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Counselor

760-753-3860 x 3024

I will be the school counselor supporting OLP Seniors with their post-high school planning. For college and/or career related materials, including letters of recommendation, initial transcripts, etc. I will be supporting that process.

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Accessing Your Transcript

Go to your Aeries

account

Click on Grades
Click on Transcripts

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Most colleges will use your Total GPA, weighted. UC/CSU’s use your 10-12 GPA, weighted.

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What Colleges See…

Ca ID

GPAs

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OLP Transcript

Ms. Lee will send your transcript to all of your Common App and Coalition schools you invite me to as your counselor

UC’s and CSU’s will not want/accept a transcript with the initial application

Accuracy: name, address, birthdate, grades, credits, off campus courses, and repeats

“Official”: means in sealed envelope, comes directly from the school or Parchment

State Student ID: bottom left corner of transcript

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Post-High School Planning

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Post High School Options

Vocational Schools - Intensive training & experience in specific trades

Certificate Programs - Palomar Community College

MiraCosta Community College

Apprenticeships - earn as you learn

College/University - earn an Associate's or Bachelor’s degree

Gap Year - If you take a community college course during this time you may lose your first-time student status

Job - find a career to start working in

Military - training in specific areas/skills; educational benefits, take the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery)

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Community College (116 in California):

Apply in spring, HS grad, no GPA requirement, great option for everyone

California State University (23 campuses):

Use GPA/coursework, do not need an SAT/ACT, no transcripts, no letter of rec

University of California (9 campuses):

Use GPA/coursework, essays, extracurriculars, no letter of rec, no transcripts, no SAT or ACT test scores for admissions but they may be used to fulfill minimum requirements for eligibility or for course placement after you enroll

Private and Out of State Colleges and Universities:

Check with each college/university for admission requirements. Will vary greatly. Use GPA/coursework, essays, extracurriculars, letters of recommendation, transcripts, some may be SAT/ACT test optional

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Applying to Community College

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Community College Applicants

Do your research: Not all community colleges have the same transfer agreements and/or certificated programs

Must be 18 years or older or a hs graduate

No ACT or SAT required for admission

Mira Costa: Promise Program and First Four

Fill out the FAFSA to be eligible for Grants, Scholarships & Loans

Mira Costa website

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Transferring from CC to UC

TAG PROGRAM (live link)

Six out of nine UC campuses (excludes UCLA, UC Berkeley, UC San Diego) offer guaranteed admission to at least one of the UC campuses for California community college students who meet SPECIFIC GPA and transferable course REQUIREMENTS.

By participating in a Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program, you will receive EARLY REVIEW of your academic records, EARLY ADMISSION NOTIFICATION and specific guidance about major preparation and general education coursework.

PATHWAYS+ (live link)

If you’ve decided on a major, but want to keep your UC campus options open, consider completing a UC Transfer Pathway at a CC & you can also do the TAG program at the same time!
Pathways+ (20 majors) is a single set of courses you can take to prepare for your major, like a roadmap!
Clear guidance on what courses you need to take.
Competitive edge to get into any UC campus.
Graduate sooner - gives you a head start when you get to a UC and you will be prepared!

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Applying to four-year

Colleges & Universities

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Apply Broadly

3 levels: safer, target, and reach for YOU

Think GPA, acceptance rates, test scores

Talk to parent/guardian about what the family can afford

Look at colleges that are unique, not just the common ones

Look at colleges that use rolling admissions

Have a solid back-up plan that you’re excited about (e.g. a university with a really high acceptance rate or community college)

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College List Considerations

For impacted or competitive majors, plan to have more safety schools (apply broadly).

Research each college to find out if you can choose an alternate major for consideration if not selected for first choice.

Keep your list manageable (8-12) and focus on what is right for you.

Applications involve many specific steps and each item must be done carefully.

For example, MIT requests one evaluation from a math/science teacher, and one from a humanities, social science, or language teacher, in addition to materials from your counselor.

Fees can range from $50-$100 and applying to a large number of schools can be time-consuming and expensive.

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Researching Colleges Resources

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Applying to College�(Application Cycles)

Early Decision

“I absolutely want to go to this school and if accepted, I will withdraw all other applications”

Early Action

“I really would like to go to this college and want to find out early, but still want to consider other offers during regular admission. I can also apply Early Action to other schools”

Single Choice Early Action

“I really want to go to this school and cannot apply Early to any other school, but still have the option for considering other offers of regular admission”

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Rolling Admission

“I want to apply to a school that makes admission decisions on a first come, first serve basis and assuming I have submitted all application materials, receive an admission decision shortly thereafter.

Regular Admission

“I want to review all my decisions and make the best decision for me as well as compare financial aid packages”

The majority of students apply Regular Admission

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CSU/UC A-G Subject Requirements�Must pass CSU/UC courses with a “C” grade or higher

A. History/Social Science	2 years
B. English	4 years
C. Mathematics	3 years req, 4 years rec
D. Lab Science Biology and Chemistry/Physics	2 years req, 3 years rec
E. Language Other Than English	2 years req, 3 years rec
F. Visual/ Performing Arts	1 year req
G. College Preparatory Elective	1 year req

Click here to see what classes are UC/CSU approved for your Home School (including OLP classes) by using your school’s CEEB Code

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UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA (UC)

9 campuses + 1 graduate campus
GPA grades 10-11 only

Report ALL grades, including classes you repeated
Only enter A-G College Prep (P, HP or AP) courses.
Input grades without plus/minus signs (no grade point value for -/+).

Minimum GPA 3.0, A-G requirements
Comprehensive Review

13 main factors used to evaluate but may apply them differently and make admission decisions independently
Choose 4 out of 8 personal insight questions that are most relevant to you & showcase your personality

Apply online: apply.universityofcalifornia.edu

Application opens: August 1st, Submission begins: Oct. 1st – Dec 1

CSIS ID # = SSID# → bottom LEFT corner of transcript or “State ID” on Aeries Demographic page
Don’t forget 12th grade classes!
No official transcript, SAT/ACT or letters of recommendations required!
Complete the scholarship information with the application
$80 application fee per UC

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CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY (CSU)

23 campuses - Apply broadly!
GPA grades 10-11 only

Repeats: only enter your new grade unless you took a class off-campus (ie: High Bluff), you must add the additional off-site high school and enter BOTH grades
Only enter A-G College Prep (P, HP or AP) courses.
Input grades without plus/minus signs (no grade point value).

Minimum GPA 2.5 for eligibility
Service Area: CSU San Marcos
Application window:

October 1st (opens) to December 1
Apply online @ calstateapply.edu

Don’t forget 12th grade classes!
No official transcript, SAT/ACT or letters of recommendations required!
$70 application fee per CSU

23-24 Impacted campuses & Majors List

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PRIVATE AND OUT OF STATE

Private schools are able to dictate their own entrance requirements and acceptance policies

Private school deadlines vary greatly; be sure to adhere to each school’s policies

Over 900 colleges are members of the Common Application. Over 135 colleges are members of the Coalition Application. Some may require “Direct to Institution” (ie: ApplyTexas)

Most count ALL high school grades including 9th grade

Many use a holistic review

Extracurricular activities, portfolios, auditions, interviews, letters of recommendations play a more significant role.

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Letters of Recommendation

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Letters of Recommendation

Personally/virtually ask your counselor and teachers if they would be willing to write you a LOR
UCs and CSUs do not accept/need LOR with initial application (exception: some supplemental applications for specific majors may request)
Common App, Coalition App, and some other private and out of state colleges may REQUIRE a LOR
Check with each school individually if not on Common App

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Counselor Letter of Recommendation Process

Ms. Lee will most likely be writing your letter of recommendation unless you’ve made arrangements with your home school counselor. If so please notify her.

Notify Ms. Lee a minimum of two weeks before your earliest deadline.

Complete all the steps on the Counselor Letter of Recommendation Directions page

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Common App LOR Process

Complete FERPA Release

Go to My Colleges → Recommenders & FERPA → Complete Release Authorization
After completion of FERPA, you can invite recommenders.

Add Recommenders to your application.

Teachers (core academic subjects) will submit an evaluation form and a letter of recommendation via Common App
Counselors will submit a transcript and letter of recommendation (if needed)
“Other Recommenders” can be an arts teacher, coach, internship supervisor, employer, etc.

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Application Tips

& Resources

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Application Tips

Check & verify submission deadlines
Check school specific requirements such as letters or recommendations, essays, interviews, etc.
Give recommenders a minimum of two weeks to complete their letter

Send a thank you note after they’re done

Keep track of login & password information
Establish a school appropriate email address to use for all applications. Avoid using your SDUHSD email address as you will no longer have access to it after graduation.
Watch for errors - have someone proofread your work before submitting
Print your submission verification page for record keeping

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Senior Coursework and Grades

College admission reps expect to see performance that indicates students are ready to succeed in college-level coursework. The strength of the schedule and grades earned in senior year matter.
Students will include all 12th grade courses (1st and 2nd semester) in applications. Colleges do not have a preference related to semesters (ie: Government CP fall, AP Econ spring)
A college can withdraw an offer of admission when courses change or grades drop significantly over the course of the senior year. For many colleges this includes a D or F grade in any course.
If classes change after an application is submitted a student must notify the college(s). We recommend contacting colleges directly before changing courses.

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College Application Resources

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For live links to REGISTER for these events, click here

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Important Information

SDUHSD does not rank students
Watch for the deadlines
Document and keep everything
Send official test score report (sent from SAT and/or ACT) if submitting
For a list of college FAQs

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NCAA / NAIA Student Athlete

Go here or NAIA Eligibility Center Go here

Review Core Courses for Eligibility

Test scores

Request Official Transcript from your home school registrar’s website

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SAT & ACT Information

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What does it mean?

Test emphasis and policies explained

Check the websites of the colleges to which you are applying to confirm their test policies for SAT & ACT

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College Entrance Exams

Click here for SAT information

Click here for ACT information

Colleges who do not accept SAT/ACT scores (ie: UC & CSU campuses), may ask you to self-report in the application for course placement reasons only.

Register and send official scores at www.collegeboard.org for the SAT and www.act.org for the ACT. AP, SAT and ACT scores must be ordered directly from College Board and ACT.

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Financial Aid

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Financial Aid

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) & California Dream ACT

First come, first served!!!! File early! Priority deadline is historically March 2

When you initially fill out the FAFSA you only have to list the colleges you are considering applying to.

Types of Financial Aid: Grants, Loans, Work Study

CSS/Financial Aid Profile

It is primarily designed to give private colleges/universities a closer look into the finances of a student and family. It is much more detailed than the FAFSA.
Participating schools through College Board CSS Profile
Check the colleges financial aid website to determine their specific CSS Profile deadline!

Cal Grant Awards

Students may choose to “opt-out” of having GPA information submitted to the California Student Aid Commission.
Registrar submits GPA for ALL seniors unless the “opt-out” form was returned in August. Form was sent to all 12th grade families during the summer.

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Scholarships

National scholarship search. Try fastweb.com & BigFuture

Check your home school’s Counseling Website for their Scholarship List. Also check the SDUHSD list.

Check with each college you are applying to for possible scholarships through that school

You should not have to pay to receive a scholarship

Also check the Financial Aid website of the colleges you apply to. They often will list scholarships to apply to.

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��WUE: Financial Aid

Western Undergraduate Exchange
Over 170 2-year community colleges and 4-year universities
Reduced Tuition Level: up to 150% of regular resident tuition
There is no separate WUE application
Interest for WUE located on university application or contact admissions early
WUE financial aid packages are limited
More info here or wiche.edu/tuition-savings/wue/

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Click here to Register for this event.

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Tips for managing the process

Manage your time & pace yourself - don’t wait until the last minute to get started
Take time to decompress & spend time with friends and family
Don’t compare yourself to your peers, siblings, parents, etc. We are all unique and so is our post-high school journey
Ask for help when you need it. Ms. Lee has drop in Virtual Office hours twice a week (see Google Classroom for days/times
Get enough sleep
Keep perspective - post high school planning is one step in your life. Don’t allow it to be all consuming