Califrnia Cllege Pathways Helping Califrnia s Fster Yuth Access Higher Educatin and Reach Their Educatinal Gals Fster Yuth Educatinal Planning guide
Califrnia Cllege Pathways Fster Yuth Educatinal Planning Guide Fster Yuth Educatinal Planning Guide This list is a cmpilatin f prgrams and resurces that can assist fster yuth and their caregivers prepare t enter higher educatin. This guide was designed as an ptinal tl with recmmendatins that may be beneficial t fster yuth and their caregivers during the transitin int cllege. Get Organized: Start a binder t place all infrmatin related t cllege. Keep cpies f test scres and/r write dwn dates f tests taken. Save yur lg-in name and passwrds fr nline registratin, etc. 6th & 7th Grade Talk t yur schl cunselr abut curses that will prepare yu fr cllege and create an academic plan t take cllege preparatry curses. Have guardians attend the educatin planning night at the middle schl where lcal high schl cunselrs present their prgrams and schedules. Obtain the Cllege Preparatry (a-g) curse list at www.csumentr.edu r www.ucp.edu. Cmplete a cllege prep English curse. Take mathematics, such as pre-algebra. Participate in career awareness activities. Take a career interest and aptitude assessment. 8th Grade Using the Cllege Preparatry (a-g) curse list and a list f Career Technical Educatin curse lists fr high schls in yur area, develp a tentative schedule f specific curses fr all fur years. Take Pre-Algebra r Algebra I. Take a language ther than English. Take the EXPLORE Test frm ACT (American Cllege Test). Begin yur Student Planner at www.csumentr.edu r at www.califrniaclleges.edu. www.cacllegepathways.rg 2
Califrnia Cllege Pathways Fster Yuth Educatinal Planning Guide Participate in career awareness and career explratin activities. Update yur career interest and aptitude assessment. Find ut abut career-related prgrams at high schls in yur area, visit thse that interest yu, and apply t attend if it makes sense. 9th Grade Attend an rientatin sessin at yur new schl. Meet with yur high schl cunselr. Take the required cllege preparatry cursewrk als knwn as a-g. Take required curses t meet the cllege admissin standards: Algebra I r Gemetry, cllege prep English, and a freign language. Take elective curses that meet the cllege admissin standards: histry, English, mathematics, science, visual and perfrming arts, and a freign language. Optinal: Take the EXPLORE Test frm ACT (American Cllege Test). Create a file t keep cpies f reprt cards, recrds f hnrs and awards, and lists f extracurricular activities, clubs r sprts invlvement at schl, vlunteer wrk, cmmunity service, and paid emplyment. Begin r update yur Student Planner at www.csumentr.edu r www.califrniaclleges.edu. The planner has infrmatin n curses and grades required fr cllege admissin. Participate in career awareness and career explratin activities. Update yur career interest and aptitude assessment. Find ut abut career-related prgrams at yur high schl and sign up fr thse that interest yu. Participate in a cmmunity prject. There are three segments f public higher educatin in Califrnia the University f Califrnia (UC), the Califrnia State University (CSU), and the Califrnia Cmmunity Clleges (CCC). In additin, there is a wide range f independent clleges in the state. T learn mre abut these ptins, visit www.califrniaclleges.edu. www.cacllegepathways.rg 3
Califrnia Cllege Pathways Fster Yuth Educatinal Planning Guide 10th Grade Talk with yur guardians abut yur educatinal chices and review yur curse lad. Make sure yu are satisfying high schl graduatin and cllege entrance requirements. Take Gemetry r Algebra II. Take cllege prep English. Visit cllege campuses and attend cllege fairs. Octber: Register fr the PSAT (Preliminary Schlastic Aptitude Test), a practice exam fr the SAT. Ask yur cunselr fr a fee waiver cde when registering nline fr the PSAT. Take the PLAN test frm ACT (American Cllege Test). Ask yur cunselr abut a fee waiver. If yu are interested in attending a selective cllege, register fr the AP (Advance Placement) test, hnrs, and advanced curses fr 11th grade, if available. Take part in enrichment prgrams and summer wrkshps and camps in subjects like music, science, engineering, writing, filmmaking, and thers. Participate in career awareness, career explratin and career preparatin activities. Update yur career interest and aptitude assessment. Find ut abut career-related and ccupatinal prgrams at yur high schl and sign up fr thse that interest yu. Participate in a cmmunity prject. Explre educatinal requirements f careers that interest yu. Prepare fr and participate in a summer internship. www.cacllegepathways.rg 4
Califrnia Cllege Pathways Fster Yuth Educatinal Planning Guide 11th Grade Review with yur schl cunselr the classes yu need t take fr cllege admissins, including Algebra II r advanced mathematics and English with emphasis n writing and critical reading. Review with yur cunselr yur academic recrd and strengthen any weakness r prblem areas. Take the CSU s Early Assessment Prgram (EAP) at www.calstate.edu/eap t determine if yu are ready fr cllege-level mathematics and English/language arts curses. Enrll in hnrs, AP and advanced curses if pssible. Students taking Advanced Placement (AP) classes: Register t take the AP exam in the spring. Yu can earn cllege credit fr AP curses if yu scre well n the test(s). Ask yur cunselr abut a fee waiver. Register fr the ACT r the SAT tw mnths befre the exam. If yu take the exam in the spring r summer, yu will get the results in time t see if yu need t retake it in the fall. Sme CSU campuses require yu t take the ACT r SAT by Octber f yur senir year. Acquire fee waiver cde frm the high schl cunseling ffice. Attend cllege fairs and cllege planning sessins with yur guardian. Attend financial aid infrmatin sessins at yur high schl, Independent Living Prgram r lcal clleges. Select curses fr yur senir year that strengthen yur academic recrd and ensure that yu meet the a-g requirements. Check yur transcript at the end f the year t make sure it is crrect. Use spring break r summer vacatin t tur cllege campuses. Have questins prepared in advance and take ntes n yur visits. Explre careers by taking a summer jb r jb shadwing in yur field f interest. Participate in career awareness, career explratin and career preparatin activities. Update yur career interest and aptitude assessment. Participate in a cmmunity prject. Explre educatinal requirements f careers that interest yu. Identify educatinal gals and schls cnsistent with yur career interests. Prepare fr and participate in a summer internship r wrk experience. www.cacllegepathways.rg 5
Califrnia Cllege Pathways Fster Yuth Educatinal Planning Guide 12th Grade Fall Semester Review curses with yur schl cunselr t make sure yu are meeting high schl graduatin and entrance requirements fr the clleges that interest yu. Take English and ther curses required fr cllege admissin. Advanced math curses such as Trignmetry r Analytic Gemetry/Calculus are als recmmended. Early September: Register fr the Octber ACT (American Cllege Test) r SAT (Schlastic Assessment Test). Early Nvember: Register fr the December ACT r SAT if yu are retaking the exam. Identify three individuals wh can write a strng recmmendatin letter fr yu and get the letters by Nvember 15. Finish yur persnal essay fr cllege admissin. Include infrmatin abut yur fster care experience in yur persnal statement. The persnal essay will be used t cmplete the EOP applicatin, UC applicatin and schlarship applicatins. Search fr schlarship mney using the schlarship search functin at www.califrniaclleges.edu. Attend ILP wrkshps, cllege fairs, cllege planning sessins, and financial aid infrmatin sessins. Visit cllege campuses that are a gd match with yur credentials and career interests. Narrw yur chices f clleges. Many students select three t five schls t apply t their dream schl, their safety schl, and tw t three ther chices. Get a cmmn e-mail address fr yurself that is strictly fr cllege applicatin infrmatin. Octber-Nvember: Apply fr the CSU (www.csumentr.edu) and/r UC (www.universityfcalifrnia.edu/admissins). If yu regularly updated yur Student Planner, yur curse infrmatin will be autmatically transferred t yur applicatin. Applicatin deadline is Nvember 30, unless therwise nted. Dn t frget t press the submit buttn n yur cllege applicatin and ALWAYS print ut cpies f applicatins submitted nline. Duble check yur transcript t make sure all the infrmatin is crrect. Have yur transcripts sent t requesting clleges. Yu might have t request mre than ne. Apply fr n-campus husing fr each cllege campus that yu are applying t and place yur name n the waitlist, if needed. Sme clleges call their campus husing drms, while thers call them residence halls. www.cacllegepathways.rg 6
Califrnia Cllege Pathways Fster Yuth Educatinal Planning Guide Check with yur scial wrker r caregivers abut the payments and depsits fr cllege. Sme clleges require an upfrnt depsit fr n-campus husing and nly accept checks r credit cards. Apply fr the Educatinal Opprtunity Prgram (EOP), www.csumentr.edu/planning/ep. Apply fr schlarships and campus supprt prgrams like the Guardian Schlars and Renaissance Schlars. Visit www.cacllegepathways.rg fr a cmplete list f prgrams. 12th Grade Spring Semester January-March: Apply fr financial aid and cmplete the FAFSA (Free Applicatin fr Federal Student Aid) at www.fafsa.ed.gv by March 2. Get a FAFSA PIN (Persnal Identificatin Number) at www.fafsa.ed.gv. Check t see that yur schl sent yur Cal Grant GPA Verificatin frm. March-May: If yu are planning t attend a CSU, register fr the CSU s placement exam (unless yu are exempt), which is required prir t enrllment in the CSU. If yu are planning t attend a cmmunity cllege, take any placement tests required by the schl yu will attend. Late Spring: Students taking Advanced Placement (AP) classes shuld take the AP exams. Yu can earn early cllege credit fr AP curses if yu scre well n the test(s). Have the scres sent t the schls where yu are applying. Pay a nnrefundable depsit fr freshmen tuitin t the cllege yu plan t attend, if required, t hld yur spt. Apply nline fr the Chafee Grant at www.chafee.csac.ca.gv. Grants are fr eligible fster yuth ages 16-21 fr up t $5,000 t assist with jb training and cllege tuitin. Ask yur schl cunselr t send yur final high schl transcript t the cllege yu will attend. Obtain a cpy f yur ward f the curt letter frm yur scial wrker. www.cacllegepathways.rg 7
Califrnia Cllege Pathways Fster Yuth Educatinal Planning Guide What are the a-g requirements? The Califrnia State University and the University f Califrnia require the cllege preparatry pattern f classes referred t as the a-g curses fr admissin. English: 4 years f cllege preparatry English cmpsitin and literature (take ne each year) Math: 3 years (4 years are recmmended), including Algebra I, Gemetry, Algebra II, r higher mathematics (take ne each year) Histry and Scial Science: 2 years, including 1 year f U.S. histry (r 1 semester f U.S. histry and 1 semester f civics r American gvernment) and 1 year f scial science Labratry Science: 2 years with a lab class Language (ther than English): 2 years f the same language (American Sign Language is applicable) Visual and Perfrming Arts: 1 year f dance, drama r theater, music, r visual arts Cllege Preparatry Elective: 1 year f any cllege preparatry subject Nte: Mre than 6,500 high schl career/technical classes are accepted as fulfilling ne f the a-g curse requirements. See a-g curse lists at www.ucp.edu/drways t find ut which nes qualify. Making the Grade If yur grade pint average r GPA in cllege preparatry curses taken in 10th thrugh 12th grades is 3.0 r abve, yu autmatically meet the minimum eligibility requirements fr the CSU, UC and sme private clleges. Visit www.califrniaclleges.edu. If yur GPA is between 2.0 and 3.0, yur eligibility als depends n yur ACT r SAT results in cmbinatin with yur GPA. Tests yu need t take Califrnia High Schl Exit Examinatin (CAHSEE) The PSAT (Preliminary Schlastic Assessment Test) and PLAN are ptinal practice tests designed t prepare fr the mandatry cllege admissins tests SAT (Schlastic Assessment Test), ACT (American Cllege Test) and thers. The Early Assessment Prgram (EAP) is an academic preparatin prgram t help 11th grade students meet cllege readiness standards in English and mathematics befre admissin t a CSU campus. www.cacllegepathways.rg 8
Califrnia Cllege Pathways Fster Yuth Educatinal Planning Guide Applicatin Checklist Allw fr sufficient time t cmplete nline applicatin frms and paper applicatin frms. Keep a recrd f yur user ID and passwrd fr the nline applicatin. Identify yurself as a fster yuth by marking yes n the questin asking if yu are a rphan r ward f the curt r fster yuth n the UC, CSU and Califrnia Cmmunity Clleges admissins applicatin, EOP applicatin, and the FAFSA. FAFSA: Questins 55 60 is where yu will need t answer whether yu are a rphan, ward f the curt, an emancipated minr, r an unaccmpanied yuth wh is hmeless r at risk f hmelessness. Use the same legal name n all applicatins. Have an fficial cpy f yur high schl transcripts n hand. Yu will need them t enter yur curses and grades in the nline applicatin. Have yur SAT r ACT results n hand t submit with the applicatin. Check fr a fee waiver and submit it with yur applicatin. Keep a cpy f all recrds that yu send. Make a nte f the peple yu speak with n a campus. Keep a cpy f yur Scial Security number in a safe place. Admitted Student Checklist Activate yur campus accunt if yur campus requires it. Yur campus accunt will help yu track nline student updates, missing dcuments, deadlines and appintments. Open and read carefully all mail and e-mails frm yur admitted schl. Make sure yur address and e-mail is always current. Mst cmmunicatin frm yur schl will cme via e-mail. Keep a cpy f all crrespndence. Return yur Intent t Register Frm and depsit ($50-$100) t the campus by the psted deadline. CSU: Take the ELM (Entry Level Mathematics) and/r EPT (English Placement Test) placement tests unless yu were exempt via SAT, ACT, EAP, r AP. Cntact yur campus testing ffice. Submit final fficial transcripts t clleges that request it. Submit the applicatin fr student husing. Please nte that students shuld submit husing applicatins during the admissins applicatin time perid. Submit lease agreements and/r depsits. If yu are n financial aid, ask abut waiving the depsit fr lw-incme students. www.cacllegepathways.rg 9
Califrnia Cllege Pathways Fster Yuth Educatinal Planning Guide Fllw up with financial aid at www.fafsa.ed.gv by the pririty deadline f March 2. Make sure the SAR (Student Aid Reprt) frms are cmplete and submitted t the campus. The SAR will indicate any Expected Family Cntributin (EFC). Fr mst frmer fster yuth, the EFC is zer. Meet immunizatin requirements. Cntact the Student Health Center fr campus-specific requirements. Register and pay fr new student rientatin. Attend the EOP rientatin. Register fr summer prgrams such as Summer Bridge thrugh EOP. Meet with yur EOP advisr t create an educatinal plan and select classes. Register fr classes nline. Submit final fficial transcripts frm yur high schl. Resurces and prgrams that help fster yuth get ready fr and succeed in cllege Advancement Via Individual Determinatin (AVID) Designed t increase schlwide learning and perfrmance. Students are enrlled in an AVID elective class, take advanced classes with curriculum and tutrial supprt, and fcus n qualifying fr fur-year cllege and university admissin. AVID prgrams are available in many middle and high schls in Califrnia. Califrnia CareerZne (www.cacareerzne.cm) The Califrnia CareerZne is a FREE Web-based career explratin system that prvides easy-t-use self-assessments tls. Students can learn abut themselves and hw they might match-up with 900 O*Net ccupatins that detail the jb definitin, interests, tasks, skills, and mre. Apprximately 300 f the ccupatins have vides shwing a typical day in the life f smene in that ccupatin. Califrnia Chafee Grant Prgram (www.chafee.csac.ca.gv) Gives up t $5,000 t eligible frmer fster yuth t use fr career and technical training r cllege curses at Califrnia Cmmunity Clleges, Califrnia State University campuses and University f Califrnia campuses, etc. Children wh exit fster care frm relative guardianship r adpted after age 16 are als eligible. www.cacllegepathways.rg 10
Califrnia Cllege Pathways Fster Yuth Educatinal Planning Guide Students must enrll in at least half-time as defined by the schl. Cmplete a FAFSA and financial aid applicatin at that schl. Gain Early Awareness and Readiness fr Undergraduate Prgrams (GEAR UP) Is a middle schl mdel fr creating a cllege-ging culture. Prgram services supprt the adults wh influence a student s educatin, specifically their teachers, administratrs, cunselrs, and caregivers. Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) Offers academic enrichment service fr educatinally disadvantaged students s that they excel in math and science, g n t cllege, and attain degrees in math-based fields. MESA prvides individualized academic plans, academic excellence wrkshps in math and science, study skills training, SAT and PSAT preparatin, hands-n math and science cmpetitin, career and cllege explratin, interactin with industry representatives, and caregiver invlvement. PUENTE Is a natinal prgram t increase the number f students wh enrll in clleges and universities, earn cllege degrees, and return t the cmmunity as mentrs and leaders fr future generatins. PUENTE trains schl and cllege faculty t prvide rigrus instructins, fcused academic cunseling, and mentring by members f the cmmunity. Upward Bund Serves high schl students frm lw-incme families, families in which neither parent hlds a bachelr s degree, and lw-incme, first-generatin military veterans and fster yuth wh are preparing t enter pstsecndary educatin. The gal f Upward Bund is t increase the rates at which participants enrll in, and graduate frm, clleges and universities. The prgram ffers instructin in math, labratry science, cmpsitin, literature, and languages ther than English. www.cacllegepathways.rg 11
Califrnia Cllege Pathways Fster Yuth Educatinal Planning guide 401 Glden Shre, Lng Beach, CA 90802 (562) 951-4734