Leland College and Leland College and Career Center Presents: Career Center Presents:

College Seminar #1 College Seminar #1 May 8, 2012May 8, 2012

How to Become 4-year How to Become 4-year College Eligible ?College Eligible ?

A-G EligibilityA-G Eligibility The intent of the “a-g” The intent of the “a-g” subject requirements is to ensure subject requirements is to ensure

that students can participate fully in the first-year that students can participate fully in the first-year program at the University in a wide variety of fields of program at the University in a wide variety of fields of study. study.

UC faculty consider the Subject Requirement to be UC faculty consider the Subject Requirement to be effective preparation, on many levels, for undergraduate effective preparation, on many levels, for undergraduate work at the University.work at the University.

This pattern of study assures the faculty that the This pattern of study assures the faculty that the student has attained a body of general knowledge that student has attained a body of general knowledge that will provide breadth and perspective to new, more will provide breadth and perspective to new, more advanced study. advanced study.

Fulfillment of the "a-g" pattern also demonstrates that Fulfillment of the "a-g" pattern also demonstrates that the student has attained essential critical thinking and the student has attained essential critical thinking and study skillsstudy skills

Preparation

You can control where you apply so that you have options in the spring of your senior year

You can’t control the CA Budget Crisis and the competiveness of the colleges but you can control making yourself competitive for colleges and considering all options.

What are the A-G What are the A-G Requirements?Requirements?

History/Social Science 2 yearsHistory/Social Science 2 years English 4 yearsEnglish 4 years Mathematics 3 years (required)/4 years Mathematics 3 years (required)/4 years (recommended)(recommended)

Lab Science 2 years (required)/3 years Lab Science 2 years (required)/3 years (recommended) need 1 yr of physical (recommended) need 1 yr of physical and 1 yr of biological scienceand 1 yr of biological science

Language Other than English 2 years of Language Other than English 2 years of the same language/3 years the same language/3 years (recommended) ASL is ok(recommended) ASL is ok

Visual Performing Arts 1 yearVisual Performing Arts 1 year Electives 1 year Electives 1 year

How do SJUSD graduation How do SJUSD graduation requirements compare to “A-G” requirements compare to “A-G”

requirements?requirements?““A-G”A-G”

History/Social Science - History/Social Science - 2 2 yearsyears

English -English - 4 years4 years

Mathematics - Mathematics - 3 years 3 years (required)/4 years (required)/4 years (recommended)(recommended)

Lab Science - Lab Science - 2 years 2 years (required)/3 years (required)/3 years (recommended) 1 yr in (recommended) 1 yr in physical and 1 yr in physical and 1 yr in biologicalbiological

Language Other than English - Language Other than English - 2 2 years of the same language/3 years of the same language/3 years (recommended)years (recommended)

Visual Performing ArtsVisual Performing Arts - - 1 year1 year

ElectivesElectives - - 1 year 1 year

SJUSDSJUSDSocial Sciences - Social Sciences - 3.5 years3.5 years

English -English - 4 years4 years

MathematicsMathematics - - 3 years3 years

Science -Science - 3 years3 years

Language other than English Language other than English - - 2 years2 years

Electives – Electives – 4.5 years4.5 years

Visual Performing Arts -Visual Performing Arts - 2 2 yearsyears

PE -PE - 2 years2 years

Who Uses the A-G Who Uses the A-G requirements?requirements?

California State Universities (CSU) California State Universities (CSU) www.csumentor.edu

University of California (UC) University of California (UC) www.universityofcalifornia.edu

(Private/independents schools each have their own (Private/independents schools each have their own admission requirements that are very similar to A-G admission requirements that are very similar to A-G Requirements.Requirements.

General Application General Application RequirementsRequirements

2.0 minimum GPA for California 2.0 minimum GPA for California State UniversityState University

3.0 minimum GPA for University of 3.0 minimum GPA for University of CaliforniaCalifornia

C’s or better. See CSU/UC C’s or better. See CSU/UC Requirements document on CC Web Requirements document on CC Web Site for exceptions.Site for exceptions.

SAT or ACT TestSAT or ACT Test Private/independent schools require Private/independent schools require letter of recommendation from letter of recommendation from teachers/counselors (Seminar 2)teachers/counselors (Seminar 2)

What Do Colleges/Universities What Do Colleges/Universities Consider While Making Consider While Making

Decisions?Decisions?

Considered Top Three at Considered Top Three at most schools:most schools:

Grades in academic classesGrades in academic classes How challenging your How challenging your courses arecourses are

Test Scores SAT & ACTTest Scores SAT & ACT

Some colleges MAY Some colleges MAY consider:consider:

Extracurricular Extracurricular activitiesactivities

Honors and awardsHonors and awards Leadership (both formally Leadership (both formally and informally)and informally)

Volunteer work/community Volunteer work/community service (commitment)service (commitment)

Some colleges MAY Some colleges MAY consider:consider:

Special talentsSpecial talentsHardships/unusual Hardships/unusual circumstancescircumstances

Athletic TalentAthletic TalentClubsClubsCreativityCreativity

Best Match/FitBest Match/FitChoose a college for the right reasons!!

Big Decisions! Research! Visit! Revisit as an admitted student.

Best Match for YOU! Ranking are subjective! Stats change Resist peer pressure

Choosing a College That Choosing a College That is the Best Match for is the Best Match for

YouYou Challenging Classes. Watch stress level. Take care of yourself.

Consider all options: UC, CSU, independents and public out of state colleges

Consider total cost of education including the number of years to graduate (extra costs/loss of income) and financial aid

Start early! Plan! Appeals-rarely work (new and compelling info)!

Choosing a College That Choosing a College That is the Best Match for is the Best Match for

YouYouStep One: Know your personal Step One: Know your personal and academic profile:and academic profile:

Personal: Career goals, hobbies, special Personal: Career goals, hobbies, special interests, talents, personal attitudes, interests, talents, personal attitudes, traits and needs.traits and needs.

Academics: academic record, grades, GPA, Academics: academic record, grades, GPA, test scores, activities related to test scores, activities related to academics, awards and recognition, academic academics, awards and recognition, academic learning/study skills, self motivation and learning/study skills, self motivation and discipline, communication skills…discipline, communication skills…

Choosing a College That Choosing a College That is the Best Match for is the Best Match for

YouYouStep Two: What are you looking for in a college?

Type: Liberal Arts, Business, Art, Engineering,…

Curriculum: What is your tentative choice major? Special programs: Honors, research, internship, study abroad

Where do I want the college to be? How far? How close to home?

Choosing a College That Choosing a College That is the Best Match for is the Best Match for

YouYou Size? 50-40,000 How much will it cost? How will these costs be met?

Coeducational or single-sex institution

Campus life/social life/extracurricular

Special Services Available (tutoring…special assistance)?

Selectivity: How difficult? Be realistic!

RemindersReminders

Remember your final college choices should include schools that are realistic (safe), reasonable (good fit) and some reaches (long shots). You should have 2-4 of each. Take into consideration that every year it may become more competitive for a spot (CA Budget Crisis). You need to be very realistic!!!!

RemindersReminders

• Colleges expect you to challenge yourself! Take as challenging of a course load that you can and receive good grades.

• Take care of yourself. • Choose extracurricular activities that you are important to you

• Take advantage of summer academic opportunities.

More RemindersMore Reminders

Any D in your senior year can make Any D in your senior year can make you ineligible even if it is for an you ineligible even if it is for an AP class. AP class.

Avoid Senioritis!!! Must have grades of C or higher to Must have grades of C or higher to meet college requirementsmeet college requirements

READ & FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS!READ & FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS! Talk with your parents about college Talk with your parents about college options and the cost of your options and the cost of your educationeducation

Career Center Web SiteCareer Center Web Site

Accessed from Leland Web SiteAccessed from Leland Web Site http://www.sjusd.org/leland/career_center/index.html

Check out Senior and Junior Check out Senior and Junior Section. Look at resources on rightSection. Look at resources on right

Print the Junior/Senior CalendarPrint the Junior/Senior Calendar Look at other resources in junior Look at other resources in junior sectionsection

Read College Application Tips in Read College Application Tips in Senior SectionSenior Section

College Application College Application TimelineTimeline

Research and visit possible schools Research and visit possible schools NOW. Consider all options.NOW. Consider all options.

Use online resources (Choices Use online resources (Choices Planner, Get in 2 College, Planner, Get in 2 College, californiacolleges.edu, books, talk californiacolleges.edu, books, talk to people……..to people……..

Talk to Leland Experts (seniors) Talk to Leland Experts (seniors) about the college application about the college application process. Get peer advice.process. Get peer advice.

CSU applications submitted online CSU applications submitted online between 10/1 – 11/30between 10/1 – 11/30

College Application College Application TimelineTimeline

UC applications submitted 11/1 – 11/30UC applications submitted 11/1 – 11/30 Independents: Early’s vary starting on Independents: Early’s vary starting on 11/1: Regulars 12/1. Rolling. Most 11/1: Regulars 12/1. Rolling. Most independents are due during the month independents are due during the month of December. of December.

Public Out of State – vary: most Public Out of State – vary: most similar to CSU and UC – some later or similar to CSU and UC – some later or rollingrolling

Look at the Common Application at Look at the Common Application at commonapplication.com (including commonapplication.com (including essay)essay)

Info varies and subject to change

CSU UC Independents/

Privates

Public Out of State

Eligibility A-G Min. GPA 2.0

A-G Min. GPA 3.0

Usually similar to A-G. Varies.

Usually similar to A-G. Varies.

TestingSAT Reasoning (doesn’t use writing) or ACT

SAT Reason. OR ACT W/ WRITING (some may recommend Subject Tests)

VARIES. Sat Reasoning or ACT. Some may require Subject Tests

VARIES.Sat Reasoning or ACT. Some may require Subject Tests

Apply 10/1 to 11/30

11/1 to 11/30

Vary. Early’s, Reg. 12/1 - rolling

Vary. May be similar to UC or later.

Fin. Aid/Scholar-ships

Merit/Need based

App also for scholarship.Merit/Need based/Gold + Blue Program

Merit/Need based

Merit/Need based/help with out of state fees

Testing InformationTesting Information Colleges will accept either the SAT Reasoning or the ACT (UC requires the ACT Optional Writing if you take the ACT).

UC will no longer require Subject Tests effective for Fall 2012 freshman applicants. However, some independents and some majors at UC may recommend or require SAT Subjects. UC states that the Subject Test won’t hurt you but may help you.

We encourage you to take both SAT and ACT because colleges will take the best score and the tests are different.

Test Prep: Free booklets in CC, web sites, books (check out from CC), classes, online classes……. Depends on type of learner and motivation of student.

Testing InformationTesting Information All juniors should plan to take at least one ACT and/or SAT Reasoning Test by June. Refer to #1 if you need to take SAT Subject Tests.

Most schools will not consider test scores past December of your senior year.

Keep in mind that these deadlines may change.

Deadlines are firm You must send official test score from testing company to each school. UC and CSU - update next fall about sending scores (SAT - CSU Universal Code and to one UC for all.)

Testing InformationTesting Information Some CSU’s have October and November deadlines.

Refer to Testing Schedule (CC Web Site) for additional info.

Students must send official test scores by the testing companies by testing deadlines.

Application deadlines and testing deadlines are different. All deadlines are FIRM.

With Good With Good Information, We Information, We

Make Better Make Better Decisions!Decisions!