To be sure that your student will be ready for college, you will need to plan ahead – particularly if you want him or her to have many choices of college. Don’t wait until high school to think about college. Begin when your student is in middle school (junior high school) or even elementary school. Start now!

This presentation is intended to help middle school parents, guardians, counselors, and their students begin the college planning process that will continue through high school graduation. It is not designed to provide all the information that a student will need to apply to college. Such information can be overwhelming at this point in the planning process.

Good luck, stay focused, and above all, enjoy your college planning process.

Regards from the chief executive officers of California’s educational sectors.

Brice Harris, Chancellor, California Community Colleges

Charles B. Reed, Chancellor, California State University

Kristen Soares, President, Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities

Tom Torlakson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, California Department of Education

Mark G. Yudof, President, University of California

Architect A Bachelor’s Degree; probably a Master’s Degree

Auto Mechanic Vocational School Certificate or an Associate’s Degree from a community college

Doctor or Dentist Bachelor’s Degree in a science field and a four-year graduate program that results in a Medical Degree (M.D.) or Degree in Dental Surgery (D.D.S.)

Fashion Designer Vocational school certificate or an Associate’s Degree from a community college

Film Maker Bachelor’s Degree from a college or university (at least four years)

Lawyer After a Bachelor’s Degree in a social science field, a three-year graduate program that results in a Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Pilot At least a Bachelor’s Degree (at least four years)

Police Officer Vocational school certificate of an Associate’s Degree or a Bachelor’s Degree

School Teacher Bachelor’s Degree and a teaching credential from a college or university

Video Game Programmer Bachelor’s Degree or vocational training; a concentration in art and computer sciences

The earlier you begin helping a child aim toward his or her goals, the better the chances of reaching them.

A child of an undocumented parent may qualify for in-state tuition rates at California Community College, California State University, or University of California.

Social 2 Science English 4

Mathematics 3

Laboratory 2Sciences

Language other 2Than English

Visual/Performing 1Arts

Additional College 1Preparatory Courses

How Do Colleges Decide Which Students to Admit?

What Other Actions Can I Take to Help a Student Achieve Academically?

Do Scholarship or Financial Aid Organizations Charge Fees for Information or Applications?

Diplomas and Degrees

H.S Diploma

High School – 4 years

Bachelors Degree (B.A. or B.S.) - 4 years

Masters Degree (M.A. or M.S) - 5 or 6 years

Doctorate Degree (Ph.D.) - 7 or 8 years

Professional Degree (Law, Dentistry) - 7 or 8 years

Colleges and Universities – 4 or more years

Associates Degree (A.A. or A.S.)

Community College – 2 year schools

California Community CollegeCalifornia Community College (CCC) (CCC)

112 campuses

Admit all students who are 18 years old or a high school graduate

Enroll high school students under special arrangement to earn college or high school credits

No college entrance test required

$46 per unit in-state student fees/tuition before financial aid

Prepare students to transfer to any college or university for a Bachelor’s Degree

Have low fees and offer financial aid

Earn vocational education certificates and licenses for certain careers

www.californiacolleges.edu www.icanaffordcollege.com

California State UniversityCalifornia State University (CSU) (CSU)

23 campuses

ACT or SAT are required on most CSU campuses for students with grade point averages under 3.00

Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral Degrees offered

$7,025 average in-state student fees/tuition before financial aid

Offers liberal arts and sciences education and specialized training for a variety of career fields

All of the campuses of the California State University welcome applications from prospective transfer students. If a student completes college units after the summer following graduation

from high school, the student is considered a transfer student. The majority of transfer students from the California Community Colleges

(CCC) enter the CSU as upper-division transfers. Upper-division transfers must complete at least 60 semester or 90 quarter units before transfer.

www.californiacollege.edu

University of CaliforniaUniversity of California (UC) (UC)

10 campuses

ACT with writing or SAT Reasoning Test is required for admission

Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctoral, and professional degrees offered

$13,200 average in-state student fees/tuition before financial aid

Offers various advanced degrees, including medicine and law

Admits transfer students from the California Community Colleges The University of California considers a student to be a transfer applicant if the student

has enrolled in a regular session (i.e., a session other than summer) at a college or university after high school.

The vast majority of transfer students come to UC at the junior level from the California Community Colleges. The University gives qualified California community college students priority in admissions over applicants from other California institutions or out-of-state institutions.

Has many nationally ranked academic and athletic programs

On-campus housing is available on all campuses

www.californiacolleges.edu

Independent CaliforniaIndependent CaliforniaColleges and UniversitiesColleges and Universities

75 campuses

ACT or SAT (check with the college or university of your choice)

Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral, and professional degrees offered

$32,022 average in-state student fees/tuition before financial aid

Not-for-profit, fully accredited private colleges that offer over 350 different degrees

95 percent of all students receive some form of financial aid

Each school is different which offers students the opportunity to choose the type of educational environment that best suits their needs.

www.californiacolleges.edu

Over 3,000 schools and colleges

Grant certificates of completion or Associate’s of Arts Degrees

14 institutions are accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Admissions requirements vary at each institution

Many of the programs are technical or business-oriented in nature

Many of the specialized colleges have been in existence for a number of years and have hundreds of thousands of graduates employed in their industries

Colleges are associated with industry professionals and most have boards of advisors.

Financial aid is available as well as job placement assistance

National and International National and International Educational OpportunitiesEducational Opportunities

Well-prepared students have thousands of institutions to choose from across the country and world. Opportunities in the United State include over 3,000 public colleges and universities and 1,600 independent colleges and universities. Some examples are:

Air Force Academy, Coast Guard Academy, Merchant Marine Academy, the Naval Academy, and West Point

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) that provide a college education primarily for African-American students

Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) which serve primarily Latino students

Tribal colleges which serve Native American students

Academic Outreach Programs of the California State University The California State University (CSU) Outreach Programs inform students and their families about

admission requirements, financial aid, and educational opportunities available at CSU campuses.

www.calstate.edu/sas/outreach.shtml

Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) AVID is designed to ensure that all students succeed in rigorous curriculum, complete a college

preparatory program of study, and become educated and responsible participants and leaders in society.

www.avid.org

California Student Opportunity and Access Program (Cal-SOAP) Provides information about postsecondary education and financial aid.

www.csac.ca.gov/doc.asp?id=38

California Academic Partnership Program (CAPP) Develops cooperative efforts to improve the academic quality of public secondary schools with

the objective of improving the preparation of all students for college.

www.calstate.edu/CAPP

Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP) Brings the dream of a university education into reach for students from educationally

disadvantaged backgrounds at under-served high schools. Challenging courses and academic advising are the foundation of EAOP.

www.eaop.org

Early Assessment Program (EAP) Designed to provide an early signal to help high school students meet college readiness

standards in English-Language Arts and Mathematics before enrolling at a community college or CSU campus.

www.calstate.edu/eap

Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) A middle school model for creating college-going culture whose services support the adults who

influence a student’s education – their teachers, administrators, counselors, and families.

www.castategearup.org

Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) Offers academic enrichment services for educationally disadvantaged students so that they excel in

math and science, go to college, and attain degrees in math-based fields.

www.mesa.ucop.edu

Middle College High School (MCHS) A unique program that enables “at-risk” students to obtain a quality high school education while

receiving direct access to colleges courses and services.

http://extranet.cccco.edu/Divisions/AcademicAffairs/CurriculumandInstructionUnit/MiddleCollegeHighSchool.aspx

PUENTE PUENTE – Spanish for “bridge” – is a national program to increase the number of students who

enroll in colleges and universities, earn college degrees, and return to the community as mentors and leaders.

www.puente.net

Transfer Programs at California Community Colleges “Transfer is My Way In,” sponsored by the California Community Colleges, is a resource that makes

going to college accessible and affordable, and is a great start toward a better future for you and your family.

www.mywayintocollege.com

Upward Bound Serves high school students from low-income families, families in which neither parent holds a

Bachelor’s Degree, and low-income, first-generation military veterans who are preparing to enter postsecondary education.

www2.ed.gov/programs/trioupbound

6. Financial Aid & Scholarship Resources and Organizations

Where Can I Obtain More Information aboutFinancial Aid?

This presentation and the collateral materials, available through the California Education Round Table Intersegmental Coordinating

Committee, have been sponsored, in part, by ScholarShare, California’s College Savings Program.

Copies of the College: Making It Happen booklet are available from:

California Education Round Table

Intersegmental Coordinating Committee

1430 J Street, Room 3705

Sacramento, CA 95814

Phone: 916-324-8593

Fax: 916-327-9172

www.certicc.org