free to apply to other colleges. Although students receive early notification of an acceptance, they do not need to make a decision until the usual May 1 deadline.

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• Regular Decision: This is the most common admission process. Applications for admission are due sometime between November 30 and January 15 at most selective colleges.

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• Rolling Admission: students have a large window of time during which they can apply to a college or university. A college with rolling admission accepts applications for as long as spaces are available.

Standardized Testing: SAT and ACT

• Please make sure to research the colleges you are applying to

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• Many colleges and universities are going test-blind or test-optional
• Test-Optional schools allow applicants to choose whether or not to submit SAT or ACT scores as part of their application.
• Test-Blind schools offer a contract to test-optional ones as they are not interested at all in students’ standardized test scores.

CSU/UC

No longer uses ACT or SAT examinations. If accepted to a CSU campus, ACT or SAT test scores can be used as one of the measures to place students in the proper mathematics and written communication courses.

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5 Step College Application Process

Create Your College List

Determine which Application to Use

Step 2

Complete and Submit your Financial Aid Application

If Applicable: Complete and Submit Your Letter of Recommendation Packet

Step 3

Complete and Submit Your College Applications

Step 1

Step 5

Step 4

Request Transcripts

(only if needed)

Step 1: Create Your College List

• Start by creating a large list and narrow it down to 8-10 colleges
• Saving your favorites in CA Colleges will help you narrow your list down:
• Average incoming freshman GPA
• Acceptance rate
• How do you apply (Common App, UC app, CSU app, or their own application)
• Do they need letters of recommendation or an official transcript
• Attend virtual college visits
• Research majors
• Make a list of what you want on campus and make sure the colleges on your list have those WANTS

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This takes time so start early! Start researching early and this will relieve your stress.

https://www.californiacolleges.edu/#/

Step 2: Determine Which Application to Use

• CSU Application
• UC Application
• Common Application for Private and Out of State Colleges:
• Please research as some colleges have their own application on their website
• Community College

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Take time to become familiar with these websites

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Step 3: Letters of Recommendation

Letter of Recommendation Packet

• This will be an assignment in Google Classroom and each student will have their own personal electronic packet.

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Please make sure you research what each institution needs from you.

• CSUs and UCs do not require Letters of Recommendation.
• Berkeley may- but it will be by request only
• Private or Out of State school that uses the Common Application
• Usually they will ask for two from teachers who know you well. The counselor must also complete a letter of recommendation as part of the “School Report”
• Private or Out of State school that DOES NOT use the Common Application
• A letter of recommendation may be required. It is sometimes also called a secondary school report. Consult the specific school website to confirm.
• Scholarships
• SOME scholarships ask that you include a Letter(s) of Recommendation with your application

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Step 3: Letters of Recommendation (continued)

• Counselor School Report: Explains our school to the colleges including the way our GPA is calculated and how we rank students (we do not).

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• Counselor Written Evaluation: In most cases, your counselor must also write a letter for you. This letter is called a “written evaluation.”

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• Letter of Recommendation: Colleges often ask for two or three recommendation letters from people who know you well. Often these are teachers. Your teachers will know you need this information because you asked them in person and handed them a copy of your Letter of Recommendation Packet. THREE WEEKS NOTICE IS REQUIRED!
• Invite your Counselor through Common APP so we can view your deadlines

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Step 4: Complete College Applications

• Review a-g requirements
• Report repeated courses to colleges
• UC/Private want you to report all grades
• CSU: Only improved grades
• Courses completed outside of FHS (FLC, Online - BYU, etc): Report grades and courses as listed on the original transcript
• Students with international high school transcripts: Report grades and courses as listed on the original high school transcript
• Do NOT hide or falsify anything - colleges will revoke your admission

Step 4: Complete College Applications

DO NOT MISS DEADLINES

Common Application and the UC Application open

FAFSA/Financial Aid Application Opens

October 1st

CSU/UC Application opens and can be submitted

October 1st

Early Action/Early Decision Application due

August 1st

November 30th

November 1-15th

Deadline for UC and CSU Applications

PRIVATE and OUT-OF-STATE UNIVERSITIES have different deadlines.

PLEASE RESEARCH

Step 5: Request Transcripts (if needed)

• How to access your transcripts:
• Unofficial: Your PowerSchool Portal
• Official: Counseling Website
• Official transcripts may be requested for Non-Common App Schools and for scholarships
• CREATE PARCHMENT ACCOUNT CLICK HERE
• Do NOT use school email. Make sure to use your personal email.

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• Important Information!
• UC/CSUs do not want your transcript UNTIL you graduate
• All Common App schools will receive your transcript with the school report and LOR if needed

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College Visit List

College Representatives

• Will be coming both on campus and providing virtual meeting

College Visits on Campus

• List can be found on your Counseling Google Classroom and FHS Website
• Click here for list

1. Complete Application (Feb. 2027)
2. Attend New Student Orientation
3. Take your Assessment Tests
4. Attend Academic Planning Session
5. Register for classes
6. Pay for Classes

• The California Promise Program covers the cost of tuition for eligible students for up to 2 years.
• There is no income requirement.
• You MUST file your FAFSA. If you do not, you will be required to pay.
• There may be other fees

Community College Applications

Community Colleges

Los Rios Community College District

American River

Cosumnes River

Folsom Lake

Sacramento City

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Sierra College

Community College Steps

CA Promise Grant

Be Professional

• Create a professional email to use when applying for colleges
• Check your email regularly as this is how colleges will communicate with you

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• You will have to create logins and passwords for the applications, please write these down and keep them in a safe place.

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• Do not be afraid to call a colleges admissions office if you have any questions, they are there to help you.

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California Colleges

Welcome to CA Colleges

FCUSD has partnered with Californiacolleges.edu (CCGI) in order to provide students with a one stop shop in researching and completing college applications for all California based schools and Financial Aid.

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Register for CA Colleges

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Log on to californiacolleges.edu

New to FHS- Register your Account

Students with an account click here

Navigating Resources on CCGI

Click Here To Explore Tutorials

Please note: FCUSD will be uploading all courses into your Student Partner Account.

Financial Aid

FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid

CADAA: California Dream Act Application

1. Required for most types of financial aid
2. Allow the college to assess if you qualify for institutional scholarships that could potentially cover your tuition.
3. Can make higher education more affordable by decreasing out of pocket expenses

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• FAFSA/CADAA for the 2027-28 school year opens October 1, 2026
• Priority Deadline to Submit is March 2, 2027

*Applying for financial aid does not require you to have applied to or been admitted to a college.

Financial Aid Applications

FAFSA/CADAA

• A free application to determine eligibility for financial aid
• Used by the federal government, states, and/or colleges to award:
• Grants (money you don’t repay)
• Scholarships
• Work-Study opportunities
• Student Loans�

Why It Matters

When To Apply

It’s estimated $4 billion in Pell Grants alone is unclaimed annually

FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid

CADAA: California Dream Act Application (undocumented students only)

How to Complete & Submit the FAFSA

Dates and Deadlines

August 1st: Common Application and the UC Application open

September 28th: College and Career Fair at Folsom High 6PM

October: FAFSA/Financial Aid Application Opens

October 1st: CSU/UC Application open and can be submitted

November 1-15th: Early Action/Early Decision Application due

November 30th: Deadline for UC and CSU Applications

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Private and Out-of-State Universities have different deadlines. PLEASE RESEARCH

College Application Help

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Resource page

College Essay

Essay Prep

Personal Insight Questions UC

UC Application Help Videos

Registering with CCGI Video

Financial Aid Application

Presenting Yourself on UC App Presentation

Questions?

Thank you!