Whether you plan to further your education, or enter the military or the working world after high school graduation, this bulletin will assist you. When you have specific questions, make an appointment with your counselor. There will be meetings in September and October during Support to inform students about the college application and resume process. Refer to this senior bulletin and your senior calendar all year for updates and new information.

SOCIAL SECURITY CARD: Go to the Social Security office in your area to apply for a Social Security Card if you do not have one. Bring your birth certificate, school I.D. or driver’s license. Most colleges, scholarship programs and employers require a Social Security number.

EMAIL: Most colleges communicate with you through email so be sure to check your email frequently because you may receive questions and/or updates regarding your college applications. You may want to set up a separate email account for college application purposes.

TRANSCRIPTS: A transcript is a copy of your high school record (courses, semester grades, GPAs). Do not send transcripts to colleges unless requested. When ordering a transcript through our registrar, Ms. McCurdy, be sure to distinguish whether you want an official or unofficial transcript. You will be receiving an unofficial transcript for your own use during your senior year meeting. Some colleges may require “mid-year” reports. See your counselor for more information about this. A final transcript showing date of graduation should be ordered for the college you plan to attend at the end of your senior year.

COLLEGE APPLICATIONS: Most colleges will prefer that you complete your applications online, however, be sure to print out a copy of each application for your own records even when you submit it online. If you do send information to a college by mail, buy a Certificate of Mailing from the post office. Almost 400 colleges will accept the Common Application (www.commonapp.org). Check whether supplemental forms are required from each college to which you are planning to apply if you use this application. Check with your individual colleges to inquire which application the admissions office may prefer. They may have their own application.

NAVIANCE: If you haven’t already begun to research colleges, start now! The Naviance program will come up with such lists as the www.echoices.com website funded by our ROP. The free website of all California colleges is www.californiacolleges.edu. If you want to go to college in another state, then you can use either NAVIANCE or echoices websites to search for colleges geographically.

Many factors are involved when choosing a college. Some students set up a check list or chart using the excel software, for example, listing all factors under each college to which they want to apply.

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA: The University of California’s application will be available to fill out in October, 2009, and then submitted from Nov. 1 – Nov. 30, 2009, at www.universityofcalifornia.edu/apply. Students fill out one application and check the campuses to which they wish to apply. (The UCs offer only regular decision admissions). We recommend that you submit your application online as early as possible in November to avoid any possible technical problems at the end of the month. Print out a copy for your files. You may apply to all nine (9) UC campuses with one application. The basic fee entitles you to be considered for one campus. You pay an extra fee for each campus.

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITIES: You may go online now to www.csumentor.edu, click the plan tab and the high school planner to begin filling out the classes that you have already taken and the grades you received in those classes. That information will transfer to your application. We recommend that you submit your Cal State applications online at www.csumentor.edu as early as possible to avoid any possible technical problems. Print out a copy for your files. You may apply online to as many campuses as you wish, but you must submit separate applications and fees to each campus. The basic fee entitles you to be considered for one campus. You pay an extra fee for each campus.

PRIVATE CALIFORNIA AND OUT-OF-STATE COLLEGES/ UNIVERSITIES: It is your responsibility to obtain each college’s application. Addresses, websites and phone numbers are available in the College & Career Center. Information about private California colleges can be found on www.californiacolleges.edu. “Rolling admissions” means that your application will be considered shortly after it is submitted and you will be notified within 4-6 weeks. "Early Decision" is binding, meaning if you submit your application early to only one college and are admitted in December, then you must withdraw all other college applications. An "Early Single Action" and "Early Action" application means after submitting an application early in the fall, you will be notified sometime in December that you have been admitted, but these offers of admission are not binding. For more information about this, contact your counselor or College & Career Adviser. In any case, however, be sure to meet deadlines!

COMMUNITY COLLEGES: Community college applications are available online. Website information is available in the College & Career Center. If you apply to a community college, you may also have to take placement tests in math and English. Information about Placement Tests is available from each separate community college.

TECHNICAL, TRADE AND BUSINESS SCHOOLS: Write or email the Office of Admissions for each school. You are responsible for following their deadline dates and for returning applications and financial aid requests.

FINANCIAL AID: Financial aid refers to scholarships, grants, loans and work-study programs. You must apply for financial aid at each separate college at the same time you apply for admission. Most colleges require that you and a family member submit a financial statement through the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid at www.fafsa.ed.gov) Some private colleges also require that you and a family member fill out the CSS Profile for financial aid (online at www.collegeboard.com). There is usually a section in each college application to indicate whether you need financial aid. You will be sent the appropriate forms. If there is a problem, contact the financial aid office at each school to which you have applied.

COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMS: Most colleges and/or universities require that you submit scores from either the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) or the American College Test (ACT). It is your responsibility to check each college website to determine which test(s) the college or university requires. Registration forms for the SATs or ACTs are available in the College & Career Center or you may register online at www.collegeboard.com for the SATs or www.actstudent.org for the ACT. Applicants to the UCs or to the Cal State systems should take their entrance exams (SATs and/or ACT) no later than December 2009. NOTE: Some Cal States require testing to be finished by October. College entrance exams are not required for admission to community colleges. Be sure that you have taken all the entrance exams that are required by the colleges to which you plan to apply. Some admissions decisions have been delayed because students forget they must order their scores be sent to the colleges to which they apply. Contact www.collegeboard.com to order SAT scores and www.actstudent.org to order ACT scores to send each college needing to see those official scores.

The UCs require either the ACT Plus Writing OR the SAT Reasoning Test AND two SAT Subject Tests of your choice (the UCs will only accept the Math Level 2 subject test). The Cal States require either the ACT or the SAT Reasoning Test. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo “prefers” the ACT and it must be completed by October of your senior year. San Diego State, Sonoma State, Long Beach State require that the SAT Reasoning or ACT be completed by October.

AP TESTING: Is in the month of May. The availability of applications will be announced.

NCAA APPLICATIONS: If you intend to compete in athletics at a Division I or II college, you must submit an application online at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Clearinghouse to verify your academic eligibility as soon as possible!

REGIONAL OCCUPATIONAL PROGRAM (ROP): If you would like to build entry level job skills or investigate new career options, consider taking an ROP class.

See your counselor or course catalog for more information.

MILITARY SERVICE: If you are considering entering the military service after graduation, local recruiters’ names and information are available in the College & Career Center. When males reach their 18th birthday they must register with the Selective Service. Forms are available in the College & Career Center or the post office or online at www.sss.gov.

FULL TIME JOBS: If you intend to work full-time after graduation, spend some time in the College & Career Center. Vocation/trade school information is also on hand in the college and career center. Work permits are available in the Counseling office.

COMMENT: Make the most of this year . . . make use of the resources available to you at Calabasas (teachers, counselors, College & Career adviser, tutoring resources). You can make an appointment to meet with your counselor or drop in any day during Support Period, Nutrition or Lunch. Good luck!