Colleges are still accepting applications

If you missed the November 30th deadline for UC and CSU, all is not lost. Several CSUs have extended deadlines and many private and out-of-state schools have much later deadlines. A quick look at CSU Mentor shows that CSU Bakersfield, CSU Channel Islands, CSU Dominguez Hills, Cal State Stanislaus and Humboldt State are still accepting applications from first time freshmen. Students who wish to apply for Fall 2011 to any of these schools should apply immediately because we have no idea when extended application windows will close. http://www.csumentor.edu/

For a great way to locate private and independent colleges in California and to determine applicaiton deadlines for those schools visit AICCU (Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities) link: http://www.californiacolleges.edu/admissions/california-independent-colleges/california-independent-deadlines.asp

Students who did meet the deadline for admissions should be creating accounts at each of the college websites where they have applied. The college will communicate with prospective students via the "to do" list within each student's account. This account should be checked at least a couple times a week. Everything from transcript requests to housing applications will be sent via this website account. Regardless of whether its your number one choice or not, if you submitted an application to a college, your next step must be to follow up by creating the account at the college.

Students always want to know when to send a transcript after submitting an application. The UC does not want students to send transcripts until graduation and then only to the school where the student will enroll. The CSU has different transcript requests depending on the university and the applicant. Check your "to do" list to determine when a transcript should be sent to a CSU, and don't send one until it is requested.  Private and out-of-state schools often expect a transcript to accompany the application. For both private and out-of-California schools, send an official transcript with the application.

Final days to apply to CSU and UC

The clock is ticking for students planning to attend California State University or Unviersity of California in the fall of 2011. November 30th at midnight is the deadline. If you have waited until now to begin your application, you are probably feeling a bit of stress. While procrastination is rarely the best way to approach anything signifcant, if that is your reality today, I strongly recommend that you find an unofficial transcript and get going. You can still get your application in by the deadline.

The CSU application is remarkably simple. All you have to do is enter your college prep courses and the grades you've earned. Add your SAT or ACT scores, click submit, enter your credit card number to pay the application fee, and you're done. You have to apply to each of the 23 CSUs separately, but once you've completed one school's application, the next application will be pre-populated with all the information that you put on the first one. Just choose a major and you're practically finished.

The UC application is significantly more complicated, but a you can still complete it in a few hours. Along with that unofficial transcript you needed for the CSU, you'll also need to organize your high school history to begin. This includes lists of awards, leadership, activities, community service and employment. Then you'll also need to crank out two essays. (For information on those, see the previous blog.) Enter all your information, being careful with acronyms (explain them) and use description words to explain your roles within your activities. Remember, your activities are not limited to school. If you are heavily involved in an off campus sport, club or group (example a communtiy orchestra, church youth group, competitive skater, etc.) those belong on your UC application.

When working on a last-minute essay, first review the information provided on this website along with the UC website about what the UC wants to hear about in your essay. Then, start one essay by simply answering the prompt in one sentence. What do you have to say to that topic? Be sure that your one-sentence answer actually answers all the questions within the prompt. Once you are satisfied that you know what you want to say, then dress it up as an essay.

Once you've submitted an application to CSU or UC, be sure to have your SAT or ACT scores sent by the testing agency. If you are unsure if you've met the testing requirements for your school, check out the SAT information on this website. CSU and UC have DIFFERENT testing requirements. Most schools accept test scores through the December test date.

College is a place to gain the skills you need to live an independent, successful life. Don't wait another second to get started on your applicaiton.

The College Essay

The University of California Personal Statement often creates panic among college hopefuls. Just like any college essay, the purpose of the Personal Statement is to give the application depth and clarity. It's an opportunity for an applicant to show a theme on the application and demonstrate more than a long list of achievement. It's a way to take a black and white document and give it color.

One tip is for students to try to "show" rather than "tell" about their passions. Using active verbs and adjectives that weave emotion into the statement can spice up a topic.

For more information directly from the University of California office admissions, watch the video below.

Personal Statement

College application season

The college application filing season arrives with autumn, and frequently that includes a flurry of questions, concerns, last-minute testing and stress. Students often find themselves caught between college essay deadlines and homework deadlines, wondering how to manage it all.

Relax! Tackle the college application in manageable pieces. The CSU allows students to complete one application and have all the other CSU applications pre-populated. There is no essay on the CSU application, nor is there a section to list activites, awards, leadership or service. No recommendations are required.  http://www.csumentor.edu/

 The UC allows students to apply to all nine universities with one application and the same essay. The sections on activities, honors, leadership, service, employment and the essays are only entered once, regardless of how many schools the student is applying to. http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/apply-online/index.html


Many schools are using the Common App which is the same application for over 400 colleges! Like the UC application, once you enter all the information, it remains the same for all the schools where it is sent. http://www.commonapp.org/

If you have questions about your college application, please drop by the College & Career Center. We don't know all the answers, but we probably know someone who does.

College Night Break Out Sessions

Our annual College Fair is October 14th from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. in the Rocklin High gyms. Admission is free. We are pleased to offer the following breakout sessions during the College Fair.

College Night Breakout Sessions - October 14th - Rocklin High School

Library

6:45 p.m.  NCAA Prospective Athletes Overview – If your student is an aspiring college athlete, this presentation is perfect for you. Josh Collins, Sac State NCAA Compliance Coordinator, will outline all you need to know about NCAA eligibility.

7:20  p.m.  Financial Aid Overview – This session is designed to help parents and students who are concerned about how to pay for college. Meet Veronica Nava and find out how to access all state and federal money for college.

7:55 p.m. Private College Overview – If your student is considering a private school, this session is designed for you. Meet Vance Pascua, who will outline the benefits of enrolling at a private college. Vance will explain how sometimes a private school might actually cost a family less than a public school.

Theatre

6:45 pm.  Sierra College Overview – Meet our rep, Alistair Turner and learn about all that Sierra College has to offer from certificate programs to transferring to top colleges across the U.S.

7:15 p.m. CSU Overview- Meet our Sac State rep, Alma Martinez, who will outline the California State University admission policies.

7:45 p.m. UC Overview – Meet our UC Davis reps Lia Young and Sheryl Blackshire who will tell us about the University of California.

College Night is Coming to Rocklin!

The 11th annual College Night will be October 14th, in the Rocklin High School gymnasiums. Over 100 college reps have been invited to showcase their schools. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and close at 8:30 p.m. Admission is free.

College Night is sponsored by the Placer County Foothills High Schools Consortium, made up of Colfax, Foresthill, Placer, Del Oro, Wheatland, Lincoln, Whitney and Rocklin High Schools. The fair is part of the Northern California Transfer Day and College Night tour.

Break out sessions will be offered in six areas, UC Overview, CSU Overview, Private College Overview, Sierra College Overview, Financial Aid Overview and NCAA Overview.

College Night is a great way to visit with reps about admission policies and procedures. Students can expect to pick up a plethora of brochures from schools ranging from Stanford University to California Apprenticeship Programs. Dozens of out of state schools plan to attend College Night, along with military recruiters, who will be on hand to talk about education and training available through the Armed Services. Military Academy reps have also been invited.

Students can plan ahead by printing labels with their contact information to expedite registering at the many different college display tables. They should also plan to bring a shopping bag to pack all the of the recruiting information they collect.

Often students are confused about what questions are appropriate at a college fair. Since it's an arena style format and often a large crowd, this is not the setting to have an intimate conversation about how to choose your major. College Night questions should be centered on admissions policies, academics or campus life and specific to the rep's university. Always ask for the rep's contact information if you have more questions and follow up with an email to that rep to continue your conversation.

College Night is an exciting night of gathering college and career information. Don't miss it!