Student Information Packet

Santa Ana Valley High School VHS http://www.sausd.k12.ca.us/valley

Santa Ana Valley High School Student Information Packet

(for counselor Letter of Recommendation & College Meeting)

This information packet is to assist in your college preparation and to give your counselor information about you to write a better recommendation letter for college or scholarship opportunities.

It is ideal to start working on this packet as soon as possible so you are not overwhelmed in the fall as a senior. This packet should be completed by Tuesday, September 30, 2014. Completed packets must be turned into your counselor in Building 8. Santa Ana Valley High School VHS http://www.sausd.k12.ca.us/valley As you start your research into colleges there are distinctions you should be aware of:

1) One “REACH” school, which means it would be a stretch for you to be admitted (based on their minimum GPA and SAT/ACT requirements) but you would like to try because it is a dream school or the school offers the areas of interest you want to pursue.

2) One “REALISTIC or 50/50” school, which means based on their minimum GPA and SAT/ACT requirements you are a solid match and this school offers the areas of interest you want to pursue.

3) One “SAFETY” school, which means this school you will most definitely be admitted. This school is probably not at the top of your list, but it is an option you have in case your other choices do not work out. This school also offers the areas of interest you would like to pursue.

Please complete all forms of the student data packet. You can download and save the file at home to work on at your own pace. Once you have TYPED in your answers and completed all the forms, you will have to PRINT the entire packet and turn it in to your counselor by September 30th.

Please use this checklist to make sure you have completed all the forms, click to off your completed items*:

Signed Agreement Form Activity/Special Interests Form Private College Selection Form Personal Profile Form Public College Selection Form Parent Reflection Form (Optional)

*It is your personal responsibility to know which colleges you are applying to require a recommendation letter from your counselor and/or a Mid-Year Report. Santa Ana Valley High School VHS http://www.sausd.k12.ca.us/valley SIGNED AGREEMENT FORM

This agreement is to waive access to records and recommendation letters.

Please TYPE into the gray areas your VHS student ID number, your LAST name, FIRST name and official name if it is different in your records.

VHS STUDENT ID# LAST NAME FIRST NAME

Please read and sign below, then have your parent/guardian sign below.

The signatures below are the authorization for Santa Ana Valley High School to send official high school transcripts, released ACT, SAT and/or SAT subject exam scores, and letters of evaluation or recommendation to colleges, financial aid offices, athletic departments, scholarship agencies or other offices involved in the college admissions process.

We understand that recommendation letters written by Santa Ana Valley High School teachers and counselors in support of applications are written with the understanding that they are confidential communications, to be read only by the admissions officers and/or financial aid offices, athletic departments and scholarship agencies at the colleges and universities designated by the student and we will not request access to them.

We understand and agree to these conditions.

Parent/Guardian Signature Date

Student Signature Date Santa Ana Valley High School VHS http://www.sausd.k12.ca.us/valley PUBLIC COLLEGE SELECTION FORM

Please put your highest combined test scores below

NAME STUDENT ID#

CSU/UC GPA* Current GPA

SAT Score ACT Score

*You can calculate your CSU/UC GPA by going to the CSU mentor website and following the directions: http://www.csumentor.edu/planning/high_school/gpa_calculator.asp

In the chart below, list the PUBLIC colleges/universities you are going to apply to:

App TYPE OF SCHOOL PUBLIC AVG. Name of COLLEGE / AVG. Deadline Colleges/ TEST LIKES DISLIKES Large/Small UNIVERSITY GPA Universities SCORE Liberal Arts/Research

*In the likes/dislikes columns, please put attributes you liked/disliked about the college/university. Santa Ana Valley High School VHS http://www.sausd.k12.ca.us/valley PRIVATE COLLEGE SELECTION FORM

Please put your highest combined test scores below

NAME STUDENT ID#

CSU/UC GPA* Current GPA

SAT Score ACT Score

*You can calculate your CSU/UC GPA by going to the CSU mentor website and following the directions: http://www.csumentor.edu/planning/high_school/gpa_calculator.asp

In the chart below, list the PRIVATE colleges/universities you are going to apply to:

App TYPE OF SCHOOL PRIVATE AVG. Name of COLLEGE / AVG. Deadline Colleges/ TEST LIKES DISLIKES Large/Small UNIVERSITY GPA Universities SCORE Liberal Arts/Research

*In the likes/dislikes columns, please put attributes you liked/disliked about the college/university. Santa Ana Valley High School VHS http://www.sausd.k12.ca.us/valley ACTIVITY/SPECIAL INTERESTS FORM

Please TYPE into the gray area the activities that you were involved with during school:

# OF YRS LEADERSHIP HONORS OR OTHER ACTIVITY INVOLVED POSITION HELD AWARDS

List below any coursework and/or study programs you have enrolled in outside of Santa Ana Valley High School. This would include community college and specialized programs such as a class at an Art Center, etc. Do not include high school courses outside of VHS, and do not include summer school classes. The purpose is to help us understand in what other ways you have pursued additional areas of interest outside of school.

PROGRAM / DATE NAME OF SCHOOL DATE BEGAN GRADE / MARK CLASS COMPLETED

PERSONAL PROFILE FORM Santa Ana Valley High School VHS http://www.sausd.k12.ca.us/valley Please answer all the questions below. Please TYPE your answers in the gray area.

Background Information

1. Will you be the first person in your family to attend college/university?

YES NO

2. What is the highest level education that your parents/guardians completed?

3. Are you the first person in your family to attend college/university in the United States?

YES NO

4. What are 3 adjectives or attributes that describe you? Please explain how they describe you.

5. What are 3 qualities that you feel are your strengths? Please give examples of your strengths; you can use academics, activities, hobbies, or your experiences.

6. Describe someone or something that has inspired you.

Santa Ana Valley High School VHS http://www.sausd.k12.ca.us/valley PERSONAL PROFILE FORM

Academics

7. What are your academic goals? Why?

8. Review your academic performance in high school. Please state why you chose your classes.

9. What was the most significant course you have taken in high school? Why?

10. What aspects of your high school career might you handle differently if you could live grades 9-11 over again?

11. What aspects of your high school career do you feel good about or most proud of?

Career

12. What are your career goals? Why? If you have several areas of interest, rather than a goal, then list them and explain why they interest you.

College/University

13. Which college/university is your FIRST choice and why?

14. We have many talented students at VHS. What distinguishes you from our typical student that a college/university should know?

Santa Ana Valley High School VHS http://www.sausd.k12.ca.us/valley PERSONAL PROFILE FORM

15. Have you received any academic awards or have special achievements during high school? If so, please describe these distinctions; feel free to include internships or activities outside of school.

Extracurricular Activities/Hobbies

16. Describe your community service. Please include the amount of time, location and what the experience was like, what you learned from the service, how the people/community benefited from your service.

17. How do you spend your summers? What do you like to do for fun and relaxation?

18. What extenuating circumstances about your life should college admissions officers take into consideration as they evaluate your application? Consider such areas as class leadership, honors work, excessive responsibilities at home, significant after school employment, unusual home situations, physical or emotional considerations, discrepancies on your academic records, or any other factors that make your situation unique? How did you deal with these experience(s)? How does it affect your life today?

19. What additional information do you feel is pertinent for me to know to write a better recommendation letter for you?