2. Take the most challenging classes possible. Clear up deficiencies by the end of the school year at the latest.

3. Begin college application complete. Begin completing the Common Application which comes online August 1. The UC and CSU applications come online October 1. Other public colleges come online soon.

4. Visit or contact colleges. Contact admissions and diversity admissions representatives. Schedule fall visits. Visit classes. Take tours. Spend the night. Always take notes and send thank you emails or letters.

5. Begin writing college essays. See my essay tips. http://getmetocollege.org/hs/application-essay-tips/application-essay-writing-tips

6. Find scholarships. Begin researching scholarships at particular colleges and for particular groups. See my scholarship tips. http://getmetocollege.org/hs/financial-aid/scholarships

7. Develop a master chart. Put together a master chart of your colleges with info about deadlines, passwords, requirements, interviews, and local campus visits in your area. THE UCs and CSUS are due November 30, drop dead last date.

8. Continue with leadership and initiative in activities, jobs, and service.

9. Make a resume. Make a resume to bring with you to interviews. See my resume tips.

10. Contact teachers and counselors in August. Ask your teachers and counselors early to write you recommendations for applications, scholarships, and EOP.

Additional testing notes:

2. Push your children to find colleges that offer them opportunities to develop through academics, activities, culture, and community.

3. Be brave. Let your child look for colleges outside of where you live. You came here for the future so let the future shape your child. Children, especially girls who go away to four year colleges come back stronger and more committed to their families, communities, and society.

4. Visit colleges. Look at the dorms. Look at the resources. Let your child travel to colleges during their summers through special programs, such as Upward Bound, Gear Up, and special college specific programs. Many colleges will pay all expenses for first generation and under-represented students to come visit before, during, after the college admissions process.

5. Find Diversity. Find the diversity and multicultural outreach professionals at each college. They will talk to you and your child.

6. Go to college fairs, especially diversity oriented ones. Speak with officials about the programs they offer for your child. Try to learn as much about the different programs and scholarships they offer.

7. Apply for Free money. Find about about special scholarships (free money) for your child at the college and outside of the college. In fact, the less you make, the better in the college admissions process. Most colleges won’t ask you to pay that much in loans, and in fact, each dollar you borrow is worth so much more. The UCs introduced the Blue and Gold plan and other private colleges offer all kinds of financial aid packages.

8. Find great programs. Encourage your child to find colleges with the best majors and programs for them. If your child wants to be a nurse, then find a college with good nursing programs and support programs such as EOP. If your child wants to be a writer or doctor or lawyer, then let them go to great colleges. If your child doesn’t know that is okay, then look for other issues such as size, activities, course choices, diversity programs.

9. Meet role models. I know that students can pay for college and pay for it through full scholarships. Williams and Martin talked about it on college week live that presents great free advice. http://www.collegeweeklive.com/. If you’d like to speak with them, there are my facebook friend. Williams goes to Boston College and Martin to Villanova. They are both the first in their families to go to college, and they are soaring!!!

10. Create your and their future through college. View your child’s education as your education and your future. Find colleges that want them and can push them to new levels. Be a college matchmaker for your child. Ask for help in finding the right college as there are so many people out to help you and your child!!!

So find ways to continue with current interests, explore new ones, and begin to show your commitment, leadership, and initiative. Being active during the summer makes you a better person and helps you experience things that you can’t do during the regular school year.

Academics:

Summer School or Skills Centers:

• Colleges just don’t want you to just make up bad grades but if you have Ds and Fs make up these classes as soon as p
• You can fulfill high school graduation requirements such as Health.
• You can fulfill A-G requirements if you’re in a small learning community or academies that don’t offer them all.
• You can go ahead a year in math or get ready for AP science.
• You can do summer ENRICHMENT classes to push yourself further ahead.
• If you are in ESL, take as many summer English classes as you can.
• If your school isn’t offering summer school, Since consider taking classes at local skills centers to help you make up credits or do a GED program.
• Skills centers also offer ROP courses and other vocational opportunities.

College or Community Classes or Summer Enrichment Classes:

• Local two and four colleges offer summer courses.
• Get their online schedules and see what they offer.
• Most community colleges are full summer of 2010. But fall classes may be possible.
• Get to know your professors!!! Go to office hours!!!
• There are summer academic enrichment programs at your school or in your community.
• They give scholarships to minorities and low-income students.
• Attend local arts, sports, and enrichment classes in your community.
• Here is a great listing of those programs.  http://www.blackexcel.org/summer-progs.htm

Sports and Activities:

1. Continue with club, travel, or varsity sports.
2. Participate in activities such as acting, singing, playing an instrument, and more.
3. Continue with religious activities, cultural activities, and everything you like to do.
4. Follow a passion such as photography, drawing, and robotics.
5. Keep working on a school activity such as newspaper, Model UN, drama, and sports.
6. Continue going to camp and work your way up to CIT and Counselor.

Volunteer Work/Community Service/Internships:

1. Do community service for non-profits, camps, schools, hospitals, and more. Internships are difficult to get if you’re not in college.
2. But you can contact groups that work at your school, they may have volunteer opportunities
3. Contact lawyers, doctors, research centers, government agencies, politicians, and any place that may interest you such as a community center.
4. Contact the Special Olympics, your local parks, community center, and non-profits.
5. If you volunteer during school, see if they will allow you to work more hours during the summer.
6. If you’re interested in starting a club, spend your summer doing research.
7. Find something that means something to you. If you want to help the homeless, work at a shelter or a food kitchen or a camp for homeless kids. If you like health care, volunteer at a hospital, a clinic, or a doctor’s office. If you’re interested in politics or government, contact your local councilman, community center, or agency that helps different people. If you’re interested in communications, contact public relations and advertising companies, newspapers, and magazines. Look online.
8. In this economy, volunteer work is your best bet.

Jobs:

1. Jobs are hard to find but colleges like students who work.
2. Contact your friends, family members, and anyone you know. It’s okay to ask for help finding a job.
3. See if you can work at a restaurant, coffee store, clothing store, camp.
4. See if your elementary or middle school has openings.
5. Babysitting and working for your family count as jobs!!!
6. Job and Career Resources for Teens IS A GREAT SITE FOR FIRST TIME WORKERS.

Travel:

1. If you travel to see family, that is a great summer activity. Can you volunteer in the community or work for your relatives? Can you strengthen your bilingual abilities?
2. If you travel with family or for programs, see what you can do to make a lasting change.

College Readiness:

1. 1. Start preparing for the SAT or ACT or SAT Subject Tests.
2. 2. There are free online test prep programs.
3. 3. You can find a class at your school or in your community.
4. 4. Visit Colleges.
   1. a. You can go online and find colleges through the College Board or CaliforniaColleges.edu.  You can look for programs that interest you and being contacting colleges. They will send you information and you can look at their online resources, such as blogs and face book
   2. b. You can visit local colleges. They have free tours and information sessions. Just go to their admissions offices.
   3. You can participate in special on-campus programs at different colleges.

Whatever you do, keep a record of your hours and the tasks you complete. You will need to develop a resume and colleges often ask about your summers.

Watch them on their March 2010 webcast on College Week Live!!! They were the first students to speak on this amazing show.

http://collegeweeklivewebcast.stream57.com/integration/auth.aspx?EnrollmentKey=APK61f4d0a22bc24f299ff2b2a63ace4d06%20%0d

Martin Garcia, Student – Villanova University

“How I Paid For College All By Myself”

Martin received a full-ride with tuition, general fee, room, board, and the cost of textbooks paid for four years with a scholarship to Villanova University for his academic achievement and active participation in his school, La Puente High School, and the broader civic community. Only four people in the class of 2013 received this prestigious Presidential Scholarship estimated to be worth over $220,000 dollars. In High School Martin played five varsity sports, helped create three clubs, maintained above a 4.0 gpa, and was a leader as the school’s Vice-President and an Animo Ambassador for Latino youth. At Villanova he is in the rigorous Honors Program, 20th ranked Villanova School of Business, and the Service Learning Community. After earning his degree he plans to start his own non-profit organization that helps students in low-income communities achieve things through education they could only dream of. “I want to bring hope by setting an example and prove it doesn’t matter where you come from, it’s about choosing who you want to be. I want to inspire the youth to make the right choices in their life and know a good education is always possible if you are persistent. My goal is to change lives and impact futures!” –Martin Garcia

Williams Jaurez, Student – Boston College

“How I Paid For College All By Myself”

Williams Juarez graduated from La Puente High School with a full ride to Boston College by receiving the Opportunities Through Education Scholarship (2009-2013). He is the first in his family to go to college. He is also the recipient of the USA Funds Scholarship, Hispanic Scholarship Fund, GEAR UP Scholarship, and the City of La Puente Scholarship. Throughout high school he was actively involved in Taekwondo, a third-degree black belt and an instructor, held leadership positions in student government, school clubs, and sports, while maintaining a grade point average well above a 4.0. He was admitted to eleven out of fourteen colleges that he applied to, which included UC Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD, and Occidental College. At Boston College he currently holds a leadership position in a cultural club, is preparing to work on research with a fellow professor, and is trying to get a Taekwondo club started. He recently was awarded Sr. Thea Bowman Scholar for receiving 3.8 GPA in his first semester at Boston College.

1. Between the date of your acceptance and early April, each campus will release its financial aid package to you. These packages may differ, so check and compare each. You will only get your package if all of your FAFSA and Cal Grant materials are submitted and correct.
2. Find your campus login information. Save this information somewhere where you always find it.
3. Log in and find your financial aid award. It’s listed on the college’s admissions website.
4. Read all the core information. What is your aid package? Print this out. It includes
   1. grants from the UC, Pell, Cal Grant, state and federal government
   2. loans-Perkins, direct, and unsubsidized
   3. family contribution (EFC)
   4. your contribution-via work study on campus or summer or year long jobs you get on your own.
5. Show the package to your parents or family. Let them get used to it. Show them how little they will have to pay. They can pay this amount in installments. The deposit will count.
6. If the package doesn’t make sense, then call the financial aid office at the campus. You may have to ask for special consideration if your family cannot meet required contribution.
7. Loans are okay. They are payable over 10 years and you only start paying them back after you graduate.
8. For AB540 Students. Unfortunately, you do not qualify for state or federal aid. You do qualify for instate tuition. Contact the financial aid office for any special programs they may have for you. Apply for external scholarships.
9. Everyone: Look for scholarships now or next year to cover any left over expenses. Go to your financial aid office and ask about scholarships you can apply that are campus specific.

• Maldef has a great list for Mexican-American and other Latino students. It includes scholarships for AB540 students. http://maldef.org/leadership/scholarships/2010_Scholarship_List.pdf
• SALEF has a scholarship for Salvadoran and other Latino students. http://www.salef.org/c_fulfilling.html
• Latino College Dollars also has a great list. http://www.latinocollegedollars.org/

1. Meet All Deadlines!!!

2. Fulfill Academic Must-Dos.

3. Keep in constant communication with college.

4. Convince your parents to let you go.

5. Make sense of your financial aid package.

6.  Visit campuses and talk to students, professors, and teachers.

7. Accept your ONE campus by May 1 and pay a nonrefundable deposit of $100 (online or postmarked).

 8.  Participate in EOP and/or other support programs for low-income and under-represented students.

9. Apply or Accept and then attend summer transition/bridge programs: “I wish I had done this…”

10. Follow through on everything.

1. MEET ALL any deadlines!!!

May 1              Accept Campus and Pay Deposit. Complete Student Intent to Register and Pay Deposit or Arrange EOP Fee Deferral

May 1              Accept Financial Award Package.

May 1-July 1    Mail in all required financial documents. Deadline is set by each campus

May 1-July 1   Accept or apply for Summer Bridge/Transition Programs. Programs differ by campus

May 1-orientation. Take placement tests. UCs offer them at certain schools in your neighborhoods or you take them during orientation.

June 1              Complete Housing Application and Deposit

July 15             Send in official high school transcripts and new test scores

2. Fulfill Academic must dos:

1. Keep your senior year grades at a 3.0 with no grade lower than a C. Do not let senioritis take over.

2. Send in your final, official transcripts and any AP or other standardized test scores by July 15.

3. Take all required placement tests during orientation programs.

4. Notify the UC you’re accepting of any major changes, including

                                                        i.            If you dropped any courses which were listed on your application.

                                                      ii.            If you changed any courses which were listed on your application.

                                                    iii.            If you received any D or F grades, or if your senior year unweighted GPA will fall below 3.00.

                                                     iv.            If you fail to meet the provisions of your admission contract

3. Keep in constant communication

• Check your personal email regularly. You will get all kinds of notices via email.
• Set up an account with each campus you are considering. Campuses will communicate with your via this account as well. Now start checking key information, including financial aid packages, admissions to EOP or other programs for first generation and under-represented students, special summer programs, housing, and deposits.

4. Convince your parents it’s okay to let you go.

• We know that many parents are nervous about letting you go away. They need some convincing that a UC is worth letting you move away. It is if you believe it is. We do. So we have some suggestions but no promises: Print out your financial aid award package.
• Show your parents how the UC is covering the majority of your expenses. That may reduce one worry.
• Be strong and confident. We know your families are close. A UC education will make your family even stronger as you will get a powerful education to advance your life and your family’s life.
• Let another first generation student or parent of one or person at your school or community speak with your parents
• Let us know how we can help if you can’t seem to make your parents change their minds.

5. Make sense of your financial aid package. See next post for more info. Each campus will give you a financial aid award. See whether it makes sense and matches with your Estimated Family Contribution. Contact the financial aid office with questions. You may need to apply for special consideration if you cannot afford family contributions.

6.  Visit Campuses and Talk to Students, Professors, and Teachers. Each campus offers a visit program for students. You will get many emails and invitations from groups on campus and the admissions office. Go. See if your school can arrange a trip. See who has gone to these campuses. If you don’t know anyone, contact us. We know kids like you at each UC campus. On your visits, spend the night in a dorm, visit classes, talk with professors. You cannot go wrong on any visit.

7.  Accept your one campus by May 1 and pay a nonrefundable deposit of $100 (online or postmarked). You must also accept the financial aid package. Complete the Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) form you receive in the mail or go to the admissions website where you can declare your intent to register. Use this form or Web site to indicate whether you accept or decline the admission offer. You are strongly encouraged to wait until you hear from each campus you have applied to before you declare your intent to register. If you receive EOP you may ask for a deferral of the deposit. You must contact the financial aid office to arrange this.

Accept only one campus. You may not transfer your acceptance from one campus to another after you declare your intent to register. If you are waitlisted to another UC campus, you MUST accept another campus. Only if you get off the wait list, can accept your new campus and then remove yourself from your original campus. We are sorry as you will lose your first deposit.

8.  Participate in EOP and/or other support programs for low-income and under-represented students. See if you got accepted to the program at your UC for first generation, low-income, or disabled students. Links to programs at each campus are provided at the end of this list. This acceptance will be on your admissions page or you will receive notice via email or the mail. These programs provide tutoring, guaranteed housing, and access to summer programs to help you transition to college. Links to EOP Programs at each campus are provided in the third post for today. 

9.  Apply or Accept and Then Attend Summer Transition/Bridge Programs. “I wish I had done this” is what we hear over and over. Each UC campus has a summer program for first generation and other under-represented students. The programs differ but all prepare you for transitioning to college via college classes, access to mentoring, priority enrollment, orientation, and the chance to meet great kids. You will start college more ready to go, able to set a strong academic schedule, and make good decisions. You also start off with lots of friends. Your financial aid package will usually waive the costs of these programs. You must accept these programs as soon as possible as spaces are limited because of budget cuts. Some require you to apply, while others accept you right away.

10.  Follow through on everything you can.

• Filling out your HOUSING application. They are usually due by June 1. Get it in as soon as possible and pay that deposit. The later you wait, the less likely you are to get good housing.
• Accepting your financial aid package. The money goes straight to the college and they issue you checks for any money left over. That money goes towards books and other living expenses.
• Finding a job on or off campus that does not interfere with your classes.
• Choosing classes that are balanced and do not push you too far freshmen year. Get used to college.
• Getting academic and other help if you need it early in the year.

Ten Tips to Get Off A Waitlist (or Deferral List).

1.  Be happy with another college to which you got accepted. Because if these tips don’t work, you can and will find happiness at another school. Many, many students do and never look back.

2.  Make sure you accept the waitlist invitation. It is no longer assumed you will accept so send in the form asap.

3.  Write a letter to the Admissions Committee. Stress your interest in your waitlisted institution and why you feel you are still an appropriate candidate for admissions. Consider this a cover letter to your overall waitlist application. Do not restate all that you said earlier in your application. But really express passionately your commitment to the campus. Commit to going there if you get off. You can even mention where else you got in if these schools are peers or close matches to the waitlisted school.

4. If you can, visit the institution one more time and revisit the admissions office to remind them of your interest. Contact anyone in the admissions office whom you met in person or via email.

5. Ask a senior year teacher, who has not already written you a letter to this school, to write you a letter of recommendation. This letter should really emphasize your academic talents and why you will thrive at that college.

6. Get an updated letter of recommendation from your guidance counselor or even have your counselor contact the school personally.

7. Contact your alumni interviewer–if you think you had a good interview…Thank the interviewer again and then ask for any advice about moving from waitlist to admissions.

8. Make sure you update the academic portion of your application. This would include third-quarter grades (which will play an important role in your re-review). Mention exemplary academic projects.
 
9. Consider updating the non-academic portion of your application. Though not required, an updated resume and an additional letter of recommendation (especially from a senior year teacher) can always help. Just make sure anything you add does contribute in a new way to your application. Do not be redundant.

10. Do not ask people who do not have major contacts with school to contact school. Do not have anyone other than school teachers and officials write letters. The only other exception would be someone for whom you did a major project this year…volunteer leader, youth group…only someone who can attest to new work this year and who knows you really, really well.

Thanks to JHU for many of the ideas included in this note.

1. You can take them at any CSU campus regardless of whether you are planning to attend that CSU campus. Go to the ETS site to get more info.  http://www.ets.org/portal/site/ets/menuitem.1488512ecfd5b8849a77b13bc3921509/?vgnextoid=e9a72d3631df4010VgnVCM10000022f95190RCRD&vgnextchannel=bc41e3b5f64f4010VgnVCM10000022f95190RCRD

2. You can only take the tests once. They are very important as they place you in your freshman English and math classes.

3. The tests are $36 and you must pay with a check of money order made out to ETS on the Saturday morning test date. Your entry ticket will provide more info about what to bring on the test date.

4. Here is a link to test dates around the state. You can also go to your local CSU and find its test dates. You need to sign up in advance.

5. Here is national information site. It has free practice tests on it.
http://www.ets.org/portal/site/ets/menuitem.1488512ecfd5b8849a77b13bc3921509/?vgnextoid=e9a72d3631df4010VgnVCM10000022f95190RCRD&vgnextchannel=bc41e3b5f64f4010VgnVCM10000022f95190RCRD

6. Here is a site for English placement practice tests and other readiness materials. http://www.csuenglishsuccess.org/exam_prep_esw

7. Here is a site for Math placement practice problems and other readiness materials.
Math test readiness
http://www.csumathsuccess.org/exam_prep

8. Please register online and keep track of
Entry ticket
User Name and Password
Scores
And make sure scores are sent to the CSU they choose to attend..

9. You can waive out of English  if you get 550 or higher on  Critical Reading SAT scores. Same with Math. Check ETS for other ways to waive out.

10. Here are more great links.

Readiness Materials!!!!!!!!
Here is great link with activities to help prepare kids for EPT.
http://www.csuenglishsuccess.org/eshome
Activities by grade level.

The Roadmap is awesome for seniors and tells them what to do!!!!!!!!!!
Great link with activities for kids for EPT
http://www.csuenglishsuccess.org/english_roadmap/english_roadmap?time=1266444889

Two practices tests
http://www.csuenglishsuccess.org/exam_prep_esw

Great resources for counselors
http://www.csuenglishsuccess.org/esw_counselor_eptreq

Great Math Help and Info
http://www.csumathsuccess.org/mshome

Roadmap for math
http://www.csumathsuccess.org/my_roadmapintro?time=110241

Here are practice sites for tests
Math-http://www.ets.org/portal/site/ets/menuitem.1488512ecfd5b8849a77b13bc3921509/?vgnextoid=e7a72d3631df4010VgnVCM10000022f95190RCRD&vgnextchannel=9531e3b5f64f4010VgnVCM10000022f95190RCRD

English-http://www.ets.org/portal/site/ets/menuitem.1488512ecfd5b8849a77b13bc3921509/?vgnextoid=eba72d3631df4010VgnVCM10000022f95190RCRD&vgnextchannel=a461e3b5f64f4010VgnVCM10000022f95190RCRD

You need to fill out financial aid applications right now!!!. Applying is free!!! And you have to apply to qualify for grants, scholarships, and loans!!! Your information is protected!!! So apply!!!

Getmetocollege Freeadvice wants all seniors to make sure they have their FAFSA forms filled out and submitted. To receive any formal aid you need to fill this out. http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

Make sure you meet all Cal Grant deadlines. You have until March 2 for Cal Grants…fill them out now. Go speak with your counselors about them now if you haven’t already done so!!! This is money you can’t afford not to get. A grant is a gift and you don’t have to pay it back!!!