College Entrance Requirements
Alison Kuykendall, College Counselor
Preparing for College
9th – 10th Grades
◦ Keep grades up, C or higher, aim for a minimum
g.p.a. of 3.0 or higher.
◦ Enroll in challenging, rigorous courses from the
A-G list. Review with counselor during balloting.
◦ PSAT in the fall; PSAT 10 in the spring
◦ Try out clubs, sports, community service activities.
◦ Use Naviance to help focus on future career.
Preparing for College
11th – 12th Grades
◦ Keep grades up, C or higher, aim for 3.0 or higher.
◦ Enroll in challenging, rigorous courses from the A-G list.
◦ Math all 4 years!
◦ Take on leadership roles in clubs, sports, community service activities.
◦ Create a resume with all activities, awards, work experience, and
community service.
◦ Take the PSAT in fall of junior year.
◦ SAT and/or ACT in spring of junior year and fall of senior year.
◦ Use Naviance to focus on future career, find colleges that meet your
needs, and COMMUNICATE WITH COLLEGE COUNSELOR!!
General Timeline
of Senior Year
◦August-September: SAT and/or ACT
◦October-November: College Apps
◦October-February: Financial Aid Apps
◦March-April: Puzzle pieces fit together
◦April-May: Decision Time
◦All year, but mostly in spring:
Scholarships
California Colleges
◦Community Colleges – 108
◦Public Universities
◦24 CSU’s
◦10 UC’s
◦Private Universities – 60+
Community
Colleges
◦ Enroll Senior year to get ahead.
◦ Save money
◦ Priority Registration at CC
◦ Most classes will transfer to universities
◦ Transfer plan:
◦ Plan to transfer approx. 2 years (60 transferable units), apply to
university based on college work only. No SAT or ACT 
◦ CC offers:
◦ Vocational Certificates = 3-45 units
◦ Associates Degrees (AA/AS) = 60 units
◦ Fully Transferrable Units to 4 year schools
University Admission Requirements
◦ A-G Coursework
◦ Grades of “C” or better
◦ SAT or ACT (both with writing)
◦ Some require 2 SAT Subject Tests
◦ GPA – aim for min. 3.0 or higher
◦ Activities (sports, clubs, music, etc.)
◦ Community Service
◦ UC’s and Private require essays
◦ Private require letters of recommendation
University Admission
Requirements
A. History/Social Science
2 years
B. English
4 years
C. Math
3-4 years
D. Lab Science (no 9th grade)
2-3 years
E. Foreign Language
2-3 years
F. Visual Performing Art
1 year
G. College Prep Elective
1 year
College Athletics
◦Is your child a talented athlete who
wishes to participate in D1 or D2
collegiate sports?
◦Register with the National Collegiate
Athletic Association (NCAA).
◦Very rigorous, more requirements than
simply A-G.
◦www.ncaastudent.org
Remediation of D’s or F’s
◦ Retake the class or comparable class in the
regular day schedule
◦ Often not room in classes
◦ Cannot fit in to an already packed schedule
◦ Summer School and ESS
◦ PACE and other computer based courses may
not be accepted by universities and NCAA.
◦ Limited availability
◦ Not all classes offered at all sites
Financial Aid: FAFSA
October 1-March 2
◦ https://fafsa.ed.gov/ or
https://dream.csac.ca.gov/
◦ Never pay to apply, use correct website.
◦ Workshops on campus.
◦ Will require parental income and financial
records.
◦ File each year your student(s) are in school.
Types of Financial Aid
◦ Pell Grant (Federal)
◦ Cal Grant (State)
◦ District office files GPA electronically/automatically
◦ Be sure student name and address are correct in
Powerschool and match what student lists on financial
aid/college apps.
◦ Work Study – jobs on campus that provide income towards school
expenses.
◦ Student Loans – lower interest through government, begin repayment after
graduation; debt remains with you until paid off, even if you declare
bankruptcy.
Scholarships
◦ Scholarships are ongoing and posted in the
MCS Scholarship Bulletin.
◦ List of safe scholarship websites is available on
MCS Scholarship Bulletin at the top of the page.
◦ Scholarships awarded from colleges may
require FAFSA or other additional applications.
◦ “Free Ride” scholarships very rare, most range
from $100 - $1000.
Out of State Colleges
◦ Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)
◦ Private colleges
◦ May offer more merit based financial aid
◦ May require CSS Profile (pay fee to file)
College Application Costs
◦ SAT (4 free reports)
◦
◦
◦
◦
$ 45
$ 57 w/writing
$ 26 per subject test
Add’l reports $12
◦ ACT (4 free reports)
◦ $ 42.50
◦ w/writing $ 58.50
◦ Add’l reports $12
◦ CSU Application
◦ $ 55 each campus
◦ Eng/Math Placement tests $18 ea.
(no waiver)
◦ UC Application
◦ $ 70 each campus
◦ CSU/UC fee waivers part of
application
◦ SAT/ACT fee waivers in college ◦ Private and Out of State
counseling office for
◦ Varies by school
free/reduced lunch
◦ Fee waiver process varies
Naviance
◦ Colleges
◦ Research colleges and universities.
◦ Sign up to attend college presentations & workshops.
◦ Careers
◦ Help find careers based on interests, and more information
about careers.
◦ About Me
◦ Create resume.
◦ Make sure email is up to date to receive information from
college counselor.
Specific Questions?
EMAIL:
Alison Kuykendall:
[email protected]
APPOINTMENTS MADE ONLINE:
Request a Letter of Recommendation for a Scholarship:
/kuykendall-a/request-a-letter-of-recommendation-for-a-scholarship
Spring junior student & parent meeting:
Fall senior meeting:
/kuykendall-a/30min
/kuykendall-a/fall-senior-meeting