Transcript Miramonte High School 750 Moraga Way, Orinda, CA 9 (925

Venice High School
Quick Guide for
Seniors
Contents
High school graduation checklist
 What are my post-grad options?
 Testing info
 Websites and resources
 Admissions timetable
 How to ask a counselor for a letter
of recommendation
 Surviving admissions stress

VHS Graduation Checklist
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Credits: 55= 10th grader, 110 = 11th grader, 170 =
12th grader, 230 = graduate.
CAHSEE: a score of 350 is needed to pass each
section – Math and English
Classes: Core classes and electives
Computer Literacy: computer class taken in 6th
grade through 12th grade or a competency test.
Class Project: A service learning project during 11th
or 12 grade. This is usually completed in a history
class.
VHS Requirements to participate in
Graduation Ceremony
Community Service: 10 hours for
each year the student has attended
Venice High. Four years = 40 hours.
 Career Portfolio: A senior portfolio of
work. This includes documents such
as a resume and letters of
recommendation.
 Paperwork is processed by VHS staff.

Know your post-grad options
• Community College (www.cccco.edu)$1,000/year
-Economical, Transfer Agreement Contracts available, certificate programs
• Vocational/Tech Schools, cost varies
-Practical training for specific jobs, Certificate programs, short term
• California State University (www.csumentor.edu)
-$8820-$17,462/year
-Focus on teaching, classes taught by professors
-Goal to offer admission to top 33% of CA grads
• University of California (www.universityofcalifornia.edu)
-$20,000-$22,800/year
-Focus on research and preparing students for grad school
-Goal to offer admission to top 12% of CA grads, ELC program top 4%
• Private Schools, $23,000-$50,000/year
-Vary in size, selectivity, location, cost, etc.
• Out-of-state public schools, out-of-state tuition fees
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY
• Chico
• San Diego*
•
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo*
• Sonoma*
• Long Beach*
• Fullerton*
•
•
•
•
•
•San Jose
•San Marcos
Channel Islands
•Stanislaus
Fresno
•Bakersfield
•Dominguez Hills
Humboldt
•Los Angeles
Cal Maritime Academy •East Bay
•Northridge
Monterey Bay
•San Bernardino
• Cal Poly Pomona*
• Sacramento
*Impacted campuses- higher
• San Francisco
index
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY
• Eligibility Index
-GPA X 800 + SAT (V&M)
-2900 is min eligibility for nonimpacted campuses
•
SAT code: 3594 for all campuses
• Apply for housing ASAP
• Some campuses require
transcript w/application
-(wait for them to request)
• CSU will not be using the
writing portion of SAT
• Oct SAT test date last date for
LB, CPSLO & SD
•Rolling admissions
•Re-routing option
•Sign up for CSU mentor email
•Admission status check (562)985-2500
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
• Berkeley
• Davis
• Irvine
• Los Angeles
• Merced
• Riverside
• San Diego
• Santa Barbara
• Santa Cruz
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
• Eligibility calculator
•
www.universityofcalifornia.edu/
• Eligibility vs. Selectivity
•
UCB/UCLA 50% of 4.0 students
are denied admission
• Comprehensive Review
• Eligibility in the Local
Context (ELC)
• Apply broadly
• No letters of
recommendation required
• Transcript not required w/
application
CSU and University of California
Requirements:
SUBJECTS
HIGH SCHOOL
CAL STATE*
UC*
ENGLISH
4 YEARS
4 YEARS
4 YEARS
MATH
2 YEARS (INCLUDING 1
YR ALGEBRA 1 or
Algebra B)
ALGEBRA 1
GEOMETRY
ALGEBRA 2
ALGEBRA 1, GEOMETRY,
ALGEBRA 2
4TH YEAR RECOMMENDED
SOCIAL
STUDIES
WORLD HISTORY/GEOG
US HISTORY
GOV’T/ECONOMICS
2 YEARS INCLUDING
1 YR US HISTORY OR
1 SEM US HIST AND 1
SEM AMER GOVT
2 YEARS INCLUDING
1 YEAR WORLD
HIST/GEOG AND 1 YEAR
US HIDTORY OR 1 SEM
US HIST AND 1 SEM
AMER GOVT
SCIENCE
2 YEARS
1 YEAR PHYSICAL
SCIENCE
1 YEAR BIOLOGICAL
SCI
2 YEARS LAB
SCIENCE
(BIOLOGY,
CHEMISTRY,
GEOLOGY, PHYSICS,
PHYSIOLOGY,
BIOTECH, ETC.)
2 YEARS LAB SCIENCE
(BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY,
PHYSICS PREFERRED)
FOREIGN
LANGUAGE
2 YEARS FROM 2
SUBJECTS
2 YEARS SAME
LANGUAGE
2 YEARS SAME
LANGUAGE
3RD YEAR RECOMMENDED
VISUAL/PER
F ARTS
1 YEAR
1 YEAR
CAREER
TECH
NOT REQUIRED
NOT REQUIRED
CSU and University of California
Requirements:
SUBJECTS
HIGH SCHOOL
CAL STATE*
UC*
PE
2 YEARS
NOT REQUIRED
NOT REQUIRED
ELECTIVES
90 CREDITS
1 YEAR FROM:
English, Soc. Studies,
Adv. Math, Science,
Foreign Lang.,
Vis/Perf Arts
1 YEAR FROM: English,
Soc. Studies, Adv. Math,
Science, Foreign Lang.,
Vis/Perf Arts
TOTAL
240 CREDITS
15 CLASSES
MINIMUM
(10 MHS credits=1
unit)
15 CLASSES MINIMUM;
22-24 RECOMMENDED
*MUST EARN GRADES OF C OR BETTER IN ALL
CLASSES
PRIVATE AND OUT-OF-STATE
• Requirements vary
• Deadlines vary
• Letters of Recommendation
-Counselor recommendation
• Student statement
-Teacher recommendation
• Official transcripts required
• Early Action, Early Decision
• Rolling admission
What counts most with Admissions
Directors?
1. Grades in college prep courses
2. Admissions test scores
3. Grades in all subjects
4. Senior year classes
5. Class rank
6. Essay/personal statement
7. Work/extra curricular activities
8. Counselor recommendation
9. Teacher recommendation
10. Interview
11.Ability to pay
TEST INFO
SAT Reasoning Test
•
www.collegeboard.com
• ACT
•
www.actstudent.org
• SAT Subject tests (UC requires 2
tests in 2 different subjects)
•
Literature
•
Foreign Language
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Biology
•
Chemistry
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Physics
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US History
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World History
•
Math 2
RESPONSIBILITIES
•STUDENT- set priorities, research colleges, request
letters of recommendation, organize, fill out applications,
write personal statements, contact w/admissions offices
•PARENTS- ‘coach not quarterback’, gives input, write
checks
•COUNSELOR- gives input and guidance, letter of
recommendation, sounding board
COUNSELING OFFICE HOURS
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The counseling office is open
Monday through Friday from
7:50 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Please feel free to call or
make an appointment.
The counseling office
telephone number is
310/577-4316
COUNSELING CONTACTS
 Mr.
Zarate… A-F & CASAA
– (310) 577-4324
 Ms.
Cleary… G-K & 9th Grade Magnet
– (310) 577-4325
 Mrs.
Goodwin… L-M & BBFA
– (310) 577-4303
 Ms.
Talley… N-S & ESL
– (310) 577-4271
Counseling Office Contacts continued
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Mrs. Roche-Blair… T-Z, NMA, & AVID
 (310) 577-4313
Ms. Sturgeon… 10th – 12th Grade Magnet
 (310) 577-4312
Ms. Davis… Credit Recovery Program
 (310) 577-4308
Ms. Reyes… College Counselor
 (310) 577-4306
Ms. Cohen… Work Experience Coordinator
 (310) 577-4332
WEBSITES & RESOURCES
University of California www.universityofcalifornia.edu
California State Universities www.csumentor.edu
California Community website: www.cccco.edu
NCAA Clearinghouse: www.ncaaclearinghouse.net
The Common Application www.commonapp.org
Free Application for Federal Student Aid www.fafsa.ed.gov
College Planning Websites:
www.mycollegeoptions.com
www.princetonreview.com
www.myroad.com (Free if you take the PSAT)
Financial Aid Search: www.fastweb.com
ADMISSIONS TIME TABLE
Grade 12- Senior Year
Sept/October
Take (or retake) SAT, ACT, SAT subject tests (Oct. is last
acceptable test date for many early action/early decision
schools)
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Finalize list of colleges (6-10) .
•
Review online applications or request paper application.
•
Work on college essays
•
See counselor and teachers early for recommendations
•
See college reps in the College/Career center
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Keep an eye out for scholarship applications
•
Complete CSS profile at www.collegeboard.com ( Opens on
Oct 1 and it’s required by many private colleges for financial
aid consideration)
ADMISSIONS TIME TABLE
Grade 12- Senior Year
Nov/Dec
•
Take any remaining planned SAT or ACT tests
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Complete UC and CSU Applications by Nov 30.
•
Have test scores sent to colleges/NCAA directly
from testing company.
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Complete all applications by Dec 20 and enjoy
winter break!
•
Keep an eye out for scholarship applications
January
•
Fill out FAFSA (January 2 – March 2 )
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Keep grades up!
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Do not drop classes. A college application is a
contract.
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Keep looking for those scholarship opportunities!
ADMISSIONS TIME TABLE
Grade 12- Senior Year
February
•
request transcripts for Mid-year reports by
Feb. 15
March/April
•
Acceptances start coming!
•
apply for housing—maybe even before
acceptance
May
•
May 1 SIR = Student Intent to Register–
confirm admission and sign up for orientation.
•
Arrange to take any necessary placement
exams for English and math classes.
•
Request that a final transcript be sent after
graduation.
Letters of Recommendation
Students need to provide counselors with
– Student Brag sheet, including activities and awards
-- Brag Sheet
– Copy of essay(s)
– Transcript release form
– email request from Common app or other on-line
application program.
– Stamped, addressed envelope for each college
– School report forms or other forms that counselors need
to fill out
– list of schools and due dates.
Teachers will want similar information.
UC and Cal State campuses do not require letters or
recommendation.
The Essay
Essays should be
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Personal: The essay written in the student’s own
voice. It should be about something that is
personally important.
Concise: Every word counts! Every sentence should
add information and meaning.
Specific: Use examples. Don’t use the word
“everything” when you could list 2 or 3 specific
things.
Connect specific events to a larger theme
SURVIVING THE ADMISSIONS FRENZY
•Make sure your measures of success are
not dependent on things outside your
control
•Be organized
•Work together
•Keep communicating
REMEMBER:
“College is a match to
be made-not a prize
to be won!”