College planning, college testing, SAT, ACT, scholarships

1. Foothill Technology
High School
Junior Parent College Night
February 7, 2013

2. Foothill Technology High School
Session 1: College Timeline and Application Process
Spirito Hall, Debbie Freeman
Juana Vega (Spanish) Room D-104
Session 2: Standardized Testing for College Admission
Steve Boyd Room D-108
Session 3: Financial Aid and Scholarships
Linda Kapala Media Center
Session 4 (optional): The Parent’s Perspective
Cecilia Johnston Spirito Hall

3. Foothill Technology High School
College Timeline
And
Application Process

4. Foothill Technology High School
College Options Entrance Requirements
Ventura College High School Diploma
University of California A – G Requirements
 9 campuses SAT Reasoning
 Designed to accept top or ACT with Writing
12.5% of CA graduates Minimum GPA: 3.0
California State University
A – G Requirements
 23 campuses
SAT Reasoning or ACT
 Designed to accept top 33%
Minimum GPA: 2.0
of CA graduates
Varies depending on institution
Private Colleges/Universities Letters of Recommendation from
teachers and counselor

5. Foothill Technology High School
Grade 11
What should we be doing right now??
1. Begin the college search process if not started already.
 Use spring break/summer vacation to visit colleges/universities and take
campus tours.
 Peruse college search websites to narrow focus.
 Meet with your school counselor for further suggestions.
2. Take SAT and/or ACT tests in spring of junior year. Take SAT
Subject tests in June 2013 if applying to certain schools
and/or programs.
3. Keep grades up. College GPA’s are usually based on
grades from sophomore/junior years only.

6. Foothill Technology High School
Grade 11 Continued…
4. Talk to your counselor immediately if you have below a C in
any of your A – G requirements and intend on applying to
four year colleges/universities.
5. Use your summer wisely: take a college class, volunteer,
attend a summer program, travel, work.

7. Foothill Technology High School
Grade 12
Most important dates to keep in mind…
 Early – Mid September:
Registration deadlines for October SAT and ACT tests.
 October 1st:
UC and CSU application forms available online
 Mid October:
Counselors visit seniors in English classes
Senior Parent Night
 Late October:
Fall Break – make last minute college visits
 November 1st:
Application deadline for early admissions to private colleges/universities
 November 30th:
Application deadline for UC’s and CSU’s
 November – April:
Ongoing scholarship opportunities

8. Foothill Technology High School
Grade 12
Most important dates to keep in mind…
 Early December:
Last opportunity to take SAT and/or ACT
 December 15th – January 15th:
Application deadlines for most private colleges/universities
 January 1st:
FAFSA available online
 Second week of January:
Financial Aid Parent Night at FTHS
 Late January:
FAFSA line-by-line workshops at VC
 March 2nd:
FAFSA filing deadline
 March – April:
Receive notifications of admission to colleges/universities
 May 1st:
Submit intent to register to college/university of your choice

9. Foothill Technology High School
Factors to consider in choosing a college or university
 Location (in-state vs. out-of-state, rural vs. urban setting, weather
considerations)
 Size (Colleges range in size from 40,000 students to under 1000)
 Cost (in-state vs. out-of-state tuition, private vs. public)
 Selectivity (do you meet the admissions criteria for college/university,
how competitive is admission?)
 Type of College (private, public, community, parochial, etc)
 Major/Academic Dept.
 Housing

10. Foothill Technology High School
Components of the College Application
Component Applicable to…
Application Form ALL colleges/universities
http://www.csumentor.edu/
http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu
/admissions
http://www.commonapp.org/
Personal Statement UC‟s and private colleges/universities
SAT/ACT scores ALL colleges/universities
Application Supplement Private colleges/universities
*Letter of Recommendation/ Private colleges/universities
”Secondary School Report”
*Letters of recommendation must be requested from teachers and counselors at least two
weeks before they are needed and must be accompanied by a “Brag Sheet”.

11. Foothill Technology High School
Useful Websites for College Searches
 www.californiacolleges.edu
Provides college information and search engine for California private and public institutions
 www.princetonreview.com
Great place to start the college search
 www.usnews.com
Provides college rankings, college majors, and college planning tools
 www.campustours.com
Offers virtual tours, campus maps, webcams, videos, general information, tuition costs, enrollment
statistics, admission requirements and majors
 www.petersons.com
Helps students with a timeline starting in 9th grade
 www.bridges.com
VUSD college and career search program. Students have login and password.
College Application Websites
 www.csumentor.edu
Helps students plan for attending and apply to a Cal-State University
 www.commonapp.org
Application website for over 300 colleges/universities
 www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions
Provides information about all UC’s (requirements, deadlines, campus life, etc.)

12. Foothill Technology High School
Counselors: Media Center Specialist:
 Mr. Boyd: Last Names A – Gh, ext. 1011  Mrs. Kapala, ext. 1008
steve.boyd@venturausd.org linda.kapala@venturausd.org
 Ms. Freeman: Last Names Gi – O, ext.
1013 Mrs. Kapala is our scholarship
debbie.freeman@venturausd.org coordinator as well as the community
 Mrs. Vega– Last Names P – Z, ext. 1014 service coordinator.
juana.vega@venturausd.org
Registrar:
Your counselors are here to assist you  Ms. Nordin, ext. 1005
with college planning and admission, kris.nordin@venturausd.org
fulfilling your A – G requirements,
graduating from high school, academic
issues AND any personal, social and/or Ms. Nordin is the point person for official
emotional issues you may encounter. transcripts, VC transcripts, Cal Grant
Submissions, and multi-site enrollment
forms. Ms. Nordin can also answer many
counseling related questions in the
event of the counselors’ absence.

13. Foothill Technology High School
Standardized Testing
Requirements for
College Admission

14. Foothill Technology High School
The SAT
Register at:
http://www.collegeboard.com/
 What does the SAT test cover? SAT Subject Tests?
 Where do I take the SAT?
 How do I improve my SAT scores?
 Let me suggest some things
Recommended dates for Juniors:
Test Date Registration Deadline
March 9th February 8th
May 4th April 5th
June 1st May 2nd

15. Foothill Technology High School
The ACT
Register at:
http://www.actstudent.org/
 What does the ACT test cover? ACT with Writing?
 Where do I take the ACT?
 How do I improve my ACT scores?
Recommended dates for Juniors:
Test Date Registration Deadline
April 13th March 8th
June 8th May 3rd

16. Foothill Technology High School
College Testing Requirements
UC System SAT or ACT with All testing completed
Writing only. by December of
Subject test (?) senior year
CSU System SAT or ACT November or
December of senior
year depending on
campus
Private/Out-of-state Varying requirements Varying requirements
schools Check individual Check individual
websites websites
*The class of 2009 was the last graduating class that must take the SAT Subject tests
for UC admission.

17. Foothill Technology High School
Financial Aid and
Scholarships

18. Foothill Technology High School
“Education is one of the best financial investments
you can make. A bachelor‟s degree yields an
increase in lifetime earnings potential of nearly a
million dollars, according to Census Bureau data.
This is equivalent to a 20% annual return on the
investment.”
--from the Financial Aid Information Page--

19. Foothill Technology High School
Common Four-Year University Myths

20. Foothill Technology High School
Advantages of a four-year
college experience:

21. Foothill Technology High School
How much does college cost?
 COMMUNITY COLLEGES
 Approximately $ 4,000
 CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY
 Approximately $ 18,000 to $ 25,000
 California Resident overall full-time fees/tuition for
CSUCI are $6,316 (Academic Year).
 UNIVERSITY of CALIFORNIA
 Approximately $ 20,000 to $ 32,000
 PRIVATE COLLEGES
 Range from $ 20,000 to $ 60,000

22. Foothill Technology High School
Basic Equation of Need
COST OF ATTENDANCE – (COA)
- EXPECTED FAMILY CONTRIBUTION (EFC)
= FINANCIAL NEED (eligibility)
• The college will attempt to offer FINANCIAL AID to meet your
calculated FINANCIAL NEED.
• Not every college meets 100% of your financial need.

23. Foothill Technology High School
Financial Need
Community
UC CSU Private
College
Cost 25,000 22,000 35,000 10,000
EFC 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000
Financial
15,000 12,000 25,000 0
Need

24. Foothill Foothill Technology High School
SCHOLARSHIPS – WHERE TO START?
1. Check scholarship bulletin on line. New additions frequently appear.
www.fthsmediacenter.wetpaint.com
2. Ask if your parent‟s employer offers scholarships.
3. Check web pages of professional organizations to see if they have
posted scholarships e.g. American Geologic Institute – www.agiweb.org/mpp
 American Institute of Architects – www.archfoundation.org
 American Institute of Certified Public Accountants – www.aicpa.org
 Institute of Food Technologists – www.ift.org
4. Other sites to explore include: www.finaid.org/scholarships;
www.FastWeb.com; www.scholarships.com; www.freschinfo.com;
www.zinch.com

25. Foothill Foothill Technology High School
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Check scholarships posted on www.Bridges.com
2. Create your own scholarship search by using key words e.g.
Hispanic + single parent or Hungarian + college scholarship
Diabetes + college scholarship
3. Good Resource to check out: FUND YOUR FUTURE WORKBOOK and
other booklets are available in English and Spanish on the California
Student Aid Commission website. www.csac.ca.gov Copies also
available in the Media Center.
4. “Paying for College Without Going Broke” by Kalman Chaney.
Available at Barnes & Noble or Amazon. Answers many of your
financial aid questions in a clear and accurate way.

26. Foothill Foothill Technology High School
Now what?
1. Calendar, calendar, calendar or you will miss deadlines. Put them
on your calendar in two places – one several weeks before the due
date and the second date the drop dead date for mailing or delivery
of the scholarship
2. As you search different sites about paying for college, be careful of
scholarship scams, If you read the following lines, be careful:
“The scholarship is guaranteed, or your money back;” Or,
“You can‟t get this information anywhere else;” Or,
“I just need your credit card or bank account number to hold this scholarship/”
Or, “We‟‟ do all the work;” Or, “The scholarship will cost money to hold.”
3. Watch out for “College Financial Planners/Consultants” who are
really trying to sell you expensive whole life insurance products.

27. Foothill Foothill Technology High School
Tip 1 Apply only if you are eligible. Tip 6 Watch all deadlines. Don‟t send
Read requirements and directions carefully. the materials in late – they will be refused.
Tip 2 Complete application in full. Tip 7 Take steps to make sure
If a question does not apply, note that on the your entire application gets
application. n/a Do not leave a blank.
where it needs to go. Place name
Tip 3 Follow directions. Provide on all pages of the application in case it
everything that is required, but do not supply comes apart.
things that are not requested – you could be
disqualified. Tip 8 Give it a final „once-over.‟
Proofread carefully. Ask another person to
Tip 4 Neatness counts. Always type read it over before you submit it.
the application if you can, or if you must
print, do so neatly and legibly. Tip 9 Ask for help if you need it.
Visit your counselor or Mrs. Kapala
Tip 5 Make sure your essay
makes an impression. Be personal Tip 10 Remember: your
and specific. Include concrete details to application represents you! Your
make your experience come alive. ability to submit a neat, timely, complete
application reflects on you.