Go, Chargers!

Deepa Mukherjee
Assistant Principal (Guidance)
Senior Class Adviser
Brenda Stone
Academic Counselor
Joan Albers
College & Career Center Technician

 1:00-1:10: Welcome, Introductions, General
Overview
 1:10-1:35: Post-secondary Options and
Requirements
 1:35-2:00: Resources for students and parents
 2:30-3:30: Leland Graduates & Parent Panel

What Do Colleges/Universities Consider While
Making Decisions?
Considered Top Three at most schools:
 Grades in academic classes
 Rigor of academic classes
 Test Scores SAT & ACT

Some Colleges May Consider
 Extracurricular activities
 Honors and awards
 Leadership
 Volunteer work/community service (commitment)
 Special talents
 Hardships
 Athletic Talent
 Clubs
 Creativity

 A - History/Social Science 2 years
 B - English 4 years
 C - Mathematics 3 years (required)/4 years (recommended)
 D - Lab Science 2 years (required)/3 years (recommended) 1 yr life science and
1 yr physical
 E - Language Other than English 2 years of the same language/3 years
(recommended)
 F- Visual Performing Arts 1 year
 G- Electives 1 year

*SJUSD does not weigh GPA (but colleges do)
*SJUSD does not rank students by GPA
 “C” or better (even in senior year, even after granted admission to college)
 “D” in any course should be “validated”
 Choosing classes for next year

 “D” s must be validated in order to be eligible for college. SJUSD does not allow students to retake a course if they received a
“D.”
 “D” in regular course (e.g., English 5-6) may be validated by taking online course, enrolling in community college, enrolling in private summer school, or in some cases, through SAT test.
 “D” in advanced course (e.g., AP Biology) may only be validated through similar course in community college.
 Student athletes need to be aware that the NCAA (depending on division), may not accept grade validation through online courses.
**Always consult Mrs. Stone or Mrs. Albers before deciding on validating option.

 For all courses in Mathematics (area C) and all courses in Foreign
Language (Area E), if you receive a grade of “D” in the first semester and a grade of “C” or higher in the second semester, you will receive two semesters of credit.
Completion of an advanced course in the same subject (Math &
Foreign Language) presupposes knowledge of the previous course(s).
For example, satisfactory completion of a second year of foreign language will validate the first year. The second year of Algebra will validate the first-year algebra but will not validate Geometry.

 Academic Counseling (Mr. Thompson, Mrs.
Mukherjee, Mrs. Stone)
 In-class Presentation to Freshmen (spring),
Sophmores (spring), Juniors (February – March) &
Seniors (October)
 Summer Updates

• College, Major, Testing and Career Library
• Bridges Choices Programs and Get In 2 College (internet 24/7)
• College Rep Visits for all students
• Scholarship Bulletin
• Financial Aid Materials
• SAT and ACT Testing Info (registration, free booklets, books, test prep. info, mock ACT’s and SAT’s)
• Testing and application fee waivers
• Career Center Web Site at sjusd.org/leland

 CSU Presentation for all CSU’s given by
SJSU
 CSU Application Workshop
 UC Application Workshop
 Independent Application Workshop
 UC Personal Statement
 College Essays
 College Application Workshops

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

 The California Budget Crisis has affected admissions and academics.
Community College
CSU
UC
Independent/Privates
Public Out of State

 California Colleges have been under funded for several years.
 We want students to have options in the spring of their senior year and find the best place to obtain education or training ….
 Consider all options!

 Consider total cost of education:
Number of years to graduate and loss of income if it takes additional years in school
Amount of financial aid offered

 We want students to find the best place for them to obtain the education or training to lead to a career that they will enjoy.
 If the student is happy, hopefully they will obtain the education that will lead to a career that they will enjoy.

• Community Colleges
• California State Universities
• University of California
• Independent Colleges
• Public Out of State Colleges

 A good next step…
 112 campuses in California
 Can prepare you for college level Math and English
 Complete lower division courses that are transferable to a four-year college or university
 Receive career training to get into the workforce quickly and affordably

 1/3 of all UC and 2/3 of all CSU graduates started at a community college.
 Community college transfer students get admission priority to UC and CSU campuses.
 Community college transfers are just as successful academically as first-time freshmen in terms of graduation versus drop-out rates.
 Many community colleges have developed formal agreements with most CSU and UC campuses that will guarantee admission upon transfer
 Money: Fees average 1/3 the cost of public universities, and 1/10 the cost of private universities.
 Add to that the potential savings of living at home for two additional years.

One of the following:
 A high school diploma
 A General Education Diploma
 A Proficiency Certificate
 At least 18 years old with evidence of being able to benefit from the instruction offered by the college.

 Top 1/3 of California Residents
 13 impacted campuses. Many impacted majors.
 23 campuses. Many campuses are commuter schools.
 Teach how to apply theory
 Require either the SAT Reasoning (don’t use writing score) or ACT

 CSU GPA: 10-11 grades in A-G courses, weighted gpa, calculate on CSU Web Site
 Application filing period is 10/1-11/30
 Don’t require essay, extracurricular activities or letter of recommendation
 Local: Currently if student is eligible and meet all requirements and deadlines… guaranteed spot at SJSU and SFSU

 Financial aid: Need based, Presidential, and some merit
 CSUMentor.edu web site has a Cost
Calculator, financial aid info and FAFSA on the Web

UC Information universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions or universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/apply
 Top 9% of California Residents
 Impacted campuses and majors
 9 campuses plus UCSF for upper division
 Teach theory with research opportunities
 Require either SAT Reasoning or ACT
WITH optional Writing

 No longer require SAT Subjects but some majors may recommend Subjects. Subject tests won’t hurt but may help.
 Application period: 11/1 to 11/30!
 UC GPA: 10-11 grades in A-G courses, weighted gpa, calculate on UC Web Site
 Currently requires 1,000 word Personal
Statement answering two topics

 Comprehensive review: Evaluators score applications based on 14 different criteria including, extracurricular activities, number of AP courses, special talents, outstanding work in a special project.
 Some campuses will do a holistic review
(eventually all campuses): A thorough, individualized review of each applicant , in which the evaluator takes into consideration a wide range of academic and nonacademic achievements, in the context of the opportunities available to each student that results in a single score.

 Application is for admissions AND financial aid.
 Financial aid: Need based and some merit
& leadership.
 Blue + Gold Opportunity Plan: Covers educational and student service fees for CA residents whose family earns less that
$80,000 annually.

Independents/Privates:
AICCU.edu for CA Independents
 72 in California
 Selectivity varies (some admit C students & some admit only 7%)
 Types vary: Liberal arts, specialty, art, engineering….
 Requirements vary but usually require A-G courses.

 Deadlines vary: Early’s due 11/1, regulars
12/1 –rolling. Most due by end of
December or early Jan.
 SAT Reasoning or ACT. Some require
SAT Subject Tests.
 Require essays & extracurricular info
 Extracurricular activities entered: honors, awards, extracurricular activities (clubs, sports,…), community service (commitment), work experience….
Leadership…!

 Comprehensive review – consider all information, answers, and essays
 Merit aid offered at most schools that aren’t selective
 Very generous financial aid packages for students that are low to mid income at some schools
 Most students finish in four years
 Consider amount of financial aid and total cost of education including the number of years to graduate.

 Thousands of schools in U.S.A.
 Similar to UC’s and CSU’s
 Eligibility and testing requirements will be similar to CSU and UC. Some like CSU
– no essay or extracurriculars. Some like
UC – essays and extracurriculars.

 Applications similar to CSU and UC
 Deadlines similar to CSU and UC (11/30) – some later
 SAT Reasoning or ACT. Some may require
SAT Subject Tests.
 Some states cost of living is much lower than California

 Western Undergraduate Exchange
(wiche.edu/wue). Alaska, Arizona,
Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana,
Nevada, New Mexico, N. Dakota,
Oregon, S. Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
 Some states offer merit based monies and reductions in out of state fees….

 One state guarantees per unit fee for all years will be the same.
 Consider total cost of education including out of state fees, cost of living, and years to graduate
 Next slide compares basic info about the four systems

Info varies and subject to change
Testing
Apply
Fin. Aid/
Scholarships
CSU
Eligibility A-G Min.
GPA 2.0
UC Independents
Public Out of
State
A-G Min. GPA
3.0
Usually similar to A-G. Varies.
Usually similar to
A-G. Varies.
SAT
Reasoning
(doesn’t use writing) or
ACT
10/1 to 11/30
Merit/Need based
SAT Reason.
OR ACT W/
WRITING
(some majors may recommend
Subject Tests )
VARIES. Sat
Reasoning or
ACT. Some may require
Subject Tests
11/1 to 11/30
App also for scholarship.
Merit/Need based/Gold +
Blue Program
Vary. Early’s,
Reg. 12/1 rolling
Merit/Need based. Some very selective need based only.
VARIES. Sat
Reasoning or ACT.
Some may require
Subject Tests
Vary. May be similar to UC or later.
Merit/Need based/help without of state fees

Leland Career Center (CC) Web Site: Info on many subjects
(newsletters and Scholarship Bulletins), online Resources for Testing, Financial Aid, and College, Major & Career
Planning:
1. Bridges Programs: (Choices Planner, Choices Explorer,
Learning Style Indicator and DWYA Personality
Assessment)
2. Get In 2 College resources: College Handbook (43 pages), Mini Manual, & Protected Site.
3. Financial Aid: Documents on the CC Web Site: Financial
Aid Basics, Financial Aid Presentation, Estimate of
College Costs (+ financial aid info) & Financial Aid
Tips).
• We recommend using Californiacolleges.edu.

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Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): Basic form for federal, state (Cal Grant) and institutional aid.
Some independents require additional forms (some require
Profile that is available at collegeboard.org).
Submit in senior year after 1/1
Deadlines vary. Some monies first come, first served.
Deadline for some aid including Cal Grants is 3/2.
We offer financial aid workshops.
Career Center Web Site has financial aid info/resources.

We recommend that ALL seniors complete the FAFSA:
1. Most colleges will require FAFSA for merit and talent scholarships
2.
May qualify for several types of financial aid
3.
You may qualify for federal loans& these loans have better interest rates and repayment schedules
4.

Things change ( job loss, illness.) and if FAFSA by is submitted by deadline, you may be able to work with financial aid office later in the year.
Please obtain the Fund Your Future Workbook at the end of this event and read this very important booklet. This booklet is available in the Career
Center and has been provided to all seniors.

Leland Graduate Panelists
Myra Davoudi
Jason Erickson
Sara Piazza
Leland Parent Panelists
Denise Aitken
Hardeepika Bhurji
Susan Erickson
Elizabeth Piazza