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College & Career Notes This site is always being updated. Please email Linda Wong for the most current information and to be placed on the CCC email list
Visit www.fastweb.com 
Portfolio Day for Arts College - January 15 The Fabric of Society An Annual Essay Competition for California High School Students - March 1 "In a moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing.” De La Rosa & Co. will award $2,000 scholarships to 25 seniors. One winner will be chosen from each of 25 participating California high schools. Contestants must be seniors in good academic standing and on track to graduate in 2011. Click here for more information. "Freshman Year Doesn’t Count" is a Myth, Especially if You Are Thinking about College 1. required courses The University of California (UC) and California State Universities (CSU) have course requirements taken in grades 9-12. A minimum of a “C” grade is required for these classes, however, the higher the grade the better. The UCs and CSUs will only use college prep (a-g) courses for your GPA from the summer after 9th grade through the summer after 11th grade. Your GPA in 9th grade is not used for the UCs and CSUs. However, some independent (private) colleges may look at the 9th grade GPA. Students who have “D” and “F” grades in the required coursed are deficient in their course requirements. Taking a summer school class through MDUSD or at another MDUSD school offering the exact same class can change your GPA. The UCs and CSUs will use the higher grade if you repeat the exact same class. Students with “d” and “F” grades in freshman year can still go to college ~ just repeat the classes ASAP. California Apprenticeship Programs There are opportunities to be an exert in a specific career field and learn and grow into a profession. California offers many apprenticeship programs. Click here for more info.What is the difference between Registered Apprenticeship and other types of training? The Registered Apprenticeship system of training is unique in that it is the only formal, structured, and nationally recognized education and training program available that combines the two most common forms of career and occupational learning: classroom instruction with on-the-job training. Apprentices not only learn occupational skills in the classroom, their learning is expanded to include hands-on, paid, on-the-job training! Students learn and practice all phases of the trade/occupation in real-world applications. The program must be registered with the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS). FREE Internet Career Assessment Tool College Applications It is recommended that you keep your computer updated with anti-virus software. The CSU website is http://www.csumentor.edu/ The UC website http://universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions. Students interested in applying to independent colleges may want to use the common application at http://www.commonapp.org/ . It is suggested that students open a new email account just for the college and the financial aid process. Students will need an email account. Colleges, including DVC, prefer corresponding with students via email. Students will need to obtain an unofficial copy of their transcripts to complete the applications from the registrar. Students interested in attending an independent or out-of state college may want to request an application directly from the college this summer. Some independent colleges will charge a fee if a paper application is submitted and no fee if a student files on-line. DVC applications and the required placement testing will be available in March at YVHS. Private colleges vary with their application deadlines and procedures; it would be wise to contact these schools and file the application as early as possible. Documents about various college options in PDF format are available here: www.getinsights.com - career assessment, exploration, informational interviews Financial Aid Financial aid is available to all seniors who plan to attend a 2-year or 4-year college, community college, or vocational school (IE Heald Business College, ITT, Western Career College). To receive federal financial students and their parents must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. It is suggested that you submit this form as soon as you can to maximize your chances for aid and applying on-line is preferred; paper applications are available. The first day to submit the forms is January 2 and the deadline is March 2 if you are also applying for a Cal Grant. The FAFSA can be completed and submitted on-line at www.fafsa.ed.gov Students who are interested in applying for the FAFSA will need a Personal Identification Number (PIN) for themself AND one parent. Go to www.pin.ed.gov to get a PIN; you will need a social security number. Some independent colleges have an earlier financial aid deadline.The State of California also has financial aid available for students. This aid is provided to students in the form of a Cal Grant. To apply for a Cal Grant, students must complete a GPA Verification paper application, in addition to the FAFSA form. Our school registrar, will need to calculate your GPA (it is not the GPA on your transcripts). When you get the form, complete it in BLACK ink, then give it to the registrar. Do NOT forget to pick the completed form up from the registrar; you are responsible for mailing this form. The deadline for Cal Grants is March 2. Students who complete both forms, have a re-calculated GPA of 3.0+ and our low to middle income may qualify for a Cal Grant. This money can be used for vocational schools, community college, California State Universities (CSU), University of California (UC), and private schools in California. For students interested in the community college system, there is a second deadline to apply for Cal Grants if you do not qualify based on your 10 th and 11 th grade GPA. The deadline will be September 2 and your senior year grades will also be used to re-calculate your GPA. The form for the September 2 deadline will be at the community college. Some independent/private colleges require a third form if you are interested in receiving financial aid from the school. Check with your school to find out if they require the CSS Profile form or any other special forms from their institution. You can access the CSS Profile at www.collegeboard.com . The financial aid deadlines at private/independent colleges will vary. Check with your school because the deadline may be before March 2. The FAFSA, FAFSA on the WEB Worksheet, GPA Verification and CSS Profile forms are available in the Career & College Center ( 3Cs) hopefully in December (depends on when they arrive) and the FAFSA is also available in Spanish. Students are provided with a packet of information to explain the financial aid process, types of financial aid and general information. Literature is also available in Spanish; students will need to specifically request the Spanish version. If you complete a paper application, be sure to write neatly in capital letters. The GPA Verification and FAFSA forms should be completed in BLACK ink. The GPA Verification form and the FAFSA do NOT have to be submitted at the same time or mailed at the same time. Submission INSTRUCTIONS FOR FINANCIAL AID FORMS : 1. Make a copy of the completed forms before mailing it. This copy is for your records. 2. Mail the forms at the Post Office. Do NOT put them in a mailbox. 3. At the Post Office, get a “Certificate of Mailing” for each form. Attach the Certificate of Mailing to your copy. This is your ONLY proof that you submitted the forms by the March 2 deadline. 4. If you apply on-line, make sure you print a copy of everything you submit. “I need money to go to college. Where can I get $$$?” From the federal and state government, the college you plan to attend, and/or your community, veteran or company-sponsored scholarships. Students must apply for federal aid through the Free Application for Financial Student Aid (FAFSA) application and for state aid by completing the GPA Verification Form. The forms will be available to students in December; you will need the forms for the 2010 - 2011 school year. Financial aid is available for students who plan to attend public or private 2-year/4-year colleges and vocational schools. It is recommended that the FAFSA be filed on-line. To do this, BOTH the student and one parent MUST have a Personal Identification Number (PIN). To get your PIN, go to www.PIN.ed.gov . It is not too early to do this now. The 3C’s receives many local and national scholarships. Scholarships are posted in the 3C’s and in the hallway of the 200 wing; the lists are usually updated weekly. Scholarships/Contests are available for students of all ages; however, most of the scholarships we receive through the 3C’s are for juniors and seniors. For additional scholarship information from the Internet you can set up a personal profile for scholarships at www.fastweb.com or go to www.scholarshare.com . AB540 is a State law that allows undocumented students who have attended a California high school for 3 years and graduated to attend a California public college (CSU, UC or community college) for the same price as California residents. For more information go to www.e4fc.org Just a little advanced notice for those in AP classes. Advanced Placement (AP) exams will be administered to interested and qualified students between May 1 - May 11. Applications and more detailed information will be available through the 3Cs in February. General information can be found at AP Central www.collegeboard.com JUNIOR: College Entrance Exams Juniors who plan on attending a 4-year college after high school are most likely required to take College entrance exams - SAT Reasoning, ACT (American College Test) and/or SAT Subject tests. Junior year is the year to test and senior year is the time to RE-TEST. Juniors should sign up to take these tests in Spring. SAT Subject tests are recommended in June, especially if a student is in an AP class and taking the AP test.The SAT Reasoning now consists of three sections: Critical Reading Math and Writing, to include an essay. The UCs will not accept scores after the December test dates. Check with your specific colleges; some California State Universities (CSU) and private colleges will require test scores before December. Independent colleges and out-of-state schools will vary with their deadlines The UCs require applicants to take the SAT Reasoning and/or ACT plus Writing AND two (2) SAT Subject tests, in different subject areas. The UCs will not accept the Math I Subject test. The CSUs require the SAT Reasoning (Critical Reading and Math only) or ACT (no Writing). Some private colleges also require the SAT subject tests. Not all college will use the Writing score of the SAT Reasoning test. YVHS is a SAT test site; register early to reserve your space at our school. For more information, and to register on-line go to www.collegeboard.com (SATs) and www.actstudent.org (ACT). The SAT Reasoning is an abstract thinking test. The SAT Subject tests and the ACT are achievement tests. SOPHOMORE: College Entrance Exams Sophomores who are in Advanced Placement classes, Chemistry Honors or Physics Honors should consider taking the SAT Subject tests in June of their sophomore year if they are planning or considering attending the University of California. As they study for the AP tests or finals they will also be preparing for these subject tests. The Univeristy of California will require applicant to take two Subject tests and if you take more than two, they will use your best two scores. Collegeboard will hold these scores until they are sent to colleges in your senior year.College Information in Spanish The CollegeBoard offers a website dedicated to materials written in Spanish. There is a booklet “El sueno de la universidad, Una guia para los padres”. For more information, go to www.collegeboard.com/enespanol
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