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College Application Information Night: Wed. 9/2 @ 7:00 via Zoom

Presentation will be recorded and share via ParentSquare

Counselor Letter of Rec request due dates:

Early decision/early action/deadlines prior to Dec 1: Friday, September 18
Regular decision/deadlines of December 1 & later: Friday, October 2

Application workshops (drop in): Break and lunch in the Counseling Office / Advisory in the atrium. Please bring your chromebook/computer!

We highly recommend reviewing your applications with a counselor before submitting!

Community college info sessions and registration workshops are held at AHS starting in the winter. Listen to announcements for dates!

Important College Information Dates

College Application Information Night

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Advice from your peers

From AHS graduates: “What should this year’s seniors know?”

Do not put in all your effort to a school that is "good" or has the impressive name. Put your effort into the school that interests you.

The most helpful thing was learning about community college. I didn’t know I can transfer after two years. If I knew that earlier, I would feel less stressed and more ready.

Start early! Especially with asking for teacher recommendations.

Ask questions if you are even slightly confused about something.

College Application Information Night

Envision if you'd ACTUALLY want to attend that school. If you can't see yourself attending, don't apply! It’s a waste of money and essay writing.

I was absolutely crushed to get into my dream school and then find that it was unaffordable even with their financial aid plan. I wish that I had considered the money required to attend colleges and had applied for more scholarships beforehand.

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APPLY BROADLY!!!

College Application Information Night

Consider location, size of campus, majors, atmosphere

Know your chances for admission – review admit rates, average GPAs & test scores as a guide, not an absolute

Think in terms of “target,” “reach” and “safety” schools

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These college are “reach” schools for ALL students:

Harvard: 4.2% admission rate / 4.1+ avg GPA / 1510-1580 SAT (mid. 50%)

MIT: 4.6%

Stanford: 3.6%

Brown: 5.6%

Amherst: 8%

Barnard: 9%

UCLA: 12%

UC Berkeley: 11%

APPLY BROADLY!!!

College Application Information Night

These schools might be targets for some students:

UC Davis: 37% / 4.05-4.29 middle 50% GPA

San Diego State: 34% / 3.86 avg GPA

UCSD: 24.5%

UCSC: 63%

Oberlin: 35%

Fordham: 56%

Macalester: 28%

Gonzaga: 76%

These schools could be safeties for many students:

U. of Oregon: 85% / 3.6 avg GPA

UC Merced: 87%

Lewis & Clark: 79%

Ithaca College: 78%

Chico State: 85%

Chapman University: 60%

U. of Montana: 82%

* Stats for most recent year available from college publications, Common Data Set, http://www.college-kickstart.com and US News and World Report.

How competitive you are for a college impacts not just admissions but also merit aid!

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RESOURCES

College Application Information Night

College & Career Research Resources:

UC Berkeley PIQ Writing Workshop: Sept. 22 @ Lunch, Little Theatre
The College Place Webinar: 12th Grade Financial Aid Night
Cash 4 College: January 27th 6-8 pm @AHS Library
UC Berkeley College Admissions Mentorship Program Deadline 9/15
College Essay Writing: Notable Narratives

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AHS Alumni

College Application Information Night

Community (2-year) Colleges	University of California (UC)	California State University (CSU)	4-year College/ University - Private	4-year College/ University - Public Out of State	4-year College/ University - Non-U.S.	Military Service Academy	Vocational/ Career Technical Program	Other	Total 4-year College/ University
31%	22%	11%	16%	5%	1%	>1%	>1%	13%	55%

What do AHS graduates do after high school?

*average of graduating classes since 2013

We hear from alumni all the time, from every type of post-secondary pathway, who have found success and fulfillment even if their path wasn’t what they (or family) envisioned in high school!

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Financial Aid - CalGrant

College Application Information Night

AHS Counselors already submitted CalGrant GPA verifications this fall
Your name and address in Aeries needs to match FAFSA
You need to submit the FAFSA - by March 2 for priority consideration
CalGrant can be used at almost every California 2- or 4-year institution
For more financial aid information, check out ECMC/The College Place
Attend our Cash for College FAFSA workshop - 1/27 @ 6pm

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Community College

College Application Information Night

116 campuses in California

12 with dorms
108 with athletics
60 with honors/scholars programs
All have EOPS/support for disadvantaged students

Multiple pathways

Transfer to 4-year universities for degree
2-year Associate degree
Certificate programs in many career fields

Eligibility: high school diploma OR age 18

SAT/ACT not required, even for transfer
Enrollment starts in spring of 12^th grade

California College Promise Grant - can waive tuition/fees!

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Community College

College Application Information Night

Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) to 6 UC campuses
Associate’s Degree for Transfer (AA-T) to 22 CSU campuses
CCs also work with private and out-of-state universities to facilitate transfers
Admissions rates are higher, and average GPA lower, for transfer students than 1st time freshmen admits

www.assist.org to view requirements and articulation agreements
www.cccapply.org to apply or explore campuses

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Summary of 4-year requirements

College Application Information Night

	CSU	UC	Private
GPA	10th-11th grade A-G classes only	10th-11th grade A-G classes only	Total cumulative 9th - 11th grade Reported on transcript
College Admissions Tests	SAT/ACT not considered	SAT/ACT not considered	SAT/ACT may be required
Transcripts	Student submits upon request	Student submits upon request	Counselor submits initial, midyear and final
Personal Statement	Not required	Required (personal insight questions)	Required*
Extracurricular	Not required	Required	Required*
Letters of Rec	Not required	Not required	Required (# varies)*
Class Rank	Not reported	Not reported	Reported by counselor - AHS does not rank
Reports	Not required	Not required	Secondary school report, midyear and final report

*Always check admissions websites

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Pro tip

College Application Information Night

Using a spreadsheet to track deadlines and requirements is SO HELPFUL! There’s a lot to keep track of
Create your own or search online for templates

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Accessing Transcripts

For all college applications, you will need a copy of your transcript

to self-report grades and classes
to clear requirements and prerequisites

To access your transcript:

Log in to Aeries
Go to Grades > Transcripts
You can print an unofficial copy

UCs and CSUs ask for your State Student ID (SSID). This can be found at the bottom left of your transcript, below your graduation year
Official transcripts still need to be requested from your counselor via Xello.

College Application Information Night

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More Transcripts

Check for accuracy
Check for any missing grades & make sure all your AHS classes are listed
Awards and Recognition

Honor Roll = 3.00 -3.49
Principal’s List = 3.50+
Total number of semesters (Ex. 2 Semesters Principal’s List, 1 Semester Honor Roll)

You are responsible for submitting transcripts from outside institutions (e.g. community college) to all colleges you apply to!

College Application Information Night

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College app resources and updates

College Application Information Night

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College app resources and updates

College Application Information Night

EMAIL!

This year, the Counseling Department will be sending all relevant college and career information via AUSD email and ParentSquare. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE for checking your email
You MUST use a non-AUSD email for College Applications. Keep it professional!
Colleges also send critical, time-sensitive communication via email - housing info, waitlist opt-in, financial aid opportunities etc.

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How to apply to CSUs

Application at calstate.edu/apply
Filing period 10/1-11/30. Apply early!
One application for multiple campuses; select program (campus and major) to add campuses
Application fee per campus is $70. Fee waiver is embedded in application
Courses and grades are self reported. Don’t forget non-AHS courses. Transcripts sent only if college requests it. Check your emails often! - 26-27 note: high school history will be available Oct 1
EOP deadlines and requirements vary - “Recommenders” status in app refers to EOP only

College Application Information Night

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CSU Eligibility – Class of 2027

Will not consider SAT/ACT for admission
California residents and graduates of California high schools will be eligible for admission by completing 15 course requirements (“a-g” courses) with a 2.50 or greater “a-g" GPA.
California grads with GPA between 2.00 and 2.49 may be evaluated for admission based upon supplemental factors.

These may include number of courses exceeding minimum “a-g", household income, GPA in math/science, extracurricular involvement, etc.
Each CSU campus will determine the supplemental factors used with GPA to determine eligibility

Non CA residents must have 3.0 or higher GPA

College Application Information Night

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CSU Eligibility continued

CSU does not require or consider essays, letters of rec, list of activities*
San Francisco State and Cal State East Bay are our service area schools – minimum eligibility = guaranteed admission!
Check Cal State Apply for impaction info

Impacted campuses may use higher “a-g” thresholds

*new app asks for time spent on work and extracurricular activities

College Application Information Night

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UC Eligibility and Application

College Application Information Night

Application available online now: www.universityofcalifornia.edu/apply
Filing period: Oct 1- Nov 30. Apply early!

Eligibility requirements:

Complete 15 UC-required “a-g” courses with C- or higher*
Minimum weighted GPA of 3.0
No letters of recommendation – but some campuses/majors may ask for letters as part of a supplemental review
Like CSU, self-report courses and grades. Final transcript sent at the end of the school year.
Include any “a-g” approved classes taken outside of AHS
ONE application. Check boxes to add campuses. $80/campus
Will not consider SAT/ACT for ℅ 27

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How UC applications are reviewed

College Application Information Night

“Comprehensive Review”

Academic grade point average in all completed "a-g" courses in 10^th and 11^th grade
Number of and performance in UC-approved Honors and AP courses
Quality of your senior-year program
Special talents, achievements and awards
Extra-curricular activities
Unique opportunities and experiences
UC Personal Statement (“personal insight questions”)

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UC Personal Insight Questions

College Application Information Night

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DO� Select question that is most applicable Keep it Professional Use "I" and "My" statements Be Concise, but detailed Be Honest Be cautious of timeline Different topic for each question	DO NOT Be campus specific Use quotations or Dialogue Use Creative Writing or Literary Devices Set the Scene Restate the question Ask philosophical questions

More UC app help including helpful video!

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Activities section/Additional comments

College Application Information Night

Activities and personal circumstances is more important than ever with waiver of testing requirement

Pay attention to how you list activities and thoroughly explain your individual circumstances - long-term commitments, activities that show growth, etc.

Utilize the help features in UC and Common App!

Quality over quantity! Common App has fewer activities fields than the UC app. Grouping similar activities (e.g. playing and coaching a sport) is advisable

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Private/Out of State Universities

College Application Information Night

Colleges use different application types. Many are part of the Common Application; others have their own application. You will apply through these applications. Xello is not an application!

For colleges that require transcripts, recommendations etc. from AHS, you will use Xello to manage documents for applications. You need to do this for all applications including UC/CSU.

Common App schools – you will link Common App with Xello, request recommendations thru Xello.

If you are applying directly to institution, you will still need to include the application in Xello.

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See Xello videos and Common App help for useful tips:

If applying to Common App colleges, create account on www.commonapp.org, complete “Education” section and sign FERPA waiver

On Xello > College Planning, add at least one application for a Common App school, then complete Common App matching (see video on Knowledge Hub)

Add colleges and request recommendations

in Xello

Xello can be found in your AUSD waffle!

Private/Out of State Universities

College Application Information Night

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Who should apply Early Action/Early Decision?

College Application Information Night

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Test Blind vs Test Optional

College Application Information Night

Test blind: scores are not considered as part of the process and you should not submit them. They are not included or available to review for part of the application process. University of California is now test blind.

Test optional: if you submit scores, they will be considered, but it’s ok if you do not have test scores.

Should I send my scores?

The average of the SAT score will increase for test optional schools because not all students will submit their score. If you are in the bottom half median score for that college do not submit. Only submit if you are in the upper half of the median for that school.

Example: for fall ‘20 admission cycle at Boston University, 60% of applicants did not submit scores and 62% who were admitted did not submit test scores.

Merit Scholarships are school specific so need to look into each university. Step 1 is to get into the school - if you are below the median you may not be competitive for admission.

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Managing College Applications

College Application Information Night

Oct. 1-Mar. 2

Complete FAFSA

Oct. 1-Mar. 2

2027

Complete FAFSA

Oct. 1-Mar. 2

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Things to know when completing the Common App

College Application Information Night

AHS phone: (510) 558-2500
Counselor’s name and email: see AHS website
Graduation date: 6/04/27
GPA: Total 9-12 Weighted GPA (3^rd GPA on your transcript)
We do not report class rank
Graduating class size = 262
Current year courses: be sure to list 2^nd semester
Complete FERPA waiver. You must authorize the school to send materials to the Common App.
When asked if you “waive your right” to see your letters of recommendation, we strongly recommend answering YES

This gives admissions officers more confidence in the letters they receive

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Managing College Applications

College Application Information Night

To link Common App you must complete the FERPA waiver on the Common App website

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Managing College Applications

College Application Information Night

From Xello home screen, go to Plans > College Planning

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Managing College Applications

College Application Information Night

Request Letters of Rec here!

Request Official Transcripts here!

You cannot request recommendations until you match Xello & Common App

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College Rep Visits

College Application Information Night

College admissions offices on our campus! Listen to the bulletin and check email for announcements about upcoming rep visits. The visiting reps are often the ones reading AHS applications
Most visits will be held during advisory or lunch
Sign up here - this helps us plan for rooms and staffing

Scholarships

Xello has a scholarship profile to match you to relevant opportunities. It also has a growing list of scholarships for Albany students. Application deadlines and links are on the Scholarships page in Xello.

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School Report/Letters of Rec

College Application Information Night

For colleges/scholarships/

programs that require a counselor to complete a school report (usually includes letter of rec), we will require you to submit a counselor brag sheet.

Counselors are asked to confirm data and submit an evaluation
Be aware that we are asked to report on your character. Academic honesty matters!

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School Report/Letters of Rec

College Application Information Night

Form includes parts for student and parent/guardian to complete. We also ask for 3 teacher comments. They share directly with counselors. This is NOT a request for a teacher letter.e
Parent/guardian and teacher forms are embedded in the student request form.
Scan the QR code for your counselor to access the form.
Due 9/18 for deadlines before Dec 1, 10/2 for later deadlines.

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School Report/Letters of Rec

College Application Information Night

On Xello – request teacher recommendations for each application you’re planning to submit. Be sure to talk with the teacher first!

Pay attention to the deadlines/decision type you choose (EA/ED/RD etc). Teachers receive deadline notifications based on what you report in Common App/Xello

Check the number of recommendations requested by each college – submitting more is not to your advantage

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Remember…

Grade 12 grades will be included in the final GPA calculation (don’t blow it senior year!)

Final transcript sent by AHS at the end of the year to the college you will attend – keep Xello updated

College applications are complicated – help is available!

Drop-in college application help - October - November.
We encourage all seniors to have their applications reviewed before submission. It’s easy to make mistakes!

College Application Information Night

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In the know!

AUSD uses Aeries for parent/guardian communications. The communications branch of Aeries is called ParentSquare. We recommend that you register with ParentSquare because registered users can set message language and delivery preferences. You will receive messages regardless, but it is very helpful to be registered. You can also download the convenient ParentSquare app for Apple or Android.

To register, fill out this form or start at www.parentsquare.com/signin.

AHS Counselors are on Instagram! @albanyhighcounseling

College Application Information Night

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Counseling Department Contacts

Michelle Aselstine (A - Coo)� maselstine@ausdk12.org�Becca Burns (Cor – Kn)� bburns@ausdk12.org�Tedra Grogans (Ko– P)� tgrogans@ausdk12.org�M.E. Durell (Q - Z)

mdurell@ausdk12.org

Diane Peterson (MacGregor)

dpeterson@ausdk12.org

�

College Application Information Night

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