Myth #1. College Is Too Expensive. I/We Can't Afford
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BERKELEY HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGE APPLICATION HANDBOOK FOR PARENTS & FAMILIES OF SENIORS CLASS OF 2013 College Board (CEEB) School Code for Berkeley High School: 050290 1980 Allston Way Berkeley, CA 94704 510-644-6121 1 Attend the BHS College Information Workshops for Parents and Guardians Dates are listed below. In case there are any changes, recheck the dates for these workshops in the College and Career Center Bulletin on the BHS etree. All workshops will be held 6:30 to 8:30 pm in the BHS library. Wednesday, September 19 Senior Parent/Guardian College Information Night covers the how-to’s of applying Wednesday, October 3 Senior Parent/Guardian College Night features representatives from the UC system, CSU system, and private colleges Wednesday, November 14 Financial Aid Information Night 2 College Application SUMMER SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER Timeline 2012-2013 Senior Profile due. PREPARATION Continue to listen to or read the Daily Bulletin and the College Advisor’s Bulletin for Work on Senior Profile. Check Senior Calendar in announcements about various deadlines, scholarship info, etc. (pp. 28 - 32) Student Workbook. Talk to relatives, neighbors, friends, teachers, coaches. Senior Parent College CHOOSING COLLEGES: Visit colleges. Attend college fairs. Night (p. 2): Hear college RESEARCH AND INFO Senior Parent College Info Decide if you will seek reps. GATHERING Night (p. 2): How-to’s of early admission. (See pp. (Ch. 2) applying. Students: Students: attend college 25 - 27.) attend college rep visits. rep visits. COLLEGE ENTRANCE Develop test-taking plan. Figure out test requirements Check p. 46 for full details on for colleges you’re interested in. Take any tests you still sending test scores when Last test date for UCs and TESTS Register for needed need. registering for the December CSUs. (Ch. 10) SAT/ACT tests. tests. LETTERS OF Give teachers recommendation forms or email them the If not yet done, ask RECOMMENDATION link at least one month before due date (some want it by teachers if they will write Nov. 15), with info about work done in their class. Answer (p. 38 - 40) letters for you. Private colleges only teacher’s prepared questions, if required. Start thinking about COLLEGE ESSAYS Start writing. Have essays reviewed. Expect to do Finalize essays if not yet college application several revisions until they are finalized. done. (Ch. 11) essays. Early applications due, some as soon as Nov. 1. Organize application Applications due this APPLICATIONS CSU priority application period is Oct. 1 - Nov. 30. materials if you haven’t yet month for some private (pp. 33 - 42) done so. UC application online Oct. 1; submit Nov. 1 - 30. and out-of-state schools. Attend UC, CSU & Common Application workshops. Obtain corrections if Turn in Secondary School Report and transcript request TRANSCRIPTS Review transcript through needed. Make sure it gets forms for non-Common App schools to College and Career (pp. 31, 33, 35, 40- 41) junior year for accuracy done before transcripts Center by Oct. 4 if applying early; Nov. 2 for regular and completeness. are sent out. admissions. For CSUs, see p. 35. Not needed for UCs. INTERVIEWS (Private colleges only) Determine interview policy and dates for interviews. Sign up. (p. 41) Review the FAFSA and obtain two PINs, one for a parent and one for the student. If Start gathering year-end FINANCIAL AID Consult detailed timeline applying to private colleges, find out if CSS PROFILE needed, and register. Make a list of financial info. Some (Chs. 12 & 13) on pp. 68 - 69. deadlines for each school you are applying to, especially if applying early. Attend schools have early Jan. Financial Aid Information Night in Nov. (p. 2). deadlines. JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE LETTERS OF Write thank-you notes to teachers who RECOMMENDATION have written you recommendation letters. Statement of Intent to Most decision letters sent Register must be sent to by April 1. If no letter by college you plan to attend Many private colleges have January 1 or 15 April 10, contact College by MAY 1 (postmark or APPLICATIONS regular application deadlines. Some have Advisor. See Ch. 17 re How online, depending on February deadlines. to Resolve April Admissions school). Remember, you Dilemmas. can send the Statement to one school ONLY. Turn in request form to If needed, turn in Midyear request forms June 3 – last Registrar in D173 to send and transcript request forms to Registrar in day to turn in TRANSCRIPTS final transcript to college D173. (Sent automatically to Common transcript you will be attending App schools only.) See p. 41. request form. (including UCs). Submit FAFSA no earlier For Cal Grants, If estimated numbers were than Jan. 1. Submit CSS submit supplied on FAFSA or CSS PROFILE if needed. Many Release Form PROFILE, make corrections schools want FAFSA to Registrar in with final figures and send FINANCIAL AID and/or CSS PROFILE by D173 by Feb. to each school. Feb. 1. 1. See Ch. 17 re How to Attend hands-on workshops for help in Compare Financial Aid and completing the FAFSA. Scholarship Offers. POST-APPLICATION Complete your planned courses and keep those grades up through senior year. Failure to do so could reverse your admission, ADVICE even after acceptance. Table of Contents College Application Timeline ............................................................................... i 1. Introduction .......................................................................................................... 1 2. Choosing Colleges .............................................................................................. 5 The Nine Basic Questions ......................................................................................................... 5 Gathering Information .............................................................................................................. 6 How Many Colleges Should Your Student Apply To? .............................................................. 8 Important Reminders ................................................................................................................ 8 Tips from Parents on Choosing Colleges ...................................................................................... 9 3. Higher Education Systems in California ............................................................. 11 Comparing the Four California Segments ................................................................................ 12 Naming Rules—and Exceptions ............................................................................................. 13 4. Choosing to Attend a Community College ......................................................... 15 5. Overview of Course Requirements .................................................................... 18 Sample Minimum College Admission Requirements (chart) ..................................................... 20 6. Questions about Grade Point Average (GPA) .................................................... 21 Calculating My Student’s GPA .............................................................................................. 21 The UC and CSU GPA ....................................................................................................... 22 Other Questions about the GPA .............................................................................................. 23 7. Types of College Admission …………………………………………………………25 8. Beginning the College Application Process ........................................................ 28 Tips from Parents on the Application Process ........................................................................... 31 9. The How-To’s of Applying to College ................................................................ 33 How to Apply to California State University Campuses ........................................................... 34 How to Apply to University of California Campuses ................................................................ 36 How to Apply to California Community Colleges ..................................................................... 37 How to Apply to Public Colleges and Universities in Other States ............................................ 37 How to Apply to Private Colleges ............................................................................................. 37 10. SAT and ACT Tests ........................................................................................... 43 The SAT and the ACT .......................................................................................................... 44 Registering................................................................................................................................ 46 SAT Subject Tests ................................................................................................................... 47 Test Dates ............................................................................................................................... 48 11. Writing the College Application Essay ................................................................ 49 Preliminary Considerations ........................................................................................................ 50 15 Specific Pieces of Advice ...................................................................................................... 50 Common App Essays .............................................................................................................