MANAGING YOUR SENIOR YEAR

Presented by Cal-SOAP

Overview

Your senior year is an exciting but busy process of closing one chapter in your life, while opening another. This calls for double duty: preparing for college, while ensuring that you graduate successfully from high school.

What We Will Cover Today

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Tips for avoiding senioritis: Completing senior year at the top of your game!

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Tests, tests, and more tests: An overview

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Where do I apply?: The college search process

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The world of applications: College and financial aid

•

The “finals” stretch: Acing your final exams and senior project

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Senior year-in-review: A timeline of events

A-G High School Graduation Requirements

History and Social Science 2 yrs: 4 yrs: 3 yrs: (4 yrs. rec. for both) English Mathematics (algebra, geometry, and algebra II) 2 yrs: (3 yrs. rec. for UC) Laboratory Science (1 year of biological science and 1 year of physical science) 2 yrs: (3 yrs. rec. for UC) 1 yr: 1 yr: Foreign language (both years must be in the same language) Visual and performing arts: art, dance, theatre/ drama, or music Elective chosen from the subject areas listed above or other college preparatory course (2 semesters or 1 year-long course)

A-G High School Graduation Requirements

In addition to the A-G courses that will fulfill both high school and UC/CSU requirements, each high school has a number of additional requisite courses for graduation. For example, most schools require physical education and a computer literacy class.

Ask your counselor about requirements.

Avoiding Senioritis: Maintaining Your GPA

Even though you are applying for college in November and December, a campus can rescind your admission if your senior GPA falls dramatically.

Tips for Maintaining (and Increasing!) Your GPA

• • •

Ask your high school about tutoring services: It’s NEVER too late!

Work with your teachers at lunch or after school – especially for those classes that challenge you.

Don’t become lazy with an all-electives course load. Mix it up! Take honors, AP, and community college courses in addition to fun electives.

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Note: CC classes not only offer an opportunity for early college credit, but help prepare you for the college mindset.

Study Skills

1. Be organized.

2. Do the hardest subjects first.

3. Form a study group.

4. Take quality notes.

5. Ask QUESTIONS and get HELP when you need it.

Time Management Tips

1. Create a time management chart for a day or two.

2. Analyze your time management chart.

3. Use your new schedule.

4. Keep a calendar and plan ahead.

Testing: CAHSEE

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By California law, you cannot graduate high school without passing the California High School Exit Exam.

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If you have not passed the CAHSEE yet, you have 3 opportunities to do so in your senior year.

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All high schools are required to offer CAHSEE tutoring. Ask about it ASAP!

Testing: Entrance Exams

SAT ( www.collegeboard.com

) Test Date

Registration Deadline Late Deadline (extra fee)

Testing Months ACT ( www.actstudent.org

) Test Date

Registration Deadline Late Deadline (extra fee)

10/9/10 11/6/10 12/4/10 1/22/11

9/10/10 10/8/10 11/5/10 12/23/10 9/24/10 10/22/10 11/19/10 1/7/10

September October November December January February

9/11/10 10/23/10 12/11/10 2/12/11

8/6/10 9/17/10 11/5/10 1/7/11 8/20/10 10/1/10 11/19/10 1/21/11

SAT & ACT Fees

SAT Reasoning Test Fee Amount $47 Late Fee Add $24 Standby Fee SAT Subject Tests Add $41 $21 basic fee plus $10 per subject ($21 if the subject is Language with Listening/November only ) ACT ACT with Writing ACT without Writing Late Fee Standby Fee Fee Amount $48 $33 Add $21 Add $41 Note

: Fee waivers are available. See your counselor for more information.

Testing: Institutional Placement

Test ELM: Entry Level Mathematics Test EPT: English Placement Test www.sa.sdsu.edu/testofc/ testing.html

AWPE: University-wide Analytical Writing Placement Examination www.ucop.edu/sas/awpe/ index.html

Community College Assessment Test When to Take It

Seniors who have been accepted to a these tests in the these tests

spring

. CSU students must take

before they are allowed to register for classes

. Plan to take these tests

May

test date.

CSU no later

take than the *Some students may be exempt from these tests if they took the Early Assessment Program (EAP).

Students who plan to enroll in a UC campus in the fall should take the test during the

spring

semester of their senior year if they have not yet satisfied the AWPE through other means. There is a

$90 fee

, which can be waived if student received a waiver for their UC application.

*The test is usually administered the morning of the second Saturday in

May

.

After enrollment and prior to class registration. Call the Community College of choice for dates and locations. Tests are frequently administered.

-

Why Take It

ELM/EPT is a California State University (CSU) requirement that students take if they have not yet satisfied the requirements through other methods (i.e. SAT, ACT or AP Tests).

For more information, contact: SDSU Test Office

(619) 594-5216

, or the CSU school of choice.

AWPE is a standardized measure of writing competence necessary for success in the UC. Whatever the results, the University-wide Analytical Writing Placement Examination will

not

affect a student’s admission to the UC.

Even those who are taking the AP English exam in May should take the AWPE.

Customer Service:

(800) 839-8507

Measures your mathematics, reading, and written English skills to help determine placement and course selection.

You can’t fail. It is just for your personal assessment, and it’s free.

College Search

•

Go to www.collegeboard.com

to research U.S. campuses.

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College Profiles: Find detailed stats on most educational institutions in the U.S.

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College MatchMaker: Discover multiple college options based on search criteria of your choosing.

College Applications

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Deadlines vary! Make a list of your application due dates:

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UC: Nov. 30

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CSU: Nov. 30

• –

Privates: Vary Cal-SOAP College Application/Scholarship Workshop:

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Saturday, November 13

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Time and Location: Lincoln High School from 9:00-1:00pm

Financial Aid

• • • •

FAFSA deadline is March 2 nd Cal-SOAP Cash for College Workshops

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Saturdays: Jan. 29, Feb. 5, Feb. 19, Feb. 26 Scholarships

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Tip: Complete one scholarship every two weeks

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www.fastweb.com

Financial aid for foster youth, undocumented students, and veterans’ dependents: Talk to a Cal-SOAP representative today or at your high school.

Keeping Up With College Email and Mail

• •

Create a college appropriate email account that both student and parent can access.

Check email/mail frequently for:

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Supplementary college/financial applications that may be required

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Campus-specific deadline dates

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Housing and registration dates

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Dates/locations for mandatory placement exams and orientation events

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And, of course, acceptance letters!

The “Finals” Stretch

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Study hard for final exams – these grades do matter! Your campus has the right to rescind your admission at any time!

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Study early and plan ahead: It is your responsibility to manage your final exam schedule with busy end-of-the-year and graduation activities.

Senior Project/Portfolio

• • •

Most high schools require a senior project/portfolio of some sort in order to graduate. The project details vary by campus, but it should always be taken very seriously.

“Two Birds With One Stone”:

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Some highs schools permit students to make the topic of their senior project the college application process. If your school allows, this is an excellent way to save time and extra effort!

Senior Project/Portfolio

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Possible elements of your portfolio may include:

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One or two college applications A completed FAFSA

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A completed scholarship Your high school transcript

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A job application Your resume

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Proof of volunteer hours completed A summary of your extracurricular activities

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Any elements of your college application and preparation process

• • • • •

Senior Year in Review: A Timeline

October: Register for ACT, SAT, and SAT Subject Tests November: Fill out college applications and check on financial aid deadlines

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UC/CSU: Nov. 30; Privates: vary December: Continue working on private applications. Apply to CC. Apply for a FAFSA pin (student and parent).

January-March: Begin FAFSA application. Due March 2 nd . Submit GPA Verification form by March 2 nd . Submit CSS PROFILE for private colleges.

April: Check email for SAR and CAR. If attending CC, apply for EOPS and Board of Governors Fee Waiver.

An Unquestionable Requirement

• •

Every senior should, if you have not already, schedule a meeting with your counselor in order to review your transcript, course load, graduation track, college applications, and future goals.

It is strongly recommended that parents attend this meeting.

Resources: When You Need Help…

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High school guidance department

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High school staff/teachers

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Cal-SOAP College Peer Advisor

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Ask Counselor: October – April

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Cal-SOAP Office: 858.569.1866

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Cal-SOAP website: www.SanDiegoCalSoap.com