High School to College Road Map - SCOE

HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE

ROAD MAP

In today's world, you need more than a high school diploma to get the jobs you want and reach your goals for the future. It really is important for you to attend a public, private, or community college -- or pursue some type of advanced technical training -- after completing high school.

But you need to plan ahead and pay close attention if you want to make a smooth transition to college. Navigating the route from your first day of high school to graduation becomes more complex when it's filled with decisions, responsibilities, and deadlines related to finding the right college and gaining admission.

Beginning with your freshman year, you can be sure that you're on the right path by following the "road maps" included here. The things you'll need to do along the way -- begin researching colleges, take the SAT or ACT, apply for financial aid -- are sequenced throughout your freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior years.

This college advisement guide was developed by the Sonoma County Office of Education to support you and your future! By mapping out an educational plan that leads past high school, you are assured of greater success.

5340 Skylane Boulevard Santa Rosa, CA 95403

(707) 524-2600 ?

Steven D. Herrington, Ph.D. Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools

HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE ROAD MAP

FRESHMEN / SOPHOMORES

INTER

FALL

START

Sophomores ?

Learn about your Freshman ? Find out

Sophomores ?

You're in the most

school's career

if your school has a

Sign up for the Preliminary important year of

pathways and the college/career office

SAT/National Merit Scholarship high school, so make

academic classes

and see what's there.

test. This exam will test your

the most of it! Colleges that fulfill the a-g

college-level skills. Get a good night's

will review what you did requirements for

sleep before the exam and remember this year when deciding college admission.

to eat breakfast !

about admission.

It's important to

develop more than your

academic skills, so look over

your extracurricular activities.

Remember, quality (depth

Attend

of involvement) is more

college

important than

and career

quantity (number of information

activities).

events at

your school.

Helpful research sites: Community Colleges ? cco.edu Independent CA Colleges ? aiccu.edu Western Undergrad Exchange ? wiche.edu/wue

PSAT ?

Freshmen ? Develop an education plan with your counselor.

Begin the research

process. Make a list of what

you'll look for in a college --

size, location, majors, competitiveness, sports,

W Sophomores

etc. Look online or visit

? Review your

the guidance office,

scores from the

career center, or

Preliminary SAT.

library.

Determine which skills to

practice prior to taking the

SAT or ACT.

UC ? universityofcalifornia.edu

Sophomores ?

CSU ? calstate.edu

Select courses for next

SPRING year, then talk with teachers about your selections. Check with your counselor to be sure your choices are suthmiinnmLtgeoesroertksottofiodnbrogrooavdeer nthpyeroeupleraarsientng4s-yu5ao-rsgeuotrflhieodqar atuccoyiraoleldeumeg'rmeeenmiectnsec.teorytui.nrHsgaevsthetoeat

Talk to past

Review course

graduates about

work from your

their college

first semester.

experiences when

Ask teachers what

they're home for

you can do to

the holidays.

improve in second

semester.

experiences. For example,

consider applying for a summer enrichment program at a

SUMMER

college. (Financial assistance may be available.)

End the Look for year in volunteer

Read from a recommended

Get to know your public

Investigate careers by

Talk to older friends about their college

good academic shape.

activities to add to your r?sum?.

English reading list or get other suggestions for academic

library. Learn how to do research in the library

talking to your parents' friends and your friends'

experiences. Explore the SRJC and SSU campuses. Visit

reading.

and on the parents.

some colleges and

Internet.

technical schools.

SUCCESS!

HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE ROAD MAP

JUNIORS

Helpful research sites:

Community Colleges ? cco.edu

Independent CA Colleges ? aiccu.edu

FALL Western Undergrad Exchange ? wiche.edu/wue

UC ? universityofcalifornia.edu

CSU ? calstate.edu

Open an email Participate in

Use the

account with a extracurricular

Internet or a

professional activities

college search tool

address if (important

available at your school to you don't for college

Advise

research colleges and already admissions).

your counselor

technical/trade

have

and congressional

schools.

one.

Take the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship test. This exam will test your college-level skills and prepare you for the SAT/ACT.

START

Attend the

Sonoma

Take advanced

County

math, science,

College &

English, and

Career-Ready foreign

Fair held at

language

Windsor High classes.

School in early

September.

representative if you are planning to apply to a military academy.

Meet with college

admissions counselors If

who visit your

qualified,

school.

register to take

AP exams in May.



Winter Break is a good time to tour Northern California campuses and technical schools of interest.

PSAT ?

Review your Preliminary SAT

AttenW d INTER

results with your your school's

counselor. Look financial aid

into taking an workshop and

Begin

SAT/ACT Prep learn as much

specific college

class to

as you can

investigations. Use the

improve

about

Internet or your school's

your scores. financial

guidance office/career center

aid.

to learn more about colleges and

their offerings. Make an

appointment with a counselor.

SPRING

Register with FastWeb

Plan your Take the Early

() to begin

senior year.

Assessment Program

Register

cVaimsitpusCtehoselAleStgStpeoerninnFdoagUmir naaitvSetarstietyM. csaoettuhcrleerohescqfeeytuyionooirutnuerrasmrntceoconelltesge

(EAP) exam. This measures your readiness for college-level English and math classes, so you'll

know what to concentrate on in your senior year.

and take SAT/ACT exams.

searching for possible scholarships.

Financial aid sites: Cal Grant ? Dream Act ? FAFSA ? fafsa.

over Spring Break.

choices.

Refine the list of colleges

ACT ?

and technical schools that

SAT ?

interest you.

Put together

If you hope to

a list of ten schools Take participate in

Apply for

you'd like to attend. Find SAT

college athletics, summer

out about costs.

Subject you need to

enrichment

Tests, if be certified by

programs at

needed. the NCAA

community,

Clearinghouse.

public, and

See your counselor. private

colleges.

Write your representatives in Congress to request applications to military academies.

Visit campuses. Select your top six and bookmark their online applications.

Look for interesting things to do over the summer. Volunteer or get a part-time job to broaden your experiences.

My high school code is _________________________________ Get your school code from your counselor or at regist/lookuphs

SUMMER

SUCCESS!

HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE ROAD MAP

SENIORS

FALL

START

Begin first

If you are

draft of

applying to more your

than one college, rank

college

your preferences by

essay or

location, academic program, or personal

other characteristics. Does the

state-

ranking match your gut ment.

feeling?

Check the

Know your social security number for

FAFSA (not necessary for California Dream Act).

Review your transcripts. Stay on course! For an early decision

application, begin the process no later than October.

Visit your school's college/career

Register

center. Meet with college reps.

and take

Further refine your college choice

SAT/ACT tests list. Organize a file for each

in September

college that interests you.

or October.

Check application

November

deadlines.

is the last

opportunity.

ACT ? SAT ?

websites of your

chosen schools for

Retake

information about

the SAT/ACT

financial aid.

exam if you

want to improve

UC/CSU

your score.

applications

are available.

Check progress in fulfilling application requirements:

? Get deadlines and forms for rolling admissions at independent colleges.

? Obtain necessary recommendations. ? Give teachers/counselors any forms to complete

two to three weeks before they're due.

CSU ? calstate.edu UC ? universityofcalifornia.edu

? Write essay for entrance requirement.

Don't slack off! Set a grade-point average (GPA) goal

for the remainder of the year.

Complete online

applications for colleges,

trade schools, and

See a

apprenticeships.

counselor to

Keep a copy of all

review semester

information

course selections and

submitted.

graduation requirements.

Look for private scholarships. Apply early.

November is the last month to take the SAT/ACT.

If you are applying for early action/early decision,

Attend college information night.

Colleges look unfavorably on failing grades.

Prepare an electronic portfolio of all high school and community activities and awards.

submit your

Request letters of

application in

recommendation early.

November.

Set up a WebGrants account.



WINTER

Plan to attend a Cash for If you are

College workshop

considering

in January or

the military,

February.

sign up for the

ASVAB test.

File for FAFSA, California Dream Act, and Cal Grants by March 2.

Have your first semester grades sent

to any colleges





fafsa.

that request them.

SUMMER

SPRING

If qualified, register for AP exams.

Apply for local and national scholarships.

Interested in SRJC? Sign up to meet with a community college counselor for admissions information. Take the English and Math placement exams. Participate in a college orientation class.

Don't get senioritis.

Request that your final transcripts be sent to the college you'll attend in the fall. If you are a prospective college athlete, NCAA must also receive your transcript.

Compare costs! Make final decisions and send deposit by deadline.

Once you have decided which college to attend, notify your counselor and all colleges that accepted you. Be fair to the college and to other students by responding by May1.

Keep track of acceptances, denials, and financial aid awards.

Colleges want to see

Sign up for the

a strong second semester.

Take

CSU English

AP Exams

and Math

in May,

placement

if qualified.

exams.



SUCCESS!

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