August
- Start finalizing your college list and begin the online applications process. Stay organized.
- The University of California application opens August 1st. University of California
The UC application requires you to answer four out eight Personal Insight Questions, select the questions that would best define you. UC Personal Insight Tips - Start getting familiar with UC, Cal State ,Common App, and FAFSA web pages! Here are some helpful YouTube videos to help familiarize yourself that also take you through the step-by-step process:
- If you are applying to a private university, it is most likely that they use the “Common Application” which also opens on August 1st. Open an account on Common Application at: Common Application
- Start considering possible careers – take career assessments to help narrow down what pathways / majors –
- Monitor student’s grades on Aeries and contact teachers with academic concerns, if any.
September
- Review your final college list with your family to make sure it fits your career choice and finances. SAT and ACT are not needed for Cal States and UC’s. If you are looking at private universities, google your graduating year to see if a test score is needed (ex: Chapman University testing requirements class of 2025). You can also look here
- Check @fhscollegeandcareer Instagram account for college visits and college information.
- Complete your Brag Sheet for your teachers and counselor for letters of recommendation Brag Sheet
- Counselors will be giving college presentations that will help you to understand your applications. Recheck your A-G requirements.
- Attend the College Application Night (new dates each year) which will have representatives from UC, CSU, Community Colleges and Common Application who review the application process.
- Stay in touch with our college and career counselor, Hannah Huynh [email protected] for college workshops and updates.
- Check the counseling calendar for the schedule of admission representatives visiting FHS and sign up for colleges of interest. If you cannot attend a specific visit, fill out an interest card in the College & Career Center for the college representative.
- Fill out your brag sheet ASAP. Copy and paste it onto a Word document and increase the font to 12 pt. to give to your teachers that are writing your letter of recommendation. You may want to include a thank you card or note. Inform your counselor/ teacher that you will be applying to a private school and will need them to complete your secondary school report and write a letter of recommendation. Tell your recommender where you are applying through so that they check their email! Your counselors do not need a paper copy.
- Stay organized and track your deadlines – the California State University is November 30th and UC’s are December 2nd. Private schools will vary so check their website and visit common application Common Application to check application deadlines and essay questions. Have a due date for all applications for Nov 30th so that everything is turned in before the holidays and you can relax!
- California State Universities application filing period open October 1st – CSU Mentor: California State University Video – CSU Application Help | CSU Application Help website
- Monitor student’s grades on Aeries and contact teachers with academic concerns, if any.
October
- California State Universities application filing period open October 1st – CSU Apply: California State University Apply Video – CSU Application Help | CSU Application Help website
- Work on your college applications, personal statements and essays. IF YOU ARE APPLYING EARLY: (Early Applicant or Early Decision), FINALIZE your application(s) and essays! Continue attending college representative visits in the College & Career Center.
- Check specific majors, such as engineering, for possible tests needed such as subject tests.
- Click to view this Financial Aid Presentation video.
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid open submission period begins December. Ask your parents for their income tax information that they completed in spring and begin the FAFSA application. https://fafsa.ed.gov Attend the FAFSA Information Night October, at Foothill High School for questions regarding FAFSA. Apply for your FAFSA Personal ID Number (PIN). All students applying to college should complete the FAFSA. FAFSA Application. Tips on applying to the FAFSA: Video – FAFSA Help CSS/Financial Aid Profile – If you are applying to a private college you will also need to check the CSS Profile to see if your college requires additional financial information which is on CSS Profile CSS Profile
- Explore Financial Aid options including FAFSA https://studentaid.gov/h/
apply-for-aid/fafsa and CSS Profile for Private colleges https://cssprofile. collegeboard.org/?navId=gf-css - Meet with your counselor (google meet) to review your college choices, review your prompt topics and ask questions. Have your brag sheet complete and be sure to inform your teachers and counselor that you are requesting a letter of recommendation by NOVEMBER 15th.
- If your college is outside of California but a state university, you will need to submit transcript through Parchment: Ordering final transcript
Reminder: you do not need to send first semester transcripts to CSU, UC’s, and Common Application schools. - Watch this video: SENIOR TALK: COLLEGE.
- Attend the out of state fair that happens at lunch (dates vary each year) that is hosted by RACC
- Stop by the college and career center for any application help from Ms. Huynh
- Monitor student’s grades on Aeries and contact teachers with academic concerns, if any.
November
- Know your Early Admission deadlines! Early Decision and Early Action deadlines are typically November 1st or 15th. Don’t miss your deadlines. If you need letters of recommendation from your teacher or counselor, make sure they have your brag sheet a month prior. For regular admission, the deadline for requesting letters of recommendation is November 15th. Make sure you have spoken to your teachers and counselors by that deadline.
- University of California (UC) application filing period is from November 1- December 2nd. Don’t wait until the last minute to file!
UC Application video” Getting Started – YouTube - Cal State University (CSU) application filing period is from October 1- November 30. Don’t wait until the last minute to file!
- Monitor student’s grades on Aeries and contact teachers with academic concerns, if any.
December
- Finalize any college applications with a January deadline. If you will be attending a community college, be on the alert for priority registration. Irvine Valley College: Irvine Valley College | Santiago Valley College: Santiago Canyon College | Santa Ana College: Santa Ana College | Orange Coast College: Orange Coast College
- Check to see if any of the private colleges that you are applying to requires the CSS profile for financial aid. This is an additional application that provides colleges with additional information regarding financial need: CSS Profile College Board
- UC and CSU will not consider SAT or ACT test scores when making admissions decisions or awarding scholarships. If you choose to submit test scores as part of your application, they may be used as an alternative method of fulfilling minimum requirements for eligibility or for course placement after you enroll.
- Monitor student’s grades on Aeries and contact teachers with academic concerns, if any.
January
- Start or continue your search for scholarships. Check the scholarship list located in the FHS student resource folder. Stop by the College and Career Center with questions and to inquire about new scholarship postings along with scholarship web searches such as: Fastweb Scholarship Search California Scholarship Search Go College Scholarships Scholarship Experts
- If you will be attending a college in California, you may be eligible for the Cal Grant. Talk to your counselor or the College and Career Counselor about qualifications for a Cal Grant (financial aid) Cal Grants
- Send in your mid-year reports including your seventh semester transcript, if requested by your college. Always check your email for college requests and communications. If you applied to a university through Common Applications, your counselors will automatically send in mid-your 7th semester transcript.
- Check to make sure all applications were received (keep all email receipts) and keep checking your email.
- Monitor student’s grades on Aeries and contact teachers with academic concerns, if any.
February to March
- Decisions (rolling admission offers) begin to arrive!
- Keep up your grades! You will need to submit your final grades to the college of your choice.
- Colleges can rescind your admission if you do not maintain your grade point average.
- If there are changes in your academic courses or extracurricular program since your initial application, you must notify your colleges.
- Stay on top of financial aid deadlines and check for local scholarships in the college and career center.
- Check your email DAILY for communications from colleges, especially those regarding incomplete applications or missing information. Respond quickly to any requests.
- Check your MYTUSD emails DAILY for any scholarship or college info from Ms. Huynh
- Attend Senior Day at your local community college if you are attending a CC. See the College & Career Center for more information.
- For graduation requirements, Click Here
- Foothill’s UC and CSU Approved A-G List
- Monitor student’s grades on Aeries and contact teachers with academic concerns, if any.
April
- April 1 acceptances arrive! Analyze your acceptances and financial aid packages carefully to determine what is the best match for you.
- Make an appointment with the financial aid office at the college you accept to FULLY understand your award letters
- Decisions and deposits are due by May 1 to the college of your choice. Follow the instructions on your acceptance letter. Note any special procedures for housing. It is considered unethical to make a deposit to more than one school.
- Notify colleges you are turning down of your decision. Wait-listed? https://foothillhscounseling.
org/wait-listed/ - Monitor student’s grades on Aeries and contact teachers with academic concerns, if any.
May
- Don’t be late. May 1st is the deadline to notify the college of your choice.
- Send any additional AP scores to your college through college board (link on how to send)
- Graduation! Congratulations and Good Luck – Don’t forget to order your final transcript for your college. Procedures for ordering your transcript are found at: Order Transcripts Parchment or at: Ordering Transcripts FHS Website
- Monitor student’s grades on Aeries and contact teachers with academic concerns, if any.
June
- If you failed a class 2nd semester, reach out to the summer school principal to enroll in summer school.
- Make sure your colleges have received your official transcripts by June 30th.