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 doubleduty: preparing for college, while ensuring
that you graduate successfully from high
school.
What We Will Cover Today
• Tips for avoiding senioritis: Completing senior year at the top of
your game!
• Tests, tests, and more tests: An overview
• Where do I apply?: The college search process
• The world of applications: College and financial aid
• The “finals” stretch: Acing your final exams and senior project
• Senior year-in-review: A timeline of events
A-G High School Graduation
Requirements
2 yrs:
History and Social Science
4 yrs:
English
3 yrs:
(4 yrs. rec. for both)
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)
Foreign language (both years must be in the same
language)
1 yr:
Visual and performing arts: art, dance, theatre/
drama, or music
1 yr:
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.
– 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
• By California law, you cannot graduate high school
without passing the California High School Exit
Exam.
– If you have not passed the CAHSEE yet, you have 3
opportunities to do so in your senior year.
– All high schools are required to offer CAHSEE tutoring. Ask
about it ASAP!
Testing: Entrance Exams
SAT (www.collegeboard.com)
Late
Test Date Registration Deadline
Deadline (extra fee)
ACT (www.actstudent.org)
Testing
Months
Late
Test Date Registration Deadline
Deadline (extra fee)
September
9/11/10
8/6/10
8/20/10
10/23/10
9/17/10
10/1/10
12/11/10
11/5/10
11/19/10
2/12/11
1/7/11
1/21/11
10/9/10
9/10/10
9/24/10
October
11/6/10
10/8/10
10/22/10
November
12/4/10
11/5/10
11/19/10
December
1/22/11
12/23/10
1/7/10
January
February
SAT & ACT Fees
SAT
ACT
Fee Amount
Fee Amount
Reasoning Test
$47
ACT with Writing
$48
Late Fee
Add $24
ACT without Writing
$33
Standby Fee
Add $41
Late Fee
Add $21
SAT Subject Tests
$21 basic fee plus $10 per
subject ($21 if the subject is
Standby Fee
Add $41
Language with
Listening/November only)
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 CSU take these tests in the spring. CSU students must take
these tests before they are allowed to register for
classes. Plan to take these tests no later than the
May test date.
*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.
– College Profiles: Find detailed stats on most educational
institutions in the U.S.
– College MatchMaker: Discover multiple college options based
on search criteria of your choosing.
College Applications
• Deadlines vary! Make a list of your application due
dates:
– UC: Nov. 30
– CSU: Nov. 30
– Privates: Vary
• Cal-SOAP College Application/Scholarship
Workshop:
– Saturday, November 13
– Time and Location: Lincoln High School from 9:00-1:00pm
Financial Aid
• FAFSA deadline is March 2nd
• Cal-SOAP Cash for College Workshops
– Saturdays: Jan. 29, Feb. 5, Feb. 19, Feb. 26
• Scholarships
– Tip: Complete one scholarship every two weeks
– 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:
– Supplementary college/financial applications that may be
required
– Campus-specific deadline dates
– Housing and registration dates
– Dates/locations for mandatory placement exams and
orientation events
– And, of course, acceptance letters!
The “Finals” Stretch
• Study hard for final exams – these grades do
matter! Your campus has the right to rescind
your admission at any time!
• 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”:
– 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
• Possible elements of your portfolio may include:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
One or two college applications
A completed FAFSA
A completed scholarship
Your high school transcript
A job application
Your resume
Proof of volunteer hours completed
A summary of your extracurricular activities
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
– 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
2nd. Submit GPA Verification form by March 2nd. 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…
• High school guidance department
• High school staff/teachers
• Cal-SOAP College Peer Advisor
– Ask Counselor: October – April
• Cal-SOAP Office: 858.569.1866
• Cal-SOAP website: www.SanDiegoCalSoap.com