Transcript Cal-SOAP Forms

College Preparation for
Middle School Students
The Four Systems of
Higher Education in California
Community Colleges
Vocational and Academic Instruction
Provide lower division coursework for
students seeking to transfer to a
university
California State University
Undergraduate instruction in the liberal
arts and sciences, professional education
and teacher education
Over 360 different majors
University of California
The only public system to offer degrees
in medicine, dentistry, law and veterinary
medicine
Over 400 different majors
Focus on research and methods
Independent Colleges
Provide undergraduate instruction and
research based on their school’s mission
Different Entrance Requirements
Offer a wide range of degrees and
programs
Admission Requirements Comparison
UC
CSU
Private
CC
A-G
Courses
History/Social Science: 2 years
English: 4 years
Math: 3 years; 4 recommended
Lab Science: 2 years;
3 recommended
Language Other than English: 2 years
3 recommended
Visual & Performing Arts: 1 year
College Prep Electives: 1 year
Same
as
UC
Similar
to
UC
18 years
of age or
high
school
graduate
Entrance
Exams
SAT Reasoning Test or ACT w/
Writing
2 SAT Subject Tests in two areas
SAT
Reasoning
or ACT
SAT
Reasoning or
ACT
N/A
Minimum
GPA is 2.0
GPA Varies
3.0 – 4.0+
N/A
N/A
Varies
N/A
Preferred
Recommended
N/A
GPA
Minimum GPA is 3.0
Personal
Personal Statement
Info
Community Service, Volunteer Work,
Extra
Activities Clubs, Etc.
Eligibility vs. Selectivity
ELIGIBILITY
Meeting minimum
requirements for UC,
CSU, Private
Admission
Requirements.
Meeting Minimum
eligibility does not
mean that a student
will be accepted to their
1st choice campus
SELECTIVITY
Specific criteria or
standards that each
campus may apply to
choose students who
apply to highly
competitive or
oversubscribed majors
What can you do to be more
competitive?
1.
Earn the best academic
grade point average
(GPA) in all completed
“A-G” courses.
2.
Take as many Universityapproved honors, AP, IB
and transferable college
courses as possible.
3.
Take as many academic
college prep courses
beyond the minimum
requirements.
4.
Study for your SAT’s or
ACT to obtain a
competitive score.
5.
Share with us your
special: talents,
achievements, awards,
performances, athletic
achievements, community
service, leadership roles.
Remember – thousands of
students apply and you
want to stand out.
6.
Write a strong personal
statement.
E-mail Communication
Universities will communicate with
applicants through E-MAIL
Apply for a free e-mail account at:
www.yahoo.com
www.hotmail.com
www.gmail.com
CHECK EMAIL / FOLDERS REGULARLY
DO NOT SWITCH ACCOUNTS
TIPS
 Use a PROFESSIONAL SOUNDING EMAIL ADDRESS
 Have an account for college purposes
Important Tips
Choose classes wisely
 If you plan to drop a class after applying to the
university, you must let the campuses know
Maintain good grades throughout your
senior year
 Most acceptance letters are provisional,
meaning that your admission status can be
affected by your senior year
Communicate with your counselors and
your campus(es) admission department
Approximate Annual Fees
and Tuition
Higher Education Systems
Annual Cost
University of California (UC)
$11,960
California State University (CSU)
$5,346
Community College (CC)
Private/Independent Universities
(AICCU)
$800
$4,000 –
40,000 +
Financial Aid
GRANTS
GRANTS
Free Money for educational
expenses based on financial need
Main Types:
 Cal-Grant
 Pell Grant
 Academic Competitiveness
Grant
LOANS
LOANS
Money on loan which must be paid
back with interest
 Subsidized: Government pays
down interest while in school
 Unsubsidized: Automatic
monthly payments
WORKSTUDY
WORKSTUDY
Jobs to help pay for school
 Employment at the Campus
 Up to 15 hours per week
SCHOLARSHIPS
SCHOLARSHIPS
Free money based on specific
requirements or criteria
Main Types:
1. On Campus
2. Private
3. Local (High School)
4. National
Apply for financial aid on www.fafsa.ed.gov
Apply between January 1 – March 2!!!!
Programs to Consider
Sites to Get Familiar With
www.californiaolleges.edu
www.collegeboard.com
www.act.org
www.universityofcalifornia.edu
www.csusb.edu
www.csumentor.edu
www.fafsa.ed.gov
www.aiccumentor.org
www.pin.ed.gov
www.uccp.org
www.cccapply.org
www.fastweb.com
Last Minute Tips…
Tour the campuses
your are interested
in.
Begin compiling a
list of possible
scholarships.
Attend college fairs
and parent nights.
Make contact with
university
representatives.
Do not limit your
choices.
Take the SAT’s/ACT
early.
Always meet the
given deadlines.
Get familiar with
college prep and
campus websites