1 of 34

Senior Year

You’re here!

2 of 34

OUR GOAL

To help students plan for their post high school goals.

To have happy, calm, �informed students!

3 of 34

4 of 34

Senior Portrait Deadline: 01/23/26

5 of 34

Today’s Agenda

01

02

03

04

Transcripts�Letter of Recommendation

College Systems

Processes

Five different college systems

How to best support your senior this year

School Support

Family Support

Help you locate resources in this process

6 of 34

COLLEGE�SYSTEMS

7 of 34

Class of 2025 Matriculation

UC

Privates out� of State

Out of State �Public Unis.

2 Year College

8 of 34

OPTION 1

Community College�

Examples�West Valley | De Anza | Foothill

Career Programs

2 + 2 Transfer Programs�Regular Transfer�Transfer Agreements

Timeline for Registration�February to early May early enrollment, but can register through August.

Career Programs are often better than the private and pricey trade/technical schools.

Honors programs

The option is always in their back pocket--they can apply broadly then decide after they know exactly what their college options look like.

Transfer Agreements:

CSU:

Transfer Success Pathway - Students enter into an agreement with the CSU and receive guaranteed admission to the degree program and campus of their choice.

Students must meet all TSP requirements within three years.

Available degree programs vary by each CSU (nursing and programs that require a audition/portfolio are not eligible)

Application period is summer after graduating high school August 1 - September 30

Associate Degrees for Transfer (ADT) — sometimes called a Degree with a Guarantee

Students who meet the minimum eligibility requirements are guaranteed priority admission to a CSU campus, though not necessarily to a particular campus or major

If you don’t get into campus of choice, that CSU will redirect to an alternate campus

Guaranteed to complete the bachelor’s degree at the CSU in the similar discipline within 60 semester units

UC: Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) - a guaranteed place at any one of six UC campuses (not LA, Berkeley, San Diego)

Available degree programs vary by each UC

Submit by September 30th for the fall term, or May 31st for the winter/spring term

Ex: Transfer Alliance Program (TAP): collaboration between the West Valley Honors University Transfer Program and UCLA. Students who complete the Honors Program at West Valley receive priority consideration for admission to UCLA College of Letters and Science. TAP admission rate is about 75% of the time, non-TAP admission rate is about 25%.

9 of 34

OPTION 1I

CSU System�

Examples�San Jose State University | Cal Poly�23 campuses throughout state

Requirements�• Completion of A-G Coursework w/ grades of C or higher�• Qualifying GPA (2.0)�• Transcript is self-reported�• SAT/ACT are not used for admissions purposes

Timeline for Application (Cal State Apply)�October 1 - December 1

10 of 34

OPTION 11I

UC System�

Examples�UC Berkeley | UC Santa Cruz�10 campuses throughout state

Requirements�• Completion of A-G Coursework w/ grades of C or higher�• Qualifying GPA (3.0)�• Four Personal Insight Questions (8 options)�• Transcript is self-reported�• SAT/ACT are not used for admissions purposes

Timeline for Application (UC Application)�Can begin working on application as early as August 1

Filing Period: October 1 - December 1

11 of 34

OPTION 1V

Out of State Public Universities�

Examples�Arizona State University | University of Oregon | Colorado State University

Requirements: Every college/university makes its own rules on eligibility and admissions based on several components:�• GPA�• Course Rigor�• SAT/ACT scores mostly optional for class of 2026*�• Need for essays, teacher and/or counselor letter of recommendation will vary*

Timeline for Application (Common App or Direct)�Varies and Depends on Application Type (Early vs Regular)*

* Please check each college’s website for an accurate list of requirements and deadlines.

12 of 34

OPTION V

Private Colleges�

Examples�Santa Clara University | Gonzaga University | Boston College

Requirements: Every college/university makes its own rules on eligibility and admissions based on several components:�• GPA�• Course Rigor�• SAT/ACT scores mostly optional for class of 2026*�• Essays�• Teacher Letter of Recommendation*�• Counselor Letter of Recommendation*

Timeline for Application (Common App or Direct)�Varies and Depends on Application Type (Early vs Regular)*

* Please check each college’s website for an accurate list of requirements and deadlines.

13 of 34

REVIEW�What Colleges Need at the time of Application

Community�Colleges

CSU

UC

Out of State Publics *

Privates *

Registration

Application

4 Personal Insight Questions

UC:

> Application, 4 Personal Insight responses, SAT/ACT Scores (optional)

Out of State Public: (Requirements Vary)

> Application, SAT/ACT Scores (optional), Transcripts, Recommendations?

Private: (Requirements Vary)

> Application , appropriate essays, SAT/ACT Scores (optional).� (Transcript and Recommendations are submitted by the Counselor� and Teacher).

Application

SAT/ACT (mostly optional!)

Transcripts or SRAR/SSAR (now STARS)

Letters of Rec

Application

SAT/ACT (mostly optional!)

Transcripts or SRAR/SSAR

(now STARS)

Letters of Rec

Appropriate Essays

*Requirements Vary

14 of 34

PROCESSES &

TIMELINE

15 of 34

INTERNAL LGHS PROCESS

EVERYONE: �LIST POST HIGH SCHOOL OPTIONS IN NAVIANCE�4 Year Colleges, Community Colleges, Military�* * Final destination/ post-high school plan will be updated by all in May

�

APPLYING TO 4 YEAR COLLEGES that….�Need transcripts sent, AND will need a letter of recommendation

APPLYING TO 4 YEAR COLLEGES that….�Need transcripts sent, but do NOT need any letters of recommendation

We covered this in a seminar that we asked students to come to if planning to applying to college.

Reminder that students are applying in Application Portals.(Common App, etc)
We are sending everything through Naviance. That’s why these internal processes are so crucial so that all information comes together
Common Question: what is the timing of everything being sent?? Documents can arrive at different times. It’s okay if application is submitted first then transcripts, letters of rec, etc.

- Almost everyone falls under the option of listing their post high school OPTIONS in Naviance

- Many fall under one of the other two options�*** If you know you are applying to UCs and CSUs only, you do not fall under either of those two options because you only self-report at the time of application and there are no letters to send. They do not want transcripts sent at the time of application, only when admitted (and typically plan to attend). Do need to still list all UCs and CSU in Naviance

16 of 34

CANVAS MODULES / INSTRUCTIONS

APPLYING TO 4 �YEAR COLLEGES that…. �Need transcripts sent, AND will need a letter of recommendation

APPLYING TO 4 YEAR COLLEGES that… Need transcripts sent, but do NOT need any letters of recommendation

17 of 34

Letter of Recommendation Process

COUNSELOR �School Report	Match Common App & Naviance Accounts Student Information Form* Parent Statement* Faculty Feedback Information*
TEACHER Recommendation	Teacher Information Form
DUE DATES	Early Action Application = September 15 Regular Decision Applications = November 3
INSTRUCTIONS	Step-by-step instructions outlined in Canvas:�LGHS Class of 2026 > Modules Link to video of presentation

* Only if Counselor Recommendation Letter Required

18 of 34

19 of 34

EARLY Application Timeline

Mid September

Letter of Recommendation Kit �due to Counselor

Application Due

Oct 15 - Nov 15

Learn Application Results

Starting Dec 20

AUG

MAR

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

JAN

FEB

REGULAR Application Timeline

Early November

Letter of Recommendation Kit �due to Counselor

Jan 1 - Feb 1

Application Due

March

Learn Application �Results

20 of 34

SAT / ACT

Reminder: �- SAT scores need to be sent via collegeboard.org�- ACT scores need to be sent via act.org

Most colleges remain test optional for class of 2026.

College Kickstart has a way to show you not only if an institution is test-optional, but what percentage of applicants are submitting a score.

>> Colleges are sometimes using test scores for scholarships purposes, or determine placements levels once admitted.

21 of 34

SUPPORT &

RESOURCES

22 of 34

Currently we are meeting with �seniors individually to:

Support & Resources

Planning &�Timeline

Review Transcript

Post HS Plans

23 of 34

Helpful Resources

Canvas

LGHS Website

Email

Communication via Parent Square for monthly newsletter, upcoming events, resources, �college information

“Guidance”

“Class of 2026”

“Nuts and Bolts of the College App”

LGHS Class �of 2026

“Modules”�“Announcements”

College

Kickstart

Student Accounts

Video Demo

Quick Tips

24 of 34

Application Tracking Form

INCREDIBLY HELPFUL!

• One central location

• Suggest it is shared

• Add links back to website

• Highlight to prioritize

• All seniors should have started one in the spring of last year!

25 of 34

Seniors Should Currently...

If considering 4 year college, they should have a working list of institutions they would be HAPPY to attend, several in each category:�• Probable (safety)�• Target (possible)�• Reach (stretch)

Use College Kickstart to refine!

If leaning towards community college, explore the differences, such as specialties, semester vs quarter, location, size, etc.

Explore colleges, virtually, through campus tours, and admissions representative visits at LGHS.

Regularly check emails, pay attention to notifications, upcoming events, come ask us questions!

26 of 34

Additional Support

FAFSA / Financial Aid Workshops (Evening event)�TBD in November - Parent Event�

SENIOR SEMINAR: COMMON APPLICATION

Friday, September 19 @ Tutorial in the CCC Center

�SENIOR SEMINAR: UC & CSU APPLICATION

Thursday, October 9 @ Tutorial in the CCC Center

�WEEKLY: Drop-in Application Support Workshops

Every Tuesday @ Tutorial, in the Counseling Back Office�(Starting in October)

27 of 34

Farah Manganello

A–C

Our Team

D–Ha

Louis Rich

Laressa Mead

Hb–L

Rory McKee

M–P

Sarah Campbell

Q–S

Kassandra Cochran

T–Z

28 of 34

Vanessa Fiske

College & Career Specialist

Guiding in College Research process
Coordinates college reps visiting our campus (in person this year!)
Career Tech opportunities and exploration
Gap year information

29 of 34

Admin Team

30 of 34

Wellness Center

Our school hub for student mental health needs. Currently located inside the school library. Student can drop in or check-in using QR codes located around school.

31 of 34

How Parents�Can Help

32 of 34

“It will all be okay!”

Let go of your own fears - present a calm presence.

Stay involved with your student’s life...but help them prepare to be independent adults.

Trust in the process. Let it be their process.

Have honest discussions. Let there be an opening for a change in expectations.

Respect the privacy of others.

Help your student moderate and organize his or her life, leaving time for study and free time. Model Balance.
Seniors are still learning…I notice that if they don’t want to do something often then are afraid or don’t know how. I offer to walk them through a phone call while in my office, or role play a conversation with a teacher. They don’t seem to use google…
As questions arise, and in the moment of stress, it can be hard not to take over, but it’s healthiest to encourage your student to come ask us. Often we can show them something in person that will be the easiest and clearest way to support them. And, this is a step towards them being independent.
Things can change. Something a student has always wanted to study suddenly changes, and it’s hard to realize this dream may not be their dream anymore. OR they’ve worked tremendously hard to have the best grades they can have, and suddenly realize they are not ready to be in a 4 year college setting, and feel they really need to start in a community college and then transfer. Need more time.

>> Whatever it is, this change can be scary enough to process in themselves. They are looking to you to help accept change, and be open to it, and to help them pivot, if needed

Be aware of questioning students about what they are doing next year. They are asked so often they may not want to talk about it.

33 of 34

We are here for you.

34 of 34

Questions?