This is the time of year to make exciting summer plans for your child, especially for rising juniors and seniors. Colleges expect kids to use their summers productively aside from academics, test readiness, and family vacations. Powerful, creative summer plans reveal leadership and initiative and can help tip a student into a match college.

During these tough economic times, many families may feel pressure to spend precious family dollars on summer plans for teens to strengthen their college “portfolio,” or readiness. However, colleges do not expect you to spend thousands of dollars on summer plans for your teen. In fact, they admire teens that take the initiative to seek out amazing free or low cost pursuits in their communities. Working at Starbucks or a local cupcake bakeries also reveal strong work ethics.

 Nowadays, kids who go overseas or who do elite private programs can seem privileged. Also one time events can sound staged and not authentically connected to a child’s life during the school year.

 Local plans are often so much more powerful as kids can continue with ongoing projects and build on activities that can extend into the school year. Students going into competitive field majors need to show they have some exposure to the field, and summers are often the best time to do some exploration, because students have such busy lives during the school year. Because colleges know the economy is tough, they understand how people may use connections to help arrange for these summer experiences.

Always remember, there are so many places that need volunteers in your community. In this essay, I count unpaid internships as volunteering as students are not getting paid. It is much easy to arrange for “volunteer hours” as many companies and organizations have strict rules about internships for teenagers. The goal is for kids to volunteer or work 100 to 200 hours. Of course, they can do less if they are athletes or if they are doing summer school, but a few hours at one or two little activities do not really help. The more hours teens work or volunteer the better for them to see what the real world is like and to show consistency to a college. 

 In the rest of this article, I present some tips for free summer plans along with examples of what real teens have done to make their summers meaningful.

1. Local hospitals, businesses, clinics, and labs can all use free labor. Many have pre-existing volunteer and internship programs. Many will accept teens. Connections can help. 

Steven wants to be either a doctor or biochemist.  So after 10th grade, he volunteered in a lab at a local university where his mother worked. This led to an original research project that continued through senior year. He also volunteered at a hospital, shadowing a general surgeon for four weeks so he could see the practical side of medicine. This helped him to get into a competitive bio-medical engineering program at a top private college.

 2. Parks, schools, and camps all need teens.  Many have summer programs for low-income kids and are looking for volunteers. Many camps have seniors as counselors. Some kids even get paid. Some camps run all summer while others run one intense week. There are non-profits like Camp Harmony in LA that offer one-week camps for homeless kids and are looking for volunteers. Deadlines for these camps are often in February.  

Sarah loves little kids and for three summers in high school, she volunteered 20 hours a week at a head-start program. That led to her starting a supply drive and beginning to do public speeches about why budget cuts hurt these kids. She also had time to intern for two lawyers and to prep for the SAT. She is now attending a great college that has significant service learning and internship programs.

Sam had attended the same camp for eight years. The summer between junior and senior year he was a counselor for two four-week sessions. He had such a profound experience with several international campers that he wrote a great college essay about the power of communication. He got into several top public universities with great communications and language programs.

3.  Many businesses, non-profits, and political campaigns want talented and passionate kids for the summer. Use your contacts to help.  

Kenny wants to go into business. He spent one summer interning for a major restaurant chain and then did an internship at the United Way. He also volunteered for his dad’s international importing company. As a result, he had so much to write about in his applications to colleges with international and social entrepreneurship business programs. 

Four years ago, David volunteered for a presidential campaign and spent 100 hours helping register new Americans to vote. He also spent 100 hours at the local Veterans Hospital helping to transport medical equipment. Both gave him unique experiences with different kinds of organizations and people. He is now a political science major at a top mid-western college.

4.  Self created projects. Many kids have ideas about volunteer projects but need the summer to plan them.  

Sean wanted to start a peer-counseling program at his school. He spent the summer with several friends planning the program, getting trained by a school counselor, and implemented it the following year. A varsity basketball player, he also spent the summer practicing with his school and club teams. He is now a psychology major at a top state college.

Virginia wanted to expand her work as a local representative for an international relief group. She had helped to start the chapter at her school, but needed the summer after junior year to help expand its work, start planning some major fundraisers, and attend some free conferences. She also took a sociology and social welfare course during the regular summer sessions at UCLA as well as continued her volunteer work at a local soup kitchen.

Adam wanted to start a new chapter of a major neighborhood non-profit. He spent one summer helping to start the chapter, and the following summer doing several major events. He was named to regional boards and continued his work throughout senior year. He received a presidential community service award and wrote his common application essay about a unique learning moment that occurred at one event.

Concluding ideas

More than just bolstering a college application, volunteering or interning provides great opportunities for career exploration and humanitarian development. Staying local is also great for kids who want to start prepping for standardized tests, take local courses, and continue with artistic or athletic development. 

There are so many possibilities for your teens in your area. So now is the time to start the summer planning as these endeavors take time to arrange. Yes, we understand kids need to relax and get rejuvenated during the summer, but the summers are long and the more competitive the college, the more that college will expect applicants to use summers in meaningful ways.

1. Send out transcripts. Fall semester is over, and you need to send your transcripts to many of your colleges. Remember, many colleges want your high school transcripts also. Only send official copies of all transcripts. If you take intercession classes, you need to send those grades also. Those students who did not complete formal high school, will also need to submit high school proficiency records.
2. Update submitted applications. Many public colleges, especially the University of California, have you update your submitted application with fall grades online. So remember your username and password and sign in and update grades. Check as all campuses do not use the same procedures. If you take intercession classes, you can update those grades also in February.
3. Complete applications. Many colleges have spring deadlines beginning in January and going through May. Check with each college’s website and make sure you submit completed applications on time. Spend time perfecting each application.
4. Find and submit all forms. Remember, The Common Application does not have online paperwork capabilities for transfer students. So you need to print out all forms, sign them, and give self-addressed forms to instructors and then follow procedures for deans, counselors, and advisors.
5. Submit test scores. Also remember, some colleges want your SAT, ACT, and AP test scores. Again only official score reports count so go track down your usernames and passwords.
6. Write great essays. The colleges often have required essays for undergraduate, EOP, and scholarship applications. Write powerful essays about what your accomplishments since high school. Tell powerful stories. Make sure you find ways to use essays more than once. Do not tell write boring stories.
7. Apply for financial aid and scholarships. You need to fill out financial aid applications and submit them as early as possible to the colleges on your transfer list. Remember, many private colleges also use the CSS profile. Students applying to public colleges in California need to submit their FAFSA by March 2. Also go to your transfer office and see if there are any scholarships they have for students like you. Research the Jack Kent Cooke transfer scholarship if you are a top, top student at a community college.
8. Keep your spring grades high. Some colleges will want to wait to see your spring grades as you often are taking major prerequisites or completing core transfer classes. They may even ask for a mid-semester or quarter update from your instructors. The forms are available online.
9. Complete transfer units. Most schools will not allow for summer classes the summer before you transfer, so you need to finish your transfer requirements by the end of spring. That may mean adding a spring class.
10. Be patient. Transferring is a challenging process. So be patient. And check and double-check that everything you need is submitted.

Dear Teachers and Lay College Advocates:

Happy holidays. December goes by so quickly, so please help kids with their college and scholarship applications. There is still so much we can do to help these amazing kids.

Note: I spoke at LA Cash for College December 7 and 8. You can access presentations from dozens of presenters at http://www.lacashforcollege.org/home.html

Find similar events in your cities or regions.

Here are ten college access tips to get you through the rest of 2011.

1. More applications. You have survived many public application deadlines, but there are numerous private college and scholarship deadlines coming up. Please encourage your students to apply for these. Private colleges are desperate for interested under-represented minority and first generation students. Center for Student Opportunity has a great guide of colleges friendly to these students and has an Opportunity Scholarship for them. http://www.csopportunity.org/

2.  Free applications. Did you know that there are multiple ways for students to apply for free to private and many public colleges?

• Free or reduced lunch gets kids four free apps on the Common Application. They can apply for free to lots of out of state public colleges.
• NACAC provides fee waivers that most colleges accept. The forms require official stamps. Trio programs can provide these stamps. http://www.nacacnet.org/studentinfo/feewaiver/Pages/default.aspx

3. Educational Opportunity Program. Please assist and encourage students to complete their EOP applications and applications for other support programs at college. Each college, including CSU, has a separate deadline. http://www.csumentor.edu/admissionapp/eop_apply.asp

4.  Scholarships. Scholarships. Scholarships. There are multiple ways for first generation and under-represented students to pay for college. The Hispanic Scholarship Fund is due December 15. Many colleges have specific scholarships. Encourage students to find national, state, local, and college specific scholarships. USC for example has the USC Norman Topping Fund that provides scholarships. It is due February 10. http://www.usc.edu/student-affairs/ntsaf/prosp_overview.shtml. Undocumented students: Dated but still working links: http://www.maldef.org/leadership/scholarships/2010_Scholarship_List.pdf

5.  Test scores. Students need to send their test scores. Make sure they send them as soon as they can. Students with free or reduced lunch get to send scores for free to eight colleges. If they can’t afford to do this, you can contact a college and see if you can fax the scores to the college for the students. Remember, the UCs and Cal States allow scores to be sent only once. Cal States: CSU Mentor for SATs and ACT Score Manager for ACT. UCs: Just send to one campus and the scores will be distributed.

• January SAT: The next SAT, which can be used for Cal States and UCs, is January 28. Registration is December 30.
• February ACT: Next ACT is February 11. Kids must register by January 13.

6.  Essays. Kids need to keep write powerful college and scholarship application essays. Remind them, they can use essays more than once. They need to push themselves to write specific, empowering essays.

7.  Recommendations. Please, please write as many great, specific letters as you can. Students needs these letters and often ask you rather late. But they need these to get into college and EOP and to receive scholarships. Short letters don’t work. Give specific examples from their assignments, so you may need students to give you their former graded work to remind you. If you don’t have something nice to say, then perhaps refer them to someone else.

8.  Alumni. Remember, your alumni are back in town and eager to help. Ask them to wear their college sweatshirts and to be able to describe how they manage their workloads, social lives, and more. Sophomores are ideal as they have already navigated freshmen year and are not so embedded in upper level experiences yet.

9.  Application Crunch Game. With your younger students, begin to do college access work with your younger grades. USC just released a game. It’s relatively cheap. Perhaps someone can get you this game for a holiday present. http://interactive.usc.edu/2011/09/07/application-crunch-reviewed-on-play-this-thing/

10.  Enjoy your holidays. Please, please help students with any last minute college application questions. Perhaps hold an application party during the break. They shouldn’t wait to the last minute, but they do.

Again, you are the best at what you do. Your students are so lucky. Enjoy this time of year!!! Let me know if I can help in any way.

Sincerely yours,

Dr. Rebecca Joseph

www.getmetocollege.org

rjoseph@calstatela.edu

FB: getmetocollege freeadvice

Twitter: getmetocollege

Accepted Early Decision?: Five Things to Avoid  To Keep Your Spot

Congratulations for getting accepted Early Decision (ED) to the top college of your choice.  You deserve knowing that you have found your match college so early. YET, every year I work with students who lose their ED spot, because they enter what I term the “black hole of senior year.” If you mess up, a kid from the school’s waitlist will thank you.

Students: Truly, keep working hard. Mild senioritis is normal. Extreme is not. Enjoy your summer after graduation. Stay committed to high school.

Parents: You need to keep a keener eye on your Early Decision child than ever before. Contact the school once a month to keep track. Contact teachers and ask for any notifications of lower grades or conduct.

Please read and these examples and avoid THEM!!

1. Do not let your grades fall!! Kids ask all the time, can I let my grades fall now that I’m in to college. NO. What college would want you to slack off so much that your grades go down more than 1/3—B+ to B; A to A-? You must keep up the hard work. KEEP YOUR GRADES UP.

Faith got accepted to her top school. Then she chilled beyond belief in the spring and got two Ds. Her college contacted her and withdrew her acceptance. She had to go to summer school and is now back in but on a provisional basis with a GPA expectation.

2. Don’t skip class or start getting to school late.. Your teachers get very offended if you stop going to class. They can take action in more than just lowering your grade. GO TO CLASS.

Two years ago, Steven decided to start skipping some of his classes. His English teacher gave him a D third quarter, which he raised to a B. He received a C in another key class. In the meantime, his English teacher contacted his college, which withdrew his acceptance. He had to fly there and beg for forgiveness. Not wanting someone who couldn’t take his responsibilities seriously, the college made him take a year off and do an approved program.

3.  Don’t get suspended for pranks on campus. You may feel you’re safe and can do things you’ve never tried before. Don’t even do a senior ditch day if your school has severe consequences.

Orren decided to push authority with a major prank on campus and got suspended. His school contacted his ED college, which required him to submit a series of letters proving his maturity to keep his spot. Are you kidding me?

4. Don’t do stupid things off campus. Again, your college will find out. If you get in trouble for drinking or doing something truly ridiculous on a school trip or event, trouble will follow.

Jenny had too much fun at an off-site school dance. She got busted by her school, which suspended her, and ED colleges require notification. Her high school notified her campus, which has a no tolerance policy. She now attends a community college.

5. Don’t drop classes. You got accepted to your ED college on the presumption your schedule would stay the same. You can’t drop a tough class without replacing it with another one.  You must notify your ED campus of any class changes that you did not put on your application.

Mark got into college ED and decided to drop his math and foreign language class. When his counselor submitted his end of year report card, his college contacted him and said unless he took the classes over the summer, he was out. What a rotten summer Mark had.

Ten tips for Working from Deferral to Acceptance

Getting deferred from a college are good and bad things at the same time. It is good because the college is still interested in you and has put you into the regular applicant pool. It is good because the college can now see your fall grades and learn more about you. It is bad because the odds of deferred admissions are lower than applying regular, and waiting another four months for a potentially negative answer is agony. So these tips are all prefaced on the assumption that you are submitting other outstanding other applications. You will find a college that suits you and makes you happy!!!!

1.  When your first trimester or semester grades come out, write an updated email/letter of interest to the school.

• Highlight your fall accomplishments and stress how these grades reflect your true commitment to academics.
• You can mention a project or paper of which you are very proud.
• Also stress any other updates…such as leadership, athletic or other fall updates.
• In the letter stress your renewed interest in the college.

2.  Make sure your counselor sends in your fall grades along with a mid-year report.

3.  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 all your talents and reasons why you belong at deferred school.

4.  If possible, put together a portfolio…of one special talent

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

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

7.  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.

8.  If possible, visit the institution one more time and revisit the admissions office to remind them of your interest.

9.  Basically, do at least one new contact with the school per month until April.

10.  Remember, now also focus on the other schools on your list and devote significant time to those applications. There is more than one great college option for you!!!

Introduction: Here are 15 tips for completing the Fall 2012 University of California application system. Remember, while the UC application opened on October 1, you cannot submit your application until November 1-30.  

But remember-this is a tough year for University of California (UC) admissions. The UCs implemented their new admissions requirements, including no mandatory SAT Subject Tests, new eligibility requirements, including the completion of 11 out of 15 A-G courses by the beginning of 12^th grade. More students than ever are applying, the November 30 application deadline for freshmen and transfers is fixed, and you need to make sure your application is correct and complete.

You only need to complete and submit one application for the 9 campus UC system. Unlike the CSU system, you get to submit your application to all the campuses you select at once. You also pay one total application fee (by number of campuses) to a centralized payment system.

Please let us know if you need help convincing your family of the value of letting you attend a UC, even one a few hours away from home.

1. Have a working email address: Create an email address if you don’t have one. Gmail and hotmail are free and easy to use. Your high school may provide you with an email as well. YOU MUST CHECK YOUR EMAIL OFTEN. The UC campuses will only communicate with you via email. Please save your user name and password.
2. Investigate how the UCs evaluate applications. The UCs look at several factors when evaluating applications: Freshmen: http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/counselors/freshman/fall-2012/index.html   Transfers: http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/counselors/transfer/index.html
3. Determine your UC eligibility-

 a. California Residents

     Freshmen- 

1. 11 out of 15 required A-G courses completed by beginning of 12^th grade.
2. A GPA of 3.0 or higher on all A-G courses in 10^th and 11^th grade and no A-G grade lower than a C. Extra GPA points for honors and AP classes, but only award for two classes in 10^th grade.
3. The SAT or ACT w/writing
4. SAT Subject Tests can help fulfill A-G requirements

     Transfers-

1. Check the academic requirements for transferring by checking whether you have 60 semester or 90 quarter transferrable units.
2. You need to have completed the majority of the IGETC and major requirements for your campus.

b.       Non CA residents

Out of state, international and home-schooled students must provide other materials.  http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/freshman/other-applicants/index.htmlhttp://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/freshman/other-applicants/index.html

4.  Send your test scores to UC campuses. Freshman only-Send your SAT, SAT Subject Test, and ACT scores to only one UC campus. Then the UCs will send your scores to the other UC campuses to which you apply for free. Remember, the UCs only use your highest overall one-day test score.

5. Send other test scores: If you have taken AP tests, you must send your test scores to the UC campuses to which you apply. Transfers- you report these scores if you are using them for course credits. Contact the College Board to do this.  http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/exgrd_rep.html. You must also sent IB, TOEFL, or IELTS scores.

6.  Collect required and optional identification numbers. If you qualify for a guaranteed admission, include the 12-digit identification number that was included in your notification letter from UC. This is called your ELC ID number. Optional: Each K-12 student in California public schools is assigned an ID number. If it’s not printed on your transcript, ask your counselor or registrar.

7.  Gather family personal and financial information: You will need your family’s educational backgrounds and income for the past two years if you want a fee waiver for the UC applications and want to be considered for each campus’ great support programs for low-income students.

8. Determine residency status: You need to know your residency status. Ask your parents or family members. You do not need a SSN number but you need to know how long you have been in the California as the UC system calculates your tuition based on how long you have lived and attended school in California. Remember, AB 540 student can get admitted to the UC system but you cannot qualify for state or federal financial aid this year. You can qualify for private scholarships.

9. Prepare to check interest in scholarships and EOP: The UC application allows you to select 16 scholarships to be considered for without completing any additional paperwork. Go through each category and apply for as many as 16 scholarships that fit your qualifications and background. The application asks if you want to participate in EOP, the program for under-represented students. If you are a low-income student, say yes. You will benefit so much from EOP programs at each UC, including Summer Bridge and year long support programs. There is no separate application for scholarships or EOP.

10. Have access to official transcript(s). You self report your grades. You only send your official transcripts to the UC you elect to attend. But DO NOT lie. The UCs will take away your acceptance if you lie and if your grades fall. Enter each course from the list. But if you can’t find a course, then add it in. Transfer students will need to enter in fall 2011 grades in five weeks to the UC system. All students who change courses in the spring must notify the UCs in writing.

11. Collect information on all of your activities, jobs, honors, specialized programs, and non-A-G courses. The UCs look for special talents, achievements, and awards in particular fields-in and out school and academic and non-academic. The application provides room for five examples within each of the following six categories:

• Coursework Other Than A-G (freshmen only)
• Educational Preparation Programs
• Volunteer & Community Service
• Work Experience
• Awards & Honors
• Extracurricular Activities

You need to provide the hours per week and weeks per year and provide short descriptions of each activity. Focus on your leadership and initiative. Prepare to enter 160 character or less descriptions for each item you list. Remember that working for your family, including childcare counts.

12. Draft the two mandated UC essays: The UCs require you to write two essays (totaling no more than exactly 1000 words) that you paste into the application. It only gives you 30 minutes on the actual pages so prepare your essays in advance. You can write the essays now and make sure you reveal unique information and qualities about you that are not evident elsewhere in your application. Be brave and describe who are really are as this is the only way the UCs can learn about your life and the powerful ways you will enrich their campuses.

In each essay, connect to some major activity or experience you have had.

Some tips:  http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/personal-statement/index.html

• Here are the UC prompts: “Respond to both prompts, using a maximum of 1,000 words total. You may allocate the word count as you wish. If you choose to respond to one prompt at greater length, we suggest your shorter answer be no less than 250 words.”
• You can no longer go over the 1000 word limit.
• Prompt #1 (freshman applicants): Describe the world you come from — for example, your family, community or school — and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.
• Prompt #1 (transfer applicants): What is your intended major? Discuss how your interest in the subject developed and describe any experience you have had in the field — such as volunteer work, internships and employment, participation in student organizations and activities — and what you have gained from your involvement. Use this essay for your common application long essay.
• Prompt #2 (all applicants): Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are
• Additional information. If you wish, you may use this space to tell us anything else you want us to know about you that you have not had the opportunity to describe elsewhere in the application (no more than 550 words) Use this section to explain any limitations at your school-few AP courses, new school with few activities, etc.

14. Pay for applications via fee waivers, credit cards, or check and apply for specialized program for low-income students. Provide household size and income for 2010 and 2011: To qualify for application fee waivers and to be considered to special programs for low-income students, you need to provide your family’s household size and income for the past two years. You can get fee waivers for four UC campuses if you qualify. Additional campuses are $70 a piece. Undocumented students can use of the four fee waivers.

15. Research Blue and Gold Plan: Most low-income students than ever are attending a UC campus because the UCs have the Blue and Gold Plan.. If your family makes less than $80,000 per year, you may qualify for the UC’s Blue and Gold Opportunity, which covers the majority of your tuitions, fees, and living expenses. http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/paying-for-uc/financial-aid/grants/blue-gold/index.html

November College Readiness Tips for Teachers and Lay College Advocates

1.      End of senior year testing reminders.

• November 11 is the new deadline to register for the December10 ACT. http://www.actstudent.org/regist/dates.html).
• November 8 is the deadline for the December 3 SAT. http://sat.collegeboard.org/registerhttp://sat.collegeboard.org/register
• Remember kids can take each test twice for free and send four test scores for free per test.

2. Good news for undocumented students:

• In October, Governor Brown signed AB 131 into law enabling undocumented students to qualify for California financial aid. Bad news. It doesn’t go into effect until the 2013-2014 school. Year.
• Earlier this summer he signed AB 130 into law that allows undocumented students to qualify for private scholarships at public universities. That goes into effect January 1, 2012.
• So tell your undocumented students to have patience and to apply for scholarships from this list. http://www.scholarshipsaz.org/collateral/scholarships.pdf. For high school seniors attending public school in Los Angeles, there is a $500 scholarship available. Students must attend a workshop on November 12.  Students can download the College is For Everyone (CIFE) application and get more info at the CORE website at http://www.ca-core.org/resources.

3.  The UC applications can be submitted November 1- November 30. Remind students to apply for EOP. It doesn’t require an extra application. Just a short explain why. Low-income students (including undocumented students) can apply to four UCs at no charge. Remember, students can send test scores to one UC, and that UC will send the scores to the other UCs on the students’ lists.

4.   The Cal State applications are due November 30. The EOP application is separate. http://www.csumentor.edu/admissionapp/eop_apply.asp/ Please remind them to provide details in the EOP short answers. Low-income students (not undocumented) can apply for four Cal States for free. Students can send SAT scores to CSU Mentor and ACT scores through ACT Score Manager.

5. Essays, essays, essays!!! Tell your students to spend time on their essays. This is the only way they can differentiate themselves in the application process. They need to tell specific stories and make clear their leadership and initiative. I have attached my 10 tips for writing powerful college application essays below. Ideally, in at least one essay, students should describe the world they come from and show how they have made a difference in it.

6.  Scholarship applications. Many scholarships are due this fall. Please beg your students to apply to as many scholarships as possible. The Hispanic Scholarship Fund is a great place to start.  Students can reuse essays that they write for their college applications. http://www.hsf.net/.

7.  Private colleges. Encourage students to apply to four or five private colleges. Again, these applications are free for low-income students. The Center for Student Opportunity has a list of colleges that are friendly to first generation/under-represented students. http://csopportunity.org/. Many private colleges offer full scholarships to top undocumented students. For a list of these schools, go to http://getmetocollege.org

8. Remind kids to keep their grades up. Private colleges see fall grades. The UCs and Cal States don’t see grades until the end of the year, but they take away acceptances from kids whose grades fall and who receive any Ds or Fs.

9. Encourage kids to get ready to apply for financial aid. Kids need to apply for financial aid. Attend Cash for College events in your area and other events to encourage kids to apply for financial aid. The LA Cash for College is December 7 and 8. Book a bus to take your students to this great event. http://www.lacashforcollege.org/home.html

10.  Plan alumni visits. Please invite kids who are attending college to come visit your classrooms in November. Many can come in the Tuesday or Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Ask them to describe what makes college so fun. Ask alumni to mentor a student or two in your class.

1. Help students with their state university applications. In California, the Cal State and UC applications came online October 1. Both must be submitted by November 30. The Cal States can be submitted October 1-November 30, while the UCs can be submitted November 1-30. Both applications have students self-report their course and grades, so they need access to their transcripts. Please help them with their application completion. Other public university systems are all online. Help students!!!

2. Encourage seniors to apply for EOP and other support programs. These programs provided amazing support for low-income students throughout the admissions, college readiness, and college survival process. The Cal States have a separate EOP application with several short responses and two required recommendations. As space is limited, have students apply as early as possible. http://www.csumentor.edu/AdmissionApp/eop_apply.asp

On the UC application, students just have to check that they want to be considered for EOP.

3.  Inform students about college application fee waivers. Students who qualify for free or reduced lunch qualify for fee waivers for most college applications. The Cal States and UCs allow students to apply to four of their campuses for free. Private colleges accept NACAC or College Board fee waivers or will waive fees if counselors, teachers, or students request them for students. http://professionals.collegeboard.com/guidance/applications/fee-waivers

Undocumented students qualify for fee waivers for most colleges, except for the Cal States and public colleges in Arizona and some southern states.

4. Hold college application and college essay workshops before, during, and after school. Your students need help with their essays. These essays make them pop for college admissions officers who are desperate for your students. Make the essays requirements for English or hold workshops after school. Help them read great samples and see ways to use their essays more than once. They need to tell unique stories that grab reads from the first sentence. See our ten tips that we have attached with this email. Read the article about our approach in the New York Times. http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/23/nacac-essa/

5. Remind seniors of upcoming standardized tests. Yes, students can still take the SAT, ACT, or SAT Subject Tests. They can qualify for two fee waivers per test. Encourage them to keep trying as their scores usually go up.

SAT/SAT Subject Tests (http://sat.collegeboard.org/register/sat-dates)

• Nov 5 (Oct 9 registration). Listening part of foreign language tests offered.
• Dec 3 (Nov 8 registration)
• Jan 28 (Dec 30 registration)

ACT Tests (http://www.actstudent.org/regist/dates.html)

• Oct 22 (Late and walk in registration)
• Dec 10 (Nov 4 registration)

6. Help students learn more about colleges by attending college and non-profit events in your area. Colleges are in your area in October. Find out where they are or take your students to a college fair. If your high school doesn’t have a college night, perhaps you can crash one at a local public high school in your area. The Hispanic Scholarship Fund is holding free Steps for Success on Saturdays this fall in key states. http://www.hsf.net/workshops.aspx

7. Continue to encourage students to research colleges online. Colleges want your students. But students need to apply to match colleges. The Center for Student Opportunity (CSO) has a great guide that features colleges that welcome diverse students and free resources. http://www.csopportunity.org. You University offers great video tours of colleges. http://www.youniversitytv.com/ Take advantage of College Week Live. This free website offers amazing webinars and workshops for students applying to college. http://www.collegeweeklive.com/

8. Write great letters of recommendation. Please write recommendations that make your students pop. Follow our Into-Through-Beyond approach so that you can help colleges see why these students belong on their campuses. Give details about their academic performance if you’re a teacher. Highlight their leadership and initiative if you’re a counselor. If you can’t remember or just don’t know them, have them submit detailed brag sheets. These letters can make or break an admissions or scholarship decision for a first gen student. PLEASE WRITE YOUR LETTERS ONLINE!!!

9. Connect with current college students. Keep ongoing contact with your graduates. Ask these students to write tips for your students and post them around the classroom and college center.

10. A PLEA…Help homesick college freshmen. We send out students away, and in October they begin to get very homesick. Their parents often can’t visit them, and they are beginning to struggle, at times, with their workload. So please keep in touch with freshmen. Send them care packages. Or just FB message or text them. They need your ongoing support.

In this short and sweet video, one Latina mom lets other parents know it is okay to let their children go away to go. Both her daughters went away to schools.

Beat the SAT or ACT: Don’t let these tests beat you!!!

Read this advice my current expert column on Unigo. http://www.unigo.com/expertnetwork