Venice High School

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Venice High School

• Quick Guide for
• Seniors

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Contents

• High school graduation checklist
• What are my post-grad options?
• Testing info
• Websites and resources
• Admissions timetable
• How to ask a counselor for a letter of
  recommendation
• Surviving admissions stress

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VHS Graduation Checklist

• Credits 55 10th grader, 110 11th grader, 170
  12th grader, 230 graduate.
• CAHSEE a score of 350 is needed to pass each
  section Math and English
• Classes Core classes and electives
• Computer Literacy computer class taken in 6th
  grade through 12th grade or a competency test.
• Class Project A service learning project during
  11th or 12 grade. This is usually completed in a
  history class.

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VHS Requirements to participate in Graduation
Ceremony

• Community Service 10 hours for each year the
  student has attended Venice High. Four years
  40 hours.
• Career Portfolio A senior portfolio of work.
  This includes documents such as a resume and
  letters of recommendation.
• Paperwork is processed by VHS staff.

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Know your post-grad options

• Community College (www.cccco.edu)1,000/year
• -Economical, Transfer Agreement Contracts
  available, certificate programs
• Vocational/Tech Schools, cost varies
• -Practical training for specific jobs,
  Certificate programs, short term
• California State University (www.csumentor.edu)
• -8820-17,462/year
• -Focus on teaching, classes taught by professors
• -Goal to offer admission to top 33 of CA grads
• University of California (www.universityofcaliforn
  ia.edu)
• -20,000-22,800/year
• -Focus on research and preparing students for
  grad school
• -Goal to offer admission to top 12 of CA grads,
  ELC program top 4
• Private Schools, 23,000-50,000/year
• -Vary in size, selectivity, location, cost, etc.
• Out-of-state public schools, out-of-state tuition
  fees

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CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY

• Chico
• San Diego
• Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
• Sonoma
• Long Beach
• Fullerton
• Channel Islands
• Fresno
• Humboldt
• Cal Maritime Academy
• Monterey Bay
• Cal Poly Pomona
• Sacramento
• San Francisco

• San Jose
• San Marcos
• Stanislaus
• Bakersfield
• Dominguez Hills
• Los Angeles
• East Bay
• Northridge
• San Bernardino
• Impacted campuses- higher index

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CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY

• Eligibility Index
• -GPA X 800 SAT (VM)
• -2900 is min eligibility for non-impacted
  campuses
• SAT code 3594 for all campuses
• Apply for housing ASAP
• Some campuses require transcript w/application
• -(wait for them to request)
• CSU will not be using the writing portion of SAT
• Oct SAT test date last date for LB, CPSLO SD

• Rolling admissions
• Re-routing option
• Sign up for CSU mentor email
• Admission status check [phone]

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UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

• Berkeley
• Davis
• Irvine
• Los Angeles
• Merced
• Riverside
• San Diego
• Santa Barbara
• Santa Cruz

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UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

• Eligibility calculator
• www.universityofcalifornia.edu/
• Eligibility vs. Selectivity
• UCB/UCLA 50 of 4.0 students are denied admission
• Comprehensive Review
• Eligibility in the Local Context (ELC)
• Apply broadly
• No letters of recommendation required
• Transcript not required w/ application

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CSU and University of California Requirements
SUBJECTS HIGH SCHOOL CAL STATE UC
ENGLISH 4 YEARS 4 YEARS 4 YEARS
MATH 2 YEARS (INCLUDING 1 YR ALGEBRA 1 or Algebra B) ALGEBRA 1 GEOMETRY ALGEBRA 2 ALGEBRA 1, GEOMETRY, ALGEBRA 2 4TH YEAR RECOMMENDED
SOCIAL STUDIES WORLD HISTORY/GEOG US HISTORY GOVT/ECONOMICS 2 YEARS INCLUDING 1 YR US HISTORY OR 1 SEM US HIST AND 1 SEM AMER GOVT 2 YEARS INCLUDING 1 YEAR WORLD HIST/GEOG AND 1 YEAR US HIDTORY OR 1 SEM US HIST AND 1 SEM AMER GOVT
SCIENCE 2 YEARS 1 YEAR PHYSICAL SCIENCE 1 YEAR BIOLOGICAL SCI 2 YEARS LAB SCIENCE (BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, GEOLOGY, PHYSICS, PHYSIOLOGY, BIOTECH, ETC.) 2 YEARS LAB SCIENCE (BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, PHYSICS PREFERRED)
FOREIGN LANGUAGE 2 YEARS FROM 2 SUBJECTS 2 YEARS SAME LANGUAGE 2 YEARS SAME LANGUAGE 3RD YEAR RECOMMENDED
VISUAL/PERF ARTS 2 YEARS FROM 2 SUBJECTS 1 YEAR 1 YEAR
CAREER TECH 2 YEARS FROM 2 SUBJECTS NOT REQUIRED NOT REQUIRED
must have grade of C- or better
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CSU and University of California Requirements
SUBJECTS HIGH SCHOOL CAL STATE UC
PE 2 YEARS NOT REQUIRED NOT REQUIRED
ELECTIVES 90 CREDITS 1 YEAR FROM English, Soc. Studies, Adv. Math, Science, Foreign Lang., Vis/Perf Arts 1 YEAR FROM English, Soc. Studies, Adv. Math, Science, Foreign Lang., Vis/Perf Arts
TOTAL 240 CREDITS 15 CLASSES MINIMUM (10 MHS credits1 unit) 15 CLASSES MINIMUM 22-24 RECOMMENDED
MUST EARN GRADES OF C OR BETTER IN ALL CLASSES
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PRIVATE AND OUT-OF-STATE

• Requirements vary
• Deadlines vary
• Letters of Recommendation
• -Counselor recommendation
• Student statement
• -Teacher recommendation
• Official transcripts required
• Early Action, Early Decision
• Rolling admission

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What counts most with Admissions Directors?

1. Grades in college prep courses
2. Admissions test scores
3. Grades in all subjects
4. Senior year classes
5. Class rank
6. Essay/personal statement
7. Work/extra curricular activities
8. Counselor recommendation
9. Teacher recommendation
10. Interview
11. Ability to pay

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TEST INFO

• SAT Reasoning Test
• www.collegeboard.com
• ACT
• www.actstudent.org
• SAT Subject tests (UC requires 2 tests in 2
  different subjects)
• Literature
• Foreign Language
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics
• US History
• World History
• Math 2

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RESPONSIBILITIES

• STUDENT- set priorities, research colleges,
  request letters of recommendation, organize, fill
  out applications, write personal statements,
  contact w/admissions offices
• PARENTS- coach not quarterback, gives input,
  write checks
• COUNSELOR- gives input and guidance, letter of
  recommendation, sounding board
•  

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COUNSELING OFFICE HOURS

• The counseling office is open Monday through
  Friday from
• 750 a.m. to 400 p.m.
• Please feel free to call or make an appointment.
• The counseling office telephone number is
• 310/577-4316

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COUNSELING CONTACTS

• Mr. Zarate A-F CASAA
• [phone]
• Ms. Cleary G-K 9th Grade Magnet
• [phone]
• Mrs. Goodwin L-M BBFA
• [phone]
• Ms. Talley N-S ESL
• [phone]

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Counseling Office Contacts continued

• Mrs. Roche-Blair T-Z, NMA, AVID
• [phone]
• Ms. Sturgeon 10th 12th Grade Magnet
• [phone]
• Ms. Davis Credit Recovery Program
• [phone]
• Ms. Reyes College Counselor
• [phone]
• Ms. Cohen Work Experience Coordinator  
• [phone]

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WEBSITES RESOURCES
University of California www.universityofcaliforn
ia.edu California State Universities
www.csumentor.edu California Community
website www.cccco.edu NCAA Clearinghouse
www.ncaaclearinghouse.net The Common Application
www.commonapp.org Free Application for Federal
Student Aid www.fafsa.ed.gov  College
Planning Websites www.mycollegeoptions.com www.p
rincetonreview.com www.myroad.com   (Free if you
take the PSAT) Financial Aid Search
www.fastweb.com
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ADMISSIONS TIME TABLE

• Grade 12- Senior Year
• Sept/October
• Take (or retake) SAT, ACT, SAT subject tests
  (Oct. is last acceptable test date for many early
  action/early decision schools)
• Finalize list of colleges (6-10) .
• Review online applications or request paper
  application.
• Work on college essays
• See counselor and teachers early for
  recommendations
• See college reps in the College/Career center
• Keep an eye out for scholarship applications
• Complete CSS profile at www.collegeboard.com (
  Opens on Oct 1 and its required by many private
  colleges for financial aid consideration)

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ADMISSIONS TIME TABLE

• Grade 12- Senior Year
• Nov/Dec
• Take any remaining planned SAT or ACT tests
• Complete UC and CSU Applications by Nov 30.
• Have test scores sent to colleges/NCAA directly
  from testing company.
• Complete all applications by Dec 20 and enjoy
  winter break!
• Keep an eye out for scholarship applications
• January
• Fill out FAFSA (January 2 March 2 )
• Keep grades up!
• Do not drop classes. A college application is a
  contract.
• Keep looking for those scholarship opportunities!

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ADMISSIONS TIME TABLE

• Grade 12- Senior Year
• February
• request transcripts for Mid-year reports by Feb.
  15
• March/April
• Acceptances start coming!
• apply for housingmaybe even before acceptance
• May
• May 1 SIR Student Intent to Register confirm
  admission and sign up for orientation.
• Arrange to take any necessary placement exams for
  English and math classes.
• Request that a final transcript be sent after
  graduation.

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Letters of Recommendation

• Students need to provide counselors with
• Student Brag sheet, including activities and
  awards
• -- Brag Sheet
• Copy of essay(s)
• Transcript release form
• email request from Common app or other on-line
  application program.
• Stamped, addressed envelope for each college
• School report forms or other forms that
  counselors need to fill out
• list of schools and due dates.
• Teachers will want similar information.
• UC and Cal State campuses do not require letters
  or recommendation.

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The Essay

• Essays should be
• Personal The essay written in the students own
  voice. It should be about something that is
  personally important.
• Concise Every word counts! Every sentence
  should add information and meaning.
• Specific Use examples. Dont use the word
  everything when you could list 2 or 3 specific
  things.
• Connect specific events to a larger theme

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SURVIVING THE ADMISSIONS FRENZY

• Make sure your measures of success are not
  dependent on things outside your control
• Be organized
• Work together
• Keep communicating

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REMEMBER
College is a match to be made-not a prize to be
won!