2. Step 1: Researching Your Student’s K-12
Educational System
• Graduation Requirements
• CAHSEE
• A-G Requirements/Course Lists
• Four Year Plan
• Career Technical/Military Programs
• College Preparatory Programs (AVID, Puente, AP, IB)
• How to Communicate with your Student’s Teacher & Counselor
• Academic Support Services Available
• Parent Advisory Groups
• Review School Calendar Together
Do you know how your student’s school addresses these topics?
Research
K-12
System
3. Step 1: Researching Your Student’s K-12
Educational System
Request a Copy of Your Student’s 4 Year Plan
5. Step 1: Researching Your Student’s K-12
Educational System
The Student Planner is a Great Place to Look For Specific
Information on Your School’s Program and Possibly
Higher Educational Options
6. Step 2: Investigating the Right Fit for
Your Student’s Future
Have you initiated conversations with your student
on their post secondary plan?
• Investigate Career Interests
• Investigate Colleges
• Investigate College Majors/Career Credentials
• Visit College Campuses
• Get Your Student Involved in Extra Curricular Activities
8. Step 3: Strategically Securing the Must
Haves
• The ACT Plan/College Board ReadiStep Assessments
• Pre-AP Courses (Middle School Level)
• Securing College Eligible Courses (A-G)
• ASVAB Test (Military)
• Advanced Placement (AP) Exams
• Prepare and Register for College Admission Tests
• PSAT (Grades 9-11)
• SAT/ACT (Grades 11-12)
• SAT II Subject Tests (Select Colleges)
Do you know what exams are required for your
student’s aspirations?
9. Step 4: Expense Planning for
Post Secondary Education
Expense
Planning
• Apply for Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Submit California Student Aid Cal Grant Grade Point Average (GPA)
• Apply for National and Local Scholarships
• Apply to at least four Universities (One Local State School)
• Avoid Summer Melt
How will you financially secure your student’s
post secondary plan?
10. Step 4: Expense Planning for
Post Secondary Education
Students who fill out a FAFSA have 72%
higher odds of persisting than their peers
who do not file. Lower income students
have a 122% higher odds of persisting than
their low-income peers who do not file a
FAFSA.
Heather Novak and Lyle McKinney, 2011
FAFSA Rationale
11. Step 4: Expense Planning for
Post Secondary Education
For every dollar that California invests in
students who go to college, the state will get
a net return on investment of four dollars and
fifty cents in the form of increased taxes on
graduates’ earnings and savings on social
services and incarceration.
$60 million in increased Cal Grants offered equals
$250 million in California’s future
- California Campaign For College, 2012
FAFSA Rationale
12. This concept is referred to as the summer melt.
One of the main reasons that causes students to
melt is financial aid related matters.
Each year roughly 20% of our graduating
seniors who have been admitted to a
university do not show up for their Fall term.
This melting rate can increase in areas which
have increased numbers of lower
socioeconomically disadvantaged students.
Avoid the Summer Melt
FAFSA Rationale
13.
14. Conservative estimates show that in the State of California, one half
billion dollars is never claimed as a result of qualified students not
submitting their FAFSA.
- Interview with Greg Darnieder, U.S. Dept. of Ed., 2014
15. 9th Grade
* Get connected to parent portal to monitor grades and stay connected to teachers.
• Review all school information distributed and get a copy of the UC A-G course list
• Attend back to school night to meet your students teachers.
• Take the PSAT in October. scores available in January
• Take the ACT Plan if offered in your area
• Begin research on career and college majors and schedule a campus visit
• Review your students schedule and start planning to enroll in AP courses
• Get your student involved in both on and off campus extracurricular activities, community servic
• Visit the College and Career center and find out what colleges and technical schools are coming.
• Create accounts for scholarship websites including www.fastweb.com
• Verify your students schedule for A-G courses if 4 year college is their path.
Pertinent Items To Do
16. 10th Grade
* Take the PSAT in October scores available in January
•Continue research on potential major and college selections
•Visit a college campus and call for a tour
• Verify your students schedule for A-G courses if 4 year college is their path.
Pertinent Items To Do
17. 11th Grade
* Take the PSAT in October scores available in January(National Merit scholarship consideration)
•Take the SAT reasoning test starting in the spring and SAT subject tests if university of choice
requires it.
•Take the ACT starting in Spring or earlier if prepared
•Complete a FAFSA forecaster online at www.fafsa.ed.gov
•Create a college application planning sheet that includes requirements to apply and deadlines
•Create a professional resume for potential letters of recommendation
•Begin rough draft of personal statement for college application and scholarships
• Verify your students schedule for A-G courses if 4 year college is their path.
Pertinent Items To Do
18. 12 Grade
*Retake SAT or ACT for improved score before December
• Verify your students schedule for A-G courses if 4 year college is their path.
• Apply to UC and CSU by Nov 30 deadline
• Verify private and out of state university application deadlines. ( most are Jan 1)
•Complete FAFSA application by March 2
• After reviewing all financial aid packages complete student intent to enroll by May 1st
•Verify that your students Cal grant GPA was submitted to the California student aid commission
by March 2
Pertinent Items To Do
19. Catalina Cifuentes Mark LeNoir
ccifuentes@rcoe.us mlenoir@rcoe.us
951-826-6471 951-826-6593
Bob Tyra
https://www.facebook.com/goingtocollegeca
Questions?
More Information?
