1 of 37

YOUR HIGHER ED OPTIONS

UNDERSTANDING

OFFICE OF HEALTH CAREER PATHWAYS

ASW 12-1:UC/CSU Application Review

2 of 37

AGENDA

UNDERSTANDING HIGHER ED

Icebreaker

Announcements

A-G requirements

UC/CSU/Private/Community College

ACT/SAT Update

PIQ's

Personal Essay

OFFICE OF HEALTH CAREER PATHWAYS

3 of 37

ICEBREAKER

WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE & WHY?

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES?

(COMMUNITY COLLEGE, CSU, UC, PRIVATE)

OFFICE OF HEALTH CAREER PATHWAYS

4 of 37

ANNOUNCEMENTS

    • Save the Date- Mini Mentor
    • Save the Date- HEaL Conference
    • Save the Date- Senior Fall Study Trip

OFFICE OF HEALTH CAREER PATHWAYS

5 of 37

OVERVIEW

You are capable of accomplishing amazing things!

​

We created the following guidelines to help you stay on task with college applications to help reduce stress.

​

Your teachers, your peers, your community, UCSF Fresno Office of Health Career pathways are all rooting for your success! We believe in you!

​

OFFICE OF HEALTH CAREER PATHWAYS

6 of 37

H.S GRAD REQUIREMENTS

    • 3yrs of English
    • 2yrs of Math
    • 3yrs of Social Science
    • 2yrs of Science
    • 1yr of either Visual or Performing Arts, a Foreign Language, or Career Technical Education

CA High School Graduation Requirements

FUSD/Sunnyside Grad Requirements

In addition to these course requirements, the Fresno Unified School District requires a total of 230 credits to graduate. Students typically earn five credits for each course where they receive a semester grade of "D" or better.

OFFICE OF HEALTH CAREER PATHWAYS

7 of 37

A-G REQUIREMENTS

To meet minimum admission requirements into a UC or CSU, you must complete 15 year-long high school courses with a letter grade of C or better — at least 11 of them before your last year of high school

WHAT ARE A-G REQUIREMENTS?

OFFICE OF HEALTH CAREER PATHWAYS

8 of 37

COMMUNITY, TRADE AND VOCATIONAL COLLEGES

    • 2-year institutions
    • 100+ campuses across California
    • Transferable credits
    • Often free for new students who enroll full-time through Promise programs
    • Many hands-on programs

OFFICE OF HEALTH CAREER PATHWAYS

9 of 37

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY (CSU)

23 CAMPUSES

    • Students who live close by get additional consideration
    • Typically, most affordable
    • 4-year campuses
    • Practical focus:
      • Nursing, Business, Teaching, etc.
    • Minimum 2.5* GPA to apply
    • App opens Oct. 1st

*2.0+ students may be eligible after submitting additional info

OFFICE OF HEALTH CAREER PATHWAYS

10 of 37

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA (UC)

    • 9 campuses
    • Between CSUs and Private in terms of affordability
    • Research focus:
      • Lab sciences, engineering, computer science, social science, etc.
    • Minimum 3.0 GPA to apply
    • App opens Aug. 1st

​

OFFICE OF HEALTH CAREER PATHWAYS

11 of 37

PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES

    • Hundreds of campuses
    • Highest price tag
      • Often offer much financial aid, though
    • Lower class sizes and more resources available overall
    • Timeline for each school is different

​

OFFICE OF HEALTH CAREER PATHWAYS

12 of 37

IVY LEAGUES

8 CAMPUSES

OFFICE OF HEALTH CAREER PATHWAYS

13 of 37

HBCU’S

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) were originally established to serve the Black community's higher education needs but are now open to students of all races and ethnicities.

​

Students can apply to multiple HBCUs at once using the Common Black College Application (CBCA), which costs $20 and is exclusive to HBCUs.

​

OFFICE OF HEALTH CAREER PATHWAYS

14 of 37

SAT/ACT UPDATE

TEST BLIND

TEST OPTIONAL

TEST REQUIRED

    • CSU System
    • UC System

​

    • Ivy leagues
    • Claremont Colleges
    • Hundreds of other schools
    • very small number of privates

OFFICE OF HEALTH CAREER PATHWAYS

15 of 37

What have you learned so far? What resonates with you?

16 of 37

What questions might you still have up to this point?

17 of 37

APPLICATION OVERVIEW

*Only if you qualify, requires parent’s income information

OFFICE OF HEALTH CAREER PATHWAYS

18 of 37

California State University

19 of 37

CSU- IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

20 of 37

CSU-

Future Freshmen Updates:

Freshmen- IMPORTANT: First-time freshman applicants must choose Pre-Health as a program on the Cal State Apply application if they wish to pursue a major in:

    • Communicative Sciences- Audiology
    • Communicative Sciences- Speech Language Pathology
    • Kinesiology- Exercise Science
    • Nursing
    • Public Health- Community Health
    • Social Work

All incoming students starting in or after Fall 2021 will need to submit proof of immunizations in accordance with CSU Executive Order 803.

​

OFFICE OF HEALTH CAREER PATHWAYS

21 of 37

University of California

22 of 37

UC COMPREHENSIVE FACTORS CONSIDERED

23 of 37

APPLICATION PROCESS

Quick Tips:

    • Apply to more than one UC
    • Submit only one application per term (multiple apps can cause delays)
    • Apply on time (deadline is Nov. 30th)

OFFICE OF HEALTH CAREER PATHWAYS

24 of 37

OFFICE OF HEALTH CAREER PATHWAYS

25 of 37

Personal Insight

Questions

University of California

Holistic Approach

PIQ’s

For University of California College Applications

UC Colleges do not do interviews nor accept recommendation letters for admissions. This is the perfect opportunity for you to share who you really are.

The UC system uses a holistic approach. Grades and test scores are not the only thing they consider for admissions.

PIQ's are extremely important. They can make or break your admission decision.

OFFICE OF HEALTH CAREER PATHWAYS

26 of 37

Personal Insight

Question- Basics

8 Questions total. Pick 4

​

350 WORDS MAX PER RESPONSE

​

All questions have equal value.

There is no advantage to answering one question over another.

There is no significance to the way these questions are ordered.

OFFICE OF HEALTH CAREER PATHWAYS

27 of 37

WRITING PROMPTS

    • Read through all the questions, find those that resonate with you and your experiences.
    • Find your own voice and use this space to showcase your experiences, talents, leadership and uniqueness.
    • They want to get to know you.
    • PIQ's give your application context.

​

OFFICE OF HEALTH CAREER PATHWAYS

28 of 37

WRITING PROMPTS

Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.

Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?

Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.

Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.

What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?

What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?

Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.

Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?

OFFICE OF HEALTH CAREER PATHWAYS

29 of 37

Value Added vs.

​

Missed Opportunities:

Missed Opportunties

Value Added Responses

    • Does not provide much content about the student’s experience
    • Focuses more on structure than content
    • Centers others’ narratives rather than their own
    • Focus is on the impact on the student and/or the impact they had on others
    • Centers self in the response
    • Provides specific examples

OFFICE OF HEALTH CAREER PATHWAYS

30 of 37

    • List colleges you want to apply to.
    • Identify 3-5 potential majors; UC’s require top 2.
    • Research each college for eligibility, majors, location, and distance.
    • Access 2022 parent tax forms.
    • Obtain copies of transcripts.
    • Start writing UC Personal Insight Questions (PIQs).
    • Know your UC/CSU GPA, Academic GPA, and class rank.
    • List extracurricular activities with organization names, time involved, weekly hours, and positions held.
    • List work experience.
    • List community service hours.
    • Identify potential recommenders.

​

Where you should be by now

OFFICE OF HEALTH CAREER PATHWAYS

31 of 37

    • Start college applications.
    • Use an email you'll keep after graduation.
    • Confirm your desired majors.
    • Get 2-3 reviews of your essays.
    • Check if you qualify for fee waivers.
    • Request letters of recommendation if needed.
    • Update your resume.
    • Meet with UC/CSU representatives (in-person or virtual).

​

Where you should be by October 1st

OFFICE OF HEALTH CAREER PATHWAYS

32 of 37

WHERE YOU SHOULD BE BY NOVEMBER 30TH

​

    • Submitted all college applications (aim to finish by 11/17)
    • Send all SAT/ACT/AP Scores to all schools, if applicable
    • Send thank you letters/formal emails to anyone who reviewed your applications
    • Prepare for FAFSA opening December

OFFICE OF HEALTH CAREER PATHWAYS

33 of 37

    • List colleges you want to apply to.
    • Identify 3-5 potential majors; UC’s require top 2.
    • Research each college for eligibility, majors, location, and distance.
    • Access 2022 parent tax forms.
    • Obtain copies of transcripts.
    • Start writing UC Personal Insight Questions (PIQs).
    • Know your UC/CSU GPA, Academic GPA, and class rank.
    • List extracurricular activities with organization names, time involved, weekly hours, and positions held.
    • List work experience.
    • List community service hours.
    • Identify potential recommenders.

DECEMBER 1ST

​

OFFICE OF HEALTH CAREER PATHWAYS

34 of 37

APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID

1.Submit your application for admission to UC

​

2.File a 2024–25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) OR a California Dream Act Application between December 31, 2023 and March 2, 2024

​

3.Check to make sure your Cal Grant GPA verification was submitted

OFFICE OF HEALTH CAREER PATHWAYS

35 of 37

Case

Studies

OFFICE OF HEALTH CAREER PATHWAYS

36 of 37

Key Points

to Remember

Missed Opportunties

Value Added

#1 - Briefly mentions hardships but doesn’t get there until the end.

#2 - Very descriptive, but focuses too much on metaphors. Left the reader wanting to ask more follow up questions for better understanding.

#3 - Background was key! Described the project and gave depth, information, and showed growth!

OFFICE OF HEALTH CAREER PATHWAYS

37 of 37

OFFICE OF HEALTH CAREER PATHWAYS